A called meeting of the Jones County Board of Tax Assessors showed evidence of more problems and divisions within the tax assessors office that even spilled over to the Board of Commissioners.
It was also brought to light at that all the votes taken at tax assessors meetings with only three of the five board members present were probably not legal votes, due to the fact that only two of the members voted.
Three votes are required for a legal vote of the five-member board.
The Nov. 18 meeting was called to order by the chairman of the board of assessors, Tim Andrews, who is the newest member of that board having been appointed in March of 2023.
Andrews was voted by board members to replace the former chairman, Mary Watts, at a Sept. 26 called meeting. Watts, who had served on the board for 16 years, resigned.
It is interesting to note that all members of the board of tax assessors are required to attend Tax Assessor Level 1 training, a week-long course consisting of 40 hours of training, within six months of appointment. Chief appraiser Tony George is responsible for making sure board members are trained and have the required continuing education each year.
Despite that training, Andrews consistently states that he and fellow board members were not aware of the fact that the board is solely responsible for George and all the employees of the department.
He stated that board members did not know of their responsibilities at the Nov. 7 meeting and every subsequent meeting, despite the board taking evidence from department employees at their Sept. 5 meeting in an effort to “resolve employee issues.”
That meeting included a three-hour closed session under the leadership of the former chairperson.
The attendance of County Attorney Ashley Brodie was requested for the Nov. 18 called meeting of the board by Andrews. After calling the meeting to order, he once again asked about the responsibility of the board, this time asking for the information directly from Brodie.
Andrews asked her to repeat the information at least three times and then stated it was the first time that information had been received from the attorney.
Brodie made it clear that under state law the Board of Commissioners do not have authority over the tax assessors office nor its employees.
The attorney stated it was the first time she had presented the assessors with the law, but she had previously given her opinion. Brodie went on to say that any evidence received by the board had to be in open meetings. She noted that the evidence taken in closed session at the Sept. 5 meeting was not legal and should not be considered by board members.
Andrews nodded his understanding.
“It was not our intent to violate state law. This is the first time we have heard it,” he said.
Prior to the arrival of Brodie, the board had approved limiting the time for taxpayers to speak at meetings from 10 minutes to two minutes and approval of four homestead exemptions for veterans.
Employee statements
Following the statements to the board by the county attorney, George said in light of the recent personnel issues, he felt it was important for members to hear from employees.
Kim Adams was first. Her statement was brief, stating she respected the process and looked forward to serving Jones County taxpayers in a safe working environment.
Bill Goodman stated that, when he spoke to the commissioners Sept. 3, he pointed out issues in the tax assessors office concerning sales ratios, overrides and grading inequities.
“All those points have been found to be valid and are being addressed,” he pointed out.
Other employees who spoke were Lonnette Jones, Tanisha Clark and Tommy Lee Cosby. They were in agreement that the workplace had not been the same since the statements to the commissioners by Adams and Goodman.
Jones and Clark said it became a toxic workplace and appeared not to believe what Adams and Goodman told the commissioners. Cosby said it had been a difficult place to work for the past two months.
“A hostile work environment does not lend itself to long-term employment,” Cosby said.
George had copies of all their statements and presented them to the board members. The department head said nothing about any steps he had taken to address the hostile work environment.
“I just wanted you to hear from the staff,” George said.
Although Andrews had asked Brodie to be present for guidance at the meeting, when she offered that guidance during the first employee statements, he advised the attorney he was the chairman and would conduct the meeting.
At the conclusion of the employee statements, Andrews asked for a vote to enter into closed session to discuss personnel issues. When the meeting reconvened, board member Scherryl Morgan made a motion to suspend Kim Adams with pay until Dec. 5 due to insubordination, subject to further investigation. The motion received two votes.
Public Comments
Board of Commissioners Chairman Chris Wiedner stated that everything Adams and Goodman stated at the Sept. 3 work session has turned out to be true. He also reminded Andrews that he had informed him of an HR complaint of a hostile work environment by a previous employee even before the Sept. 3 work session and asked him to check it out.
