[turtle1]

I do not post much but this has been on my mind lately. If the county is so tight with money how come I see county employees and/or driving the county vehicles to lunch, to the bank, to walmart, to target and other such places? I thought if you are on your lunch break you are off the clock, can someone help me understand this waste of my taxpayer money?

[A Gipper Girl]

Simple answer...it's the government. Common sense and accountability are long gone. Arrogance and waste is in full supply.

[noahsdad]

A Gipper Girl, on 28 July 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Simple answer...it's the government. Common sense and accountability are long gone. Arrogance and waste is in full supply.

If they all sat in an office at a desk that would be one thing, but most of the county employees are out in the work field working and instead of driving all the way back to their office to get their vehicle, then drive to eat then drive back to the office then back to where they where. They usually just stop and eat in the area they are in! But I know someone is going to complain over the least of things, and have a better idea of how it should be done! I know cause my sister works for the engineering department for the county and a lot of days she is up in Bentwater/Cedarcrest area so it makes no sense to waste time to drive all the way back to the courthouse just to turn around and drive back. Many departments go in many different directions every day! Just the way it is!

[Scottie1972]

A Gipper Girl, on 28 July 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Simple answer...it's the government. Common sense and accountability are long gone. Arrogance and waste is in full supply.

i agree with this 99%!
the other 1% they just don't care what we have to say about it. they are the ones in charge.

[afewcardsshy]

Alwyas wondered that myself. I see the vehicles especially patrol cars driven to personal homes, always wonder why. Firemen do not drive the fire trucks home. The dot does not drive motor graders and ice trucks home. And for some reason I have never seen a national guard motor pool empty because the soldiers have M1 Abrams or UH-60's parked in their yard. Just sayin

[NC-17]

Employees that are on call have to be accessible for the duration of their shift. Being in a personal vehicle when a call comes through means a delayed response time.

[Ugadawgs98]

afewcardsshy, on 28 July 2012 - 11:48 AM, said:

I see the vehicles especially patrol cars driven to personal homes, always wonder why.

Because law enforcement is not a 8-5 job. Many officers are on call 24/7 due to their various specialties because the vast majority of departments are not big enough to have full time access to all the specialized skills needed in a LE agency.

[turtle1]

I understand about on call police, fire chief ect...but the ones that sit in an office and gets in the county vehicle to do personal stuff and eat lunch ect...is what I am wondering. Guess I just need to go ahead and waste my money. Are the employees(department heads included) not accountable?

[zoocrew]

turtle1, on 28 July 2012 - 01:08 PM, said:

I understand about on call police, fire chief ect...but the ones that sit in an office and gets in the county vehicle to do personal stuff and eat lunch ect...is what I am wondering. Guess I just need to go ahead and waste my money. Are the employees(department heads included) not accountable?

Because those people are in positions that they do drive in many directions, at all hours, doing all sorts of things, and with all kinds of things to do. An example is someone who works with the DOT. There are places to go to handle all sorts of situations at all sorts of hours. Same with the Parks and Rec people. There is no sense driving all the way back to the courthouse, pick up the vehicle, drive to the place where they need to be, drive back to the courthouse, then drive back home. That is paying those people for drive time when it is cheaper to give them the county vehicle for local use.

[Ugadawgs98]

This is nothing out of the ordinary. I have worked 3 jobs in the past which provided a company car and each was yours to use for the day while you were on the clock. Not one wanted you to drive back to the office and swap to your personal car to take your lunch break, it costs the business money because this would be done on the clock.

[Veritas]

The primary reason for police officers taking their vehicles home is because of the deterrance to crime in places where a police vehicle is located. Most communities like having them there for that reason.

[afewcardsshy]

Veritas, on 28 July 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

The primary reason for police officers taking their vehicles home is because of the deterrance to crime in places where a police vehicle is located. Most communities like having them there for that reason.

