The Town of Jonesboro’s Board of Aldermen last night voted a resolution to “reassign” the town’s police cars to city hall so that the insurance money could be saved, according to controversial mayor Leslie Thompson.
However, the resolution indicated that the vehicles are “for use by other departments of the Town of Jonesboro as needed.”
Said Thompson, “It appears that there’s about a $8 thousand note, I want to say monthly, that we are paying – that comes – and that’s a $75 thousand policy per year that we are paying, and about $8 thousand of that comes from the police cars.” He added, “That seems to be the prudent thing to do.”
Voting yes were Devon Flowers, Charla Mason-Thompson, and LaStevic Cottonham. Voting no was Renee’ Stringer. Sam Lamkin was absent from last night’s meeting.
The move will likely spark another conflict between Thompson and the independently elected Chief of Police Wes Horton, since the town doesn’t have authority over the police department equipment. The only thing the town can do is set the department’s budget.
During the discussion, Stringer asked had the town obtained property insurance since it was revealed last fall that the town’s policies had lapsed.
Thompson replied that the town was still trying to obtain coverage.
Stringer also questioned the mayor about a recent purchase of four trucks for the street department. Thompson said the town spent $24 thousand, that they were dealer returns from another municipality, and were “a great deal.”
Also during the discussion it was revealed that Town Clerk David Dill has been assigned a town vehicle to drive.
There were no financial reports presented last night – Thompson said that they would be ready to present by “mid-month.”
No town financial reports have been given to the council since last July.
Stringer again brought up the issue of water bills and complaints from citizens. She said they can’t get resolution to issues, even though they had filed out the town-supplied complaint forms.
Stringer noted that some had their tax bill posted on their water bills, instead of their tax bills. She also said that she had been put on the water cutoff list, despite having a cancelled check to prove her payment. Other water customers reported having the same problem, Stringer said
Thompson said that he was personally involved in resolving water issues, and he didn’t know why there were still unresolved complaints.
Also discussed was a sewer lift station where the pump had failed, and a rental pump was being used until permanent repairs could be made. The rental cost $75/day, it was said.
Reportedly, this is the pump station that Stringer had requested grant funds for, but instead the money went for the rodeo arena.
01/09/2013 at 3:24 pm |
wait…….did you neglect to write something here or is the logic once again missing? you buy 4 trucks, 4 additional vehicles to pay insurance on but you want to take the cop cars in order to save insurance but you are going to use them when you reassign them and you don’t have property insurance but you buy 4 trucks, your streets and bridges are caving in and we read in your local paper that your Council member wanted to take out a 1/2 page add to thank the loyalists that voted for the tax………..no logic, not a hint of logic. you people are hard up for help……what about the sewer pump issue…….$75.00 daily for rent? how many trips around a rodeo arena could that buy? giddy up big daddy.
01/09/2013 at 3:39 pm |
Totally agree! Also where did the money come from? $24,000 would have gone a long way on fixing some of the things falling down around us! This make no sense at all!
01/09/2013 at 4:17 pm |
those good ole taxes……that only a few people pay while all enjoy the benefit……. well those that drive the vehicles will one day soon need a passable road…..wait…they can go zoom the rodeo arena……giddy up big daddy!
01/09/2013 at 4:04 pm |
The TJ…..what a farce……except Renee S.
01/09/2013 at 4:49 pm |
can anybody find out where toj pay $8,000 for cop car insurance and $75,000 a year for all the vehicles? How can you find that out, I want to see that in writing.
01/09/2013 at 5:47 pm |
It should be public record. You could go request it at city hall; but, I doubt you would get far.
01/09/2013 at 5:06 pm |
im not sure but , i think the insurance coverage for the police cars use to be through the state of Louisiana Risk Management … but that was a few years back.may have changed..how do you NOT have insurance coverage? so does this mean town is not covered?
01/09/2013 at 5:28 pm |
I don’t think STUPID and the five CLOWNS know how to pour pee out of a boot.What do you think?
01/09/2013 at 5:48 pm |
poor oldman……. ticker worn out ……peein ya boot and cryin in ya whiskey…..so sad. head up to that circus and lead them clowns……crank up that hoverround and cinch up your depends…….you can do it!
01/09/2013 at 6:25 pm |
The doo doo head said that his financial report would be submitted by mid-month. What about all of those that haven’t been submitted since July of last year? Does anyone believe that in less than a week the council will receive one from the CTIC? Doo Doo brain said that he was personally incharge of the water problem and that he was unaware of any complaints. The problem is that he is in charge and does absolutely nothing. And now Dildo gets the use of a town car if all goes as the CTIC and his flunkies wish. I hope Horton says “ain’t no way those cars are being transferred from my control.” Would someone please stand up and tell Thompson that he is vieing for dumbest mayor of any village, town, or city and that his lead over the person in the number two spot is in double digits.
01/09/2013 at 7:19 pm |
WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT JONESBORO?????
01/10/2013 at 6:19 am |
Very few people
01/09/2013 at 7:54 pm |
Exactly, the main reason dipstick don’t know why there are unresolved issues is because he is involved.
