Duncan putting ordeal behind him

Former Trustee John Duncan III, who officially completed the terms of his judicial diversion yesterday, sent over the following comments:

I'm thankful for all of the kind words of support and encouragement I've received today. I'm also thankful that the case has been dismissed and I can finally put this whole ordeal behind me.

The decision to plead a year ago was extremely difficult for me. My dad and my attorney, Jeff Hagood, both strongly recommended that I go to trial and fight the charges. They both believe we would have won. However, I just couldn't put my family or myself through the emotional roller coaster of a trial when I knew the entire case would eventually be dismissed, as it was today.

His father, U.S. House Rep. Jimmy Duncan, also weighed in:

I'm glad the case was dismissed and I am proud of John. For many years before coming to Congress, I was a lawyer and a Judge. After studying the facts of this case, I don't believe he ever should have been charged in the first place. At worst, he made an honest mistake. I will always believe that this case was motivated by some personal and political vendettas against me and our family. Like Jeff Hagood, I encouraged John to go to trial, where I believe his name would have been cleared entirely.

Hawkins responds to CTAS questions

Barry Hawkins (Photo by Dan Andrews)

Knox County Trustee candidate Barry Hawkins on Tuesday took exception to County Commissioner Dave Wright’s request to talk about an educational bonus he received while working in the Trustee's Office years ago, calling the discussion “a political witch hunt” and “backroom politics.”

All this of course ties into the $3,000 payments former Knox County Trustee John Duncan III gave himself and six other employees in December 2010. The payments were tied to the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Services, or CTAS. To get the money, you must be certified as a “public administrator.” None of the employees were.

Everyone except for Hawkins paid back the money. Actually, you know what? Click right smack here for the original background post.

Back to Tuesday’s commission meeting.

Wright asked the board whether it should do something, like ask Hawkins to pay back the money.

Law Director Richard “Bud” Armstrong said he wasn’t sure the commission could do anything, noting that Hawkins no longer worked in the office when the workers were initially asked to return the payments.

He suggested that it was up to the Trustee’s Office – not the commission – to address the matter.

Hawkins spoke briefly, saying Wright was “trying to intimidate a candidate and abusing the power of the commission to help a candidate and colleague.”

Commissioner Ed Shouse, and interim Trustee Craig Leuthold (both Republicans) and Democrat James Berrier are also vying for the job.

Hawkins, who worked in the office for 17 years, said that after he received the payment he questioned Duncan but was told it was “office policy and procedure.” He said he also asked his other superiors and was told the same thing. He added that his job was eliminated before he could finish the training.

“I have done nothing wrong and don’t appreciate any accusation otherwise,” he said

You can find Hawkins’ complete speech right smack here.

Wright denied that his discussion was politically motivated. He suggested that if it was then he would have called out Hawkins on some of “his campaign promises.”

“I could say that my feelings are hurt by what he said, but then I’m the seated commissioner and I have no feelings,” he added.

Trustee candidate's CTAS payment on commission work session agenda

Well, it looks like those CTAS payments aren’t going away. Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright wants the board to talk about an educational payment given a couple years ago to Barry Hawkins, who at the time was an employee in the Trustee’s Office and is now a candidate for Trustee.

“I think that would be hypocritical, in a way, to say ‘I’m going to be able to run this office,’ when he participated in something that caused some people to lose their job,” Wright said.

Quick rehash: Former Knox County Trustee John Duncan III gave himself and six other employees each a $3,000 education bonus - most of it tied to the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Services, or CTAS , program - in December 2010, three months after taking office. To get the money, you must be certified as a “public administrator.” None of the employees were. Almost a year later, in late October, he gave himself and another 11 people the same payments.

Duncan and several staffers eventually pleaded guilty to various crimes connected to the disbursement of the money and resigned from office.

In the meantime, everyone paid back the money, except for Hawkins. He received $3,000 in the first go-around, but left soon after. He was not certified

“All I’m doing is asking the question . . . maybe he’s paid back the money,” Wright said.

Hawkins is one of three Republicans, including Commissioner Ed Shouse and interim Trustee Craig Leuthold, running for the seat. The primary is set for May with a general election in August. James Berrier, a Democrat, also is seeking the gig.

Wright, referring to Shouse and Leuthold, said “they’re both good guys” and that he’s not necessarily supporting either one, but that he’s been asked to introduce Leuthold at an event.

