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Getting squeezed
Published Sunday, June 29, 2008
NATCHEZ — It doesn’t take a mathematician to realize that the numbers just don’t add up.
At the beginning of the last fiscal year, the Natchez Board of Aldermen budgeted $240,000 for gas for city cars in the public works department, police and fire departments, planning, inspection and recreation departments.
So far, the city has spent $181,000 in gas and has to stretch $59,000 over the remaining months, a feat that is bound to prove impossible.
Citywide, an average of $23,000 is spent per month on fuel.
According to City Clerk Donnie Holloway, once the money runs out from the fuel fund, the city will have to start pulling from the general fund, which could have some serious implications.
“Hopefully our sales tax will stay strong and we’ll finish our budget year in the black,” Holloway said.
Fluctuations in gas prices are normal, but Holloway said the board never dreamed there would be a steady, unwavering incline when they budgeted last year.
“We weren’t thinking $4 a gallon,” he said. “Back then it was $2.50, $2.60 a gallon.”
Holloway said as the time nears to establish next year’s budget, the city should probably budget “at least” $5 a gallon.
Last week, city officials traveled to a Mississippi Municipal League conference, where high gas prices were a hot topic.
Holloway said a few suggestions were offered during the conference.
“This was a big discussion but nobody has really taken any steps at the present time,” he said.
Holloway said one option that was discussed was to cut back some departments’ work weeks to four days a week.
Certainly not applicable to the fire and police departments, he said this could only be done for departments who could afford to lose a day.
To compensate the payroll, those who worked only four days would work 10-hour days.
Another option would be not to allow some departments to take vehicles home.
City Building Inspector Paul Dawes said he does not favor this idea.
The inspection department has four cars, all of which are taken home by the employees.
“We do get called out on occasion for weekends and after hours so we are required to take them home so we can perform that service,” he said. “It would certainly dampen some of the services we provide.”
He said mileage is watched carefully to make sure the cars aren’t being used recreationally.
Recreation Director Ralph Tedder said his department can’t afford to cut back on vehicle use either.
“If we decrease (the use of vehicles) it’s going to reduce services and the quality of services,” he said.
Essentially, golf course and ballpark grass has to be cut and golf carts have to be used. There’s no way around it, he said.
Police Chief Mike Mullins said his department uses on average 928 gallons of gas per week, paying $3.64 a gallon, which rounds out to $3,380.
He said he’s willing to explore options to reduce fuel consumption.
“We have not bought the large 8-cyclinder unmarked vehicles since I was the chief,” he said.
Moving from 8-cylinders to six has been helpful and so has cutting back on leaving the car constantly running.
“We used to leave the engines idling but with the new fuel injected engines, it’s more efficient to turn the car off,” Mullins said. “In older cars, it took more gas to crank the motor.”
Mayor-elect Jake Middleton said he’s bouncing around a few ideas in his head but plans to talk to all of the department heads about what to do.
Right now though, he said he is thinking about downsizing vehicles and making sure that the trips the employees are making in the cars are organized.
“We’re going to have to learn to work in grids, if you will,” Middleton said instead of needlessly running all over town.
Adams County
County Administrator Cathy Walker said she has not seen anything take a toll on the county’s budget the way the cost of fuel has.
“It’s hurting us,” she said. Walker said the county’s two biggest gas expenditures are the Adams County Road Department and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
Supervisor Darryl Grennell said the fuel problem is particularly difficult to deal with because the county cannot control the cost of fuel nor can they eliminate the services that account for majority of the fuel usage.
“We can’t get around that,” he said.
Grennell said when the last budget was adopted there were no indicators to say the cost of fuel would go as high as it has.
In 2007 when the current budget was adopted, Walker said the ACSO was allocated approximately $108,000 for fuel, they have currently spent over $114,000 for this year.
The road department has a gas and diesel budget.
They were budgeted for approximately $60,000 for gas and $105,000 for diesel.
Walker said the road crew has spent 88 percent of their gas budget and 103 percent of their diesel budget as of last week.
Adams County Deputy Maj. Charles Harrigill recently estimated the sheriff’s office would exceed their fuel budget by as much as $30,000.
