More Info, Longer Hours & Lost Jobs

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Readily giving more info than required

As part of our recent investigation reviewing financial interest disclosure forms required by public officials, we found that a few respondents revealed more than the law requires. Nearly 40 percent of about 700 forms in Virginia and Tennessee contained errors or omissions, however.

It was refreshing to see a respondent like Fred Parker, the Washington County, Va., treasurer, who listed his $89,478 annual salary, plus compensation for being the agent for the county’s Industrial Development Authority and the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon. He also listed his wife’s salary from First Bank Virginia. The form does not ask for a specific amount, only to list sources of income greater than $10,000.

Parker said he knows he was not required to list the dollar amount, but gave complete information because “my salary is public record, and I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Parker noted that the intent of the form is to “disclose their private holdings so voters would know if they had a conflict of interest.”

Thank you, Mr. Parker, for succinctly explaining and willingly adhering to what so many other public officials have tried to ignore, buck or dodge. A big thumbs up for transparency.

Later hours for BVU customers

If you’ve ever needed to go to the Bristol Virginia Utilities office in person, you know that their office hours – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays – did not meet the needs of working adults, most of whom have jobs that keep them on the job past 4:30 p.m.

But since July 10, the office began offering extended hours on Fridays to better serve customers that can’t sneak away at lunch for any needed, in-person business. The lobby hours remain 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 6 p.m. on Fridays.

BVU does a good job of offering extensive resources on its Web site, http://www.bvu-optinet.com, and a payment drop box that is outside its main entrance on Lee Highway. But for business that must be done in person – like starting new service or for customers who simply prefer to deal in-person, with a person – we appreciate the later hours. Many thanks for being responsive to the need.

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Staggering job losses in Tri-Cities region

While the recession seems to be slowing, the effects have been staggering to the region. And estimated 10,000 jobs have been lost in the Tri-Cities regional labor market, largely in manufacturing and construction. The area unemployment rate has grown from 5.4 percent a year ago to 9.5 percent today.

Job growth was documented in retail, education, government and professional and business services. Of course, on average, none of those fields typically pays the wages that manufacturing and construction jobs do.

It is a national trend that is playing out here at home – many men who worked in construction and manufacturing jobs have been laid off, while their wives, who often work in education, health care and service positions, are becoming the primary bread winners. The loss of these jobs creates an obvious financial strain for families and the nation, but no one can predict if or when any of these jobs are coming back.

The Tri-Cities region took a huge hit in the second quarter of 2009, but still fares better than the nation. Second-quarter joblessness was 9.2 percent in Bristol, 9 percent in Johnson City and 9.6 percent in Kingsport; the national rate is 9.1 percent.

So national magazines like Newsweek can proclaim that the recession is over, but it’s hard to believe it if you’re still looking for work here at home.