SHERIFF WANTS TO OWN HELICOPTER
The Sheriff rejected joining SABLE, a multi-county partnership that shares in the cost of operating a helicopter that was given for free by the feds because he said it was a waste of money. "This department can't afford - and probably doesn't need - to share a helicopter with other law-enforcement agencies." Then a local businessman Scott Gerow offered the use of his helicopter for free, all the county would have to do is pay for the gas of operating the Robinson R44 Raven helicopter which Sheriff Causey claims it to cost $72.60 per hour to operate which is much less than the manufacturers estimate of $174.16 per hour. Apparently Scott Gerow is paying the estimated $11,000 in insurance on the aircraft himself. The county isn't. Perhaps to help out with the high overhead the Sheriff has given Gerow a full time job as a $48,000/year Lieutenant. There is an estimated $36,000 in interest payments and $11,000 a year in insurance. In Gerow's spare time he is enrolled in special classes at CFCC so that he can complete his BLET (basic law enforcement training) . Gerow has several rental properties and owns a landscaping firm as well as a residential construction development company. In fact this isn't his first business dealings with the county. In 2001 his company Green with Envy was awarded a landscaping maintenance contract for county properties including the jail annex. The 2 year contract amount was for $181,969.20.
Even though Causey estimates only using Gerow's Port City Helicopter services to fly the bird roughly only 20 hours since he has had the agreement with Gerow, Causey feels the need to pony up taxpayer money to the tune of over $600,000 to buy his own egg beater.
Sheriff Causey claims that the purchase money is not tax money but grant money (which over $200k is coming from the feds and of course THAT MONEY IS TAX MONEY) and from drug seizures and forfeitures. Sheriff Sid Causey says "the helicopter is especially useful in the county's Project Lifesaver Program. " The program provides tracking bracelets for Alzheimer's patients. Unfortunately the way the drug forfeiture laws are the money can only be used for drug enforcement. If he were to use drug money for anything other than that it could be misappropriation of funds or embezzlement. So I'm sure he misspoke about using it for finding missing persons without paying for it another way.
I seriously doubt that Sheriff Causey will follow thru with his purchase, at least not now. The Wilmington Star News reported that Causey wants to ask the commssioners for the money on March 10th, the same night the County will sign off on the two and a half million dollar settlement with the estate of Peyton Strickland. Should this deal fail to work out for the sheriff it is questionable as to the status of the future situation regarding Lt. Scott Gerow's generosity. After all it won't be very much longer before people begin to remember Franklin County's helicopter.
OK first of all you guys are the shit. I mean it you guys have it all. How do you not get kilt? I bet kausey hates you bitches!
Ilove ya though!!!
Will you send me a Benson for sheriff bumper sticker?? I swear to god ill stick it on my car!
Posted by: bunny foo | March 04, 2008 at 05:41 PM
OK if I were to give deputies free meals at my restaurant and free drinks at my bar it would be unethical right? Because my "gift" could be seen as a bribe.
So how does a businessman with undocumented immigrants working for him and in one case paying rent to him get away with a "gift" of a helicopter?
Ain't nothing free amigo!
Posted by: Bill | March 05, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I have heard that Marc will be at the Commissioners meeting on the 10th. Good for him. It's about time someone stands up to this renegade sheriff. When his willful neglect for office led to the loss of life of a teenager it should have been his swan song. But like his butthole buddy Thomas Wright (you do know Causey's wife was Wright's campaign manager didn't you?) he will sit it out until someone physically removes him from office. At least you guys are sticking it to him every chance he gives you.
I've been around for more years than I can to recall, I've known Sid for at least 20 years and have to say I bought into his good old boy system for years. I know his MO and have noticed little by little an erosion of support. You guys have absolutely turned the tables on the status quo. We have never formally met but if we do I owe you a beer for all you have done. Hell make it a sixpack!
Posted by: DANG! | March 07, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Causey has already bought the helicopter, the commissioners meeting is a formality. He also has two chief deputies now. Major Hines is now a co-Chief Deputy. The sheriff has lost his mind.
BTW guys he can't stop talking about you. Must be a fan.
Tell him you know about the corvette.
Posted by: 10-73 | March 08, 2008 at 11:28 PM
What I don't understand is why wouldn't you want support the sheriff in this. If we don't get a helicopter someone else will. It's not like that money is going back to the taxpayers.
Posted by: Kim Thomas | March 09, 2008 at 06:26 PM
You fags don't know what you are talking about or are so full of crap you wouldn't know the truth if it bit you in the ass. Where were you yesterday? Don't tell me you turned to chicken shit? Scared of a few of your ex-friends? You should have been there. A bunch of us wanted to say hi. You picked the wrong team to play for that's for sure!
Posted by: Tommy Boy | March 11, 2008 at 02:50 PM