So there were 2 issues that I am having a bit of a problem with involving Chief Crow. I want to stress, I don't think any laws were broken. But there is an ethical point of things that I believe have been crossed in these 2 issues.
The first is the investigation of missing funds from JB Wells. Now I have several problems with our own police department investigating these missing funds.
1) JB Wells funds were at times dropped off at the police station for safe keeping until the next business day where they would be turned into the city office. This leads to a conflict of interest when you start investigating your own people. It's hard to be truly objective when it's your own family, or in this case your own department are involved.
2) Even if the funds had not ever landed at the police station, we live in a small town. And I am just going to say it, there are those that are, and those that aren't. And if you are, then justice has a tendency to look a little different when it comes to you. No matter what the final report sent to the DA there will forever be a whisper in Gonzales about the one that got special treatment, or got away, or was the scapegoat because of the local police departments investigation. Now I want to stress, I'm not saying it will be so, but in this town it will still be the talk of the town as soon as the DA announces their decisions.
3) I know that the Texas Rangers were given the information, and the city council was told this to appease them that the investigation was going outside of our PD. I know that at least a couple of the council members were shocked to hear that GPD filed the report with the DAs office instead of the Rangers. This whole thing, 100% of EVERYTHING, should of been handed off to the Texas Rangers, impartial outside agency that has no ties to Gonzales or it's people.
Second is the handling of the JB Wells concession. Shortly after Mr. Maeler was fired, all of the concessionaire personnel were also fired and Sarah Tenberg was put in place to run it.
So what are my complaints here? Several
1) Why didn't we put an RFP out FIRST then after the award was given then we relieve the employees. We put the cart before the horse here.
2) Second, it's taken the city almost 2 months to get an RFP out, and now another month before the deadline. I'm hoping that they don't try to push the awarding of the contract out another month because of the shortage of time between the deadline and the next city council meeting. But without any bidding process, a private business was given an inside line to a potentially lucrative contract out at JB Wells.
3) Third, and here comes the small town politics, Mrs Tenberg is friends of the Crow family. Read #2 about private business and inside line.
Any laws broken that way? Not that I'm aware of, but poor ethical judgement was used here.
I've been arguing that the concessions needed to be sourced out for over a year now, and am happy that it's happening, but we did this all wrong, and once again the whispering underlying the whole thing is just incredible.
When are those in public office going to learn they need to be ethnically above board, and transparent in their actions that affect those they serve? In both of these cases Chief Crow has not been.
Again, I want to stress, I don't believe anything illegal has occurred. I just don't believe that the best interest of the City of Gonzales were considered when these actions were taken. That's just my opinion.
God Bless
Dennis Nesser
PS - I wish everyone in Gonzales the Happiest of Thanksgiving.
And maybe Gerri Crow and Bob Burchard had something to do with the Come and Take It Relay moving to Bastrop?
ReplyDeleteIt's now what you know it's who you know in this town. It has always been like that, from playing on the football team to getting a job. Now it moved into the City Office. If you can't beat them then join them.
ReplyDeleteWonder what the Texas Rangers are going to do about the information that was given to the City Council.
ReplyDeleteAre they going to do there own investigation or they going to take Mr. Crow's word for it all?
Hope they get outside Judge's to handle this case when it goes to court. That's if probation is all anyone will get -- track record in town is just give out probation to ppl.
Note the recent article on the Cannon's website:
ReplyDelete"SEGUIN — District Attorney Heather McMinn announced Friday she is seeking re-election to the office of District Attorney for the 25th Judicial District."
Wonderful write-up. Too bad it doesn't pertain to the legal system in Gonzales as she does nothing here.
And what is the guy doing loose for stabbing two individuals recently, killing someone in 1985, and having two police issues since his parole? I heard that he is now out on bond, again! Say what?
I frequent the concession stand at the arena and have ever since it opened. I can tell you when Ms. Teneburg took over that is the best the stand had ever been by far. It was finally clean and had a nice variety of foods For those of us who spend nearly every weekend at an arena like to have something other than hamburgers hot dogs chicken nuggets and fries every weekend. Ms. Teneburg offered a great variety and had a very friendly staff. We could finally eat at the stand without worry of which one of us would get sick this time. I really don't see how you can complain about it do much since I have very rarely seen you out there supporting the stand or the arena for that fact.
ReplyDeleteI will be blogging about Mrs McMinn shortly. Have no fear on that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the last comment, you're right, I'm not out there every week, but I do go out there, but let me make clear I have NOTHING against Ms. Teneburg. My complaint was in the manner in which she was put out there. I have eaten at Ms. Teneburgs establishments when they were downtown and hated seeing it go. I was a fair regular there.
As for the cleanliness, it should be, you and I paid for that cleaning, and it wasn't cheap! We paid for every piece of equipment to be steam washed and cleaned. Our tax dollars at work.
God Bless