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13.B. VICE CHAIRMAN FRAN ADAMS - COMMENT ON PERSONAL MATTER Vice Chairman Adams stated she felt the matter concerning the Sheriff's investigation about fire hose needed to come to an end and read the following remarks into the record: At our meeting on April 20, I called attention to an investigation that had been quietly pursued by Sheriff Gary Wheeler. As Chairman Macht so aptly said at our last meeting, there seems little doubt but that the Sheriff not only sought to impugn the integrity of both Ken Macht and Fran Adams but also to intimidate others. Since the initial disclosure of this rather insidious activity on the part of the Sheriff, a number of things have happened, some have been made public and some have not. You have a right to have it all public. Following our meeting on April 20 an article appeared the following day in the Press Journal which included several very pertinent quotes from Sheriff Wheeler. Thus I now take the opportunity to put the whole matter in context and record as follows. My life is an open book an I like it that way. In public office we all live in a goldfish bowl and that is the way it should be. We are in no way above the law. In fact we have a responsibility to hold ourselves more accountable that others. We have to set the example not the exception. So in light of what has transpired allow me to relate the facts. On November 3, 1997 I spoke with Ray Borgis who inquired about the availability and price of surplus fire hoce. I replied that I had never seen fire hose on our surplus list but that I would inquire of Doug Wright, our Emergency Services Director. I called Doug Wright, recounted the conversation, gave Mr. Wright the gentleman's name and telephone number and asked that he talk to the gentleman for me. I am sure Mr. Wright responded in his usual professional manner for he has always expeditiously handled any inquiry, request, or complaint I have sent his way. So far as Fran Adams is concerned, that ended the matter. Fran Adams never asked for fire hose, never received any fire hose and certainly has never had any fire hose in her possession. However such requests from constituents are commonplace for me. I get calls about recycle bins, dumping at trash transfer stations, conduct of county employees, grading roads, paving roads, zoning inquiries, code complaints, beautification requests, speeding, park inquiries, recreation program requests, flooding, water and sewer complaints, even I-95 rest stop inquiries to name a few. There are many who seek assistance in dealing with the haze and maze of government and as a County Commissioner I am proud to be of help. MAY 119 1999 65