Rowan Jobs Initiative, a nonprofit agency which has received county funding, is refusing to turn over records to the county.
In response, commissioners have agreed to consider a new policy that will require any agency receiving county funds to comply with state open meetings and public records laws.
In late June, Commissioner Tina Hall requested copies of RJI board meeting minutes starting with the receipt of county funding. She also asked for additional information on how the $325,000 in county funds were spent.
Hall told commissioners Monday evening that Dyke Messinger, a director and chairman of the marketing committee, met with her last week but didn't provide the requested records.
She said he offered some limited information relating to Miller Davis Studio's work for the organization.
On June 2, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted to pull all county funding from the organization after learning that $117,000 had gone to Miller Davis while owner Mike Miller was a director of the Rowan Jobs Initiative.
Rowan Jobs Initiative was started in 2005 to assist the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission. It uses a mix of public and private money.
Hall and County Attorney Jay Dees said Messinger offered to meet individually with commissioners and show them documents and records relating to Miller Davis only.
Hall questioned what the agency has to hide, adding, "Openness and accountability is job one."
Messinger said Tuesday that he has talked with the RJI board of directors and its members will not turn over minutes. He said the county has had the opportunity to be part of the organization from its inception. "We've never tried to hide anything. Why does the county want minutes once they've disassociated with us. It's not to understand, it's to try and slam us."
Messinger contended that Hall is looking for negative information. "She has shown negativity toward our organization. It's pretty clear it's a fishing expedition to find something to slam us."
In an e-mail to Dees, Messinger outlined RJI's position, saying the records belong to RJI and are not public records.
Monday evening, commissioners debated whether to accept the invitation to meet with RJI or to demand copies of minutes and other records.
Commissioner Jim Sides said he wants copies, insisting the public has a right to the information.
Sides announced that he is working on a policy used by other counties to require any agency receiving tax dollars to comply with public records and meetings requirements.
Vice Chairman Chad Mitchell said such a policy is a great idea. Mitchell called the $325,000 given to RJI a lot of money, but asked, "What's the end game?"
Mitchell questioned whether the board is willing to go to court to get the records and what the cost might be. "Is it worth the money?" he asked.
Hall said taxpayers have a right to know how the money was spent.
Chamberlain suggested commissioners take up RJI on their invitation for individual meetings and see what they are willing to provide.
Chamberlain said he is willing to meet with RJI any time and noted that he attempted to meet with members of the organization several week ago about the Miller Davis issue, but no one would meet with him.
Chamberlain went on to offer a bit of advice for agencies wanting county funding in the future: "It's tough to vote yes when you get blasted," he said, referring to a scathing attack from RJI members at the June 16 meeting.
Commissioner Jon Barber defended RJI, saying that if the goal is to determine the number of jobs the organization is creating, it won't be easy.
Barber went further, saying the Board of Commissioners is responsible for creating jobs.
: Sunday, August 10, 2008 11:45 PM
It's not enough that the county board wants to put volunteers in the county guillotine, they want the volunteers to walk up to and stick their heads into it under their own initiative. This board does not operate under any form of decency and they have been the most destructive board in county history. That is the Chamberlain legacy as augmented by Sides and Hall.
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TOI
re;Disappointed by RJI Board : Sunday, August 10, 2008 10:48 PM
To Angry Voter, you bet they did! And they did! Anyone can call politics on this one, but numbers are what count.
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City Council is inept, but not dumb : Sunday, August 10, 2008 9:42 PM
When the Salisbury City Council gives money to RJI with no strings attached, it is recklessness and ineptitude at its worst. But it isn't necessarily "dumb" if they know who's benefiting from the funds, and RJI is not required to show it. Who knows, since the hidden records are about as safe as Saddam Hussein's "WMD's".
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Turn about is fair play : Sunday, August 10, 2008 2:37 PM
Hey, Ms. Cook!! The City Council of Salisbury does some dumb things. Ever think about criticizing them?
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Angry Voter
Disappointed by RJI Board : Thursday, August 07, 2008 11:32 PM
Another day has gone by and RJI still refuses to do what is right. Is there no one in the whole organization that has a sense of right and wrong? Did RJI really expect to spend $325,000 of our money and then stonewall attempts for us to get an accounting of the expenditures? RJI, where is your sense of shame for your disgraceful actions? Where is your sense of wrong doing for allowing a board member to bid and receive a contract from you? Is RJI a totally unethical organization? It certainly seems so. Honorable men on your board will resign in protest. How many have resigned? Is anyone counting? Your actions will set back private-public cooperation on similar ventures by many years as you have proved to be untrustworthy. Such big names and such little men. Elitists at their worst.
