Vendetta against clerk is inappropriate

Shame, shame — name calling, innuendo and supposition seem a sign of the times. I would think that many are tired of the demonetizations of public workers. We take them for granted as they perform all manner of necessary services, but some like to put budget deficits solely at their doorstep.

There appears to be a vendetta going on against the county clerk and by extension, her offices. We seem to be mired in people who love to speak out when not considering both sides of the story. I do not work for the county, but have spoken with a number of people who not only work in the clerk’s office, but other departments as well. It appears, due to the debacle at the court house, (the soul responsibility of the commissioners) the county employees have been faced with the threat of furloughs, higher healthcare costs and the like to make up for the commission’s errors. It’s no wonder employees who speak out at this injustice do so anonymously for fear of losing their so-called “cushy” job, and who can blame them.

Marie Scott has been a dedicated county employee for many years and deserves our thanks. I have worked with her professionally and have observed her desire to minimize the use of public funds but still strive for quality. Some seem not to be aware that the county is mandated to have an outside audit done annually and a second audit done recently just cost the county, and by extension we taxpayers, more money.

The questions we should be asking are:

1. Why didn’t the commissioners have the courthouse inspected by a qualified public building inspector before initiating the remodel? Common sense would tell you that a building that old would have asbestos, support, electrical and plumbing issues.

2. Why didn’t the commissioners stop work when it became apparent that cost overruns were going to be enormous compare to the original estimate of the renovation? (And they still aren’t done?)

3. Finally, why do county employees (also taxpayers) have to pay the price for the commissioners’ lack of judgment? It’s time to be asking the questions of those who are responsible.

So those of you who continue to vilify public employees for standing up for themselves in the face of errors made by elected officials, the next time your house is on fire, you have a traffic accident, your home has been vandalized, your road needs grading or plowing, your parks are in disarray — oh well you get the picture, don’t call a public employee.

Sylvia Humes

Sagle