And while the new budget will not go into effect until October, Grennell said it is difficult to tell how much damage will be done by ever escalating fuel prices.
While the supervisors have not taken any official budgetary action yet, Walker said money will inevitably have to be moved from other areas in the budget to compensate for fuel costs.
In an effort to monitor fuel usage the supervisors recently passed a resolution mandating more stringent documentation for those using the county’s credit cards to purchase gas.
“Our consumption has not changed,” Walker said. “It’s just the price.”
To minimize the way fuel is used. Supervisor Mike Lazarus said the board will examine the way the road department uses its vehicles.
Lazarus also said the board plans to discuss possible purchase of smaller trucks to service the road crew.
But Lazarus said he believes the trucks the county uses could be hard to sell since they use so much fuel.
Concordia Parish
The Concordia Parish Police Jury is on a yearly calendar, so their fiscal year began in January, and six months into the fiscal year, they have already begun to feel the pinch when it comes to the price of gas.
The jury had to vote to amend its budget to compensate for rising fuel costs earlier this year, from $120,000 allocated for fuel to $225,000, Police Jury Secretary-Treasurer Hazel Dickson said.
The problem has likely not been addressed for the last time, Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington said.
“We are probably going to have to make another adjustment before the end of the year,” Ferrington said.
In Vidalia, the rising cost of fuel does not directly affect a single line in the budget, City Manager Ken Walker said.
Instead, fuel — which is bought by contract — is grouped under the umbrella line item of “supplies.”
That way, in the event funds are needed, monies can be transferred from the appropriate funds, Walker said.
But that doesn’t mean that the town isn’t implementing some cost-saving solutions, including requiring town employees — with the exception of supervisors — to park their vehicles instead of taking them home.
Likewise, at the Vidalia Police Department police chief-elect Tapper Hendricks has said all non-patrol officers will be required to leave what were take-home cars at the station to save gas.
“In 2005, the police department’s fuel bill was $46,000,” Hendricks said. “Last year, it was $82,000.”
That means the two large Dodge pickup trucks the department has are going to the city for the mayor to decide what to do with, and other car inventory is likely to be retired, he said.
But there is another tool Hendricks is considering, something he said is a growing national trend — gas powered golf carts.
Though patrol officers will still be assigned a patrol unit, the six-gallon tank golf carts will help the city save approximately $80 a day for police business like neighborhood drive-throughs and late-night businesses checks, Hendricks said.
“Not only will that serve to make personal communication between the officers and the citizens easier, it will save gas,” he said.
Comments
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm tired of seeing city vehicles at Walmart and Piggly Wiggly on the week-ends and after 5.If employees NEED to take the vehicles home, they should not be using them for personal use. What really burns me up, is city employees who live in the county and drive the city owned vehicles back and forth.Ridiculous. The city needs to tighten their belts in ALL departments.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 1:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You said a "mouthful"! Maybe things will change since PW is going!
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 1:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These issues that our local departments are facing are not unique to our area, it is a national crisis. There should be more than enough "brainstorming" going on to come up with some good alternatives to help out. Department leaders need to get in contact with many other department heads to see how they are handleing the situation.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 2:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Elect some more Democrats, who have been opposed to using our reserves or drilling off Florida, in Alaska, or elsewhere where we have vast amounts of our own oil instead of being dependant on foreign oil. Put in Obama and suffer the consequences.
Posted by JohnQ (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 3:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
City officials allot however many thousands of dollars for fuel and they seem to always go over the allotment, why not buy vehicles that are hybrids, fuel cell, or hydrogen powered? Or are city officials not up to date and current with the nation's depressional state?
Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 5:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For one thing the supervisors should NOT have county vehicles and free gas. The city officials should not either. Regular citizens have to drive their own cars to work, so should they. John Q, are you serious?? hydrogen powered cars are decades away. Hybrids are expensive and the batteries have a 70k life cycle. I think that the city and county should as of today stop all free gas to elected officials. It won't happen because they are greedy and really do not give a darn about you and I. The will raise taxes to cover it, book it!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gas cost was not out of control until now! These last 8 years, the cost of everything has spun out of control. I don't see how anyone can believe, a vote for McCain is going to change anything, other than be another 4 years of the LIFE being sucked out of the middle class. What class has been the life blood of this country? It's not the extremely wealthy as many are made to believe. It certainly is not the poor who have well below the median income needed to be called working poor. Who sustains these people? American banks are being sold and bailed out by foreign countries! Long standing American companies like Budweiser are looking to sell to Europran countries, something as American as Budweiser being sold is quite shocking. We are clearly in a war that can go on for decades and according to McCain, he doesn't car if we stay for 100 more years. The housing market has tanked so badly, until home ownership is no longer the "American" dream it was. Folk owe more on their houses, than they are worth, upside down. We can bury our heads in the sand, we can deny there needs to be CHANGE, true change, but NOTHING will ever change, except we change it.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please excuse my fast typing on a laptop, it's European and care.
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
STOP DOING SO MUCH UNNESSARCARY DRIVING AROUND.CITY OFFICALS AS WELL AS POLICE OFFICERS TAKE THERE CARS HOME AND SOMETIMES USE THEM FOR THERE PERSONAL USE.POLICE DRIVE AROUND TO MUCH.MAYBE THEY SHOULD JUST STAY PARKED SOMEWHERE TILL CALLED ON THE RADIO.ANOTHER THING,MAKE THESE PEOPLE USE THERE OWN CARS TO COME TO WORK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.THERE NO BETTER THAN THE EVERYDAY JOE WHO HAS TO PAY FOR THERE OWN GAS TO GET TO WORK.DO THIS AND THEY COULD CUT THE SPENDING ON GASOLINE FROM $23,000.00 A MONTH TO ABOUT $18,000.00 A MONTH.BUT I GRANT YOU INSTEAD OF THE CITY DOING THESE THINGS TO CUT THE COST OF FUEL,THEY WILL PASS THE COST DOWN TO THE TAX PAYER AND RAISE OUR TAXES.THE PEOPLE OF NATCHEZ AND ADAMS COUNTY ARE DRIVING LESS,AND THE RESUILT IS THEY ARE SPENDING LESS ON GASOLINE.YOU DONT SEE THE TRAFFIC YOU USE TO SEE BEFORE FUEL PRICES SKY ROCKETED.ITS COMMON SENSE NATCHEZ,MAKE THOSE PEOPLE USE THERE OWN CARS TO GET TO WORK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.MAKE POLICE OFFICERS STAY PARKED TILL THEY ARE CALLED.
Posted by blindink (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't the cities of Vidalia and Natchez and the County and Parish Government, look into the electric buggy's, don't some local company make something like that, the downtown police route could be done on them as the Vidalia Chief stated, using a gas cart, well an electric would be a lot cheaper and also it would no noise!!!
I know replacing the golf carts with them would to costly, but it could be done little by little, maybe the company would put some there for rent.
Just an idea
Posted by eyeinthesky (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
police cars are not taken home. only investigators cars are do to the fact they get called out on a regular basis. now the sheriffs dept is another story, deputies take thier cars home and you see them taking thier kids to school and picking them up in the afternoon. then they go to wal mart and make groceries. no wonder they are over budget.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Last time I was out there, the golf carts were electric.
Recreation Director Ralph Tedder said his department can’t afford to cut back on vehicle use either.
“If we decrease (the use of vehicles) it’s going to reduce services and the quality of services,” he said.
Essentially, golf course and ballpark grass has to be cut and golf carts have to be used.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a predictable nationwide problem that will only get worse with the inexperience of Obama Hussien !
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If GW Bush has indicated ANY experience in running this country, it must be into the ground.
Also, with the way crime is, it is not feasible nor is safe for police to sit and WAIT for a call. I want them riding and patroling or what happened to walking the beat? There are certain neighborhoods, downtown, etc, where a car could be parked and the neighborhood canvassed, this makes for more effective community policing, people get to know the officers, etc.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"If GW Bush has indicated ANY experience in running this country, it must be into the ground."
