Angela were all wrong

 I stand corrected. You are right about the dates provided: 

Information is obtained from the Internal Affairs report and I will quote it to get it exactly as written in the internal affairs report.

"It should be noted Director Goon was on leave from Oct. 15, 2007 - Nov 23 2007; however Mrs. Goon was at work the date the fowl were released to Lisa Henderson".

Many Sheriff's Office place seized animals in the care of local caregivers who are qualified and able to care for these animals. These places generally take them at no cost to the taxpayers. These animals are then put up for auction per FSS and the bidders are given the name and place these animals are housed for veiwing. Some went to a local caregiver and some to animal control. All were given away for FREE. In direct violation of the FSS. By both the Sheriff's Office and animal control.

The Oct. 17 court records shows the arrest of Howard and Virgina Watson. The press release from the Sheriff's Office was dated Oct. 18. Those dates can be verified through court records and the Sheriff's Office.

Evidently the seized animals transpired prior to those dates provided in the records. Since Director Goon was determined to be at work on the date the fowl was released.

Who gave animal control employees the right to take home the animals they had in their possession?

Cookie;

Here's the issue for me: I don't care who she is or what she says about what needs to be changed.

She has been in that job for 19 years and her assistant has been there for 17 years. The place should run like a well oiled machine.

If she is on sick leave and her people don't know any better than to give away animals that is a very poor reflection on the type of leadership in the office.

She may the nicest person you have ever met and is your BFF but that does not make her a good leader. We are paying her in the neighborhood of $63K a year to do a job.

I've heard a whole lot of excuses on the blogs from both sides. The problem is that they are all excuses not reasons. I can see no reason why she should be involved in this type of situation after 19 years of experience.

If there were no policies then it is her fault. To say that she is not the one that sets policy is a cop out. She is in charge. She should have written the policies and procedures, taken them to the person who does set policy and explained that this is needed.

That is what proactive supervisors do. Plodders who want a paycheck more than they want a job do what she did. Sit back and say it's not my fault. It was someone else's job to tell me what to do. She is the SME (subject matter expert) or she is supposed to be.

The problem is, when you can't get fired, it just doesn't make any difference how poorly you do your job. You're still going to get paid. BTW she needs to quit whining about how hard the job is and how much emotional stress there is. If it's too much of a strain, quit. That is always an option.

Mike Heemer

I couldnt agree more with Finder about the 19 years of experience. You can not do that job for that long and not be an expert in running an animal control facility unless you werent remotely qualified for the job in the first place but got it through your connections with the old Clay County good ol' boy system and have been just drawing a paycheck.

Kurt M

Finder,

You are absolutely correct. I am a ranking officer and have written several policies over the last couple of years pertaining to my section. A good leader recognizes these issues and addresses them in a written policy as a guide for other employees to follow. A leader drafts the policy with a cover letter and sends it up the chain of command for approval.

Guys and gals,

    Connie Goon accepts all responsibility for the faults of her employees, as well as her shortcomings. Now how much more do you guys want? I know for some reason you want her to quit but she will not quit. She advised that she loves her job, the people and the animals.

     You can bash her all you want but she's a tough little girl who isn't easily pushed around.

     Just for fun, Finder, I googled your name, guess what? You can't be found! Are you hiding something? I would love to know what gives any of you the right to judge anyone. Are you all perfect? It would really be nice to find others on the site other than Marsha who has more class than anyone I've ever met. And Lily is a hoot!

      I really want to educate you folks without necassarily sticking up for Connie by just giving you my perspective on what she and I have discussed. She welcomes you comments and respects you views.

Respectfully

Doesn't sound like it. Sounds more like it put you into somewhat of a snit.

Perhaps the words are yours but accepts all responsibility for the faults of her employees is not how a true leader acts or reacts. They stand up and say this is MY fault.

But she did not, and that is the problem. Accepting responsibility means accepting fault. It may be a fine distinction lost on some but not real leaders. If she had stood up and said 'I screwed this up and it won't happen again', things might have been different.

True leaders say 'I screwed up, my people did good'. They never ever lay the blame on their people. Praise in public, reprimand in private.

Mike Heemer

Finder or Mike is his name and I have known by the way of public records who he was a long before he disclosed his real name. I think he will remember his email and the river. Disclosure of his name was his choice but he is who he says he is on the blogs. So goggle away you are barking up the wrong tree.

All of the information concerning all of these matters is available by the way of public records and is open for public review.

Regardless of the dates if she was at work when all this happened she had knowledge. I think it would be in her best interest as the person in charge to handle this matter appropriately. If she came back and found out that animal control employees took animals did she asked for an investigation? Were any employees punished? What actions did she take pertaining to that situation? Other than to say they did have a policy for livestock. In a rural county? That should be deemed negligent.

