East Ridge Mystery

Saturday, February 09, 2013

As a citizen of East Ridge, and this being an opinion page, I feel that I must state my opinion and that of a vast majority of other East Ridge citizens that are informed and involved and concerned about our great city.

After viewing and listening to Mayor Brent Lambert's interviews on the various local news stations, it is very clear that he and Councilman Larry Sewell have been more concerned about keeping an over-paid lawyer and a city manager that violated policy on several occasions than their concern for the citizens of this city, who should be their primary focus. Concerned citizens have wondered why they both have done their best to retain the $150,000 or more a year former city attorney and a city manager who had violated city policy and caused much embarrassment to our city. What is it that we as concerned citizens do not know?

Mr. Gobble has repeatedly made the statement that we came in with approximately a $900,000 surplus. Well, if Mr. Whitson had had a tax increase and a sanitation fee increase, he also would have had a surplus and conceivably still been here. Mr. Gobble was also quoted that he implemented the recycle program. A lie. The recycle program was implemented under Mr. Whitson. Mr. Gobble apparently felt that it was more expedient to spend monies in areas that did not benefit the citizens, who foot the bill, instead of buying recycle cans. The recycle program is an excellent program and has helped with the tipping fees, bringing down cost. The recycle program brings in money; maybe not enough to pay for the program, but it is good for the environment and has a growing popularity with the citizens. I know, I know he spent what was budgeted, but he didn't mind spending money for other projects that citizens do not benefit from, but couldn't or wouldn't go to the council to let them know that the recycle program was getting so popular that we needed to find funds to purchase more recycle cans for the waiting list of  citizens.

Again, I wonder why is it that Lambert and Sewell have made it very obvious that they were and are more concerned about retaining the over-paid lawyer and city manager. What is it that we aren't privy to what makes these two individuals care more about them than the citizens who pay the taxes to fund the city?

Glen Pope Taxpayer, Property owner, Voter
1913 Close Road
East Ridge


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