C & R email scandal 10/30/2016
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Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016
Subject: Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016 From: John Rhoads
To: kingsoccerdad Fri, 28 Oct 2016 08:45:28 -0600
KevinHere are the documents that are responsive to your request. Please let me know if there are any questions or issues on this matter. Thanks.
Sincerely, John R. Rhoads Assistant County Attorney Mesa County, Colorado (970) 244-1879 [email protected] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited.
On Wed, Oct 26, 2016 at 8:36 PM, John Rhoads wrote: Hello KevinI did receive the full set of emails today and I am partially through the final review now. I plan to have everything completed tomorrow but if I run into an issue that causes additional delay, it may be until Friday before it is complete. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions. Thanks.
Sincerely, John R. Rhoads Assistant County Attorney Mesa County, Colorado (970) 244-1879 [email protected] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then 1/4
C & R email scandal 10/30/2016
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Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016
delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited.
On Wed, Oct 26, 2016 at 4:53 PM, Kevin King wrote: Hi John Any idea when I will receive my Cora request? Regards, Kevin King Sent from Kevin King iphone On Oct 20, 2016, at 1:21 PM, John Rhoads wrote: Mr. KingYour request has been processed and it has been determined that it will take 3 hours to generate the documents for this request. The first hour of any research and retrieval is included in any CORA request. Any remaining time is charged at $30 per hour. The final research and retrieval fee will therefore be $60. If you wish us to proceed with the search, a payment can be made at this website: https://apps.mesacounty.us/OpenRecords/MakePayment. The search will not be completed until the payment is received. Sometimes, modifications can be made to a request to reduce the overall cost. Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss your request. Thanks.
Sincerely, John R. Rhoads Assistant County Attorney Mesa County, Colorado (970) 244-1879 [email protected] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited.
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Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016
On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 11:13 AM, John Rhoads wrote: Hello Mr. KingHere's the County's initial response to your request. The CORA request you filed involved the review of emails and other correspondence documents for 10 employees over a month of timeframe on several subjects. This is a broadly stated request that encompasses a large category of records that is without sufficient specificity for the custodian to reasonably prepare, gather, or review the records within the three-day CORA period. As a result, the County is invoking the seven day extension allowed for by CORA and Mesa County Policy in these circumstances. The new CORA response date will Wednesday, October 26th, 2016. We are currently in the process of generating the final list of documents will be in contact with you should a research and retrieval fee apply as soon as we know what the final cost will be. Please let me know if there are any questions on this matter. Thanks.
Sincerely, John R. Rhoads Assistant County Attorney Mesa County, Colorado (970) 244-1879 [email protected] CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this email message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information and may be legally protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or their agent, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply email and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, copying, or storage of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited.
---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Date: Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 3:46 PM Subject: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016 To: [email protected] CORA Request - 10/12/2016 - Kevin King Date 10/12/2016 Name Kevin King Organization Mailing Line 1 639 Panorama Dr Address Line 2 City Grand Junction State CO Zip 81507 3/4
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Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016
Phone Email
970.712.6854 [email protected] Per CORA please provide communications including but not limited to text messages, e-mails and any other documents related to the discussion of employee compensation, the compensation committee, communication with the daily sentinel during the month of August, 2016 for election office personnel including but not limited to: Amanda Polson Sheila Reiner Lori Documents Westermire Bobbie Gross Patti Inscho In addition, please provide all Requested communications including but not limited to text messages, e-mails and any other documents involving election office personnel related to the current Mesa County Commissioners or Commissioner Candidates specifically Scott McInnis, John Justman, Rose Pugliese, Mel Mulder, David Edwards, and Jim Doody during the month of August, 2016. Needs No Copies? Delivery Email Yes U.S. Mail No Will Pick Up No
Sentinel Communications.zip Zip archive - 629 KB Compensation Communications.zip Zip archive - 2 MB Commissioners Communications.zip Zip archive - 4 MB
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Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016
Subject: Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016 From: [email protected] To: "John Rhoads" Fri, 28 Oct 2016 08:35:27 -0600
Good morning John, Do you have an ETA of what time I will receive my CORA request today? Just curious how a 3-hour records search has turned into waiting 16 calendar days??? Regards, Kevin 970.712.6854
----- Original Message ----From: "John Rhoads" To: "Kevin King" Cc: Sent: Wed, 26 Oct 2016 20:36:01 -0600 Subject: Re: CORA Request - Kevin King - 10/12/2016 Hello KevinI did receive the full set of emails today and I am partially through the final review now. I plan to have everything completed tomorrow but if I run into an issue that causes additional delay, it may be until Friday before it is complete. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions. Thanks.
