A thorough examination of the e-mails released after a recent freedom of information request, showed that the Yadkin County Commissioners who were concerned enough to hire private counsel prior to a scheduled Show Cause Hearing, had more than enough reason to be concerned.

The content of the e-mails also underlined the importance of recent questions regarding the advice of County Attorney Jim Graham relating to jail issues, and contradicted Superior Judge John O. Craig’s contention that he had no inside information regarding the jail issue.

The e-mails released represented correspondence between former County Manager, Eric Williams, former commissioner Kim Phillips and Judge Craig.

The majority of the emails were copied to Sheriff Michael Cain and County Attorney Jim Graham. Those that mentioned opposition to the plans being made for the new jail on Hoots Road and prior to the site being chosen openly were not copied to Commissioner Brady Wooten.

The Board of Commissioners at this point in time consisted of Kim Phillips as Chairman, Chad Wagoner, Brady Wooten, Joel Cornelius and Tommy Garner.

However, an e-mail dated Nov. 9, 2007, written by Williams, was copied only to Phillips, as board chair, and then to the sheriff, County Attorney Graham, Maj. Danny Widener of the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office and Lynn Crater who is in a administrative position in the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office.

Williams reiterated the conversation held between himself, Craig and a Judge Gregory regarding Williams’ “report of the behind the scenes efforts that have been reported by some involving a seated commissioner, to undermine with all the energy they can muster, our efforts to move forward with the jail project and our commitment to seeing it through to a successful completion.”

In one e-mail dated Oct.26, 2007, suggestions by two Judges to handle something happening at a local fire department to see if it could be stopped. Though this was never elaborated on, Wooten speculated that it might have been because the potential plaintiffs were planning a fundraiser and had considered renting a volunteer fire department for that event.

The documents released raise additional complaints about efforts to slow the jail project, both by the general public and efforts by Wooten to introduce other options. Several requests were made to Craig asking that he “intervene” in some way to stop Wooten and the public from fighting the multi-million dollar project that was certain to increase taxes – even at their own admission.

Email from Williams to Craig, dated July 13, 2007, and copied to all commissioners as well as members of sub-committees, the architects, and outside advisors, stated: “Obviously, no one on the Board, nor the Sheriff or I, relish a tax increase.”

There has been increasing public concern voiced over the county paying private attorney fees for defense attorneys to represent the commissioners individually. Wooten, Moxley and Austin voted to allow the attorneys to be paid by the county, which is provided for by North Carolina law.

Unidentified citizens who were present during the meeting when the measure passed were heard grumbling about paying the bills, however none were willing to go on record.

It appears from the emails, and statements of Judge Craig at the November Commissioners meeting that Austin and especially Wooten were targets of this hearing.

“I’ve never tried to hide my position,” said Wooten. “The majority of the people I’ve talked to are against moving the jail outside Yadkinville. I represent the people of Yadkin County and I will continue to do everything I can to see that their opinions are heard and respected.”

Moxley, who voted to allow the board to hire individual counsel, said he found out later that he didn’t need to hire outside counsel. “I found out it wasn’t necessary,” Moxley said.

“Graham represents the board as a body,” said Austin. “He does not represent any member of the board individually. Because of the personal threats made by current and former commissioners about having Brady and I put in jail, I felt private counsel was absolutely necessary. I feel this was a result of my fulfilling my oath to represent the people of Yadkin County as well as upholding the constitutional and statutory duties of my elected office. ”

Unfortunately, space does not permit the Yadkin Ripple to print the emails in their entirety, however staff has been notified that interested parties may view all the emails released on the internet in a social forum called “yadkinview.com.”