Months of meetings and countless hours were spent by the Warren County Legislative Committee to construct a policy outlining procedures in county government and it took one commissioner less than a month to find a loophole to utilize. 

A written policy was approved by the full Warren County Commission in November. It took all of 30 days for Commissioner Blaine Wilcher, chairman of the commission, to circumvent it in order to achieve an objective. If this document means so little to them that they are already figuring out ways to get around it, then the policy is worthless. I tossed my copy into the trashcan.

During Monday night’s County Commission meeting, I listened as Wilcher and Commissioner Scott Rubley worked in concert on a plan they had to discuss prior to the meeting. Rubley is vice chair of the commission.

“I would like to amend the docket,” said Rubley. “This is to consider the appointment of a vice chairperson and a secretary to the Nonprofit Review Board.”

Wilcher, said “We have a motion to amend the docket. Is that all that you’re going to ask for Commissioner Rubley?”

Wilcher’s voice was hesitant. It sounded odd to me. 

“That’s my first,” said Rubley. “I’ve got one more, but we’ll consider this one first.”

Rubley’s second motion to amend was to “address standing and special committee classifications.” 

Wilcher immediately stepped down as chairman – Rubley stepped up – so he could speak to that item of business and made a motion to change the classification of both the County Corrections Partnership Committee and Redistricting Committee from special committees to standing committees.

Full clarity struck me: As chairman of the commission, Wilcher’s role doesn’t allow him to make motions. He had to enlist the assistance of Rubley to change the docket. This was all planned.

Wilcher’s hesitant words were actually concern that Rubley had forgotten. Wilcher’s effort was successful, but legal counsel warned that future motions should be made in committee and presented to the commission in the form of a resolution. Wilcher wasn't going by the spirit of the policy.

The Legislative Committee’s intent was to stop actions such as this with a written policy, but they left a loophole. Wilcher found it. 

“It wasn’t a resolution. It was a motion,” said Wilcher.

The new county policy only prevents resolutions from being presented without committee consideration and not motions. 

If commissioners want to do what’s right, I’ll go dumpster diving for the policy. Seeking loopholes in it just a month after it was passed in order to further your own agenda is wrong.

Standard reporter Lisa Hobbs can be reached at 473-2191.