Petal Mayor May Cut Benefits

[noway]

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060214/NEWS01/602140301/1002

What is the city of Petal doing?
How can a city spend 370,000 for a meter reader, raise water bills 100 %, then they are going to take benefits from the city employee making 7.00 an hour.. I don't live or work in petal but I know how hard it is to live off the pay city or county employees make. You can work at a taco bell or mcdonalds for that.. Is the city of Petal Admin wanting to be in office for ONE Term?

[fuzzis]

I don't know the situation in Petal, but this seems to be symptomatic of what's happening all over the country with regard to benefits.

fuzzis

[IGID]

I think he's already locked in the one term office.

[Conveyor Belt]

No one made them work there. If they don't like it, they can go somewhere else. The post office stops working all the time.

I don't work in a 9-5, M-F job. I only get off Thankgiving and Christmas. I work weekends. I get paid more than $7, but my employees, who work for that much, get the same thing. That's what you get when you drop out of high school, or don't try hard in high school. This is what kind of job your high school education warrants. I do not sympathize with the city workers at all. The city seems to have plenty of money to always pay someone to stand around and watch the other guy work. Fire one of them, same work gets done at 1/2 the price.

[Tully Mars]

The spin that the HA puts on this really annoys me. Notice that the Mayor is not even quoted in the article. His goal is to review benefits and discover if there is the opportunity to save taxpayers money. I really don't see the problem with that. Having been a former local government employee myself I can assure you that there is plenty of dead weight out there.

The problem is that a government employee is the hardest in the world to get rid of, no matter how poor or nonexistent his or her performance is. You can literally catch someone with their hand in the till, fire them, get sued and lose. It is much easier to reduce costs by reducing benefits. If they quit then that is their choice.

[2002usmgrad]

When I read this story I kept thinking to myself, why doesn't this guy go get a job at wal-mart or sams. I know after I graduated from high school I went to work at sams and made more than this guy, and I was pushing buggies. I looks like the mayor came in and saw a lot of stuff wrong with the city and thought he might should make it right after soo many years, he seems to be ripping the bandaid off, but too quickly, where it really hurts and leaves that redness, but you know what, it soon passes and you forget you had the cut. And what's with all the holidays, I mean come on, who takes off for Confederate Memorail Day anymore. Have yall ever thought that maybe if he gets all the bad stuff done in his first two years that his last two might see the city improving and makes him look like the good guy, just a thought.

[noway]

No one made them work there. If they don't like it, they can go somewhere else. The post office stops working all the time.

I don't work in a 9-5, M-F job. I only get off Thankgiving and Christmas. I work weekends. I get paid more than $7, but my employees, who work for that much, get the same thing. That's what you get when you drop out of high school, or don't try hard in high school. This is what kind of job your high school education warrants. I do not sympathize with the city workers at all. The city seems to have plenty of money to always pay someone to stand around and watch the other guy work. Fire one of them, same work gets done at 1/2 the price.

C-B are you feeling okay.. I hope your employees don't read this. Well my High School Graduation makes me 40k and I don't have a college degree. But I started out like those city & county Employees making 5.00 an hour.. here's 3 things

1. Water bills jump 100 percent 50.00 a month for an average family in petal (hburg 19.80)
2. 370,000 spent for a meter reader
3. c.o.p bought a road grader, 315 track hoe, dozier, bobcat for a cost of 450,000..

Like I said I don't live in petal or work for petal.. I know first hand that city and county employees are starving to death and there is way to much spending with the employer(like C-b)

[noway]

Hey 3 rich guys remember those city employees are the ones that run the daily operations not the ones spending the pay raises...

[Conveyor Belt]

C-B are you feeling okay.. I hope your employees don't read this.

I tell them all the time. They know. It's a Peter the Great relationship... they love me and hate me, all at the same time.


I know first hand that city and county employees are starving to death and there is way to much spending with the employer(like C-b)

Who's starving to death? Debbie Cakes are 25cents a piece, and 4 of them + a multivitamin provide 100% daily calories, plus nutrients. Anyone who's starving to death isn't either 1) not working hard enough 2) not working smart enough or 3)not putting their priorities in order.

[Biggie]

Pay poor people less and lets spend $1,000,000.00 on a coach. Yea, lets all get our priorities in order. You say they should find another job if they don't like it? Maybe you should take the same approach if you think your taxes are too high and move into a smaller house. Same logic.

