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Ragsdale ahead of County Commission on the law?
Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2007/07/19 - 8:58am.
While Lumpy and Scooby are yammering about getting buffooned by the Spanish Inquisition (nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!) and calling for the District Attorney General to get involved in the Knox County p-card scandal, Mayor Ragsdale was already way ahead of them on compliance.
The KNS said last week that Mayor Ragsdale had reported the credit card abuses to the State Comptroller. It probably had something to do with this.
The new state law, which went into effect in May of 2007, requires public officials "with knowledge based upon available information which reasonably causes him/her to believe that a theft, forgery, credit card fraud, or any other act of the unlawful taking of public money, property, or services has occurred shall report such information in a reasonable amount of time to the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury."
Which is exactly what Ragsdale did. Instead of grandstanding for the cameras, maybe Scooby and Lumpy and Pinkston could have simply filled out this form. The question now is, why didn't they? Seems like they are required by law to do so. Not to start a witch hunt or a McCartney hearing or anything.
(Thanks to alert reader M for bringing this to our attention.)
UPDATE: WBIR has this document dump re. the p-card scandal. Page 18 is a fax from the Knox County DA's office dated July 5th regarding the state law. Page 19 is the Fraud Reporting form. The only employee mentioned is Requitta Bone.
Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sun, 2007/07/22 - 11:58pm.
Joe Taylor, earlier: "Did Ragsdale not only report Ms. Bone's spending... if so why did he not report John Werner's spending to the state?"
Joe, I asked Lorna Norwood last week why the Mayor's Office filed a Fraud Report on Bone and not Werner (I neglected to ask why not Lloyd) and she explained that Werner's unallowable p-card charges were incurred "in the course of doing business."
I regret that I didn't push her for a clearer explanation, but I was left with the impression that maybe Bone's travel charges were in *no way* related to business (as in the county's business did not take her to those out-of-state destinations). Not sure...
Even if that is the applicable distinction between Bone's and Werner's unallowable charges, though, it still doesn't explain why Lloyd wasn't reported. Unless Lloyd's supervisor, as in the Mayor, really did OK the cruise charge?! Again, not sure...
(Finch's sorority-related travel wasn't yet public when I spoke with Norwood.)
Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2007/07/19 - 10:10am.
Just because Ragsdale reported the possible violation of the law does not make him or his very close top executives’ right...
Didn't say it did.
On an unrelated note, I am just happy that the new verb "buffooned" (as in "this buffoons me!") and the "McCartney Hearings" will now be permanent fixtures in the lexicon of local politics.
I will do my level best to get "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" in there, too.
Submitted by Bbeanster on Thu, 2007/07/19 - 12:01pm.
Shame on you.
Buffoon me twice ....
I'll be curious to see how the Scoobster does if/when he runs for Clerk next year.
There's some doubt that he's going to do that now that Criminal Court Clerk Martha Phillips hasn't been able to return to work after her her surgery. Word is that Moore and Mike Lowe are among those who are waiting to see if Phillips retires, thus leaving a vacancy for County Commission to fill.
Martha is a wonderful person, one of the very nicest people I've met in local politics. I'm pulling for her.
Submitted by bill young on Thu, 2007/07/19 - 12:23pm.
those folks reading the word..remember this
appointments FOR any county elective office
an election will be held for that office @ the next county general election
Submitted by knoxvegas99 on Thu, 2007/07/19 - 1:30pm.
OK, for the record, the KNS lagged on this story. I reported the new law in my story, "Toss 'em a Bone," in the July 2 edition of the Shopper News, and the Mayor was anything but ahead of Commission. John Owings was not even aware of the law until a commissioner brought it to his attention.
Alright "girls" let’s be straight, that is I mean, about recent events in Sweet or Suite 615. There is no one in that Suite that has ever worked in local government administration prior to this experience according to some government lackeys.
These bigger than life folks, smile, cajole, stumble, get involved in kick backs, misuse government property, get a little greedy and power hungry but then they get caught - in part as a result of the battle between them and the holier than thou commissioners.
So they in turn pass along the credit card pain to the workers below through a little staff officer, and according to my sources, with the name of a former superman.
So now what…there no more Bone to chew on perhaps, John W’s erudite arrogance gets him caught with misspending and possible misappropriations that in the corporate world this is probably frivolous regardless of his qualifications. So he is out.
Still there is Viva la Vegas Finch, a sista of mine bless her heart, still wreaking havoc…and telling us not to get her fired in a neighborhood she doesn’t even live in. One can only speculate at what she has charged to “the noble taxpayer who is also without sin;” while somehow having her friend Margie transferred over to a desk in her department for navel gazing at a lucrative salary. Now why didn’t I get that as an option…This sounds so “Federal government.”
Then you have the staff chef or chief- a man of suitable stature who I am told was a former engineer so why shouldn’t he be familiar with angles? That leaves Mister Genuinely Nice guy (charming smile), though he has the Irish look of temper. Still I think be would a great lead in a B movie. So at least the reporting is timely? Who you all kidding?
And then we return once more to the divine county commission. This must be heaven. Thank you Lord.
Submitted by Anarchist on Fri, 2007/07/20 - 8:35am.
