I'll bet the EMTs that had to go into the scene at the shooting today felt that they earned their salary! The shooter was still at large.
There are many people, who love their job, that will make off hand remarks regarding their salaries. If it doesn't feel like work because you love your career, doesn't mean you don't deserve the wage. I think it has been discussed here that our ff/paramedic and police are paid a fair salary. They all have a very valuable skill set that is not easily replaced.

this you are right about, they all have a skill set not easily replaced, but can anyone not be taught this. what i'm saying is the ff/pd chose these careers the careers didn't choose them, so quit making it sound like one employee is more special than the next. i personally know ff's and police officers who say they do it for the convenience of the job not for the satisfaction. but as for being "fairly paid" come on the fact is that the fire dept could take a pay-cut if anyone else can, that's all i'm saying. for once you guys need to come down from your pedistals and join the real world. we are all trained to be something or nothing in life and ff's choose this career, so good for you all. bottom line is they can afford salary cuts like all.

Even Clayton County isn't using their reserve funds. Why isn't Fayette County crying like a baby?

I think it's amazing how all of the Democrat controlled, liberal cities in the USA are in trouble and the Republican strongholds are okay. What does that say about Peachtree City?

At least Haddix appears to be using his brain. Logsdon acts like he doesn't have one.

Vote Republican

OK Bernie time to GO !!!! Citizens of PTC it is time to call for this BUM to be Fired or Resign. Mr. Haddix you seem like an honest guy and you want to be Mayor, so show this BUM the door. He is the problem because of mis-management. His failure to manage the city now has produced a major problem where citizens are infighting about taxes and/or keeing the quality of life they enjoy. "Bernie" wants to make his 5 years vesting for his pension this summer so he can lay back with his Air Force and City pension. Any new Mayor that wants to be elected would repalce him if they had any knowledge of his incompentence. It is time to cut the head off of the snake. Mayor "Bubba Logsdon" can not do anything about this becuse he is in business with Bernie and has coverned for Bernie because he does all his dirty work for him. We also need to show his kid the door who was the only employee hired in Public Safety with a DUI on his record because "Bernie" had the Fire Chief hire him. Hey the Fire Chief works for convicted DUI Bernie so how could he say NO !!!

ARE YOU CITIZENS BLIND !!!!

That $3 million would go a long way to saving Logsdon's behind right about now.

Vote Republican

It would have cost at least $500k to get a lawyer to defend a suit against the bank that had an open and shut case - in spite of the spin dished out by the amateur lawyers who happened to also be our elected officials at the time of the "crime" and the time of the settlement. Neither group was very smart, nor did they get good legal advice (except to settle).

So that would be about $3.5 million and it would be need to be paid right about now after this was dragged through several years of appeals.

It is simple. City borrowed the money and used it to build the tennis center. Bank needs to be repaid. There is nothing else in the eyes of the law. But you all can feel free to add stuff that doesn't matter or even make up your own laws. Don't forget the city isn't really the city argument - judges really like that one.

And what does "Vote Republican" mean at the end of your post? Are we having another election where a Republican has a chance? We all converted to blood-sucking, liberal layabouts just in time for the festivities today. Where's my check?

Many act like the Tennis Center simply is NOT THERE. In their minds it doesn't exist. I agree, defending a lawsuit was a no win situation for the City.

Just a question, since I have to vote on decisions affecting PTC that include the Tennis Center.

There was an offer to buy the Tennis Center made to me. In checking with Staff it would have removed over $400,000.00 of expenses from the PTC budget every year. Not only that, but bring in tax and some other incomes from the property as well.

The Center would have still have been an asset to PTC, for those who see it as such.

It has been declining in membership and this year is taking a big hit.

Three on Council opposed privatizing.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

When you get the survey on budget issues, you will see the Tennis Center is not included because three on Council didn't want it included.

Please feel free to write in comments about it.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

I see the Tennis Center, along with the Aquatic Center, the Amphitheater etc...cart paths, parks, etc. included as ALL being City Amenities. I don't think you can simply quantify on paper if they are making money or not.

These are the things that make PTC special. I think all the City Amenities go toward creating a quality of life that PTC residents enjoy. I'm not sure how to pick and choose which ones are worth keeping or not. I don't use the Aquatic Center very much nor the Tennis Center at all, but I can fully see where they benefit citizens.

There is a reason I moved here, and it wasn't the lack of City Amenities.

There were just too many insiders feeding at the trough for Harold to say "no" to the $1.5m bailout.