Best trufe post in a long time. Great. Though paraphrases of it are being tossed around like squash at a wedding.
or is that rice? hmmmmmmm
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i see county cars all around town with women and children in them you know that is not for their job.... if they could cut that out it would help i have to buy my gas to go tothe store well anywhere for that matter so i think they should to
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
by the city and the county using so much fuel,why don't they get together and buy it wholesale from a company and stored it themselves. i'm sure one of these gas companies will give them a real discounted rate for buying over a quarter of million dollar worth of gas.
Posted by Username (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Iranian president,Ahmadinejad said the dollar is a “worthless piece of paper.”
And our public officials still don't realize this???
How do they think We the people... feel?
We pay taxes on EVERYTHING* and suffer before the officials ever get the funds.
If by letting the citizens know of the troubles to come thorugh a newspaper story is asking for advice I would say if you want to do it American style....CHARGE IT!
*everything except the black market
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can move to Iran , since you all like it so much! Don't forget to carry Owhampy and Michelle with you, also Hillary and her lover, Bill?
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 29, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rushingjr don't forget bill's lovers also.....
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Paul Dawes of the inspection department thinks all four cars of his department need to be taken home every night because occasionally someone may get called out on a weekend or night? Why can't someone be "on call"? Or better yet just go pickup a car if necessary? I believe it has become all too common in Natchez for the use of a car to be a perk of public employee's jobs. How much does that save a person to have no car note, no tag, no insurance premium, no maintenance, no tires or gasoline to buy, but yet the use of a car? Why can't we have a city garage where some of these vehicles are assigned as needed to departments throughout the day? Of course I mean jobs that don't need them 8 hours a day. I would like to see the Democrat check to see how many vehicles are owned by the city and county and who has 24 hour use of them along with gasoline.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach for Peace...do some real research and see which party votes against using American oil to solve our gas problem. Wait, you did say things had gotten worse these last few years and that is when Democrats controlled Congress. Yep, that is the party that has put us into such a bind. You are right. We need to change back to Republicans in charge of the laws that impact our lives so dramatically.
Posted by popwilly (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
City building inspector office has four cars! This is a joke. Just what does the building inspector inspect. And according to the article there are at least four people in this department. Talk about redundancy. I have been told there is an air condition inspector who lives in Frogmore, La. who brings a City of Natchez vehicle home everyday. I don't know if this is one of the four or not. If so this needs to be stoped. Come on tax payers of Natchez , lets start going to the aldermen meetings and let out voices be heard.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Frogprincenessntz, I have done my research. It's called reality. I remember 8 years under Clinton and 8 years under Bush. I remember policies the Clinton administration didn't make good on, but should have, just as well as I remember policies, they did make good on. Now, you can try and blame these last terrible 8 years on the Clinton administration, do what makes YOU feel better, but again, a chocked up war, rising gas prices, RECESSION, a corporate administration, etc., just to name a few, are all I have seen, these last past 8 years. The Democratic controlled Congress is the ONLY defense your mind set has, but we somehow forget, the President IS the head. He has veto power, etc. We have had the most conservative judgeship in the high courts. Tell yourself what you want.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen frogprincenessntz!!!!
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go McCain!!!
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clinton didn't have 9-11 or Katrina, either. As a matter of fact, Clinton did nothing about the first bombing of the WTC when he could have gotten Bin Laden easy. As a result...9-11. Thank you Bill Clinton!
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach I have agreed with many things you have said in the past, but not on this. If you truly would like to know why we are having the energy crisis we are having today and the cause of the recession we are falling into you should research a little deeper. First, every president since Nixon has had the opportunity to solve the oil crisis. They have seen this coming since 1974 when oil production peaked in the US. Everyone said we need to stop relying on foreign oil and become independent. None followed through. The majority of OUR oil comes from Canada and Mexico. Mexico's oil is estimated to peak in the later months of 2008. That is right THIS YEAR! That means they will cut production (because they have to) virtually in half. We will loose that source for oil and have to find some way to replace it. That means looking to our number three supplier Venezuela. After that we have middle eastern oil and African oil. We are in a recession due to the rise in fuel cost that Bush has no control over. The oil companies set their own prices and the markets are determined by the people that buy the oil. So if you want to point a finger at someone, point it at everybody who has been in the White House since 1974 for sitting on all the resources they had to end our oil crisis. Then you can go look in the mirror because unless you have walked EVERYWHERE for your entire life you are just as much responsible for this energy crisis.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and BTW! Bush has tried to open up the ocean's and Anwar for drilling and Congress said NO repeatedly. So he has tried to do something to ease the problem. Now it will not help immediately but it will help int he long run. There is nothing that will help RIGHT NOW! While President Bush is the Commander he can not do whatever he wants. He has to go through a process of approval by Congress and that is the LAW!
