It’s hard to know where to begin in summarizing four hours of public meeting Tuesday night by Graham’s city council. (Plus another hour behind closed doors.)
Frankly, we’re a bit embarrassed by the council’s decision-making.
We’ve already outlined at some length their decision to ignore public sentiment and proceed with dismantling and ultimately selling the property where Sesquicentennial Park is located.
But among other goofy and/or ill-advised decisions of the night:
- While not being able to find any money over the past year to finance the repairs needed at Sesquicentennial Park, the council was able within one month to find $63,000 to $65,000 to designate for some sort of digital sign outside city hall. So from an idea spouted off during “council comments” last month, the item was ready on the agenda for this month’s meeting. (Let’s get those funds spent, quick.)
Now, isn’t that special? A tacky, gaudy sign more apropos of a pawn shop or vape store instead of the dignity of city hall.
The idea of putting one in front of city hall would be hilarious were it not so serious – and so expensive.
No wonder the city doesn’t have enough money for real needs.
A digital sign will create new safety hazards for passing motorists who might try to read the sign’s message, as opposed to focusing on a stretch of road where accidents are already an ongoing issue.
- The council was also looking for cover for its plan to raise property taxes. After holding the line for two years, they’ve authorized city manager Megan Garner to open the flood gates of spending: five new employees, 3 percent raises for everyone, and a 2-cent property tax increase to finance it all – plus 4 percent higher water and sewer rates and a $1 extra monthly for trash and recycling collection.
While mayor Jennifer Talley can filibuster with the best of local politicians, her erroneous descriptions about the county’s revaluation (from two years ago) were little more than a pretext for trying to justify a property tax increase that she’s bound to know residents will oppose.
The mayor was nothing if not confident, despite her erroneous understanding, for instance, that tax values are set based on appraisals, not building permits, as she repeatedly tried to claim.
- But even on a non-financial front, we saw busy-body council members (three of them), who apparently would like to be city manager in addition to being members of the city council.
They wanted to tell city manager Megan Garner who she should select for the city’s next police chief.
We don’t disagree with the underlying high praise at least one of them expressed (without using his name) for Captain Duane Flood, who is one of the most competent, effective (and personable) officers on the force.
A strong argument could be made that he would have provided stronger leadership that the city has needed if he had been chosen five years ago.
But nonetheless, one of the frequent admonitions we’ve heard for decades is that city councils aren’t supposed to interfere with personnel decisions – other than in the selection of the city manager.
It was hard to know whether Graham was any better served Tuesday night than if the council members were on public boards in Hooterville or Hazzard County, Georgia (home to the Dukes of Hazzard), TV venues from decades ago or, more recently, Pawnee, Indiana (home of another laughfest city, Parks and Recreation).
A digital sign in those locales sounds about right.