Honestly any way you look at it somebody's going to get hit financially. My boss just told us today that our main head quarters had to lay people off. He explained to us that they laid those people off because we still had a standard of care we needed to provide to our customers. As a company they felt that cutting salaries would hurt a vast majority of their staff and raising "taxes" would hurt our customers. Sometimes being laid off is just a part of the job. I know it isn't easy and putting the shoe on the other foot, I wouldn't be happy about it. But to save these 23 jobs it seems like everybody is willing to throw 280 other employees under the bus and cause even greater financial strain on countless citizens. To you 200 extra a year might not seem like a lot, but to me, 200 is a lot. To those that have retired 200 is a lot. No matter how you look at it, the jobs that are not cut this year, will be the same jobs being threaten next year, but by then, even more jobs may be lost. It seems like so many people want to get on here and tell everybody how things should be done, but honestly, how many live in the city? I can say that my concern is as the spouse of a city employee. I have added my suggestions about COLA and Merit freezes, but that is pretty much all. Why are people criticizing project like the Field of Hope and the Dog park? As far as I am aware they are funded through donations and other projects. Saying that the soccer/baseball fields don't need to be run during the evenings is also funny. Why punish kids because nobody has faith that the city can handle this situation? Everybody is panicking and throwing out off the cuff ideas.

Also, Jeep the city didn't put the fate of the 23 in the hands of other city employees. Those 23 people did that themselves when they showed up to city council. Those 23 people put the fate of 280 employees and their families is distress. The city council and mayor had decided to cut the 23 jobs, they way I see it, they are trying to give them another chance.

It is so easy to sit here and read all these blogs and pass judgement on us because we are fighting for what is right. Its so easy when its not happening to you. My husband is one of the 23 that will be cut and our whole lives and our childrens lives will be turned upside down. You cant even imagine the snow ball affect this will have on us. We put alot of money down on our home and have alot of equity in it. We moved back to Fayette County so our three children who are 4, 6, and 8 could have the best education around.We have made alot of sacrifices for our children and so we should, they are the future. Our oldest son was born with a cleft pallate and will need countless surgies as he grows each year. I am sorry you feel like we are whining about something that is happening all over, we understand that BUT most people have alittle cushion to get them through times like these but guess what we dont. Me and my husband both work fulltime jobs and still barely keep our heads above water; like most of the employees at Public Works. If he does get cut we will surely lose our home and all the equity that goes along with it (very hard to swallow) we will not have health insurance until my husband does find another job ( if and When in this day and age )so our son will not be able to have the surgery he needs to function as a normal child. We are not lazy, we work hard for everything that we have. We dont plead for help from anyone, never take hand outs. So im very sorry you have to read about us being upset. Have a heart and put yourself in our shoes for a day. We simply want the mayor and city council to stop being so caddy about it and weigh all their options, because once they do cut those employees they still have to make up for another 3 million dollars. Where do you think they are gonna get the money from????????????????????????? And as far as the 25% paycut MOST of them said NO, including the ones they are going to get rid of. So they didnt choose this path they are just trying to make the best of a very bad situation. All mayor Logsdon can do is chuckle about it (at the council meeting, on the news). He thought that we would just lay down like a bunch of obedient dogs, not so. Talk about your property values going down, we should load all 33,000 citizens and drive them up to Riverdale to let them get a dose of reality. People in this city are used to a certain quality of life, why should they or the men that choose to give them that quality of life pay for someone elses financial mistakes. If it was you, you would be fighting too, ya think!

for this trying time in your lives. I know first hand what you're experiencing, as my own job ended Oct.'07. I wish I had some words of inspiration and courage, but I think there's already enough on your family's plate. I, for my part, feel my predicament falls to one place. Myself. I had a lot of opportunities to make myself more indispensable, i.e., through continued education. I'm not saying that a layoff would've been prevented, but opportunities do increase through areas of degrees. We share a similar situation, you and I. There's a bunch of BS and BA degreed folks out there who are on the bricks. They're taking whatever jobs come up. What are we going to do to get ahead?

Somebody's gotta say it.

You had a good run going until you brought up the field of hope. Im pretty sure it was funded by all private donations. And you ask "Why do we need this" go there one day (since you seem to know so little about it) and ask one of the physically handicapped athletes that same question and see what their response is.

The highest budgets are Public Safety and you seemed to have left that out of the mix so you probably work in one of those departments.

There are way too many special events in this town, so many you can't even count them, and I believe that all of those events are budgeted in the Leisure Services budget. Do we really need to still have a Patriot Day? Hometown Holiday (they are afraid to call it Christmas)? Dragon Boat Races? A Chinese tradition when there are all sorts of Japanese companies here? But that's because Kiwanis runs the City not actual City Officials. So if Kiwanis wants to have an event they just get Bernie to spend staff time and $$$ to promote a combined event, while Kiwanis keeps all of the sponsor $$$ for the event??? What a concept.

