Outgoing Winder Mayor Chip Thompson seeks to slap at Journal

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Saturday, December 3. 2011

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Outgoing Winder Mayor Chip Thompson apparently plans to use his last public meetings with the city council to try and get a resolution that would slap at the Barrow Journal, which he blames for his recent election defeat.

On Monday night’s council agenda is an item called “Barrow County News/Barrow Journal Ads.” Thompson is reportedly planning to ask the city council to discuss adopting a resolution that would say the city’s legal and other advertising would not be run in the Journal, which was recently named the legal organ for Barrow County.

Instead, Thompson reportedly wants to name the Barrow County News as the city’s “official advertising source.”

Thompson blames the Journal for its investigative stories that showed the city had mishandled the town’s voter registration list by attempting to cull nearly half of the registered voters’ names. Thompson subsequently lost the mayor’s seat to challenger David Maynard.

Meanwhile, three Barrow County Constitutional Officers — the sheriff, probate judge and clerk of court — named the Journal as Barrow County’s official legal organ newspaper in early November.

Thompson, along with board of commissioner’s chairman Danny Yearwood, strongly lobbied against the naming of the Journal. Yearwood was angry, among other things, that the Journal supported changing the county government to a manager system, a move that was approved by voters in early November. The change in government effectively puts Yearwood out of a full-time job in 2013.

After the Journal was designated as Barrow’s legal organ, Thompson and Yearwood teamed up with Barrow County News publisher Dennis Stockton to try and have the constitutional officers change their vote. Those behind-the-scenes efforts failed.

Now Thompson and Yearwood are reportedly looking for ways to end-run the Journal’s status as legal organ with city and county public notices. In the past, Winder officials have said they only run their public notices in the county legal organ.

“It just a petty move by an outgoing politician,” said Journal co-publisher Mike Buffington. “State law dictates what kind of public notices have to be published in what newspapers and even sets the rate newspapers can charge for much of that public notice advertising. Certain kinds of notices do not have to run in the legal organ, but about 90 percent of all city and county public notices do have to be published in the county legal organ. The outgoing mayor can’t change state law; and the Winder city council has bigger issues to deal with than this kind of personal pettiness.”

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#1 Losers on 12/03/11 at 10:51 AM [Reply]

Damned Fools!

#2 Typical on 12/03/11 at 01:26 PM [Reply]

This is so typical of the " elite " in this county. They feel they are above any scrutiny. It is not what Thomson was doing, it is the fact that the paper reported it,this thinking is so prevelant in the old elite of Winder. Good riddance to him, and I hope it is a lesson to the rest of them. The people in Winder and Barrow are sick and tired of the few here thinking they are above everything. Maybe Chip should have lived by, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I am thankful the Journal is on town. If they do pass something like this, I will not spend a penny inside of Winder City limits.

#2.1 Anonymous on 12/03/11 at 03:04 PM [Reply]

I already don't spend a penny in Winder.

#3 Michael Robinson on 12/03/11 at 03:52 PM [Reply]

BCN resides in a part of Winder that hasn't seen maintenance in years and never says a thing about it. You can use the history feature in Google Earth and watch the parking lot at Holly Hill Mall fall apart.

I'm not surprised they're the preferred outlet for people who want Winder's problems to go unmentioned.

I don't always agree with the tone here, but someone does need to bring problems to light, and Barrow was in the dark for too long.

#4 Used to be a friend on 12/03/11 at 04:19 PM [Reply]

Chip has already proved he couldn't handle any constructive advice and turned out to not be the type of Mayor this city needs. His vindictiveness and sour grapes only proves what kind of man he really is. He would be so much better off to "bow out gracefully".

#5 observer on 12/03/11 at 05:20 PM [Reply]

I'm not a city resident, but from a distance, the mayor has not excelled in his job. Sorry to see it.

The BCJ should wear his and the BCC chairman's ire as a badge of honor.