Explain to me why my neighbor got his truck broke into when within 100 yards in any direction sits PCSO, or Polk. It will only deter the non"criminal". I have know many officers of the law and have been told numerous times how their house or car ws broke into. And I don't care that county vehicles are driven for personal reasons, I care that the drivers think that they can drive them like a 16 year old on a back country road.

[rockysmom]

I like that I can see cop cars in the driveways of my area.

Does anyone really care? It's not practical for them not to bring it home.

JMHO.

[BooRadley]

zoocrew, on 28 July 2012 - 01:25 PM, said:

Because those people are in positions that they do drive in many directions, at all hours, doing all sorts of things, and with all kinds of things to do. An example is someone who works with the DOT. There are places to go to handle all sorts of situations at all sorts of hours. Same with the Parks and Rec people. There is no sense driving all the way back to the courthouse, pick up the vehicle, drive to the place where they need to be, drive back to the courthouse, then drive back home. That is paying those people for drive time when it is cheaper to give them the county vehicle for local use.

Exactly!!!! Field appraisers are another position that comes to mind. They are out in the boonies of the county and if they want to stop at a Walmart to pick up a bottle of water and a sandwich for lunch, I'm not going to begrudge them.

As for the desk jockies, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, as well. For example, if someone needed to make a bank deposit FOR THE COUNTY and used a county car since they were on county business and stopped at Wendy's on the way back since it was almost lunchtime, again, I don't see a problem.

I'm not a county employee, but I worked with a girl who was an office admin. One of her job duties was to keep the break room stocked.

So every two weeks, she made a trip to Walmart IN THE COMPANY CAR (since it was company business) to buy paper towels, coffee filters, creamer, napkins, etc. She always would time these trips around 11ish to beat the lunch crowd. By the time her shopping was done, she still had enough time left to grab lunch before the drive thrus got backed up.

[Nitro]

turtle1, on 28 July 2012 - 10:05 AM, said:

I do not post much but this has been on my mind lately. If the county is so tight with money how come I see county employees and/or driving the county vehicles to lunch, to the bank, to walmart, to target and other such places? I thought if you are on your lunch break you are off the clock, can someone help me understand this waste of my taxpayer money?

I'd like to know how you know who's business they are doing when you seem them in Wal-Mart or Target?

Ever stop to think sometimes things are needed that cannot wait to be ordered and wait for several days to get them?

The county, just like any other business, will send an employee to Wal-Mart or other stores to pick up something that department needs
right away. There are also some items that are cheaper at Wal-Mart and Target, and rather go to a more expensive office supply store,
the employee may get a credit card from the finance department and go purchase what is needed.

County employee's also visit the bank. The clerks office and the tax commissioners office all make daily trips to the bank
to deposit their funds... and yes, they do it during lunch time, most of the time. Banks are usually closed after end of business.

If you are really that concerned about it, instead of making accusations that they are wasting tax payers money
and complaining about it on this site,
why don't you call the county office and say you saw a particular vehicle (they ALL have county vehicle ID numbers on them)
and want to know if it was for county related business?

It's amazing how many people will bitch about something and get the pot stirred when they have no clue as
to what is actually going on...

[Riptides]

turtle1, on 28 July 2012 - 10:05 AM, said:

I do not post much but this has been on my mind lately. If the county is so tight with money how come I see county employees and/or driving the county vehicles to lunch, to the bank, to walmart, to target and other such places? I thought if you are on your lunch break you are off the clock, can someone help me understand this waste of my taxpayer money?

So driving their vehicle back to their office/shop and getting in their personal to go to lunch, just to go back to get their work vehicle will end up saving money how when you factor in the extra gas that will be used?

[Ugadawgs98]

Riptides, on 28 July 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

So driving their vehicle back to their office/shop and getting in their personal to go to lunch, just to go back to get their work vehicle will end up saving money how when you factor in the extra gas that will be used?

No kidding.

