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What is this?
Still no probate judge appointed
Published Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Pike County residents may think it’s just an April Fools’ joke if they walk in to find closed doors to the Probate Office Wednesday.
But doors will likely stay that way until Alabama Gov. Bob Riley appoints someone to take the place of the now retired Judge Bill Stone.
“From a practical standpoint, if the governor fails to appoint a probate judge, I don’t see how the staff is going to be able to conduct business because every transaction is made in the name of an elected official,” Stone said.
And so conducting public business is something Chief Clerk Donna Fannin, who also retired Tuesday, said the probate office will likely not do.
“I told the people to come to work and do business behind the scene, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” Fannin said. “We can’t do transactions to the public until we have an official.”
Todd Stacy, press secretary for the governor’s office, said Riley has completed six interviews, but is still taking the decision under consideration, as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
“Governor Riley understands the importance of this probate judgeship, and he’s doing everything he can to make sure the vacancy is filled in a timely manner,” Stacy said. “He wants to make sure he appoints the best person for the job.”
Stone said the serving chief clerk may be asked to step in to serve in the time lapsed between a retirement and a new appointment, but since Fannin has also retired, what happens in the probate office remains to be seen.
At his request, Stone said he will receive an audit from examiners, and whoever serves next will receive a different audit, as well. How many times the probate office is audited depend on how long it takes to appoint a new official.
“I have requested one myself and have talked to examiners, who have promised to come in as quickly as possible, and who steps in will be audited individually,” Stone said. “If someone comes in as an interim, they would be audited separate from whoever is appointed the next judge. I hope that will be one in the same.”
Stone stepped down Tuesday after 35 years of public service, 14 of which were served as probate judge.
Now, after involvement in more than 40 elections and endless hours spent in probate court, receiving legal documents and overseeing tags, titles and ad valorem taxes, Stone said he is ready for some time of his own.
“I’m now at retirement age, and after having worked since the age of 14, I’m really looking forward to some personal time,” Stone said. “In the short term, I plan to renovate some houses I have, and the long term will speak for itself.”
Fannin, who has served as clerk since Stone became probate judge in 1995, said she has been planning retirement and decided to leave officially since Stone was, as well.
“I had told him I was going to leave, but I said I would not leave until I knew everything was OK for him,” Fannin said. “It’s been a lot of responsibility, but I’ve taken it seriously, and I hope I’ve served well.”
Stacy said there is no exact timeline on when Riley will make his appointment.
Several locally who have announced they’ve put their names in the hat are Don Dickert, Angela Johnson, Neal Armstrong, Matt Baker, Clif Hastings and Bill Key. Wes Allen, who works in athletics at Troy University, expressed interest but never said officially whether he was seeking the position.
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Comments
Posted by blissfullygreen (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope every person who goes to the Court House to do business in the probate office and finds it closed personally calls Gov. Riley and complains. He has known for over a month that he had an appointment to make today, yet here we are still not knowing. He will be in town today at the airport ribbon cutting and I urge people to go out and protest the fact that we have people sitting at their jobs doing NOTHING and getting paid with taxpayer money, while he drives and flies all over this state cutting ribbons. We also will have people who drive into Troy from all corners of this county in the rain to get a tag, a driver's license or look for a deed, etc. only to find this office locked up. This is absolutely unacceptable.
This is just another reason I am glad I did NOT vote for him. He is not my Governor.
Posted by need2no (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of the worker in the Probate Office was always sitting around getting paid to do NOTHING. I hope whomever Gov. Riley picks I hope that person enures that the worker are more polite to the public, not keeping their children while on the clock and not taking personal phone calls. I know we all have to do whatever we have to when we have children but that is not a public problem. I also hope whomever he picks will be able to handle to the job and be a people person. Not everone is a people person, you have to know how to talk to people, how to listen and provide them with them with the correct answers.
Posted by muledeer (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Matt Baker, go to the office and get to work!
Posted by muledeer (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, my bet would be on Wes Allen getting the nod with the close ties of Chancellor Hawkins to the Governor. All in who you know.
Posted by spot (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My money would be on Wes Allen.
Posted by lhcg33 (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i also hope the next probate judge works on the present worker's attitudes! and that the employees are working when they are supposed to be working. one day i had to make 3 trips to the court house until someone could finally swear me in as a notary!
Posted by troyufan (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
An appointee in Pike Co. has never done well in the next election. I hope whoever gets appointed is ready to look for a job in 3 years.
Posted by Mook (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lhcg33, I had the same experience with trying to get my notary renewed. I too had to make 3 trips. The first trip they had me wait for 40 minutes to tell me that they couldn't do it because the lady that does notaries was out to lunch but should be back in a few minutes. Well 40 minutes later she still had not returned. The next time I was told the judge wasn't in and he needed to sign the paper. Finally my third try I suceeded. And yes some of the attitudes needs oiling.
Posted by WDM (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think alot of Bill Stone and think he did agreat job other than controling the people under him.The last time I was in the probate office I was treated rudely and walked out, thankfully I was able to get what I needed in Coffee County and was treated as if I was someone important.
Posted by muledeer (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
crazy that we have to travel to Crenshaw County to handle something as simple as a passport.
Posted by monk_jonas (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WDM, I have had to deal with the rude people at the Probate Office....I wish I could have gone to another county to take care of my business....it would have been worth the drive.
Posted by alonecitygal (anonymous) on April 2, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well personally I have never experienced either Judge Stone or Donna as being rude. They both are very pleasant to see, and Judge Stone is always positive! But Bill Key has my vote! Go Mr. Bill!
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