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Local Carrollton Georgia News

Carroll Board Votes to Reduce Frequency of Their Meetings

February 12th, 2009

Last year during at least three meetings of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners, Chairman Bill Chappell asked to have county law enforcement present in the room. In October of 2008, Chairman Chappell secretly purchased and installed bullet resistant fiberglass behind the three board tables in the commission meeting room.

Why?

According to multiple sources in the community who asked to not be identified Chairman Bill Chappell is terrified of the public.

"Chappell is terrified someone is going to gun him down during a commission meeting."
According to local law enforcement and several district commissioners there have been no real threats made against the board or its members.

Recently elected Commissioner Ashley Hendrix said,

"There have not been any specific threats."
In today's local newspaper the chairman is quoted as saying it was the commissioners who were "uncomfortable" during meetings, yet several commissioners had no idea they were sitting behind the special fiberglass when asked about it following the board planning meeting this past Saturday.

Veteran Commissioner Trent North was surprised and asked to see the material.

"I had no idea that was back there ... I wouldn`t have known about it
if anything had happened."
Commissioner Vicki Anderson, who works in advertising at Chairman Chappell's local newspaper, was also unaware of the material.

"I did not know about it ... you know there are no doors up here. Right?"
Ashley Hendrix said she did know about the fiberglass material.

"Yes I knew about it. Chairman Chappell told me about it ... but maybe that is because of where I sit."
Hendrix's chair at the board meetings is right next to the chairman's chair as viewed from the room.

About the Fiberglass
The county purchased three 4 X 10 ft. pieces of ArmorCore Level 3 bullet resistant fiberglass from Waco Composites, Ltd. on October 1, 2008. The purchase by the county included "Water Jet Cutting" and totaled $730 even.

Carroll County Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Robinson confirmed he was asked to handle the project; the purchase was made with the county credit card; and his crew installed it using specifications from the vendor.

Robinson expressed confidence in the material, saying"

"It will stop anything anybody might happen to bring into that room!"
How Much Protection Does it Really Provide?
While the bullet resistant fiberglass is bolted behind the three commission table panels, it is obvious the fiberglass does not overlap between the panels. There is at least 6 inches of non-covered area where the three commission tables come together.

And as everyone knows, the commission chambers only have the single doorway for entry and exits. Everybody, including the county's elected officials, enters the room and leaves the room through the lone door.

Does the Chairman Feel Any Safer Now?
On January 20th, 2009 Carroll County Commission Chairman Bill Chappell convinced the Board of Commissioners to reduce the number of meetings held each month from two to one.

You may also read the following related stories:

City Warehouse Made Ready for County Office Space (2/8/2009)

Why is Carroll County Demolishing Courtyard Square? (2/7/2009)

Chappell No Longer Allows Citizen Questions at Meetings (2/4/2009)