#5.1 Anonymous on 12/03/11 at 09:34 PM [Reply]

You are right. And I AM a city resident. Chip has been a total disgrace to this town. He has set us back years.

#6 take your medicine sonny boy! on 12/03/11 at 07:23 PM [Reply]

you gone chip! you off the payroll!

#7 Anonymous on 12/03/11 at 08:18 PM [Reply]

Heaven forbid hard working employees get cost of living raises.

#8 To all city councilmen on 12/03/11 at 09:28 PM [Reply]

All Winder City Councilmen. Take note. You will be the next ones voted out if you let Chip bully you into this. We the voters are watching and taking names.

#9 City Resident on 12/03/11 at 10:39 PM [Reply]

"cost tax payers money"? I thought the City did not collect a city property tax? So if Mayor Thompson or Maynard decided to help the employees out with a cost of living raise it would not come on taxpayers, it would come from profits of gas and water sales.

#9.1 Businessman on 12/04/11 at 07:23 AM [Reply]

Your right...however, who do think pays for water and gas?...the tooth ferry! No, it is the businesses and homes in this community. 200K will require an increase in fees, water, sewer and speeding tickets. Not a time to be giving anybody a raise. The employees should be happy to even have a job...let alone a raise. Ask those that the city laid off a couple of years ago.

#10 Da' Pug on 12/03/11 at 11:50 PM [Reply]

Chip and Danny..... sounds like a possible children story. But instead it's two grown adults that were horrible at their jobs, and their bosses (us) showed them what happens to bad people that try to bully their way through their job. So they get together and cry on each others shoulders and go behind everybody's back to get their way and that didn't work either! I love this City of ours and am very proud that the people of this City that decided enough is enough. Merry Christmas Chip & Danny. Santa's got a box of coal for each of you.

#11 Anonymous on 12/04/11 at 02:53 AM [Reply]

Barrow Journal and several people dont like a big whopping 3% raise? Wow. I do not work for any local government but I do think a raise of 3% (budgeted or not) is outlandish. How many raises have the gotten over the last 4 years? I think this paper reported 0. Get over it people, and give them a raise. After all they have had to put up with I think its more than fair.

#11.1 900 dollars!! on 12/04/11 at 08:25 PM [Reply]

we who work in private business dont get all the paid Govt holidays off and most of us wont be getting any raise let alone 900 dollar or more one!!!! the money Goverment pays comes from taxpayers!!! not from the money fairy!!!!

#12 Just Sayin on 12/04/11 at 03:27 AM [Reply]

I am glad the old regime is going away but something in this article kinda irked me.

"Yearwood was angry, among other things, that the Journal supported changing the county government to a manager system"

Is it the mission of the Barrow Journal to sway the readers with slanted half truths or is it to actually report the news from a unbiased view? If it is the latter this paper will be no better then the other rag in town.

#12.1 Sheesh on 12/04/11 at 12:23 PM [Reply]

You're right on the money. Although the Internet is slowing changing things, free speech has always been used by holders of the printing press as a means to sway people to their way of thinking. If the owners are democrat or republican, religious or atheist, they have throughout history laced public service with personal agendas. As an advanced citizenry we are supposed to be able to see through all their profiteering and self serving hog wash to get a the news, public service announcements and of course these wonderfully entertaining blogs.

#13 Just Sayin on 12/04/11 at 03:31 AM [Reply]

^^^^If it isn't the latter this paper will be no better then the other rag in town. ^^^

#14 oskosh on 12/04/11 at 08:09 AM [Reply]

It's a newspaper, privately owned. They can print what they want and don't have to satisfy your view of what or how they should report.

Don't buy it or read it if you disagree. Better, acquire enough intelligence to think for yourself.

