Thank you Mr. Helms, and good point Montagny  (by: Rusty Shackleford  -   9/6/2010)

Thank you Mr. Helms for addressing this issue in what seems to be a proactive manner. The shenanigans have been well documented at the landfill. We have heard tales from other readers that apparently are "on the inside" pertaining to extended lunches to Avon Park to have "lunch" with a significant other. Beer purchases at lunchtime in uniform facilitated with county trucks and fuel,etc. Time clock discrepancies, personal mechanicing on county time. Mr. Helms seems to be on the right track to sorting the matters out, which many are obviously far more serious than ones I have mentioned. Thank you Helms for not ignoring the situation. I hope that you get all of the support you need......Montagny, you are correct as well. The first person that you encounter as you stop at the weigh station is a very sarcastic woman that appears to have just awakened from the weekend of 08/16/69 in a cloud of blissful disassociation from the reality surrounding her duties at hand.

Landfill Investigation  (by: AliceK  -   9/5/2010)

Ken Wheeler is a fine man of integrity - probably not the best fit for Highlands Cty Govt. Helms - Bob Bullard would be ashamed of you. Fisher terminated from her last job - (What is a division director anyway - what does she do? Is this not an unnecessary position?). BUT, what no one is asking is why Helms/Fisher conducted this investiggation? Is there not a highly paid HR Director who has extensive training and experience in this area? Was this not an HR investigation? Or is Miner he just another who cant be trusted to put his personal agenda aside? (That answer is a definitive YES.) Let an outside party (to HCBCC) come in and investigate this. I believe Wheeler would welcome this as I know him on a professional level to be intelligent, honest and forthright. If all BCC employees were like Wheeler, not one of us would be posting about our local government except to say THANKS.

The Buddy Club Continues  (by: Lord Howard Hurts  -   9/4/2010)

Caught in the act and just suspended for a time. Get real Highlands County. It is time to "clear the decks", and get new people in all departments! Stealing from the public is a crime and should be investigated and punished as such. The County Attorney makes billing mistakes, and more mistakes, and what is done? Same old excuses. When caught just pay back the amount. I bet common robbers would like to be extended the same treatment. When caught you only have to pay back.

Amen  (by: Hc resident   -   9/2/2010)

Amen... You could not have said it better Pissed Off Bigtime. The landfill needs to be cleaned out. However, I would like to know if anything was really done. Where they paid forntheir suspension.... Or is it a nice little vacation. Or maybe they are still at work? Come on commissioners.do your job!

The dump  (by: Montagny  -   9/2/2010)

This is off topic but I do not care. Whatever you do, please please tarp your loads when driving in Highlands County or else the Sheriffs Office will stop you and give you a big fine. This is a major offense and will not be taken lightly by any means. This is the highest priority in the county......Of course I am not serious but that is what I was told a few years ago by one of the $8.50/Hour dump attendants when I did not have my load totally covered. She was extremely rude and acted like I was bringing a nuclear weapon into the dump. I hope they clean house out there.

Landfill  (by: Hollygolightly  -   9/1/2010)

Oh yeah! You're right on! Go get 'em!

Clean House  (by: Pissed Off Bigtime  -   9/1/2010)

Is it not time yet to clean house at the landfill and get rid of the real garbage out there!!! Come on Commissioners can you not see through Ken Wheeler yet??? Everyone just ask yourself after all this would you hire Ken Wheeler to mow your lawn!!! Overdue lunches and falsified time cards is THEFT!!! It is now very obvious that the fired should have been Wheeler and not Wright. I smell PROTECTION all over this entire issue. The 64000 dollar question is why. Kickbacks?