[Conveyor Belt]

Maybe you should take the same approach if you think your taxes are too high and move into a smaller house. Same logic.

I see nothing wrong with this logic. Seems like a resonalbe solution to the problem. Not the only soultion, but one what works. Good thinking!

[Tommy9854]

Pay poor people less and lets spend $1,000,000.00 on a coach. Yea, lets all get our priorities in order. You say they should find another job if they don't like it? Maybe you should take the same approach if you think your taxes are too high and move into a smaller house. Same logic. The city had nothing to do with hiring Coach Davis (plus it's only $75,000 a year, which isn't rare for coaches to make that much).

[jmack]

I see nothing wrong with this logic. Seems like a resonalbe solution to the problem. Not the only soultion, but one what works. Good thinking!

Good logic, but what percentage would change houses?

The Mayor can't do anything about holidays anyway because that is determined by the Governor not the Mayor. Good PR but not realistic.

[MSQueen]

I tell them all the time. They know. It's a Peter the Great relationship... they love me and hate me, all at the same time.
.......
Who's starving to death? Debbie Cakes are 25cents a piece, and 4 of them + a multivitamin provide 100% daily calories, plus nutrients. Anyone who's starving to death isn't either 1) not working hard enough 2) not working smart enough or 3)not putting their priorities in order.
when's ur book "How I Make My Millions" coming out, con? bet ur employees r happy campers, huh?:smt102

[Conveyor Belt]

when's ur book "How I Make My Millions" coming out, con?

When I figure it out, I'll let you in on it...

bet ur employees r happy campers, huh?:smt102

They'll do... Actually, right now, I've got a great team... I let them know that, everyday. I've had some doozies in the past, but I'm learning to plan ahead and have people ready to move into open/opening positions before they're open. I also have future plans for world domination, but that'll come later.

I've been honored with "Best of The Best" in my company for the second year now, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. I really don't want to move up in the company, but would rather have my own place. The only thing I do now is see how much more money I can bring in... it's about the only benchmark I have left...

[Jessica]

The Mayor can't do anything about holidays anyway because that is determined by the Governor not the Mayor. Good PR but not realistic.

It's true the Governor proclaims the holidays, but the city of Petal employees are paid by the "city", not the state. The only thing the city employees have in relation to the state is the retirement system. So if the Mayor and Aldermen vote to change the holidays and it passes, it's a done deal.

Besides that, here are how the holiday proclamations read:

TO THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

WHEREAS, the Legislature has designated DATE as the day for the observance of HOLIDAY and under the provisions of Section _____, Mississippi Code of 1972, is a legal holiday in the State of Mississippi;

THEREFORE, all officers and employees of the State of Mississippi are authorized and empowered, at the discretion of the executive head of the department or agency, to close their respective offices in observance of the holiday.

I interpret the reading of the proclamation to be, as it says, "at the discretion of the executive head of the department or agency".

[jmack]

I've never seen a city stay open on a state holiday but I guess there is always a first. The Mayor stated the off time left "too little to accomplish the work and provide residents with services they need". But, I would be concerned how much work could be accomplished with the other government offices and banks being closed for business.

I think this sounds good but most of these workers would probably be sitting around watching the clock. His proposal to cut back on the vacation time or sick time would likely make sense.

[Conveyor Belt]

But, I would be concerned how much work could be accomplished with the other government offices and banks being closed for business.

I think this sounds good but most of these workers would probably be sitting around watching the clock. His proposal to cut back on the vacation time or sick time would likely make sense.

I think a majority of the PHYSICAL type government jobs can be accomplished even if the bank is closed. It just takes a bit of planning to have all materials at hand BEFORE the day. I know thats alot to ask of a government employee... planning and all.

[jmack]

You are right that the physical jobs could be accomplished if the employees worked extra days.

The statement "It is much easier to reduce costs by reducing benefits" which was posted earlier, is true if you are talking about cutting out insurance or some other perk but working more days would only increase costs. Shutting down the offices and parking vehicles would save money and a better argument for the Mayor would be that the employees' have to many days off and should work more to provide services for the taxpayers.

You want to reduce costs then park the city owned cars at city hall after hours and turn off or turn in cell phones at night.

[noway]

A family member called me today.. last 5 water bills 120, 49, 49, 49, 75..:smt102
Average home with two people.. The highest water bill in Hattiesburg Ive had was around 30.00... They need to go ahead and get the 370,000 meter reader incase its human error...