Sincerely, John R. Rhoads Assistant County Attorney Mesa County, Colorado (970) 244-1879 [email protected]
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10/27/2016
Google Apps Vault Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately
C & R email scandal
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Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately email: "[email protected] Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 5:21:03 PM Mountain Daylight Time scott.mcinnis" To: email: "[email protected] Sheila Reiner"
I share your frustration but so tough to predict since some key indicators are outside historical patterns
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Original message From: Sheila Reiner Date: 8/16/16 4:58 PM (GMT07:00) To: "scott.mcinnis" Subject: Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately Thank you, I just had no realization that we weren't in a normal up and down pattern from the budget meetings we have had to date. The communication has been for all of us to keep watching our funds and be as frugal as possible. I know budget forecasts change often, just really thought I must have missed a meeting because a hiring freeze with the BOCC making go or no go hiring decisions wasn't expected to be a budget cutting strategy that had been discussed in front of us.
http://clerk.mesacounty.us (970)2441714 For Voting information or to register visit www.mycoloradovote.org To Renew your plates on line visit www.colorado.gov/renewplates On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 4:34 PM, scott.mcinnis wrote: Sheila, our numbers looked ok for awhile but they included the 1 time event of the building sale on main. Now the ripple effect of oil and gas is hitting hard. Lori can show you the revaluations last week on oil and gas properties as an example. It will require all hands on deck. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Original message From: Sheila Reiner Date: 8/16/16 4:08 PM (GMT07:00) https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=c001d0f1ff5e46ddad437281b8a04b6e&at=ACD7onqGjfUcBTh8m8AZsmH9b3L9ag…
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Google Apps Vault Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately
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To: "scott.mcinnis" Cc: Frank Whidden , DeptheadsElectoff Subject: Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately Thanks Scott, fair enough. I was just surprised by it. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 16, 2016, at 3:38 PM, scott.mcinnis wrote: "Unexpectedly concerned " Sheila we all have been concerned, one would have to have their eyes closed if they aren't. We are taking action exactly to avoid "pulling the emergency brake". Scott McInnis Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Original message From: Sheila Reiner Date: 8/16/16 3:27 PM (GMT07:00) To: Frank Whidden Cc: DeptheadsElectoff Subject: Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately I may have missed a meeting. My apologies if I'm behind. I didn't realize this year was looking that bad. I also thought and think that we are expected to keep our budgets flat for 2017? Has that direction changed with budgets due Thursday? So did the group agree on this strategy or are the Commissioners unexpectedly concerned and are pulling the emergency brake?
