15 JAN 09: Have You Driven a Ford Lately?

"Now you know when the NAACP comes in the house, it causes tension." That's what Columbus NAACP President Bill Madison said during Wednesday's Russell County Commission meeting. That's the way to sell tickets to his group's February banquet....

Bill Madison showed up at the request of Russell County Commissioner Ronnie Reed, but NOT to sell banquet tickets. He called for a compromise on the use of a county-owned black Ford Expedition. Uh-oh, now I've done it! On Martin Luther King Junior's actual birthday, I've brought up skin color.

But wait - Ronnie Reed actually brought it up first. He told WRBL the rules for Russell County Commissioners using that Ford Expedition were "a racial issue." And that's why Bill Madison showed up. In this case, the "advancement" in his group's name involved driving a gas-guzzling SUV.

The issue actually involved when Russell County Commissioners can use the Expedition. Ronnie Reed said he and other commissioners should be allowed to use it for travel around their districts -- especially large rural districts. So they'd drive from their homes to downtown Phenix City, then drive the Expedition back to their districts?! How quickly we forget four-dollar gasoline....

But fellow commissioner Tillman Pugh argued the Ford Expedition should be reserved for travel outside Russell County. I assume this means important meetings in Birmingham and Montgomery - as well as the occasional (ahem) "recruiting trips" every fall to Auburn.

Ronnie Reed contended African-American commissioners need to use the Ford Expedition inside their districts, because those areas have plenty of dirt roads. Tillman Pugh suggested using personal vehicles, then billing Russell County for expenses. If someone submitted a $1,000 bill for new shock absorbers, that might warrant an investigation.

If Commissioners Cattie Epps or Larry Screws raised a fuss about the Ford Expedition, I could understand it. But have you checked the map of Russell County Commission districts? Ronnie Reed's District 4 consists of urban Phenix City. I know from recent experience that South Seale Road does NOT have that many potholes.

On top of that, where is the complaint from District 6 Commissioner Mervin Dudley? His district includes a wide area from Seale to Crawford. Do Dudley's fellow Euro-American commissioners quietly pay his expenses? Or did some used car dealer along U.S. 80 sell him an SUV already?

A final vote on the Ford Expedition came at Wednesday's meeting. Four commissioners voted to limit the Ford Expedition to travel outside Russell County. Two voted to allow it for activities inside the district. And one commissioner abstained - perhaps in hopes the "compromise" would involve adding a Toyota to the fleet.

(We'd give you more details on the commission meeting, but the Russell County government hasn't posted minutes of meetings online since October 2006. In fact, there isn't even a picture of the current commission there - as if members also are quarreling about which photographer to use.)

Ronnie Reed ended the meeting still calling it a racial issue. Tillman Pugh insisted it's an economic issue -- and a small matter that's been blown out of proportion. Pugh stopped short of calling it a "fishing Expedition."

But this debate leaves a couple of lingering questions about local NAACP chapters. Why was Bill Madison in Columbus called by Russell County Commissioner Ronnie Reed? Apparently it's because the Phenix City-Russell County chapter has been under some kind of "compliance issue" for more than a year. Even civil rights groups have to obey an authority once in a while.

Then there's the additional comment Bill Madison made before the Russell County Commission. After explaining how the NAACP tends to bring tension, he said: "When you don't have tension, you don't have change." So apparently you can keep New Year's resolutions only if someone nags you over and over about them.

We have to hold a Wednesday e-mail until another day, while we make some calls about it. So let's check other news from the day:

+ The Columbus Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting. President Mike Gaymon predicted our area will come out of recession within six months, and do it faster than the rest of Georgia. So go out there and buy some Kias, to move the whole process in West Point along.

+ Legacy Chevrolet owner Emanuel Jones admitted to WRBL he's asked the incoming Obama administration to provide "bailout" money to minority car dealers. Now hold on here! You spend an estimated $25 million to buy a bankrupt Columbus car dealer, and now you need federal help? It's almost enough to make me attempt a buyout of Golden Donuts.

+ Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue presented his "State of the State" address. He proposed awarding "merit pay" to teachers whose instruction helps students learn more - one day after saying teacher pay raises would have to be frozen. That's the way to increase the CRCT pressure on students....

+ Vanderbilt was victorious over Georgia in men's college basketball. But the final score was only 50-40 - which apparently shows the Arctic cold wave already had reached Nashville.

+ Instant Message to the unemployed architectural worker I heard at a Columbus church: You put it very well. When your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep becomes your downfall.

The number of unique visitors to our blog has doubled since 2006! To advertise to them, offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation 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: 1,288 (+ 36, 2.9%)

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

© 2003-09 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.