20 DEC 06: THE TIPPING POINTS

The "missing money mess" involving the Columbus landfill officially turned into a full-blown scandal Tuesday. The amount of missing money doubled, and we learned some documents were destroyed. Maybe outgoing Mayor Bob Poydasheff should take another European vacation - and look for a home in exile.

It all started at the Columbus Council meeting, with a bombshell from City Manager Isaiah Hugley. He said the total amount of missing landfill tipping fees comes to about $2.2 million. If this much money in tips was missing at Hooters, the servers would wear full dresses in protest.

How did the amount of missing money soar to the millions? City Manager Isaiah Hugley revealed $1.3 million in landfill tipping fees were "written off" before 2004, without Columbus Council approval. This may sound like a lot, but remember - O.J. Simpson's latest book was written off for much more.

Next question: who wrote off $1.3 million in landfill tipping fees? That was addressed in an afternoon news conference by Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson. He blames someone in the city Revenue Department, but he won't say whom. Recalling the Kenneth Walker case, we should learn the name of this person sometime in February.

Sheriff Ralph Johnson won't say who wrote off the landfill fees because he's given his investigation to the District Attorney. Gray Conger will decide if charges should be filed - or whether he'll follow the example of the Revenue Department, and write it all off as well.

Sheriff Ralph Johnson revealed some documents involved in the landfill tipping case were shredded, by someone in the Finance Department. This proves either we have a city scandal - or the warm December weather has some gardeners desperate for mulch.

(Come to think of it, there's a way to figure out who shredded the documents. The City Manager's wife is holding a fingerprinting event today - and really, why should we limit this to children?)

City Manager Isaiah Hugley attended the news conference with the sheriff, and promised a "landfill-gate" would NOT happen again. In his words: "The fix is there...." Doesn't he mean the fix WAS there - a little like ticket-fixing?

Isaiah Hugley actually quoted Mayor-Elect Jim Wetherington, telling one reporter in city government "you have to look over their shoulders." Keep repeating the things your new boss says, and your job security is likely to increase.

The City Manager also gave Columbus Council an update on other matters of missing money. When it comes to traffic fines, all the license plates of the accused offenders have been tracked down. So watch how you enter those parking spaces at Columbus Park Crossing over the next few days....

A report on millions of missing dollars was probably NOT the way Mayor Bob Poydasheff wanted to leave office. Tuesday was his final day at Columbus Council, capped with an evening farewell reception at the Trade Center. We're assuming any leftover campaign donations not spent on the party will be given to the landfill fund.

(You don't think extra police officers were on hand, to escort the outgoing mayor from the building....?!)

Bob Poydasheff said he did NOT start from scratch as Columbus Mayor, but merely built on what other mayors had done. Yet I think this reasoning can work in reverse as well -- because when Mayor Poydasheff took office, Bobby Peters was unmarried.

Mayor-Elect Jim Wetherington told WRBL Bob Poydasheff should move out of the mayor's office in the Government Center next Wednesday. The new mayor doesn't take office until January 2 - so Bert Coker has about six days to attempt a coup.

WRBL also tracked down Nathan Suber, at the end of his final Columbus Council meeting. He explained he did NOT need to concede the runoff election to Jerry Barnes, because he congratulated Barnes in a newspaper ad. Suber must have turned off the Little League baseball games before the teams shook hands.

We should note one other item from Tuesday's Columbus Council meeting. Councilors approved $3.5 million to begin renovating the Baker Village apartments. Demolition of the buildings may begin by next summer - giving some residents a few months to unload all their spray paint.

Tuesday turned out to be a busy news day. For example....

+ The high temperature in Columbus was a record 77 degrees F. It was so warm that a couple of insects flew through my computer room. But I didn't think to entrap them, to release them in Friday's predicted cold rain.

+ The Phenix City Council turned down an alcohol license for the former "Club Roc." At least the owner never bothered to put new signs up for The Road House.

+ CB&T posted a banner outside its new Midtown branch, announcing it will open January 8. The original plan was for an opening in the fourth quarter of this year - so maybe bank President Steve Helton should have spent less time building the National Infantry Museum, and more time on Macon Road.

+ WRBL reported Chattahoochee County Manager W. Elvin Hardy resigned. At least the new county commission won't have to vote on phasing out his office, to match the police department.

