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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
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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
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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