If you go to a Kiwanis meeting you can have a quorum, so you might as well schedule the City Council meetings on Monday morning at 7am...In other governments they don't allow City officials to join these types of clubs, because then the clubs become a political arena. But it's still good ole boy down here. They don't need City Officials to serve on Kiwanis.

They should have done a survey about the fireworks, everybody wonders how many PTC residents actually enjoy the fireworks, most residents say its all out of county people that enjoy them, but I'm not sure about that one. But either way the residents pay for them, so the new motto here is.

Peachtree City- PLAN TO PAY! (A higher milage rate)

And why is it that 280 employees have to pay for the mistake of 10? Is it the employees fault that the city spends and spends and spends without a raise in millage? nope. That is the fault of this and the previous City Council. 10 people put the city here. Maybe we should hold them accountable.

Add to that list that the year long 50 year celebration needs to be canceled. Thats money that doesn't need to be spent.

The paradigms through which we will operate are quickly changing. I will add another side to your argument. To lay off the "muscle" in the city at this particular time would not be a good idea. Obama's plans for the country include infrastructure expansions which would means grant opportunities as a means to generate income for the city. I do not see any of the administrative staff having much to offer in the implementation of the type of projects forthcoming in the future.

The old way of doing business and all of your training is now obsolete.

P.S. I also believe that as things become progressively more difficult, public safety will also become increasingly more important.

Best...Post...Ever! I am at a loss for words.

First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to respond to these tags. It helps the people understand your view, and I appreciate that.

Mr. Haddix, I have a few questions that hopefully you can answer.

A. Why didn't you discuss or consider the 23 positions be selected by seniority? I believe the PTC Personnel Policies state that individuals should be reduced by class in their specific department, via seniority and merit. (not job function).

B. Why are public safety employees untouchable (as stated by the City Manager in the meeting?) In 2005 the Fire Dept had 47 full time and 15 part time and in 2009 they have 59 Full Time and 21 Part Time??? (18 More bodies since 2005!!!) Thats 18 more people to sit around the TV at the fire station, and 18 more people that we pay while they are sleeping, and 18 more people that will get a pension. Police went up from 62 to 68. (that is a little more reasonable) but how can these departments see increases in these departments (not to mention new cars and trucks) when there haven't been any tax increases and any projected sources of revenue to offset these positions? By the way Pub works and Recreation (the two departments affected by these potential layoffs) haven't had an increase in staff at all.

C. Moving Violations/ Nepotism (see below)

So if you are elected Mayor can you explain how you would handle

a. current and future layoffs (seniority/merit as opposed to job function)

b. would public safety be off limits on your watch, or even now for that matter? Why or why not???

c. do you think that in any municipality a City Manager with a DUI should still be allowed to keep his job and also be able to get his son a job at the Fire Department???

Thanks for your time

In 2005 the fire department was dangerously under staffed, in 2009 the fire department is merely woefully under staffed. Just have a look at NFPA 1710 for the national standard of fire department staffing and deployment. One station in the city has 4 front line units and 6 personnel assigned there, you do the math. The 18 people you refer to is actually just 5 more people per shift/day, we work on a 24/48 hour schedule. But YOU already knew that.

I would like you to answer this question: If your home were to catch fire at 3am how many firefighters would you want to show up. I think your answer would be...every d**n one of them.

We are required to be at the station, away from home, for 24 hours straight (weekends, holidays). After 5 p.m. or on weekends or holidays we are allowed to watch television. We eat our meals at the station. And at night we sleep, calls permitting.

Our downtime is already reflected in our pay. Are you aware that we are paid an hourly wage? This hourly wage is much lower than another city employee on the same annual scale. We work 56 hours per week, on average. I do not get overtime over 40 hours either. What I am saying is that a mechanic and myself may make the same annual salary, but I am paid far less per hour (because I may sleep?).

You seem to have a personal problem with public safety. Just know that if you ever need us to help you, we will be there, no questions asked, day or night.

I really cannot afford to live in PTC, but I absolutely adore this city. I love my job and the people with whom I work. I think all of us are prepared to sacrifice for the future.

Punky Brewster was a great show btw. But this isn't personal at all.

If you or someone else from PCFD can show me the national approved ratios per capita as compared to PTC then I will shut up about public safety. The only ones that answer posts about Fire Dept is Fire Department Employees who are probably at the fire station reading the blogs anyway, and of course fire department employees will try to justify their jobs because as you have seen Public Works has also attempted to justify the jobs & will probably get cut next month.

