Wilson: No backlog of deed filings in Clerk's Office

By Alice Queen (1031)
alice.queen@rockdalecitizen.com

Tuesday, July 10, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS -- Rockdale Clerk of Courts Ruth Wilson, who is seeking reelection to a second term, has refuted a claim that there is a backlog of deed filings in the Clerk's Office.

A member of the audience at last month's political forum sponsored by the South Rockdale Civic Association asked about a backlog of deed filings in the Clerk's Office. Wilson was not at the forum but said in a statement issued Friday that there is no backlog in deed recording in the Clerk's Office.

Wilson stated that the Clerk's Office provides same-day recording as a general rule.

"Our real estate staff is regularly praised as one of the best in the state," according to Wilson. "Even the Georgia Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority, who sets and regulates indexing standards, sometimes calls upon us for insight and opinion. We have a combined 63 years experience in the Real Estate Division."

Wilson added that, as a candidate for election, she is "prepared to withstand the election year politics."

However, she defended her staff against the backlog claim.

"My staff members are some of the best employees in this county and deserve to be appreciated, not publicly trashed," Wilson said in her statement. "On behalf of the experienced, well-trained and dedicated employees in this office, I request that those responsible for this misinformation about them immediately issue a public apology to these employees. There is no justification for attacking innocent bystanders who have done nothing to deserve this and are simply doing their jobs very well every day."

Wilson, a Democrat, faces opposition from Republican Holly Bowie in the November General Election.

More like this story

Wilson seeks second term as Rockdale clerk of courts ( February 14, 2012 )
Bowie pledges to turn over passport fees to the county ( June 21, 2012 )
Top 10 Rockdale Citizen stories for July 9-15 ( July 17, 2012 )
Clerk offers to share passport fees with county ( March 27, 2012 )
Rockdale candidates square off at forum ( October 8, 2012 )

lakeridge 11 months, 1 week ago

Are those passport fees that were collected in the first 3 years exempted from "election year politics."

ClaytonBigsby 11 months, 1 week ago

They must be. Haven't heard much on that lately. Something tells me that issue is going to be the "Jeremiah Wright" of this particular race. Sad.

BrentLuNae 11 months, 1 week ago

When I hear passport, I think about traveling overseas. I'm just curious, why would there be passport fees for an elected government official, if your statement is true? What are they used for? Are they huge fees? I plan to vote this month and I want to get all my facts straight.

AJK 11 months, 1 week ago

Perhaps this will help fill some gaps for you. Links to newspaper articles and videos along with some supporting documents.

http://bocwatch.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=769

Conyers_Resident 11 months, 1 week ago

I voted for Ruth Wilson (Advance Voting) based on the job she has done in the Clerks Office. The Passport Fee fiasco is not local, it is statewide. Ms. Wilson was not involved in the creation of the law and policy that is the basis of the fees being given as compensation to the Clerk of Court, nor has she broken any law. The previous Clerk of Court also according to records took the fees as income, reportedly over $300,000 during her time in office. Ms. Caldwell served for many years, and also did not break any law or rules in accepting the additional compensation. The issue of passport fees was surprising to most of us simply because we did not know about it until reported by the AJC. Therefore, the only fair assessment for voting purposes, in my opinion, is to look at job performance. And that is why I voted for Ms. Wilson.

ConcernedAmerican99 11 months, 1 week ago

Just because it is legal (from days when it was the primary source of income for the job in a small country county) does not make it morally right. I prefer to have someone with the morals in this job to say "This is over-compensation for work I am not doing. My employees are doing this work. They are compensated by the county. l The office and facilities are paid for by the county. It is not right for ME to keep this money. It is compensation for Federal work being done by the county employees on county resources, hence it is only morally right that the money go to reimburse the county." Of course, some do not expect high morals in elected officials. I do!

Conyers_Resident 11 months, 1 week ago

Why not take "morals", which are subject to personal interpretation out of the equation? Fix the loophole in the State Law and then the fees are not an issue. Wouldn't it help voters stay focused on the job our elected official is doing. The previous Clerk took the compensation also. I attended Church with her for many years, and consider her to be a very morally upstanding person. I would have been surprised to learn of the additional passport fee compensation, but it would not have caused me to judge her as immoral, or stop me from voting for her. The problem is with the fuzzy state law.

AJK 11 months, 1 week ago

That's a very good and thought out analysis.

I didn't vote for her in advance voting because she is running unopposed in the Primary so she will automatically be placed on the ballot in November.

I have yet to decide who I'll be voting for in November. I keep thinking that just because something is legal doesn't make it right, but I will take your thoughts into consideration as I make my decision.

VPublicola 11 months, 1 week ago

Federal Law clearly, without vagueness, states that "...the State or local government or USPS may retain the fee if authorized to do so by the Department." Federal law does NOT authorize the clerk of courts, or any public service individual, to keep such fees as personal income. In fact, it may ONLY be retained by the State or Local Government.

On the other hand, Georgia (State) law interjects some potential confusion: "Fees, sums, or other remuneration for the performance of duties provided for under the laws of the United States or regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws shall be as provided in such laws or regulations as personal compensation to the clerk of the superior court for the performance of such duties." On its appearance this langauge seems to convey that such fees may be kept as personal income. However, it is important to remember that state laws may not be less restrictive or more lenient than Federal law. A closer inspection suggests that such fees may be kept by as personal compensation to the clerk of the superior court ONLY as provided for under the laws of the United States or regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws. It seems to me that last part is key because the laws of the United States or regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws (i.e., 22 CFR 51.51) in fact does NOT provide that such fees may be kept as personal income, but, again, clearly states such fees may ONLY be retained by the State or Local Government.

To sum it up:

1.State law may not be less restrictive than Federal Law. In the event that it is or is not clear then Federal Law prevails.

2.Federal law states fees may ONLY be retained by the State or Local Government.

3.Such fees are authorized under Federal law

4.Georgia law clearly states that such fees can be kept as personal compensation to the clerk of the superior court for the performance of such duties IF such is provided for in such Federal laws or regulations.

5.Federal laws and regulations do not allow for such fees to be kept as as personal compensation to the clerk of the superior court for the performance of such duties. In fact, Federal Law stipulates that such fees may be retained only by the State or Local Government.

ConcernedAmerican99 11 months, 1 week ago

It has been reported that it is $25 per application. That amounts to a hefty amount over the years. It is to help reimburse the county for work done for the federal government for work done in county facilities by county workers. Clerk of Court by GA law can keep it personally. Not when compared with the federal regulation. Morally it should have gone (and should in the future go) entirely to the county as reimbursement for what it cost to county to provide this service to the federal government.

Rockdale Citizen