As part of her qualifications of her job is exposures of lawsuits and the cost to the taxpayers for those lawsuits. Well, we have one ongoing at the present or has been stated on the blogs as ongoing.

We had one not to long ago concerning the guy that was killed on the motocycle over off 220 and a horse involved in that incident, but I don't know how that worked out in the end.

Looks like in a column, things are not stacking up in her favor. Of course she wouldn't quit. But that doesn't mean she can't be released either. I am glad to see she will accept all responsibilities for what has happened. I am certain any lawyer would love that statement on the blogs. Since you say you are her friend and have first hand knowledge that could be used in a court of law. Civil law is different than criminal law.

But then that may be why she does not want to come on the blogs.

Angela,

     Wasn't your son incarcerated at the Clay County Jail???? Who are you to throw stones at anyone? Looks like you did a bang up job of raising your kid!

I think you have been readng to many of keys blogs.

Cookie;

You need to fix your 'Googler'. I found me pretty easily. Think about the name. Could it be short for something else?

MCS does a pretty good job of finding me too. Those you may have to spend some time reading.

I'll give you a freebee that you won't find anyplace else: Finder comes from flying combat SAR (search and rescue) during Viet Nam. A job that I loved dearly. Hours upon hours of boredom interrupted by moments of pure terror and on a good day, elation.

See, more than you ever wanted or needed to know.

I'm sorry, I didn't catch your last name. Oh, sorry, you didn't use it did you? I see you don't accept contacts either. Oh well, that is your choice and I have no problem with that. Just don't throw a rock at me. I usually do a pretty good job of flinging them back.

Mike Heemer

No. Don't think so Ms. Martin! Oh sorry I used your name! Anyway, I plan on doing my homework on this one. You better get ready cause here I come~!

Well not only are you barking up the wrong tree. I don't have a son and I don't have any kids (goats) either.

So homework away my friend!

Finder,

     I'm glad you told me that your a Vietnam vet. I promise just based on that fact that you have my utmost respect and I won't cast even a pebble at you.

     I'm protecting my dear friend who probably doesn't need my protection but I feel compiled to use my voice. Just like you folks do.

      My father in law was in WW2. He rarely speaks of his time in Germany but when he does it makes one cry to listen to what our men went through. He was a machine gun Sgt.

       Gives one lots to think about.

ok Susan!

Still barking up the wrong tree. Better be careful some dogs might bark back. You never know some dogs bite. Try Angela and I think you'll have it right!

Cookie;

Angela sure as heck doesn't need my help protecting herself, but here goes anyway.

That comment was completely uncalled for. Too stoop to a personal attack like that tells me a lot about you. And it isn't good.

Even I, with my big mouth and lack of class would never ever do something like that. If that is the best you can do, then I am certainly glad that I do not know you.

Though I guess it would be nice to be able to recognize you in a crowd so that I could avoid you. I do not like to be around mean people.

That has got to be the meanest, most crass comment I have ever seen used on these blogs. And that includes all the trash being spewed by the CCAC bunch.

I think a real honest to God apology is in order. I wouldn't accept it, but Angela is probably a nicer person and more forgiving than I am. 

Mike Heemer

Oh its ok for Angela to say awful hurtful things about Ms. Goon but she is exempt from recieving a question?

It can't be both ways. Either you can dish it out or you can't. If Angela want to play nice so will I. Your right I probably shouldn't have stooped to her level but I am human and I am attempting go get information from this educational site.

All information provide on the blogs can be obtained by the way of pubic records. If you want an education please review all the records. We have discussed issues surrounding CCAC and that's all. I have not seen any statements that would be considered unfounded or someone made up here about animal control. I think we have addressed legitimate issues surrounding some very real situations. If you would be so kind as to point me to any unfounded statements I have made. I will be more than glad to review those statements. If I can't provide a source for those statements. Then I would be more than glad to retract those statements. I stood corrected on the dates but not the fact that she was at work when this transpired. So, I have no problem correcting any statements I've made. Does that apply to you too.

Cookie;

I have yet to read any comment that Angela or anyone else made that would be considered on the level of the one you made.

Now I don't know Angela so I wouldn't know whether she has children or not. That is not the point. You thought she did and threw a punch that was well below the belt.

All the information you need is here. You have already read it. What you have not done is to step away from your personal feelings for your 'good friend' and realize that she has made a complete mess of this whole situation.

The issue with you protectors of Ms Goon is that as soon as someone throws a fact or a file or a public record on the table you go high and right with indignation and cry that everyone is bashing poor Connie.