Andrews said he did call the employee, but the only conversation was about perhaps working part time to assist the department.
Weidner, who had appointed Andrews to the board, told him he was very disappointed in his actions.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens stated it was hard to believe that Andrews is still claiming he did not know of his responsibility to the department employees.
“That’s what the annual training teaches you. You say you didn’t know, but you also didn’t ask. You’ve done nothing but say you didn’t know,” Kitchens said.
The commissioner told Andrews he had 12 weeks to reach out but did nothing. He said all the employees said they were friends until the two spoke up.
“You act like no one is responsible, but you and Tony are,” he said.
Kitchens asked Andrews if he was voting on the items on the agenda, and Andrews said he was not. He said it was his belief that two votes were all that was needed.
Brodie was asked to check the policy and procedures of the department and later confirmed the need for three votes to constitute a legal vote, even with a three-member board.
Kitchens spoke about the suspension of Adams.
“You are suspending the person who brought the department’s problems to light. That’s an embarrassment,” he said. “I recommend you all resign. I think you are an embarrassment to the county.”
Commissioner John Wood, who before becoming a commissioner served as the chairman of the Board of Assessors, spoke from experience about the required training and what the tax assessor board members are taught in the training. That includes their responsibilities for the actions of the department and safety of its employees.
He also suggested that each member of the board of tax assessors should apologize to Mickey Parker for their treatment of him at their previous meeting.
Commissioner Daylon Martin did an about face about his feelings about Goodman, whom he praised at the Sept. 3 meeting for his courage to speak up. In his comments at the Nov. 18 meeting, he said not only would he fire Adams but also Goodman.
The commissioner defended George, stating that he has offended people but that was no reason to fire him. Martin said there were a lot of properties George put on the roles that were not there before.
Martin falsely claimed that the results of the Oct. 1 appeal to the Department of Audits and Accounts and the Nov. 6 arbitration that increased Jones County’s Sales Ratio to 33.94 vindicated George and his methods.
That ratio is still a failing grade for Jones County, with the target for a passing number between 36 and 40.
Martin stated that “they said” George was cleared. Supposing he was talking about the arbitrators at that meeting, that simply did not happen. Neither did that happen after the appeal.
Martin continued that “they” stated George was not chasing sales and what he was doing was congruent. Those statements were never made by anyone at either meeting.
The fact is the arbitrators at the Nov. 6 meeting listened to the arguments of the state and the county and left the room to make a decision. When they returned, they had a sheet of paper that was handwritten with a statement that the sales ratio was increased to 33.94. Absolutely no reason nor any kind of additional statement was given by any of the arbitrators, and the parties all left the building.
Martin continued, stating at the end of the day, the sky is not falling, and he accused the whistle blowers of inciting the events that lead to, in his opinion, the arrest of an innocent person.
“It was much to do about nothing, and I would have fired them both,” he said. “You can’t usurp my authority and still have a job.”
Martin blamed his fellow commissioners for being unfair to the tax assessors board and his district.
“It’s interesting that the only incompetent board is a Black board,” he said.
Kitchens responded by calling Martin out for his false statements.
“The state did not vindicate us, and the arbitrators said nothing. All I know is we have failed the sales ratio for the second year, and we are looking at failing for a third year. We are nowhere near where we need to be,” he said.
The final comments came from audience member Elizabeth Williams. She asked the tax assessors to focus on the numbers.
“I don’t care about your drama. Look at the facts; the numbers don’t lie. It is our right as taxpayers to be treated fairly and equally,” she said. “Listen to the people who know more than you.”
Before adjourning the meeting, the board of assessors members went back and revoted on all the agenda items, including Adams’ suspension, this time with all three members voting unanimously.
The meetings of the Jones County Tax Assessors and board of commissioners can be viewed in their entirety through the county’s website, jonescountyga. org.
DEBBIE LURIE-SMITH/Staff