I never said that our Fire Dept isn't top notch, or that they are lazy. All I said is that we have too many of them based on the amount of fires and calls. The average response time has still gone up over the past few years even though they have added over 20% more staff people so something is going wrong relative to the actual work being done. Maybe there were too many mid level positions created? All I know is something needs to happen and my point was that all departments need to be looked at, not just Fire or PD, but also Public Safety shouldn't be exempt from any cuts either. I think the City Manager is afraid that if he does anything to Public Safety then they will try to join a Union so thats probably what hes most afraid of.

You say that we have too many FF based on the amount of fires and calls. If you can say this then you must have an answer as to how many we should have. I am confident that you do not. Well, to help us out in this area, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) conducted numerous scientific studies for well over ten years trying to figure out just how many FF were needed to effectively save lives and property in the case of a fire or EMS call. The result of all this inquiry: NFPA 1710. This is the NATIONAL STANDARD. Essentially NFPA 1710 requires 4 personnel on each apparatus. We currently have 2 on each engine and 1 on the tower (ladder) and 1 on the heavy rescue. You may not have noticed that we are understaffed, because of the ability of our members to do so much with so few hands. We do not complain while going about our business.

I believe that you may be confused by the fact that we call ourselves the FIRE DEPARTMENT. I think a better name would be Emergency Services or Emergency Management..I really don't know. FD is limiting. As you know, if you have an emergency that you can't handle, who do you call? 911 Who do they send Fire, Ambulance, Police. There is virtually no emergency that we THREE cannot mitigate. I just ask that you consider all that we do. I would love to list all the different types of incidents that I have been a part of or that I have been trained to do, but I do not believe there is enough space allotted to this response.

appreciate the hard working guys @ public works, they are all great guys. I just have a problem with the suggestion to cut from the two departments that could not bear it. Public safety is the most basic of services that a city (or country for that matter) is to provide for its residences.

CLICK FOR NFPA 1710 on YOUTUBE

Click here for the online Update, then the link to the online survey. A direct link does not seem to want to work.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

What is the survey about?

It is about increasing taxes, decreasing services or a combination of both to balance the budget. And prioritizing what to cut.

One item not on the list that should have been on the list, which I pushed for, was the Tennis Center. The normal majority said they didn't want it one it.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Councilman Haddix:

Can you confirm some "information" that is floating out on these blogs?

1. Is the City Manager really paid almost $300K?
2. Is Channel 2 right - is the survey for the employees 25% pay raise going to stop the 23 jobs from being potentially cut?

Please advise - I'm seeing so much stuff on here I need to know what is true and what is someone's conjecture.

No, he is not. That budget includes the Asst. Manager and some other costs.

Sorry, I have not seen the Channel 2 report. So I am not sure what has been said. But I would like to.

We have not voted on or seriously considered a 25% reduction viable.

Nor did we vote on sending out the survey about the 25%. Due to the discussions and what was said by the audience, the City Manager proposed it to gain input from the employees over which he has charge.

His idea was to give pubic voice to how they felt about such a proposal. Let them decide if yea or nay on a pay cut of that scale to keep the 23 working.

I leave it to you to decide if you believe they will approve such a cut in their wages.

The 20% is a whole other issue.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Mr. Haddix, yes yall did say that a survey would go out to the employees regarding the 25% pay cut. The lady on the council is the one that specifically said "I want a survey to go out tomorrow to all of the employees to see if they are willing to take a 25% pay cut and it should be anonymous". Yes that was said in the meeting. Were you not paying attention? The mayor also said it last night on the news and the survey itself was shown on the news and the reporter stated that "This survey went out to all of the city employees yesterday to see if they are willing to take a 25% pay cut. Where have you been? All I know is that the city employees did not get the survey like they were supposed to. I feel that you have all already made up your minds. I dont know if yall were just ready to get out of there or what that night, but you know you have already made your mind up. Yall just dont want to be known as the person who laid off 23 employees because you might not get re-elected in the upcoming election. Am I right? I know that you all did not put a lot of thought into this. We could all tell at the meeting. No one was prepared for the support that we all had that night. You were not able to really answer everyones questions with sufficient answers. There should be a meeting dedicated specifically to this issue and there should be more facts laid out at this meeting. Everyone saw your numbers, but how do we know that they are correct? No one saw the math behind those #'s......HOW IS THE MONEY BEING SPENT????? These 23 employees didnt cause this situation. You are laying off someone that his been with the city for 20 YEARS!!!!!! Something is not right with this picture. Put a little more thought and effort into this. Someone said at the meeting that you didnt want to ruin our Christmas, well how does it feel to ruin 23 employees lives and thier wives, and their children. Do you feel good about that?

