Investigating Vernon Land
June 19, 2008 at 3:42 pm by Scott Henry in NewsThree of DeKalb’s seven commissioners have requested a criminal investigation into squirrelly purchasing practices that allowed two high-tech companies to be paid nearly a half-million dollars for county work without the required commission approval.
Late last year, it was discovered that the county’s Information Services Department had overspent its budget by a cool $1.4 million – partly a result of skirting purchasing rules. A grand jury subsequently found that employees had been pressured to do things they knew to be wrong, such as splitting contracts so as to avoid triggering competitive bidding requirements.
So far, though, no one has been able to explain who orchestrated the impropriety. Is the purchasing scandal another instance of questionable micro-management by CEO Vernon Jones? The letter to DeKalb Chief Superior Court Judge Anne Workman and DA Gwen Keyes-Fleming asking for a formal investigation doesn’t mention Mr. CEO by name. Says the letter:
We submit that a criminal investigation is necessary to clear the air and to reestablish public confidence in the county government’s capacity to faithfully administer public resources.
But the three co-signers are white, Northside Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader – none of whom are political allies of Jones. Coincidence?
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June 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
The coincidence about the commissioners asking for an investigation are all white is only because black leaders will NEVER call each other out.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Coincidence is correct. And if it were not for this Election of DeKalb CEO you can bet Burrell would have signed it to. That should show you northsiders just how much Burrell is afraid to buck the system. If he were a man and not afraid that he will turn off the South voters, he would do what he has done this entire term, and that is side with the 3 northside amigos. More Burrell, caught between a needle and a hay stack. If he votes with his 3 buddies he would be assured some votes from the north side of town. But wait, most of those voters now have to stay on the Republican side because their girl is in her own race. So instead, he stays silent as to not offend anyone. All it takes is for you to look at Burrell’s campaign funding disclosure and you will see all the big time developers lining up with maximum donations. Coincidence?