As far as Spyglass' comment goes, Logsdon and Boone were deficit spending in the years before we had a downturn in the economy. They've held off disaster by not filling a bunch of vacant positions.

I totally agree with Mike King. Look at Logsdon's attitude on everything. He forces the big boxes like he tried to force TDK on us. I hated it when he paid off the development authority crooks. Seriously, when has the mayor even hinted like he cared what the locals thought?

Vote Republican

The mayor shouldn't have created nearly 20 additional jobs in the past two years. What happens when they fill all of those spots?

The tax and spend mayor should have thought about it.

I hope Mike King runs for election again.

but they will only be made by those who are not under the control of the city manager. Take , for instance, an across the board 15-20 percent reduction in operating budgets for each city department (excepting the police and fire) and then holding firm. Perhaps we will not have $50k employees running a gym or building inspectors who don't inspect (the police headquarters building coming to mind).

How about eliminating the perks afforded City officials for EMS services for which we lowly citizens are liable, the denial of government autos for city employees to take home, how about an across the board reduction of personnel whose functions are, in essence, redundant from one department to another?

We, yes we, by our complacency have allowed our city government to become a cumbersome bureaucracy whose primary purpose it seems is to pay itself. This has not happened overnight, but over the years by a series of weak or inneffective elected leaders who either could or would not challenge the "status" or direction of city employees.

Two illustrations of this come to mind. First, the DUI of the city manager who actually flaunted his position while spilling wine on an officers shoes. A mere slap on the wrist and of course a temporary supervisory switch so that the mayor could directly watch over the police chief, and all is forgiven.

Second, the internet porn caper of the police chief who is caught red handed with illicit pornagraphy in his office and on his city computer. A threat of a civil suit while represented by a former city attorney and the powers that be run and hide while the chief gets a full retirement package that we the lowly taxpayers are stuck paying.

I do have hope that the two newest councilmen have the fortitude and vision to slow and eventually stop this madness. If not, this cancer will continue to grow and before we know it Peachtree City may as well be annexed to Riverdale.

Across the board budget cuts do not work!
Mainly due to the fact that not all departments are spending excessively and some are spending horribly.
I'm afraid this is the easy way to cut budgets and handle civil servants but it simply is not logical.

Also, the fire and police departments aren't to be exempted from scrutiny. There may be areas where expenses can be delayed (for instance a new 5 million dollar police station and more fire department buildings. Maybe an non-busy clerk in the fire department can do some police work---there are unlimited considerations if zero-based budgeting is applied.

Since the Tennis Center and the Amphitheater are complete failures, maybe about half of those people need a wake-up! Send some to the police department! Lay-off some!~ WOW, ever heard of that?

I don't know why the court did nothing about an officers wine-soaked shoes--I'm afraid I would still be in jail, but it is not the important thing---We seem to feel obligated to pay those people what everyone else makes everywhere---or more.

As to allowing senior people to resign with full pension in lieu of firing them for atrocities, it just isn't done by people who may have to face the same fate some day!

It is a perk!

How many Generals or Colonels get fired for mistakes? None except MacArthur. They are retired in rotation.

for sure. But they do not address the bigger issues of a downturn in the economy. I've seen elsewhere in this very paper the Mayor requesting a reduction in the milage rate.

I've never thought a DUI should be a firing offense, unless they become multiple, and then it should be addressed.

I also fail to see how the Police Chief looking at internet sites addresses the issue brought forth in this original blog. Embarassing, yes, but it's not what we were talking about.

It's easy to sit back and hurl stones. Much harder to address problems with serious answers.

My comments are intended to point out that there is an attitude of being above reproach by those in government. It is much more obvious the higher the position. Take a hard look at the members of the US House of Representatives and I believe it will surprise you the number of bankruptcies, felonies,DUIs, and I could go on.

I agree that one offense of DUI does not constitute a firing offense, but the flaunting of one's position to me is inexcuseable. I just happened to be exiting the concert that evening and the episode was an embarassment.

The better the services that are provided the citizens of our town are exactly what will continue to bring others here. While agreeing with sage's comments about the Amphitheatre and Tennis Center, I see them as an optimal resource for revenue when ran as a business instead of a "government program".

Regarding the police chief, I see it as taking the easy way out. The fact is that a plurality of the Council wanted Murray gone and could have accomplished their goal with a much higher standard by taking another course of action without leaving the city liable.