"I don't care if he is on Cedarcrest; let him drive back to the office and take his own car to lunch like 'everyone else'. He can pick up his county vehicle and go back up there when he is done. That will teach em!"

[NC-17]

The title of this thread should have read, "I just want to bitch".

[A Gipper Girl]

noahsdad, on 28 July 2012 - 11:39 AM, said:

If they all sat in an office at a desk that would be one thing, but most of the county employees are out in the work field working and instead of driving all the way back to their office to get their vehicle, then drive to eat then drive back to the office then back to where they where. They usually just stop and eat in the area they are in! But I know someone is going to complain over the least of things, and have a better idea of how it should be done! I know cause my sister works for the engineering department for the county and a lot of days she is up in Bentwater/Cedarcrest area so it makes no sense to waste time to drive all the way back to the courthouse just to turn around and drive back. Many departments go in many different directions every day! Just the way it is!

Gah. I dont have the energy right now. Let's cheer for the government??? Really? "They go EVERYDAY"! Well, hey hey and yahoo! They SHOULD and a lot harder than they do. They are a waste of hardworking peoples money and at an absolute loss for individual liberty(Google it) and common sense. The private sector could do above and beyond what they barely pull off and for less and faster and exemplify that everyday.

Now go cry on the shoulder of one of the many TSA agents at J-Hartsfeld LITERALLY asleep on their very cushy job. They are a JOKE.

[Nitro]

NC-17, on 28 July 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

The title of this thread should have read, "I just want to bitch".

[Ugadawgs98]

A Gipper Girl, on 28 July 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

Gah. I dont have the energy right now. Let's cheer for the government??? Really? "They go EVERYDAY"! Well, hey hey and yahoo! They SHOULD and a lot harder than they do. They are a waste of hardworking peoples money and at an absolute loss for individual liberty(Google it) and common sense. The private sector could do above and beyond what they barely pull off and for less and faster and exemplify that everyday.

Now go cry on the shoulder of one of the many TSA agents at J-Hartsfeld LITERALLY asleep on their very cushy job. They are a JOKE.

Is there waste in government? Sure. There was also waste in both fortune 500 companies I was employed with in the past. It comes with big organizations.

While you apparently despise all things government since you have conviently lumped everybody into one group it still takes nothing away from the many people who do bust their ass and spend their life serving their community because they want to.

[raclay]

For those of you complaining about police officers driving cruisers home, think about this. When that POLICE cruiser is parked in a driveway in YOUR neighborhood, I'm willing to bet that crime is virtually nonexistent.

[CrabbyDaddy]

Using the deterrent reasonIng. How freaking cool would it be to have a M1 Abrams parked in the driveway next door.

[raclay]

CrabbyDaddy, on 28 July 2012 - 11:45 PM, said:

Using the deterrent reasonIng. How freaking cool would it be to have a M1 Abrams parked in the driveway next door.

I don't even know what that is, going to look it up.

[~Chester~]

CrabbyDaddy, on 28 July 2012 - 11:45 PM, said:

Using the deterrent reasonIng. How freaking cool would it be to have a M1 Abrams parked in the driveway next door.

I would rather have it parked in my driveway.

Of course I use to make a living driving those.

[zoocrew]

A Gipper Girl, on 28 July 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

Gah. I dont have the energy right now. Let's cheer for the government??? Really? "They go EVERYDAY"! Well, hey hey and yahoo! They SHOULD and a lot harder than they do. They are a waste of hardworking peoples money and at an absolute loss for individual liberty(Google it) and common sense. The private sector could do above and beyond what they barely pull off and for less and faster and exemplify that everyday.

Now go cry on the shoulder of one of the many TSA agents at J-Hartsfeld LITERALLY asleep on their very cushy job. They are a JOKE.

Ideology over substance.