[Conveyor Belt]

Got my water bill today. $53. That's water, sewer and garbage.

$16 Water
$12 Sewer
$20 Sanitation
$5 Sewer Treatment

This is for a home with 3 people, where at least 1 full jacuzzi bath is drawn a day + 2 showers, couple cycles of washer, and dishwasher every few days.

I don't think this is an unfair amount. Even in the bill where I had a broken water pipe for a day while at work, my bill was under $70. Maybe have a leaky toilet somewhere?

[MSQueen]

Con, evidently u missed the "biggies" here in petal. Here's my last 5 bills w/comparisons for the approximate same billing periods for the last year:

8/15 - 9/15 === $49.00 2004 === $38.80
Water 16.50
Sewer 9.00
Garbage 20.00
Sewer Trmt 3.50

9/15 - 10/31 === $78.00 2004 === $43.00
Water 26.50
Sewer 26.50
Garbage 20.00
Sewer Trmt 5.00

10/31 - 11/30 === $94.00 2004 === $45.10
Water 34.50
Sewer 34.50
Garbage 20.00
Sewer Trmt 5.00

11/30 - 12/30 === $49.00 2004 === $33.60
Water 12.00
Sewer 12.00
Garbage 20.00
Sewer Trmt 5.00

12/30 - 1/30 === $57.00 2004 === $38.80
Water 20.00
Sewer 12.00
Garbage 20.00
Sewer Trmt 5.00


Family of 3 ...

[MSQueen]

i actually have them back through part of 1993, and i used to have probably the past 10 years! i used to compare year-to-year or different times. i probably should just throw them away because it just tends to really tick me off!:mad:

[Conveyor Belt]

I dunno... when I was using Barrontown, they rarely ever read my meter... they'd always estimate based on usage, then they'd come and read it and BAM, a $90 bill... It made me mad then. I was always on the phone with someone every month b/c I'd read my own meter and compare it with what they had and make them send someone out to re-read it.

Why is your sewer so high? Do you have a pool? I can't get a straight answer from anyone in gov't. I've given up trying.

[jmack]

http://www.dhmtbk.dk/billed1/trash/images/Redneck-konvension.jpg

Maybe they can discuss cutbacks at the next Petal board meeting.

[mikedabiker]

they rarely ever read my meter... they'd always estimate based on usage, then they'd come and read it and BAM, a $90 bill...

Not on the same system but this has happened to me. Say you get 2000 gallons at the base rate and they dont read your meter. they charge you base rate and say you used 1000 gallons. When you actually used the entire 2000 gallons you would have gotten for the base rate. Well when they do show up to read it you will go over the base limit so you get the big charge. this happened to me 2 or 3 times and when I started making noise about attending water board meetings and running for one of the positions my bills straightened out. Funny how that happened about the same time.

[james]

What benfits is the Mayor refering to. I didn't know they had any benefits besides regular vacation, pesonnel days, and sick leave.

[jojobeans1120]

This includes insurance benefits for them and their families, sick leave..... it's just insane. I feel so bad for these people that are working for the city. I believe you guys are right about the one term. This idiot has got to go. Can he be impeached?....lol

[Conveyor Belt]

Why do you feel sorry for people who settle for a job working for the city? They're a dime a dozen. They probably turn over the workforce 3 times a year. There's a reason they get paid $7-9/hr. You can get that at Target, but then, you have to meet a minimum standard of intelligence and appearance to work in retail.

I donno about Scott and a one term. In a way, it wouldn't suprise me, but a candidate who promises to undo all Scott has done will be dealing with a different city. Petal will change once the Gandy parkway between 42 and 59 is opened. Maybe Scott's a genious and we're to blinded by the present to see it. Maybe he's a baffoon. Only history will be able to tell if his time in office is well spent.

[jojobeans1120]

Why do you feel sorry for people who settle for a job working for the city? They're a dime a dozen. They probably turn over the workforce 3 times a year. There's a reason they get paid $7-9/hr. You can get that at Target, but then, you have to meet a minimum standard of intelligence and appearance to work in retail.