http://clerk.mesacounty.us (970)2441714 For Voting information or to register visit www.mycoloradovote.org To Renew your plates on line visit www.colorado.gov/renewplates On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 2:52 PM, Frank Whidden wrote: Colleagues, https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=c001d0f1ff5e46ddad437281b8a04b6e&at=ACD7onqGjfUcBTh8m8AZsmH9b3L9ag…
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Google Apps Vault Re: Hiring freeze effective immediately
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I’m sorry to say this is not a happy email. I wish the message were brighter but the news is simply bad and we must all face our financial circumstances. Finance and myself met with the Commissioners this morning to brief them on the financial picture in the county. Included in that briefing, as we all know, are the facts that Finance is projecting a 99% spend of appropriations as well as a $400,000 shortfall in the county wide vacancy savings budget. Given that we are only one quarter away from the end of the year the Board felt compelled to immediately initiate a hiring freeze. Only positions that have a critical or emergency need will be filled until the end of this year. The Board will determine the positions to be filled on a case by case basis. As I mentioned at the last staff budget meeting given the facts we all know, we should all be making contingency plans and being as frugal as possible. That recommendation is even more acute at this point. We need to continue to motivate staff to find savings and efficiency in every possible way. The latest financial statements are attached. Sincerely, Frank Whidden, Ph.D. County Administrator Mesa County Phone: (970) 2555058 [email protected] https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=c001d0f1ff5e46ddad437281b8a04b6e&at=ACD7onqGjfUcBTh8m8AZsmH9b3L9ag…
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https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=c001d0f1ff5e46ddad437281b8a04b6e&at=ACD7onqGjfUcBTh8m8AZsmH9b3L9ag…
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Slump forces county into hiring freeze Downturn in energy business hits main source of tax revenue By Gary Harmon
,,*"_,_ t11,2'''" Wo1I1!he oil and
gas sector In a taj lspln, Mesa Co<.ntv Is Instituting a hiling freeze In hopos 01 Qilir..:ng control of
fts finances, The hiring freeze 15 !he count(. first step toward resdvIng lIS fIr1a-IdaI lssoos, clTiclals said , ElQ/11 of !he CC>I>'1ty's 10 bl;gesl taxpayetS are in Ihe sllI'I1p1ng
has SOUQ/1I hel p frM1loca1lJ01"'1T111'1' t IC keep
<>PM ~ '
"""'9Y t>usIness WId """ of tMm, HaI1iburlcn,
mglcrlal 0" 1ces In Grand Junction.
The sIurTl> so far looks 10 ri p $323,000 from the propos.od 2017 general lund and !he prospect. of Improvemenl ..... slim. cfllOals soo'd. Oil and
gas prcduction is down 68 peroent so fat this year, which &Qual es to a
1,4 peroent d&ere"'" In the
count(s tax base. t.a.t yea1. 76 wel ls
were OOl ed. 11110 yeat so far Ihe coum Is
zero, to !he t>est of 0" l<:i1ll5' knowledge, Ccooty
Administrator Frank WhIdden sald.
Co<.ntv coffers also are taking a hit In thal employees appeal to be staying put, rather 1tian . - n g jobs
"sewhere. The count(. projections for vacancy savings aM down $400,000. o" l<:ials sald. The CC>I>'1ty ""'I ' I;~M last yea1 approved 8 bOOgeI that antidpaled spending $ 1,6 miliM mere than expected """"'ue5, and Ihe bOOget 1nd00ed a reductiM "' !he county's lend biliarICe from $ 12,9 miliM IC $ 11.3mil ion.
Sales taxes, a malllSlay of the COl.flty budget. are mearl'o'll"!
~
gil""""'" of hope, Sales tax raven",," are down 2.9 peroont CM1pared IC Ihe same time last year, 8 portion that &Quates IC abcul $490,000. despite 8 slighW posiUve JUy sales tax report M J UM sales.
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10/14/2016
Mesa County Mail Letter to the Commissioners
C & R email scandal
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Sheila Reiner
Letter to the Commissioners Patti Inscho To: Sheila Reiner
Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 3:23 PM
Hi Sheila, I hope your having lots of fun and I apologize for interrupting with this. Some of the recent press from the county commissioners has been unsettling. I have attached a letter I am thinking about sending to the commissioners. This is not something I normally do but I really feel strongly about everything I say in it. I seem to have bumped up against one of those lines. So, please take a look at this letter and any guidance would be appreciated. All I want to do is communicate my disappointment not shoot my foot off. I'm also considering sending a copy to letters to the editor. I have to admit I feel a little resentful that all the information I've received from the Commissioners has been through the press. Thanks Patti dear commissioners 2016.docx 16K
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=26e5700340&view=pt&as_from=patti.inscho%40mesacounty.us&as_sizeoperator=s_sl&as_sizeunit=s_smb&as_su…
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10/14/2016
Mesa County Mail Letter to the Commissioners
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Sheila Reiner
Letter to the Commissioners Sheila Reiner To: Patti Inscho
Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 5:14 PM
You nailed the issue from an employees view point. I would never discourage honest and direct communication.
