The Miller County Commissioners of Roads and Revenue have called a Special Meeting for Monday, February 22, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.

The Special Called Meeting will be held at the Miller County Courthouse, and board members encourage all citizens who may have questions or concerns to attend and ask questions.

The items on the agenda are as follows:

1- The county auditor will present the FY 2009 Audit and financial reports.

2- Commissioners attorney will be available to answer any public questions concerning pending litigation with the Miller County constitutional officers.

Since no one will have seen the audit and financial reports other than the county commissioners, it will be hard to ask questions about the presentation.

It has been noted that on that same day the attorney for the board of commissioners and the attorney for the constitutional officers (Sheriff, Probate Judge, Tax Commissioner and Clerk of Court) are to meet. They will see if they can get together for a settlement prior to the Special Meeting.

There is also much concern over the pending legislation offered in the HB 1044 to create a Miller County Board of Elections to be appointed by the Miller County Commissioners.

According to Senator John Bullock, the HB 1044 has been held up in the Senate until February 22, the date of the Special Meeting. Senator Bullock was assured that this bill will also be discussed by those present at the Special Meeting on Monday, February 22, at 6:00 p.m., since the legislation has never been brought up for a public meeting on its introduction.

In fact, when some of the county commissioners were called about the bill, they did not know what the bill stated, such as who would name the board that will be in charge of Miller County elections or that the election process would be removed from the Probate Judge's jurisdiction as well as from the Miller County Grand Jury, who now recommends the Miller County Registrars.

By law, if the HB 1044 is not placed on the agenda, it cannot be discussed at that Special Meeting.

The HB 1044 has passed the House of Representatives. Representative Gerald Greene assured those who called that he had no idea the bill had not been discussed or a public meeting held concerning it. He is also in agreement to hold the bill until the citizens can have their say with the county commissioners.

There is not too much the public can do about what the county commissioners have done with the past taxes collected. Questions will be asked about why some departments were changed that now cost more to operate.

The only thing citizens can do is let their elected officials know what they think about what is going on, and when those offices come up for election, electors can offer for election and vote for those they think will do the best for this county.

If you care what is happening in your county, be at this Special Meeting and/or express your opinions and questions at the meeting.

Here is the contact information for the county commissioners:

Clyde Jinks, 758-2053

Bo Haywood, 758-5122

Frankie Phillips, 758- 3821

Wallace Phillips, 758- 2075

Barbie Womble, 758- 3206

Constitutional Officers and those that will be abolished by the legislation:

Sheriff, 758-3421

Clerk of Court, 758- 4102

Probate Judge, 758-4110

Tax Commissioner, 758- 4101

Board of Registrars, 758- 4118

Coroner, 758-3571

Your vote procedures, people who hold elections and those who name the election officers are all being changed if this HB 1044 is passed.

The citizens of Miller County are asked to let their wishes be known Tuesday.