Wade on Birmingham

Heads and tales: County bounty

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jeff germanyYour tax dollars at play: For the second time in two months, a former Jefferson County commissioner has been convicted of conspiracy. Jurors decided today that Jeff Germany funneled money through a nonprofit agency to himself, his wife, his ex-girlfriends and current friends. He faces a possible 10 years in prison; sentencing is Sept. 21. If one more gets locked up, at least we’ll have a quorum. [print version]
• Former Jeffco Commissioner Germany Found Guilty [Fox 6]

What a waste: Speaking of the commission, the other former member/criminal steered work to F.W. Dougherty Engineering, which designed the $52 million pumping station at Valley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. That’s part of a $400 million upgrade. With us so far? Thanks to the firm’s incompetence, the commission is shelling out an additional $26.5 million today to repair and rebuild the pump station. The firm, by the way, didn’t take out enough insurance on the project. And yet, no one’s made a pithy T-shirt or panties about the super sewer debacle …
• Jeffco to pay $26.5 million to fix sewer pump station [Birmingham News]

Convicts of the county: Tuesday, a jury convicted Ronald Wilson, a county engineer, and Pugh Construction guilty of more sewer shenanigans — this time bribery and conspiracy for him, conspiracy for the firm.
• Jury convicts Jeffco engineer, construction firm in sewer case [Birmingham News]

Penny pinchers: By now, you may have lost all faith in the county’s ability to manage public funds, protect the infrastructure or stay out of jail. Fret no more, the county is guarding those dollars zealously. County employees have the option to buy back into the retirement plan (in a dispute lasting 28 years!), though the county fought the state law and lost. Because it will cost the county millions of dollars, it is eliminating retirement health insurance for the up to 774 employees who exercise their legal buyback option. See, they’re not all corrupt … some are just petty and vindictive.
• Jeffco to restrict retiree health plans [Birmingham News]

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  • Parks debate wireless canine access

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2 Yips for “Heads and tales: County bounty”

  1. Wade on Birmingham » Blog Archive » Heads up: Former Commissioner Buckelew pleads guilty
    Thursday, October 30, 2008, 7:53 am
    1

    […] Related Content Also see:Heads up: Debt on arrivalHeads up: It’s all about the BenjaminsHeads and tales: County bountyVote 2008: Town by townHeads and tales: Sky trappins and the world of […]

  2. Our mayor is arrested « à la Rob
    Monday, December 1, 2008, 3:50 pm
    2

    […] former commissioners Chris McNair and Mary Buckelew (who sold her reputation remarkably cheap). Jeff Germany was jailed in 2006 for an unrelated fraud conspiracy, veteran commissioner Gary White is under […]

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