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Listen to this stupid quote:
"We need to change back to Republicans in charge of the laws that impact our lives so dramatically."
Hahahahahahh! Just like it is the poor folks on the street that pay for Iraq, superguided bombs, more prisoners' in jail than any other country, the support of the banking system, the stock market, the loan crisis, we also have to pay for dummies that want more of the same.
Mississippi is last on every list it seems cuz the po white folks of this state cannot believe that the Republicans are the liars they have shown themselves to be. Cannot believe it. The rest of the country jokes that it takes about 3 years for folks in the mid south to catch up to the coasts when things change. I agree with that and some folks here would never catch up.
Hold you nose and vote for a change. I'm sorry, that is Obama and if we can survive the lies we have for the last 8 years we can survive Obama.
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
at the sheriff office jody goes to play golf in his county car and deputies take the kids to school and shop
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How long will the democrats resist drilling for US oil when it is clearly destroying our economy? Obama scares me to death simply because a vast majority will vote for him simply because of his race and not what he stands for politically.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What race would that be happybunny? Would it be white,black or otherwise? Everyone wants to say he is A.A. but the truth is he's a mixed person..Just as much white as black...
I still think McCain all the way!!!
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
happybunny and fire those are both good statements! happybunny you are right that a lot of people will vote for the color of his skin. fire I think we should research how he classifies himself. What I mean is, when filling out a survey or his drivers license does he answer black, white, or other? That could upset a lot of people if he were to answer one way or the other.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good point, I am referring to the black half. I am already seeing the bunper stickers in Fayette and Port Gibson...SCARY!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The background on this screen is white and the print is black, I don't think any of us responding on this website are either. I always check other because I am Indian, German and Irish decent. I have yet to meet a white person or black person, and what we call yellow is not what I call yellow. I have seen some people turn green and a few that turn blue.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now back to the subject matter it is impossible to drill our way out of the oil crisis. The cost to find, drill, and get to market the oil that is left would still mean $200 a barrel oil. The only solution is alternate energy sources and reduce consumption.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone considering moving to or visiting Natchez should see the comments posted here on Obama's "black half." Unbelievable.
It's scary to see what your neighbors see when they're anonymous.
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was flipping through the channels the other night and P.Diddy was telling all the BLACK people to go out and get registered, this is the first time in history that we can put COLOR in the white house. Get out and register and vote, vote, vote for the black man. Now tell me, would an all white entertainment channel be allowed to promote going out and vote WHITE, WHITE, WHITE. I thought mostly if you were of mixed race the black people has a problem with considering them African American unless they are truly AA
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you are so right racehorse....If someone said vote because he is white. Oh my goodness at the remarks that would get.....Even if it was a W.E.T. instead of a B.E.T.....Oh could you see that..
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't care what color Obama is. I have a problem with his stand on issues that I find very important. I do not agree with McCain on all issues either. I really wish that there was more of a choice in the candidates but there is not. I am very conservative and would like for us to have a president that will do what is best for our country in all ways, not just some ways. As far as what color I am, that would be tan. There is no tan option when you are asked what race you are. According to wordnet.princeton.edu the definition of black is being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light and the definition of white is being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light. I don't know anyone who would fit into either definition. I would love for Condoleezza Rice to run for VP. She is a strong woman of color, Christian, and she knows her way around the government quite well.
beammeup---Yes it is impossible to drill our way out, BUT we do need someway to up production to help until the alternative fuels are on the market and affordable. We can reduce consumption but this not going to get us very far. In the south yes maybe but the people in other states that have to make long commutes to work can't just walk 60 mile to work and back. I would love to have a hybrid vehicle but I can not afford to but one at the moment and neither can a lot of people.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Precisely my point Racehorse.