#15 Helen Person on 12/04/11 at 08:59 AM [Reply]

While I really hesitate to even jump into this (and I notice that Michael Robinson and I are the only ones who step out from behind a screen name to tell you who we are), one thing readers need to understand is that everything printed in the newspaper is not a news story. Coverage of meetings, events, and incidents constitute hard news and should be, as Sgt. Friday always said, "Just the facts, Ma'am." Personal opinion columns are from the perspective of the writer and may be on any variety of topics: personal stories, opinions on current events (social, political, etc.), or just random thoughts. Then there are the Editorials: Pieces written from the perspective of the owners, publishers, and editors of the publication. They represent the official opinion of the newspaper's editorial staff.
We need to adopt the attitude of showing up at public meetings to let the officials know how we feel about any of a number of topics. The topics for discussion at Monday (work session) & Tuesday's City Council (official action) meetings are many, varied, and hold the promise of affecting a lot of things in the City. If you have an opinion worth sharing, you need to be there to, if nothing else, indicate support or disapproval for an issue.
Citizenship is free for many of us. Being a good citizen takes a lot of work. If you leave it up to a handful of people to determine our future, we get what we deserve.

#16 Jack English on 12/04/11 at 03:26 PM [Reply]

I would have no problem seeing the men and women that work for the City of Winder get a cost of living raise and I would hope we are taking care of these employees with a Christmas Bonus. I am not sure why this part is made to look like Mr, Thompson is trying to sneak something in. Bottom line is that the Cost of Living has raised and if the City can afford to bonus the employees it can only help to keep moral high for the people working in this city. For me my company has had a good year and just this week we received a nice bonus for the end of the year.

#17 Anonymous on 12/04/11 at 04:08 PM [Reply]

There are two issues at play here. First is the legal advertisement situation. That is a petty fight the mayor is trying to wage at his final meeting.
The cost of living raise is something else completely. Employees should receive a raise each year, even if it is a minimal one. In speaking with people who have worked for this newspaper company (not just at their Barrow County office) they tell me they have not had raises in years. So I'm not surprised the owner of this paper would be against a city employee getting a raise, even a cost of living one. I own a business and my employees get a raise each year. The amount varies but I've never not given a raise. If necessary, I take home less. If an employee doesn't warrant a raise then they should not be working for your company.

#17.1 Jack legg on 12/04/11 at 05:24 PM [Reply]

A cost of living raise is something that I can get squarely behind as well.Its been , what? 4 years, how much money got shot up a hogs ass in those four years? it would have been better spent on keeping a quality work force.

#17.2 Mike Buffington, co-publisher on 12/04/11 at 07:38 PM [Reply]

The Journal has not opposed any raises here, only reported the item is on the upcoming agenda as an expense that had not previously been budgeted.

#17.2.1 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 01:49 PM [Reply]

Mike...you ran the story of the raises in the same article of Chip trying to do the end around on your paper, which I agree is wrong. You wanted people mad about the raises also. Then when the majority sided with the raises, you took it out of the on line article. You cant say you werent trying to get people mad about it.

#17.2.1.1 Mike Buffington, Publisher on 12/05/11 at 02:10 PM [Reply]

No, we moved it to its own article with some other info under the Winder heading... it didn't go away.

#17.2.1.1.1 Don't understand on 12/05/11 at 09:53 PM [Reply]

Mike,

I was at the work session and what you reported is not even close to what happened. I understand that the incoming Mayor had the Newspaper put on the agenda. They talked about other advertisements, not legal, and which paper they should use or could they use both. I have mostly supported you and your paper but I wonder if you are just as vindictive as Chip now. It seems you are just trying to get the last word. Chip lost, just let it go.

#17.2.1.1.1.1 Amen on 12/05/11 at 10:04 PM [Reply]

I agree!! Chip and Danny are gone, just like George Bush is gone and jimmy carter and ronald reagan quit visiting the past enjoy now and what is to come if you believe you made the best choices, if not keep dwelling on what the past brought and using it to make the failures of today the failures of tommorrows yet to come.

#17.2.1.1.1.2 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 10:47 PM [Reply]

Newspapers slant the news, and Buffington is practically chinese.