What you fail to understand is that this has nothing to do with her personally. It is about a person that is a poor supervisor and has been sucking way too much money from the public udder for way too long.

If she had had the good common sense to fess up and take the heat for making a mistake this whole thing would have been over by now. People are just tired of hearing excuses from people in supervisory positions that can't accept blame for their mistakes.

Mike Heemer

There is something about identifying yourself on the blogs that concern me.  You say you didn’t find anything on Mike Heemer.  That is because he probably does not have a criminal or civil record or a business or organization where his name is mentioned and available online.  I might know by now where he lives, his wife’s name and that he has at least written one letter or email opinion to the Florida Times Union.  You didn’t search well enough, Cookie.  You are safe from me Mike Heemer, I will cause you no harm.   

I might know nothing about him, even if I did find his name on a Google search.  When I say that I mean that you can know a person’s name or the name they give on the blog as their’s but there may be more than one person with that name, even on a County Record Search.  Just as an example let’s say you know the name of someone that writes on the blogs and you think you found out where they live.  Oh my, they live right down the street or right down the street from someone you know.  You, your friends or even your children; after hearing conversations about this person’s opinion and strongly worded blogs, decides to create havoc, ill will or vandalism toward that person or that person’s property.  Then, what if you have the wrong person?  Think, people.  Treat everyone the way you would want to be treated.  If you have children, would you want them to read some of the things you are writing here?  Would you want them to behave in such a manner?   

Remember, everyone is entitled to their opinion and opinions are drawn usually from experience, lack of experience, education on a subject and lack thereof.  I still don’t understand what you can solve with the directions you keep taking here on the blogs.   

If there were no County Ordinance in place to help determine what should happen to livestock that has been ceased, then you can probably bet there is something in a Florida Statute that would have governed the situation because the issue would have come up somewhere sometime  in the State before it took place at Clay County Animal Control.  The guidance or law was probably already there and at the hands of the Sheriff’s office or to anyone by doing a search online of the Florida Statutes. 

Sorry if I am babbling and if you ask why I keep reading what is offered here, it is because once you learn how to read you pretty much read what is put in front of you.  I look at this blog and it is the only one I read, as sort of a book that I am reading that provides a new chapter everyday with no last page in sight. 

I don’t know if it helps anyone interested in the other blog entries on this subject but poultry is not considered livestock.  "Poultry" means all kinds of poultry and includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, guineas, geese, pigeons raised as domesticated food birds, quail, and other domesticated food birds. 

Cookie,

Angela doesn't need anyone to defend her but I just can't help myself. You are way out of line, way out of line.  It might even be funny (odd) since Angela says she doesn't have kids (and I believe her) but it was just too tasteless.  I hope if you have kids they never stray from the straight and narrow path.  If they do, this tacky, classless remark will come back to bite you on your rear end.  There is no reason to go in this direction just to defend your friend.

As an side, I think it is pretty creepy (in a stalker-like way) that you are looking up Finder.  I wouldn't know Angela or Finder if I tripped over them.  I like just knowing people like that are somewhere out there.  Angela searching the public records and Finder searching for some sailor or soldier.

I have a family friend that punched out and was picked up by SAR guys during Viet Nam.  He has aways joked that it was the only guy he ever wanted to kiss! Seriously Finder, my admiration and thanks for what you did then and what the SAR guys are still doing everyday for our armed forces.

Clayvoter,

Please don't feel creepy. I only made a comment about Mikes name because he googled someone on Friday night and posted what they did for a living and the location of where they worked. I found that a tad uncalled for. But double standard again.

The information on the poultry was a good piece of info.

Cookie;

Not to me! I knew when I put my name on the blogs that anyone that cared to could find my name. I also knew that when I mailed the BCC with a complaint that my email address was going to be public information. It doesn't take much to go from there to finding where I live, how much taxes I pay and a whole lot more.

As long as you don't come to my house and try to punch my running lights out, or take me out with a gun or knife, I really don't care if you know my name and address. Anyone who does care should not use their real name or any name at all. You don't use your last name which is your right and basically I have no issue with that.

Now the young lady that put her name on her email should have realized that also. All the stuff we put in the MCS blogs is on the net. It is not hard to find.

Her comment about stopping the slanderous remarks before a law suit was filed made me want to know just what type of job she held in law enforcement so I Googled her.

Once I found a match with her name I asked her a question. All I had was a name and a place of employment and that came from the official web site where she works. She was certainly capable of saying no that wasn't her and I would have had no way of knowing that it really was her.

Should I have asked that question on the blogs? I'm sure that some people would say no, and I'm not so sure that I would totally disagree with them. I did check to see if she was accepting contacts first. If she had been I would have asked there instead of the public forum.

Mike Heemer