Sentas you are also anonymously sharing your views in a sarcastic manner.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep, those black people have it SO good here in the land of milk and honey.
I hope you detect the irony implied there.
I think you could argue that the other 99 channels are "White Entertainment Television," and they're pretty horrible, too. This is such a stupid argument, more suited to the 8th-grade playground.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have known of some agencies that switched to 4-tens from 5-eights to "conserve," but I've observed that the ten is usually more like nine, from arrival to departure, and there's probably more like eight actually being accomplished. I think the 4-tens sounds good as a theory, but ends up being a waste in practice. The best thing they could do is park non-emergency vehicles at the agency lot overnight and on weekends. If they really get a call on the weekend to go inspect something, and it's really inconvenient to go back to the office to get the car, they can request mileage. Most agencies still allow for that even if they have vehicles available for their employees to use. I don't know what McCain, Obama, or P. Diddy have to do with the article.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ALL people have it good in the land of milk and honey if they choose to take advantage of the programs that are available to them AND choose to apply themselves and be a productive, tax paying member of society. But why bother if you can just stay at home and collect a check.
What really bothers me is that there aren't more provisions to prevent people from taking advantage of the welfare system.
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Back to the issue at hand. If there are 4 people that work for the planning division, and there are 4 weekends in each month, then one person should be on call for one weekend a month. Bring your own car to work everyday and if you are doing business, use the company car. If you are running your personal business, use your own car. That would be a very simple way to save hundreds of dollars for the county. I am sure it takes about 100.00 per week to fill up the cars that are being used. I know I live in the county and drive to work and it takes about 75.00 to fill my car up per week. Let the engineers that make the great salaries use their own vehicles just like the common people. That is how the rich ones with the good jobs get richer. Sponging off of the county and doing their own personal business with county money.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, city and county owned vehicles should be left in the parking lot with the exception of the police and sheriffs vehicles.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Could you imagine how much the debt would go down if they just required drug testing on people who recieve welfare?
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If they made the people come in for their checks and gave them a drug or alcohol test, they could save millions. Also, bring each child in that they are getting money for with their social security number, it would save a lot too.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are so right racehorse...I have saw so many children being dropped off at school,ball park,at reunions,etc....Why should we pay for there gas and ours???
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There's not a shortage of oil so the idea of drilling our way out of this problem is foolish. The problem is the cost to reach this oil has to passed on to the consumer and so we are seeing the dramatic increase in the cost per barrel. Factor in the falling dollar and the increased demand in the developing countries shows capitalism is alive and well around the world.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anybody who thinks the oil companies actually need more oil leases to execute drilling in the US knows next to nothing about the oil business.
Tremendous undrilled acreage is more profitable to drill at today's prices that was also profitable when oil was $30. Tremendous acreage was bypassed at $30/bbl as unprofitable but at today's prices is more than profitable.
The hubub about Democrats and environmental restrictions is a political lie meant for the gullible and Republican-leaning undecided voter.
The oil companies would not have lowered the price of oil with more coastal drilling, as plenty of oil exists on the world market.
The price of gas is refinery-driven by the lack of refineries built BY THE OIL COMPANIES. Oil companies conspire within their companies to keep their stock and oil at high prices ---- duhhhhh. THEY DON'T SELL TODAY IF THEY THINK TOMORROW THEY WILL GET MORE MONEY. Not selling today is what affects prices far more than as-yet undiscovered oil fields.
Your children will need some oil, too. However expensive it is it will be more expensive for them. If you do what oil companies want you make oil as expensive as possible for as long as possible.
They want you to deplete your reserves because they get better deals from the gov't than they do from other governments and they want those deals now. When they deplete our reserves a long time from now they will just go a little farther and buy rights at a little more cost. They never intended to make it cheap and pass the savings along to the consumer.
They sit on leases right now doing stock deals and becoming richer on the market's hope they will drill what they have.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach4peace- we all know you are an Obama fan, please spare us your nonsense.
Why don't you put your emotions on hold and consider the facts? What effects the price of oil? The supply of course and the demand of course. Demand will increase, unless we kill off a large portion of the world population. That is immoral, and no sane person supports that. That leaves us with increasing supply in the short run and devoloping alternative sources of energy in the long run. That is what folks with sense support. Obama does not.
