I know you understand the "Fund Balance" for PTC and that the city’s policy is to maintain a 20% operating reserve that totals $10 million dollars. What is your opinion of the current city governments use of this fund in 2007 taking $852,536, and in 2008 taking $1,146,962 for a total of $1,999,498 to balance their budgets for those years and throwing the whole amount into the budget of FY 2010 and calling it a budget deficit and wanting to fire 25 people. (All of landscaping, right of way, 4 from parks and rec, and 3 from the building dept). I think it is pretty crappy to do this. Just wondering what your take on it is. We need to keep the jobs!! no if's, and's, or butt's about it.

Please stop saying the current Council did the taking from the reserve.

Two of us were not on Council in 2007 and we challenged numbers in 2008 during budget hearings. We talked about need for change during our election cycle.

Now, we have to deal with where PTC is, not where PTC was.

As for Callula Hill, I am voting against it. it is not a downsizing development, we have over 500 homes for sale in PTC already and it does not belong in the Industrial Park.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

What was your first date on the job as councilman?
Are you planning on putting forth a plan to keep the mayor and council salaries from being doubled? (Plunkett said in the meeting where she purposed it that the current members could vote not to take it if they wanted)
What is your plan to correct this budget deficit? If $2 million came from previous years, then how do you plan to correct this and show a "correct" figure that actually shows the deficit from only the current year? Can you stand in front of the city you serve on the 19th and vote against the firing of 25 people? We know that every thing comes down to the famous 3-2 vote. Logsdon, Boone, and Plunkett for and you and Sturbaum against. Lets break this annoying pattern and try to fix the city. Plunkett acted like it was a school yard at the last meeting and she was the school yard bully, Boone and Sturbaum were fairly quiet, and Logsdon was his usual condescending self, cracking inappropriate jokes and being and showing himself to be totaly unprofessional. If you want to be Mayor - you are going to have to do and BE better than they ARE. Now is the time to take a stand. I promise it is not political suicide to actually take a stand and vote the way your constituents want you to.

I don't go along for the ride and did inherit a mess made worse in 2008 and so far in 2009.

DarkMadam, no one on Council has taken more public stands than I have, since I was sworn in on Janaury 1, 2008. Just click the link in my sig line.

I can only control my conduct on the Dais during a meeting.

Already answered the Council pay twice. It does not go into effect until January 1, 2010, after 4 seats have gone through an election. So ask the new Council since you are asking to put it off until 2014 when it has been 7 or 9 years since the last raise.

You are entitled to think $12,000 a year for a p/t job that often ends up 50 or 60 hours is too much if one actually tries to do it right.

I will and do take my job extremely seriously. It impacts the lives of taxpayers and workers.

Are those 23 jobs going to be cut? Unless something amazing happens to give $3.5 million between now and then, yes. They represent about a .47 mil tax increase otherwise.

It is not a question of who will be hit in all of this, but how much everyone will be hit.

If about protecting myself from a hit I would support a base pay cut. I don't, so I will be paying a tax increase unless something fantastic comes along to save the day.

I do not see a justification for an across the board base pay cut. That would result in negative impacts not only on the workers but on PTC as regards income and other issues.

A freeze on COLA and such with an increased insurance contribution? Probably.

Been working with DAPC to get jobs in here. A real struggle. Also to get a more Smart Growth plan and goal in place by working with GT.

Why? Because more jobs generate more sales tax revenue which fills those hundreds of empty homes and retail stores. That means lower taxes and more secure jobs.

For the rest, we still have numbers and considerations rolling in. Every dept is affected. Just trying to lay it all out here is just too massive a request as would getting involved in a lot of debating.

