MAGISTRATE RASH DECOMPOSED BY FLYER

By; Dewey R. Wotring

At the close of the Oldham County Fiscal Court meeting yesterday Magistrate Rick Rash took time to express his anger at the Oldham County Wachdog for having distributed a flyer to his constituents. He made several allegations that the content of the flyer was untrue but mostly he verified the content of the flyer. For example, the flyer alleged that he and Judge Murner had taken money from developers. While he did not speak for Murner,he did admit that he had taken money from developer Bill Hinton. Duh Rick, isn't that what I said in the flyer?

Rash also insinuated that my statement about the possibility of sewer rates going up by as much as 60% were false as he stated that he did not know where I got that information. Well, he was one of the people who told me that. If Rick wants further evidence, he need look no further than the article appearing in today's neighborhood section of the Courier Journal. Oldham County treasurer Stan Clark is quoted as saying that the initial increase could be 25% with substantial raises for several years although they hope to keep the annual raise below 10%. Yes, there it is!

Mr. Rash also stated in his remarks that Crestwood had pulled out of the district. His exact words were, "especially since Crestwood has pulled out of the district." The fact is that Crestwood has not pulled out of the district as of this date. I was told yesterday, by a Crestwood commissioner that Crestwood has not yet pulled out of the district and the Courier Journal news story reflected that Crestwood is still in the district.

Magistrate Rash is just a little edgy over anything he perceives as negative about him even though he frequently makes unnecessary crude remarks and gestures about people appearing before the court. You see, Rash was barely elected the last time that he ran for office. As few as nine or ten votes could cost Rash his job, retirement, insurance and other perks!

Magistrate Rash seems to me as though he is a believer for deals in smoke filled back rooms and the old "mushroom" theory - that being, keep them in the dark and feed them "BS." I just don't believe in that. I believe in open government.

The only reason that information is beginning to come out about the sewer system now is that Magistrate Scott Davis has filed a lawsuit over a closed meeting that was held by the fiscal court.

The process by which Veolia water company was chosen to be the private vendor has not been divulged but should be. Considering some of the maneuvers that I have seen Judge Murner do concerning the secret donor, I would certainly have to question the legal advice he has been following.

Magistrate Rash needs to quit trying to be the "whip" of the Oldham Fiscal Court since it has no such position. He may envision himself as such but his small time politics are really not impressive to anyone that I know of.