Oops He Did It Again - I Hear

Has anyone else heard anything about the Sheriff having to return over $692,000 in funds to the BCC today. He previously returned $5000 as his unused surplus. I hear he retained those funds from his 2007 budget and signed contracts for two capital projects without those being approved expenditures. I also hear that he claimed to not be knowledgeable about the state bid requirements.

Is that legal ?

Anyone hear anything about this.

Unapproved expenditures??? Like a driving track.... A bid??? Like on a driving track.... De ja vu anyone?

i really want to take my car onto that track, and rapunzel's also.

... I also hear that he claimed to not be knowledgeable about the state bid requirements.

Is that legal ?

Anyone hear anything about this.

I don't think that complete incompetence is criminal (although there are occaisions where it sure should be...) If this information is correct, all it does is solidify the many reasons I have previously stated, as to why new leadership is needed in 2008. The candidate needs to have a law enforcement and business background.

Last time I checked, ignorance of the law does not work in court room defense. When will there be any accountability for this sheriff and the department?

The candidate needs to have a law enforcement and business background.

I would certainly like to see further discussion on qualifications for this position. There are a wide variety of candidates already making themselves known, and street talk is that we have not seen them all yet. At some point in time, the public is going to need to decide on the qualifications they feel will do the best job, and then they are going to have to see who meets those standards.

Or I guess we can do like last time and everyone just vote for their friend.

Is there any sort of oversight for the Sheriff's department?

They seem to play pretty free & loose with tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars and their employment policies/regulations.

The Sheriff is the most powerful position in county government, except for the judge(s).

That's not just here; that's everywhere. At least in Florida.

How can the Sheriff afford to have his own Air Force (multiple choppers and fixed wing ) when we don't even have paved roads down here in SoWal?

Has anyone else heard anything about the Sheriff having to return over $692,000 in funds to the BCC today. He previously returned $5000 as his unused surplus. I hear he retained those funds from his 2007 budget and signed contracts for two capital projects without those being approved expenditures. I also hear that he claimed to not be knowledgeable about the state bid requirements.

Is that legal ?

Anyone hear anything about this.

The tax payers, citizens and voters of Walton County have not seen nor heard that last of this little issue. Just wait... and Watch.;-)

The tax payers, citizens and voters of Walton County have not seen nor heard that last of this little issue. Just wait... and Watch.;-)

Isn't there some sort of hearing coming up for the commissioners to decide about this? If they rule against johnson, can criminal charges be sworn out?

Isn't there some sort of hearing coming up for the commissioners to decide about this? If they rule against johnson, can criminal charges be sworn out?

When is this hearing and will it be open to the public?

Isn't there some sort of hearing coming up for the commissioners to decide about this? If they rule against johnson, can criminal charges be sworn out?

Public Hearing on the budget is Feb 26 in DeFuniak Springs at 4PM. That should be a Tuesday.

No matter what the BCC votes to do, it does not change the status of any violations or possible violations of Florida Statute. Those statutes also list what the penalties are, and if they are civil or criminal.

As per statute, the Clerk of Court, Martha Ingle, has notified Governor Crist as per the attached letter. Maybe that will point you in the correct direction for your research. The letter is a public record.

When is this hearing and will it be open to the public?

All of these new people jumping in here asking all of these very interesting, but seemingly silly questions.

This is Florida. Any meeting between two or more public officials in which official action MAY be taken is by law a public meeting and subject to the open meeting laws of the State of Florida.

And if it is a public hearing, then by the definition of the word public, it would be open to such.

Any new people read the DeFuniak Herald today? An article on the budget starts on the front page.

All of these new people jumping in here asking all of these very interesting, but seemingly silly questions.

This is Florida. Any meeting between two or more public officials in which official action MAY be taken is by law a public meeting and subject to the open meeting laws of the State of Florida.

And if it is a public hearing, then by the definition of the word public, it would be open to such.

Pardon my silliness, but if this is the case, and the Defuniak paper is accurate, wouldn't the meetings the sheriff had to get this track approved be subject to the open meetings law? If so, when were these meetings held? If this is true, then what is the purpose for tuesday's meeting? Hate to ask so many questions, but you seem to be the resident expert on these matters.

to the open meetings law? If so, when were these meetings held? If this is true, then what is the purpose for tuesday's meeting? Hate to ask so many questions, but you seem to be the resident expert on these matters.

I believe that someone will be asking that very question Tuesday.

Pardon my silliness, but if this is the case, and the Defuniak paper is accurate, wouldn't the meetings the sheriff had to get this track approved be subject to the open meetings law? If so, when were these meetings held? If this is true, then what is the purpose for tuesday's meeting? Hate to ask so many questions, but you seem to be the resident expert on these matters.

"The Herald" article was quoted as saying, "The board never held a vote on the project." Meaning it was not an approved project, before it was started.

Johnson maintains that he received the BCC's approval but not a vote from the board.

The meeting on Tuesday should clarify what was approved, not approved, what funds were appropriately encumbered and which funds were not,in the money's returned to the Clerk of Courts. Hope this helps.