Hope that qualifies for being honest.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

On the number of hours that are expected to be worked by a "Part-time" council position, it breaks down to $25+ an hour at the current time and after the raise it will be $50+ per hour. Could you justify that pay increases to the part time library workers that have had their hours cut and are losing their benefits? Don’t you think it is up to you to make "something amazing happen" to save this city from where we are headed. By the way -- it’s 25 jobs. 22 from public works (one moved to the Fire Dept.) and 3 that good ol' Bernie is wanting axed from the building dept. Let’s try a new way to look at this. Don’t waste time with DAPC bringing in more jobs at this moment. Let’s keep the jobs we have. Remember that I am not aiming at you personally, I am aiming at a group of people that have been trusted to run this city. I want them to do what is right, not what is easy. May I ask if an across the board pay cut (this includes the so-called untouchable emergency services departments too) of maybe 10% has been discussed. With a payback plan. By that I mean a contract with employees that will stay and ride this out with the city, will regain their pay by increments - maybe 3% in 2010, 3% in 2011, and 4% in 2012. I know this sounds harsh, but who knows how many jobs are going to be lost. Firing folks is a permanent fix to a temporary problem. Keep the employees that WANT to work. You know the ones that I am talking about. The ones that have been there for the long haul. Already have years of service, perfect attendance, and clean records. Just don't give them all the boot.

You obviously have no real understanding of what I do and how many hours it takes. Your numbers say I only work 20 hours a month.

Try 40-60 hours a week.

Please learn the facts before making such bold statements.

DAPC is looking for jobs that pay the taxes to pay the wages of the jobs you are talking about retaining. We will keep looking.

Do you understand the difference between tax producing and tax consuming jobs?

A 10% across the board pay cut would not bring back those jobs. They would offset tax increase.

Also, the economy is not even projected to hopefully begin turning around until 2011, earliest. Just begin turning, which I doubt with what I see happening in Washington.

I do not know what else I can tell you. These are not either/or issues. They are this plus that decisions.

They will be made because we have to make them. Delaying only makes it worse. And even then I believe there will be some level of tax increases.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Before you go accusing me of making bold statements, check the minutes of the 2007 council meeting that CLEARLY explained this. I know, I know, you weren’t on the council then, well neither was I but I am capable of going and reading the posted notes (remember - public record). Just because it take you longer to do the job at not point entitled you to say that you are doing a better job. It really doesn’t matter how long it takes you to do your job, you campaigned for it, you got it, so DO IT and don't go pleading to me or anyone else that it take you longer. If you are unhappy with it you have the absolute same right as any other employed person to quit. Or maybe you can ads yourself to the list of "fired" persons by the city of PTC. We defiantly could save money by losing 2 people on the council and still having an odd number vote. Hmmmmmm that’s a thought.

Before you go accusing me of making bold statements, check the minutes of the 2007 council meeting that CLEARLY explained this. I know, I know, you weren’t on the council then, well neither was I but I am capable of going and reading the posted notes (remember - public record). Just because it take you longer to do the job at not point entitled you to say that you are doing a better job. It really doesn’t matter how long it takes you to do your job, you campaigned for it, you got it, so DO IT and don't go pleading to me or anyone else that it take you longer. If you are unhappy with it you have the absolute same right as any other employed person to quit. Or maybe you can ads yourself to the list of "fired" persons by the city of PTC. We defiantly could save money by losing 2 people on the council and still having an odd number vote. Hmmmmmm that’s a thought.

I was at that meeting in the audience.

The numbers for working hours were assumed numbers presented by a citizen, not by anyone on Council or Staff, who I will not name here, but most assuredly do remember who said it. They were as bad an assumption then as you made more currently.

They were based on the assumption the only things we did were to prep for and hold Workshops and Council Meetings.

Totally left out liaison work with authorities, committees and commissions, meetings with County official, state officials, constituents, research projects, ordinance work, training and a lot more.

I will kick in some bits of information for you consideration:
1. Budget hearings and negotiations begin the end of February/beginning of March and run through June for the next year. There is a legal deadline to resolve a budget.
2. Budget year runs October 1 through September 31. So, budget year 2008 began October 1, 2007 and ended September 31, 2008. We are already over 5 months into the 2009 budget year and will start the 2010 hearings March 5. 2009 budget was approved in June of 2008.
3. Takes a 3 vote to pass anything. Call it an excuse if you wish, but it is actually a fact.

I understand your frustration but find you logic that somehow I was supposed to be able to reverse the past in the first 6 months of 2009 unfathomable.

The only reason I replied to your post was because you claimed you were accurate on hours due to the minutes of meeting. That was misleading.

I cannot make the past go away. I have to deal with the issues as they stand right now.

