Discontent at the Beaufort County Commissioners meeting | Eastern North Carolina Now

By:   Observer Editorial Staff

Those who serve on the front line, protecting the Beaufort County public from government overreach and insuring honesty in government are the Board of County Commissioners. Each Commissioner is elected by the public to hold a position of trust.  It is only the Board that has the authority to tax, spent the taxes, and to hire and fire those who hold critical management positions in County government.  The honor of these Commissioners has to be of the highest caliber.

Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more failure to uphold the Constitution, to self-serve and lately to assume the powers of a sovereign among far too many elected officials.  It is not just selfless service but the assumption among elected officials that they have somehow become anointed and crowned to make decisions that are unhinged from reality, the constitution and common sense.  There is also the underclass of hired public officials who are only too eager to support the corrupt behavior of elected officials.  These corrupt behaviors are prevalent, not only among County Commissioners, but from the dog catcher to the President of the United States.

The September 9th meeting of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners was filled with corrupt, unethical and disloyal activity.  All votes were 5 to 2 with the two Democrats voting with the three RINO’s (Republican In Name Only).  Conservative Republican Commissioners Richardson and Deatherage voted in the interest of the public.

Commissioner Richardson placed on the agenda to have a discussion about the Beaufort County Community College sponsoring a LGBTQ Plus club.  It was advertised on the College media system as a campus event held in a room at the College.   Richardson was clear in stating that the activities of such a club could have a severe negative impact on young people’s minds.  LGBTQ is a controversial issue with many people, both religious and non religious, opposing the impact of sexual perversion on society.  Richardson state he has no objection to holding such meetings on private property as opposed to public property.

The discussion by the Board of Commissioners went nowhere in spite of the religious posturing of several Board members.  Because of the lack of support by the Board of Commissioners to stop this activity, we believe the public should notify the State Board of the Community Colleges of their displeasure with the use of public property for these kinds of activities.  Complaints are best made to the governing body of the Community College. We believe calling the staff or President Loope are a waste of time. We tried to identify board members with their telephone numbers and could not find this information on the College web site.  Call the college (252-946-6194) and ask for a list of board members with their contact information.  If the college does not cooperate, call Hood Richardson  at 252-975-3472.

We believe using public property to push highly questionable sexual acts is not in the public interest.  Support from the College gives young inexperienced minds a false sense of true moral and religious standards.

Commissioner Richardson pulled a two point seven-million-dollar broadband funding issue from the consent agenda.  Supposedly there is no controversy about items on the consent agenda.  Therefore, the consent agenda is where issues are placed to hide from the public.  Richardson forced a vote by the commissioners on this funding.   The two Democrats voted with the three RINO’s in favor of this spending. Commissioners Richardson and Deatherage voted against.

A second broad band (internet) issue for a grant of $500,000 came up and was approved.  There is $1,089,708 dollars remaining in the original broadband funding appropriation of $4,000,000 by commissioners.

The broadband thing is a holdover from the Obama Administration.  The idea is to construct internet lines in areas the telephone companies cannot justify because of the very low population density. Then it was discovered these people refused to pay the full price of internet services so we now have a subsidy for these people. They pay $30 per month.  How much do you pay?

There is a sinister reason the government wants everyone to have broadband.  The government has the ability to spy on every home that has a computer.  This is why they want everyone to have a computer.

Commissioners who vote for this are harming their citizens.

Fake Frankie Waters made a motion that the Chocowinity fraud cases against Joy McRoy that involve, the Town of Chocowinity, possibly the Blount’s Creek Fire Department, the Chocowinity EMS and the Chocowinity Fire Department not be allowed on the agenda for six months.  Commissioner Richardson has been requesting answers about how much Beaufort County tax money may be involved.  The trial began during the first week in September.  The County Manager contends that, after we gave these agencies the tax money we have no authority to make sure it is spent for what it was taxed for.  If you believe this we have a bridge to sell you.  The County Attorney has been useless on this issue.  He sits there and waits for Fake Frankie Waters and his minions to point him in a direction.

Fake Frankie Waters timing was perfect in shutting down the Chocowinity fraud issue.  The trial started this month and John Rebholz needs the McRoy Family endorsement in his campaign for County Commissioner.

The issue of how much money the County Attorney actually collects is apparently resolved with both the Attorney and the County Manager finally making statements to the effect that Attorney Francisco has not received any money for expenses, trips or any other work directly or indirectly performed for the County.  Therefore, his salary for part time work is $84,000 per year.  Why were not these statements made when Richardson first made his request.  This looks like a power play on the part of the County Manager.  

We believe it is up to the County Commissioners to protect and defend the interests of the taxpayers.  Commissioners are the only body that can set and enforce ethical, moral and honesty standards.  Five of these commissioners are clearly running form their responsibility.  They are actually sending signals that unethical, dishonest and immoral conduct will be tolerated and to some extent encouraged.

If commissioners do not have the responsibility to protect the public, then who does?