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A lesson about the county attorney, and blog-flamers : Thursday, August 07, 2008 5:46 PM
Mill Hill Elitist has really misinterpreted our county attorney's actions. As a private practice attorney, Jay Dees represented clients who had petitioned for permits for the two projects you referenced. Then when he became county attorney, he had to wear a different hat. Even had a conflict on the Mt. Ulla tower, so he did not articulate an opinion on that issue. As for associating Jay Dees with anti-progress Salisbury-bashing, it's already been in the Post that Jay Dees is a charter member of the Committee of 100, which is now known as the RJI. So it's ironic that the real Salisbury-bashers have blasted him as part of an organization they perceive to be comprised of Salisbury's elitists, while Mill Hill Elitist has blasted Mr. Dees for being a Salisbury-basher. It appears that Mr. Dees has remained above the fray on all these issues, and Mill Hill Elitist is upset that Dees actually declines to act as a "6th Commissioner." If he were acting as an un-elected Commissioner, the criticism would be merited. But as it now stands, Mill Hill Elitist is making up facts just to suit his or her need to lash out at someone against whom he or she has a personal vendetta. It is not unlike the idiots who are posting outrageous motives attributed to certain elected officials in both Rowan County and Salisbury. But again, it's "just a blog," and most of these anonymous posters are merely flaming insults at their anonymous enemies. Sounds childish, doesn't it? Perhaps a sociology major could prepare a thesis on the pathological blogging "community" on this site.
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Mill Hill Elitist
Best / Worst 6th Man : Thursday, August 07, 2008 4:30 PM
Actually, County Atty. Jay Dees, as the "6th Commissioner", enjoys crushing anything that reflects progress or is positive for the community. He enjoys working both sides of an issue, i.e. FOR the west Rowan radio antenna - AGAINST the west Rowan radio antenna, FOR the county owned midget race track - AGAINST the Mill Bridge race track. Matters not! Just as long as he's getting paid, Jay is the man! A great day for Commisioner #6 is when he gets to slam Salisbury! Sort of like smelling napalm in the morning! Ah, how I long for the days of honorable men like Clarence Kluttz. Now, he was a fine lawyer!
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RJI, Tell All please
RJI Miller & Messenger hiding Something? : Thursday, August 07, 2008 1:38 PM
" an e-mail to Dees, Messinger outlined RJI's position, saying the records belong to RJI and are not public records". From this, it is clear that the Commissioners wanted the records. Mr. Dees acts on behalf of the Board, not just one individual. " I don't think RJI is hiding anything from the public". You are wrong. RJI is protecting a board member from embarrassing or worse disclosure. If they had nothing to hide, they would make the records public. How would you like it if the County Commissioners refused to make records of their spending public? RJI spent public money and should do likewise. They are accountable to us, the taxpayers, for spendingt our money, just like the commissioners are. What are they hiding?
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TOI
Waiting : Thursday, August 07, 2008 1:06 PM
DON'T CARE ABOUT THE MINUTES. Where's the numbers?
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Highlighted records : Thursday, August 07, 2008 11:17 AM
Jessie Burchette is intelligent enough to make her own highlights of the RJI public records. She wouldn't need anybody to do that for her. So RJI could just release the records to Jessie, if they are willing.
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RJI : Thursday, August 07, 2008 9:44 AM
I don't think RJI is hiding anything from the public, they're keeping Miss Tina from continuing her political retribution against Mike Miller and his colleagues. Does anyone really think Miss Tina would just hand these documents over to the public/Post without reading them first and highlighting every little negative bit of information? Remember, the Board didn't ask for the documents, just Jim and Miss Tina. Of course, as other posters have said, if we're going for the RJI records, we may as well get Miss Tina's school personnel file while we're at it, unless SHE has got something to hide?