I suppose that I feel for these people b/c I do have emotions outside of

anger and hatred.:smt102 I am not going to put someone down or belittle

them b/c they don't earn 40-50-90 grand a year. I think it's more of

what's on the inside of a person that matters. Do you think you're better

than them b/c you make more money than they do, live in a larger home,

drive a new car every two years or have that "college degree" that your

all to happy to point out to everyone daily? :smt119 When you insult them ,

belittle them, call them rednecks, idiots, or look down on them b/c

they don't have a college degree, or they work on an hourly pay

scale does this make you feel better or bigger than them? Does this make

you feel mighty and powerful? Does this make you all warm and fuzzy on

the inside, help you sleep better at night? Perhaps I'm taking your

comments the wrong way. This is the appearance you're giving me and

I would think others just by reading the things that you're posting. :smt102

These people are out there working, trying to provide food, clothing,

housing, insurance and stability for their families .I'm sure they're

trying to stay out of the welfare system, (which I as a tay payer

appreciate) and possibly even give their children better lives than they had. :smt038

They love their children as much as you love yours and I love mine.

Their lack of education doesn't make them any less of a person than

you or myself. I, myself have a greater respect for those people than

I do the ones that were simply "handed" everything they have. I do

not intend to come across as being rude or attempting to insult you in

anyway, but you're no better of a person than any of the city employees,

or anyone else for that matter. The way that you look down your nose at

them tells me a lot more about you as a person than your tax bracket.:smt011

[MSQueen]

way to tell him!! you go jojo!! :smt038

:smt041

[MSQueen]

Not on the same system but this has happened to me. Say you get 2000 gallons at the base rate and they dont read your meter. they charge you base rate and say you used 1000 gallons. When you actually used the entire 2000 gallons you would have gotten for the base rate. Well when they do show up to read it you will go over the base limit so you get the big charge. this happened to me 2 or 3 times and when I started making noise about attending water board meetings and running for one of the positions my bills straightened out. Funny how that happened about the same time.
how do u determine that's what happened? can u find out from them when (what months) the City actually comes out and reads ur meter? what would be the best way to monitor my meter reading to determine whether the billing is correct?

[mikedabiker]

If you have a question call and ask the day or week your's is suppose to be read by the city. Do your own reading and look over your bill when it comes in. I would then look over an extended period and look for the problem I found in my bill.

[fuzzis]

Do you think you're better

than them b/c you make more money than they do, live in a larger home,

drive a new car every two years or have that "college degree" that your

all to happy to point out to everyone daily? :smt119

I don't recall CB ever doing that so perhaps when you malign him, you might want to make sure that you're actually doing it based on something he's really said rather than what you would like for him to have said in order to be able to make a rather weak point.

fuzzis

[jojobeans1120]

Gee!!! I guess you and I are reading different things then... or perhaps I'm mistaking him for someone else.... or maybe there's someone hacking his computer and using his screen name.... wipe your nose!!!:smt001

[jojobeans1120]

No one made them work there. If they don't like it, they can go somewhere else. The post office stops working all the time.

I don't work in a 9-5, M-F job. I only get off Thankgiving and Christmas. I work weekends. I get paid more than $7, but my employees, who work for that much, get the same thing. That's what you get when you drop out of high school, or don't try hard in high school. This is what kind of job your high school education warrants. I do not sympathize with the city workers at all.

:smt119 I see said the blind man! :smt119

[fuzzis]

Gee!!! I guess you and I are reading different things then... or perhaps I'm mistaking him for someone else.... or maybe there's someone hacking his computer and using his screen name.... wipe your nose!!!:smt001

Could you provide evidence of what I quoted? Cuz honestly, I don't remember CB talking about the "'college degree' that your [sic] all to [sic] happy to point out to everyone daily?"

It's OK to disagree with CB, but if you'll look at my posts, I really have a thing about making sure that you're really attacking someone for what they've actually done...not what you want them to have done so you can support your opinion. (After all, if someone was calling *you* on the carpet, wouldn't you want them to be sniping at you for something you've really done? Not what they've imagined?)

fuzzis

[jojobeans1120]

Could you provide evidence of what I quoted? Cuz honestly, I don't remember CB talking about the "'college degree' that your [sic] all to [sic] happy to point out to everyone daily?"

It's OK to disagree with CB, but if you'll look at my posts, I really have a thing about making sure that you're really attacking someone for what they've actually done...not what you want them to have done so you can support your opinion. (After all, if someone was calling *you* on the carpet, wouldn't you want them to be sniping at you for something you've really done? Not what they've imagined?)

fuzzis

Well, I would assume by the way he talks so horribly about those that didn't go to college or didn't do well enough in high school that he has an all to wonderful degree hanging around somewhere.... wouldn't ya think? Re-read everything up there. Give it a really good look. AGAIN... wipe your nose!!!!

