This is a difficult post to make so please bear with me.
Several weeks ago I had a meeting with the Paulding County Commissioners to report that the CSEA was about out of money. I have been reporting to them for at least the past 10 years that this was going to happen (and I had been joined in some of these meetings with State fiscal people who agreed and supported my conclusion). The Commissioners have always refused to put any county money into the program (I heard on more than one occasion that "The state requires us to have a CSEA but we aren't required to fund it").
At this meeting I was directed to prepare a plan to cut the agency budget so no county money was needed. I did this and reported back to them last Wednesday (May 6th). At both of these meetings it was suggested that maybe it was time for me to "fall on my sword".
Last Friday the Commissioners secretary called and told me that they wanted to met with me this past Monday to report on how my restructuring plan was going. Seemed like a strange request because the plan was only two days old. Anyway when I arrived this past Monday morning (at 8:30) I was informed that they had discussed the matter with the county prosecutor and it was agreed that he would now supervise the CSEA and that my services were no longer required as of the close of business that day. (I was obviously surprised that the prosecutor was doing this because he had told me, to my face, more than once, that he didn't want my job.) So I left their office, went back to the CSEA, told my employees, cleaned out my office and left. That afternoon I received a letter that I had been placed on administrative leave with pay. (I declined at the morning meeting to give them the letter that they wanted-my resignation. Today a letter was delievered to the house that I have been terminated. (I am writing this from Cleveland where I am attending the State Bar convention.)
So after 20 years I have been fired because they didn't like what I was telling them. This was quite an unexpected shock and surprise and is something that Randi and I are having trouble getting used to. However, we both believe that the Lord probably has other plans for me and we will wait-somewhat impatiently I am sure-after all I am a Jones'-to see what the future holds.
We will get though this-we have no intention of letting the powers that be beat us down. I will continue with my law practice and strongly believe that one day the Commissioners will realize that I was telling them the truth-only they didn't want to hear it and will never admit it to me.
I apologize for following Linda's great news with this-we appreciate your thoughts and support and will be in touch soon.