ACTION ALERT – Joint Transportation Study Group to Meet Near You
ACTION ALERT – Joint Transportation Study Group to Meet Near You
Did you know that All Georgians now subsidize Atlanta’s middle class commuters through the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) for Xpress bus service in metro Atlanta? For some reason, they cannot raise the fare. See the report.
Did you know that of the 4% sales tax on gasoline that consumers pay in Georgia, 25% of that tax goes to the state general fund instead of being utilized directly on transportation needs?
Did you know that Georgia’s Statewide Transportation Plan 2005-2035 has an estimated cost of $160 billion? Yet, only $86 billion is expected to be available for transportation spending over that period. That leaves a funding gap of $74 billion.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE REST OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM? It’s time to make your voices heard.
HR 1573 created a joint study committee of 16 members for the purpose of identifying new sources and methods of funding for critical transportation infrastructure needs. The committee will include the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Committees, who will serve as co-chairs. The presiding officers of each chamber will appoint three legislative members and one citizen member. Other members include the chairpersons of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce or designee, the president and CEO of the Metro-Atlanta Chamber of Commerce or designee, the executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and the executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association. The committee is authorized for eight days and will make recommendations to the legislature by November 30, 2014.
The Joint Study Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Funding will be holding public information meetings on the following tentative dates and cities. There will be time for public comment. You are encouraged to attend so that your concerns can be heard.
August 18th Columbus
September 2nd Tifton
September 3rd Macon
September 30th Augusta
October 1st Savannah
October 28th Rome
October 29th Blue Ridge
The first meeting was held in Atlanta on August 5th. Georgia DOT Commissioner Keith Golden gave a presentation on Transportation in Georgia. Some of the suggestions discussed:
Putting the 4th penny of the gas tax back in the transportation fund
Legislation to allow fractional SPLOST
Raise the gas tax
Multi-jurisdictional (2 or more counties) SPLOSTS like those proposed by Ed Setzler in HB195.
Keeping gas tax revenue in the state instead of sending it to Washington. There are strings attached with federal money which increase costs and causes delays. See the Transportation Empowerment Act proposed by Congressman Tom Graves.
Mileage meters on cars (tax on miles driven)
Autonomous cars
More HOT lanes (toll roads)
Although the TSPLOST was defeated in 9 out of 12 regions, HB 277, the TSPLOST law is still on the books. Now is the time to make your voices heard. Contact the House Staff: Tracy Atcheson (404) 656-1782 for exact locations and confirmation of the meeting dates and times.
This message is being sent by the Transportation Leadership Coalition and is not affiliated with the General Assembly legislators or staff.
Please help spread the word by forwarding this email to all interested parties you think will be affected.
Thanks,
Transportation Leadership Coalition, LLC
800-821-0102
www.repealregionalism.com
www.traffictruth.net
Facebook: facebook.com/RepealRegionalism
facebook.com/TrafficTruth
Twitter: @RepealRegionali
@TrafficTruth
Time for Parrott to prove libelous and defamatory statements in Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint
Memo
To: Chairman John Ernst, DeKalb Board of Ethics, Interim CEO Lee May, Executive Assistant, Zach Williams, District Attorney, Robert James, Lori Dennis, Travis Cherry, Scott Callan, Morris Williams, Commissioners Chief of Staff and Barbara Sanders, Clerk of the CEO and Commission
From: Viola Davis
cc:
Office of the State and Federal Inspector Generals, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sally Quillian Yates, DeKalb Board of Commissioners, Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter, CTEA, Restore DeKalb and all Appropriate Parties.
Date: July 10, 2014
Re:
Documentation of Monica Parrott’s Open Records Request for Official Government Information Regarding Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint
Documentation of Monica Parrott’s Open Records Request for Official Government Information regarding Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint
Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Law (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 et seq.)(The Law) and/or Freedom of Information Act, copying: all files, records, and other documents of Monica Parrott’s Open Records Request for Official Government Information regarding Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint to include:
1. Parrott’s Open Records Request for Bank of America records with Lori Dennis’ name at the top and dated:
a. October 05, 2012 – November 04, 2012 (Page 28 of 30)
b. December 05, 2012 – January 04, 2013 (Page 15 of 16)
c. February 05, 2013 – March 04, 2013 (Page 25 of 26)
2. Parrott’s Open Records Request for Bank of America records with Travis Cherry’s name at the top and dated:
a. April 05, 2013 – May 04, 2013 (Page 27 of 30)
b. May 05, 2013 – June 04, 2013 (Page 31 of 32)
c. November 05, 2013 – December 04, 2013 (Page 15 of 16)
d. July 05, 2013 – August 04, 2013 (Page 28 of 30)
e. December 05, 2013 – January 04, 2014 (page 14 of 16)
3. Parrott’s Open Records Request to the finance department for copies of the Bank of America Bank Statements and documents quoted concerning Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s payments to nonprofits for “kickbacks”.