Neither does Obama support individual rights. He wants to take your money and tell you how to live.
Anyway, our city has no option but to cut mileage and park city cars uptown after work hours. Manage time and efforts wisely. That's all there is to it.
I respect Middleton's observation and his comments to that same end.
Conservation of gas and vehicle use is the only answer.
Use bikes around downtown, or scooters. Inspectors don't need to carry large equipment anyway, they can use small cars or scooters or bikes. Hey, get used to it people, quit buying gas and do something else. Unless we can drill and refine more gasoline, our cost will continue to increase.
Park those city cars and only use them as needed during work hours only. Some petty stuff will have to go undone.
Of course the recreation work crews have to keep the grass cut, as does public works, but managers and administrators do not need city vehicles to go from home to work and vice versa. City workers can carpool and save gas using their own personal vehicles in carpools to go to work as they all work in the same vicinity.
It's not rocket science- city vehicles should be used only for work, not riding around sightseeing, shopping or travelling back and forth from home. The mayor should set the example and make carpooling mandatory for his staff and himself, leaving city vehicles parked at the office after hours.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very much agreed, Sentas!!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sentas and others-
This is the land of the free and the home of the brave
No one ever said it was to provide you with milk and honey, that has to be worked for and made like everything else.
Your statements betray your philosophy of life- that you expect an easy life of luxury without having to sacrifice and work for it, that success and happiness should come easy.
Farmers work hard to raise cows and produce milk, also honey has to be harvested from bees and the farmers have to care for those bees with great care.
Please quit taking for granted what must be produced through the sweat and toil of hardworking people. We all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But government does not have the duty to provide you with those things, you must work for them. Government's duty is to allow you the opportunity to pursue those things, to not take them from you, and that is all. You need an attitude adjustment.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That is incredibly condescending, Krogers. Thank you for that.
Please point me to the place where someone said it was their right to get something for nothing. I, for one, work plenty hard for my money.
Stick to karate. I think your brain is overheating.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Yep, those black people have it SO good here in the land of milk and honey."
Why do they have it any different than anyone else?
Well said Krogers.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama! '08!!!!! VOTE FOR CHANGE!
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't it be funny if Obama went in and acted like the white side of his family. What an eye-opener that would be for the people, black and white, that sit around and wait on the free checks to come. If ANYBODY is able to work instead of getting free things from the government, they should work. We are fighting the high price of fuel everyday. I personally don't like giving my taxes out of my check to an able bodied person that can work as well as I can. I have extensive heart trouble, but I am out working 40 hours a week. Give me a break with the loafers.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would ask for this comment to be removed but want it to be available for all to see, in all its idiotic glory.
People who live in Natchez, or who consider visiting the place, or moving here, should see this kind of stuff.
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not an idiot. What don't you agree with...that people should work if they are able? I don't agree with people sitting at home doing nothing if they can work. They should be out working. I don't know anybody that pays taxes that appreciate giving it to lazy people. I don't care what color you are, get out and find a job.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Normal people say idiotic things, I'll grant you. That's why nobody called you an idiot, although I think that possibility must be considered.
What's funny is that you don't even know what could possible be offensive about what you wrote.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"People who live in Natchez, or who consider visiting the place, or moving here, should see this kind of stuff."
If you are that unhappy, leave. I'm sure Natchez will survive just fine without your never ending wisdom.
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know exactly what could be offensive, but does anybody care how offensive it is to read all of the BLACK things that the black people write??? Read with an open mind and you will (or maybe) see what I am talking about. We are way off of the subject of the gas that is being used in the county that could be saved. Take the time and read how a "black" person is going to save the United States. He doesn't even love the U.S. enough to salute the flag and he said he doesn't believe in the National Anthem because it sounds too "war like". He said if the National Anthem was the old Coke song...I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.....etc. he would salute that song.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Having people like you believe lies like that -and they are lies- is the Republicans' only hope this election season.
Happybunny, I'm sending a link to this thread to all the amazingly talented people who have decided to leave Natchez and never come back for reasons that are now well-documented on this discussion thread.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Racehorse, you all are on subject here. The article is clearly named "Getting Squeezed." So you all are squeezing each other hard. I'm waiting to see bursts first. LOL!
