Ousted Emergency Manager speaks out on corruption in Franklin County

January 20 was the last day on the job for James "Tim" Turner, who was ousted from his position as Franklin County Emergency Management Director in a "reorganization" of the county's emergency management department. The reorganization, which did not appear on the public agenda, was passed by the County Commissioners at their January 6 meeting. There was no public comment and no comment by the Commissioners, aside from Commissioner Clarence Williams stating it was a cost cutting move. Commissioner Bevin Putnal cast the sole dissenting vote.

Turner's four-year tenure was notable for his stand against controversial developments, including illegal high density development in the Coastal High Hazard Area. He
presented numerous emergency management-based objections to St. Joe Company's "SummerCamp" project in eastern Franklin County. In 2002 Turner ran unsuccessfully for County Commission, failing to unseat incumbent Jimmie Mosconis.

In the reorganization of the Emergency Management department, the director's position will be a part-time job, to be held by Alan Pierce. Alan Pierce serves as Administrative Aide to the County Commission and has been head of the Planning and Zoning Department during the time the developments were approved. Turner requested to be considered for the part-time position, but reports that he was told by Pierce that "Cheryl Sanders said no way, it was a done deal."

Full text of Turner's letter follows:

Franklin County Emergency Management
34 Forbes Street, Suite #1
Apalachicola, FL 32320

January 19, 2004

To: Cheryl Sanders -- Chairperson -- Franklin County Board of County Commissioners

From: Tim Turner -- Emergency Management Director

RE: Termination from Job

Commissioners Sanders,

This letter is being written to address the board's decision to terminate me from my position as Emergency Management Director of Franklin County. I read the article in the Apalachicola Times and found that this board and Alan Pierce has misrepresented the truth again. Commissioner Williams mentioned in the article that this decision would save the county money. Simply put, he knows better. The Emergency Management program is funded through state and federal reimbursement grants. If we do not spend the money for the Emergency Management program we forfeit that portion of the grant money. It would be foolish for this board of commissioners to give back grant money that is to be used to provide programs and plans that protect the people in our county. Commissioner Williams, that dog won't hunt. It was also stated that my termination had nothing to do with politics. Someone needs to inform Alan Pierce of that. When I asked him why he wanted me to resign back in October of 2003, he stated, "We have no specific reason, it's just politics." You guys really need to get together on your stories before going public. You haven't had any problems violating the sunshine laws in the past, why worry about it now. Mr. Pierce told me the decision was made to terminate me before the holidays. He decided to wait until the holidays were over to tell me about it. I wasn't invited to that meeting and I doubt anyone else was. I guess firing someone during the holidays could be bad for your public image, especially if you are planning to run for public office soon after. It's a good possibility that politics had a lot to do with it.

I have to ask, if my termination wasn't for saving money or because of politics then there had to be another reason. Let's explore some other possibilities. Is it possible that I was terminated because I didn't support Mr. Pierce and this board's agenda to build what I believe to be illegal developments for certain developers and large corporations that I won't name because they are "NO ORDINARY JOE" and they might not like it. One large scale development that planned 499 homes in the east end of the county, which I won't name, violated almost every law, statute, regulation, and ordinance at the federal, state, and local level. The board of commissioners voted on this with full knowledge that they were violating these laws. I know because I wrote the letter that outlined all of this in detail. I was asked to do this by Commissioner Sanders in June of 2002. She asked me to research the laws concerning this development because she felt that this development was not good for the people of Franklin County. She claimed that she was offered a new Lincoln to vote for this project by an official of this unnamed corporation. She further stated that Commissioners Jimmy Mosconis, Eddie Creamer, and County Manager Alan Pierce were trying to push this project through quickly and quietly. I did the research as she asked and presented the letter to the board at a public meeting in July 2002. Chairman Eddie Creamer treated me very rudely. His reaction told me volumes about his intentions. It is rumored that Commissioner Creamer ordered Alan Pierce to fire me the next day. I wonder why? Could it be current laws may affect the property values on his real estate holdings, which are rumored to be substantial? I have to ask isn't it a conflict of interest for a commissioner to vote on issues that can affect his bottom line? It is also rumored that Mr. Pierce has interest along with a number of contractors and developers in more than 50 properties. That is just in his real name. I bet the county property records would be some interesting reading. Mr. Mosconis is also rumored to have his share also.

