Commission President Eron Chek’s actions at Thursday’s County Commission meeting at best can be described as bizarre, The agenda had been approved by the entire Commission and Chek did not object to any item on the agenda at that time.
That’s why it came as a surprise when Agenda item #8 came up: “Consideration to approve a resolution to utilize Opioid Settlement Funds for expenditures made by the county for regional jail fees during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.”
Commissioner Tommy Ogden moved to consider the resolution. With a second, that would have opened the matter up for floor debate on the issue.
But, before that could happen, Chek said “I object to the consideration of the motion. All in favor, I”
It was the picture of the one-woman show. She objected. She alone out of the three voted and she alone proclaimed her motion passed and the discussion dead.”
But, what is more dangerous is that her objective was to shut down free and open discussion of a resolution on dispersing the opioid funds. That was after she approved the agenda. When questioned Solicitor Mike Lucas said he had not witnessed a move like that in his years with the County. I witnessed Chek telling Lucas she had been studying up on her Robert’s rule. Looking through Robert’s Rules, can’t find that portion.
What makes the action bizarre is it needn’t have happened. Ogden is the only one to have voted in favor of the resolution. Cowey would follow Chek in his vote against the resolution so the resolution would have died. What would have happened would have been free and open discussion on the issue. That’s why the United States is a Democracy.
By paying the Regional Jail Bill funds would be freed up not to cut the Sheriff’s budget.
I cant imagine being a deputy sheriff watching as Chek went through such machinations to prevent discussions on use of opioid funds to prevent further reductions. Doctors promise to “first do no harm” and I’ve always felt Public Officials should do the same.
Shutting down free and open discussion is harm. The Commission is not a one way show. Deputies put their life on the line every day, they deserve more than the antics displayed Thursday. Not even discussing their funding is harm.
This paper has not made it a practice to endorse candidates, but I have decided what I saw Thursday mandates action. Hometown News does NOT support Chek.