I am fully aware of the two distinctly different surveys mentioned last night. And have thought long and hard about the cut backs, for months.

The 25% survey went out and the initial responses are no.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

No survey went out to the employees. The councilwoman said, "I want to go out to all employees TOMORROW". It did not happen. How can you say that it did and say that the initial response was not. What I can tell you is that for a man that wants to be elected mayor you are woefully uninformed. I am willing to bet that the one that the city manager fills out will say no. Do you realize what 20% of the listed salary shown is? Approximately $60,000! That is the equivalent of 2 of the 23 person’s salaries that you are voting on to cut?

But here is an interesting question. If the listed $297,000 of income listed beside the title of City Manager covers his salary and other costs, what are the other costs and how can we as citizens see a full break down of them. Before this is through my personal goal is to understand the majority of the figures shown and to personally explain them to anyone in the city that will listen to me. Freedom of information right? If you really want to be elected, don't just follow the other council members like a lemming. Stand out for what is right. Just remember "EVIL WINS WHEN GOOD DOES NOTHING!"

$60,000 is almost 1/15th of the proposed budget cut of $880,000 that the council is saying will be saved by firing 23 people and outsourcing the jobs. I may not be a math major but weren’t we told that a 20% income reduction would be the exact same figure. Then with the cost of living increase canceled and a hiring freeze aren't there many other areas that can have the budget trimmed to balance the budget? These 23 jobs barely make a dent in balancing the budget. Let's all think long and hard about this. And better yet everyone should be an INFORMED citizen! There are going to be many more ways that the council will propose to make cuts that will not be the right answers and we need to be there to be sure that the right thing for the people of the city are being done. Don't just hire or elect someone and TRUST that they will do the right thing. Participate in the process. Become educated! Stand up and be heard like so many people were at the council meeting!

In all fairness to our mayor and city manager...lets not be hasty. After you have had 10 martinis and a couple of Irish car bombs at y-nots it in fact does look like 23 job cuts make a difference. Let's try to look at this from their challenged "professional" perspective.

uh I am sorry to inform you that the 25% pay cut survey did not go out the employees because no one at the public works dept received one on Friday, so someone needs to check their info. I know this for a fact because I am one of the employees. We need some clarification on this are the council members and the mayor just trying to slide by till Feb. and lie to everyone again about public input on this matter or oh thats right who cares about what the public has to say apparently!!!!!!!!!!!!

A unit friend of mine was buying a week's worth of condoms and the clerk said that will be $20.00 plus the tax. The unit replied, "Forget the tacks, I'll tie them on with a piece of string."

"I can't wait until tomorrow, because I become more lovable every day."

Damn you're old. How do I know? I'm old and I heard that one as a kid.

I believe in recycling, jokes that is.

"I can't wait until tomorrow, because I become more lovable every day."

I told that to Haddix earlier. First he said something like "No one voted on the survey", then he said that it did go out and the responses were "no". I dont think he has his facts straight. You are absolutely right......They just want to lie again, like they did at the meeting when the sent the survey out to the public and then didnt even wait on their input....Sounds kinda fishy to me.....

Four followup questions:

1. I was told by a City staffer friend I know that Councilperson Plunkett actually suggested the employee survey? Was I misinformed?

2. Is it true that that there have been increases in personnel for public safety of about $1 million without a tax increase? If so, what was Council's plan to pay for that?

3. Is it true that the Council gives the City Manager direction on how they want taxes each year, or does the City Manager give Council ideas? Who actually controls how the taxes go up or down?

4. Does the Council review the budget and approve it every year in detail? A lot of folks seem to think the City Manager just does it all and it looks like you rubber stamp it...I just can't believe that.

Thanks for being so accessible!

There was a strong interchange between Council Member Plunkett and the City Manager on how it should be worded and dealt with. She asked him if the other employees had been asked and he responded with the idea.

So, the question about asking came from her and the survey idea came from him.

Public Safety, as in Police? Yes, we swore in new officers recently. It comes out of the budget and had already been allowed for in the budget. Not a new cost.

There is still one police position open and advertised.

With increasing issues in fire and safety in PTC, those departments have been touched as much as we are going to touch them.

Staff, under the decision making final say of the City Manager, brings forward budget recommendations. So, ultimately he has the final say on what is proposed. Then we debate, change, insert etc.

Many people do not realize Council has absolutely no hands on daily running of PTC. That is the City Manager's job. We give direction, set policy and so forth. He carries it through. All communications, requests, etc go through the City Manager, in theory (not always fact).

So, in setting formula, it is a 'conversation' between the City Manager and Council, with Council voting.