More like a smart-ass smirk! Ragsdale is responsible for this mess as he is the mayor. He should resign. All those who STOLE from the taxpayers should be prosecuted....
Word is that Moore and Mike Lowe are among those who are waiting to see if Phillips retires, thus leaving a vacancy for County Commission to fill.
I'm also hoping Ms. Martha is able to return to her post. But, in case that's not possible, what about longtime deputy clerk, Phillips assistant and courthouse insider Joy McCroskey? I always thought she was waiting for the opportunity.
Just because Ragsdale reported the possible violation of the law does not make him or his very close top executives’ right...
the issue still remains they are spending tax payer dollars on themselves like drunk sailors...
no wait... that would be "Drunk Finance Directors" based on the receipts John Werner aka "money boy" "bowtie boy" and maybe "lobster boy" turned in...
Did Ragsdale not only report Ms. Bone's spending... if so why did he not report John Werner's spending to the state?
Joe Taylor, earlier: "Did Ragsdale not only report Ms. Bone's spending... if so why did he not report John Werner's spending to the state?"
Joe, I asked Lorna Norwood last week why the Mayor's Office filed a Fraud Report on Bone and not Werner (I neglected to ask why not Lloyd) and she explained that Werner's unallowable p-card charges were incurred "in the course of doing business."
I regret that I didn't push her for a clearer explanation, but I was left with the impression that maybe Bone's travel charges were in *no way* related to business (as in the county's business did not take her to those out-of-state destinations). Not sure...
Even if that is the applicable distinction between Bone's and Werner's unallowable charges, though, it still doesn't explain why Lloyd wasn't reported. Unless Lloyd's supervisor, as in the Mayor, really did OK the cruise charge?! Again, not sure...
(Finch's sorority-related travel wasn't yet public when I spoke with Norwood.)
If someone finds this in the updated TCA please let me know. I don't see it yet and just where it sits in there is very important.
Just because Ragsdale reported the possible violation of the law does not make him or his very close top executives’ right...
Didn't say it did.
On an unrelated note, I am just happy that the new verb "buffooned" (as in "this buffoons me!") and the "McCartney Hearings" will now be permanent fixtures in the lexicon of local politics.
I will do my level best to get "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" in there, too.
Shame on you.
Buffoon me twice ....
I'll be curious to see how the Scoobster does if/when he runs for Clerk next year.
There's some doubt that he's going to do that now that Criminal Court Clerk Martha Phillips hasn't been able to return to work after her her surgery. Word is that Moore and Mike Lowe are among those who are waiting to see if Phillips retires, thus leaving a vacancy for County Commission to fill.
Martha is a wonderful person, one of the very nicest people I've met in local politics. I'm pulling for her.
those folks reading the word..remember this
appointments FOR any county elective office
an election will be held for that office @ the next county general election
OK, for the record, the KNS lagged on this story. I reported the new law in my story, "Toss 'em a Bone," in the July 2 edition of the Shopper News, and the Mayor was anything but ahead of Commission. John Owings was not even aware of the law until a commissioner brought it to his attention.
Here's the story link: Link...
Larry Van Guilder
Alright "girls" let’s be straight, that is I mean, about recent events in Sweet or Suite 615. There is no one in that Suite that has ever worked in local government administration prior to this experience according to some government lackeys.
These bigger than life folks, smile, cajole, stumble, get involved in kick backs, misuse government property, get a little greedy and power hungry but then they get caught - in part as a result of the battle between them and the holier than thou commissioners.
So they in turn pass along the credit card pain to the workers below through a little staff officer, and according to my sources, with the name of a former superman.
So now what…there no more Bone to chew on perhaps, John W’s erudite arrogance gets him caught with misspending and possible misappropriations that in the corporate world this is probably frivolous regardless of his qualifications. So he is out.
Still there is Viva la Vegas Finch, a sista of mine bless her heart, still wreaking havoc…and telling us not to get her fired in a neighborhood she doesn’t even live in. One can only speculate at what she has charged to “the noble taxpayer who is also without sin;” while somehow having her friend Margie transferred over to a desk in her department for navel gazing at a lucrative salary. Now why didn’t I get that as an option…This sounds so “Federal government.”
Then you have the staff chef or chief- a man of suitable stature who I am told was a former engineer so why shouldn’t he be familiar with angles? That leaves Mister Genuinely Nice guy (charming smile), though he has the Irish look of temper. Still I think be would a great lead in a B movie. So at least the reporting is timely? Who you all kidding?
And then we return once more to the divine county commission. This must be heaven. Thank you Lord.
John Owings was not even aware of the law until a commissioner brought it to his attention.
That's pretty sad.
(P.S. I guess we should be reading your column more, eh LVG?)
(P.S. I guess we should be reading your column more, eh LVG?)
A hearty second to that, Randy!
Larry Van Guilder
More like a smart-ass smirk! Ragsdale is responsible for this mess as he is the mayor. He should resign. All those who STOLE from the taxpayers should be prosecuted....
Word is that Moore and Mike Lowe are among those who are waiting to see if Phillips retires, thus leaving a vacancy for County Commission to fill.
I'm also hoping Ms. Martha is able to return to her post. But, in case that's not possible, what about longtime deputy clerk, Phillips assistant and courthouse insider Joy McCroskey? I always thought she was waiting for the opportunity.
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