12 MAY 09: Talk for the CURED
"GOT QUESTIONS GET ANSWERS" said the sign outside a Phenix City funeral home Monday night. The sign even directed readers to a church. But on this night, the questions were more about "down below" - like city water lines.
Pine Hill Baptist Church hosted a town hall forum on Phenix City issues. Despite the concern expressed by a blog reader here Monday, four City Council members attended. Mayor Sonny Coulter was absent -- perhaps to guard against radical atheists barging in and taking everyone hostage.
The town hall forum was organized by CURED - the Citizens for Unification, Revitalization and Economic Development. When group members were asked to stand, only about ten people did. Based on statistics presented during the forum, these might be the only people in South Phenix City earning more than $50,000 per year.
There was a surprise scene-stealing appearance at the town hall, by former Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford. He told the forum he lost last year's mayoral election because his opponent knew how to use the Internet. Ford apparently thought "Myspace" referred to his office at City Hall.
"To get results down in Montgomery, Alabama, we've got to run for public office," Johnny Ford declared at the forum. Translation: no one has hired him as a lobbyist.
Johnny Ford once served in the Alabama House, and he told the town hall he's "considering" a campaign for State Senate against Myron Penn. Well, check that - Ford ended his talk by saying, "Send me back to Montgomery, Alabama." So much for calling this a "listening tour."
Until Johnny Ford took the microphone, the focus of the town hall was on Phenix City matters. The audience was invited to submit written questions to city officials. Your blog already had four pages of questions, mailed to us recently by the mysterious "13th Street Businessperson." Since hardly any of them came up at the forum, he might be a minority of one.
We'll get to those questions, after we review the forum itself. It took place in South Phenix City - an area City Manager Wallace Hunter said has been "neglected." He promises to make it a top priority, in a list of projects he'll present to a City Council work session today. So finally something could flow to the south side besides flood water....
Wallace Hunter noted two major projects already are underway in South Phenix City. One is a 288-unit apartment complex along U.S. 431. It's valued at $16 million, or more than $55,000 per apartment - so basic cable had better be free.
The other big project in South Phenix City actually had its official groundbreaking Monday. It's a new instructional building at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. The giant parking lot where that building will stand won't be needed anymore - apparently because enrollment will drop, as students go to Troy University's downtown campus.
Wallace Hunter moved from Phenix City Fire Chief to City Manager only five months ago, but he showed an impressive knowledge of city projects and neighborhood needs. It was Councilor Arthur Sumbry who gave the most naive, yet funny answer of the evening -- explaining city cemeteries look bad because "the grass grew up too fast."
Phenix City's development consultant also spoke at the town hall. Judson Edwards said few retail stores have located on the south side because its per-person income is about $14,500 per year - less than half the national average. Yes, some areas can be too poor for Krystal....
The Phenix City Councilors at the forum gave short talks as well. Jimmy Wetzel declared Streetscape on Broad Street "completed." Well, save for some landscaping. And that traffic light outside City Hall isn't working yet. And part of me still suspects the road equipment is hiding along the Riverwalk, waiting for a big wreck.
Jimmy Wetzel introduced the new Phenix City Police Chief to the forum. Wetzel added several police officer positions currently are open - "and justly so." Hmmmm, how many other officers have been fired for misconduct?
(The City Manager added he's trying to get Phenix City police officers "on their feet," walking beats. Someone must have tipped him off to that new jump in gas prices.)
Russell County Commissioner Cattie Epps missed her scheduled time to speak at the town hall, but she spoke later. She revealed the old courthouse (now called the "Judicial Center") needs a new roof, because the current one is leaking. Huh?! Why can't they illustrate justice rolling down like waters?
Now to the 13th Street Businessperson's questions. Some of them were addressed during the forum, while we had to ask others later:
The Thursday April 24th edition of the Columbus newspaper reported certain statements which are certainly beyond my comprehension. Didn't the developer originally agree to donate the property if the inter-change was constructed adjacent to his remaining properties?
If this refers to land around U.S. 80 and Riverchase Drive, Councilor Max Wilkes told the forum the city is still "paying for the interchange." If the dispute goes to trial in July, the city will pay lawyers.
Is it true that the property the developer is offering the city in a swap along the Cochgalechee Creek lies within an an undevelopable swamp?
That may not be a problem - because Councilor Jimmy Wetzel announced at the forum that the city received a deed Monday to develop the land as a "watershed area." The city dreams of making it a south side version of Moon Lake at Idle Hour Park. So swamp-to-lake actually is an upgrade.
Jimmy Wetzel noted it might take a couple of years to develop the south side lake, because the Army Corps of Engineers has to approve the project. We don't those Florida Gulf Coast shrimp to starve, you know....
How many city attorneys does the city have on the payroll? Opelika, Auburn and even Columbus only have one but as I read the newspaper it appears that Phenix City has two, three, four or more. This certainly does not sound like stewardship of the taxpayer dollar.
Only one city attorney was introduced at the forum - Jimmy Graham. Perhaps his attorney wife Honey had another commitment.
When elected officials attend out of town meetings do their spouses accompany them? Who pays their expenses?.... How many Councilmembers attended the meeting in Huntsville? Did their spouses accompany them? How much of the citizens mone did the spend? Could they (individually) explain to the citizens what they learned?
First-year Councilor Michelle Walker told me the spouses can attend state conferences -- but Phenix City does NOT pay for them. And council members can obtain "discounts" to attend meetings like the one in Huntsville. I'm not sure what anyone would do in Huntsville besides go to a convention - especially after one day at the Air and Space Museum.
"There's different programs you can go to," Michelle Walker explained about the Alabama state convention for Council members. "Not all of us are just going down there and relaxing." No, I didn't ask how many Phenix City officials actually did....
The idea is that each council member goes to different breakout sessions, and then shares that knowledge with fellow Councilors. In local governments, that approach can be helpful. In some churches, checking other programs would be absolutely discouraged.
The Businessperson had many more questions, but a lack of writing time means some must wait until Wednesday. (Hey, maybe he'll go to the Phenix City Council work session and ask them personally!) Let's quickly wrap up other Monday news:
+ WRBL reported Columbus Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Fountain was arrested, for some kind of physical fight with his adult son. The Harris County Sheriff suspects the son was the aggressor - but this shows the value of firefighters carrying concealed axes.
+ Columbus State University unveiled a historic marker, at the site of its founding 51 years ago. It's on Talbotton Road, outside an old hosiery mill where Hannan Magnet Academy now stands. Isn't this great progress - going from making socks to making magnets?
+ The Valley City Council voted to loosen its alcohol rules, to allow beer and wine on city property. The Chamber of Commerce explains this will be helpful for the Kia plant in West Point. Well, we certainly don't want employees downing six-packs along the side of Interstate 85 after work.
+ Shaw High School retired the #91 football jersey of former star linebacker Philip Wheeler. Wheeler says he expects to start for the Indianapolis Colts this coming season - which is interesting, since the team depth chart currently is empty. Even Peyton Manning is going to have to prove something to their new coach.
+ Cleveland eliminated the Atlanta Hawks from the N.B.A. playoffs 84-74. Hawks radio analyst Dennis Scott praised Cleveland star LeBron James for "not crying about every call" anymore. Now if Scott can only persuade play-by-play announcer Steve Holman to do the same thing....
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