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Seems as though some might want it spelled out for them to be able to understand so I will take this to task. If any care or wonder why I post about our so called Leadership, I can give more examples that you can stand to read.

County Commission---- While they are getting along (we hear that about ever meeting) I have yet to see anything but new laws and small things like a bathroom at the 4-feilds. I did however hear alot of talk about holding the Chamber accountable for 15 thousand dollars but have yet to require any one else to stand before the people of Dade County with any report. Guess it's the ole don't ask don't tell rule.

City Commission---- Where ole where has the Mayor that lead gone? They had a reserve and all accoutability was held except for Chuck who never will be held accountable for anything even giving a monthly report. Now the money that this City has spent has been out of hand since the new Mayor took office. Giving away trucks and not doing business the lawful way is a downright embarrassment, but hey some (including himself) thinks he's the stuff. I BEG to differ.

School System--- Things will never change here because of all the money that it involves. Although this county would like to believe "It's fer the Kids" It has everthing to do with funding. We however pride ourselves in School Sports and beat our young people into thinking that they will be the next "Ashley Houts"... There has only been one in a very long time. Give it up folks, we will never be able to live our youth through our kids. Let them play, have their fun then join the Real World and go on with life somewhere else other than Dade County because of the lack of any jobs here (but the good ole boys kids) that will keep them here.

Sheriff's Office--- Now this one has a special place for me, because this is my biggest disappointment of them all. We have NO Sheriff in this county. We do however have some GREAT employees who work for Major Jackie Womack. While there is always room for improvement, I feel that alot has been made under the leadership of NOT the Sheriff but of the people he was lucky enough to hire. While I have to say that his office if still full of Day to Day DRAMA for some but we do have some good people who if let do their jobs (like make an arrest for Dog-Nappers) and a Sheriff who doesn't try to cover for those he thinks don't need to be arrested and at least could answer a call (or call someone back) and maybe make it into the office more days than not?

Other offices----- We have a pretty good bunch of employees in alot of our offices, but there is an election office that really still needs alot of attention. While smoking and drinking coffee seems to be the main function of this office until election time, there is still a big waste of money but this year it will show a loss because of all the special elections (we can't do anything about that).

Goverment groups---Such as the IDA, NWGDJ, DDA, Chamber... While most of these are volunteers and I know how hard it is to keep up, I also know how easy it is to let go. The IDA has alot of Dade County funds and no answers or gameplan of any kind. I have seen the property that was going to be bought but yet have still never really heard of why it hasn't other than lame excuses. (So what if you can't just build on all the property) guess we forgot how the other Industrail Park looked when we bought it. NWGJD is a complete joke of Mr. Mullis getting our money from both ends and still has yet to bring this county anything and I'm not sure that he has done anything for the other counties except to take in another County to help with the funding, (Sorry the Cosco deal wasn't anything to do with him). The DDA was brand new after starting over with little or no accountability (other than Mr. Marshall) and it took alot of work just to get it where it was. Now that there is a NEW MARSHALL in town of Brown, it has slipped into her way or the hwyway. Chamber-- This is always the punching bag for our local officials who will never get what this group is used for in other places other than Dade County. But they to have fallen prey to the good ole boys who slap them ever year and they just keep coming back and asking for more slapping. They however have learned to "Play the game" with the hopes it will get easier on them in the future. Don't look for that to happen.

Other Civic Groups--- Funding is always hard in a small County and for what ever reason we can never seem to be able to work together to put in place a plan for everone. They always need help and looking for volunteers that WORK and (Not just another bunch of ideas)....Look for it to get real busy in the next few months with alot of things going on differant weekends and not much working together.

Local Churches---My other big disappointment.. I have never seen the like of Fighting over who does what and when and how they can't seem to be able to come together for anything. It has to be done at "Their Church" on "Their night" with "Their people". Now folks this, I have seen way to many times. Leadership in our Local Churches is needing a fresh look at what they are Preaching. They outreach to the community for their church and not the community. I could count on one hand, the Churches that are community minded from ALL the churches in this County.

Local Business--- Another good one. We want people to shop local but have little to offer and the thing we could offer the most, we offer the least. Good customer help! We are lacking in people skills yet we are dealing with the public on a daily base. Customer satisifaction should be #1. I think it fits down there with working together on the list at about #49... On the other hand they are pounded to DEATH with the folks who want money to fund alot of the things that goes on in this county. Ever bake sale needs some form of Donation. I really feel sorry for a business who tries to make Dade County home, but then again, some bring it on themselves.

I guess to sum up this whole topic is that Leadership in this County is Pretty Low. You have to be able to look around you and not be just in it for you. Don't think about yourself but think about your neighbor. But having said all this tonight the thing that is most wrong with our Leadership is US! We don't pay attention (I try), we don't care unless we can get something for ourselves or it involves us and our problem. And we are afraid of losing what we got to someone else. These things I have listed are not just my opinion but I am the one who always will speak out. I have seen all these things and many others have also but alot are afraid of losing something if they say anything against this form of Goverment. We don't try to hold any accoutability to them because we in turn don't want any held against us.

