Does Columbus have a spending freeze?
While some travel expense has been reduced, the Columbus city council voted 4-2 in favor of spending $100,000 to a company to study the street light needs of our fair city. Anyone driving at night around the city can see the difference between LED street lights and the old incandescent ones. Paying that sum of money for a study, when we have a $880,000 deficit in spending, seems like some are not thinking rationally about our finances. Several weeks ago a lady gave a very passionate plea for a speed bump in her neighborhood and was turned down due to the spending freeze. What has changed? The motion to table the street light issue was a reasonable motion. Do we have only two councilmen that are interested in getting our city finances back in control? Those in government have a saying, “a million here, a million there, soon you’re talking about real money.” Is this the case in the “Friendly City”? We can’t seem to keep up with the drainage, street repairs and other general upkeep now. The storm clean up is going to cost a lot, even if we get reimbursed for part of it. I just have a problem spending money we don’t have, unless there is money the elected officials have that they are not telling the public about. By the way, how big is the city reserve? Now the city’s financial mystery has changed to an “investigative proceeding.” Let’s have a little transparency.
I have one other beef with a decision the council just made on the termination of Investigator Adams. The vote was 4-2. Do we have 2 councilmen that condone what could be classified as embezzlement, the use of city vehicle on city time to interview for another job in another town? Having worked closely with the police department for two-plus years, maybe I expect too much out of our officers. They have overcome a lot in the department and are almost at the authorized number of 70. If an officer wants to better themselves, I have no problem, but do it on your own time and own dime as they say. In closing, I support our police department, they do a job that takes a special calling to do. I know that if I need them, all I’ve gotta do is make a call. Thank you!
God Bless America and Columbus.
Lee Roy Lollar
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.