In related news, the City Council on Wednesday changed MRC executive director Reggie Taylor’s employment status from a two-year “no cut” contract to that of an “at will” employee like the other 600 who work for the city. Now that he no longer has the security of a two year contract, Taylor better step it up and show his usefulness, one city official told Around Town on Friday.
“It’s a very precarious position he’s in,” the city official said.
“He’s in charge of an organization that’s not doing any buying or selling. It’s really reached the end of its viability or usefulness,” the official said, in reference to the MRC.
Politicos wonder why City Manager Bill Bruton offered Taylor a rare two-year contract to begin with. Bruton hired him out of Chicago in the dead of winter. As anyone knows, convincing someone to move South during a Chicago winter should be no challenge at all.
Speaking of the MRC, politicos noticed that Tumlin (an ex officio member of that board) was conspicuously absent from the MRC’s first meeting of the year in January — which would seem to indicate a cloudy forecast for the MRC. He is not a big proponent of high density development or tax allocation districts, especially retroactive TADs, which were championed by the MRC and by then-Mayor Bill Dunaway.
While Tumlin was absent, Dunaway, who stepped down from office in December, did attend the meeting, sitting next to frequent critic Larry Wills.
The MRC’s chief problem, as alluded to by the above quoted city official, is that it spent millions of dollars on overpriced property in the rundown Hedges-Gramling neighborhood that it can’t sell without taking a bath. And with the quarter million going to pay for the salaries of Taylor and his staff, “a quarter million dollar sinkhole,” as one politico called it, on top of the interest payments owed to Bank of North Georgia for the overpriced property, the entire MRC project is a drain on the city’s finances.
“We could take his salary and pay the interest every month and ride that thing forever,” the city official said.
There’s no reason why Beth Sessoms, the city’s economic development director, couldn’t take over what little work the MRC currently does. In fact, some city council members originally wanted to give the position of MRC executive director to Sessoms, but were met with resistance by certain former MRC members, namely Micky Blackwell, who opposed Sessoms for the position because he didn’t think she was qualified, the city official said.
But unlike Taylor, who rarely has an answer when asked a question by his board members, preferring to “get back with them later on that,” and who is also evasive with the press, answering questions by going through Bruton or the city’s spin doctor, Matthew Daily, Sessoms is communicative and accessible.
Whatever the case, it certainly will be an embarrassment when Bruton comes out with his latest budget, claiming he has “cut the city budget to the bone,” when the fat of the MRC hasn’t been trimmed.
WEATHER WRAPUP: This morning’s Valentine tree planting by the Marietta Tree Keepers has been postponed until 9 a.m. next Saturday. That’s when the Tree Keepers will plant 75 bare-root trees on the Marietta City Club Golf Course, reports chairperson Holly Walquist. Donuts, hot chocolate and coffee will be provided, she reports. Attendees should meet at the back of the clubhouse for transportation to the planting site.
As for tonight’s “Hearts and Dreams 2010” Gala at the Strand Theatre for the Cobb Humane Society, group spokesman Steve Imler promises to post status reports on his Web site about whether the show will take place. But he was optimistic on Friday.
“Despite the recent snow, we expect that the roads will be clear by Saturday evening and the SHOW WILL GO ON!” he e-mailed Around Town. “I have posted a status on my Web page www.steveimler.com. If there is any change in plans I will immediately post another update. So if you have tickets, dress up (black tie optional), bundle up, and come on down for a fantastic party and show.”
Open bar and appetizers start at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m., featuring Ron Carter, Lyric Theatre, Joe Turner, and Pebblebrook School for the Performing Arts.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT COALITION of the Fulton County Republican Party hosts the Metro GOP 2nd Amendment Breakfast this morning featuring National Rifle Association immediate past President Sandy Froman, Georgia Carry President Ed Stone and Georgia State Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers of Woodstock at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The event starts with a 9 a.m. breakfast. Honorary event co-chair is Georgia GOP Chairwoman Sue Everhart, and co-hosts include Cobb GOP Chair Scott Johnson.
PEOPLE: The One Percent Sales Tax Citizens Oversight Committee has elected Marietta lawyer Alice Summerour to replaced David Hong as chairperson and Dr. Michael Rhett replaces Bill Borden of Checkpoint Mortgage as secretary. Mike Knowles of NorthWest Bank & Trust remains vice-chairman.
The Cobb County Republican Women’s Club Installation and Awards luncheon last week presented Rosan Hall the Mary Aven Award; Rose Wing was chosen as Woman of the Year; Inger Eberhart was given the Sue Everhart Award; Sam Olens, the Trumpet Award; and Millie Rogers, was recognized for service.
Nancy Fleming and former Kennesaw State University vice president Dr. James A. Fleming have welcomed their first grandchild, Lillian Fleming, born Feb. 2. The parents are Dr. Kim Fleming and husband Stuart Fleming of Marietta. Kim is a group vice president for SunTrust Banks and Stuart is a Coca-Cola Enterprises executive and newly elected member of the Marietta school board.
New officers for the Atlanta Boat Club are Commodore Karen Kelly, Vice Commodore Paul Haugen, Secretary Mike Turgeon, and Treasurer Stephanie Haugen. Heading the Grounds committee is Thompson Thompson; Jim Berresse heads New Membership and Safety is chaired by Ronnie McHann.
THE INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION IN GEORGIA is hosting its 17th annual Criminal Practice Seminar with Patrick Longhi as program chair at Kennesaw State University Center from 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Kennesaw State University Center, just off the main campus.
Speakers are latent print examiner Robert Whritenour, document examiner Farrell Shiver, Patrick Longhi, professor Paul Milich, Jennifer Ammons, and Judges Gregory Poole, Juanita Stedman and George Kreeger.
Attendees are awarded six CLE Hours, including one Ethics Hour, one Professionalism Hour and three Trial Practice Hours. Call ICLE at (770) 466-0886 or visit www.iclega.org.
EVENTS: District 4 residents are invited to a 7 p.m. town hall meeting Feb. 25 at Milford Baptist Church, 1030 Milford Church Road in the fellowship hall. Commissioner Woody Thompson will answer questions. Call (770) 528-3312 or visit cobbcounty.org/boc.
The public is invited to a “Winter Walk in the Woods” open house for the Jean and Elwood Wright Environmental Education Center, 2661 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. The free event is at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday.
SOME OF COBB’S finest female entrepreneurs will be recognized by The League of Women Voters Marietta-Cobb and the YWCA of Northwest Georgia at the second annual “Celebrating History Through Her Story” event at Chattahoochee Technical College from 10 a.m.-noon on March 6.
Panelists at the free event are to include Kim Gresh, president of S.A. White Oil Co.; Jeannette Hunter, owner of JQ Hunter Realty; Barbara Morris, owner of AT Morris Realty Group; Tammy Cohen, president and chair of InfoMart; and Cynthia Rozzo, founder and publisher of the East Cobber.
Moderating the event will be Condace Pressley, assistant program director of News/Talk 750 WSB.
Pam Flournoy with the League of Women Voters Marietta-Cobb and Holly Comer, CEO & Executive Director of the YWCA, will chair the Women’s History month event.
To attend or reserve a seat, RSVP to womens
history@ywcanwga.com or call the YWCA at (770) 423-3577.
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