February 8, 2007
Watchdog sent an open records request on January 3, 2006 to Mr. Gregory Duckett of the Shelby County Election Commission requesting the following information.
The records and documents that show the names, yearly salaries, birth dates, job titles, years of completed creditable service towards retirement for all employees of the Shelby County Election Commission including the five board members.
The records and documents that show which of the above employees listed in item 1 receive car allowances and which receive cell phone services and the cost of car allowances and cell phone services (whether paid for by Shelby or by some third party other than the employee) for each person who receive these benefits.
The records and documents that show the benefits and perks, including life and medical insurance, that the members of the board receive.
The records and documents that show the operating budget for the Shelby County Election Commission for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
The records and documents that show all legal fees paid for the above fiscal years showing who they were paid to and the purpose of the legal expense.
The records that show any and all consulting contracts and agreements between the Shelby County Election Commission and all consultants for the above two fiscal years and any that are in effect as of December 31, 2005.
Watchdog got busy with other matters and did not follow up until April 11, 2006 requesting an answer. Still no answer. Finally watchdog followed up with the County Attorney, Mr. Brian Kuhn and as a late Christmas present early in 2007 we finally started getting answers. It seems that Mr. Duckett does not answer open records inquiries. We list below the answers that we have to date.
#1, 2 and 3 are answered and shown on the attached spreadsheet. All full time employees, including the commissioners, receive, in addition to their salaries, health and life insurance benefits as well as well as optional employees paid benefits. Concerning cell phones we did find that the Election Commission does not get permanent cell phones but that during an election they get hundreds of them from the IT department of the county and then they are returned after the election. We received a copy of a Verizon bill for a two month period that amounted to $11,207.86 for some 200 cell phones. The IT department did say that the Election Commission does get 6 blackberrys for general use.
#4 The 03-04 proposed budget expenditures is $4.3 million ($2.51 million is salary and benefits) and the 04-05 budget expenditures is $3.52 million ($2.13 is salary and fringe benefits).
#5 The legal fees paid were $19,610.11 to Walter Bailey et al at the firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman while Walter Bailey was on the County Commission.
#6 There were three consulting contracts given out by the Election Commission during this period as listed below.
A contract with Watkins Uiberall, PLLC and Banks, Finley, White and Company for a price not to exceed $49,000 with an option to renew for three (3) additional one (1) years. The services include auditing of votes and examination of voting machines and other security measures.
A contract with Small Planet Works, Inc (Janice A. Banks) for professional consulting services for $13,990. SPW was to provide professional services to provide the framework and development of the organizations strategic plan. Small Planet Works certified that it was a Minority Owned Female Business Enterprise. Small Planet Works also received $94,721.63 in other minority City contracts under the ACS/City contract during the period Nov. 03 to Feb. 06.
A contract with Urban Environmental Mapping Corporation (Dennis L. Campbell, President) for technical assistance for the Commission GIS system for $14,910.00
Watchdog must say that the Shelby County employees are very professional and much more forthcoming than the City and the MLGW. We present this information in our continuing effort to open up government to the taxpaying citizens of Memphis and Shelby County.
See what the Shelby County Election Commission employees are paid including the commissioners
Watchdog sent an open records request on January 3, 2006 to Mr. Gregory Duckett of the Shelby County Election Commission requesting the following information.
The records and documents that show the names, yearly salaries, birth dates, job titles, years of completed creditable service towards retirement for all employees of the Shelby County Election Commission including the five board members.
The records and documents that show which of the above employees listed in item 1 receive car allowances and which receive cell phone services and the cost of car allowances and cell phone services (whether paid for by Shelby or by some third party other than the employee) for each person who receive these benefits.
The records and documents that show the benefits and perks, including life and medical insurance, that the members of the board receive.
The records and documents that show the operating budget for the Shelby County Election Commission for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
The records and documents that show all legal fees paid for the above fiscal years showing who they were paid to and the purpose of the legal expense.
The records that show any and all consulting contracts and agreements between the Shelby County Election Commission and all consultants for the above two fiscal years and any that are in effect as of December 31, 2005.
Watchdog got busy with other matters and did not follow up until April 11, 2006 requesting an answer. Still no answer. Finally watchdog followed up with the County Attorney, Mr. Brian Kuhn and as a late Christmas present early in 2007 we finally started getting answers. It seems that Mr. Duckett does not answer open records inquiries. We list below the answers that we have to date.
#1, 2 and 3 are answered and shown on the attached spreadsheet. All full time employees, including the commissioners, receive, in addition to their salaries, health and life insurance benefits as well as well as optional employees paid benefits. Concerning cell phones we did find that the Election Commission does not get permanent cell phones but that during an election they get hundreds of them from the IT department of the county and then they are returned after the election. We received a copy of a Verizon bill for a two month period that amounted to $11,207.86 for some 200 cell phones. The IT department did say that the Election Commission does get 6 blackberrys for general use.
#4 The 03-04 proposed budget expenditures is $4.3 million ($2.51 million is salary and benefits) and the 04-05 budget expenditures is $3.52 million ($2.13 is salary and fringe benefits).
#5 The legal fees paid were $19,610.11 to Walter Bailey et al at the firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman while Walter Bailey was on the County Commission.
#6 There were three consulting contracts given out by the Election Commission during this period as listed below.
A contract with Watkins Uiberall, PLLC and Banks, Finley, White and Company for a price not to exceed $49,000 with an option to renew for three (3) additional one (1) years. The services include auditing of votes and examination of voting machines and other security measures.
A contract with Small Planet Works, Inc (Janice A. Banks) for professional consulting services for $13,990. SPW was to provide professional services to provide the framework and development of the organizations strategic plan. Small Planet Works certified that it was a Minority Owned Female Business Enterprise. Small Planet Works also received $94,721.63 in other minority City contracts under the ACS/City contract during the period Nov. 03 to Feb. 06.
A contract with Urban Environmental Mapping Corporation (Dennis L. Campbell, President) for technical assistance for the Commission GIS system for $14,910.00
Watchdog must say that the Shelby County employees are very professional and much more forthcoming than the City and the MLGW. We present this information in our continuing effort to open up government to the taxpaying citizens of Memphis and Shelby County.
See what the Shelby County Election Commission employees are paid including the commissioners
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7:57 PM
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