Taxpayer tired of fighting

TO THE EDITOR

Let the Lincoln County residents be informed why the county is having to pay unnecessary legal costs. These costs were instigated by Chairman Walker Norman and County Commissioners toward Sheriff Gerald Lawson's department. The issue is based on the funds generated by the "Inmates Telephone System" which was set up to be used by the inmates, at no cost to the county, and all revenues generated, approximately $16,000.00, be placed into the sheriff's inmate account, which offsets expenses for the county.

The annual end of year audit was conducted and all revenues were accounted for. Chairman Walker Norman requested a second outside audit, which costs the county taxpayers approximately $5,000.00. Upon completion of this audit, according to the newspaper article printed in The Lincoln Journal, dated February 22, 2007, all revenues were accounted for.

The commissioners gave the sheriff an ultimatum to turn these funds over to the county, when he refused, the commissioners brought it before the courts, two judges of the Toombs Judicial Circuit recused themselves. Judge McWhorter of Winder, Georgia was appointed to make a ruling in this case.

Lincoln County taxpayers can no longer afford these types of actions from our elected officials, the costs of the legal expenses could far exceed the funds in question.

The taxpayers can no longer afford to take money from the left pocket and put it in the right pocket. Lincoln County needs to move forward; these types of actions must cease.

JAMIE WILLIAMS