“I think they both could do a good job,” he said.

I put a note out to Hawkins to see if he wants to weigh in on the item. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back.

For another take on the matter, click right smack here for what the Rogue has to say.

The commission will talk more about the issue during its Feb. 18 work session.

Poster to R. Larry: 'Get over it'

Woo-hoo, oh boy, ol R. Larry Smith had another good one in today's News Sentinel.

After last night's meeting, in which the board talked about travel, KNS reporter Gerald Witt asked Smith why he drove to Nashville twice (which cost taxpayers $416 when - presumably - he could have picked up a phone and called).

According to the article (right smack here), Smith "said "he went to the state comptroller on a whistle-blowing trip that led to the ouster of former Trustee John J. Duncan III."

Ummmmm. No.

That office has nothing to do with CTAS payments, which were the cause of Duncan's downfall.

Further, R. Larry got almost all his information from the articles I wrote. Whistle-blower. Sure.

I broke the story, I first reported that someone else took tests for Duncan, and I was the first to write about the TBI investigation into the office.

I am not bragging. That's just what happened.

Along with the way WBIR also did some good reporting. They even had a scoop or two in there. Also, I think WATE reported about a showdown between Smith and Congressman Duncan, which Smith probably blew out of proportion, but whatever.

Anyhoo, I say this because, well, someone has to tell the truth. The investigation originated from the local District Attorney's Office. Not R. Larry Smith.

In the meantime, there were some fireworks from last night. You see, after Commissioner Amy Broyles nominated someone other than R. Larry to lead the board, he got upset. Right around that time he started trying to sell his story to the press that she traveled more than any other commissioner. (Another lie by the way.) A few news outlet bit.

But it didn't work out the way R. Larry anticipated. As noted from the pic below (taken during last night's meting.)

On a side note, Amy had the best line of the night when she told R. Larry: “Since being elected to commission, I have survived a shooting, two brain surgeries, a concussion, five cerebrospinal fluid leaks, viral meningitis, eight kidney stones, a tumor removed from my upper chest, a uterine hemorrhage and the beginning of menopause. I don’t think I’m going to succumb to one of your temper tantrums.” (Thanks for writing all that down, Gerald.)

Duncan retirement talks cost $568

For what it’s worth. Looks like one of the county pension board’s law firms billed the board some $568 in September as officials figured out just how much of his retirement former Knox County Trustee John Duncan III should get back.

At this point, it looks like he’ll get back all the money he put in. However, the coin from the county match will go into an escrow account (where it will still lose or gain) for now. If Duncan, who pleaded guilty to felony official misconduct in July, completes the terms of judicial diversion, then he’ll get the rest.

If not, then, well, no.

Here’s a look at the receipts from attorney Bill Mason of Kennerly, Montgomery and Finley:

Sept. 11: Billed for 30 minutes to the tune of $55.50 for an office consultation with Bill Mason, regarding “J. Duncan’s guilty plea to official misconduct and whether plea would result in forfeiture of retirement plan benefit.”

 Sept. 11: Billed for a one hour telephone conference with Pension Board Executive Director Kim Bennett for $285 regarding his withdrawal and rollover in his retirement plan, which is somewhat like a 401(k). According to the notation, the two discussed “the reimbursement of county and forfeiture provisions applicable for a felony conviction involving official county duties. There was also an office conference regarding “criminal law and status of the case and judicial diversion.” There also was a telephone conversation with Knox County Law Director Bud Armstrong about “county position on the charter forfeiture provisions.” And a telephone conference with Bennett regarding “further email from J. Duncan re follow up on same.”

Sept. 12: Billed $228 for 80 minutes. Apparently, the attorney reviewed the email from Duncan to Bennett. Attorney also drafted email from Bennett and Armstrong confirming the discussion from the previous day, and “with proposed response to J. Duncan re forfeiture provisions. Review her email to J. Ducan re same.”

Duncan cooperated in federal probe

John Duncan III

 Well, it looks like the rumors were true: former Knox County Trustee John Duncan was working with the feds after all.

In what capacity? Well, that might never get put on the record. Then again . . . .

Anyhoo, click right smack here for the bad a$$ story, which includes a statement he made in late November 2012 to the state prosecutors when he asked them to hold off.

Now, I have to tell ya, I've looked through that file a bunch of times, and never came across that document, which was buried in the back of the file in between some requests by the media to get cameras into the courtroom.

