101 NEWS HAS LEARNED, THE LONGTIME DIRECTOR OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON SENIOR CENTER, DONNA AUTH, RESIGNED WEDNESDAY. SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAID HE WAS ASKED BY THE COUNTY MANAGER TO CONTACT THE GBI AFTER INCONSISTANCIES IN AUDIT TRANSACTIONS DISCOVERED IN THE PURCHASE OF FOOD PRODUCTS FOR SENIOR'S MEALS. SHERIFF KILGORE TOLD US ITS HIS UNDERSTANDING THE GBI INVESTIGATION WILL FOCUS ON THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING FOOD ITEMS AND NOT ON A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL. THE SYSCO FOOD DISTRIBUTOR IS UNDER CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THE PROVISIONS FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.
A COUNTY OFFICIAL NOTED MS. AUTH IS MUCH BELOVED BY THE SENIORS AND UNDER HER GUIDANCE THE SENIOR CENTER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS PROGRAM OFFERINGS.
THE SENIOR CENTER IS A JOINT PROJECT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY, BUT IS SUPERVISED AND OPERATED BY UPSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AS IS THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT PARTED WAYS WITH ATHLETIC SUPERINTENDANT AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JEFF MIDDLEBROOKS, WEDNESDAY.
COUNCILMAN MIDDLEBROOKS HAD A CHALLENGING POSITION, SITTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHICH PROVIDES A PORTION OF THE FUNDING FOR REC, THAT EMPLOYS HIM, VIA JOINT PROJECTS, BUT THE CITY MANAGER TOLD US, JEFF TYPICALLY ABSTAINED FROM VOTING ON SUCH ISSUES. WITH COUNCIL AND REC DUTIES, MIDDLEBROOKS EXPLAINED HE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO HEAR OUT HIS CONSTITUENTS ON REC ISSUES AND RESPOND TO THEM.
MIDDLEBROOKS ADDED HE WAS APPROACHED ON THE JOB WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BY THE REC DIRECTOR AND H.R . AND WAS TOLD HE COULD RESIGN OR BE TERMINATED. HE CHOSE TO BE DISMISSED. JEFF SAYS HE IS RETAININNG AN ATTORNEY TO APPEAL HIS FIRING AND PLANS TO SEEK REELECTION IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
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