Former sheriff 'takes exception' to Cruzan's account

By Lisa Majors-Duff

"He indicated that I had a checking account in which I deposited county fees collected by the Sheriff's Office," Holcombe wrote as read to the board by Chairman Jay Denton. "While serving in my capacity as sheriff, all county money collected by my office was turned into the county on a timely basis.

"No general statutes were violated in the handling of any moneys collected under my supervision," the letter continues. "Any record-keeping difficulties that the current sheriff might be having cannot be attributed to a precedent set by my administration."

Holcombe's letter was written in response to a statement Cruzan made earlier this month about a Sheriff's Department checking account county auditors recommended be closed. Bill Smith of accounting firm Crisp Hughes Evans told commissioners during their Dec. 7 meeting that on routine review of the Sheriff's Department during the yearly audit, an account was discovered that violated several state statutes.

Money collected for such things as gun permits and vending machines was being deposited into a private account and being spent on jail and other department needs. Since state statutes require all public money be deposited in an official depository approved by the commissioners, Smith recommended the account be closed.

At the time that action was taken, Cruzan said he wanted it known that "the account has been there for time out of mind. It was there 29 years ago when I was a deputy sheriff."

"I take exception to the statement made by our current Sheriff, James Cruzan, at your last board meeting," wrote Holcombe, who was sheriff of Jackson County from 1962 through 1986. "My record speaks for itself."

In other business to come before the board, commissioners awarded a contract to Phillips and Jordan construction company of Robbinsville to prepare the site for the future jail and law enforcement center on the Justice Center grounds. Phillips and Jordan submitted a low bid of $245,000 for the work.

Board members did not approve funds requested by the Jackson County Historical Association, which has planned a reprint of the "History of Jackson County." Max Williams, professor emeritus of history at Western Carolina University and a member of the historical association, requested $25,000 to assist with printing costs.

"My concern is if this is a need that county government should address," Denton said. "I'm not sure it's a wise use of taxpayers' money."

"I can't see doing it this year, and I think I'd have a problem with it next year, too," Commissioner Roberta Crawford said.

Williams had suggested that paying for the cost to reprint the history book could be the commissioners' contribution to the county's sesquicentennial observance in 2001.

"Their idea is that (the book) promotes Jackson County," Denton said, "and that this would be a way for us to participate in the sesquicentennial."

Denton further explained that he has been approached about the county's plans to celebrate its 150th anniversary, which has led to questions about what the county's part should be in the event and what the county was responsible for in 1951, when the 100th anniversary of Jackson County's founding was celebrated. Denton said he would research that information for the board's Jan. 18 meeting.

At the request of Helen Bryson, director of the Department on Aging, commissioners approved $2,500 to hire an employee for the Caring Hands Alzheimer's respite program at Mountain Trace Nursing Center. The program has expanded from two to seven clients since it began offering respite time for caregivers two days a week, Bryson said.

Although a 24-bed Alzheimer's wing is planned at Mountain Trace, the Caring Hands program, which is designed to assist caregivers, is not part of these plans, Bryson told the board during its work session prior to the regular meeting.

Also approved was an updated emergency management plan submitted by emergency management director Mike Ensley and a request from veterans' services officer Max Cook to earn compensatory time at the rate of 30 minutes a day instead of an hour a day as stated in the personnel policy.

Commissioners took under advisement a Haywood County resolution supplied by Shelly Lackey of Smoky Mountain Center. The resolution approved by Haywood officials in November calls for continued state funding of mental health facilities. A legislative study of statewide mental health facilities is under way, the results of which could be to pass on the responsibility of providing mental health services to the counties.

Smoky Mountain Center provides mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services to about 9,000 people who reside in Region A with a budget of about $20 million, Lackey said. The counties contribute about 2 percent of that budget. The remainder of the funds come from state sources, she said.

"We hope there will be an overwhelming cry by the counties that they don't want to take on this responsibility," she said.

After a closed session for legal and personal reasons, board members voted 4-1 to offer the position of soil erosion control officer to Jeff McCall. The single "no" vote was cast by Commissioner Stacy Buchanan.

The next meeting of the board will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the Justice Center.

Back to Archive: 12/28/00.