Let's get back to my story. A little while after I presented and read the letter to the board I received a visit from Attorney Doug Gaidry, the attorney for the City of Carrabelle. He paid me a friendly visit to tell me that this was a dirty little place that they liked to call Peyton Place. He stated "We like it that way and people who buck the system here die." He went on to say "I guess you heard about the couple on Magnolia Bluff who committed suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head. That was no suicide." I wonder how he knows? Mr. Gaidry told me that this couple was writing a book about the corruption in Franklin County. I wonder who sent him to tell me that and why?

Soon after, I started having problems with the food program that I had been running for more than 8 years. I was falsely accused of all sorts of bad things. Commissioner Williams paid me a visit and told me it was politics that was causing the problem. Mr. Mosconis was my opponent in the district 4 county commission race at that time. I would hope that he wouldn't do something that despicable, but someone did. I guess it was also a coincidence that Mr. Mosconis' priest, Joe Knight, visited me twice and asked me to drop out the race about this same time. What are the odds of all of this happening by accident? I should have played the lottery, I was on a roll.
The next punishment I received was form my supervisor Alan Pierce, two days after I lost the election to Mosconis. I had been successfully working a 4-day week for about 18 months, like several others in the County still do. Mr. Pierce told me I had to go back to work 5 days each week. He also told me I could not send any kind of communication without his permission. I guess they didn't like my letter asking the state to review our development practices to make sure we were complying with the law. He was almost like a cat trying to cover up poo poo.
The next problem was that the Emergency Management building was costing the county too much to maintain. The only problem is that the money to maintain the EOC was supplied from my state grant. I never asked the county for any money for maintenance. When I explained this to the board, Mr. Pierce stated that they needed to move me to the new courthouse annex so they could keep an eye on me. I didn't realize the truth was so unpopular among our elected officials. I told that truth and have done my job well. I supported the local people in every action that I took as Emergency Management Director. The next complaint was that I liked to help people too much. I guess they got me there. I have to confess that I am guilty of that. If that is Mr. Pierce's attitude, Shame On Him. He is being paid with our tax dollars and he should be working to help benefit the people of Franklin County. It is my opinion that he works much harder for special interest groups than he does for us.

I have had a few rough spots with Mr. Pierce and the commissioners over the last few years. This did not stop me from performing the duties of my job. Sometimes I had to do it without their help. 

They have been little or no support to the Emergency Management Program in the 4+ years that I have been Director. Not one of our commissioners had attended an annual Public Officials Conference that I invited them to. They didn't even respond to my letters. To be fair I do have to say that Commissioner Putnal was worked with me to help the local people. He is the only one. This clearly demonstrates their concern for the safety and welfare of their constituents. If this is the way that they are going to continue to operate the Emergency Management Program they need to shut it down and give back the grant money.

It is my opinion that the commissioners got rid of me to cover up the facts. All I have ever asked is that they make decisions that are good for the local people and not what is most profitable for themselves and their friends. I also believe if Alan Pierce becomes Director of Emergency Management he will not do the job and will manipulate the grant money to support his agenda. I am of the opinion that grant money is abused frequently in this county. Mr. Pierce told me himself that $750,000 that we received from FEMA road grants was deposited in the county general fund by the commissioners and the roads were not repaired. What happens to this money? I doubt that this is an isolated incident.

In closing I would like to ask the people of Franklin County to stand up with me and demand accountability of this board and Alan Pierce. We need a full investigation into ethical as well as criminal violations of this board of county commissioners. We also need to hire a professional private investigator to gather the facts for the people so we can monitor this investigation so the political machine can't manipulate the investigation. You can help by signing a petition to demand this investigation. The petition will be available very soon.

Sincerely,

James T. Turner
Emergency Management Director
Franklin County