Sorry, but that is reality.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

I was just clarifying where my figures came from. And on the nameless person...Cindi Plunkett. I know that you have been given some crap lately regarding your blogs but, if she has a problem with the use of her name and what was said at a public meeting, that were researched in a public forum, then shame on her. NEVER say things you do not want repeated or in print. She should have learned that long ago. I don't "expect you to fix" things that happened prior to your filling that position, I just expect that the elected officials stand for what their constituents want. Even Gerald Ford publicly looked into UFO sightings because the people that voted him to congress asked him to. He might have thought that was a "lost cause" but the people asked. That is all we want. We need to know that the people that we voted in serve as we the voters want them to. I beleive that there are 3 people that may learn that the HARD way come November. If you think I am loud now, they ain't seen nothing yet! This just happend to be the issue that made me wake up and pay attention.

I was extremely clear in how I saw things when I ran and have been extremely clear every since. I also listen to the citizens. One would have to have not been paying attention to think otherwise.

There is a lot of work ahead, years worth, to get every tid bit needed done. I am talking about everything from getting the budget right and recruiting jobs to rewriting tons of ordinances on everything from zoning and development to animals, trash, replacing septic tanks with sewers, where needed, and more.

Way behind the curve. Actually rewrote some items from 1959 last year. Been too much only paying attention to the high profile issues and disregarding the little things over a lot of Councils.

I have really said all there is to say at this point in time. Nothing more to add.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

How do you plan to vote on Thursday. For the hard working employees to be fired? Or not?

Cyndi Plunkett is obnoxious!!! Her "your always wrong and I'm always right" attitude is unbearable.

I'd rather listen to Harold's condescending bull hockey than live with Plunkett's ego.

I'll agree that Boone/Plunkett/Logsdon have derailed the train, but what are we going to get from Haddix and Sturbaum??? I hope it's not go along to get along. It's time to take a stand and fight.

Vote Republican

I do not agree with all of Ms. Plunkett's decisions or words by any means at all, HOWEVER couldja chill with the personal attacks? I have known her for several years, and I've never seen the attitude described above.

Personally, I feel sorry for any elected official in the middle of their term. They came in 2-3 years ago, when the economy was good, money was flowing, figuring they wanted to help their community, and then BAM!!! All of a sudden, there's no tax money rolling in, economy's shot to hell, government's needing to cut costs on a massive scale, unemployment and foreclosures are rampant, and most of the elected officials on the local level are in over their heads and clawing for air. Desperately. And wishing they could resign in a face-saving manner. Or have a magically refilling bottle of extra-strength Tylenol and Jack Daniels.

Just have a second of pity, and attack DOCUMENTED in meeting reports (as opposed to blogged hearsay) words and actions.

Times are tough and hard decisions must be made. Give them some slack and let them make the best choices possible without constantly tearing them down. It can be a unrewarding job professionally and financially - especially right now.
AND don't believe everything you hear on these blogs.

I only stated my opinion of how she acted at the most recent council meeting. I don't know her personally as you so obviously do. I didn't say she kicked puppies, what I said was that she behaved badly. If you had been at that meeting you would have seen it too. I have been vocal about the loss of jobs with the city. I will continue to be so. I just wish that our elected officials would stand up for something that is right and not just stand to be standing.

HADDOX TO VOTE NO!
Although details are still coming in we can only assume that Doug Sturbaum will have no choice now but to continue his streak of block voting and also stand against whatever project Don hates this week.

I don't care who you are. Two peas in a pod, for sure.

than 500. I have NO CLUE where you get your numbers at times. Obviously you just make many of them up as you go along.

GAMLS is currently showing 284 homes listed for sale in PTC. Not far from the norm. FMLS is a much smaller service, that usually has many duplicates of the GAMLS, it just costs more to be in FMLS, and they are more northside/intown centered in Atlanta. Add in a few FSBO's and you are probably just over 300 for sale.

Are you another of those "blind" positives who can't see our true condition?
Numbers are put out to suit readers! Lies, sometimes.

What are selling with rare exceptions are at the buyer's price.

There is NO MONEY and NO JOBS.

Flood of foreclosures: It's worse than you think.

Banks are moving slowly to list repossessed homes for sale, which could mean that housing inventory is even more bloated than current statistics indicate.
Last Updated: January 23, 2009: 4:40 PM ET

who was just foreclosed on. It took them less than 3 days for the house to appear in the MLS service. It was a very strange situation to say the least, re the foreclosure. A long ago wrapped mortgage, that the original loanholder had died in a car accident. Long story short, they moved very quickly to put the home on the market.. In Henry County...

