The agenda for the October 17, 2023, CC Commissioners just came in today October 16, 2923. Besides the usual CC Commissioner’s shenanigan of hiding important and costly commissioner’s failures and mistakes in the Consent Agenda near the beginning of the meeting; where the Commissioners can vote to approve a whole bunch of items, good and bad, all mixed together, with only one vote and most often without a word of discussion. There is an Agenda Item to approve the By-Laws for a new Animal Services Advisory and Appeals Board. A very clumsy “Copy-Cat” of what 2024 Commissioner Candidate Robert A. Williams published in recent articles regarding what Robert A would do as a CC Commissioner. The only thing is, Robert A’s statements made sense. This New Animal Services Advisory and Appeals Board By-Laws lays out a new intra-county Bureaucracy that doesn’t solve any of the present Animal Control problems and, overall, makes no sense at all. Except as a way to raise taxes (as license fees) on personal pets and livestock alike. Clearly the brainchild of head CC Tax Raiser and Tax Dollar Waster, Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon.
First of all, Commissioner Candidate (in the 2024 Elections), Robert A. Williams, made his suggestions of forming a Citizens Participation Board, similar to what the Commissioners “say” they want as indicated, but poorly described, in the Commissioners Number One Strategic Goal for 2022-2023. Based on an accumulation of around three hours of Citizens Participation at recent Commissioner’s meetings, three minutes at a time, large numbers of people had spoken about problems at “Animal Control.” About how vicious dogs running loose in the Kings Road (Shelby) area biting people and CC Animal Control being called and doing nothing. Especially About Animal Control not properly keeping Rabies Vaccination records in a retrievable manner. One lady stated that she had been bitten and only had a few days to go to determine whether or not she would have to endure the very painful and costly ($40,000) Rabies shots. Note, without these treatments administered in time, a rabid dog bite will result in a painful death in 100% of all cases.
Also note that these very same people came to the next Commissioner’s meeting with the very same issue. Meaning the CC Animal Control had not done their jobs. Also meaning that the CC Commissioners (under Chairman Kevin Gordon’s so-called leadership) had NOT seen to it that the Animal Control/Services director and staff had not done their jobs properly. A clear indication that the Commissioners had not followed up with the dog bite issue. Despite the life or death consequences.
Robert A’s solution was to appoint an “ad hoc Board” of concerned citizens to independently review Animal Services/Animal Control problems and issues and independently make reports and suggestions to the Commissioners to “fix” these serious problems. And when Commissioner Robert A. Williams is elected, he would make sure the problems were fixed, Once and for all. (Note that the Cleveland County Code of Ordinances show that the Director of the CC Animal Services is responsible for keeping track of Rabies vaccinations, amongst a lot of other things that the people speaking during Commissioner’s Meetings had identified. Robert A, as a Cleveland County Commissioner elected in 2024 would put great stock in citizen’s complaints and taking whatever action that is both sufficient and cost effective to resolve those problems and issues. Robert A has learned in full that the only way to achieve excellence is to find problems and to fix them with certainty. Every effective management and industrial Quality Control and Quality Assurance program is based on finding and fixing problems. This is not a new concept, but it is the only effective way to approach “excellence.” And to save money in the process. It is a mystery why the Cleveland County Commissioners and the CCS School Board under Chairman Robert Queen cannot grasp this obvious and simple to understand concept.
What the Commissioners are doing with their new Animal Services Advisory and APPEALS Board is to add an “Appeals” function to this Board. So, what is there to appeal? That is the $64 Question!!!
When you read through the Cleveland County Commissioner’s County Ordinances:
https://library.municode.com/nc/cleveland_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH3AN
you will see all these things that Animal Services, under the Animal Services DIRECTOR, are “supposed” to do. Including levying fine$ and civil judgement$ for all kinds of infractions. Lots of infractions.