[afewcardsshy]

Well I believe that if they drive taqxpayer's vehicles that they should be required to give free rides to the taxpayers, if they happen to drive by one walking. Sure would not mind a free trip toWal-mart or Micky D's myself every once and awhile

[A Gipper Girl]

Ugadawgs98, on 28 July 2012 - 11:33 PM, said:

Is there waste in government? Sure. There was also waste in both fortune 500 companies I was employed with in the past. It comes with big organizations.

While you apparently despise all things government since you have conviently lumped everybody into one group it still takes nothing away from the many people who do bust their ass and spend their life serving their community because they want to.

I despise BIG government, like the one we currently have...and is rapidly growing. The private sector can do anything better, faster and more efficiently than the government on its best day.

Not saying that some government employees do not work hard- I know they do. As far as "lumping everyone together", that is exactly why I hate big government. They want to lump YOU in with everybody else.

[NC-17]

afewcardsshy, on 29 July 2012 - 11:22 AM, said:

Well I believe that if they drive taqxpayer's vehicles that they should be required to give free rides to the taxpayers, if they happen to drive by one walking. Sure would not mind a free trip toWal-mart or Micky D's myself every once and awhile

Do you have any idea what that would do to the county's insurance rates???

You can borrow my thinking cap, since yours is obviously broken.

[Greatma]

And to see a county car drive up to the school and let their child out, or to pick them up. I have to make arrangements to have mine dropped off and picked up. I have to furnish the car and buy the gas, most of the time. I have seen them drive across the county and drop them off. Something is not right.

[The Postman]

zoocrew, on 29 July 2012 - 12:19 AM, said:

Ideology over substance.

Short, zoocrew, but but massive in understanding.

[mrnn]

turtle1, on 28 July 2012 - 10:05 AM, said:

I thought if you are on your lunch break you are off the clock, can someone help me understand this waste of my taxpayer money?

I would imagine most of these employees are salaried...there is no clocking in or clocking out. They're paid to get a job done, not for a number of hours they work or don't work. Have you worked a salaried position before? Did you have a company vehicle in that position? I'm assuming the answer is "no" on both counts, which goes a long way in explaining the idiocy of this topic.


mrnn

[DallasRED]

turtle1, on 28 July 2012 - 10:05 AM, said:

I do not post much but this has been on my mind lately. If the county is so tight with money how come I see county employees and/or driving the county vehicles to lunch, to the bank, to walmart, to target and other such places? I thought if you are on your lunch break you are off the clock, can someone help me understand this waste of my taxpayer money?

I got a better one for you. I work for the DOD and I am supposed to get the duty driver to drive me around when it is offical business...Know what I do? I just hop in my own vehicle and go.

afewcardsshy, on 28 July 2012 - 11:48 AM, said:

Alwyas wondered that myself. I see the vehicles especially patrol cars driven to personal homes, always wonder why. Firemen do not drive the fire trucks home. The dot does not drive motor graders and ice trucks home. And for some reason I have never seen a national guard motor pool empty because the soldiers have M1 Abrams or UH-60's parked in their yard. Just sayin

I like it when I have cops as neighbors and they park their cars. Helps me feel safer.

[DallasRED]

A Gipper Girl, on 28 July 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

Gah. I dont have the energy right now. Let's cheer for the government??? Really? "They go EVERYDAY"! Well, hey hey and yahoo! They SHOULD and a lot harder than they do. They are a waste of hardworking peoples money and at an absolute loss for individual liberty(Google it) and common sense. The private sector could do above and beyond what they barely pull off and for less and faster and exemplify that everyday.

Now go cry on the shoulder of one of the many TSA agents at J-Hartsfeld LITERALLY asleep on their very cushy job. They are a JOKE.

I hope you are just talking about local govt. I switched jobs recently and now work with mostly civilian GS. They are overworked stressed and I really don't get where people say such things about them. I read it all of the time on PCOM putting down DC and GOVT workers. Now I cant speak for the offices in DC but on the NAVY base south of town they work HARD...Non stop all day. They even run out for lunch bring it back and eat at their desks.