4. Parrott’s Open Records Request to Purchasing and Contracting for financial information regarding Commissioner Gannon’s Ethics Complaint.
It is important to increase transparency, ethics, and accountability in DeKalb County Government. It is paramount that we increase “Public Trust” in DeKalb County. We must hold our elected officials and their staff accountable.
DeKalb County government (legislative and administrative) must be investigated to assess if any government resources, staff, finances, etc. were used to assist Monica Parrott in filing the ethics complaint. We must verify the following:
• Did Monica Parrott receive any assistance in compiling the ethics complaint against Commissioner Kathie Gannon from elected officials and/or government officials/staff?
• Did Monica Parrott obtain the information provided in the ethics complaint through the help of elected officials and/or government officials/staff to intimidate, humiliate, and retaliate, etc. against private citizens?
Monica Parrott’s ethics complaint against Commissioner Kathie Gannon contain false statements that are libelous and defamatory. We request the opportunity to subpoena Parrott to give a sworn deposition concerning the accusations stated as fact in her ethics complaint. We are particularly interested in the involvement of a third party or parties in these malicious statements.
The statements involving Viola Davis and the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter ministry involve:
• Defamation of character
• False accusations with total disregard of research
• Intention to defile our reputation of respect, adhering to high ethical standards, honesty and integrity
• Reckless disregard for the truth
We have proof of the following facts to correct the libelous and defamatory statements made in Kathie Gannon’s ethics complaint by Monica Parrott to include:
• Commissioner Kathie Gannon has not paid Viola Davis and/or Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter “one penny” in money or any other in-kind financial support…period.
• Viola Davis and/or Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter has never received illegal financial support of any kind to include “kickbacks” from Commissioner Gannon or any other party.
• Viola Davis, co-founder of Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter, is not presently a member of PRISM due to the lack of payment of membership dues for over 1+ years. However, Davis thanks Monica Parrott for reminding her to renew her membership.
• Viola Davis is not part of a nonprofit “whose 501 (c) (3) status has been revoked by the IRS for non-compliance with its reporting requirement”.
• Viola Davis and the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter ministry are not political operatives of Commissioner Kathie Gannon or any other elected official.
• Viola Davis is a critical care registered nurse (License number – RN101605 issued 9/18/1991) with over 20+ years’ experience in MICU, SICU, and CCU. As a Veteran with an honorable discharge from the military, I, Viola Davis, am a commissioned officer trained in combat nursing. The statement, “questionable income” is libelous and defamatory especially since Monica Parrott continuously references illegal activity throughout the ethics complaint.
• Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter, Inc. was registered with Georgia Secretary of State on 4/19/2002. On April 21, 2004, a U.S. federal trademark registration (serial number 78405400) was filed for Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter. We have spent over 12 years earning the respect of the community. We are known for our research, advocacy, and educating the public on serious social and political issues. We are a government watchdog organization/ministry. We analyze the manner in which taxpayer funds are spent and disseminate the results to the public with the purpose of encouraging fiduciary responsibility amongst elected officials. (View the Link)
A federal complaint was filed by Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter with the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, Office of the Inspector General, United State Attorney General and the Department of Revenue on September 2013:
Ethics complaints were filed against Kelvin Walton, Nina Hall, Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee:
We also recently attended a meeting with the offices of the federal and state Inspector Generals. We requested information/documents on protection for witnesses and government employees with knowledge of illegal activity, wrongdoing, waste, mismanagement, abuse, etc. We have an obligation to educate the public and government employees who fear acts of intimidation and retaliation.
We’re afraid this ethics complaint filed by Monica Parrott is an example of retaliation for attempting to hold our elected officials and government agencies accountable. The libelous and defamatory statements within the ethics complaint are acts of retaliation.
We request a full investigation into the method that Monica Parrott obtained her information if no Open Records Request was ever filed. Once again, we view such acts as retaliation.
