Long Beach moves closer to deal with sheriff about city policing

LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI

STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

By KRISTEN TREADWELL
THE SUN HERALD

Friday, August 18, 2006

I am wondering if perhaps our Aldermen get together and decide how they will vote.

There always seems to be a 4-3 vote either for or against an issue.

Alderman Richard Bennett:

I would like too know the reason you voted "NO" for having Harrison County Police Department take over Long Beach Police Department.

Please Respond

How they voted

The Long Beach Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to open negotiations with the Harrison County Board of Supervisors for the county to provide policing in Long Beach:

Voting yes: Allen Holder Jr., Jimmy Levens, Joseph McNary, and Billy Skellie.

Voting no: Richard Bennett, Gary Ponthieux, and Jerry Rouse.

Auditor dissects policing plan
double click here

Steven A. McCaleb

LONG BEACH - The Board of Aldermen voted 4-3 Tuesday night to move ahead and negotiate with the Harrison County Board of Supervisors over Sheriff George Payne's proposal to consolidate the city's policing.

Every day the Aldermen drag there feet, the X-Police Chief keep drawing there police chief salary.

This is Taxpayers money, and perhaps illegal, but how will we the voters know.

I will ask Mississippi State Auditor, Phil Bryant to audit the Long Beach Police Department. 

Aldermen were quick to say the vote doesn't mean approval for the Sheriff's Department to run the city's Police Department. Under the vote, aldermen can still hold a referendum before a final decision is made.

Yep, it looks as though our aldermen are going to give the voters and taxpayer’s lip service instead of providing leadership.

What does it take in order to have our elected officials save Long Beach, Mississippi tax dollars?

I would like to know how many signatures it would take to hold a special election, to see if the taxpayers and voters still believe our aldermen are working on behalf of there constitutes. 

"We may not like the contract - I may not like the contract - but we won't know unless we try," said Alderman Jimmy Levens. "I think we need to go ahead and take this next step and go into a negotiation phase."

"I think we need to go ahead and take this next step and go into a negotiation phase."

This being another way of saying, we (aldermen) can hold this issue up for several more week or month before we have to act.

The decision was made after several citizens made comments for and against the proposal and after more than an hour of discussion amongst the aldermen.

It seems too me that our aldermen are running the people of Long Beach instead of the voters and taxpayers of Long Beach getting good government. 

Payne presented the proposal in November and since then, the subject has come up at a board meeting and prompted two work sessions. Until now, the aldermen haven't said much about it, a point Alderman Joseph McNary brought up.

Perhaps Mr. Joseph McNary has a handle on the slow rate of speed the aldermen are taking.

The taxpayers are wasting money on X-Police Chief and our aldermen are, it seems too me, holding up the process.

McNary said the work sessions haven't accomplished very much and he wished the board would make a decision.

When you live in a small city where our government and perhaps several relatives run the city it's hard to get anything done.

Friends take care of friends, let take an example, my brother owed a house on 4 Beth Cove, Leigh St., Long Beach, Mississippi.

This is one of many homes FEMA is purchasing with federal money, the federal government pays 75% and the city is suppose to pay the other 25%.

I was asked to check into what the city was doing towards purchasing the house.

I was told by City Hall to call the Long Beach Fire Chief, George Bass, when I call I spoke to the Assistant Fire Chief.

We spoke of how the process was going and how he did not get involved in the workings of the homes on Leigh St. 

I told the police chief that my brother paid $44,000 for the house, and he was the only person I told.

Some weeks later I was talking with my brother, I asked if the city had made and offer on his home, and said they offered him $44,000.

Bingo!!

"Are we really, truly committed to Long Beach?" he asked the rest of the board. "I really want you to be committed. We do not have to like each other, we do not even have to be friends, let's just do what's best for the city."

Perhaps it is the friends of the aldermen, which are holding up the commitment, which is best for the city.

McNary said he was tired of the board not discussing the issue and sharing their opinions at meetings, but only talking about how they felt afterward.

REMEMBER: MONEY, POWER, & PERKS + FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE = CORRUPTION

"We're playing games with each other," he said.

No, We are not playing games our aldermen are playing games, the voters and taxpayers want action.

McNary's comments garnered applause from the roomful of people and sparked conversation amongst the mayor and aldermen.

If I had been there I would have applauded along with the rest of the citizens of Long Beach.

Holder and Alderman Richard Bennett said the decision is a tough one and that citizens feel very strongly, no matter which side they are on.

The e-mail address of Ward 6 Alderman, Richard Bennett is: richbennet@aol.com

I have e-mailed Alderman Bennett several times, but he has failed to respond.

This tells me he does not include me as a constitute, and I am not the only citizen in Long Beach he doesn't count.

"I'm tired of hearing you people cry," said Luther Conn of Long Beach. "Make a vote. We'll take care of you in four years, I guarantee it."

I know Mr. Luther Conn, and I believe he has hit the nail on the head.

Kristen Treadwell can be reached at 896-2331 or at ktreadwell@sunherald.com

December 5, 2001