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In case you're wondering about the background on that Obama/National Anthem claim:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/sta...
It came from an article written in jest by a conservative columnist on some conservative website in Arizona. Check your facts.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I left Natchez when I was twenty and came home two years ago(15 years later). I personally love it here and will take the good with the bad.
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why doesn't Obama put his hand on his heart while at attention? Why does he refuse to wear the American flag pin on his lapel? If he is elected, he will be our commander-in-chief and all of the military will look up to him. Why wouldn't he stand behind our American flag and salute it? That's what our soldiers are fighting for...our freedom.
I am not originally from Natchez. I am glad that happybunny came back home to take the good with the bad. Natchez isn't near as bad as Jackson and the other larger cities. We have a great little town here. Everyone should be proud.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a picture of Obama wearing the flag pin. I guess someone secretly pinned it on him! Maybe it was at one of those Muslim rallies he holds at his Communist Party meetings. I heard that somewhere on the innernets... maybe it's true! We should look into that.
http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/...
Posted by racehorse (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for that pic.
Posted by sentas (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're welcome. In all seriousness, I'm trying to contribute to the political discussion. We can at least debate on the merits of facts. And you would probably agree anyway that whether or not he wears a flag pin on his lapel is a relatively small thing compared to the bigger issues. Which I'm sure we disagree on, but that's America.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ihope we still want sheriff and police to partrol surely the bad guys want them to stay home come on withthe money supervisors and aldermen from everywhere public service has to be done
Posted by consider_reason (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Excuse me, Officer - Do you mind if I play through?"
Will they be issuing nine irons for the cops as well? Maybe some funny checkered uniform pants?
Public perception is a huge factor when dealing with the police, and personally I would laugh myself into hysterics if someone came puffing up to me in a golf cart to take a complaint.
You want to spend money on the station to make a "good first impression"?
Maybe try spending a little more on gas so that some confidence can be maintained in your force...
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
come on super trucker police cannot park criminals would love that wait to they steal something then call for help public demands more than that sir i can on imagine a world that police do not patrol
Posted by kmonii05 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach4Peace, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Let's face it, before Obama, this country was "screwed up"! Bush has done absolutely NOTHING in 8 years but spent insane amounts of money on a war that should not have gone on a long as it has and that IS reality! Stop sending our loved ones to Afghanistan and Iraq to come back in body bags with the misguided notion that they died "a hero"! What makes you think McCain will not be another 4 years of Bush? What makes you think that the economy will get any better because you vote for these "brilliant" Republicans to control our country? The slump in our economy has effected everyone, not just any one particular race. We can all see our "Comander-in-Chief" has done a banged-up job in running our country.
This has nothing to do with race, it should have everything to do with the candidate's ability to do the job that they are elected to do. We talk about Obama not saluting the flag and question his patriotism, but Bush has sent this country to hell in a hand-basket (i.e, "veto" power)! Pardon me, but where is the patriotism in that?
Back on subject...I commend any city government that takes a strong look at utilizing alternative fuels, such as hybrids and natural gas. I currently live in AZ and Maricopa County has adopted such methods to save on fuel costs. The bottom line is, until things change with the economy and the price of fuel, we are all going to have to become pretty creative in making do on a "budget".
Posted by andy (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
true natchez 500 so true i want the cops out riding protecting and serving the public
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My problem with Obama is not necessarily the flag pin or the flag. It is his having stayed in a church that calls itself Christian and teaches hatred. God so LOVED the world that He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for the sinners who would turn their lives over to Him and follow His Commandments. The greatest one is to love everyone. Any church that preaches hatred should call itself muslim as they are the ones who are allowed to kill their enemies. It is easy to hate, but very hard to love even the ones who do you harm. Being a Christian is not for sissies!
In my humble opionion, Obama used that congregation as long as he needed it and then ditched it when he no longer could profit by it. That bespeaks a man without character. I do not care if he is purple, because I believe God created all of us, no one better than the other. It is your character that determines whether I want anything to do with you. There is a black woman I would have voted for in an instant and I hope I get that chance this fall.
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