22 JAN 09: In-cop-etent?

Some people simply can't stay away from politics, even when they're out of office. A former official stepped back in Wednesday, and put an ordinary-sounding retirement in a very different light. And amazingly, it had nothing to do with Bush administration officials griping to Sean Hannity.

Former Phenix City Councilor John Storey went to WRBL and claimed Police Chief Brian McGarr isn't really retiring of his own choice in March. Storey says McGarr was forced to retire -- implying he really was fired. It's almost like Storey's middle name is "Developing."

On top of that, Chief Brian McGarr reportedly has turned in his police badge and gun. They're pretty tough in Phenix City, aren't they? If McGarr worked in security for Muscogee County schools, he might be given back his weapon at retirement.

John Storey also claims Chief Brian McGarr is being thrown under the paddy wagon proverbial bus because he was considered "incompetent." I'm not sure what that means. Was McGarr supposed to find some kind of crime at Broad Street Blues, before it closed?

John Storey clearly wanted to speak up in Brian McGarr's behalf - saying the police chief was NOT incompetent. If Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington wants to make some extra money, he can go to Phenix City and personally study this.

(But then again, maybe Phenix City Manager Wallace Hunter already consulted someone about questions of competence. Hunter was a fire chief, like Columbus's Jeff Meyer still is.)

Phenix City Mayor Sonny Coulter says the police chief is using up several weeks of vacation time right now, before retiring 1 March. Come to think of it, Brian McGarr may have postponed his vacations for a reason. Prior Phenix City councils tried to do away with the City Manager's office, after Bubba Roberts went on National Guard duty.

WRBL contacted Brian McGarr, but he didn't want to talk "on the record" about his future. Hmmm - has he already talked with the official attorney in charge of suing Phenix City?

The bad news for Phenix City is that it's losing a 29-year police veteran in Brian McGarr. But McGarr probably won't have to worry about finding a job. Columbus has 65 police openings waiting for him....

-> We tried for a big win Wednesday night at the poker table. Did we succeed? Find out at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <--

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of Phenix City, here's a reply to our Monday topic on proposed pay raises. We've had to edit this message a great deal, because the writer wants to remain anonymous:

Please do not use my name, however I will provide it....

A legal ad has already run the required 4 times and will be ready for a vote by the 5 member legislative delegation when they convene in Alabama. Once they pass it, the council will be able to vote on it. The first part of the bill calls for an increase in pay to equal that of the Russell County Commission. Their annual salary would go from $9,000 to $21,500 and the mayor's salary from $12,000 to $35,000. This would go into effect next term. The second part of the bill allows them to receive an undocumented expense check in the difference of the two salaries until the new salary goes into effect. This would go into effect on the first day of the next month after the bill has passed. I guess Jimmy forgot to tell you about that.

There are so many things wrong with this situation. Wetzel is lying when he puts this on Lesley Vance. The council discussed this in a work session and the legal ad was drafted 5 days later.

Did I mention that no additional duties are required of the mayor, contrary to the allusion that Wetzel makes?

Did I mention that the legal ad that ran never mentions Phenix City by name?

I admit that I am a little more than ticked that this situation is taking place. If you are interested in knowing what this council has been doing in their first 3 months I would be glad to discuss this further.... I appreciate what you do and that you have the guts to put your name on what you do.... Let me know if you are interested in more information, all documented.

Jimmy Wetzel mentioned something in passing about an "expense check" when I talked with him, but I wasn't quite sure what he meant. For all I knew, the Phenix City Council members might be sharing their own black Ford Expedition.

The way this e-mail explains it, at least there would be an election before Phenix City Council members could receive their big raise. But wow - a $2,000 "expense check" for the mayor every month? He could make trips to South Korea every other month, to lobby for more Kia suppliers.

It's also nice to know the Phenix City Council had a "work session" to discuss this big raise. If the members didn't work for it at all, citizens really would be in an uproar....

I won't get into whatever "guts" I have to put my name on this blog. I'm trying to reduce that part of my body - but the discount sales on chocolate chip cookies lately simply have been too tempting.

Let's hurry back to Columbus, for some other Wednesday headlines....

+ The morning low was 19 degrees F., matching the lowest temperature of the winter. When you're at the gas pump and you hear a "crunch" when you reach for the window wiper, don't worry -- it's simply ice in the container. The plastic wiper blade has NOT shattered in pieces.

+ Which man was overheard at a Columbus nightclub saying, "If I see one more person shedding tears over fr**kin' Barack Obama...."? Maybe he should go to the Ledger-Enquirer, where they're smiling over the extra newspaper sales.

+ Richard Hyatt's web site reported security officers in Washington barred Columbus Councilors Jerry Barnes and Mimi Woodson from attending the inauguration. That'll teach Barnes for taking needles with him, to offer free diabetes screening.

+ The Chamber of Commerce confirmed DongNam will NOT build a floor mat factory for the Kia plant at the Columbus Technology Park after all. Hmmmm - who looks like the doormat now?

+ The parent company of WRBL and the Opelika-Auburn News announced it will suspend matching contributions to 401(k) retirement plans. Phil Scoggins might have to update his resume one more time after all....

+ Georgia Lottery President Margaret DeFrancisco visited Columbus Technical College. But no reporter seemed to ask her the question that's been on my mind for months - why did they drop host Glenn Burns from the nightly drawings? Does he really need that much extra time to prepare Atlanta weather forecasts?

(About 70 percent of the students at Columbus Technical College are there thanks to lottery-funded HOPE scholarships. And then people wonder why college students love President Obama so much - they know all about the audacity of HOPE.)

+ Kentucky cut down Auburn in men's college basketball 73-64. The way area teams are playing this season, the Columbus resident with the most recruiting offers in March may be Sam Mitchell -- not to play, but to coach.

+ Instant Message to Disney Theme Parks: In a way, I'm glad to hear you're offering buyout packages to top corporate executives. Laying off one of the seven dwarves simply wouldn't seem right - although Sleepy probably deserves to go.

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