We are a legally constituted Council/Manager system. We cannot violate the divisions of responsibility.

The City Manger is suppose to work for all of Council on issues that have been voted on or require votes. He works for each on providing information and such.

The Department Heads answer to him, not us, on a daily basis. The Department Employees answer to the Department Heads on a daily basis.

We have tons of meetings and discussions on the budget, that last months. Every year we have to approve a budget.

The City Manager seeks guidance where policy is not clear, we review numbers to see if something looks wrong and ask questions. Things do get tweaked by Council.

But, we depend totally on the City Manager to bring forth accurate numbers and assumptions after discussions with his Department Heads.

It is an interesting relationship and interplay.

Thanks. I believe in communications and that many misconceptions can be avoided by just letting citizens know facts instead of assuming things.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Mr. Haddix:

OK, now we're getting somewhere. Need to clarify my 2nd question on public safety. The scuttlebutt I heard was a prior council about three years ago approved about 15 positions without raising taxes. Are you aware of that? If so, and there was an increase in expenses for those, what is the plan to pay for that?

One more question - doesn't the City show a five-year projection every year, and, from what I'm hearing, staff has been showing that that a tax increase has been needed for YEARS to keep up with the expense levels? If that is true, why wasn't this dealt with in years prior?

Do you mean this one?

Yes, there are 5 year projections, but I find them always too optimistic, thus they have to keep getting scaled down to the negative side. I have challenged them on that point.

Yes, small tax increases have been needed for several years. The reserve has been dipped into consecutively, which is not good. But they have been put off.

Even this tax increase is being put off for impact in 2010, after the elections and on the new Council.

Why? Politics. Promises of spending and tax cuts made by some. Plus increases are never popular.

Didn't make some happy with me, but I would only promise to try not to do increases or hold them down as much as possible if needed.

It isn't a question of if there will be tax increases, it is a question of how much and when.

Doug and I both realized this when we were elected. But we also understood at least the bulk of the cuts had to be done first before we could get a clear picture of the scale being looked at.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Is the council still collecting their pay raise Mr. Haddix?

By the way, you are the only city council person who ever responds to anything on this site. Thank you sir.

Still legally set to begin next year. Was voted in 2007. This year I get $500.00 a month, minus taxes, of course.

Just as side bar, we still will not compare to what many other cities or Counties receive. Sure not getting rich off of it.

Also, there are personal expenses in this job not covered by reimbursements. Nor do reimbursements cover all expenses at times.

One thing Doug Sturbaum and I have learned is that to do this job right, answer constituent issues and so forth does not allow this job to be part time. At least not now with all the conflicts and issues going on.

Just painting a Big Picture on that issue.

The real financial threat is people who run to get compensation from other sources or to use their local office as a stepping stone to more lucrative positions.

I don't, so you won't see my election coffer with five digits in it. In fact, I began in the hole having paid 100% of my costs last election.

No accusations against anyone else on Council. I know Cyndi Plunkett paid 100% out of pocket and Sturbaum returned one donation due to who gave it.

In office I have turned down a $5,000.00 offer due to who offered.

Temptations are there.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Sorry, I feel as though we're taxed enough. Sit back one day and look at the amount of tax you pay during a normal day out and about. Sorry, the answer is a raise freeze, along with a lower cost of living adjustment and cutting the work to a number that still provide enough serive, yet not over burden those who remain.

Taxes aren't always the answer to every problem, we've been throwing money for years at social problems with little results. Given this nations current economic situation, to further burden the tax payer would only put a further srain on family incomes & resources. Instead of 25% cuts, look into a furlough program that might offer more bang for the buck.

I also feel we are taxed enough. I dread property tax day each year. Not a rich guy here.

Freezes are already going to happen. No choice.

We have dipped heavily into our reserves. We cannot continue to do so. We have to stop the bleeding.

I agree on not overburdening.

What some do not understand is we had a number of maintenance, capital improvements and other items that were funded and supported by State and even some Federal funding. Fund are gone. To continue on our own would demand tax increases.

More pressure on incomes and resources are to be avoided. Pay cuts are uphill issues for me to back. But I must be willing to listen to presentations on the issues.

Furloughs won't work. Already studied out. Not even close enough and when you take Fire and Police out, since they cannot be furloughed, there are not enough employees to furlough in any meaningful manner. But they would be very painful to the employees.

We are in that place you find between a rock and hard spot.

Are there some other things I would have liked to have done the majority will not back? Yes. Maybe next year we can address them, but most assuredly not this year.

Would they have cured all the problems? No.

No one place can take all the hits. I think we need to spread it out as thin as possible to minimize individual hits.

