But, alas, I really do not think Imker is Bonkie. For one thing, Imker is too young. After all, Bonkie was with Washington at Valley Forge. Imker is just ego driven. Much like a balloon, full of hot air but take a pin to it and watch it deflate. And deflate is exactly what will happen to Imker if he doesn't get off his high horse. I, and I suspect, many others voted for Imker, not because we thought he was a wonderful candidate but because he seemed the lesser of two evils. He needs to stop acting as if he has received a mandate from God (or even the citizens of Peachtree City) and work WITH the other members of council instead of having his own budget meetings, etc. We were all tired and disgusted with the eternal split on voting, that is why incumbents were voted out. We need a council that works together for the good of the whole community. HOLY COW, caped crusader, get off your high horse and come down to earth and do what we voted you in office to do--be part of a cohesive council--not a loose cannon.

got out. Who's turn was it to make sure the gate was closed? I do hope he's OK.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

he is okay. Last time we didn't hear from him he said he had a minor medical procedure I believe. Hope everything is okay--he's like the tooth you have that aches when you touch it but can't keep your tongue out of it---guess we are all brutes for punishment where he is concerned--and the thing is occasionally he does make good sense. And where else can you get such entertainment free? Maybe he wants us to miss him and that is why he is staying away. If something bad was wrong I doubt if we would have any way of knowing----hope he appears soon--I miss the old goat and there have been way too many serious posts lately from too many people

I think you and Cy do a disservice to goats everywhere with your comparison. I bet he went in the hospital for a personalityectomy, and they're still looking for it. Maybe he was doing the self colonoscopy again and his head got stuck. He'll be back, one way or another, or person or another.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

had to get away for a minute--thanks for giving me a chuckle. I really think he is posting as Imker. That way he gets to be a council member on this site without anyone ever having to see him.

After seeing Nancy Pelosi for several minutes on my 60" HD screen, there is no chance of sleeping without NIGHTMARES tonight. Guess I'll be surfing the web all night tonight.

Also, I am able to count Biden's hair plugs if anyone is interested in the total number. Hint: the over/under is in the thousands....

Dear Mr. Garlock,

I will take you to the mat right now. Of course I knew the budget problem existed. But many folks are going to read about the true extent of this problem in this letter. I'm making a point and a bold one at that. Also, you make assumptions about me attending meetings. Well, we all know how one really spells assumptions don't we?

Never, NEVER will I use city reserves to balance the budget because of mismanagement. Nor will or should we have to. I clearly pointed out the proper uses of city reserves during the campaign. Previous councils did not have the guts to cut or find more efficient ways. Instead they used insane amounts of city reserves to "balance the budget." They are responsible for what's to come. You used the term “budgetary lamebrains“ to describe previous councils. I wouldn’t go that far, but rest assured, they did know what they were doing was setting us up for financial failure. I'm here to make sure the mess gets cleaned up without cleaning out our citizens with tax increases.

The choice between tax increases and cutting services is absolutely a wrong misleading choice. If I don't stand up and point out the obvious, every 1/4% of a tax increase is going to go into a 5% pay raise for city employees. I will not put up with that in this economy. The survey going out right now is asking leading questions on the budget. It talks about the choice of tax increases or service cuts. What a fallacy. What it's really asking is, "Do you want to be taxed so that city employees can get a pay raise?"

BTW - We just had a survey a couple months ago. It was called the election. Over 3 out of 4 folks did not want to be taxed anymore. But I guess if you don't like the answer, you get out another 'survey' and ask a different way until you get the answer you want and then wave it in front of the cameras and say, "See, look here, the public wants to be taxed." You and the rest of our citizens aren't really going to fall for that are you?

You haven't even seen or heard from me or anyone yet about other options. Yet you have succumbed to a tax increase. Come to the January 30th meeting I’m holding at city hall at 2PM and listen firsthand about ideas on how to start putting a rationale budget together without tax increases and without using city reserves. Don’t be a defeatist.

Veiled threats on the Citizen blogs..now that's professional. How hilarious is this going to be....watching the next 4 years...

I think it's just semantics. He deserves the benefit of any doubt, and deserves a chance whether I or anyone else agrees with his methodology or not. I do hope he succeeds.

Terry Garlock

And unbecoming of a Peachtree City Councilman.

I agree with Spyglass (I hate when that happens.) This is so unprofessional arguing with the bloggers. Honestly, you might as well debate this with Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn.

Some of us just like to throw out some unformed ideas so we can chat about it.

was one of my favorites.

That said, I too expect just a little more our of our Councilmen.

Mr Imker, taking the citizens to the mat, come now. Perhaps you knew the budgetary woes of Peachtree City during the fall, but the tone of your letter lends me to believe that you knew it in very general terms. Hopefully, on Saturday you will be able to quash that perception.

Now that you’ve thrown the gauntlet, so to speak, solicitation of citizen input is a rarity among elected officials, but so are fresh new ideas/approaches. For me, that’s what I’m looking to see from you this weekend. Thus far, you have made no such proposals, and based your campaign upon your experience as a federal manager. In that capacity funding was handled by a resource manager that reported either directly or indirectly to you. We both know that budgeting was not your focus.

I’m looking to see what you bring to the table. Until now, you simply show yourself as a loose cannon firing indiscriminately. Please prove me wrong.

Mr. Imker...I'm sorry to have to say this but you are starting to appear a little silly. You are blogging and not really receiving a postive response which means people are telling you to focus on what's important. Why are you citicizing Mr. Garlock here...You don't like his message?
Instead of having your Saturday budget meeting, how about attending the regularly scheduled city council meetings. It was reported that you missed the second one.
The city recently sent out a survey and budget questions were asked. You are wasting time and your process is backwards. We need less "HOLY COWS" and more teamwork.
Why not go in and meet with Mr. Haddix (instead of running around holding your own meetings). Speak with the mayor about his thoughts on balancing the budget. Then attend the upcoming retreat, where you will hear feedback on the budget from staff and you can gather input from your fellow council members....identify and draw some concensus among your peers...see if you develop a clear strategy and vision. Then, if you feel the need to go out and conduct a town hall meeting on the budget, do it or suggest that council or members of council hold public discussions on the budget and solutions council and staff has developed.
I thought engineers were taught the importance of "process".

Scott Brown.

It is not your budget Mr. Imker, it is the city's budget, funded by taxpayers and created by City Council. You are 1 of 5.

If Scott Brown didn't actually say that, he said something like it. And it is true. New councilpeople usually have more than one meeting under their belt before they get all preachy and arrogant. I hope this isn't another Brown/Rapson/Weed person emerging.