Dear Editor,
I warmly welcome Richard Garrett and Tom McElhenney as our new county commissioners. I hoped their leadership would promote greater transparency, foster stronger engagement, and demonstrate respect for the citizens they were elected to serve.
However, it appears that Commissioner McElhenney is quickly aligning himself with Chairman Sharp and Commissioner Jeff Wooten, both of whom continue to limit opportunities for public hearings and public input!
Many constituents have encountered a complete lack of responsiveness from the county manager, county attorney, and several commission members, including the chair. This failure to communicate has fueled growing concerns about ethics, transparency, and overall accountability in our county leadership.
Public officials must engage with the community and address concerns with professionalism, clarity, and integrity. The county manager’s job description and the county attorney’s defined duties, as outlined on the county website, clearly state that these leadership roles come with significant, non-negotiable responsibilities that are essential to Putnam County’s success and growth.
Transparency, ethical leadership, and open communication should be top priorities for our commissioners moving forward. Citizens deserve accountability from those entrusted with public office.
Additionally, I understand that the county manager recently received a pay raise twice the inflation rate. Were all county employees granted similar increases? Meanwhile, the attorney’s compensation for handling the county’s bond sales was significant. Despite the failure of SPLOST 10, he still refuses to answer taxpayer questions without the chair’s permission, ensuring that he gets paid.
Following a six-month investigation by the Georgia Ethics Commission Chair, Sharp was found to have violated state law on three separate occasions, including transferring $2,700 in campaign funds to his personal account. He ultimately paid a civil penalty of $3,250 for violating the Georgia Campaign Finance Act. This consent order is a matter of public record.
Had the commissioners been more open to working with taxpayers and addressing their concerns, the outcome of the SPLOST 10 proposal might have been more favorable for the county and its citizens. All the public has ever asked is for county officials to fulfill their responsibilities with professionalism, honesty, transparency, and respect for the people they serve.
Don Sadler, Putnam County