Now, look at the mandated makeup of this Animal Services Advisory and Appeals Board. Nine members in all.:
- One licensed veterinarian
- One Actively employed law enforcement officer
- One Member of hunting or gun dog organization
- One Volunteer with an animal shelter or animal rescue organization
- One Livestock owner/rancher
- One Operator of an animal rescue organization
- Three (3) Representative of the general public
And who does this Board report to? The Tax and Spend Cleveland County Commissioners, under Chairman Kevin Gordon, who appoint them. And what does Kevin Gordon like to do? According to Gaston County (where Kevin Gordon worked-over the entire Fire Services before he was relieved of duty for (presently unknown purposes), Kevin Gordon was responsible for the consolidation of ALL Gaston County Fire Departments at a cost of 15 Cents per $100 property tax valuation for all the Property taxpayers in Gaston County.
Sources say that CC Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon was removed from employment in Gaston County for perhaps three reasons:
- Falsifying financial documents sent to the State. Some sources report that Gordon was turned in by CCS School Board Chairman Robert Queen. Who also is a Fireman in Cleveland County that drove away the EMS Ambulance that was providing emergency services during a fight at a Crest High School home football game.
- Harassing a black woman who was a Gaston County employee.
- Maintaining a Hostile Work Environment.
- Or all three previous reasons all put together.
Editor’s Note: What is known for a fact is that Kevin Gordon became separated from his high paying job in the Gaston County Fire Services Department. The Director even. After an imposed leave period. All these reported reasons, perhaps all, are from folks that are in positions to have access to the inside information, but refuse to go on record. Commissioner Kevin Gordon, as well as the other Cleveland County Commissioners have refused to provide to Cleveland County Citizens the reasons why Kevin Gordon “left” his employment with Gaston County. So, why should Cleveland County voters TRUST Commissioners Kevin Gordon, Johnny Hutchins, Ronnie Whetstine, Deb Hardin and Doug Bridges come re-election Time??? Should Kevin Gordon or any other Commissioner desire to provide the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the verified truth to the people of Cleveland County, Robert A will be glad to publish that verified truth, with his option to comment.
There is verification that Kevin Gordon was instrumental in all THREE times the Commissioners put a 1/4 % increase on the Cleveland County Sales Tax rate. The voters in Cleveland County overwhelmingly voted AGAINST this sales tax rate increase.
Another truth is Kevin Gordon DID spearhead the Cleveland County Rescue Squad’s takeover by the CC Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Claiming such a move would save $3 Million$ but which ended up costing taxpayers $9 Million$. A $12 Million$ miscalculation.
Word is Kevin Gordon wants to consolidate the Cleveland County Fire Departments. Just like he did in Gaston County that caused such an enormous property tax bill increase.
Also, the Word is that the CC Justice Center project is projected to also cost over several hundreds of Million$ over the original budget. Despite the additional $40 million$ ($105 Million$ total from State funding) Speaker of the House Tim Moore arranged for Cleveland County to receive in State $$$ on the project. Note that an Agenda Item is on the October 17, 2023 Commissioner’s Meeting Agenda about this project. Do not expect the truth to be told about cost over-runs for this Justice Center Project.
So, Back to the Animal Services Advisory and Appeals Board:
With a cast of characters such as this, that the CC Commissioners intend to appoint to this new Board, none of them have experience and qualifications to fairly and accurately determine whether or not a violation of the complex Cleveland County Animal Services Ordinance under appeal is justified to be overturned. Therefore, the judgement of this board will surely be influenced by the Director of Animal Services OR the County Commissioners who appointed them. Obviously, many appeals will be DENIED by this Board. And guess where it goes from there? Straight to the Superior Court system in Cleveland County. Who wants to pay an attorney $5,000 to defend against an animal services violation where the fine is only $500? Or much less. Justice and fairness have just disappeared out the window. Any responsible taxpayer will pay the fine and go on with their lives. All the while, wishing and hoping that Robert A is soon an elected Cleveland County Commissioner. Take Hope Folks!! That is a’coming. Remember Williams for Commissioner and vote accordingly in the 2024 Republican Party Commissioner’s Primary election in March 2024!!! Let’s Take Back Cleveland County in 2024 and put a dead stop to all the CC Commissioner’s wasteful spending ways and the ever-increasing CC Property Tax Bills!!!
Stay tuned folks!!! Robert A hopes to see all y’all at the October 17, 2023 Commissioner’s meeting. Again, Do not expect the truth to be told by the CC Commissioners. Election time 2024 is too soon for them for the truth to be told!