Posted by boardwalk (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 12:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What, what is the greater agenda here?

Are we getting rid of old enemies, or are we running a city governement?

The Public Works departtment. the Planning department, the Preservation committee? Surely we are not just eliminating them because some department heads are black Americans and some are white?

Is Joyce Mathis to be that powerful? Is she to be that influential? Is she to be allowed, now that she has taken the ball away from a pitiful Jake Middleton, to bear a racist agenda against the very core of Natchez?

What do I tell my kids?

"Well, the Public Works department didn't get to Marblestone Road on time, so Joyce had to go in for the kill."

"Well, the Planning department wouldn't bend the rules for black developers, so Joyce had to go in for the kill."

"Well Brett Brinigar cared too much about respecting the future of Natchez to create false hopes about actually managinging federal grants?"

"Well, the staff in City Hall is just trying to make a paycheck and get a week, so we shouldn't raise questions about whether or not they are actuallly doing the job."

"Well, the Youth Build program was more important than that silly spring Festival of Music at Margaret Martin's performing arts center, so we had to set off the fire extinguishers?"

Have we forgotten what doing a job is, what Natchez is?

God help us all.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you, Kevin. My compliments.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way, concerning --> "Let’s hope there’s a good explanation for this specific cut"

I don't expect there will be. They (mayor/aldermen) are simply trying to protect their own turf and salaries. The city will go down the proverbial tubes before they take anymore pay cuts for themselves. We'll have to ask them to turn the lights out.

This is what happens when "public service" is pushed out of the way for GREED.

Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on September 27, 2009 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Spot on, Kevin. Thank you for saying what needs to be said. This whole affair is a disgrace. Ms. Brinegar most certainly did not deserve this kind of shoddy treatment.

Posted by easterner (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe that there is a part of the BOA who are honerable leaders, who at the very least, try to do the "right" thing for the city of Natchez for the "right" reasons. Having to work alongside idiots who really could care less about anything but "me" has to be really frustrating. Surely this leak needs to be investigated and steps taken to punish the offending party(s)!

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 27, 2009 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Kevin, I am not sure a leadership course would help the current boa. It seems that the boa is clueless about the skills it takes to manage a city.

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

calling their decision illogical is a polite way of staying "stupid"...which is exactly what this decision was. Someone needs to look at each department and decide its value to running the city. We need a planning dept., but not so many workers..same with Public Works and Engineering. And as for community development, we don't need it at all...we have the EDA and the Chamber for that. Although I have been a big supporter of the Youth Build program, I was recently told that the are curretly serving less than 15 kids...that is a huge budget (that has to have a match from the city, I heard)...with lots of staff for very few kids. There are people making large salaries for very little work. Brett did not write tht grant..they paid a large sum to contract it out. Waste is rampant in City Hall...there are personnel cuts that can be made in every dept. But why cut the only position that generated her own salary plus brought in funds? Its simply goes beyond a resonable explanation and I agree that the BOA should not be allowed to hide behind the "personnel confidentiality" issue. I would like to encourage the citizen of Natchez to vote every single one of them out of office..they are a joke

Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm going to ask again. Do we, as citizens have any recourse? Is there really such a thing as a recall? An impeachment? Our city affairs have gotten so out of whack, we are steadily going downhill. Do we have to deal with this for 2 more years? I'm very curious. Please, someone help me out here.

Posted by boardwalk (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, they are a joke, ntz143. And grants should be in the Community Development department, run by Brett not Darlena Jones. Mrs. Jones is a big budget cut that should happen right away - one person to manage the Youth Build program (15 children) is not needed.

And why is it necessary for the Youth Build program to have such an enormous travel budget for Mrs. Jones? There also may be trouble ahead (an audit, my husband tells me) for the grant money that operates Youth Build, and Brett could fix that.

Mrs. Jones simply operates a day care center. It has never been more than that through her management.

