Journal staff report
MOUND CITY – Rural Parker resident Tom Kemper spoke to the Linn County Commissioners about making good decisions on Monday, August 19. Kemper told them if they made good decisions, they would not be called on their actions as much.
Kemper covered many subjects in the five minutes he was allotted during the public forum time slot with Commission Chair Danny McCullough interrupting him several times. Kemper has used the forum several times over the past few weeks to air concerns.
McCullough interrupted when Kemper asked the commissioners how they think their employees’ children feel when the commissioners’ shenanigans regarding employees job performance is criticized on Mondays in public.
McCullough said not to bring up his children. McCullough has talked about the effect his job as commissioners has had on his children before in open session.
When interrupted, Kemper told McCullough he was just trying to help them.
“I don’t need your help,” said McCullough.
Kemper explained to the commissioners that when they take a public position they put themselves out in the public for more scrutiny and criticism.
“This can be mitigated by making good decisions every week,” he said.
“I see a lot of closed-mindedness on this commission,” Kemper said. “When you say you only get information from the anti-solar people, how can you make a good decision?
“How can you make a good decision when you just listen to pro-solar groups? You have to be open-minded to make a good decision.”
“Danny says no one wants to do this job,” Kemper said responding to McCullough’s comments a week earlier. “There are people all over this country and every county doing this job. We are fortunate to be able to govern ourselves.
“Here again if we make good decisions this is not so problematic. My mom told me growing up – if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
“You guys says that you are all about saving the taxpayers money. I think that’s great. I hope you save enough to pay for some of this employee turnover, legal expenses, and lawsuit settlements,” said Kemper. “Another topic, it seems like you prefer not to listen to legal advice. Another example of making poor decisions. Another great way to put financial burden on the taxpayers.”
Kemper continued, “Then there’s the comment that Danny didn’t know about the sheriff and phones. Just asking, who pays for your county phone? It’s also weird that two of you guys liked to use the word transparency three or four times a Monday. I haven’t heard that word since the phones came up.”
“Next topic, KORA (Kansas Open Records Act), any reasonable person might think you are trying to hide something when you delete a text or refuse to comply with the phone data,” Kemper said. “I have a copy of the KORA. I’ve read a little bit. What stands out to me is that there’s two phone numbers in the same text thread.
“Think about this, if you’re making good decisions, when that first text thread came through you’d have stopped it. Didn’t happen, there’s multiples. Making proper decisions could have stopped some of this talk. Also, subject to KORA policies, you guys seem interested in the policy. Are you going to try to modify the policy?”
Kemper continued, “Danny rants about how unprofessional the Linn County Journal is. It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. He makes rude comments. He interrupts. He makes childish comments, foul language in open session. I can only imagine how he’s like behind closed doors.
“Let’s talk about public comment. The policy, I think, is one per meeting. I’m pretty sure you are supposed to stand up here like the rest of us.
“I’m pretty sure you only get five minutes. Last week, you went over,” said Kemper about McCullough’s criticism of the Journal and its staff. McCullough attempted to interrupt. “Here again, you interrupt,” said Kemper.
“Jim complains that he is compared to Larry Hall. Look at your actions. Look at your similarities. Both papers have made the same comments. Other people are saying the same thing. Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, it’s probably a duck,” said Kemper.
“You say you ask the tough questions and aren’t afraid to take controversial issues, but last week you pressured (Commissioner Jason Hightower) to make the second on the removal of Charlene Sims” from the county planning commission.
“Jim’s bashing the sheriff’s office talking about money and grants,” Kemper said. “I haven’t heard yet today, I think they (jail) got a prestigious award for excellence. I wonder if the Linn County Commission will ever get an award for excellence.”
“I ran into a friend of mine (McCullough interjects that Kemper is running out of time), okay. Last one, I ran into a friend of mine the other day they work at the Miami County offices and every Monday morning, they tune into this for the Monday morning comedy show. Pretty freakin’ embarrassing.”
“They’re probably trying to listen to what you have to say,” mumbled McCullough while Johnson laughed.
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