#18 Anonymous on 12/04/11 at 05:52 PM [Reply]

I agree all hard working employees deserve a raise each year. Perhaps the amount should vary depending on how the business is doing but to not give raises year after year after year after year is the worst kind of morale killer. There are two lines of thinking here: one employeer has the "screw the workers" mentality. They squeeze everything they can out of them until they get tired of it and they leave. The other business owner values hard working employees and does whatever they can to reward that hard work and loyalty. In the long run, this means a better bottom line for the business because the employees have an incentive to make the company stronger, not just an incentive to get a paycheck for a few months and then quit.

#18.1 Goverment on 12/05/11 at 11:13 PM [Reply]

isnt a business it doesnt make money it takes taxes and should use them to do the minimum amount of damage and maximum amount of good for the taxpayers it is TAKING from, comparing a business to a Govt is not what works, Govt business is taking from others to give to others, maybe like back in the day Govt jobs were starting point to go on to real jobs and to become something now they are place for those that could not meet real job standards to stay and leech just doing the minimum to appear to deserve to get more money then those doing same job in real world!!! keep Govt jobs starting point not starting whole story and ending!!!!

#18.1.1 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 11:42 PM [Reply]

Your an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! McDonald's is a starting point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And government is in the REAL world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did I use more " ! " than you????????????????????????????

#18.1.2 My Two Cents on 12/07/11 at 11:40 PM [Reply]

Geez! You sound like the kind of idiot who would bitch about an ambulance or firetruck taking 4 minutes instead of 3 to get to whatever emergency you might have. SURE, let's pay them minimum wage, train them and let them get a job in the "real world" HMMMMMMMM,,,let's see, where in the real world would they be getting a real job? OH YEAH, Mr Brilliant, they could go to Gwinett or another surrounding county or city and protect the citizens there!~~~~Outstanding idea there! Someone with that outstandingly brilliant mind you have should use your real name here so you could recognized for that brilliance~~~as a matter of fact, bet with that mind of yours, we could fire all the city and county employees, let you run everything and THEN our local governments could finally turn a profit~~~I applaud you sir or madam!

#19 Not a Dime's Difference on 12/04/11 at 06:16 PM [Reply]

“Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” Ronald Reagan

I shouldn't find it amazing ... Those charged with the Defense of the County Citizens have no problem with the Barrow Journal... Those more concerned with strangulating Commerce (People) with more Regulation are working again with the Status Que(Barrow County News) to run those (insert anyone but "Good People / GOB") off

Is this a GOP or GOB party County?

#20 cruel & unusual punishment on 12/04/11 at 07:46 PM [Reply]

As far as the County is concerned, why even give the employees a raise, you will just take it back in a year and laugh and tease them again.

#21 raise on 12/04/11 at 08:15 PM [Reply]

wow really hello the tax payers who work in the real world slaving are the ones that would have to work harder to give County workers more money many already making less then the county workers!! and no raises in sight for them!!!!

#22 Tax Payer on 12/04/11 at 10:12 PM [Reply]

I am self employed and I haven't gave myself a raise in 4 years. Why should we give these government workers a raise? If they had any ambition in life they wouldn't be working for the government to begin with.

#23 used on 12/05/11 at 12:25 AM [Reply]

to be you took Govt job for security it provided then it started providing beter benifits and pay then working outside Govt, so now those who got spoiled think someone has endless supply of money to keep them spoiled, that would be Us the TAXPAYERS not getting paychecks and extra holidays and sick days having private sector jobs, yes you all pay taxes also but if it wasnt for us there would not be anyone to make sure you get a dime, dont kill your GOLDEN goose being greedy, the Goose only has so many eggs at a time!!!!