Mayor West hired Mrs. Jones, and her role should be reconsidered by the current mayor and board. The mayor's secretary managed the program before Mayor West hired her.

Community Development and Grants could be combined with the Planning department. To consolidate and save money, Brett and Mr. Louis could share a secretary and be in one department. Planning has too many people in it anyway. Cuts there are needed, to save the budget.

Mr. Louis and Brett are essential and skilled department heads. They could run the new Community Development and Planning department without all the extra staff.

Strong planning is needed in Natchez, and Mr. Louis has provided that. We are lucky to have both him and Brett. Alderman Dan Dillard and Mrs. Mathis are wrong to cut him out of the budget. Mr. Louis is the first real city planner we have had since Butch was mayor. It just doesn't add up, and it will hurt this city to cut him.

Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To all of you who are so quick to criticize the BOA do you know both sides of the story or are you just assuming these accusations that you all so quickly take part in are true. I have been trying to educate myself on the way city goverments run, and it is my understanding that if the BOA approved these firings or layoffs it is the MAYORS job to execute them. What is taking HIM so long? I would also like to know who if anyone took responsibilty for the $650,000 overlay debacle. Someone(s) should have been FIRED immediately! That was UNEXCUSABLE!! You all seem to scream cut back, layoff, but just don't let it be a friend of mine. Would Brett be willing to publicize the monies brought in by her in the ND? By the way, please don't include any MDOT monies we all know these are attributed to the fact that Butch Brown is from Natchez and is the director there. Thank God for that whether you like him or not, he's good to Natchez. Yes, that is MY opinion.
On another note , Gary Mc will you be on the ballot in the 2012 election? I live in the same ward as you and would love to vote for some of you critics just to see if you need to put up or shhh-up.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a voter I would like to inform the government of Natchez you are fired. In case you hear it thru the grapevine, it is true. So long, farewell, effective the next election.

Posted by thinkforyourself (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

there is a conspiracy in natchez bigger than the mafia of new york. Jake must have pist some of you guys off real bad especially the ND because you all have been bashing him since he began. You have not given him a chance bad PR since he took over. Mayor West didn't receive any better treatment. However, Dr. Morris and Dr. Edney have failed this community and this seems to be alright. You all know without good schools you will continue to have trouble. The editor of your newspaper have not at any time commented on Dr. Morris and Dr. Edney failures, nor has he commented on the waste inside the school district. Somebody is using Jake and the BOA as scapegoats and it needs to stop. Mathis seems to have more guts than most of you whiners. Jake makes 60,000 and super makes 100,000 plus and yet the ND continues to bash our city leaders While EDA told your community years ago if you didn't do anything about the schools you would one day face these problems. You people were warned Trinity and ACCS would not be able to save your community. It all fell on deaf ears now you must pay the price.The ND seems to be very supportive of a fail school district and community. Bad news sells newspaper to local people, and it drives future business away. No matter who is on the ballot in 2012, they must have something to work with and if the schools are in the same or worse shape the next government will be face with the same problems. You just can't make something out of nothing no matter who you are. CHANGE YES YOU CAN.

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 27, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I do not know if I would/should run for alderman in Ward3.

Now, for the second part of the comment that was directed to me, "It will be a cold day in hell when I shut up".

I vote in every election and I have an opinion about how my elected and other elected are performing or not performing. I have been labeled as a conspiratorial, negative, grumpy, old man by the paper and others, I can live with that moniker.

Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks, Kevin, for a thoughtful, provocative column. I hope it gets some results.

If you read what I said yesterday you know how I feel...an echo of Kevin's column...not quite so elequently done...

There needs to be some sort of explanation of the entire budget and the proposed cuts. This is not representative of the way I, as a voter, want my city run, Tony Fields....and I only call you and Jake out because you, Tony, are supposed to be representing me, and Jake, well, grow some, will you?

