By Linda Dean Cooper

This first question stems from a Spotlight article and other FB pages about two weeks ago.  It concerns Commissioner Rock Meeks’s July 2, BoCC absence. He missed roll call, and according to Coordinator Dean, Commissioner Meeks was texting him in response to a discussion of Public Infomaiton Officer Mary Ellen Harper to be the assistant to Wilbur Dean. We never heard Meeks’s voice, the public was never informed he was on the phone, etc.

Question 1:

1. Is it legal or proper for elected officials to use private Facebook pages and personal cell phones to conduct and respond to issues in their official elected offices?

For clarity, below is an excerpt from that July 4^th Spotlight FB article:

Dean interrupts Commissioner Brooks In Mid-Sentence

The gang of five tactics came into play when Commissioner Matt Brooks began to ask Public Information Officer Mary Ellen Harper questions about how she felt about becoming a temporary/interim assistant coordinator. Brooks asked, “ Would it interfere with her current job…..”. But Coordinator Dean much like in the previous budget meeting jumped up from his chair in his usual disruptive manner and said, “Rock’s input is that he doesn’t agree with that.” Brooks reminded Dean that Rock was not present, and he had questions for Ms. Harper.

How does the public know what or if Rock was texting? He missed roll call and was out sick per Chair Mills. Why did Dean feel the need to cut off Commissioner Brooks in mid-sentence? Why was Chair Mills not informed of the “texting”? If Rock wanted to be part of the meeting, he could have conferenced his phone call in so all in the auditorium could hear his comments.

Question 2:

2. Is it legal for Commissioner Rock Meeks to vote on his cousin’s Ace Hardware expenditures?

Another question I was also asked was why the public was not privy to seeing the details of expenditures when they were being voted on. As Chair Desiree Mills was leaving the meeting she was asked why the expenditures were not available to the public. Mills said it would be corrected by the next meeting.

For those who do not want to respond on FB, you may email me at: Spotlightlevycountygovernment@gmail.com

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Posted July 19, 2024