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What is RJI Hiding? : Thursday, August 07, 2008 7:06 AM
So, when all is said and done, what is RJI hiding from the public? They did spend $325,000 of our tax money, and now they refuse to make the records public. This smells very fishy. Spending public money demands public accountability. Refusal to allow public accontability very strongly suggests wrongdoing. So what is RJI hiding? How are they protecting? RJI defenders need to address that issue instead of ignoring it. "So, all the frustration over the public's right to see how their money is spent is misplaced. RJI says they are willing to show us that." So why has RJI not made the records public? Are you an RJI official? What are you hiding?
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Barber went further, saying the Board of Commissioners are responsible for creating jobs. : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:14 PM
Quote of the year! At least one commissioner gets it.
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"Hey, Tina, can we see your personnel records from your fine career with the school system?" : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 8:03 PM
Tina could use her passion by helping the school system, and individual schools, by sharing her best practices on how she improved her test scores. Her results as a Principal prove it.
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: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:49 PM
Perhaps the Post should investigate the statement below about Ms. Hall and her employment with the school system. If the person that posted this is correct it might explain why she is so critical of the schools.
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My Fair Lady : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 6:56 PM
Looks like Eliza Doolittle's "cockney" accent is beginning to show her true colors. As Chad asked on Monday, what is she really after? Arnold might want to muzzle Tina or further risk his "legacy". As the Chairman, he is ultimately responsible for the behavior of the commission. Tina is out of control and her RJI "witch hunt" will result in a lose/lose situation for Rowan County. The county is already the laughing stock within the economic development community. RJI, nor EDC, has enough money or influence to counter balance any of these issues. Arnold needs to figure out a way to broker some mediation. He needs to check his ego, Tina needs to find some common sense and RJI needs to keep its options open so cooler head's prevail. Arnold has to take the first step and demonstrate the leadership he was elected to uphold. Tina needs to get off her high horse. Jim needs to to just sit there and vote "no" as he always does. Chad and Jon have attempted to stay out of this circus but they need to step up to the plate and act for the greater good. Let's see this thing play out privately and quietly, and save the drama for something more worthwhile.
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Read Carefully : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 6:34 PM
If you read carefully, you will see that even Jessie acknowledged that RJI is and has been willing to answer ANY questions the commissioners have and provide the documentation to support their answers. So, all the frustration over the public's right to see how their money is spent is misplaced. RJI says they are willing to show us that. Why does Tina need all the minutes from this group? Is she just unable to organize her thoughts or questions and needs to look at things in a solitary environment? That would be a very generous assumption when you look at her general approach and the approach of the commissioners as a whole for that matter. It is more likely that Tina wants the records all to herself so that she can look for some other angle to get back at RJI. They admit they did not like "being slammed." Is that what they call defending yourself. This craziness should be a great reminder to all of us that we need to use our votes as our voices. Read the information carefully, minus the political spin and vote.
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The whole story : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 6:27 PM
"This is NOT the county commission collectively requesting records, this is Jim and Tina doing their same tired song and dance," Obvously you were not at the County Commission meeting on Monday. Virtually all of the Commissioners thought that RJI should make their records public. You should observe the old saying "It is best to keep for a fool to keep silent than to speak and remove all doubt". No Commissioner expressed an opinion that RJI should continue to hide their records from the public. You refuse to make the records public when you have something to hide. Why refuse, if you have nothing to hide? Whose reputation (at RJI) will be smirched if the records are made public? All of your reputations (at RJI) will be smirched if your refuse to do what is right. You spent our money. You need to reveal your spending records to us. Or simply give the money back and we will be satisfied. Do one or the other. Men of honor? I don't think so. Men of dishonor? Yes. "They have their integrity attacked when they were "unfunded"," This is not true at all. They (RJI) smeared their own integrity by awarding contracts to their own board member (Mike Miller). They smeared their integrity again by refusing to make show the public where the public money was spent. They refuse to do what is right. Men of integrity will do what is right. They have smeared their own integrity. They need help from no one in doing that. Shysters, charlatans, and con men are the terms that come to mind to describe people doing at RJI are doing now.
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Name withheld due to Kings and Gangs
WELL SILLY REASON ENOUGH IS ENOUGH-I HOPE SO! : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 5:13 PM
I am disgusted with the jelly fish backbone of this business community. If you want Rowan to prosper then organize, stop your whining and vote for change. If you want the same, then vote for Sides and Ford. It's just that simple. Has it really taken 4 years for the educated leadership of this community to start pushing back against the absurd? What do we have to show for the last four years: failing schools, gangs that are taking over, investigation after investigation, 3-2 votes on anything progressive? What do we offer to those who may want to come here?? Marriot Hotel needs to locate to Cabarrus County; after all, they saw a 12% growth in tourism and probably won't be hosting the annual, "I'm Proud of My Lack of Education" or "What Gang Do You Belong To, " conferences. Instead of taking people to Mexico or England why not expose people to the progressive communities of North Carolina? That should be culture shock enough without having to drive more than 30 minutes down or up I-85.