I know I am going to get hit. Unavoidable.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Oh, and another thing Mr. Haddix....Bernie said that this layoff would save you a projected $840,000.00 and in the same sentence said that if you did the 25% pay cut you would save a projected $1.2 million. That just didnt make since to me.....So if you save more money with a pay cut, why lay of 23 employees?????

Because we are $3.5 million in the hole.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Mr. Haddix, I think you misunderstood me. My point being that they were looking at cutting the 23 employees vs. the 25% pay cut. My point was that the pay cut saved more money than cutting the 23 jobs. Pay cut saved $1.2 million whereas the lay off only saved $840,000.00. That was what came out of Bernied mouth without thinking. You may not realize it, but everyone payed attention to those small comments you may think noone heard. Let me tell you, I payed very close attention to EVERYTHING! When its your life on the line, you don't miss anything - believe me. And again, as I said in an earlier post...where are you getting that the employee survey went out? I'm telling you that MY HUSBAND didn't get one, so why is that? Was it secretly passed out to a selected few?

No. I understood and am fully aware of all said. Very aware of what is at stake and very aware of what my vote means. Been there myself, in the past.

There has been NO debate on the 25% as a serious offering. There was NO vote. We did not walk into the Meeting with 25% versus 23 workers on the table.

This was the City Manager wanting to test a potential alternative. This survey was not suggested before the Council Meeting. It was suggested because of the Council Meeting.

I do not know how it was distributed, but it contained a facts sheet and a response sheet. It went out after the Council Meeting, probably Friday morning. Staff is already getting responses as of Friday. The answer from the employees is 'no.'

To find out the how and who, please contact City Hall.

770-487-7657
info@peachtree-city.org

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

You have still not responded effectively to my point of the $840,000.00 vs. The $1.2 million, but that's ok I get the point-you don't have an answer for me. We could save the 23 jobs and by taking the pay cut, save the city $1.2 million WITHOUT LOSING 23 EMPLOYEES! And yes, I know very well how it was decided. I know that everyone went in there expexting to simply announce that the jobs were cut, but it wasn't as easy as you all had hoped for was it? We know that you are not considering this "seriously" as you say, it seems like its a big joke to everyone. I specifically remeber you as I left the meeting sitting there cackiling. Its not a joke for us. Hopefully you will all take it a little more seriously next time and everyone can hold themselves together. Like the mayor who made the comment "that's why they pay me the big bucks!" And all of the laughs we got from the two of you. I don't think that was very professional. I sure hope the next meeting is a little more organized than the last because we could all tell it was just thrown together. We know your mind is set, you don't want to keep the 23 employees, but WE ARE NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT! We will be well prepared at the next meeting regardless of the outcome.Are you going to explain what else the city plans to do to save money? Cutting 23 only saves $840,000.00 out of $3.2 or $3.5 million. Why don't you let the city know what eles you plan to do. Paint the whole picture, not just a small portion of it. We also must know HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT, for all we know that is the problem. And another issue that no one brought up at the meeting out of respect is Bernie's DUI. Why should he still be employed? If anyone of our guys got a DUI they would be let go without question. Its ok for the city manager to break the law, what a great example. Don't act like no one knows about it because EVERYONE does. So what's up with that? I agree that maybe the assistant city manger should be cut because according to what I've heard, he does nothing. We need more facts, we just don't have enough. You may think I'm too defensive, but like I said, if we're going down - we're going down swinging. I would think you would be fighting for your job if it was on the line as well. Has anyone else mentioned how great the response from the public was? NOT ONE HARSH COMMENT! Everyone was in support for our guys keeping there jobs - EVERYONE!!!

The difference is that you are hurting 23 people vs. over 200. I wonder how those 200+ workers feel towards the 23 now?

I was not cackling at you guys. I was talking to an acquaintance from the audience who asked how I was holding up. I said very tired because the issue was not a pleasant. He made a joke, trying to cheer me up, and I responded. Sorry it appeared differently.

And no, not everyone there was in support. Some there did not speak but mentioned later they feel bad about it but see no alternative.

I do not know what else to add, here.

Please contact City Hall for more information.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Why didn't they speak out at the meeting then? It means nothing to me if they didn't speak to the group.......We didn't hear ANY negative comments.....

Because nobody wants to be the villain. Haddix is right.

What company insures all of our city owned vehicles? Are we paying extra for the liability of employees with DUI's on their driving record?

Sounded like a yes to me. Guess we should all call city hall and ask.

That one you will need to ask City Hall about.

770-487-7657
info@peachtree-city.org

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

I will check it out. It just doesn't seem right. We need to trim the fat from the top down, instead of from the bottom up.

