19 MAR 08: HARDIN DECISIONS
Well, well - it looks like Phenix City will have room at the top after all. But who could have guessed a year ago that the City Manager would stay, while the Mayor is going?
Phenix City Mayor Jeff Hardin said Tuesday he will NOT run for a second term, confirming a report in the Russell County "Redneckin'" blog. The mayor said he has other dreams to pursue. Now if Congressman Mike Rogers please will step aside, and allow him to do that....
I'm hearing Jeff Hardin decided against running for re-election because he believes Phenix City needs a full-time mayor, but the City Council only wants to pay for a part-time position. Isn't it amazing how local government often works exactly the opposite of pro football?
As of Tuesday, no one had announced a campaign for Phenix City Mayor. And come to think of it, it's not too late for Constable Robert Schweiger to rent a house there and run for the job. Schweiger still could live full-time in Hurtsboro -- and he'd simply be following the City Manager's example.
Jeff Hardin's years as Phenix City Mayor have included several memorable moments. Perhaps the biggest tension resulted from his effort to abolish the City Manager's office. If he had run for a second term, it might have turned into a "de facto" referendum on the City Manager - with opponents boldly declaring, "A vote for e is a vote for Bubba."
A new hospital has opened in Phenix City during Jeff Hardin's years as mayor - a hospital which quickly had cutbacks, and a sale to Columbus doctors. But at least the Riverchase exit from the North Bypass might be named in his honor. You know, the Hardin right turn....
But one campaign promise keeps sticking to my brain, when I think of Mayor Jeff Hardin. He made a big issue of bringing a movie theater back to Phenix City. He may wind up doing well, to have an open Movie Gallery store.
The potentially biggest legacy of Jeff Hardin's years as mayor took a step forward Tuesday. The Phenix City Council voted to spend more than one million extra city dollars, to buy a triangle-shaped property near the Chattahoochee River. It means the end of the Riverview Apartments - to be replaced by condos with a view much "higher" in more ways than one.
"We took a bold move," Mayor Jeff Hardin told WRBL after the decision to buy "The Triangle." He admitted the price seems high, but he called it a long-term investment in downtown Phenix City. Those used car lots only seem to have sat along 14th Street for decades....
The Triangle property eventually will be turned over to Troy University, for a downtown Phenix City business school. Curtis Pitts with Troy admitted it will be difficult raising more than six million dollars for that school right now. When the University of Alabama has to postpone expanding the football stadium [True/AP], you know the economy's tight.
Critics of this sale argue the riverfront land should be left for private development, which will bring Phenix City property tax money. But at least The Phenixian high-rise condominium building will be built - and with Tuesday's City Council vote to raise water rates, maybe the residents can be encouraged to start rooftop gardens.
E-MAIL UPDATE: While we're in Russell County....
Richard,
Recently R.J. Schweiger took me to small claims court because he claimed that his horse ate something on my property and got sick. Well, I decided that I wasn't going to allow him to harass me the way he has others so I counterclaimed against him using the Alabama Litigation Accountability Act.
Schweiger sued me for $200.00 plus the cost ($70.00) of filing in small claims. I countersued him for over $300.00 and was awarded $250.00. If he does not pay the money that he owes me soon I am going to put a lien on the barn he lives in or the maybe truck he drives.
I hope that others in Hurtsboro follow my lead and stop this trouble making tyrant in his tracks. There are several in town that could easily win defamation suits against Schweiger. I am even considering it myself based on past accusations that Schweiger has made regarding me....
Thanks,
Former resident of Hurtsboro,
Sam Smith
There's a section of this message that we've been asked NOT to release for the time being. But don't worry, residents of Hurtsboro -- this former police officer is NOT going after the interim chief, over those speeding tickets.
But wow - Constable Robert Schweiger even takes legal action over sick horses?! I'm a bit surprised he hasn't built a tall fence all around his property, to keep the corrupt citizens of Hurtsboro away. That's what some religious cult leaders do, you know....
The InBox also has a response to the latest big issue in Little League. No, not that beach party -- the topic from Tuesday:
Richard,
My child has the same pair of pants and stood up to the 3 times i washed them.That dirt is no joke. The first time I washed them you could not even tell I washed them. Then I used bleach. It said not to ...but I did anyway. Helped a little but the red dirt was still there. So I took the advice of another mom and bought this
http://www.summitbrands.com/brands/ironout.aspx
WOW they stood up to rust cleaner. Soak em outside because that stuff stinks real bad.
The inside of DCR sports is real messy!!! I kept having the urge to tell the guy that worked there to WORK. They have a pitching machine you can use for 15 an hour. But it was broken so im not real sure why we went. And maybe that mess caused us to get the wrong pair of socks that must have been made for Goliath and the wrong hat.
Can you ask your readers in the know if Ron Harris has been back?
You worked at CNN! Did you ever wanna pop Larrys suspenders?
Samantha
Isn't this amazing? You start a humor blog about the news, and it turns into Hints from Heloise....
And here I thought there was no such thing as a wrong-sized pair of socks. Especially not in baseball - where the knee-high look can be old-fashioned and cutting-edge modern at the same time.
Ron Harris is the former Pioneer Little League board member, who was arrested over the winter on sexual exploitation charges. To clear up one rumor: we're told he no longer works at a Columbus computer game business, which young people might frequent. In fact, the only computer game Harris might want to play for a while is online poker.
I never met Larry King during my years at CNN Center. And I certainly would NOT have been tempted to snap his suspenders - especially nowadays. The impact might seriously hurt that guy.
Now for some other highlights from the [CORRECTED] next-to-last day of winter, which seemed more like a day in spring....
+ Senator Saxby Chambliss stopped in Columbus, to confirm he's running for re-election. Chambliss was joined by Georgia's other Senator, Johnny Isakson - which I think means they're car-pooling, due to high gas prices.
+ Construction began in South Commons on the new city skateboard park. I'm a bit surprised the groundbreaking ceremony didn't get the skateboarders involved - maybe by having them ride down 20-foot-tall shovel handles.
(Columbus Council approved an application for a skateboard park grant, from the Tony Hawk Foundation. When a champion skateboarder has his own foundation, it makes me wonder if I should change investment plans.)
+ The national teacher of the year visited Columbus State University. Andrea Davidson told WLTZ she works by the "new three R's" - which are rigor, relationships and relevance. Considering she teaches music to elementary school students, the set with arithmetic admittedly doesn't make quite as much sense.
+ A wildfire developed at Fort Benning, near Roosevelt Range. A strong south wind spread smoke from the fire across Columbus - and that combined with pine pollen should have made gas mask sales double.
+ The evening news reported Lake Martin is almost full, thanks to winter rains. But overseers warn another summer of drought is in the forecast - so please continue drinking your alcoholic beverages at full strength until further notice.
+ Instant Message to the woman at the Georgia Power window downtown: Thank you. You were ethical and honest. You could have noticed I'd written two checks for the same electric bill, put one in your pocket and never said a thing. Instead, you made me concerned I might be developing Alzheimer's disease.
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BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 699 (+ 25, 3.7%)
TRUDGE REPORT, DAY 17: 1.45 miles jogged, 0.45 walked. Total: 53.05 miles run, 8.35 walked
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