If this request is denied in whole or in part, we ask that you cite in writing the specific statutory exemption upon which you have relied, as required by law, we also ask that you release all separate portions of otherwise exempt material. Please waive any costs associated with this request, or first inform us about such costs as required by Georgia Law.
As you know, the Law requires a response by you within three business days of your receipt of this Open Records Request and provides sanctions for non-compliance. I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached at 770-256-0034 or via email at UnhappyTaxpayers@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Viola Davis
Community Missionary
Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – Amendment 1
Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – Amendment 1
Viola Davis
909 Rays Road
Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083
June 9, 2014
DeKalb County Board of Ethics
Clark Harrison Building
330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Dear DeKalb County Board of Ethics:
I, Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter, submit this 1st amendment to the ethics complaint to restore public trust against Kelvin Walton, former Director and Chief Procurement Officer of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting and Nina Hall, Former Assistant to CEO Burrell Ellis, and former Project Manager with the Watershed Department.
I presented evidence during an executive meeting of Restore DeKalb on Friday, May 29, 2014 which included documentation from the grand jury case against former CEO Burrell Ellis. I have received the full support of Restore DeKalb to submit a Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – Amendment 1 against Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall concerning the public corruption case related to purchasing and contracts within the Watershed Department.
I submit an amendment to include sworn statements of both Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall from the grand jury report located in the document titled, “State vs. W. Burrell Ellis Supplement to Supplemental Motion to Suppress the Search of Mr. Ellis’ residence and Mr. Ellis’ Office and Seizure of Evidence and Motion to Suppress Wire Communications and Text Messages”. The document has 170 pages.
The documented evidence is placed in bullet points to highlight important testimony that will support the DeKalb County Board of Ethics removing Walton and Hall from the taxpayers’ payroll. Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall need to be remove from the taxpayers’ payroll for following reasons:
• Kelvin Walton willfully lied multiple times during his May Special Purpose Grand Jury Testimony.
• Kelvin Walton admitted under oath that he lied to the Grand Jury.
• Kelvin Walton refused to answer 343 questions for fear of self-incrimination. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/dekalb-official-refuses-answer-343-questions-fear-/nfDKt/
• Kelvin Walton funneled cash from vendors to a county employee who served on approximately fifteen selection committees for DeKalb County projects. The employees name is Nina Hall, formerly the executive assistant to CEO Burrell Ellis.
• Kelvin Walton accepted a gift/service from a vendor of cash value without paying for the service.
• Nina Hall first denied ever receiving gifts or cash from vendors under oath. However, she eventually confessed to receiving cash from Kelvin Walton and allegedly Michael Hightower.
In the document dated May 7, 2014, Attorney Arthur Leach stated there was no actual factual allegations against his client (Kelvin L. Walton) in our complaint. Leach also stated Kelvin L. Walton cannot engage in the process until he testifies in the pending case involving the former CEO of DeKalb County. (See attachment)
The DeKalb County Board of Ethics must be made aware of the following facts concerning Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall’s testimonies within the grand jury document identified above to include:
I. Kelvin L. Walton Testimony:
a. Kelvin Walton takes the oath and solemnly swears or affirms that the evidence he gave the Grand Jury on his presentment shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God. (Page 190 — Defendant’s exhibit D)
b. Juror Number 10 asked Kelvin Walton, “Does this leave the county open for lawsuits, I mean, liable for”. Kelvin Walton said, “It does, ma’am”. (Page 225)
c. Kelvin Walton said, “We are not in the business of paying anyone that’s even related to somebody that work for the County.” Despite stating this fact, Walton allowed Jeff Walker, brother of a county worker named John Walker, receive contract payments from vendors. (Page 148)
d. Kelvin Walton claimed he was not aware Brown and Caldwell paid Jeff Walker when they had the large mapping contract with the county. (Page 150)
e. Walton claimed he was not aware that Brown and Caldwell was forced to add Hadi Haeri to their mapping contract until he met with Francis Kung’u and Ted Rhinehart. (Page 151)
f. During Walton’s first testimony to the Grand Jury, he claimed that he never had anyone perform services at his home. (Page 151)
II. Kelvin Walton’s Second Appearance before the Grand Jury:
a. Kelvin Walton takes the oath and signed the written oath. (Page 104)
b. Kelvin Walton admits there was something that he was not truthful about with the Grand Jury previously. (Page 105)
c. Walton said, “First of all, I want to apologize to the Grand Jury. I was not, you know, as truthful as I should have been the time that I was here.”