So, are they saying that they are still paying insurance on police cars they knew were going to be parked? Real financially responsible there! And as far as buying the vehicles because “it was a good deal”, I thought stuff like that had to be bid out regardless of whether its $10 or $100,00?
Did he not just break the law again?
01/10/2013 at 12:13 pm |
Not only must they be bid out, but somewhere along the line one would think that it should have been brought up at and approved by the council. Spending money without legal authority is against the law and I am not so certain that the CTIC has the unilateral authority to assign out the use of cars. But that is just my thought. Another of my thoughts is as the mayor (and that word with used with Thompson’s name is disgusting) nears the end of his second and hopefully last term, he is in the process of loading up his pockets. Keep a close eye on the mofo.
01/10/2013 at 1:30 pm |
We heard that the Council man Rev.Flowers aka God Child aka Educated One told people to go to Hell…in the meeting….so that part of proclaiming to be a preacher man and having his “prayer warriors” come to the meetings……..just have to wonder if they condone his outbursts……..he must subscribe to the Jeremiah Wright school of the Bible………damning people to hell……how proud they must be of him …………
01/10/2013 at 4:46 pm |
Exactly right on! Heck, Rev. Flowers is no man of the cloth. God does not look down kindly on the kind of so called “preacher” Flowers pertends to be. Where did he get his divine schooling? What seminary? Anyone know? Oh, yes. It is just as you state……The Rev. Jeremiah Wright School of Theology. Now, that is one school that is of the devil. Of course, we all know he (Flowers) has NO formal theology training. He does not even know how to be a simple little council member.
01/11/2013 at 7:56 pm |
And let’s not forget he stole $500 from the Town when he lied about losing his monthly council check. He is a fraud and felon.
01/12/2013 at 7:07 am |
excuse,my friend is not a felon,whomever u are u are dumb,u can’t be a felon,leave this young man alone ,he take good care of his district,just remember he has rights and a family,so please be careful what u say about folks,
01/12/2013 at 8:24 am |
excuse….yes excuses is all some people do….make them to cover all their 13 lies. hey- t.cavitt………we hear you sending folks to hell these days…..did the king appoint you to do that …….keep on t. cavitt aka God Child aka Educated One……..your actions speak loud and clear…………so please be carful what you say about folks…….
01/09/2013 at 8:10 pm |
If there is no insurance on the vehicles how are they able to drive them on the roads. Can’t law enforcement have them towed for no insurance.
01/09/2013 at 10:02 pm |
yeah sure…….as if.
01/10/2013 at 9:52 pm |
Law enforcement in Jackson Parish ? What a Joke
01/12/2013 at 1:37 pm |
It’s (law enforcement) beginning to look more like a “joke” everyday. What is this parish and state becoming?
01/09/2013 at 8:48 pm |
WOW…WOW…WOW….Lord we sure need some help in Jonesboro.
01/09/2013 at 9:04 pm |
So the deputy and the mayor BOTH do not have a car of their own???
01/09/2013 at 9:58 pm |
This just totally amazes me! What in the world are you people of Jonesboro thinking? This would never fly in any other community. No financials since July.??? Go figure! You wouldn’t start a meeting elsewhere without financials–just part of the normal agenda. I cannot believe no one in Jonesboro has the guts to stand up against this regime. My goodness!
01/09/2013 at 10:35 pm |
why don’t you go and set the record straight Chris, everyone seems to be passing the buck around there and no one seems to want to sully their delicate hands, go take care of if for them.
01/10/2013 at 8:15 pm |
If memory serves me correctly, Chris lives in either Midland or Odessa, Texas.
01/10/2013 at 12:37 am |
I used to think the same thing and was extremely appalled in the beginning; but, it has becoming glaringly apparent that no one here has the intestinal fortitude to step up and do their job. But, hey, we have sex perverts not having to register as sex offenders and not doing time and others who are let off because they are friends of someone’s so what’s new?!
01/10/2013 at 4:57 pm |
Jonesboro=the town where laws are broken every day, nothing is the norm…….oh, wait, it is the norm….. but it is the total opposite in towns that do the normal and right thing, town full of cowards unwilling to stand up to the esteemed one. Heck, it sounds as though this town is ready for the place down under. And, I do not mean Australia or China nor any other country.
01/10/2013 at 7:24 pm |
Don’t understand the mayor’s math. If there is an $8,000 monthly note on a $75,000 per year policy, looks like the Town is over-spending by $21,000. Maybe he meant a $6,250i monthly note.
01/10/2013 at 8:16 pm |
Pocket change for the worthless mayor or as he would probably call it, retirement insurance.
01/10/2013 at 8:39 pm |
Midland!
01/10/2013 at 9:06 pm |
Your parents would be so glad if you came home to save this town! They invested a lot of time and energy here…God rest their soles.
01/10/2013 at 10:18 pm |
Chris will have to get in line behind all the others that are lurking in the wings……the one from Shreveport, the 4 in jtown, come join the party Chris….just don’t forget to pay those taxes…….
01/11/2013 at 6:38 pm |
Chris, in the words of your governor, “oops!”