http://clerk.mesacounty.us (970)2441714 For Voting information or to register visit www.mycoloradovote.org To Renew your plates on line visit www.colorado.gov/renewplates [Quoted text hidden]
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=26e5700340&view=pt&as_from=patti.inscho%40mesacounty.us&as_sizeoperator=s_sl&as_sizeunit=s_smb&as_su…
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10/14/2016
Mesa County Mail Letter to the Commissioners
C & R email scandal
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Sheila Reiner
Letter to the Commissioners Patti Inscho To: Sheila Reiner
Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 5:27 PM
Thank you. I'm not looking for trouble and I didn't want to blindside you but I just couldn't get past "vacancy savings". Sent from my iPhone [Quoted text hidden]
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=26e5700340&view=pt&as_from=patti.inscho%40mesacounty.us&as_sizeoperator=s_sl&as_sizeunit=s_smb&as_su…
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10/14/2016
Mesa County Mail Letter to the Commissioners
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Sheila Reiner
Letter to the Commissioners Sheila Reiner To: Patti Inscho
Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Thanks for giving me a heads up! Sent from my iPhone [Quoted text hidden]
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=26e5700340&view=pt&as_from=patti.inscho%40mesacounty.us&as_sizeoperator=s_sl&as_sizeunit=s_smb&as_su…
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10/28/2016
Google Apps Vault Recent Press Releases
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Recent Press Releases email: "[email protected] Patti Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 6:41:23 AM Mountain Daylight Time Inscho" To: email: "[email protected] Rose Pugliese" , email: "[email protected] Scott McInnis" , email: "[email protected] John Justman"
Dear County Commissioners,
Recently, I’ve been reading about concerns regarding the Mesa County budget in press releases and newspaper articles. I was very disappointed by the comments regarding vacancy savings. As an accountant, I understand what that term means and I also understand the cost of employee turnover. Simply on the face of it, the public suggestion that by being loyal and dedicated employees we are a drag on the county budget is offensive. I’m also concerned that it looks like the vacancy savings are so much higher than turnover costs that they appear to be in the budget as a source of revenue. In fact, the loss from vacancy savings ($400,000) was greater than the loss from mill levies on the oil and gas industry ($323,000). As one of your employees, these comments lead me to believe that you view your employees as disposable; knowledge, loyalty and dedication seem to be of little value.
There was considerable controversy over pay increases for elected officials last spring. Each time someone brought up the subject in conversation, I consistently defended the decision. For me it wasn’t just the legal issues, but the belief that it’s important for our elected officials to receive a competitive pay rate so that we don’t become a place where only the wealthy can afford to run for office.
Three years ago, after years with a pay rate freeze, the commissioners agreed to a plan to increase employee pay rates over a period of five years. This pay increase was simply https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=c001d0f1ff5e46ddad437281b8a04b6e&at=ACD7onogsCzxwpcxySn8NINg22No0k…
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Google Apps Vault Recent Press Releases
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to bring our pay rates in line with other areas of the state. I supported this plan not just as an employee but as a citizen who believes that competitive pay encourages above average job applicants. Despite the five year commitment, the pay increase only happened once. For the last two years the commissioners have failed their employees.
For years our county leadership has relied on the energy industry as a main source of income despite the fact that it has proven unreliable. As you noted in a press release on August 16th, 8 out of 10 of the largest taxpayers are from the oil and gas industry. This history along with current comments made by leadership makes me wonder if low pay and high turnover is simply a budgeting tool used by Mesa County to make up for the shortfall from oil and gas. Perhaps it’s time to ask if Mesa County, as an employer, is also unreliable.
The Board of County Commissioners’ page on the county website contains a Strategic Plan which states guiding values and gives citizens a way to measure your success. Perhaps this is a document you should review since, by your own standards, this doesn’t look like success.
