The facts are clear:
In recent DAYS Cleveland County has seen multiple high-level County Employees hit the road for greener pastures. Or maybe just to avoid the plane crash while Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon is flying the plane? Or, maybe even to try of avoid jail time when the Catawba Casino bribery investigation by the FBI finally hits the fan. Or the giveaway of the Cleveland County Hospital and Healthcare facilities? The ALWS, Baseball, Inc. scandal? Whatever it is, people are leaving at an unprecedented rate and they are leaving NOW!!!
As of now, one of the County Attorneys has moved on. A high-level person in the Finance Department has too. Another one or two more that Robert A promised not to mention by name. All since former Cleveland County Manager Brian Epley’s last day of January 31, 2023. With more to go as soon as their arrangements are made?
Robert A believes the reasons for these experienced county employees to pack up and hit the door are three-fold:
- Corruption of various natures. The Hospital giveaway and the associated bribery. The American Legion World Series, Baseball, Inc., run totally by former Commissioner Eddie Holbrook. The Catawba Casino and associated bribery using shares of the Kings Mountain Equipment Supply Company to provide the “laundered” payoffs. Commissioner’s County paid apparent boondoggles. And the looming “scandal” at the Shooting Range where the sh*t hasn’t hit the fan yet.
- The uncontrollable hot-tempered outbursts of Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon have employees and others taking unusual, but necessary measures to protect themselves. For example, Robert A has taken to wearing a Body Cam (and other recording devices) as well as hanging very close to the Security Officers whenever he attends Commissioner’s meetings. School Board meetings too.
- The rest of the Commissioners and staff covering up for Kevin Gordon’s fits of temper, rage and outright yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs in a Commissioner’s Chamber full of people. With the County Manager Brian Epley, County employees, County lawyers, all the commissioners and many others observing it all.
In the last two items noted above, Robert A, in particular, remembers an ashen-faced and speechless County Manager Brian Epley; Deputy County Attorney Martha Thompson’s head hung low; and especially Commissioner Deb Hardin who made a rapid beeline for the exit doors when Gordon senselessly FLARED up in full volume. There is much more to tell about that sordid episode when the time is right. And the more sordid cover-up.
Folks, at various other times during the past several years and this year too; Robert A made clear observations that something BAD was coming down at Commissioner’s Meetings. County Employees giving presentations made statements that clearly indicated that they were following Commissioners instructions given during Commissioner’s work sessions which are most often unattended by any member of the public. Mostly unrecorded too. To Robert A’s knowledge perhaps only two Commissioners work sessions were recorded. The one work session where Robert A used several clips showing where Kevin Gordon wanted to raise revenue by implementing more inspection fees and have his neighbor arrested for throwing a once a year holiday party that kept him awake has been taken down. After that exposure of Kevin Gordon’s poor leadership and self-centered behavior, the recording of work sessions has been STOPPED altogether.
+- Another example is the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between the Catawba Indians and the County. Johnny Hutchins allegedly negotiated that agreement, initialed all 26 pages and signed on the Contract as the approving commissioner. The County lawyer that signed (and the one that is now gone) added the note next to his signature that his signature was only to acknowledge the FORM of the contract was proper and NOT the contents. This IGA Contract may very well be one of the big reasons the Catawba Casino is under Federal investigation of wrongdoing. Perhaps the County’s greed is a big part of what has killed the County’s Goose that was to lay golden eggs. (Also note that this particular County Attorney that is now gone also made a similar entry to his signature to another document. The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners Resolution for Good Governance (CCBOCRGG). A “Resolution” that has noting to do with good governance. Only to try to keep other Commissioners in line with Chairman Kevin Gordon. Note that ALL the Commissioners signed.
So folks, there you have it. Cleveland County employees are fed up and looking for other jobs. And soon. But don’t tell the Shelby Star. All the Star seems to want to do is write up press releases the Commissioners and School Board sends them-without question. They seem to never send a live reporter out from Gastonia to Cleveland County anymore.
Stay tuned folks, this is likely only the start of an EXODUS of County Employees looking for better and more sane conditions. Can you blame them??? Also remember that the 2024 Primary Elections are next March. With sign-ups late THIS YEAR. If you are registered as an Unaffiliated, change to Republican as soon as possible. If you are already registered as a Republican, get yourself prepared to run for County Board of Commissioners or the CCS School Board. Cleveland County needs YOU badly!!! Be a Hero and start attending Commissioner and School Board meetings. See for yourself the bad shape Cleveland County is in.
PS: If you are a Democrat or a Rogue Republican , don’t bother. 2024 will bring out huge turnouts to the voting booths. But Democrat and Rogue Republican candidates will likely not win a county-wide election, not one, in Cleveland County for at least another generation. Maybe another century.