About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2011)
M&C Consider SPLOST Management, FY 2012 County Budget Goals Partly to save money that's now being paid to a private contractor, Athens-Clarke County could hire its own, in-house employees to administer the 40-odd SPLOST projects that voters approved in November. The upcoming SPLOST projects—including the Classic Center expansion and new jail upgrades to the public library, new facilities for the Boys' and Girls' Club and for county extension services, park and trail improvements, a fire station, and others—have not yet been designed in detail, although their budgets include money for design. And someone—either county employ ees or an outside contractor—must also over see the hiring of construction contractors. In the past, ACC has paid the Jacobs Engineering Group for both the design and contracting services for SPLOST projects. And that arrangement has been criticized, but it has advantages, County Manager Alan Reddish told commissioners at last week's work ses sion. Those include not having to fire (or find other jobs for) staffers once projects are finished, as well as the ability to get exper tise that ACC doesn't have on staff. Still, ACC might save some money by using its own people to oversee bidding and construction, while retaining Jacobs to design the projects. Reddish said: "We would hate to see all that expertise walk out the door." About $6.5 mil lion was budgeted for design and administra tion for the $195 million in SPLOST projects. Several commissioners said they'd like to see changes to the public input process when SPLOST projects are being designed. "I feel like something is missing," said Mike Hamby. "The public needs some more input." But that discussion must come later, said Reddish; meanwhile, some "big decisions" are needed soon from commissioners about the jail and the Classic Center, projects which are "already beginning to unfold," he said. And looking ahead to the next budget year (ACCs fiscal year will begin in July), com missioners revisited goals they'd set earlier, like cutting energy use by 15 percent "We're not anywhere near 15 percent. We're at about 5 percent," Reddish said, and going higher will require "some pretty drastic changes." But a previously set goal of reducing waste going into the landfill by 25 percent has been exceeded: "Today, we're really at about 33 percent" over 2006 figures, said Reddish. "Enhancing quality of life" in neighbor hoods was another priority—often meaning speed humps, although sidewalks came up, too (money was included in SPLOST to build more)—and some commissioners wondered how the county can better communicate with citizens, especially since many don't have Internet service, and the county cable channel isn't available on satellite dish. The possibility of televising work sessions and planning com mission meetings, recommended in the recent report by the citizens Overview Commission, was raised as one step toward more open gov ernment. Also mentioned were teaching "life skills" to young people, perhaps in part by starting a "youth citizens academy"; expedit ing criminal cases; and plans for economic development and improved health care. Commissioners make no formal decisions at work sessions, but often raise questions to the manager or department heads about matters that will appear on upcoming agendas. John Huie A RouMD TouJM Uj l^lokcU Wt-JW.v*no»JU£Y M G C S • M E *T 6 FLAGPOLE.COM • JANUARY 19,2011 MEAN GIRL JIHAD Just four days before Jared Lee Loughner shot Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her supporters and constituents, a similar scene played out in Pakistan. Toe embattled noderate governor of the Punjab province, Salman Taseer, a staunch opponent of the Islamic fundamentalists intent on making that fragile democracy an Islamist theocracy, was assassinated by one of his own security staff, shot at close range in the head at a political event. Although that shoot ing, understandably, did not get nearly the amount of media coverage here in the U.S. as the Arizona massacre, it may be instructive to compare and contrast a little as we try to understand the role language and political dis course play in such events. Akbar!" whenever committing an act in His name, or at any other time*it seems appropri ate. Somehow, acts of political violence are placed into context whenever that phrase is added, and everyone knows that, however heinous the act that has just occurred, the intentions are essentially good. Only the best is intended and Allah has pre-approved the deed, so, despite any present carnage and bloodshed, the rest of society should relax and keep the bigger picture in mind. Sarah Palin and her Girtz, Michele Bachmann and Sharron Angle, and the talk ative fat guys who aspire to their brand of tough-girt cred, like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, need to take note. Since they know who the "Real Americans" are, what the Founders i JOS 2 y 1 • • M • jF A - 'iff' H Much has been made of Sarah Palin's web site's "crosshairs" on Giffords’ congressional district map, Republican congressional candi date Sharron Angle's comment that "Second Amendment remedies" might be needed for these drastic times, and the widespread use of super-macho, gun-based rhetoric among Republicans, both Tea Partiers and the lead ers and talk-snow hosts who pander to them. 'Taking them out" seems to be the phrase of choice among these good people. I would suggest that their appeal might be strengthened if they were to add, "Praise God" to that entreaty, as in "Take them out. Praise God!" Surely, that would really get the message across about who is right and who is damned, in case anyone is in doubt. Clearly, the folks exhorting everyone to grab their Glocks, hold them close, and carry them around wherever they go have God on their side. They are the ones who go to Churches, after all, and oppose health care, education funding, gun control and taxes. They are the ones who know W J would D, and you can bet He would not be healing the sick or teaching the young, by God. And He would definitely have a gun in His robe, just in case anyone tried to make Him do any of that stuff. In Pakistan and elsewhere, those who are trying to make their countries conform more closely to God's true will and the founders' fundamental intent are always careful to make that goal very clear by politely adding 'AUahu truly intended, and what God wants for our Country, they should take some direction from their righteous pals in Pakistan. Right now, with their Facebook crosshairs and their Pow- Pow manicures, Sarah and them just remind us of the black-eyelinered, stonewashed-jeans- wearing mean girls in high school who would threaten to kick your ass if you flirted with their boyrriends. Certainly not worthy of proper Jihadistas. They need to work that "Praise God" vibe into their schtick. Oh, it's in there already, but they need to make it more explicit. After alL average Americans might not be smart enough to make the righteousness connection— especially poor liberals, brainwashed by the mainstream media. A little "AUahu Akbar" accompanying that "Pow-Pow" would make things so much clearer. Then, if someone shoots a member of Congress whom Sarah and her crew have put in the crosshairs, the Girlz and the Fat Boys won't have to scrub their websites and offer embarrassing disclaimers. They can hold their heads high and join the crowd throwing rose petals on the assassin as he is led away. Just like in Pakistan. "Take them out, AUahu Akbar!" Yeah! No pesky apologies necessary. But that is a lot of As and Ls, and some pretty weird Ks and Bs. Just remember to write "Praise God" on your hand, Sarah. Terrell Austin LEJWV TIMOR