Sincerely,
Patti Inscho
Operations Manager – Elections
Mesa County Clerk and Recorder
https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=c001d0f1ff5e46ddad437281b8a04b6e&at=ACD7onogsCzxwpcxySn8NINg22No0k…
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10/26/2016
Google Apps Vault County hiring freeze
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County hiring freeze email: "[email protected] Patti Inscho" To: email: "[email protected]"
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 7:46:51 AM Mountain Daylight Time
Good Morning, I have attached a letter that I sent this morning to the County Commissioners. The Commissioners have failed to communicate with county employees regarding the hiring freeze and seem unwilling to even discuss promised pay increases. Since all of the information I have received from the Commissioners (my employers) has been through the press I felt it was appropriate to respond in the same manner. I hope you find this useful, I will also be sending this to the letters to the editor section. Sincerely, Patti Inscho Operations Manager Elections Mesa County Clerk and Recorder
Attachments: Letter to Commissioners.docx 16k
https://ediscovery.google.com/discovery/u/0/DisplayMessage?hl=en&m=3dfc216acd5940b6b91e53fe09d39c5b&at=ACD7onosdH9ejonA_az8Lbe7VBBxm2…
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10/27/2016
Mesa County Mail Speaking to County Commissioners
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Sheila Reiner
Speaking to County Commissioners Sheila Reiner Mon, Aug 29, 2016 at 3:31 PM To: Amanda Golightly , Bette Meininger , Bobbie Gross , Charlayne Higginson , Cheryl Benton , Conrad Cole , Deydra Bassett , Don Clement , Erika Pena , "Garcia, Josh" , Greg Stmartin , Jane White , Janet Williams , Janika Harris , Karin Vanderminden , Kathy VanDoozer , Lourdes Alvarado Haro , Matthew Vigil , Melissa Englund , Melissa Herek , Michelle Lunsford , "Reiner, Sheila" , Shawn Jones , Vince Cordova , "Campbell, Jackie" , Lori Westermire , "Baughman, Ginny" , Brandy Mow , Kim Cole , Rose Tafoya , Amanda Polson , Jesse Redmond , Karen Reiher , Patti Inscho , Tamela Spelts , Delores Chaney
Clerk & Recorder Team, Many of you may have read the column written by Patti Inscho in Sunday's paper. After speaking to her at length today I believe that her intent was to respond to the commissioners in the same way all of you found out about the hiring freeze (via press.) I can't support communicating via press as plan A. Patti did send her communication to the Commissioners first, but they didn't have a chance to respond to it before the article was published. Whether the Commissioners have utilized that path instead of writing the employees prior to releasing things to the press or not, this path does not match up with the Clerk & Recorder's office culture which is talk first with a goal of understanding. You are all tax paying citizens as well as employees of Mesa County. This provides you with a unique relationship in regards to your Commissioners. By her title being used in the paper it appears (to some) that Patti is speaking on behalf of our office rather than herself. While you do have a right to be heard and I encourage crucial conversations to occur, I also want to facilitate discussions that are productive and not harmful to the mutual goals we share. If you would like to voice a concern with the commissioners in a public manner please be clear in your communication that it is done on your own time, using your own resources and it is coming to them from you as a citizen. If it is a concern that is work related please include me in your path and we will take an internal route first. Thank you all!
http://clerk.mesacounty.us (970)2441714 For Voting information or to register visit www.mycoloradovote.org To Renew your plates on line visit www.colorado.gov/renewplates
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=26e5700340&view=pt&as_from=sheila.reiner%40mesacounty.us&as_to=%22Amanda%20Golightly%22%20%3Ca…
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Verizon LTE
C & R email scandal
12:34 PM
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Tue, Aug 30, 9:29 AM
I hope you feel better, Rose has asked me to meet with her at 4 today. Just FYI Thanks. I'm going to try to come in a little later. Meds have helped some. I was thinking last night that it's disappointing that they think this is all about raises. It was ""nn:::1
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C & R email scandal
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about raises. It was more about honesty respect and communication That is where I will focus with her, I understand that is what you are after and I have received two more compliments this • morning on your article Thanks. m~
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C & R email scandal
Mesa County Emails not provided in my original CORA
From: Rose Pugliese Date: August 25, 2016 at 7:38:04 AM MDT To: Patti Inscho Subject: Re: Recent Press Releases Of course! Happy to do so. Rose Sent from my iPhone On Aug 25, 2016, at 6:32 AM, Patti Inscho wrote: That works well for me. Thanks again for taking the time to talk to me. Patti On Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 8:47 PM, Frank Whidden wrote: I will work on getting this set up tomorrow for Monday. Sincerely, Frank Whidden, PhD County Administrator Mesa County [email protected] 970.255.5058 On Aug 24, 2016 7:53 PM, "Rose Pugliese" wrote: Sure. How about Monday at 11 am? I am copying our Administrator so he can have HR attend as well, per your request. Thanks. Rose Sent from my iPhone On Aug 24, 2016, at 3:58 PM, Patti Inscho wrote: Hi Rose, Thanks for getting back to me. I would like to sit down and discuss your thoughts. I would prefer sooner rather than later and would feel more comfortable with someone from HR present. My schedule is flexible so please let me know how you'd like to proceed. Thanks Patti Inscho On Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 11:15 AM, Rose Pugliese wrote: Patti, Thanks for your comments. Can we find time to sit and talk? I have a few thoughts but they are long and would be better for conversation than email. Please let me know.