Duncan diversion odds, ends, notes

John Duncan III and family

So, unless you've been hiding under a rock, then you know by know that former Knox County Trustee John Duncan III received judicial diversion today.

Click right smack here for the bad a$$ story. It is, by the way, the most comprehensive story on the subject.

I've also - just cause I love ya - taken the opportunity to scan in Duncan's sentencing memorandum and the letters of support that were submitted on his behalf (there are three of 'em). You can find those bad boys right smack here.

Please note that if you are other media, do not go downloading the documents and then putting them up on your website like you actually went out and got them yourself. I've put a few minor identifying marks on them, so  . . . .

Anyhoo, you know who you are.

But I digress.

A few folks are making a big deal out of this judicial diversion thing. It's expected, not because of his name or whatever, but because that's what people get when they commit penny ante BS.

Get over it, people, he didn't get any special privilege.

Now, there are laws that are in place (Duncan was grandfathered in) to prevent elected officials from cutting such a deal, but they just went into effect.

I'll be back later with some more interesting stuff.

Heh.

Officials work out Leuthold's pay

Craig Leuthold

When is Knox County's top tax collector not actually the trustee?

Well, that's a question some local officials kicked around earlier this week as they tried to determine whether Craig Leuthold should get paid for his first two days in office.

State law says the trustee assumes the position upon taking the oath of office and upon getting an insurance bond. The Knox County Commission on Monday, July 22 picked Leuthold to serve out the remaining 14 months of the term for John Duncan III, who resigned and pleaded guilty to official misconduct a few weeks earlier.

But, here's where it gets a little confusing.

A judge swore in Leuthold right after the commission picked him. However, officials didn't sign his insurance bond until three days later on Thursday, July 25.

But, on Tuesday, July 23, Leuthold stepped down from his job as public information officer in the Knox County Property Assessor's Office, asked payroll to cut him a check for his unused vacation time, and began working in the county Trustee's Office.

About that time, the county's risk management and payroll departments started processing Leuthold's paperwork. Officials there then questioned whether he should get paid for working July 23-24. Was he technically the trustee? They noted that he didn't actually sign the paperwork for his $18.5 million insurance bond until July 25.

Find out what happened by clicking right smack here for the rest of this bad a$$ story.

Leuthold's trustee bond to cost $55K

Leuthold

Well, it looks like new Knox County Trustee Craig Leuthold was able to get bonded. To the tune of $55,000 in folding paper, which is - what? - six times what it's cost in the past. (Most other trustees cost $8,500 to $9,000.)

Now, Leuthold isn't to blame for this. You can thank his predecessors who couldn't keep their hands out of the free money till. Or whatever.

Anyhoo, Leuthold, who was picked Monday in a 6-4 vote by the Knox County Commissioner to serve out the remaining months of John Duncan III's term, will be bonded by the Hanover Insurance Group. (As you might recall, Duncan pretty much pleaded guilty to paying out about - you guessed it - $55K in bonuses for educational courses that his employees never finished. Am I the only one seeing a $55K trend? Heh.)

Bonding became an issue earlier this month when the Hartford Group, the previous bonding agency, refused to bond Kristin Phillips, who served in the interim role for a few weeks between Duncan and Leuthold. Officials with the company basically said they are sick of the "track record of misconduct with the position of trustee for Knox County."

County finance Director Chris Caldwell said the $55K in coin will cover a year, and his office hopes to work out a more cheaper arrangement with the bonding company after that.

County Mayor Tim Burchett signs the bond for Leuthold

Knox Trustee applicants now up to 12

Well, it looks like 12 folks have now applied for the Trustee gig, including former Trsutee Fred Sisk and William "Bill" Curtis, who served a brief stint as the office's chief of staff before stepping down in mid-May to retire (again).

You can find the complete list of names and resumes (including all the new ones), right smack here.

I expected Fred to apply. He served as Trustee for a few years and worked in the office for a loooong time. He's also credited with tipping off the TBI (which took a loooong time to investigate) about office issues.

Curtis, who spent 40 years at Curtis Mortgage where he was president and CEO, joined John Duncan III's staff in September 2010. He's well-respected and was later tapped to serve as chief of staff after Joshua Burnett resigned.

