Prentiss County Voice

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This was sent to me from someone wishing to remain anonymous:

I wonder if anyone noticed in this week’s Banner-Independent where the
board of supervisors has hired their own appraiser at a salary of $50,000
per year to help carry out the mandated reappraisal which must be completed
by next year.
Shouldn’t the reappraisal be a job within the tax assessor’s office? Tax
assessor Steve Eaton is against the supervisors doing this and has said he
will not be responsible for the final reappraisal results.
Neil Parsons is the person hired to do the reappraisal. Since he answers
directly to the board of supervisors who hired him, would this not be a
conflict of interest since property is taxed on its assessed value? - And
since the supervisors are the ones who raise the taxes.
Isn’t their credibility already low enough without asking the people of
Prentiss County to trust them to see that their property is appraised fairly
and taxed fairly?
We have already seen the supervisors in eminent domain action against
Ruben Chapel Church and we have seen them cut the D.A.R.E. program due to
“lack of funds” yet they quickly found enough to give themselves a raise at
the first meeting of the new administration. In other words, “after the
election”.
We have seen them refuse to fully fund the sheriff’s department, leaving
the county without adequate law enforcement personnel.

But back to the reappraisal:
In other words, could someone who has angered or opposed the board of
supervisors have their property assessed to the maximum since they have
their own, personal appraiser?
They are a nasty, vindictive bunch, all except one anyway. Cross them and
see what happens.
Why do the supervisors have their fingers in this reappraisal ‘pie’ anyway?
Supposedly to save money so they can give themselves another raise, in my
opinion.
Could it be because if properties are appraised higher, then owners would
pay more taxes and they wouldn’t have to raise the taxes themselves, which
is VERY unpopular to prospective voters. Think about it!
And also, once the assessed valuation of the county reaches a certain
plateau, then the supervisors would be eligible for another raise.
Assessed valuation is based on property appraisals. I wonder if their
true motive is to get the assessed valuation up so they can get a raise and
so they won’t have to raise taxes themselves. - killing two birds with one
stone.

I have to wonder if nothing happened as the Sheriff stated how did the prisoner get hurt ??

Please vote in the new poll, it’s on the left hand side, and let us know what you think of Alderman Goddard’s letter to the editor.

Also, the forum is just waiting for people to use it. Start a discussion, any discussion, and let’s get some activity going on.

Finally, if you would like to write on our community blog, feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with a sample of your writing skills. Just write a couple of paragraphs about yourself, or why you like living in Prentiss County. I’m not grading or anything, just want to make sure I can comprehend what you write, that is all. The Blog is open to all, but I need a sample of your writing first.

I’ll be working on the site this weekend to get the errors resolved. Please be patient. The forum is has been brought back up. I will continue working on it, it looks a little funny now, but I will get it styled and back in good shape shortly. Thank you.

In the Banner the Chief of Police in Booneville denied having a ticket quota well here it is ,I wonder how he can deny it now?

Click either pic to see the full size image

A letter to the editor in the local paper

About six weeks ago during a discussion about our Police Department, in a regular Board meeting, Mayor Roger Smith asked me “Just what kind of Police Department” I wanted. “One that lets the drug people take over the city, criminals controlling the streets or what?”

I believe I have written a letter to the editor of the Banner Independent one or two times in my nearly eleven years as alderman, however I have never been asked such a ridiculous question by anyone, especially a person who attained such a lofty and revered position as the Mayor of this fine city.

I would like to remind Mayor Smith that I was Elected an Alderman by the citizens of Booneville, as he was elected Mayor, and that my feelings toward any department or department head are not subject to his scrutiny, approval, or disapproval.

I like policemen who go to work on time and punch their own time cards, show respect for fellow officers, their employer, and the citizens of Booneville, Prentiss County and anyone else they come in contact with. The City of Booneville is judged by the actions of the Police Department.

I enjoy getting calls or reading about that “nice officer” that helped me and my family during our time of loss, injury, sickness, wreck, directions, or whatever.