#23.1 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 07:43 AM [Reply]

You people have got to get your heads out of your ass and realize that many of the county employees are also taxpayers in this county. It's not like you are some better that thaw person who pays taxes to keep the less than a citizen employee working. A tax payer is a tax payer and each one has equality. I understand that if county has no money then no money can be given, but don't put the employees down because we applied for these jobs. Each of you had the same opportunity to apply if you wanted to work for the county that we did. You chose to work were you do. Stop acting like we are the bad people. If none of us were here you would have no government then again you would have nothing to Bitch about either.

#23.1.1 you on 12/05/11 at 09:59 AM [Reply]

miss some points, if your getting more pay and bennifits then people in private sector doing the same job, and your cry you need a raise then you are being unreal.
also since Barrow county doesnt require employees to live in Barrow county after becoming employee then maybe you do not pay as much in taxes as the citizens of BARROW county that do pay your wages, and benefit also many of you claim that yearwood gave jobs out so there goes your other claim the jobs were open to anyone....

#23.1.1.1 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 11:37 AM [Reply]

I live in Barrow, I pay taxes in Barrow, I drove to HR and filled out an application, returned it, interviewed and was offered a job. Long before Yearwood was in office. Anyway here is the biggest point from the story that you royalty missed, the cost of living raise is for CITY WORKERS not the county, so Yearwood does not have a Danny thing to do with this. Public or private a job is a job and you had an opportunity to apply. You sound like a kid "Mommy his toy is bigger than mine" Grow up and go get a bigger toy.

#23.1.1.1.1 you on 12/05/11 at 02:28 PM [Reply]

dint get it you work for Govt Govt does not maske money Govt is not a business, so you see you should not rely on Govt to give you what it takes from others! Govt jobs are for security now for money gain since the TAXOAYERS are the ones that have money taken from them by the Govt they do not choose to have the money taken they have no choice so a worker making more money working for the Govt that has a monopoly on the service should not expect to have more monies taken from taxpayers to GET HIS BIGGER toy he should find a place that the sandbox mother isnt his mother!

#23.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 04:00 PM [Reply]

Well after playing fill in the blank to read you post, or was it your Kindergarten child who typed it, it is obvious that you missed the point of my post. Read them again I'm not going to type them twice. "dint"?What a way to start off.

#23.1.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 12/06/11 at 01:25 AM [Reply]

Also as to the toy comment. It was to say that I have a toy "job" you think that your toy "job" is smaller so if you want a bigger or better toy "job" you need to grow up "be an adult" and get a bigger toy "job". No where did it say that I wanted you to give me a bigger "better" toy "job". Hope this is explained simple enough for your simple mind.

#23.1.1.1.2 Anonymous on 12/09/11 at 07:17 AM [Reply]

were get to get your pension next boy, the good ol boy days are over.

#23.1.1.1.2.1 Anonymous on 12/09/11 at 07:47 AM [Reply]

Obviously the good ole boy days are not over because your good ole boy redneck self is on here attempting to type something, I just can't understand your mumbling. "were get to get " say what?

#23.1.2 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 01:25 PM [Reply]

I am "better than thaw."
I stay frozen.

#24 dawgfan on 12/05/11 at 12:42 AM [Reply]

Chip is,has been, and ALWAYS will be nothing more than a cry-baby wuss!!
His leadership dictated his removal from office!
Good riddance Chip!!!
As for raises, everybody needs a cost of living raise, but ONLY if the money is available.
There are quite a few city employees who are EXTREMELY OVERPAID!! Perhaps their salaries should be cut and give that money to the other deserving employees!!!!!!!!

#25 Anonymous on 12/05/11 at 11:59 PM [Reply]

I dont not think gov employe nead to get raise cause i aint not got one ether why i nead to pay more intax when i caint not pay my rent on time now gas price is high to fell up my truck it a ford 350 wit big tires and use a lot of gas i dont get thatmuch money on the first of the month win i get my check my baby dady dont give me no moneys so i aint not got no moneys to give for them to waste on no raise just sayin so say no to them raises cause its hard in the real world!!!

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Outgoing Winder Mayor Chip Thompson seeks to slap at Journal

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