11 JUL 07: THE NOT-SO-GREAT COMPROMISE

The vote came quickly Tuesday, and it was unanimous. Columbus Council finally approved a Library Board budget, which practically settles the issue of land around the main library. So everybody's happy, right? Wellll - not exactly. Some people already are talking like "landscaping" is going to be the greatest thing since Streetscaping.

Columbus Council approved a plan which is based on a "memorandum of understanding," worked out in recent days. It essentially splits the care of acreage around the library three ways - between the city, school district and library board. So depending on which landscaping firm is hired, the lawn could be three different shades of green.

We've obtained a copy of the amended memorandum of understanding, and it says "no less than three million dollars" will be spent on landscaping around the central library. That comes to about $130,000 for each disputed acre - so those meadows had better be drought-resistant.

The Muscogee County School District will pick up part of the landscaping bill, if it builds a new Administration Building next to the central library. The school board could reduce that cost, of course - by putting fountains with statues of Guy Sims and Mary Sue Polleys outside.

The city of Columbus will have a share of the landscaping bill, by sprucing up land around the new natatorium and Citizens Service Center. Considering where those buildings will go, it would be only fair if Sears Craftsman tools were used for the work.

So what do these agencies mean by "landscaping?" Believe it or not, the memorandum of understanding has an 11-line, two-part definition. You can always tell when a government agency is involved, can't you?

The definition of "landscaping" does NOT mean simply plants, flowers and grass. That's called "softscape," while the memorandum also allows "hardscape" such as a concrete patio or a wooden deck. Perhaps some of the asphalt behind the library will stay there, and be called "extra-hard scape."

Given all this, you might understand why Josh McKoon of the Education Park Coalition is a bit puzzled about this compromise. You'll recall he wanted a park around the central library -- but the memorandum of understanding doesn't have the word "park" in it anywhere. When the phrase "parking facility" shows up more often, McKoon might have reason for concern.

You'll recall Josh McKoon defined a "park" as a fenced-in area with walking trails [7 Jun]. The memorandum of understanding suggests tile paths are possible around the central library (that's "hardscape," by the way), but there's no mention of fencing. Perhaps it was left out to avoid giving criminals any ideas.

Josh McKoon was concerned Tuesday that only about $611,000 is committed for landscaping behind the central library. That could be where a planned "Story Telling Plaza" will go -- to be dedicated by telling the story of the 1999 sales tax promises.

Former Library Board member David Rothschild dared to go farther, telling reporters the 1999 sales tax campaign promised a library and a park - NOT a natatorium, Citizens Service Center or anything else. While I understand his frustration, I don't think this is a good time to give terror cells any long-term goals.

The final hurdle to settling the library land question is a vote by the Muscogee County School Board next Monday night. But if recent months are any indication, things might be delayed yet again - for instance, if John Wells falls on his head and gets injured with running with the bulls in Spain.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Yes, we heard you several weeks ago. You said you were tired of "Hurtsboro Mondays." Yet we also keep hearing about interesting stories there:

Richard:

Reliable sources inform that - a member of the "Hurt'sboro City Council was arrested and placed under $40,000.00 bond a few days ago. Do you suppose more arrests are to follow?

First things first: the sources are mostly right. Online records show Hurtsboro City Council Mae Dell McVay was arrested June 30 on ethics charges, and will be arraigned in mid-August. But the records show two counts against her, with a $20,000 bond for each. So she might get a "pay one, get one free" discount.

The Russell County District Attorney's office confirmed to your blog Tuesday that Mae Dell McVay faces two ethics charges. You may recall she was found in violation of Alabama ethics laws back in December [8 Jan]. A grand jury met in April and indicted her. Then she was arrested June 30. This is how Alabama defines a "speedy trial" these days.

The two counts against Mae Dell McVay stem from the sale of surplus Hurtsboro city vehicles to members of her family. Given what we've learned about Hurtsboro in the last six months, it's a bit surprising to think there are any surplus city vehicles at all - at least vehicles that run.

The online form for cases in Alabama has limited space, so we have to guess a bit at the two counts against Mae Dell McVay. One clearly is for using her position for personal gain. But the other reads: "REG BOARD/COMM MEMB-". What does that mean - that she's a Communist?