d. Walton said, “As it relates to the matter with Paul Champion, I did meet him in the parking lot at Walmart, but I did not solicit any funds from him. Paul Champion did cut down trees for me and I believe that he was trying to hold that against me because the County was not paying him for the bill that the County owed him (Champion) for the trees that he said that he cut down.” (Page 106)
e. Walton claimed Paul Champion offered him cash and he said that he (Walton) did not operate like that. (Page 107)
f. Kelvin Walton said, “But again, I want to apologize. I was not truthful. I was nervous. I had never done this before. Again, I’ve been in the business 20 years and never faced this type of situation and I lied and I apologize for that.” (Page 108)
III. Kelvin Walton’s testimony dealt with contractors under investigation and controversial events within DeKalb County government to include:
a. Kelvin Walton said, “Then Neville Anderson, whoever he is from some company, called Morris Williams this weekend and said that Jeff Walker and Dr. Taylor called him and said, did Morris ever ask you for any money, we need to lead the DA to somebody else. And the young man said, I don’t know what you’re talking about”. (Page 163) …”Tony Taylor used to work for a company called Parsons.” (Page 163-165)
b. Walton discusses a bogus company on page 171.
c. Kelvin Walton said that the last time he spoke with CEO Jones was right after he got out of office. He saw him at the Arizona Restaurant in Lithonia. (Page 182)
d. Kelvin Walton and Vernon Jones are in the same fraternity. Walton met David Gallemore in Morris William’s office during the Jones Administration. David is a fraternity brother as well. (Page 183-184)
e. Morris Williams said, “I heard that they asked David Gallemore about a letter, Kelvin, and I said what letter…He said, you know, they were bad mouthing my company, telling – they were going around telling other companies don’t utilize G4Enterprise”. (Page 185-186)
f. Kelvin Walton acknowledged Mr. Gallemore had an inappropriate relationship with Jeff Walker’s wife. Walton went on to confirm that the inappropriate relationship was a sexual relationship. (Page 187)
g. Walton said the following concerning Richard Stogner, “Richard Stogner and Samit Roy, who is the owner of Scicom, went to see former Governor Roy Barnes the other day. They had a meeting with him because I guess he’s going to represent them as this thing develops. And they wanted me to come, you know because they – that I was going to need representation as well. And I told them, no, I’m Okay. And I’ve got things to do on the job anyway. You know, I’m going to tell the truth. I just don’t feel that I need a lawyer right now.” (Page 187-188)
h. Walton went on to say, “They said, okay, you’re sure? So they went and Roy Barnes told them – According to Richard after they got back – said former Governor Roy Barnes said that they didn’t have anything to worry about because based on what they told him, he didn’t see anything wrong with him using federal contracts splitting them at $49,000, and stuff like that. He just didn’t see the issue that he was going to call DA James and talk to him about the situation, to let him know that this is – it’s really nothing. So, in other words, just trying to get him out of it.” (Page 188)
i. Kelvin Walton explained how he and Richard Stogner broke contracts down to $49,000 (Pages 188-190). And he (Richard Stogner) knows that Samit Roy—Scicom is a good company, they do good work. And- but other companies have complained about never getting some of the IT work. (Page 188-191)
IV. Nina Hall Testimony:
a. Sworn testimony began on page 152.
b. Nina Hall stated she was the assistant to DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and worked for Ellis four years in his capacity as the CEO, and a year and a half – he was a county commissioner. (Page 152)
c. Hall stated that she “served on committees with the community development group in terms of the grant process in the county, giving out grants to nonprofit organizations. And I have served on selection committees”. (Page 154)
d. Hall served on committees related to the procurement process for about two years. (Page 154)
e. Kelvin Walton presented Hall the opportunity to serve on some select committees. (Page 155)
f. Hall stated she knew Walton for six years and that they were friends. (Page 156)
g. Hall went out to dinner with vendors. She went to dinner with Kelvin Walton and Barry Bennett, where Bennett paid for the dinner. (Page 233)
h. Hall initially stated that she was “not aware of any vendor or a vendor representative indirectly giving a gift, be it, a physical gift or a monetary gift to any county employee, starting with the CEO, and all the way down”. (Page 234)
i. Nina Hall said, “Well, I mean my friend Kelvin, he gave me some money to help me out with something and he did say that he got it from some of his –some of his friends. Hall acknowledges that she received money from Kelvin Walton and a vendor friend allegedly Michael Hightower. (Page 235)
In the name of transparency, ethics, and accountability, we submit this ethics complaint amendment to restore public trust.