[fuzzis]

Well, I would assume by the way he talks so horribly about those that didn't go to college or didn't do well enough in high school that he has an all to wonderful degree hanging around somewhere.... wouldn't ya think? Re-read everything up there. Give it a really good look. AGAIN... wipe your nose!!!!

AGAIN...get it *right* before you trip off half-cocked. I'll wipe my nose as soon as you can show me exactly where...on a "daily" basis (your words...not mine)...CB has done what you accuse him of. Why would you hold yourself to lesser standards than you would want others held to? If someone were accusing you of something, wouldn't *you* want them to get it right? Or are you OK with someone slandering you simply because they can't refute your argument?

If you can't support your position, you owe him an apology for engaging in hyperbole. I'm sure you're a big enough person to admit when you've gotten it wrong and will go back to edit your post so you come across more rationally.

fuzzis

[jojobeans1120]

AGAIN...get it *right* before you trip off half-cocked. I'll wipe my nose as soon as you can show me exactly where...on a "daily" basis (your words...not mine)...CB has done what you accuse him of. Why would you hold yourself to lesser standards than you would want others held to? If someone were accusing you of something, wouldn't *you* want them to get it right? Or are you OK with someone slandering you simply because they can't refute your argument?

If you can't support your position, you owe him an apology for engaging in hyperbole. I'm sure you're a big enough person to admit when you've gotten it wrong and will go back to edit your post so you come across more rationally.

fuzzis


Again, maybe I'm wrong but I thought those dates on the top left corner of each post was the date and time the person has submitted their post???? 2/14, 2/15, 2/16, yesterday..... all of these days he insulted those that didn't get a college education b/c they didn't do well enough in school or didnt try hard enough.. however he phrased it... I was going by his words, and the dates of his post... like I said, look back over it... read what he's written, the tone of it..... everyone's entitled to their opinion and I've given mine. Thank you!!! g'night :smt006

[fuzzis]

Again, maybe I'm wrong but I thought those dates on the top left corner of each post was the date and time the person has submitted their post???? 2/14, 2/15, 2/16, yesterday..... all of these days he insulted those that didn't get a college education b/c they didn't do well enough in school or didnt try hard enough.. however he phrased it... I was going by his words, and the dates of his post... like I said, look back over it... read what he's written, the tone of it..... everyone's entitled to their opinion and I've given mine. Thank you!!! g'night :smt006

Because *I* disagree with your INTERPRETATION, I must not have read the other posts?

It's good to know that you're not in fact a big enough person to apologize for attributing something to someone that they did NOT in fact say.

:roll:

fuzzis

[jojobeans1120]

I was not apologizing for what I'd said or my view of what he said... I said to you and I'll say it again... I'm sorry I understood those dates on the top left corner of each post to be an indication of the date and time the post was submitted.... That's what the apology was for. WOW.... i'm really beginning to wonder if perhaps you need an eye exam...:smt119 You either didn't read what I wrote or you read what you wanted to read. I have not nor will I apologize. i call it like I see it.. a spade is a spade...
I'm not going to sit here and bicker back and forth with you like children b/c I posted what I thought... You're the one that went off on me for posting my opinion of how I thought he was coming across in his post. Now, you're taking it upon yourself to do the same thing to me that you're accusing me of doing to CB. I however am going to bed b/c i do have life waiting for me when i wake in the morning, goodnight sir and God Bless you....

[noway]

No one made them work there. If they don't like it, they can go somewhere else. The post office stops working all the time.

I don't work in a 9-5, M-F job. I only get off Thankgiving and Christmas. I work weekends. I get paid more than $7, but my employees, who work for that much, get the same thing. That's what you get when you drop out of high school, or don't try hard in high school. This is what kind of job your high school education warrants. I do not sympathize with the city workers at all. The city seems to have plenty of money to always pay someone to stand around and watch the other guy work. Fire one of them, same work gets done at 1/2 the price.

