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County equipment missing in action
Published Saturday, October 13, 2007
NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors is missing a $78,453 front end-loader.
County officials first noticed the machine was missing in May.
At a specially-called Friday meeting, the board approved their fixed inventory assets audit, minus the front-end loader.
The county’s asset inventory is an account of everything the county owns. Including chairs, phones, computers and even bridges.
The document is missing one crucial item however — the 1992 John Deere 544E front-end loader.
At first it was thought that the machine had possibly been sold at a county auction; however no records of such a transaction could be found.
After an extensive search conducted within the board of supervisors the matter has been turned over to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’re looking for it,” Sheriff Ronny Brown said.
Brown said the serial number and a description of the machine have been posted with the national crime information center in the event it turns up in another location.
According to Brown the thief likely had a buyer lined up before the theft actually occurred.
Brown also said that whoever took the front-end loader had to know how to operate it in order to put it on a trailer.
The machine was reported missing on Sept. 13, but no one knows exactly when it went missing. Well, no one but the thief.
The board of supervisors also took time at their Friday meeting to appoint a new member to the board of trustees at Natchez Regional Medical Center.
Zabron “Chip” Davis will fill the newest opening on the board. Darryl Grennell, president of the board of supervisors, said Davis was selected for his unique aptitude in conflict resolution.
Grennell was quick to point out however, that there is no conflict that currently needs resolution on the board. Davis said he was honored by the appointment.
“We can all greatly benefit from finding ways to work together,” he said.
The next supervisors meeting will be at 10 a.m. Monday.
Comments
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 2:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How in the heck do you lose a $78 thousand dollar machine? Sounds like some folks need to be held accountable and responsible (like the Board of Supervisors or some county officials) and should have to pay for it. It took 4 months to declare that it was actually missing? From May til September 13th. Wow, just think, if someone can have a huge piece of machinery missing for four months and not really realize it, just think how many small items can come up missing. I can just see all the finger pointing going on. So now, we, the tax payers, will have to buy a new one. Sounds like you dummies responsible for the fixed assets need to replace it out of your own fat pockets. Discus that at your next "meeting of the minds".
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 13, 2007 at 4:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if the supervisors found the keys to the loader?
Probably do not need to replace it since was not being used.
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder, gemccull, if they have a system for keeping up with their keys, like they do with heavy machinery?
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hahaha.... my first story of the morning!! hahaha! how do you loose an $80,000.00 machine haha... haha! sorry can't help it. it made me laugh this morning... being serious i would have to say some one that worked closely with this machine would be the first person i talked to.. i mean you see huge machines sitting around all the time but only someone who knows the machines schedule and how to operate it would have the balls to take it... hahaha! but it lightened up my morning!! hahaha!
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's probably at one of the supervisor's country estates, being used for personal projects.
Posted by thetinman (Keith Reynolds) on October 13, 2007 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HMMM took part of spring and all sumer basically to find out it was missing. HMMMMMMMMM Some cover up some where!!!!!!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, we the citizens should not stand for the loss of this equipment without someone's head rolling. After all, it took tax dollars to buy it and they, the supervisors are accountable and so is the road foreman. Don't remember details but they sure let Clyde Rodriguez take the ax for something that happened years ago -- who is the foreman for this job!
Posted by alphamale (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH DO YOU MISPLACE FRONT END LOADER???????
Posted by guy2co (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe we should hire a consultant to see if we need to find it!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most heavy equipment has a universal key which means that anyone with another loader, grader, etc. can start any other piece of equipment. My DH has a CAT key and he could go out to Puckett Equipment and start up and drive off with any piece of equipment out there. Therefore, no keeping up with that key.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember when a certain supervisor culprit spent some time in prison for selling public property? (Culverts) 'Me thinks' someone else is lining themselves up for the same thing. Hope they catch'em.
Posted by JDR (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'll bet someone on the inside either sold it or more likely is renting it out.
Posted by silly_willy_24_7 (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 6:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
just be on the look out for someone who works for the county during the week and suddenly stops doing weekend heavy equipment work with a front end loader.
got a hole to dig, anyone???
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the first place I'd look is out on Springfield Road...hint hint!!
Posted by astrid (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I knew who you were stateofnatchez. It's getting to me. haha
Posted by Bebop (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe they sold it to Vidalia for a hundred bucks!
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Brown also said that whoever took the front-end loader had to know how to operate it in order to put it on a trailer."
--> Any twelve year old could drive a front end loader. I know because I learned how to drive a dozer, bobcat and a combine before I got my first drivers license.
One day I was driving out in the country...(maybe Duck Pond or Palestine Road) and I saw the same model front end loader being used as a damn man lift for county employee's to trim limbs hanging too low over the road.
In hindsight, I really should have taken a quick picture because the idiot(s) could have fallen and the taxpayer's would have footed the bill for the morons hospital expenses.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very excellent point freedom42....I don't know why I missed that.
And for all those who have no clue what a front end loader looks like copy address below...
http://cgi.ebay.com/1992-John-Deere-544E...
Kinda burns me raw to hear this because I'm assuming that the Sheriff's office has questioned the county employee's prior to putting this thing out on NCIC and still came up with no clue....sounds very fishy!!
I wish I had a real-time Google Earth account (if there is such an animal) because I think I could find it.
And another thing..I hope this teaches the county a lessen and they put MSS (machine security system) key's on these machines in the future. You can also program the key to expire at a certain date if needed.
Posted by JunkyardDawg (anonymous) on October 13, 2007 at 11:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the city could bid on that one on ebay. Or check the vin on it, lol.
At first glance I thought this article was gonna say Binky was missing.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So which county employee is responsible for the tractor?
Has he/she been fired?
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 14, 2007 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting that this snafu did not come to light until after some people were reelected?
Posted by gulfthumper (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Missing loader?? Is that all or whould we be taking another inventory of all ciy / county equipment?? A key is only a short trip to the store.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 14, 2007 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, we should be taking another inventory of county assets by an independent source. We might find that a lot more is missing.
A key might be a short trip to the store but this machine key should only be available at the dealer?
Posted by ddsmith (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you think that is bad,try the city automotive parts department behind the police station. those mechanics steal from the city all the time. they would order parts and then take them home and have the item written off as damage. why do you think half the cars their are junk and their is no money to give the police officers raises.
Sounds like an audit needs to be done over there.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What steps does a private citizen take to cause an audit? Does it call for a petition to be signed by so many others and if so where do they send it? If one was done I'm sure the Natchez Democrat would get it to the right hands. But how would we go about it?
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is so much coverup that goes on in this world, I am suprised this even got reported on.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 15, 2007 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am beginning to think that this loader was sold before the auction and was not taken off the books/records. However, one would think that a record could be found!
Seems like there was some dispute about going to auction versus cutting individual deals. Am I wrong about that??
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