Sincerely,
Viola Davis
Community Missionary
See Attachment
http://www.scribd.com/doc/229056323/State-vs-W-Burrell-Ellis-Supplement-to-Supplemental-Motion
Governor Deal Signed SB367 – Time To Pick District 5 Commissioner
GOVERNOR DEAL SIGNED SB367 ON APRIL 10, 2014. DID YOU KNOW?
Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter recently learned that Governor Nathan Deal signed the bill that would allow the replacement of District 5 Commissioner on April 10, 2014.
We are presently trying to verify the next step in picking the 5th District Commissioner. What is the process and when will the process begin.
DeKalb 5th Commission District has been without full representation since July 16, 2013, when Commissioner Lee May was appointed interim CEO by Govern Deal due to CEO Burrell Ellis indictment on corruption and racketeering charges.
As stated in Crossroads Newspaper, Senator Fran Millar said the nomination process would be advertised for two weeks in the county’s legal organ before the BOC could vote.
http://crossroadsnews.com/news/2014/mar/28/bill-allows-temporary-commissioner-district-5-seat/
Representative Mike Jacobs’ website state:
SB 367 contains a provision that was added as a House floor amendment to permit the remaining six members of the DeKalb County Commission to appoint a temporary commissioner to replace Lee May until he is no longer the Interim CEO or his current term on the county commission concludes, whichever is sooner.
http://repjacobs.com/2014/04/22/local-issues-in-the-legislature/
We must remember that the replacement of the 5th District Commissioner came with a heavy cost that once again neutered voting power and local control in DeKalb County.
This was a local bill that was made a general bill during the General Assembly, which gave elected officials from North Georgia and South Georgia the power to pick the 5th District Commissioner of DeKalb County. The elected officials in North Georgia and South Georgia were given the privilege of choosing the 5th District Commissioner by making SB367 a general bill; yet, the voters in the 5th Commission District were not allowed to vote. Where’s the local control?
The general public of DeKalb County is being kept in the dark on this issue. Why?
If Governor Deal signed the bill on April 10th, why the secrecy and lack of information?
What should you do? Every voter needs to contact the Board of Commissioners (BOC) and demand more information before the appointment of the 5th District Commissioner. Every voter should demand the BOC make every effort to pick a person the voters in the 5th Commission District wants as a representative. Back door politics must be avoided.
View SB367:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220927230/Governor-Nathan-Deal-Signed-SB-367-Time-To-Pick-District-5-Commissioner
Ten Year Audit of DeKalb Commissioners’ P-Cards
Surprise. Surprise. Surprise.
Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton surprised the public as well as her fellow commissioners with a gift…A ten year audit of the DeKalb Commissioners’ P-Cards.
Commissioner Jeff Rader and Commissioner Kathie Gannon introduced a resolution during the Board of Commissioners meeting, directing the executive assistant to obtain the services of a certified internal auditor or a certified government audit professional to analyze the expenditures of each member of the Board of Commissioners and their staff.
The audit will include the following:
• Audit to review the expenditures for the past ten years by each BOC, his/her respective staff and office, and the central office of the BOC;
• Audit shall review expenditures and decide whether the expenses were for county business;
• The auditor shall begin auditing commission district 6 first, per Commissioner Barnes Sutton’s substitution.
• The final and complete audit shall be distributed promptly to each member of the BOC, the CEO, and the Board of Ethics, and shall be made available to the public.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution article, “DeKalb Official Spent County Funds On Herself” by Johnny Edwards (3/22/2014), reported alleged misuse of the her purchase card (P-Card).
http://legalpronews.findlaw.com/article/22082f625614e6f3810cfff376dbde72#.U0rRSiiKV6U
The resolution attempts to restore public trust through the use of transparency, and begin to restore public confidence.
Update: Email statement from Commissioner Kathie Gannon
Independent Audit for all Commissioners
Yesterday the Board of Commissioners took the first step forward into sunshine and transparency. Commissioner Rader and I introduced the attached resolution calling for an independent audit of all spending for the past 5 years by each County Commissioner starting with District 1. The audits will include Purchase Cards, all other expenditures and all commission staff. The resolution directs the County to hire a Certified Internal Auditor or a Certified Government Audit Professional using funds previously budgeted for an internal auditor. The resolution was modified by Commissioner Barnes-Sutton to start with District 6 (my District) and to go back 10 years and then begin with District 1. This substitute motion passed without a dissenting vote. Commissioner Barnes-Sutton later attempted to call for a reconsideration of her substitute motion, however that failed. Please see the attached resolution that calls for an audit of all County Commission expenditures.