Fuzzis post #4 #9 #30...
C-b has right to his opinion like all of us do.. But I don't see your pift with JOJO

GooD Night JOJO :smt006

[fuzzis]

Fuzzis post #4 #9 #30...
C-b has right to his opinion like all of us do.. But I don't see your pift with JOJO

GooD Night JOJO :smt006

I can read, noway. Please show me where in those posts that CB was talking about *his* college degree, which if you look at my initial post, is what I was calling JoJo on. Just as a reminder...this is what JoJo wrote:

Originally Posted by jojobeans1120
Do you think you're better

than them b/c you make more money than they do, live in a larger home,

drive a new car every two years or have that "college degree" that your

all to happy to point out to everyone daily?

Her support for that is where? Where is it that he's said that he lives in a larger home, drives a new car every two years or has that "college degree" that he has claimed...as she states, on a "daily" basis?

As I have said before...I don't care if you object to what someone says, but if you're going to attack someone, make sure you attack them for what they've actually said or done, which is apparently, something JoJo is incapable of doing.

fuzzis

[noway]

:smt102 Fuzzis... JOJO might know c-b or be one of his employees :smt102

Goodnight Fuzzis.. (Im trying to get the last post or word in OKAY)

[lamarrebel]

I've never seen a city stay open on a state holiday but I guess there is always a first. The Mayor stated the off time left "too little to accomplish the work and provide residents with services they need". But, I would be concerned how much work could be accomplished with the other government offices and banks being closed for business.

I think this sounds good but most of these workers would probably be sitting around watching the clock. His proposal to cut back on the vacation time or sick time would likely make sense.

I don't remember all of the details, but it seems like a year or two ago Lumberton didn't want to shut down for the day on Confederate Memorial Day, or pay its employees for the day, or something of that nature. In the end, I think there was enough of an uproar that the employees got paid. Maybe someone else on here remembers the details/history better than I.

[Conveyor Belt]

Wow... LMAO! Don't we have our proverbial panties in a wad?

It comes down to this, anyone who doesn't honestly think they're better than someone is either Jesus or the Dali Lahma. It may not be in the forefront of your mind, or you may suppress the thought with scripture, but it does come there. Sympathy is not an emotion I have a lot of, mainly because I believe that people are in control of their lives. Life doesn't happen to you, you happen to it. Anyone who says differently is a whiner. I HATE whining. Tomorrow, if my whole family died, and I was a quadriplegic, you can bet I'd be out there doing something rather than sitting around feeling sorry for myself.

We need uneducated workers in our system. It is vital that someone is there to collect our trash, and wash the police cars. I am of the opinion that rewards, ie paid time off, are given to those who have accomplished something. Dropping out of school for whatever reason and not pursuing a better job equates to not having rewards in life. That is the life they chose. Some bureaucrat at some point wanted to get elected and made up all of these paid holidays. Now, when you want to take it away, people get upset because they feel "entitled" to it. No one's entitled to anything in life.

Beany, you make the assumption that someone who's working for the city has the same goals in life as I do. I will flat out tell you that you are mistaken. I do sleep well at night, but it's because I know that I win in the end. No matter what happens, I will prevail. That's the attitude I have and it's carried me to where I am today.

Did you even read the original article we're discussing? "...14 holidays, 12 sick days and an average of 12 vacation days city employees get each year." That's 38 paid days off, plus weekends when city employees rarely work. For a regular hourly employee at most jobs, this would put you out of business. It's not good business. Your problem is you want to feel good by feeling your helping someone by giving them something. That's what got us to where we are today. You cannot make someone better by giving them something. Do you give your kid candy every time they ask for it? It would make them happier.

People earn the life they lead. Some people like to blame God for where they are, as in, "God put all these problems in front of me", when in reality, the series of poor life decisions put the problems in front of them, they're just giving the credit to God/Satan/whoever. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree... I'm right, and you're wrong. :)

[Conveyor Belt]

:smt102 Fuzzis... JOJO might know c-b or be one of his employees :smt102

Goodnight Fuzzis.. (Im trying to get the last post or word in OKAY)

No one knows me, and most of my employees can't even spell "computer", much less work one. Well, someone knows who my fadder-in-law is, but no one knows me... I'm annonymous.:)

[Fire Extinguisher]

