Opinion : BENTON COUNTY RESIDENTS - Your attention is needed

On tomorrow's Supervisor's agenda there are two VERY IMPORTANT items on the agenda. Number 8 at 9:01 a.m. and number 15 at 9:30 a.m.

9:01 a.m.

Sue Wilber the Benton County HR director has a discussion  on the agenda concerning Iowa Code 2001: Section 331.502 to discuss the role of the Auditor. "Discussion/Classification of 331.502 General Duties" the agenda reads.

For several months, HR has been after the Auditor's Office and basically has tried to take over parts of the Auditor's job. You know, the Auditor that WE elected. I've been silent on this one, but trust me when I say HR has no business telling the Auditor what kind of software to use on her computer. 

NEITHER does HR have business collecting official county paperwork, like she's asked to do in the past. But apparently, the Supervisors want to entertain the discussion and see if they can't allow chipping away of the Auditor's duties. This will happen at 9:01 a.m.

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

Information Technology

Re: Possible closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and that individual requests a closed session.

Now when I saw this I thought, "uh oh, they are going to fire the county tech guy, and it's probably my fault."

See in the last several months, the Benton County Supervisors have been under a LOT of scrutiny for not following the law. When something is on camera it's really hard to lie about what happened. Lately the cameras have been the public's friend. They prove the shenanigans that the county supervisors have been pulling. If there were no shenanigans they would also prove that there are no shenanigans.

See there is a county committee that has been created for the very purpose of protecting the premises with cameras. Just in case a member of the public loses control on an elected official or one of the employees. It's on camera.

Unfortunately, the downside to cameras is that they also catch things like supervisors smacking women on the butt, and the Board of Supervisors meeting outside of open sessions aka meetings. You know, things that the Supervisors DON'T want you to see.

When things like illegal meetings happen, it has been reported to the Iowa Public Information Board. Then the Supervisors call in special counsel and pay for lawyers to defend them. The special counsel says, "they didn't mean to" and they get a slap on the wrist. 

Right now there are three pending cases and ALL can be proven ON CAMERA.

I'm not really sure what our county tech guy does other than cameras, I just know that this specific need is there. Obviously. 

They say the best disinfectant is sunlight. There is something called the Sunshine Law. This is basically using things like public records, and yes cameras to be transparent. 

It appears that the Board plans to do some crooked stuff in their meeting tomorrow to close the curtains. It's too bright from all the sunlight in their room.

My guess is that when they highlight a certain office, with words like, "to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered," and it's the county IT guy, the guy they blame for their troubles no doubt, you can bet, they can't stand being transparent.

I would bet the county is thinking that they should fire the guy that's getting them into trouble. NOT themselves of course, you silly people, they are going after the IT guy for the technology in use his job.

So, if you aren't busy tomorrow, make a trip to the meeting at 9:00 a.m., Benton County Service Center Conference Room, 811 D Ave. Vinton, IA.

There is a time for public comment, a limit of 3 minutes, come and let the Supervisors know how much you appreciate their transparency (the last three words were in my sarcasm font.)