The District Attorney's office didn't know what "REG BOARD/COMM MEMB" meant, and suggested I call the District Court Clerk. Once I finally figured out that phone number (it's not listed in the white pages), I found out the office was closed for the day as of 4:00 p.m. I didn't know this office matched hours with Tyler's restaurant on 13^th Street.

While we were checking Alabama court records, we took a moment to look up the contempt of court charge against Constable Robert Schweiger. That case has been continued until mid-September - so with enough delays, maybe a Russell County Judge can schedule an "all-Hurtsboro" week of trials this fall.

BLOG UPDATE: Bill Heard Enterprises responded Tuesday to a countersuit from the Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs. But Kevin in the customer relations department never contacted me. So those letters offering a "potential recall" were a fraud - because Kevin hasn't called me at all.

An attorney for Bill Heard Enterprises explained the dealership did nothing "willfully" wrong with the letters last October, because an advertising firm in Arizona went too far. Given the company's 16-year track record of complaints with the state, maybe it's time to hire a local church group to send out your appeal letters.

It turns out the state complaint is a countersuit. Bill Heard Enterprises sued the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs first, to find out who reported the phony recall letters. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted Bill Heard suspects its competition is filing all the complaints -- and I think Carl Gregory still has room for one more car lot on Northlake Parkway.

We knew about the Bill Heard story before readers alerted us to it late Tuesday with e-mails. This one brings up an interesting side issue:

Hi, Richard! This is front page news in the ATL. The question is will any local tv stations cover this? I'll be watching closely but I suspect once again the airwaves will be trumped by the advertisers. Those fools at Bill Heard aren't fooling anybody and the stations appear shameful in their neglect over the years of this rotten sales saga based right here in good ol Columbus GA! where is Talkline when you need it? Robbie

Robbie may have been surprised to see that not only did Tuesday's Ledger-Enquirer put the business complaint on page one, but both 6:00 p.m. newscasts made Bill Heard the top news story. Well, WRBL actually began the newscast with a weather update - which it now seems to do every time the temperature changes three degrees from the day before.

I suppose the old Talkline radio show would have brought up Bill Heard Tuesday - but then again, Tuesday was WDAK's day for the "Viewpoint" show. I wasn't able to listen, but wouldn't Mike Gaymon of the Chamber of Commerce have mentioned it? Or was he too busy offering short movie reviews?

By the way, we checked the Columbus Better Business Bureau's web site Tuesday - and found it's received 41 complaints about Bill Heard Chevrolet in the last 36 months. But curiously, Bill Heard Cadillac next door has received less than ten. This should prove once and for all which car gets more care from General Motors....

Now before our car gets towed away by Repo Joe, let's get caught up on other news from the last couple of days:

+ An evening thunderstorm moved through Columbus, and Georgia Power told WRBL about 5,000 customers lost electricity. And those were probably all the customers who cared about the baseball All-Star Game....

+ Muscogee County School Superintendent John Phillips received an award from the "Georgia Association of Education Leaders." So take that, you scoffers! At least Dr. Phillips is making "adequate yearly progress."

+ The evening news revealed the city of Talbotton bounced checks worth more than $2,000 over the last 14 months. The city finance director was tracked down for a comment -- at the liquor store he owns. If anybody decides to remake "The Andy Griffith Show," I have a script almost ready....

+ A publicist for Sean "Diddy" Combs confirmed the entertainer has broken up with his long-time love, Columbus native Kim Porter. So if anyone comes up to you and asks, "Diddy dump her?" you can answer, "Yes, Diddy did."

(Let's all hope this romance can be patched back together. Next year should be Porter's Columbus High School 20-year class reunion - and things will be a lot less interesting if she shows up alone.)

+ Craig Stahl signed a contract with the Columbus Cottonmouths, for what he says will be his final year of pro hockey. It's better for the team captain to sign in July, than play a Stahl game in October.

+ Instant Message to the driver who passed me on Macon Road, in a car covered with orange and white checkerboards: If it wasn't for that Florida license plate, I would have thought sure you were Tennessee graduate Andrew Wittenberg.

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