CB

Please stop tying education to intelligence. One of the biggest dumb-asses I have ever met was working on his second doctorate at the time. He seemed like a good guy, but would be eaten alive outside of the academic world.
I have my highschool education, and the job that I want.... I love my job... and even though you consider me an uneducated, low life city employee should the need arise (heaven forbid) I would suit-up and run into a burning building to make an attempt to rescue your behind.
With my lowly higschool education I have learned to read, write, type, program in HTML, a little JAVA, the old GW-Basic. I can add, subtract, multiply, divide, work complex algebraic equations, drive a car, drive a truck, drive a fire apparatus, pump that same apparatus, moving thousands of gallons a water a minute though hoses and appliances, all at the proper pressure for the amount of water needed through a particular hose/nozzle at any particular time. I can look at a building and tell you what the needed glow of water should be. I can operate vehicle extracation tools, provide basic life support, set up hot zones at hazmat incidents, set up decon, operate air monitoring systems for anything from industrial chemical leakes to possible WMD release involving Biological or Chemical weapons. I can tell you want any chemical that you bring me is in less than thirty minutes, if not the actual name the proper chemical family. I can run a computer program that, based on chemical leaking, along with weather conditions, will predict where on the map the chem will migrate to, who needs to be evacuated and who we can shelter in place.
I could go on, but I think you get my point.

Oh yea, highschool education...... 2005 taxable income $100,000.00 +

[jojobeans1120]

Glad I wasn't the only one reading the same thing in those post. If it weren't for those lowly city employees that CB is so ready to sling insults at there are a lot of things that would fall apart. City employees do not simply inlcude garbage men. Although, if they decided not to come to work, you'd be all to willing to b*tch about that as well. It's like I said before, CB, you need to get over yourself and your buddy fuzzis could use a bathrag for that nose of his.

[Conveyor Belt]

FireExtinguisher, I am happy you love your job. You are proving a theory I have about keeping service personnel at a minimum pay rate. Teachers, Fire Fighters, Police Officers should not be paid too well. Why, might you ask? Because you do not want people going into the field for the money. Would you rather a bunch of guys who are in it for the money show up to save you or a group of guys who live, eat, and breathe what they do?

Remember, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard. I was not intending to equate education to intelligence, but, in a lot of cases, it is true. You are not uneducated, and I don't consider fire fighters to be so. But, some good guys are dumb as stumps. Some of the nicest, do anything for you people, couldn't solve 2X+4=6. That's really not what my point was. I am of the opinion that everyone is not equal, and therefore, not "entitled" to benefits. The corporate world gets it, why not government? Are you saying the guy who cuts the grass and empties the garbage is as important as you are? Who would I want to show up, the city grass cutter or a firefighter? The original post was a link to an article showcasing a park maintenance employee who makes $7/hr. That's what I'm basing my posts on. Sorry you misunderstood. Glad you're pulling in the big bucks... maybe I'll be there one day. :)

[Conveyor Belt]

Glad I wasn't the only one reading the same thing in those post. If it weren't for those lowly city employees that CB is so ready to sling insults at there are a lot of things that would fall apart. City employees do not simply inlcude garbage men. Although, if they decided not to come to work, you'd be all to willing to b*tch about that as well. It's like I said before, CB, you need to get over yourself and your buddy fuzzis could use a bathrag for that nose of his.

I'm sorry, I didn't know that police officers, and fire fighters were off on holidays. As far as I knew, they were working, even on Christmas and Thanksgiving... Who's going to be there when you burn the turkey, again, Beany? Again, read the original article that specifically showcases a park maintenance employee who makes $7/hr.

If the employee decides not to come to work, you simply fire them and replace them from one of the many stacks of applications you have, or call Labor Finders until you have a replacement. That's easy to do. A good manager would have someone waiting to take anyone's place, because truth is, you can't count on anyone.

[jmack]

We need uneducated workers in our system. It is vital that someone is there to collect our trash, and wash the police cars. I am of the opinion that rewards, ie paid time off, are given to those who have accomplished something. Dropping out of school for whatever reason and not pursuing a better job equates to not having rewards in life. That is the life they chose. Some bureaucrat at some point wanted to get elected and made up all of these paid holidays. Now, when you want to take it away, people get upset because they feel "entitled" to it. No one's entitled to anything in life. :)

You are assuming that all government employees are uneducated and never work because they are taking all of these paid days off.

Not all government employees are lazy uneducated workers. I am a government worker with a college degree and I probably take off less time than 90% of private sector employees. I went to work straight out of college in the private sector and later was asked if I would be interested in working for a local government entity. I never applied for this job but later accepted a position, not because I had no ambition, but because I wanted to quit traveling and be at home with my wife and kids. I make less money than I did in the private sector but I am not complaining because I enjoy my job and being home with my family.