Here is a copy of the article:

Walton Sheriff's Office returns funds several months late

The nearly $700,000 should have been returned to Walton County by Oct. 31, prompting the county to notify the governor

Andy Meinen

Thursday February 21st, 2008

Comment on this Story | Read Comments


DeFUNIAK SPRINGS ? The Walton County Sheriff?s Office returned nearly $700,000 in funds from last year?s budget to the county, about four months after it should have been handed back.

Martha Ingle, the county?s clerk of court, sent a letter to the governor last week saying that the Sheriff?s Office failed to return the money by the state mandated Oct. 31 deadline. But the Sheriff?s Office contends the money had already been approved for ongoing projects and should not have been returned.

?This is the first time they (the county) have asked us to do this,? said Capt. Eddie Farris. The money was encumbered, or earmarked, for several projects the Sheriff?s Office was working on, Farris said.

However, there is some question as to whether the money for the projects had been properly approved by the county.

The Sheriff?s Office returned $311,431 for 911 equipment and $345,824 for a defensive driving track that Walton County Finance Director Bill Imfeld said were never budgeted.

?In order for funds to be encumbered they must be against authorized projects,? Imfeld said. ?I have no knowledge of this issue having formally been put before the County Commission for budget considerations.?

When the Sheriff?s Office spends more than $200,000, Florida law states that the County Commission has to vote and approve it, Imfeld said.

Sheriff Ralph Johnson said in a news release that he asked the commissioners ?individually and received their approval to move ahead with plans? to spend the more than $345,000 on a new defensive driving range.

?He (Johnson) is not trying to hide anything,? Farris said.

Johnson is scheduled to speak to commissioners about a budget amendment on Tuesday at the county courthouse in DeFuniak Springs.

Johnson stated in a letter to the commission last week that money for four other projects ? totaling $83,669 ? was going to be returned along with the funds for the 911 equipment and the driving track. In all, the department was supposed to hand back $740,924.

The Sheriff?s Office had returned $697,848 as of Wednesday, according to the clerk of court?s office.

Farris said that the remaining balance of $43,076 had already been spent, but it is unclear on what.

Messages left for Farris and Johnson seeking follow-up comment were not returned.

In its news release, the Sheriff?s Office questioned Ingle?s reasons for sending the letter to the governor.

?The Sheriff was not contacted by Ms. Ingle prior to her writing the letter and does not know what her motivation was in writing such a letter,? according to the news release.

But Ingle said it?s simply a matter of policy.

?We?ve always had the policy to notify the governor? when funds are not returned, she said.

Leftover money from all the offices of constitutional officers has to be returned to the county by Oct. 31, Ingle said.

Daily News Staff Writer Andy Meinen can be reached at 654-6905. <- PREVIOUS 1 2

?He (Johnson) is not trying to hide anything,? Farris said.

Who are we kidding? He's been hiding for years behind a wall of spokesmen/women, unanswered phones and non-existent office hours. I guess Farris is just the latest.

Johnson is scheduled to speak to commissioners about a budget amendment on Tuesday at the county courthouse in DeFuniak Springs.

Does anyone want to wager as to whether johnson will actually show? I bet he doesn't have the cajones to show but will send farris or someone else.:rofl:

Does anyone want to wager as to whether johnson will actually show? I bet he doesn't have the cajones to show but will send farris or someone else.

Right now I am thinking he will show up. This is a pretty big issue. Getting in front of it is the only way I see to respond. But that is just me.

From the article:
Sheriff Ralph Johnson said in a news release that he asked the commissioners ?individually and received their approval to move ahead with plans? to spend the more than $345,000 on a new defensive driving range.

WHAAAT?????

Isn't this, if this is indeed what happened (and we haven't heard from the commissioners on this) a violation of about ten laws? At the least, it is a clear circumvention of the intent of the $200,000 limit on discretionary spending. Bill Imfield is right, there has to be a record of the approval.

This is like your teen-ager telling you that Dad said it was okay, and then telling Dad that Mom said it was okay.

I agree Here$Good....my teenage son tried that a few times until it came back on him. I imagine this will come back on the sheriff much the same way.

In its news release, the Sheriff’s Office questioned Ingle’s reasons for sending the letter to the governor.

“The Sheriff was not contacted by Ms. Ingle prior to her writing the letter and does not know what her motivation was in writing such a letter,” according to the news release.

Can you say "DOING HER JOB?"

Can you say "DOING HER JOB?"

Something that Martha Ingle does quite well. I read the statute that was quoted and I do not remember it saying that the comptroller has to check in with the person who committed the violation and tell them their intentions. A very strange statement indeed.

Something that Martha Ingle does quite well.

Indeed. If I ever had a question about any FL statute or county ordinance, I am quite sure that she would be able to explain it in a very professional manner yet still in terms that even the uneducated could understand. I have the utmost respect for that woman.

Does anyone want to wager as to whether johnson will actually show? I bet he doesn't have the cajones to show but will send farris or someone else.:rofl:

Right now I am thinking he will show up. This is a pretty big issue. Getting in front of it is the only way I see to respond. But that is just me.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/12379

Looks like Idlewind would have won some money...;-)

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/12379

Looks like Idlewind would have won some money...;-)

I don't know if that is fair. I had forgotten that there was a food event the same night.