And it has nothing to do with anyone being a friend...it has to do with performance. It is tough to make certain decisions, tough to stand by them, but that IS what grown-ups do. Race, friendship, religion, and whatever criteria with which we tend to judge each other, has no place in business. Feelings, have no place in business. The only thing that counts is efficient action leading to successful accomplishment of set goals.

Cuts are made first of the fat, then in order of significance, import to the community, and performance. Is there superfluousness, redundancy? You have to answer those questions before you get down to cutting a position that is none of those.

And just because Butch Brown is head of the MDOT, don't think those grants are just shuffled down to Natchez. The proposals must be written, necessicity sited, and plans laid. (and they have to be written in that terribly confusing language of "government speak") Then the grants, once funded, must be used for and as precisely prescribed within the grant proposal. The city can't just take the money for a walking trail and create a job or pave a street, or fix a drain.

@lovesnatchez---we do have regress against our city government---WE CAN VOTE THEM OUT! Heck, we can start here and work our way to the top...getting rid of the do nothing, good ole boys, the liars, the cheaters, the greedy full time professional politicians owned by corporate lobbyists and wealthy campaign donators...........

Especially rid ourselves of any one of them that would arrogantly tell one of the people they purport to represent that no one wants to hear their opinion because they were not elected! That is exactly what a democratic republic is...we elect you to represent OUR opinions, ya knuckleheads...NOT your opinions. And how do you propose to know what WE WANT, unless you listen to us?

Maybe some of ya'll need to enroll in a government class in the spring semester. I'm sure Alcorn and Co-Lin both offer something that would give you an idea...I'd say you could go to Natchez High and sit in on 9th grade Civics class, but then the Bopsie Twins of poor education probably don't offer that anymore since we dumbed down to pass the state tests..........

Sheesh, guys, nut up........when you make a mistake, own it....and rerpair the damage.................

--mojo

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Cooper has "Hit" the nail on the Head! In addition, there needs to be Better Management and Accountability! Mr. McC sounds Good! Your comments are very "worthy" of documentation in this "Situation"!

Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gary Mc, You have every right to voice you opinion. It's that you are just soooo negative all the time. I really do feel this board is trying to make an attempt to make things better here. They've got to start somewhere and if it's with your friend Brett I am sorry. Did you ask her if she would publish the grants she acquired this past year in the paper? I got no response to my question about just who is to blame for the overlay debacle. Do you have no comment on that? I can't believe you are just not holding your breath until the next election so you can solve all of our problems and then we'll have nothing to blog about. I guess I should have said sshh up-or put up.

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

classicnatchez, please explain to me who YOU think should be laid off. I would be very interested to know. AS for Brett's record of successful grantwriting, it is a matter of public record...simply look up the city budgets for the last several years and look under revenue received, grants. She has written and had funded many, many federal grants but has also worked on grants for the city to partner with non-profits, such as the Guardian Shelter. She is the ONLY employee who has paid for herself, many times over. Now, questioning our elected officials is our right as citizens. And I, for one, and sick too death of incompetence. If you want to know who to blame for the overlay debacle, go back and search it on this website...its not hard to figure out who dropped the ball...and it wasn't Brett. I don't think the City has to worry about holding on to Brett..it is my understanding that she is being heavily recruited by another community (hopefully Vidalia). This is the best thing that could happen to her...get away from this insanity and work where her talents are valued and appreciated.

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 27, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I do not know Brett, personally. And for that matter, I do not know any of the other city employees who have been mentioned on this blog for possible severance.

I stated in an early posts that I support cuts of city personnel by the boa to get city spending in line with city revenue. From the budget numbers, the boa is not there. Now, if that is negative, so be it.

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"While city officials resisted pointing the finger of blame, they did say the miscommunication began during former Mayor Phillip West’s administration.

When city-employed lobbyist Camille Young brought the letter of intent to the city she said “the check was in the mail,” according to the minutes from the board’s May 13 meeting.

In March, before the city even found out the $1.3 million had been appropriated, West requested the board authorize City Engineer David Gardner to accept bids for the resurfacing project."

Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gary Mc, I saw you and her talking after you stormed out of the alderman's budget hearing.

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 27, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have been known to open a door for a lady and speak to a lady without knowing her name.

Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gary- How coincidental

Natchez143 If I told you now that I put a check in the mail to you for $650,000 would you spend it before it was in the bank and had cleared? That's no excuse!

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

classicnatchez...how can I simplify this so that you can comprehend what I am saying...BRETT WAS NOT INVOLVED! She had nothing to do with spending the money...the BOA did...and I agree, they need to be fired immediately...too bad this isn't possible. If you are truly educated on how city government works, then you would know that a grantwriter's primary job is to write proposals, as directed by the BOA.....what is your issue with her? Maybe you work in city government and are afraid you might be next.

Posted by northpearl (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How about starting the reorgization with a new City Attorney who will at the very least pay his taxes on time. Also being a resident of the city would be a plus.

Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I may be, however I have no beef with Brett. True enough maybe she was not involved because If my memory serves me Jake, Donny and Everett Sanders signed the contract with Blain & Co. and none of them checked to see if the money was in the bank either. I truly don't have a beef with Brett it's just that I know grant writers can be hired on a contract basis and if it saves the city $40,000 than so be it. $40,000 dollars is $40,000 and that is a start. I am all for privatizing and bidding out services even in the engineering department. I believe it, and public works to be way over staffed. I hope to see layoffs in those departments as well.

Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

classicnatchez, do you know that the city paid the grantwriter for youthbuild over $10,000 to write 1 grant.....do you have a clue how many grants Brett wrote and got funded in the course of a year? If we paid Brett $10,000 for every grant she successfully got funded in the last year, her annual salary would be upwards of $100,000. Do the math.

Posted by riverat (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope that the BOA can explain their recent actions. Don't expect Jake to "man up" and be a leader...he is what he is. For those of you that supported him in the last election, hope you are happy with the job he is doing...its the same job he did as an alderman. To Brett...you didn't deserve this nor do they deserve to continue to benefit from your enormous talents. Hopefully, you have already moved on. I know of at least two agencies that would LOVE to have your grantwriting skills....if you decide to set up a private business, publicize it and the work will pour in. As for the city of Natchez, good luck...you are going to need it.

Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

natchez143-Then why is she working for the city anyway?

Posted by riverat (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

to answer that, classicnatchez, I think that you have to have some kind of faith that there are people out there that work for the greater good and Brett is one of them... There are many of us that work in the community...dealing with the issues that people like you can only blog about in the comfort of your homes....for me, its about kids. Not everybody is motivated by the almighty dollar...for some of us, we are called to care about our fellow human beings from a higher power. Brett is one of those people....I don't expect you to understand.

Posted by InsidersView (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

to classicnatchez: Brett took the job with the city because she wanted to come home to where her family was. She was born here and she loves this city. She took the pay rate at 40 because West told her hed raise her to the right level. She agreed to prove herself first and she did. I agree with Kevins viewpoint but I wonder how Brett feels about all this fighting and ugly talk. Probably not to good. I think shes had enough for one week. Maybe we should give her a break and shut up. And by the way Brett I wish you much luck and hope you stay here but in a different job with different bosses.

Posted by InsidersView (anonymous) on September 27, 2009 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One more thing and Im going to shut my mouth. I want to remind all of you that Brett was not ugly or nasty about the boa and the layoffs in the first piece in the paper. she was really a lot nicer than I woulda been.