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Another sad affair : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 5:01 PM
RJI is simply trying to do good work to support the county's economic challenges. And what thanks do they get? They have their integrity attacked when they were "unfunded", Jesse puts her "special spin" on reporting facts and then Tina attacks last Monday. Looks like business as usual in Rowan County. Hang tough, RJI. You are decent people, doing decent things. Don't lower yourselves to their level. More people, than those who blog, have been waiting from true leadership. Thanks for taking the helm of a rudderless ship and trying to help sterr it in the right direction. Maybe November will give the rest of the County the opportunity to jump on board. Rowan County deserves better than Hall, Sides and The King.
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RE: Silly Season : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 4:41 PM
Good point. I'd like for Tina Hall to reveal all her personnel files from when she was a public employee. I seem to remember she resigned as principal from Enochville Elementary, changed her mind and demanded her job back. Former School Supt. Wiley Doby had the guts to say "No thanks!". I believe she pressed the issue all the way to the school board and, as result of the decision being upheld, carries an anti-intellectual, "I'll show 'em" vendetta in all aspects of her public life. Throw in her obvious hate for Salisbury, economic development, and farmland preservation and you've got the perfect teammate for the Jim Sides show. Since she ran on the "Let the Sunshine In" theme, her personnel records ought to be available for public review. We could learn all the details of how her school career played out to its ignominious end. Also, the Rowan County Democtratic party may want to check out who she's supporting in the general election. Since her preference for Sides and Ford is completely apparent, then she ought to be shown the door! Finally, Tina has no problem attending illegal meetings of the County Commission, i.e. anti- annexation meetings, tourism authority, etc. where the majority of the commission conducts public business without proper public notice. Not exactly living up to the "Openess and accountablity are job one" motto.
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TOI
Re;Maybe I'm missing something : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 4:04 PM
You are. RJI won't disclose financial information. And state the reason for non disclosure is the County doesn't need the minutes. While a slow and dimwitted response, it's still another political answer.
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Silly Season : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 3:47 PM
Does anyone smell an election right around the corner? None of this has anything to do with RJI vs Hall or honor vs dishonor. This is all about deflecting attention (and maybe tax payer dollars) away from important issues like 6.0% unemployement, attracting new jobs to the county and working together for the common good. The King and his court are angry because someone finally said enough is enough and pushed back. Enough people and groups have been steam rolled by this folly of an administration and "gosh forbid", someone said, "No, thank you. We'll meet you in the middle but we are not going to be bullied by overzealous and power hungry politicians". Tina seems to have forgotten that she was elected to lead, to serve the greater good of our county and to represent all the people. Instead, she seems determined to pursue her own political agenda at anyone's expense (currently RJI but a new beau new will come around soon), and bask in the "moral righteousness" of less than 20% of the electorate that supported her........ Hey, Tina, can we see your personnel records from your fine career with the school system? The public paid your salary........"honorable people" would do it. A silly season for us all. December can't come soon enough
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Why not disclose? : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 3:16 PM
If these honorable folks have nothing to hide, then why not disclose? It would put als the conspiracy theories to bed, would it not?
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: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 2:43 PM
Maybe I'm missing something but the way I read the article, RJI seemed willing to share with Commissioners information on how their appropriation was spent. That's not good enough for Commissioners Hall and Sides. In requesting minutes, they appear to want to know who said what, to whom and about what. RJI is a private, not public, entity. If, when County money was appropriated to them, RJI was informed of the expectation that their minutes, financial documents, etc. would become part of the public domain, I would expect them to turn them over. If that condition was not placed on the appropriation, then I believe they have every right to refuse to release to the public that information. RJI is a group that seeks to assist in recruiting new business and industry to Rowan County. Like the EDC, releasing information about those potential entities could be detrimental to our ability to seriously engage them and others in the future. This Board, in particular Commissioner Hall, has demonstrated that they are incapable of keeping in confidence such information. The Commissioners' desire to press this issue -- after they've already pulled RJI funding -- smacks at best of a witch hunt and at worse of a vendetta. Just read King Chamberlain's words: They don't like to get "blasted" (AKA citizens exercising their right to express their opinions).