When he Curtis, he told me it was to spend more time with his grandchildren. My guess is someone encouraged him to throw his name in, and he's doing it because he's a nice guy. I seriously don't expect him to run for office. He's a lot more low key than most of the top officials over at the Deathstar and would more than likely not want to put up with all the BS that comes with the full-time, fully-elected gig.

Officials to remove Duncan III name

If you haven't seen it, then you should check out Jim Matheny's piece over at WBIR, right smack here, on the county's plan to remove John Duncan III's name from a bunch of doors and drop boxes.

The total cost isn't necessarily that much - it's probably less than $1,000 - but it points out the absurdity of a term-limited elected official slapping his (or her) name down wherever they please. I think that putting in on one main office door is enough. But whatever.

And as one college professor points out, "it's about name recognition" and getting "some free campaigning by putting your name on something."

Officials to start Trustee audit

Gerald Witt has a pretty interesting piece, right smack here, about the audit process that will take place in the Trustee's Office. There's certainly nothing groundbreaking as officials conduct audits between every transition, but it certainly provides some insight into what is done.

Two things of note:

The story said that, according to John Duncan III's City County Building pass, he'd been in the office on weekends and the day before he resigned. That's impressive. I been hearing for a long time that he pretty much quit going to work.

He did spend some time in the Cedar Bluff satellite office because it's near his home, but other than that? Heh.

Also, the office oversees 26 bank accounts, which is more than auditors say it needs. Expect some consolidation to happen.

Potential picks to replace Duncan

With John Duncan III out as trustee, you know folks are going to come from all around the woodwork, looking for that good $110K-a-year (or so) job. Heh.

Anyhoo, at this point it looks like the county commission will meet some time in the upcoming weeks to hash out the rules and then start taking resumes.

I know board Chairman Tony Norman would like to appoint a caretaker to the post rather than someone who intends to run for the seat. From what I’ve heard, though, not everyone is on board with the plan, so we’ll see.

So far, I’ve heard six names getting kicked around.

Sooooo, in alphabetical order: 

• Ann Acuff: Former longtime Knox County finance worker and high up on the bean counting team's totem pole before retiring about a year or so ago.
• Mike Hammond, a Knox County commissioner, former board chairman and someone who’s been rumored as a candidate for the criminal court clerk post.
• Craig Leuthold, a former Knox County commissioner, former trustee office employee, currently with the property assessor’s office.
• Ed Shouse, a Knox County commissioner, member of the pension board, chairman of the county’s investment committee and all-around sharp guy.
• Fred Sisk, former Trustee and all-around nice dude. 
• R. Larry Smith, a Knox County commissioner, the board’s current vice chairman and someone who’s been rumored as a candidate for a number of seats.

Now, I’m also hearing that of these potential picks, only Sisk  is interested in seeking the spot in the caretaker capacity. (I've heard the same also about Acuff although I haven't talked to her and I'm not absolutely sure she wants the job or if folks are just floating her name.)

“Whoever wants to run, can run and start fresh,” Sisk told me. “I don’t want to use the appointment as a leg up.”

Fred said he’d be able to start immediately and “that there are a number of things that need to be done.”

He noted that the county just wrapped up its fiscal year, so that means the annual audit is right around the corner. After that? Tax season. 

Sisk also said he’d be willing to stay on board to help mentor a new trustee through the transitional process. (This in fact should have been done under Duncan, but he opted not to keep Sisk.)

Say what you will, but the idea makes a lot of sense.

Duncan’s term expires Aug. 31, 2014.

As for Kristin Phillips, who is serving as the interim trustee, I don’t expect her to run. She’s served in a manager capacity for quite some time, however, she also lives in Anderson County. Or Blount County. Or whatever county that isn’t Knox County.

Can't apply diversion law to Duncan

So, if you follow Knox County government and you've been under a rock, click right smack here for today's story about now-former Trustee John Duncan III stepping down from his post and pleading guilty to a felony charge.

(And, yeah, pat of the back. We broke this story. Love this #*(#$&7)

Anyhoo, JD3 will more than likely receive judicial diversion. It's actually pretty common. However, he's pretty lucky on that one. Under a state law that took effect last July, officials who commit crimes "in the person's official capacity or involved in the duties of the person's office" are no longer allowed judicial diversion. (All this is because of former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner and his, er, pill problem.)

But, Duncan was grandfathered in. He's accused of paying out illegal free money in December 2010.