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C & R email scandal
Thanks. Rose Sent from my iPhone On Aug 24, 2016, at 6:41 AM, Patti Inscho wrote:
Dear County Commissioners, Recently, I’ve been reading about concerns regarding the Mesa County budget in press releases and newspaper articles. I was very disappointed by the comments regarding vacancy savings. As an accountant, I understand what that term means and I also understand the cost of employee turnover. Simply on the face of it, the public suggestion that by being loyal and dedicated employees we are a drag on the county budget is offensive. I’m also concerned that it looks like the vacancy savings are so much higher than turnover costs that they appear to be in the budget as a source of revenue. In fact, the loss from vacancy savings ($400,000) was greater than the loss from mill levies on the oil and gas industry ($323,000). As one of your employees, these comments lead me to believe that you view your employees as disposable; knowledge, loyalty and dedication seem to be of little value. There was considerable controversy over pay increases for elected officials last spring. Each time someone brought up the subject in conversation, I consistently defended the decision. For me it wasn’t just the legal issues, but the belief that it’s important for our elected officials to receive a competitive pay rate so that we don’t become a place where only the wealthy can afford to run for office. Three years ago, after years with a pay rate freeze, the commissioners agreed to a plan to increase employee pay rates over a period of five years. This pay increase was simply to bring our pay rates in line with other areas of the state. I supported this plan not just as an employee but as a citizen who believes that competitive pay encourages above average job applicants. Despite the five year commitment, the pay increase only happened once. For the last two years the commissioners have failed their employees. For years our county leadership has relied on the energy industry as a main source of income despite the fact that it has proven unreliable. As you noted in a press release on August 16th, 8 out of 10 of the largest taxpayers are from the oil and gas industry. This history along with current comments made by leadership makes me wonder if low pay and high turnover is simply a budgeting tool used by Mesa County to make up for the shortfall from oil and gas. Perhaps it’s time to ask if Mesa County, as an employer, is also unreliable. The Board of County Commissioners’ page on the county website contains a Strategic Plan which states guiding values and gives citizens a way to measure your success. Perhaps this is a document you should review since, by your own standards, this doesn’t look like success. Sincerely, Patti Inscho Operations Manager – Elections Mesa County Clerk and Recorder
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C & R email scandal
From: Rose Pugliese Date: August 29, 2016 at 11:09:03 AM MDT To: Patti Inscho Cc: Frank Whidden , Sheila Reiner Subject: Re: Meeting Thank you. I disagree that Sheila is not in a position to address your concerns but will speak with her and see if we still need to meet. Please standby. Thanks. Rose Sent from my iPhone On Aug 29, 2016, at 8:53 AM, Patti Inscho wrote: I'm sorry you feel that way, I was looking forward to our conversation. I don't see any point in meeting with Frank and Sheila. Neither of them is in the position to address my concerns and I already meet with Sheila regularly. Patti On Sun, Aug 28, 2016 at 7:48 PM, Rose Pugliese wrote: Patti, I think it is best if you meet with Frank and Sheila instead of me about your issues with the county. Sheila is your direct elected supervisor so that is more appropriate. Thank you. Rose Sent from my iPhone
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