NC-17, on 28 July 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

The title of this thread should have read, "I just want to bitch".

Nothing wrong with VENTING and asking a question. Comments like this IMO is what makes posters like her not post much.

[PUBBY]

CrabbyDaddy, on 28 July 2012 - 11:45 PM, said:

Using the deterrent reasonIng. How freaking cool would it be to have a M1 Abrams parked in the driveway next door.

I'm sure we'd not be worrying about a Cuban invasion in that subdivision ... but then we aren't anyway.

pubby

PS: This kind of off the wall complaint is a Republican thing. See, if you think that everyone who works for the government basically doesn't work and only sucks your tax money for their limo rides in county cars to lunch and on shopping sprees at walmart, you will want more tax cuts and want to shrink government to the point there aren't any more cushy government jobs with pensions and health insurance and all those benefits.

And we can do it. Eliminate all taxes and we eliminate government!!! Yipee Yi Yah the Koch Brothers say.

pubby

PPS: Anyone want to talk about welfare queens and their forty two kids that means they all live in a 60 room mansion, eat steak and lobster at every meal and with the drugs dealt on the side, have stretch limos... all on welfare.

[DallasRED]

A Gipper Girl, on 29 July 2012 - 11:23 AM, said:

I despise BIG government, like the one we currently have...and is rapidly growing. The private sector can do anything better, faster and more efficiently than the government on its best day.

Not saying that some government employees do not work hard- I know they do. As far as "lumping everyone together", that is exactly why I hate big government. They want to lump YOU in with everybody else.

They work harder, military included...now we all do the job of 2-3 people because of cutbacks. I am sure it is the same way in the private sector.

[afewcardsshy]

NC-17, on 29 July 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

Do you have any idea what that would do to the county's insurance rates???

You can borrow my thinking cap, since yours is obviously broken.

Well I bet the Ins. rates would be lower if they drove safer slower and stop ferrying themselves and their family around like a shuttle service.

DallasRED, on 29 July 2012 - 03:39 PM, said:

They work harder, military included...now we all do the job of 2-3 people because of cutbacks. I am sure it is the same way in the private sector.

Thank you DR, just got off a govt. job and holy crap the maintenance personell could not change a light bulb, literally.

[Georgia Dawg]

raclay, on 28 July 2012 - 11:45 PM, said:

For those of you complaining about police officers driving cruisers home, think about this. When that POLICE cruiser is parked in a driveway in YOUR neighborhood, I'm willing to bet that crime is virtually nonexistent.

Actually no. There was a county police car parked 3 doors down and a Polk county police care parked 4 doors down on the other side of the street, and we had one of the worst crime sprees in a long time in our neighborhood that occurred for several months. My home, in fact, was broken into in the middle of the day with both police vehicles just down the street parked in the driveways. These proved to be no deterrent whatsoever.

[The Postman]

Crushing monied corporations, that bid defiance to our government is what the American people should do, ASAP. We don't need the aristrocracy associated with Corporate America.


"The selfish spirit of commerce knows no country, and feels no passion or principle but that of gain." The Chief Author of our Declaration of Independence

This post has been edited by The Postman: 30 July 2012 - 01:16 AM

[SOLO]

Georgia Dawg, on 29 July 2012 - 08:40 PM, said:

Actually no. There was a county police car parked 3 doors down and a Polk county police care parked 4 doors down on the other side of the street, and we had one of the worst crime sprees in a long time in our neighborhood that occurred for several months. My home, in fact, was broken into in the middle of the day with both police vehicles just down the street parked in the driveways. These proved to be no deterrent whatsoever.

When my kids were young we had a D.A.R.E. officer who lived right next door to a drug house. He knew what was going on there and that young kids were in the house with it and never did a thing to stop the drugs or help get the kids out. Yep that nice sporty D.A.R.E. Car really made no difference at all sitting there.