I have accumulated 65 vacation days and 125 sick days over many years and will probably never use them. I also have come into work several times on holidays including Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving day. This is not uncommon for many city, county and state employees, as many of my coworkers never use all of their vacation time and I would venture to say that only 10% of the sick time is ever used. I’m sure there are workers who take advantage and abuse the sick time but that also takes place in the private sector.

Yes, there are some government employees that are uneducated and don’t put in a full days work and whine about their salary but there are also those type of people in every job market.

[Conveyor Belt]

You are assuming that all government employees are uneducated and never work because they are taking all of these paid days off.


AGAIN, with RESPECT TO THE ORIGINAL POST/ARTICLE... I know what happens when assumptions are made, and I made no such assumptions. Hoo-rah for your work ethic, it's lacking in visible government workers. Just how many of your position are there? I wasn't aware the guy holding up a shovel while the other guy fills in pot holes had a college degree.

Dee-dee-dee!

[Biggie]

I think that dude's got a self esteem problem jmack. He likes to put down other people to make up for his short commings.

[jojobeans1120]

My thought exactly!!!

[james]

Why has the City of Petal stopped the Fire Department from running medical calls in the City. I am pretty sure all the Fireman were just sent through the EMT class at Pearl River Junior College. Why do the policeman always show up and the fireman are never there if they are all NR-EMT's.

[firefly]

Why do you feel sorry for people who settle for a job working for the city? They're a dime a dozen. They probably turn over the workforce 3 times a year. There's a reason they get paid $7-9/hr. You can get that at Target, but then, you have to meet a minimum standard of intelligence and appearance to work in retail.

I donno about Scott and a one term. In a way, it wouldn't suprise me, but a candidate who promises to undo all Scott has done will be dealing with a different city. Petal will change once the Gandy parkway between 42 and 59 is opened. Maybe Scott's a genious and we're to blinded by the present to see it. Maybe he's a baffoon. Only history will be able to tell if his time in office is well spent. No he's not a genious, just a coniving money grubber who doesn't give a rat's behind abouth the seniors & the diabled in this town!:mad:

[Tully Mars]

Money grubber? You and I must not have the same Mayor in Petal. :smt102

[pharmcop]

You know, not all gov employees are basic labor. Some of us are trained professionals whom everyone else could not live without (i.e. police and fire). Maybe you should think before you speak, C-B, or at least try to respect the people whom you'll call when you can't handle the situation. Some of us don't get those days off anyway.

[Conveyor Belt]

You know, not all gov employees are basic labor. Some of us are trained professionals whom everyone else could not live without (i.e. police and fire). Maybe you should think before you speak, C-B, or at least try to respect the people whom you'll call when you can't handle the situation. Some of us don't get those days off anyway.

I was speaking of basic labor employees in my posts, pharmcop. The trained professionals that serve the citizens of the city of Petal have my utmost respect. From the sewer repair specialist to the police chief. I still think that the amount of paid time off given to untrained, unskilled, undereducated employees was too much, and Mayor Scott was right in his thought process. That doesn't mean I'm evil, just that I think differently about the way government/business should be run. If I could get 1 day off I'd be appreciative right now...

However, reading back over these posts that were written over 6 months ago, I did come off as kind of an ass, huh? I just have to laugh at myself and wish everyone could do the same...

[daisy]

I hope you can schedule yourself a day off also. We all need to enjoy the fruits of our labor and recharge every once in a while. It helps to balance us.

I once worked a lot without enough time off. That was my choice to be there though.

I think city employees deserve the benefits. We're not all the same, people that is and different things motivate us in our careers.

I interviewed for a state job in Jackson years ago. Wouldn't have paid what I wanted, but the perks with it could have balanced it out.--retirement, days off, stable hours. great to spend time with families or enjoy life.

I think the best saying I ever heard was by a professional who taught his sons that even the drunk lying in the ditch deserves respect because there's something he can do that you can't.

It's good you can look back at how you sounded. I've had those moments-more than I care to remember. I used to have all the answers. I know There's a lot I don't know anymore.

I think if the Petal mayor wants to cut benefits, he should set an example and be content with his salary. Use the car like the others in the past have and ex the extra for the aldermen. I always notice that fast, moving mayors that don't honor the people they serve--or their coworkers tend to not be re-elected. He may not care to be mayor again.