Google master real estate search lists 682 different homes. Just looked.

Yahoo Realestate 489.

Another, from last week, listed 536. Forgot the name.

Trulia currently shows 389. A Realtor told me they do not get all the listings.

Don't forget for sale by owner.

Or the homes pulled from the market because the homes are not moving or they cannot sell at current market pricing.

Last week yet another source listed 536.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

But many of those sites are full out of date info along with duplicates. IF they are FREE sites, you can't trust too much on them. Sort of like everyone lists something 10 different ways on Craigslist. I'm guessing you have no clue that people will claim to have a home for sale in PTC, when in reality, they are not in the City Limits at all. I see this all the time.

Oh yeah, just because someone has a Real Estate License, they are NOT necessarily a Realtor.

All that said, who do we have clamoring to build "Industrial" on the site that started this blog? The lake front begs for nice residential development, in my humble opinion. Industrial uses do not want to pay extra for such an amenity. At least give this some thought...I think it's worth it.

Building residential in the midst of industrial uses is not a smart idea. And, yes, a corporate headquarters will pay for such an amenity for the same reason many are building by the golf course now.

I agree 100%!!!

Why do you have a plan if you don't use it for crying out loud.

Spyglass needs to move to Clayton, South Fulton or Coweta.

Vote Republican

I've yet to say if I was for or against this development, but I think it's worth noodling out. Obviously, you are against it, and seem to be aware of companies that want to build industrial uses on this spot.

If it's the spot I'm thinking of, it would be fairly close to Planterra...correct me if I'm wrong.

One more thing, you never addressed my first comment to you on this.."follow the land use plan at all costs"....mantra.

I can only assume you feel that way. I'm glad it has, if it hadn't we could have 80,000+ people living in PTC right now.

Now I'm not saying I'm for or against this development, but I can see the demand for it, especially along the shoreline of a new lake.

Are you aware of some industries clamoring to build on this property we are not aware of?

Let them have their silly development. They'll go bankrupt.

Silly Republicans. They never know when to quit being foolish.

Can you believe they act about as stupid as those Silly Democrats. Have you read what is in that Government Stimulus Bill they are trying to pass? Talk about going bankrupt.....

It does appear obvious that these sums of money indicate that there really is a good chance of total collapse of the financial system!

However, my question to you is what would you do?
Give the broke banks more money, maybe?

Or, are you independent and can't worry about the unlucky ones with no income and no cash?

It does appear obvious that these sums of money indicate that there really is a good chance of total collapse of the financial system!

Howdy! First of all I do not believe a "total collapse" is in our near future. But what I will agree on is that the seeds have long been planted and we are fertilizing our financial demise with a product called Miracle Cash. With what I've seen in the last 6 months from both parties in the way they have approached this situation, I believe these actions can be summed up as "total hysteric reckless monetary policy". No doubt if we continue on we will experience this total collapse down the road a bit.

However, my question to you is what would you do?
Give the broke banks more money, maybe?

No! I would not give the banks more money. The monies that have been given are being used to prop up many bad business models that deserve to fail. There are enough healthy financial institutions out there that would easily and gladly absorb the concerned customers who would abandon these corrupt and bankrupt institutions hastening their deserved fall. The healthy institutions in turn would also absorb the bulk of the worthy talent from the failed banks. I would then investigate to cull out the irresponsible and unethical characters out of these failed banks and have them 'black-balled' from these positions from that point on. Brand them as the 'economic terrorists' they are, if you will.

I would then reduce the amount of the Government Stimulus Package and correctly rename it to the Economic Stimulus Package. I would reduce the tax burden and crushing gumament compliance that plague our business world, big and small. Get out of our way and watch us rock.

Secondly I would give individuals across the board tax relief in the form of reduced tax rates. Give businesses some sort of 2 year tax credits for every new position created and make it worth our time to stick our necks out to invest in purchasing equipment and supplies that will tangibly put folks to work. There are ways of restructuring these pathetic loans that people have committed financial suicide with and I would do so. One way would be to greatly cut the mortgage payments required for folks that realistically stand a chance of surviving this financial mess and if the gumament is going to subsidize anything..... Let them subsidize a portion of the interest rates for period of time to keep these people in their homes and out of foreclosure and then ween them off of the program with a new loan that makes sense. Or it allows them the time to sit this out until they can get out of the house they are in and move into something they can really afford. Rest assured these depressed housing prices are a temporary phenomena.