I feel very proud of our Police Department when I see an officer in church with their families, or when they stop and say “How are y’all doing?” or “How can I help you?”. I am proud when they get a drug dealer or dangerous criminal off the streets and remember that his family members are not criminals and treat them with respect. I am proud when our policemen respond in minutes to an emergency day or night and offer our citizens assurance and encouragement, and when they say “Yes Ma’m” or “No Ma’m” to our senior citizens.

When the Police Department gets four vehicles in 2008 and the Street Department had to leave off their one so they could buy a bush-hog is this fair? I don’t think so.

I do not like to get calls that say “I just got a ticket for doing five miles over the posted speed limit. I don’t have a problem with enforcing the traffic laws, but I have never been treated so rudely by anyone as this officer did”.

I do not like to hear of pending lawsuits against the city because someone complains of searches made without a warrant and not enough probable cause to get one, or stops made without cause or reasonable suspicion. I don’t like getting calls that say “That officer propositioned me”.

Last year the Chief said crime in Booneville was down sixty percent. If we have to issue two hundred tickets a week after the crime is down sixty percent??? Go figure! This is not Watts or South Chicago.

When I am told about an officer following a housewife home from the grocery store into her driveway, calling for a backup, asking her where she has been and detaining her in front of her neighbors before letting her go, that’s not good. We need to hire people from this area so they would know the people here; Who has been in business here for thirty years, who attends church, who is a family man, former public officials. These people are probably not the bad guys.

Many of these citizens that are not shown respect, nor praise or thanks, are the same citizens who worked for seventy five cents per hour to pay taxes so we can have twenty six policemen. They paid taxes to allow this city to build a hospital, schools, a college, churches, first class utilities and a first class Fire Department, police equipment that is the envy of many cities around us, the streets are great (thanks to Mayor Michael and his administration. Who knows what it would cost now.) we have a great retirement plan and pay higher salaries than many cities .

Having said that, I have been portrayed as a person who does not like the police. Not So. Certain people would like you to believe that. We have some wonderful people wearing that uniform. I am probably one of the best friends a policeman could have when he follows the rules. I have voted to re-hire two officers three separate times. I have defended approximately ten officers when they were wrongfully accused. I have supported rehiring many officers after they convinced me they just wanted to do their jobs, enforce the law and treat people with respect, and go home to their families like normal hard working people. Is this asking too much? I don’t think so.

I do not work for the Mayor, the Board of Aldermen, any department head nor any particular person or group of people rich or poor. I work for all the people of Booneville; east side, west side, black, white, Latin, rich, poor or any one in between. When I hear students at NEMMC say they have advised their friends to attend ICC or Florence state because of our police it upsets me and should upset you. When I hear people from the county say they go to Corinth or Ripley or Baldwyn or Tupelo because they feel like they are being harassed by police in Booneville it disturbs me and it better disturb you if you care about Booneville.

Now here is where the blame game starts. Ninety percent of our police men and women are good hard working people who feel they will loose their jobs if they do not meet a quota, and I have been advised that such quotas are illegal. So you cannot put the blame on them only. You cannot put all the blame on the chief. He is allowed to do this by a minority of the Board of aldermen with the aid of the Mayors veto. So you have to blame this administration, and you cannot put all the blame on the Mayor and Board. Remember, if you the citizens of Booneville, elect people who do not have your best interest and the future of this city not only on their lips but deep in their hearts things will only get worse, not better.

It could be that 200 tickets a week are written because the police department gets to keep $5 of each ticket. This needs to be changed immediately and I will certainly vote to change this policy.

Your Elected Public Servant

Bobby Goddard

Would you like to blog for PCVoice? I’m looking for some folks from the Prentiss County area who would like to blog for our site. Everyone can participate in the forums, but I’m looking for some special folks who are knowledgeable about current issues, events, and anything else. It doesn’t matter where you are from, Booneville, Wheeler, New Site, wherever.

If you can put your thoughts down coherently, and write a minimum of two to three blogs per week. I’d like to hear from you. Our blog works a lot like wordpress, and has similar features so you can add pictures, video’s whatever.

Here’s what you need to do:

I’ll look over your response and email you a response shortly. That’s it. So please consider this opportunity to spur thought-provoking discussion and I look forward to hearing from you. - PCADMIN