Kathie Gannon
Super District 6 Commissioner
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220196905/Ten-Year-Independent-Audit-of-All-DeKalb-Commissioners-P-Cards
DeKalb Corruption Against LSBE Vendors
DeKalb Corruption against LSBE Vendors
Published on Sep 29, 2013
DeKalb Corruption against LSBE Vendors
Dear Local Small Business Enterprise Vendors,
We ask that you join Hopie Strickland with Strickland and Son Construction and Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter to call for a federal investigation and forensic audit of the Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) program to include:
• DeKalb County Government
• Contract Compliance Division
• Purchasing and Contracting Department
We strive to expose:
• Bid rigging
• Kickbacks
• False documentation to secure funding
• Stealing
• Extortion
• Etc.
We demand transparency, ethics, and accountability from our elected officials and government agencies. Help us ensure our tax dollars are used for the best interest of the public.
If you have experienced any corruption while doing business with DeKalb County, please send an email to unhappytaxpayers@gmail.com or phone 770-256-0034.
Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – DeKalb County Board of Ethics
Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint
Viola Davis
909 Rays Road
Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083
March 17, 2014
DeKalb County Board of Ethics
Clark Harrison Building
330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Dear DeKalb County Board of Ethics:
I, Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter, submit this ethics complaint to restore public trust against Kelvin Walton, Director and Chief Procurement Officer of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting and Nina Hall, Former Assistant to CEO Burrell Ellis, and currently Project Manager with Watershed Department. I presented evidence during an executive meeting of Restore DeKalb on Friday, March 14, 2014 which included the complaints of two vendors, one complaint by a disabled veteran, and a federal complaint filed September of 2013 to the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board.
I have received the full support of Restore DeKalb to submit a Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint against Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall concerning the public corruption case related to purchasing and contracts within the Watershed Department. We agreed that the following actions need to be address to restore public trust in DeKalb County to include:
A. Demand Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall be reassigned to other departments until a full criminal investigation and forensic audit of the Watershed Department is completed.
B. Demand a forensic audit of the Watershed Department due to a long history of complaints of criminal activity and systematic charges of thievery.
C. Demand the GBI lead the investigation as an external neutral third party due to the fact that two-three independent Constitutional officers have made serious accusations against one another to include:
a. CEO Burrell Ellis charges against DA Robert James and Interim CEO Lee May
b. District Attorney Robert James charges under the RICO statue.
c. Interim CEO Lee May’s statement of a need for additional evidence before removing Kelvin Walton from the Purchasing and Contract Compliance Department.
D. Demand a federal investigation into DeKalb County’s Purchasing and Contracting and Contract Compliance departments and prosecution of people who are found to violate the local, state, and federal laws.
If we are to restore public trust, we request that the DeKalb County Ethics Board examine the following evidence submitted and submit an opinion and/or board action to the necessary elected officials and department heads (local and state level) to complete this Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint:
1. Vendor 1 – Hopie Strickland with Strickland and Sons Construction
a. Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter filed a federal complaint with the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, September 2013 concerning a complaint by Hopie Strickland of bid rigging, kickbacks, and false documentation, etc. (See Documentation below)
b. Video titled, “DeKalb Corruption against LSBE Vendors” featuring Hopie Strickland.
2. Vendor 2 – Alessandro Salvo with GS Construction
a. Link to WSBTV story on Alessandro Salvo complaint
b. Link to Video of FBI investigation of Watershed Extortion case (Documentation provided on request of Ethics Board)
3. Private Citizen – Disabled Veteran complaint concerning tree removal demonstrates systematic problems and/or corruption that unfairly targets private citizens and lack of executive oversight.
4. DeKalb County Special Purpose Grand Jury Report 2012-2013 … Civil Case #12CV1000.
In the name of transparency, ethics, and accountability, we submit this ethics complaint to restore public trust.
Sincerely,
Viola Davis
Community Missionary
Announcing Georgia Watchdogs
Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter is proud to join with other citizen watchdog groups to fight for more transparency in government. Please visit Georgia Watchdogs or www.georgiawatchdogs.com.