And finally.... there is a segment of our society that we should cut back on the way we piss money away on. These clowns annually bilk the system out of more money than the many middle class families bring home in a years time. It is time to halt this foolishness. Necessity creates opportunities and the desire to improve one's self. Subsidizing these pieces of human of human debris is not only foolish but it robs these jackasses of a meaningful and productive life. Now before you start throwing that 'poor crap' in my face take note that I did say a "segment of our society". I know there are those than can't. But there are plenty who simply won't.

Or, are you independent and can't worry about the unlucky ones with no income and no cash?

Define unlucky for me. Are these some of my unlucky neighbors whose kids have cell phones, cars, and the more crap than they deserve while their parents are unemployed? I'm having fun explaining why my 12 year old can't have a cell phone when her friends whose parents are struggling have one. And they say we are nearing a depression.... We are clueless as to what hard times are in this country.

As far as those that have been layed off with no income or cash. That hurts. And that is why we need to stop funding government growth and social programs and invest in infrastructure projects that will put people to work. It may not be sitting on their ass anymore browsing the internet on their employers time, but it could be a good job building, manufacturing, hauling materials, managing projects, etc. Imagine actually using our hands again and actually creating something or constructing something for a change.

I am independent and it has paid off for me very well...Thank you very much. I still employ people, meet my obligations and have been independently responsible in keeping my sorry tail off the gumament doles. It has taken alot of hard work, effort and risk. A concept that I thought everyone utilized in their lives. But according to our personal debt issues.... I guess not. What am I supposed to do about people that often times live beyond their means? Their are indeed some 'unlucky victims' and then their are those that predictably earn their fate through their foolish and irresponsible decisions.

Guess I should stop now and get to work. But I thought I would take the time to respond.

Cheers! As it has been said on here.....

I do appreciate your answers to my query as to what you would do to resolve our current recession--soon to be depression, I think.
However, some of your answers do seem to conflict with others and I need to ask you about those. I also fear we aren't going about this correctly and in enough "provide jobs quickly fashion."

You say "no collapse soon," but also say maybe "down the road a bit!"
What of your suggestions would avoid that?

You mention "miracle cash," and I think you mean the bonds, etc., we are selling and the money provided by the fed (printed).
It appears to me that your suggestions in total would spend maybe even more than the current bills, but maybe in different areas.
No welfare for instance for people to spend--sorting who can get it and who can't is the problem.

"No more bank money," you indicate. However, who is to manage all this money you propose spending? The government? I think maybe you are incorrect about their being enough well run banks out there to handle the nation's business---afraid not. In numbers maybe, but not in management ability. Heck, CITY GROUP and B 0f A may go under. Their volume is enormous!
I agree many of those banks need to be closed or nationalized.

You also say to reduce the stimulus package, but I don't know how we are to pay for loan restructuring, reduced taxes for everyone, reduced corporate taxes and on depreciation, and all of the expenses you propose without borrowing just as much as we intend to do.
By the way we still have several trillion to borrow for banks again, contractors, infrastructure, transportation, oil use reduction, health problems, Social security, military spending, (more wars yet to fight), and several other projects which are ruined from ten years of lack of attention.

As to your request to reduce "government rules for corporate compliance," I don't want an y more unregulated finance fiascoes, or e-coli peanut butter. Corporations can not be trusted!

Now, whose loans would you restructure so they can pay? Who would decide? Banks? They did before, you know.
Maybe we could send all those with houses they can't afford into all these depressed areas full of foreclosed homes? Sound good?

And the old standby---no welfare except for grovelling people!
I say to not only take their cell phones but their low slung clothes, their meat for the table--beans good enough, and close Grady!
We shall always have the ignorant and the smart poor!

As to whether you have ever taken a "dole," didn't Bush give you a tax break for several years? Didn't work did it?
All those labor jobs we create will also create a new lower class of working people. Ready for that? They can't afford anything much such
as health insurance, or a decent house or even a car to get to work.