You can find a copy of the Senate bill, right smack here. And here's the TCA part of the law where it gets inserted.

Trustee's chief of staff steps down

William "Bill" Curtis

William “Bill” Curtis' last day as chief of staff in the Knox County Trustee's Office was Wednesday. 

He is the third top ranking member of Trustee John Duncan III's team to leave in the past six months, although his exit is less controversial that the others.

“I'm almost 71 years old – that's the main reason,” he said laughing slightly Thursday. “I worked for 50 years. That's long enough.”

Curtis spent 40 years at Curtis Mortgage where he was president and CEO, and then sold it to BB&T Bank. He signed a no-compete contract, so he was essentially retired for a few years before joining Duncan's team when he took office in September of 2010. He was hired on as a stat programs administrator and later promoted to collections administrator.

When Duncan's then-chief of staff, Joshua Burnett, pleaded guilty to facilitation of official misconduct, the trustee appointed him to take over the position. 

Curtis, who earned $77,250, was generally well-respected in the office, although he was lumped in with a group of six others brought into the administration and who had close ties or made political donations to Duncan or his family. (He donated $1,000 to Duncan's campaign.)

However, Curtis was not connected to any of the employees who received education bonuses for classes that they never took, a scandal that has tarnished Duncan's time as trustee and led to the resignation of Burnett and office attorney Chad Tindell, who also pleaded guilty to the facilitation charge.

Curtis said he enjoyed his time working in the Trustee's Office, adding “we got some things accomplished.”

But, he said he also has five grandchildren he wants to “spend more time with and that's what I'll be doing.”

“I've been working all my life and there comes a time when you have to make a decision and make a change,” he said. “I enjoyed working up there but I have to make some time for myself.”

And in the meantime?

“Well, just today I've been mowing the law,” he said chuckling.

Duncan said Thursday that Kristin Phillips will take over the chief of staff gig on an interim basis. 

“She has worked in the office for twenty years and has proven to be hard working, extremely knowledgeable and capable of handling the additional responsibilities,” he said.

Mobile phone payments to skyrocket

Ha ha, I have to admit, I got a good chuckle last month when Knox County Trustee John Duncan III announced that his office will now take payments via the cell phone.

Well, just a few minutes ago, I was reading this article about a recent Ebay acquisition and what do ha know? Apparently IDC (International Data Corporation) "believes that worldwide mobile payments will surpass $1 trillion by the time 2017 rolls around." (Right smack here.)

Well, learn something new every day, I suppose.

Folks can pay taxes through phones

Residents can now use their cell phones to pay taxes, Knox County Trustee John Duncan III, pictured left, announced this morning.

“I'd like to thanks the Knox County IT Department for their help in providing this new service,” Duncan said in a released statement. “This is a way for doing business with the county government to become even easier and more convenient.”

To pay, folks can log onto the department's website, right smack here, and click on the “Mobile Quick Pay,” which accepts secure credit card payments.

That said, who the heck would want to pay their taxes by phone?

Odds and ends on some county news

Just a few odds and ends as the week kicks in. The commission meets tomorrow, beginning with its monthly luncheon. Not sure who’s on the hook for that one. Then, it's the voting meeting. Don’t expect this to go more than an hour or two.

During the luncheon, county bean counter and finance guru Casual Chris Caldwell will present the casual coin report. Also on the agenda is a discussion to talk about creating a task force that would debate the pros and cons of expanding the commission’s overall size. 

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One argument against an increase is that the voters only in the past few years agreed to shrink it from 19 to 11 members, which actually didn’t kick in until September 2010. Some feel that it’s way too soon to decide whether the smaller number is better. They figure that the community should give the board a chance at its current size.

I don’t necessarily disagree (nor am I an advocate for a large, unwieldy group), but the earliest the board could increase is somewhere around 2016. (The law says you can't interrupt a commissioner's term.) So, let them talk.

Besides, it’s another committee. It’s not like they’ll actually meet more than once anyway. Heh.

OK, someone pointed out to me the other day that Trustee John Duncan III didn’t use his title in his recent engagement notice. That’s not a big deal. But, it was noted that his dad is a U.S. Congressman. Typically, engagements don’t include what the parents do for a living. Anyhoo, figured I’d point it out.

Also, congrats to John on his upcoming wedding.

One last thing, Melissa Copelan, has gone back to using her maiden name. So, if you see “Melissa Ogden” pop up in news stories as the Knox County school system spokeswoman it does not mean that the county has hired ANOTHER flak. 

