Grafton County Register of Deeds opposes forced courthouse move May 1, 2025
To the Editor,
In reading the recent article by Amy Ash Nixon on the proposed Grafton County Courthouse project, I am propelled to fill in
some potholes.
I have served as the Grafton County Register of Deeds since 2011. Our valuable and historic office was once in the courthouse, outgrew the space and was relocated to the Administration Building 20 years ago.
I inherited a mess. I have worked tirelessly to bring my voice to address the neglect and mismanagement of all things Grafton County. I have totally redesigned the layout of our refurbished vault and repackaged all historic documents, as a labor of love.
It has been too easy since the new jail fiasco to solve our collective challenges by ignoring them long enough for the real end goal to be exposed, which is new and shiny at the expense of the taxpayer.
In 2011 the Delegation reached its tolerance level and ordered a performance audit of all departments. This document cost $40,000. It is available on my website and clearly spells out the root problems of this county government. I have never stopped advocating for a Master Plan of this county complex.
I have been ignored, harassed, and made the subject of a coordinated effort of character assassination. What was always, in my opinion, a heavy hand in dealings with me turned into a coordinated clenched fist years ago. Fast forward to 2025 and a flood of muddy water under the bridge, with a new Commissioner, a new Chairman and the fence sitter slinking to the side for cover.
The Board of Commissioners are the new experts on every subject. Our newest Commissioner stated in a meeting that it’s not like the registry is bringing in any new documents and everything is done online. This is the most willfully uneducated statement that I have heard in a long time. The one before that was the new Chair who is responsible for direction and decisions on the failing farm operation who asked how the cows stay warm in the barn.
As of last week, the board has completely crawled under a rock by removing the online meeting link to view Commissioner meetings. A link that both the Delegation and I have long sought. This is what happens when light is cast on shady characters. Retreating to the shadows is not transparent in government.
Dealings and decisions made outside of the public view is a matter for our Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity. I have empathy for our County Attorney’s position, and I am hopefully optimistic with the arrival of our new Sheriff. I like what I have seen so far.
I have too much to say to address this in one letter to the editor, my arsenal of words is prepared for the long hot, summer and fall ahead.
I will be hosting a weeklong open house in late September or early October. I invite all to make your own decisions regarding contacting your Delegation members about your thoughts of a forced relocation of this wonderful and historic office and this ill-conceived project.
I dream of turning our beautiful research room into the Grafton County Historical Society. I am planting those seeds right here and now with the citizens. This is the most ridiculous time to build anything of this magnitude in this uncertain and variable environment of cost controls.
To the Editor,
In reading the recent article by Amy Ash Nixon on the proposed Grafton County Courthouse project, I am propelled to fill in
some potholes.
I have served as the Grafton County Register of Deeds since 2011. Our valuable and historic office was once in the courthouse, outgrew the space and was relocated to the Administration Building 20 years ago.
I inherited a mess. I have worked tirelessly to bring my voice to address the neglect and mismanagement of all things Grafton County. I have totally redesigned the layout of our refurbished vault and repackaged all historic documents, as a labor of love.
It has been too easy since the new jail fiasco to solve our collective challenges by ignoring them long enough for the real end goal to be exposed, which is new and shiny at the expense of the taxpayer.
In 2011 the Delegation reached its tolerance level and ordered a performance audit of all departments. This document cost $40,000. It is available on my website and clearly spells out the root problems of this county government. I have never stopped advocating for a Master Plan of this county complex.
I have been ignored, harassed, and made the subject of a coordinated effort of character assassination. What was always, in my opinion, a heavy hand in dealings with me turned into a coordinated clenched fist years ago. Fast forward to 2025 and a flood of muddy water under the bridge, with a new Commissioner, a new Chairman and the fence sitter slinking to the side for cover.
The Board of Commissioners are the new experts on every subject. Our newest Commissioner stated in a meeting that it’s not like the registry is bringing in any new documents and everything is done online. This is the most willfully uneducated statement that I have heard in a long time. The one before that was the new Chair who is responsible for direction and decisions on the failing farm operation who asked how the cows stay warm in the barn.
As of last week, the board has completely crawled under a rock by removing the online meeting link to view Commissioner meetings. A link that both the Delegation and I have long sought. This is what happens when light is cast on shady characters. Retreating to the shadows is not transparent in government.
Dealings and decisions made outside of the public view is a matter for our Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity. I have empathy for our County Attorney’s position, and I am hopefully optimistic with the arrival of our new Sheriff. I like what I have seen so far.
I have too much to say to address this in one letter to the editor, my arsenal of words is prepared for the long hot, summer and fall ahead.
I will be hosting a weeklong open house in late September or early October. I invite all to make your own decisions regarding contacting your Delegation members about your thoughts of a forced relocation of this wonderful and historic office and this ill-conceived project.
I dream of turning our beautiful research room into the Grafton County Historical Society. I am planting those seeds right here and now with the citizens. This is the most ridiculous time to build anything of this magnitude in this uncertain and variable environment of cost controls.