Posted by broaderpov (anonymous) on September 28, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Youth Build? What have they built? What contractor is working with them and teaching them lifeskills? Ms. Jones?? If Ms. Jones is running a day care center, she's not doing a very good job. Or is Youth Build about vandalism? If Ms. Jones had 1/1000 of Ms. Brinegar's integrity and brains she'd have a real job.
Speaking of vandalism, have any of you out there taken a good look at our city's properties? Forget Margaret Martin--it's a corpse of a building. Take a gander at the bathrooms at City Hall! Go to an event at the City Auditorium or at the Civic Center. Jake, who is in the cleaning supply business, needs to learn for what those products are used! Our city's buildings are being vandalised by neglect.
I know Ms. Brinegar personally. I know her family. Her grandfather was president of the board of supervisors for Adams Co for 30 years, his father as long before him and his father as long before him. That adds up to almost 100 yrs of public service. Her grandfather was responsible for many forward thinking projects and was a friend to many a black family like mine. She is not a stranger to Natchez and is deeply rooted here. Her concern is and will always be for the welfare of this city. As it has always been with her family.
Most of you dunderheads out there wouldn't know a grant if it walked up to you and slapped you in face, but you all seem to think you could do her job. The BOA will find out just how tedious and hard it is to write a grant. And for those of you who merley duplicate a grant already written, try it from scratch.
I, for one, am glad to see that sweet girl get away from that nasty building and those tacky people. You go Brett! There are better jobs and more appreciative people in the world.
And as for our present city government, Brett has more class, brains, and integrity than the lot of you.

Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on September 28, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In defense of Mr McCullars (as if he needs my help), his comments are based on simple facts and solid figures that in themselves reflect negatively on the mayor and boa - at least as far as their accounting skills are concerned. That he continues as a voice of moderation and common sense is commendable - though such restraint does make me fear for his blood pressure.

As for layoffs, only one has been confirmed. Wednesday morning should prove most interesting indeed, one way or another.

Posted by Bigfish (anonymous) on September 28, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not sure that the Natchez Democrat has the entire story on the current state of affairs of city government. Rumors are about but when have they not been circulating around this town? The fact that one of the rumors turned out true doesn't prove anything other that individual rumor.

The cutback(s), firing(s) announced or unannounced, salary decreases, etc are a step in the right direction. They may not be big enough steps for some and too large of steps for others, but the city officials are making the decision to work towards working within the budget.

The defining moment for the City of Natchez is how it will perform during and after staff and positions are eliminated or vacated. It is an amazing thing to see how things can get done when your back is against the wall and being successful is the only option. I think the temporary staff reductions will help to save money, and demand remaining employees and staff to be more productive or at least have more responsibility.

Each department and to a further extent each city employee should be aware that being successful in their task and functions is paramount to allowing the City of Natchez to be successful, and the minute that any individual feels they can coast through their jobs and continue to receive a paycheck are over.

It may seem bleak but our city officials are starting to rattle some boards and more importantly shaking things up, which hasn't been done in Natchez and is long over due.

Keep those boards a rattling!

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 28, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bigfish.

Interesting comment.

Of course, I do not know if the ND has been privy to executive sessions of the boa.

It is more than disturbing that the "street" knows about potential reductions of city positions before city employees.

It is more than disturbing that the current budget has spending exceeding revenue.

It is more than disturbing that some boa members are eliminating positions that may have had some impact on their individual businesses.

It is more than disturbing that the boa does not want public input.

It is more than disturbing that one of board suggests that an increase of millage is necessary because debt has been incurred with revenue.

It is more than disturbing............

Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on September 28, 2009 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"It may seem bleak but our city officials are starting to rattle some boards and more importantly shaking things up, which hasn't been done in Natchez and is long over due.
Keep those boards a rattling!"

Bigfish, you must not be from around here. You did good til here:
"The defining moment for the City of Natchez is how it will perform during and after staff and positions are eliminated or vacated. It is an amazing thing to see how things can get done when your back is against the wall and being successful is the only option. I think the temporary staff reductions will help to save money, and demand remaining employees and staff to be more productive or at least have more responsibility."
Yep, lay-off a couple of my co-workers and lets see what gets done! Think the remainder are going to pick up the slack?? HAHAHA...not without some more $$$. Fire me,... lay me off??? Good luck running your office with newbies!!!

Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on September 28, 2009 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"It is more than disturbing that one of board suggests that an increase of millage is necessary because debt has been incurred with revenue."

should read

It is more than disturbing that one of board suggests that an increase of millage is necessary because debt has been incurred without revenue.

Posted by Bigfish (anonymous) on September 28, 2009 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

gemccull

I got few comments to your response to my post.

1. "It is more than disturbing that the "street" knows about potential reductions of city positions before city employees."

I agree the city should have made more of an effort to keep it under wraps until its announcement at the end of the pay period

2."It is more than disturbing that the current budget has spending exceeding revenue."

Is the difference between revenue and spending budget more or less than it was last fiscal year? I honestly don't know but if that gap has gotten smaller it is improvement, not vast improvement but improvement non the less

3."It is more than disturbing that some boa members are eliminating positions that may have had some impact on their individual businesses."

please elaborate, any elected official not acting the best interest of the city should be held accountable.

4"It is more than disturbing that the boa does not want public input."

The mayor and boa is very interested in public input and are willing to discuss different aspects of the issues facing the city. While one city official might want to discuss engineering with one person they may not want to discuss planning and zoning with another. I do not doubt the mayor and boa have read every article in the ND and comments especially in the last couple of weeks. But each city official has to be able to pull the best ideas and thoughts from all the public "input" offered, the problem is every individual thinks their ideas and thoughts are the best.

5."It is more than disturbing that one of board suggests that an increase of millage is necessary because debt has been incurred with revenue."

I think this comment is poorly put together and doesn't necessarily what was meant. I could be completely wrong, but i think the context of the comment is in regard to working on a balanced budget idea (expenses = income). That for expenses to be at what they are, revenue must be increased, including tax revenue and that one way of doing that is to increase the millage rate. That is the only way i can make sense of the statement but the only person who really knows is the person who said it.

I want the city of Natchez to be successful as much as anyone else, but when conventional ways don't produce results, I am not against making some major changes such as layoffs, staff reduction, etc and other ways to reduce expenses. If the city of Natchez could save 10 million a year, but couldn't provide basic services it could be considered a failure as well. There is fine line between failure and success. When the old way hasn't been working, doing some things against conventional thinking has the potential to yield results.

Posted by Bigfish (anonymous) on September 28, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

steve_o

i am not sure what department you work in/at/for, etc. but every department can be improved. I know cuts have been made to decrease cost but increasing efficiency and decreasing cost is an ongoing requirement of ALL businesses (private or municipality).

Criminals get smarter, public works requirements change, engineering specs and guidelines are constantly changing, planning and zoning plans change, local laws and ordinances are constantly changing, etc, etc.

I do know this from managing employees, anytime an employee starts thinking they are irreplaceable they aren't far from getting fired. There is always someone out there willing to do your job for less money and can do it better.

And while I hope you do a great job wherever you work, I also hope you are aware that unless you are the boss, your job performance and valuation is not in your control, but your boss must make that determination on a daily, monthly and annual basis. Good luck!

Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

""""I do know this from managing employees, anytime an employee starts thinking they are irreplaceable they aren't far from getting fired. There is always someone out there willing to do your job for less money and can do it better."""""

I assume this includes the Mayor and BOA along with the BOS?

The big problem arises that unless one of these entities gets caught in a serious crime, there is NO WAY to get them out of office until their term is up and they know it.

I researched it for some friends and you guys are screwed till the next election! There is no way to recall a BOA!

Now maybe you all will understand why you couldn't actually get rid of Binkey till he got beat in a re-election bid.

Take look at the city charter! It's a real eye opener!

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

again, the Board is finally making necessary, yet unpleasant, cuts and you people complain. They cut their own salaries and you people still complain. Like I've said previously, you couldn't pay me enough to be on the Board and have to put up with this nonsense. You people wouldn't be satisfied if the Board worked for free. Nothing would satisfy you people.