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Full "discolure"? : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 2:32 PM
Not to mention "Sueing"? Talk about putting your mouth in motion before your brain is engaged. But back to the issue at hand, this debacle will cost plenty, Sides and Hall are just getting their headlines as they always do, under the guise of some horribly miguided but ostensibly altruistic purpose. This is NOT the county commission collectively requesting records, this is Jim and Tina doing their same tired song and dance, and I applaud the RJI for standing up to these two.
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RJI Slams the Door : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:49 PM
Instead of apoligizing to the Commissioners as is called for, RJI has slammed the door on any possibility of ever getting money from the Rowan County Commissioners. Why apoligize? It was clearly a conflict of interest for RJI to spend money with a member of their own board. Honorable men understand that. Dishonorable men will defend RJI on the conflict of interest. When the Commissioners called them on that, RJI got very defensive. The reason they were so defensive is that they KNEW THEY WERE GUILTY as CHARGED. Now they are trying to get even with the Commissioners for cutting off funding. We all know now that RJI members intensely dislike the Commissioners. No matter how they feel about the Commissioners, they need to show us, the Rowan County Taxpayers, where OUR money was spent and open their records to us. Release them to the Salisbury Post, if your pride is puffed up too much for you to release them to the Commissioners. What are you hiding? Are you men of honor? Your actions will revel the answer.
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For Full discolure
Men of Honor?? Ha : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:33 PM
"That's the sound of your taxes going up because Sides and Hall are running up county government costs by going on fishing expeditions such as this one to gain themselves publicity." And what do you think the cost of asking RJI to do what is right is? This is a classic case of someone putting their mouth in motion before their brain is engaged. Where public money is spent, the public has a right to know where it was spent. The county would be justified in sueing these clowns for violating the public trust by not opening their records to the public. What are they hiding? It must be very embarrassing or illegal. Would it tarnish some reputations? I bet it would!! So these "most honorable and successful business leaders" are keeping their dishonorable mouths shut to preserved undeserved reputations, huh? Some honor they deserve. Honorable men will do the honorable thing. If they refuse to disclose records to the public about where public money was spent, then this is adequate proof that they are NOT HONORABLE men.
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Be Honest, RJI : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:23 PM
"The leaders of Rowan Jobs Initiative are some of the most honorable and successful business leaders in our community." If they really are men of honor, they will honor the public trust by showing the public where they spent the money. I judge men by their actions. If, on the other hand, they refuse to show the public where public money was spent, the public will know that there is SOMETHING to HIDE.
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For Public Disclosure
What Does RJI have to Hide? : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:18 PM
They spent public money. They have an obligation to show the public where it is spent. What are they hiding?
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Cha-Ching... : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:02 AM
That's the sound of your taxes going up because Sides and Hall are running up county government costs by going on fishing expeditions such as this one to gain themselves publicity. I can only hope that my comment will be followed by the token retorts from Tina Hall Jeff Morris, Larry Wright and Bill Ward (all unsigned, of course, except for Wright). And they'll probably throw something in about how Carl Ford is SUCH a good guy. Please guys, please?
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Don't back down! : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:37 AM
The leaders of Rowan Jobs Initiative are some of the most honorable and successful business leaders in our community. To imply they are up to no good in their efforts to improve our local economy is a bunch of baloney. This is another example of certain elected county officials trying to micromanage everything by using bullying tactics and distorted information through the media. Even if you told them the truth in black and white they would find a way to turn it against you. Their real goal is to reinforce their own misguided political fortunes and stroke their own egos. Don't tell them anything Dyke!..except where to put their request.
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What is there to hide? : Wednesday, August 06, 2008 8:48 AM
This is the crowd that is going out of its way to sway this November's election. So unless the Rowan Jobs Initiative has partaken of public funds and routinely contracted with board members other than Mike Miller, what does it have to hide? Are there other examples of this good-ole-boy club doling out taxpayers' funds to their buds? If so, they are wise to keep mum. If not, they should step forward and proclaim, "Told ya so!"
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Love of history: Teacher's ability to reach students leads to honor
