Dear Editor:
I will not comment on the specifics of the current ongoing investigation involving the Bradford Fair Association and the nonprofit Friends of the Bradford County Fair. However, the accusations Bob Milner directed toward the detectives handling this matter and the slander of competence directed at the Bradford County Board of Commissioners should not and will not go unaddressed. It was Milner himself who contacted the local newspaper and directed them to contact FDLE in an attempt to steer the writer to a positive conclusion for himself. It is only my opinion that this is because no matter how you try and shape it, the optics of what has been done to our community is inexcusable.
I was present in many meetings where there was deep concern about losing the fairgrounds due to the mismanagement of the then-current fair board leadership and President Bob Milner. The fairgrounds are home to the only county certified storm shelter, which serves residents and those with specific medical needs during times of disaster. This is a multimillion-dollar, state tax-funded facility that our community cannot afford to lose. The county stepped in — not out of malice or personal gain — but out of a true obligation to protect both a critical public safety resource and a vital agricultural institution for our children.
It is troubling that a former sheriff, by his own words, now criticizes a thorough investigation and questions the time needed to complete it. Yes, subpoenas were issued because detectives had not received all relevant documents, nor were those records on the seized computer. In his own one-page response, “From the desk of Retired Sheriff Bob Milner,” he admitted resigning from both boards and disposing of all related documents. That admission directly contradicts earlier statements that “all the Sheriff’s Office had to do was ask.” As any detective knows, when truthfulness is compromised in small matters, it casts doubt on larger claims of honesty.
It is also worth noting that search warrants are not issued without cause, yet one was issued for accounts tied to the boards under investigation. Mr. Milner’s own words describe a plan — if not a scheme — to deceive the county commission and their attorney, boasting that they were “not smart enough” to recognize the deception during negotiations regarding control of the fairgrounds. That does not sound like someone acting with the best interests of Bradford County citizens at heart. Instead, it reflects self-serving motives and a sense of entitlement. Did I mention as he did, sought criminal representation?
In closing, I assure the residents of Bradford County that this investigation is being conducted thoroughly and completely. The Department of Agriculture has already cited and fined the Friends of the Fair for violations. Our detectives are in active consultation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Agriculture, and the Eighth Judicial State Attorney’s Office. We have an obligation to determine whether these violations amount to criminal conduct or remain civil matters.
At the conclusion of this important process, I will address our community publicly. Taxpayers have a right to know. Let me be clear — regardless of the outcome — I will never be embarrassed for doing what I was elected to do: serve and protect the citizens of Bradford County.
Respectfully,
Sheriff Gordon Smith
Bradford County, Florida