We have seen in the past that nothing is wrong with holding a little accoutability sometimes like the Water Company. I wonder if they hydrants would still be broken if someone hadn't spoken out?

We want to kill the messanger when it don't line up with our belif because we all think we are doing a Great Job as long as no one complains to them. Then if they do, they (like myself) are labeled as "troublemakers".

O forgot to mention on thing I know about the DDA. First the Board holds accountability on the Manager, and Manager's job is to keep the Board on top of things going on. Neither are being done at this time because the Manager has taken a position with the County Commission. But I know it works best this way for both because of the lack of accountability that's goes on here in Dade County. For some reason there is something about having two positions doing the same thing receiving two paychecks from the taxpayers that really gets me when in fact a good volunteer has to do all the work. Sounds like Mullis and Cervelli have figured out how to get more for less than most here in Dade County.

Most people don't understand what a BOARD is supposed to do. As I read the article on the Water Authority, it hit me that I'm not sure that the people we have sitting on board knows their job. Most boards have a Chairman or Manager or any other name used.


County Commission---This board (The Board of Commissioners) is made up of several people to represent the County or area of which they live. Ben Brandon will disagree with me on this issue but I still say that this form of goverment is 4+1 with the Board Chairman doing the Day to Day services but the board has the Chairman (who makes more money) follow through with all the work that their District Commissioner needs. Leadership is really the place of the Chairman but it is also the place of the Board to keep up with everthing going on and make suggestions and be ready with all the facts to vote.

City Commission---Here the Mayor sits in as another part-time but is still about the same as the County. But the Commission is made up of those who look after Police, Fire-Utilities, Roads, and Parks.They actually controll the money that is spent on each Dept. They have to ask to be able to spend by vote, but it's up to them to decide. Trenton lost a good Mayor who knew how to hold accoutability for the Commission and those who were using City Taxpayer's money.

School System---This Board really needs HELP! This is a Board who only goes as the Superintendent wants things to go. Now that is the fault of both the Board and it's Leader. If you want an example look at Hamilton Co. who has someone like Rhonda Thurman who is always involved in what's going on. You have to have a Board that is responsible for those they are to look after. The best "Fer the Kids"!

Goverment Groups---These are the ones who receive taxpayer money. Two of which I have SET as a Boardmenber.Neither of the two should I have been but with the lack of quality people to sit in, I at least attended all the meetings and tried to stay focused on the task at hand. The Chamber until recent didn't have a full time manager but with the help of the County a person was hired. Now these boards are not appointed by either the taxpayers (by election) or by the Goverment. The DDA is to look after the best interest of the Downtown area (Trenton) while the Chamber has the County and the City, the IDA is to look after the Industrial Park (of which we have no land left) (but they do have about a million/half taxpayer money) to use, and the NWGJD is divided between 4 counties. The are two confilcts of interest in this list of the DDA (Peter Cervelli and Jeff Mullis) working both Goverment and Boards. (Double Dipping)....


There are alot of "Boards" that we have here in Dade County but most are not effective because of the Board not knowing about how to do their job and the Chairman-Manager like it that way because they can do as they please and run the board. I have seen for myself how easy it is to be in Control of the Board when in fact is it supposed to be the other way around.

Oh And "Fer the record" I am not promoting MYSELF as a Great Board Member and needing to blog about myself. It has nothing to do with me other than I have "Been There, Seen That" with my own eyes. I don't need someone who Brags on themselves and tell us how wonderful they are doing because I will look on my leg see someone peeing on it, telling me that it' raining. That goes on alot here in this County. I know of alot of "Wet Legs"!...lol...lol.

Leadership as a whole is alot of work. It goes far past of who you know and what idea you might have. It takes alot of time and effort (actually working) to get things done. Sometimes (most) in this county we rely on our Last Name and who we know and who growed up together and played ball with each other. We have the leadership we have because we think it's better for us. What's in it for me? I really hoped to be able to help change some of that but it didn't take long to see that it wasn't gonna happen. We just have to many simple minded folks (in the inner circle) to get anything done. Wished I could talk more of the "outer circle" into getting invloved so that this county don't look so much like Mayberry. You only have the closeness of Mayberry when in the Inner circle of protecting each other and not working for the good of this county. I still can't understand why it's so hard for those who claim to be leaders to lead by example. That is the first sign of quality leadership.

I have to admit that I have been fooled by talked on several issues and people. Most can ready this blog and figure out what I have seen or been a part of. Funny thing is when listening to other talk (outer circle) most feel the same but say that nothing is gonna change down there in Trenton. They will use some big words from time to time but most are right about what they are complaining about.

But I know that this county will go on protecting it's own as far as the name of the folks and who they might be able to get something from. I guess it's just human nature to take the easy way out and elect or appoint our good buddies for the leadership roles here in Dade County and the rest of the county has to suffer for it.....

I really have to laugh at the time I spent on this topic and how much of a difference it has made. I have been talking alot to the "Outer Cirlce" again since leaving Trenton and funny at the 5 or so years down there in the "Pits" a difference it made.... NOT!


Leadership and Accountabilty is what Classes need to be taught to the Good Ole Boys! And learn to RESPECT the "Outer Circle" and work for them.