In the meantime, here’s the commission agenda for Monday.

I’m out.

A look at recent Trustee's Office raises

Over here at Screams from da Porch we like to chase down rumors, and unlike some people, we don't get it wrong. Heh.

Sooooo, got a tip that our good Trustee John Duncan III said gave a bunch of his employees raises that far exceeded the 3 percent standard that the other officials were handing out this year. I was also told that the good folks who received bigger bumps are also the same people who got those interest free loans for not completing their government-related courses.

The Trustee's Office has (at least) 45 people on payroll, according to county finance records. (Now, I know they'll say there's fewer than that, but if you make $21,675 for part-time/seasonal work then you're included on my list.)

Of those folks, 29 people got a 3 percent raise. (A few of them actually got 2.93 percent and one got a 2.85 percent, but who's counting?)

Another person nabbed a .8 percent bump. (Man, that Duncan is a bigger cheapskate than county Mayor Tim Burchett.)

Also, three people received 5.72 percent raises. Finance records indicate that they've been promoted to “bookkeepers.”

And, one fella got a 6.6 percent raise. The office told me that the guy's supervisor “strongly recommended his increase based on performance.” (And no, this wasn't the guy who supposedly took the tests for the crew that never finished those courses. Heh.)

Finally, one worker got a nice chunk of folding paper – a 15.42 percent bump. Finance records indicate that he was promoted to deputy trustee. He now makes $61K in coin. He did receive CTAS incentive pay money, but he is certified under the program.

However, no one who received more than a 3 percent raise were among the crew who also got bonus payments for the CTAS courses that were never completed.

So, there you have it. (And no, Duncan did not give himself a raise.)

Larry Smith, Sherry Witt bonus battle

Commissioner Rrrrr. Larry Smith (left) has been somewhat on a roll lately, calling out the county's trustee and his father, the good local Congressman.

Now, he's got his sites set on Register of Deeds Sherry Witt. In fact, the good commissioner sent Sherry a note, taking her to task for accepting some incentive payments, yet wanting to meet with her to discuss the issue.

Witt's response?

“The letter is at the bottom of my bird cage,” she told me.

Heh. Now, that's funny.

Soooo, what's going on?

If you haven't been living in a cave lately (or a jerk like someone who would post comments under a stupid name like “YankeeinDixie”), then you know that county Trustee John Duncan III is under fire right now because he paid himself and some staffers a bunch of coin for doing work they didn't really do.

At the same time, Witt and a number of other elected fee officers also accepted such payments, but they actually did do the work.

(Now, to get the payments you have to get designated as a “certified public administrator.” I've written about this; no point rehashing it. To keep your certification, you have to do 16 hours of coursework, or whatever each year. Then you're allowed up to $3,000 in coin.)

Argghh Larry, however, questions whether local officials should take the money, even if they've done the work.

So, he's been checking around the state, asking other folks whether they participate in the education program and collect the coin. He apparently talked to the Hamblen County trustee, yet thought he talked to the Hamilton County trustee.

So, he goes around telling people he talked to someone from Hamilton County and says that they receive only $200 in bonuses.

Now, Sherry (right) did some checking on her own.

She called Hamilton and learned that Our Larry never talked to anyone from the Chattanooga area. So, she called out the commissioner during Monday's work session, pretty much insinuating that he was full of crap.

Then, Larry did some checking and realized his mistake. (He had actually talked to Hamblen and they get $200 in bonuses.)

So, he then gets in touch with Hamilton County (for real this time) and the trustee there tells him that he gets $0 in bonuses.

Larry, then calls out Sherry and accuses her of telling half-truths.

Good stuff.

He then pens her a note – click right smack here for that bad boy – and says that her “personal attack on my character (was) absolutely uncalled for, discourteous, and beneath your position as an elected official.”

He also says that accepting the incentive payments “is an affront to the taxpayers we serve.”

(I'm not sure if other fee officers who also get the incentive payments got a similar letter. Probably not.)

Sherry, though, isn't having any of this. And she probably won't be meeting any time soon with R. Larry.

“It's all about media attention for him,” she said, noting that the reason the Hamilton County trustee doesn't take the money is because he isn't certified. “I'm sorry he's offended but he should check out the validity of his statements.”

Heh.

Like I said: good stuff.