As far as Kevin Cooper goes, it would actually be nice to hear another side to the story. We read his story assuming it's accurate. He took the grants writers word for it. That's it and then crucified the Board and Mayor. He wrote an entire article based solely on the words of ONE PERSON. Really????? That's journalism? I know he wasn't taught that at Southern Miss.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eagle1, concerning--> "You people wouldn't be satisfied if the Board worked for free."

Maybe not. But at least we wouldn't feel so violated.

:)

Posted by broaderpov (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eagle1, Kevin's COLUMN is his OPINION. I'm pretty sure that they make that distinction at Southern MS. Where is your research to dispute the grant writer's word?

Bigfish, there are people who are irreplaceable. Yes, there are others who will show up for less pay and perform. But there are others who are acceptional, indeed, irreplaceable. Is Brinegar? We'll see.

Here's my question. If the city is looking to cut the fat, why not at the Natchez Visitor's Center? How many employees, companies, and agencies does it take to design and manage one website? Why not let the federal parks department take that over too? Why not cut the hours that the employees of the works department spend knapping (seen it with my own eyes)? Why not the obvious SNAFU called Youth Build? Why? They cut the people they knew were self relient and too classy to seek retribution. City planners can find work quickly; grant writers as well.

If you ask me, Kevin says as much as he dares to say. It doesn't take much research just objectivity.

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

broaderpov, I'm not disputing the Grant Writers word. I'm simply stating that another side should have been given. As a journalist you NEVER take the story of one person and run with it. The grant writer may be 100% correct. I don't know her or know her worth to the city. I'm just saying two sides should have been presented. That's it.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eagle1, concerning --> "I'm simply stating that another side should have been given. As a journalist you NEVER take the story of one person and run with it. The grant writer may be 100% correct. I don't know her or know her worth to the city. I'm just saying two sides should have been presented."

These tidbits were reported in the article on Saturday, 26-September:

Repeated attempts to reach Middleton Friday were unsuccessful.

Holloway declined comment Friday, citing matters of personnel.

Alderman Mark Fortenbery said he could not disclose the details of Tuesday’s special meeting. "It’s just on personnel. That’s all I know,” he said.

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis also declined comment, citing matters of personnel. “I cannot divulge to you who we’re talking about because it’s personnel and it’s confidential,” Mathis said

Alderman James “Ricky” Gray wasn’t aware of the special meeting, and said Middleton, not the aldermen, called the meeting.

Alderman Dan Dillard also declined comment. “One, I don’t talk to the press over the phone, and two, the mayor called this meeting,” he said.

Calls to Aldermen Bob Pollard and Ernest “Tony” Fields were not returned Friday.

Kevin and Cassandra Mickens ARE doing their jobs as journalists. But it sounds to me like we have a city gag order going on. After the public gaffe, of course. That doesn't leave room for "two sides" to be expressed except by judging the actions of the silent side.

Best wishes.

:)

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Old GrandDad, efforts to get the other side IS NOT a substitute for actually getting the other side. You simply DO NOT print the story until the story is complete. You don't "run" with what you have based on a "gut" feeling. Now we have an ill-informed "rush to judgement" when we don't even know the other side. It's called biased coverage. Sorry, nice try.

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Take that back, maybe not biased but certainly a one-sided story.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eagle1, Concerning --> "You simply DO NOT print the story until the story is complete. You don't "run" with what you have based on a "gut" feeling."

Oh, come on. It is done by the media everyday and all day long. If there is more to the story they later come back with "first reports had indicated......". Even so, I know enough to at least say something to the press. If they ask you a question and you don't give them answer, your name is still gonna be in the paper. But not in the nicest of ways. And in the current context of this subject, one of the questions concerns how a very nice local lady was treated. Non-answers to stuff like that certainly do not make for good press. It would be much better to mumble excuses, apologize and then move on. The alternative is to take a popularity beating.

:)