+ A "Stewart County Crime Summit" was held in Lumpkin, with residents offering ideas to clean up drug-dealing. One proposal is for more public transportation. Huh?! Do they want to put pushers on one-way bus rides to Columbus?

+ A farewell reception was held for Opelika's retiring school superintendent. Philip Raley told WRBL he came to town in 1970, intending to stay only one year. I guess this means he was satisfied with Opelika - as opposed to bigger school systems being unwilling to hire him.

+ ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd reported Auburn University has NOT sold its ticket allotment for the Cotton Bowl. I'm not sure where all the Tiger fans are - but as empty as Beard-Eaves Coliseum was for Tuesday night's basketball game against Tennessee State, I know where they're not.

+ Georgia head football coach Mark Richt named quarterback coach Mike Bobo the team's new offensive coordinator. Imagine if he makes the wrong call against Georgia Tech next season. Bulldog fans will say: "Oh-oh - a Bobo boo-boo."

+ Instant Message to the driver of a four-by-four who turned left in front of me on Tenth Street, and did it from the right lane: I'm assuming you drive a used car - because that's the only way to explain the Christian fish logo on your trunk.

2006 IN REVIEW CONTINUED: March was a history-making month for our area, as Kia announced it will build a new auto plant in West Point. I'm told crews have been grading land for the plant, even at night - perhaps before Hyundai executives go to prison, and the money dries up.

We had a Big Blog Question during March about possible election challengers for Mayor Bob Poydasheff. The top vote-getter was Randy Robertson of the Fraternal Order of Police -- so Jim Wetherington hopefully won't mind if the F.O.P. looks over HIS shoulder in the next four years.

Mayor Bob Poydasheff declared in March Columbus lacks "first-class hotels." This may explain why his farewell reception Tuesday night was at the Trade Center, and not the Four Points Sheraton.

The Georgia election year took a strange turn in March, as an aide in Mark Taylor's campaign was accused of trying to set fire to the Atlanta campaign office.
Maybe he should have waited to do that in mid-October -- because Taylor's fall campaign had little fire at all.

Phenix City gained a new police chief in March - and Brian McGarr said he had to train himself for the job. I'm a bit surprised former Columbus police chief Willie Dozier didn't cross the river, to pick up a consultant's fee.

In a curious police case, a man was arrested during March on charges of stealing tailgates from East Alabama pickup trucks. It's a good thing he was caught quickly - because it would have looked strange seeing this suspect trying to sell tailgates outside football games in the fall.

Dr. William Howell of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition had a news conference in March about the Kenneth Walker case. He held another news conference in late August - so I think he met his quota for the year.

Russell County High School's Principal was replaced in March, because of problems with student transfers to play baseball. Considering what happened in Russell County after that, this was downright nit-picky....

A teachers' union based in suburban Atlanta came to Columbus in March, and demanded the principal of Carver High School be fired. Several athletic directors probably have contacted the union since then, suggesting the head football coach go with him.

A Columbus ministry's leader had trouble in March, as Samuel Thomas of Hopegivers International was arrested by angry Hindus in India. The Hopegivers web site doesn't even mention him now - and I suppose it wouldn't look right to have a hamburger cookout, to raise money for his bail.

The Columbus Civic Center announced in March it was open to bids to sell the arena's name. But no company wanted to put up the money for it - so there's still a chance it will become the Country's Barbecue Barn.

Port Columbus marked its fifth anniversary in March, with a "River Blast" celebration. Maybe this event should merge with Riverfest, and have people row boats down Broadway in a couple of years.

James Taylor came to Columbus in March, for a RiverCenter concert. But some people complained they didn't know most of the songs, and Taylor stiffed them by only presenting two encores. Imagine if Taylor had performed with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

There were signs of change in the Columbus media during March. The Ledger-Enquirer was sold to new owners. WRBL news anchor Blaine Stewart became a weather forecaster for several weeks. And WHAL AM-1460 changed from gospel to Spanish music - without one Columbus preacher accusing the owners of backsliding.

Auburn University had a victorious month in March, as both the men's and women's swim teams won national championships. Amazingly, we haven't heard yet of any swimmers taking directed studies courses.

Thousands of visitors read this blog every month, in Columbus and around the world. To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 3500 (+ 90, 2.6%)

If you mention this blog in public, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-06 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.