01/10/2013 at 9:51 pm |
Any council member want to go to the chief’s house and take possession of the police vehicles. I’d pay to see that. Go ahead mayor, enforce your resolution. Take Stokes with you. Show Horton the papers.
01/10/2013 at 11:47 pm |
That will be worthy of YOUTUBE aka Dep Dill….roll that tape please
01/11/2013 at 1:56 pm |
lookin for my ride
where is vicky and her sisters
heard that they was goin for them
like a buch of two handed cyclone twisters
been waiting just for the right time
gonna grab them vickys
paid for by the taxpayer dime
does vicky still have her pretty lights
and bells and whistles
you know you gonna have to read the epistle
handed down by the king and the ring of 3
and skirted by the fourth
gonna take vicky and her sisters
due north
all the kings men needs a vicky to ride
cant leave not one out
might cause the allegiance to pout
don’t want to not have them a place to hide
hope vicky has good boots
on her feets
cause all the allegiance needs to sit on her seats
bet it was wished on this fine day
time hadn’t been wasted so much on play
kissing and bowing to the king
who shows no repect for anyone or anything
trample and thrash and strutting so brash
shredding the taxes like hash
ask yourself if you bowed low enough
cause the king and the ring of three
skirted by the fourth
is sho nuff coming to take vicky and her sisters north
gonna dance all the way cause they got all the stuff
they so proud and tuff
wave good bye to vicky and her sisters
so sad to see them go
they once were sometimes used for all the people
now they will soon find the same fate
of all those worn out relics parked at the back gate
go see them there all broken and rusted
but that’s where you people put your taxes
in a group that cannot be trusted.
01/11/2013 at 5:45 pm |
Won’t the cars have to be insured,no matter what department of the Town they are used for? If so, how would transferring them save any money? And wouldn’t the Council have to get a court order to do that? How do they know a judge would authorize it? Looks like a lot of questions to be answered before this comes to pass. Apparently nobody on the Council asked any questions before voting.
01/11/2013 at 5:51 pm |
I think Leslie is doing a lot of this now just to get attention. He sems to enjoy being in the news with his wild ideas. Have you seen him out in public enjoying all the status of being a “celebrity”?
01/11/2013 at 8:07 pm |
He’s not enjoying this. He’s desperate. He knows he’s going down and he wants to take the town with him and everyone else he can screw over. However, the town WILL recover. Thompson, on the other hand, is doomed, never to resurface again. His political career is over. His life is over. HI HO! HI HO! IT’S BACK TO THE PROJECTS YOU GO.
01/11/2013 at 6:00 pm |
Yes, there were questions asked about this two meetings ago. It was also brought up about the excessive cost to dismantle the equipment from these vehicles – some of which was provided by Homeland Security. Very sensitive and expensive equipment, I might add. Can’t these vehicles be sold and the money returned to the Police Dept. budget? It’s theirs! What if the police department is reinstated. How will they pay for new cars? They won’t be able to use these vehicles again because they will be junked like all the other town vehicles. And one more thing, I would love to know the odometer reading on the A-1 mobile! It’s got to be around 300,000!!!!
01/11/2013 at 6:37 pm |
It might be a good idea to put a GPS device on the car of the CTIC and then let him explain his trips to different places and if it weren’t on business, bill him for the use on that type of trip. The car ain’t for him to go galavanting around where pleases and for non-town business.
01/12/2013 at 8:05 am |
might better put one of those on the Parish Elected Officials while you lookin at it……………..
01/12/2013 at 1:46 pm |
Parish Elected Officials? Please explain to whom you refer!
01/11/2013 at 11:38 pm |
ever heered tell of sumpin called sage quest……..,-)
01/12/2013 at 8:02 am |
On one bright, clear day, Diogenes was walking up and down the market place, holding a lighted lantern high in front of him and peering around as if searching for something. When people gaped and asked him what he was doing, he replied, “I am looking for an honest man.”
Will there ever be a man found with honesty and integrity that is willing to serve the people, really serve the people and not yield to the trappings of their elected postion, not hunger and thrist after power and prestige and desire the acceptance and accolades of mortal man and sacrifice everything including their honor just to maintain their position? The “lighted lantern” has been traversing Jackson Parish for 6 years now, where are you?
01/12/2013 at 11:11 am |
The “prudent” thing to do, as the mayor put it, would be to save most of that $8,000 a month by cutting his salary by about $6,000 a month. Of course, that would cut it to zero, which is more than he is worth.
01/12/2013 at 2:28 pm |
Well, there goes any hope of getting the Jonesboro water issues resolved; Thompson said he is “personally involved.”
01/14/2013 at 10:16 pm |
I still see the vehicles at Chief Horton’s property. They look secure to me.
01/18/2013 at 8:45 pm |
If the mayor is personally involved in getting water bill issues resolved, there should be some records to the public released showing how many he has reviewed and what percentage have been resolved due to his involvement. Otherwise, this is just another empty promise. Does anybody on this web site know of any? There is a suspicion that the only ones he is getting involved in are those of his relatives, friends or neighbors.