Commissioner Todd Pownall Seeks The Truth

As originally reported in my previous post “Citizen Comments Were Edited Out Of Last Board Of Commissioners Meeting”, Paulding County Chairman David Austin unilaterally decided to stop recording and televising the “CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK” portion of the Board of Commissioner Meetings.  I subsequently emailed all of the commissioners and reported on the response I received in my second article “Seriously?”.  Then unexpectedly, while on vacation last week, I received the below email from Commissioner Todd Pownall.  I think it is quite obvious that there is more to this story than simply a “budget-cut” being implemented.

—–Original Message—–

From: “Todd Pownall ”
Sent: Thursday, September 8, 2011 7:25am
To: “tmilanese@cleaninter.net ” <tmilanese@cleaninter.net>,
Subject: Fw: Fwd: VIDEO FROM 8/23 7PM BOC MEETING

Tom,

I am sorry you got the answer you did from the BOC. If you ever need anything just call. I will always be here for the citizens of Paulding County.

Make it a great day!

Todd Pownall

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with Nextel Direct Connect

—–Original Message—–

From: Todd Pownall
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 9:07 PM
To: David Austin; David Barnett; Larry Ragsdale; Tommie Graham; Mike Jones
Subject: FW: Fwd: VIDEO FROM 8/23 7PM BOC MEETING

Tell me that was not the answer the BOC gave a citizen. That was never in the budget cuts and we never discussed it, nor did we vote on it. We as a board did not make that decision. The Chairman did. As of today I have had 7 calls and 4 e-mails about it.

Please tell them the truth.

Thanks, Todd Pownall

—–Original Message—–
From: David Austin <daustin@paulding.gov>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:55:51
To: <mjones@paulding.gov>; <daustin@paulding.gov>; <lragsdale@paulding.gov>; <toddpownall@hotmail.com>; <jerielinvest@bellsouth.net>; <dbarnett@floorandlightworks.com>

Subject: Fwd: VIDEO FROM 8/23 7PM BOC MEETING

Hello All

I responded to Mr. Milanese that the reduction in filming is part of our department’s budget cuts.

Pat

Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:

From: tmilanese@cleaninter.net <mailto:tmilanese@cleaninter.net>

Date: August 31, 2011 12:11:17 PM CDT

To: “Mike Jones” <mjones@paulding.gov <mailto:mjones@paulding.gov> >, “Tommie Graham” <jerielinvest@bellsouth.net <mailto:jerielinvest@bellsouth.net> >, “David Austin” <daustin@paulding.gov <mailto:daustin@paulding.gov> >, “Todd Pownall” <tpownall@paulding.gov <mailto:tpownall@paulding.gov> >, “Larry Ragsdale” <lragsdale@paulding.gov <mailto:lragsdale@paulding.gov> >, “David Barnett” <dbarnett@paulding.gov <mailto:dbarnett@paulding.gov> >

Subject: VIDEO FROM 8/23 7PM BOC MEETING

Would the county explain why the “CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK” portion of the public access video was left out from the 7pm August 23rd BOC meeting? Also, Mr. Austin told me I would get an official response to my question from that same meeting. It’s been over a week and I have nothing so I’ll ask it again: What efforts have been made or are going to be made by the county to collect on the $1.9 million dollar debt owed to the taxpayers by the Paulding County Industrial Building Authority?

Tom Milanese
Paulding County Taxpayer