…..What is government without order? Anarchy by some definitions. A hot mess from my perspective.
……I speak of the Hancock County Commission meeting of April 21, 2025 where the meeting ignored the agenda that permitted the audience to speak only under the Public Comment section.
…..The subject on the Agenda was accepting a bid for the concessionaire of Kennedy Marina. I wasn’t in attendance, but when I heard chatter about the meeting, I went to the minutes of the meeting to get the real story Here’s what I discovered.
**Five bids were received for leasing and operating Kennedy Marina; Cemco Inc., Robert Culp, Billy Mathey, Old Lock 8 Rentals and Kathy Mansell.
…….Commissioner Tommy Ogden moved to accept the bid of Cemco, a company owned locally by Ted and Patrick Arneault. The company has completed work for the County, Health Dept., and CHANGE, Inc.
…….Commissioner Chek then questioned Cemco’s ability to fulfill their contract and advocated for Old Lock 8 Rentals who she said had already been performing work on the property. (on whose authorization?)
……There are very specific rules that govern when a citizen can speak at a Commissioners’ meeting. If a citizen wants to speak at a Commission meeting, he/she must do so in the Agenda item listed as “public comments” and must sign up prior to the meeting. The representative of Old Lock 8 Rentals did neither. Instead he spoke out about Cemco’s inability to do the job during the time reserved to vote on the bid. The speaker posed questions to Commissioner Check and they were answered. An effort was made to restore order and adhere to the rules by Commissioner Ogden as he reminded the Commission that a “back and forth” conversation was not appropriate. (At this point, a “point of order” could be called.)
………Kennedy Marina has been the subject of much controversy in the past and it is imperative that that the letter of the law is followed when conducting a meeting to award the bids on the facility.
*….Commissioner Chek mentioned in that meeting that Old Lock 8 Rental was already performing work at the property. Why was that? Who authorized the work and the payment? A $9,000.00 invoice was signed by Chek while Commissioner Ogden said he had no knowledge of the situation.
……t’s time for the Commission to rein it in. If there is any doubt that proper procedure was followed in a meeting, it puts decisions made at that meeting in question. As President of the Commissioner, Chek needs to adhere to Robert’s Rules and to have a clear understanding as to the extent of her authority to act autonomously without full consensus of the Commission.
