Shortly after resuming court following a heated executive session that resulted in raised voices echoing in the courthouse corridors, Fisher County officials resumed the regular session only to receive warnings and an eventual threat of contempt of court from the county judge on Monday.
Fisher County Attorney Michael Hall requested the executive session, citing both personnel and potential litigation as justification for discussing one of Monday's agenda items behind closed doors. While the topic of discussion is sealed from the public, its nature was enough to cause officials to deliberate the issue in elevated voices.
When the open session resumed, tensions between officials once again escalated when discussing items that, although required no formal action, were no less controversial.
Fisher County Auditor Becky Mauldin said for the sake of transparency, it should be addressed that a recent equipment surplus item — in this case a 1986 backhoe — was recently placed up for auction.
“Our commissioners put a lot of equipment on René Bates, which is an online auction where people bid for the equipment,” said Mauldin. She explained that Precinct 3 Commissioner Preston Martin placed a backhoe up for auction last month.
Martin explained last month that the type of work required to complete in-kind work necessary for completing grant obligations exceeded the capabilities of the machine. Additionally, the aging machine is prone to mechanical malfunctions that slow down operations.
“Whenever we use it we have to have two people, so the first one can pick up the second one when the machine breaks down,” said Martin during the March meeting, adding that the goal would be to sell the old machine at auction, and use its proceeds to offset the cost of a new machine.
What caused transparency concerns for Mauldin was that the individual who purchased the old machine was, in fact, Commissioner Martin. She pointed out that while he claimed the backhoe was no longer a dependable machine, it did not keep the commissioner from personally bidding on it.
Martin said that was not entirely correct. “What the agenda should've said was misinformation by Becky Mauldin, not information,” he said, explaining that the only reason he bought the equipment was that as the auction grew nearer to close, the highest bid was $9000. As Martin believed the equipment should have brought closer to$11,000 or $12,000.
“I didn't think it was in the best interest of Fisher County to sell that backhoe for $9000,” said Martin, adding that before he placed the bid he attempted to contact Mauldin, Hall, and Fisher County Judge Ken Holt, none of whom were available in their offices.
Martin said because he had a bidder number, and the county did not, he decided to place a bid on the equipment in the hopes it would help drive the bid higher. When the auction came to a close, his was the highest bid, and as a result, was obligated to pay the cost.
“So you're sacrificing for the county by buying that piece of equipment,” asked Mauldin which sparked a series of back-and-forth comments between the two until Holt ended the contest and issuing his first warning. “I don't want any more outburst like that,” said Holt.
As the meeting continued, Commissioner Kevin Stuart’s proposal to purchase a new pickup for his precinct's road hands was also met with opposition from both the public and Commissioner Gordon Pippin. Pippin's main opposition was that he felt Stuart could save the county money by purchasing an older model or perhaps one of a smaller size.
Stuart retorted saying that Pippin only had 135 miles of road compared to his 185 miles. “You’ve got way the easiest precinct to maintain,” said Stuart
“You should run for Precinct 1 then,” said Pippin, and after several moments of silence within the courtroom, Stuart fired back. “Maybe you should run your precinct, and let me run mine,” he said.
If there had been an official gavel, no doubt Holt would have been banging it along with his second and final warning, reminding all officials that it was within his power to hold any one of them in contempt of court, and would do so if such outbursts continued.
“I've had about enough of this. I can hold everyone in contempt of court, so just keep that in the back of your mind,” said Holt.
Once order was restored and conflicts amongst the elected officials again temporarily quelled, the judge called for a vote on the issue. Commissioner Martin said that since Stuart had funds within his precinct budget to cover the cost, he saw no reason not to approve the purchase.
In a three to one vote in favor, Commissioner Pippin remained the solitary vote in opposition. The commissioners are scheduled to meet again in the next regular board meeting on May 10th.