Custody battle
Presiding Christian County Commissioner put County Clerk Kay Brown on Monday’s agenda at 9:15 a.m. Brown she says she isn’t sure what the discussion will entail.
Speculators might agree that it has something to do with Judge Craig Carter’s recent dismissal of Ernest O’Gaffney’s writ of mandamus filed against the county. The legal maneuver, if successful, would force the commission to cede custody of the county records to the custodian of records pursuant to state statute. Novel thought.
Grubaugh claimed “a complete win” in the recent ruling. It was, at least, a partial win for Grubaugh, who for some inexplicable reason is fighting with Brown over the records. The judge dismissed the case during this proceeding not because the clerk wasn’t entitled to the records, but because O’Gaffney had no legal standing to file the claim. Why? Because he could show no damages.
Could the county clerk re-file the case? Could Brown and Grubaugh share custody? What about visitation rights? Stay tuned.
The County Commission agenda is provided below:
The Christian County Courthouse, Rm. 100, Nov. 5
AMENDED
8:45 a.m. Motion/Vote
Re: Independent Auditor
9:00 a.m. Tom Lawson, Payroll Clerk
Re: CERF Pension Plan Update
9:15 a.m. Kay Brown, County Clerk
Re: County Records
9:30 a.m. Dodee Matthews – Ozark Parks and Recreation
Re: Greenways Trail
10:00 a.m. John Housley
Re: Acquiring Right of Way
11:00 a.m. Trevor Croley
Re: Cox Health Plans Renewal
12:00 noon OACAC Luncheon/Board Meeting
2:00–4:30 p.m. Work/Study Session
Re: 2008 Budget
Tags: , Christian County, clerk, custody, legal
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November 2, 2007 at 8:14 pm
CC Headliner Staff:
I am so disappointed in you guys. I thought you were more professional than the above writings. It may only be a blog, but it is tied to your paper, like it or not. I am surprised the owner of your paper will allow this.
The editors of this newspaper are letting their own feelings stand in the way of good reporting and are being endorsed by the management of same. Of course editors and reporters can make mistakes. But when it is intentional (bias) reporting, there is no excuse for that unethical behavior from a journalist. That is just wrong.
The Christian County Headliner needs to do a better job of listening to the citizens of our community, rather than a select few. If you want to sell papers (and advertising), you need to restore the trust of the citizens of Christian County.
Please check your facts for accuracy from ALL sources and exercise care to avoid obvious errors.
Ethical journalists treat other human beings with respect. Even if you disagree with some elected officials, you should always be professional enough to keep it as that. Professional. There is no excuse for being disrespectful to anyone, in a blog, on an opinion page, or in a news story.
If you want to be perceived as providing unbiased information, don’t put in an opinion column at all!
Management: You need to show some leadership and get a hold of this thing. This is sad. You need to get rid of this blog.
November 6, 2007 at 8:04 am
Management
Don’t get rid of this blog. If Disappointed doesn’t like it, he doesn’t have to read it. I, and others like it.
November 6, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Some people thrive on controversy. This blog is certainly that.
November 10, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I am disappointed that the Headliner staff are making a joke our of our county government. Such a headline as given in this blog “Custody Battle” sounds like something an old wet hen would come up with.
November 10, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Disappointed,
You said it, the County Commission except Barnett is a JOKE!
January 5, 2008 at 8:15 am
Be sure you protect Barnett. He has shown tremendous leadership since he has been elected commissioner. He is on top of things, puts in numerous hours in the commission chambers, and Barnett’s intelligence is amazing. He has been such a strength for the county, always standing behind the right decisions.
Let’s see…. if we were really being honest, I don’t think he’s done squat except ride around in the county road truck passing out water. Well…. I guess if this makes him feel right in his heart that’s all that matters.
What Barnett is not telling the taxpayers is that he has overspent his budget numerous years and other funds paid them. Let’s see… Is that co-mingling of funds…. Let’s ask Karen Matthews, Roy Matthews and Tom Chudomelka?
January 20, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Dea So-So;
Houdini was a master of distraction and slight of hand. But, you don’t measure up.
Lets get back to the facts of the law being violated. Now the A.G. has weighed in and the time for opinion has long past. Stick with the facts and try not to distract the audience by poing fingers at Matthews, Barnett etc. and point the finger where the actual wrongdoing is happening….HUFF & PUFF (GRUBAUGH)
January 20, 2008 at 9:02 pm
THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE.
As a conservative guy who campaigned for Ronald Reagan, I’ve always had a healthy skepticism for the government and the mere mortals elected to run the government. They must earn the trust of those who’ve elected them through openness and sound decision-making. But, even though they run under the party of Reagan, Christian County Commissioners John Grubaugh and Tom Huff believe in neither of those things. Taxpayers, under their regime, are only worse for wear.
The Missouri Attorney General has filed suit against them for serious and despicable violations of open government. Historically this is only the third time in the last two years of that the A.G. has taken such an action against elected officials. The suit will only further reveal Grubaugh and Huff’s illegal act of forging Western Commissioner Bill Barnett’s signature and or dates to the legislation at the core of the lawsuit
Least us not forget their disregard for taxpayer money: the giveaway of county assets, labor and materials, when if Huff, who is in the paving business felt so benevolent he could have provided the materials and labor and equipment to the school instead of having the taxpayers pick up the tab. And the over spending of $500,000.00 by Huff, and County Auditor Sam Yarnell’s dirty hands by failing to do her job and assist with the cover-up and not following the law. When asked by a reporter why see has not said anything at the Commission meeting, her only response is “I don’t want to be clobbered”.
We have no future planning in Christian County. Employees in the courthouse have been bullied and fear to open their mouths for sake of losing their jobs; they won’t even cooperate with the Highway Patrol in fear of revenge. And that goes for the employees of Huffs Common 1 road district. They also refused to speak to the Highway Patrol investigators. Who are they trying to protect? The only person who can fire them?
This is nothing short of insanity. No matter who the messenger is, it is time we seek and regain control of our county government. What is it going to take to do away with the apathy and bring accountability to our county? Whatever happened to “All Truths Shall
Be Self Evident”?
Huff and Grubaugh have attacked the messenger, reporters and anyone else who dare speak the truth. Will you be next? They have gone after the County Prosecutor, The County Treasurer, The County Clerk and Commissioner Bill Barnett and former Commissioners, but they have never addressed the issues themselves. This will not stop as they try every trick in the book to deflect attention from themselves and onto to someone else or another issue. After all isn’t the best defense a good offense?
The sick part about all this is that they have employed four different sets of attorneys, at a cost to the taxpayers of tens of thousands of dollars, to assist in attacking other elected officials and average citizens. They may learn that being open and honest may be the most economically sound policy.
It is time to be heard and time to speak up. If not then you reap what you sow. Start attending the Commission meetings and see for yourself. Maybe the Commission would hold one meeting a month in the evening or even posting unedited minutes online so working people can see for themselves and take part in their own government.
I remember another sentiment by Reagan: Are you better off now than you were four years ago? HECK NO!