I am glad you are on our side....Thanks for standing up here. I hope you do as Haddix said.....meet with him to discuss the issue, let us know what he says.....

Ever want to sit down and discuss some of the issues you have brought up, let me know.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

I am not willing to give up 25% of my pay to save 23 positions (maybe 5% and a tax hike). I really am sorry for your situation, perhaps trying to raise children on a 25k a year salary is not the best thing to do. Most economists will tell you that a business (city) is much better off eliminating a few positions than doing across the board cuts. If a private company can provide "acceptable" service in this area, I say go for it. I do not, however, like that the city has included a couple of very valuable and loyal employees in these cuts. One such guy can probably perform any job at public works better than anyone currently doing it. 20 years of service, employee/supervisor of the month/year should count at a time like this.

I do not TRY to raise my children on a 25K salary.....In case you have not read my previous blog, I will help you get your facts straight. We bust our a$$ to raise our family. Yes, my husbands salary is our main source of income and he is our only source for insurance. We have 3 jobs between us and I also go to nursing school full time. So his 25K salary is a portion of our income. If you take that away from us, dont you think that effects a family in a big way???? Dont you dare try to tell me what type of salary I should raise MY children on. This is OUR life and WE make our decision, not you. But thanks for your concern. If you are a city employee, do you think you have job security? I think not. The way things are going you might be next. Cutting 23 jobs is not going to save his a$$, its gonna take a lot more than that. They will save $840,000.00 by cutting these jobs out of $3.2 million, where do you think they are going to come up with the rest? They are not going by seniority in this lay off, if they did my husband probably wouldnt go and he sure as hell wouldnt go if they went on job performance. That is why 2 his bosses put their jobs on the line by standing up and saying what they did at the meeting because they cares about MY husband. Especially after the mayor and city manager told one of them specfically not to speak, he did anyway. What does that tell you about the city manager and the mayor? What does that say about my husbands bosses. The city manager and the mayor dont give a s**t and the supervisors care about their employees and their families.....

I am a city employee. I chose to obtain skills that are not easily "outsourced". We all make decisions about our career paths, I chose one that has great relative security. If I am laid off or fired I can take my skills somewhere else TOMORROW. Just like you, when you finish nursing school. You will have skills and knowledge that are always needed. Unskilled laborers (landscapers) chose to not have that security. Your husband should have seen this coming, the city has contracted for some lawn maintenance already. Preparation on his part would have softened the blow to his family.

With that said, I totally believe that the only way this situation will be resolved is if the council will grow a set and raise taxes. Also, the council is so scared to make a decision that they try and pawn it off on the rest of the employees. This way they can tell your husband, "Sorry, we tried to keep you but your fellow employees would not sacrifice a quarter of their income". Then we are the bad guys, not them.

I sincerely wish you luck in caring for your family, I have one also. I do not want your husband to be fired, but it may be for the good of the city.

Ok 1sok, you are correct to say that we all choose our career path. You are not any better than my husband just because you have a degree. This is the career path that he chose and it is right for him in his eyes. You can't make that decision for him, its not yours to make. This is very important for our family and I promise you, none of us are going down without a fight. Brace yourself cuz is gonna get ugly!

Sorry, but I agree with 1sok! I'm assuming that she is in one of the public safety departments of the city. It doesn't matter if it's police or fire, those men and women are required to have knowledge that the rest of the public don't have. They are required to be on duty 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR! NO EXCEPTION!. They put their lives on the line everyday, and would be willing to do so for anyone in the city. In my opinion they already do their jobs for 50% less then what they SHOULD be making! She is also right when she said that cutting grass is replaceable. There are people that can do that job for a lot less then what the city pays your husband. You can't replace fire and police the same way! They are needed and your husband isn't. I truly am sorry for the problems that you are going through. Both my parents worked for Eastern Airlines with more than 20 years a piece. I was young then, but I remember walking in the picket lines with them while they were trying to save their jobs. My family pulled through both sources of income being taken away, and so will yours.

You need to get a life. You make these harsh comments to these people. Have you ever heard the saying carma's a B***h? What goes around comes around. Be nice. You would do the same if your job was at risk, who wouldn't fight for their job whether its replaceable or not? You are no better than any of them regardless of what you do for a living. If people didn't "cut grass" our city wouldn't like nice at all would it? There is a lot more to their jobs than cutting grass I'm sure. Get over yourself!

B-I-N-G-O

Hey "bingo", act like an adult!

What are you writing about? If "acting like an adult" means that I have acquired skills that a monkey can not do, work as much as I can to provide for my family and spout the truth even when it it harsh, then yes, I am an adult.

Also, most adults know how to spell ridiculous.