Act one of a three act play:
Awhile ago, Lincoln City Homepage was alerted to nefarious shenanigans going on at the Lincoln County Commissioner’s office. Two of three commissioners, and an unelected attorney were making policy decisions behind closed doors. Shutting out other elected officials such as the county Sheriff, the county’s District Attorney and County Commissioner Casey Miller which made us suspect that much was being withheld from the public by the fiat of just a few without full exposure to the sanitizing daylight of public disclosure.
County Commissioner Casey Miller drew the ire of Commissioners Hall and Jacobson along with the unelected county attorney Yullie. All because he wanted transparency and to have questions of procedure addressed publicly.
Instead of being celebrated as a proverbial breath of fresh air in the fat, stale stench of the commissioner’s chamber a torrent of accusations were unleashed on him. Accusing him of disclosing confidential information and “bullying”, someone, without a public notice or vote hired a law firm to “investigate” claims made against him. Infamous Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was famous for saying, “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.” How the county authorized anyone to hire an investigator much less begin an investigation without Commissioner Miller having a vote is questionable. If Stalin wore a dress and a man bra he would feel right at home on the Lincoln County Commission.
The second act of this play featured Commissioner Kaety Jacobson abruptly resigning from the council. Which now leaves the commission at two representatives; Miller and Hall. Somehow, without Commissioner Miller’s knowledge, the “county” (whoever that invisible monster might be) decided to appoint someone to Jacobson’s position rather than hold a special election.
Which leads into the third act of this grotesque production. Someone from the county created an application for the position of County Commissioner. Applicants were to fill out the form and submit to the Board of Commissioners by January 28.
Lincoln City Homepage received a copy of the application and immediately red flags and rockets filled the air. We sent a a question to Kenneth Lipp, Public Information Officer for clarification. We asked if the form was an application for a job with Lincoln county to which he replied “No it is not.” Which then begged the follow up question to which we still have not received a response, “Then what is it?”
Dubiously legal questions populated the form. Questions such as “Date of birth.” Clearly illegal in a private sector application (age discrimination). “Social Security Number” which, while not illegal to ask for is highly advised against by most Human Resource departments for the security liability it contains. Other questions bordered on McCarthyesque; Joseph McCarthy’s communist hunt was famous for the question, “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the communist party?” So it seems it’s not entirely out of character for a politburo such as the current county commission and its minions to have created.
The following questions are on the application:
“Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?”
“Have you been disciplined, terminated or asked to resign from a paid or volunteer position?”
“Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct or been the subject of a complaint to any court, administrative agency, professional association, disciplinary committee, or other professional group?”
“Have you ever been involved in civil litigation, or administrative or legislative proceedings of any kind, either as plaintiff, defendant, respondent, witness or party in interest? If yes, please explain.”
“Have you ever run for political office, served on a political committee, or been identified publicly with a particular political organization, candidate or issue?”
“Have you ever had an association with any person or group or business venture which could be used, even unfairly, to impugn or question your character and qualifications for the requested appointment?”
Lincoln City Homepage sent the following questions concerning the application to Lipp and have yet to receive a response of any kind:
