Raises, spats unacceptable, voters tell Clayton commission

Clayton County residents Tuesday accused the county commission of turning into something like the former school board: a group of bickering politicians who wasted taxpayers’ money.

“We don’t need any more problems in this county,” Morrow resident Willie Foles told the commission Tuesday night. “Are you people trying to imitate the school board or our late sheriff? You are going to cost this county money, excess money that shouldn’t have been spent.”

Since Jan. 1, county commissioners have fired a financial adviser and handed out hefty raises. Last week, County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell filed suit against the county’s new chief of staff and his fellow commissioners, alleging they are trying to take away his power and violating state law.

Foles said he was disappointed the commission promoted Fire Chief Alex Cohilas to chief of staff, a change which carried a $15,000 raise. Commissioners also made fleet maintenance director Wade Starr the county’s new policy director — a move that brought him a $24,300 raise.

On Tuesday night, after more than an hour in executive session, the commission made another hire.

Grant Wainscott, the executive director of the National Museum of Commercial Aviation in Morrow, was named the county’s new economic development director. He replaces Starr, who held the job on an interim basis. Wainscott’s salary was unavailable.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, along with outside auditors, accused the school board of promoting friends and relatives to positions they weren’t qualified for. Former Sheriff Victor Hill also hired deputies who were not certified by the state.

Foles, a 47-year Clayton resident, said he is seeing the same thing from the commission.

“I’m very unhappy with the way my tax dollars are being spent,” Foles told the commission. “I don’t know who came up with this move or what the reasoning behind it was to appoint the fire chief as the chief of staff.”

Life-long Clayton resident Bob Mann said the commission should not be spending and giving raises when the economy is so bad. “I think the county is heading down a bad path,” Mann said.

Riverdale resident Alita Knox said she didn’t have a problem with the fire chief’s promotion. “It’s only about a $1,000 a month more. That’s not that much given the added responsibilities,” she said.

Cohilas and commissioners met behind closed doors Tuesday night to discuss Bell’s lawsuit, which is scheduled to be heard in Clayton County Superior Court this afternoon.

Cohilas declined Tuesday night to respond to accusations by residents. “My opinion doesn’t count, only the judge’s does,” he said.

Bell, who was not in the closed meeting, declined to talk about the lawsuit, but said he has received many calls from residents who are concerned about the commission’s spending.

“Salaries are being given to top level people without consideration to the people at the bottom,” Bell said.