Three ranking members of the Mobile Community Action's Board appeared at the Sept. 9 work session of the Washington County Commission. From the beginning until the end of the session, there were intense exchanges and heated disagreement as to who is telling the truth about withholding public information and details about public meetings.

A local delegation of Mobile Community Action (MCA) has several times requested free office space and free utilities from the Washington County Commission. But because two commissioners had previously taken constituents to MCA's Chatom office for services, and been abruptly turned away, the commission has been trying to get information from MCA as to how many citizens are actually served by this publiclyfunded agency and the type of services rendered to Washington County. MCA is funded primarily by grants from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).

Judge Charles Singleton serves on the board of MCA and commissioners asked him to get the information. Singleton has repeatedly come back and reported that MCA refused the information. MCA has been on the agenda for several commission meetings, but never attended. At the work session, Jimmy Knight was reminded of MCA's being on the agenda for August 26; Knight said he received no notification. However, a source in the commission office said they contacted MCA and spoke with a male in the office, and gave the time and date for the August meeting.

At the Sept. 9 work session, Knight, executive director; Ossia Evans, chairman of the By-laws Committee; and Catherine Ward, chairman of the Finance Committee were present and distributed several charts and other printed documents about MCA's services to Washington County; however, none of the documents answered commissioners' questions about how many local citizens got funds for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), Weatherization/Home Repair, Educational Services (adult basic education); and Rent/Mortgage Program.

In his opening remarks, Knight stated he was in Washington County "…in reference to services provided to the county." He added that there had been some misinformation in the news media. He continued, "As to the equity of funding, and allegations about ethnic groups served by MCA; ADECA determines how much money is spent in Washington County."

Commissioner Hilton Robbins asked why Washington County's board member, Charles Singleton, has not been given the requested information. Ossia Evans stated that the county can get statistics for the number of people served. She stressed that for privacy reasons, MCA can not give out names.

Commissioner Herman Williams asked, "How do you identify them (people served) then, by number?" Knight replied that MCA has a record of the names. Commissioners had previously explained to a group from ADECA on June 30 that they are not interested in names, only numbers of citizens receiving service and the communities from which they come.

Singleton stated that the commission was told by ADECA officials (June 30) that MCA must provide him with the requested information, including names. Knight responded, "If ADECA will put that in writing, and ADECA's attorney will say to do it, then I will do it."

Commissioner Allen Bailey responded, "We have been asking for this same information (statistical information) now for three years." Knight replied that MCA has not received any such request.

"When I asked y'all for that information, you treated me like a criminal," Singleton said.

Knight responded that this was not so. "Don't call me a liar!" Singleton retorted.

"Don't call me one," Knight said.

"Are you saying that the MCA Local Board has no say-so?" Robbins inquired.

Knight replied that the board can only recommend. "I had a lady in my district who was a double amputee. I had personally paid her utilities and as had my church. I took her to the local MCA office and she was told ' we don't have any money. Go see Red Cross,'" Robbins stated.

Knight said programs often run out of money. He went on to say that when ADECA sent funds, Washington County got 30 houses (for repair or weatherization.)

Singleton asked who decides what 30 houses get done. Knight explained that MCA has a weatherization policy which has certain criteria that must be met.

Commissioner William "Termite" Beasley asked, "How do we know the same person is not getting money over and over?" Knight said that all the plans (allocations) are done in Mobile by staff. He explained the process from taking the application to passing it along through several hands and finally to ADECA who sends the funds down.

Robbins asked, "Why did Mrs. Turner (local MCA director) send my constituent to the Red Cross if she has no say-so?"

"When we run out of money, we recommend clients go to other nonprofit agencies," Knight replied. "If there continues to be a lot of doubt about the integrity of MCA serving Washington County, you (commissioners) have decisions to make about your connection to Mobile County," Knight stated. The commission decided to send a registered letter to Knight requesting the number of citizens served and the kind of services rendered by MCA as a final effort to resolve the situation.

As to the troubled agency's "integrity."; Wendy Hester, chief accountant for ADECA, told the commission that MCA is paying back $225,000 of $725,000 which was mismanaged by the Prichard agency. She explained that they plea-bargained down to $225,000 and are still making payments.