Recent hearings on cost overruns at the chemical incinerator project they will reach almost 25 percent over budget. Maybe the committee should look at why the incinerator is over budget. One would think that having almost a $300 million budget, you would be able to stay below that figure.
Being in logistics for nine years in the U.S. Army, we had a budget and never exceeded that dollar figure. Why is it that a bunch of civilian experts cannot do the same?
The reason is based on a few factors that I have experienced first hand. Number one is that you have civilians managing taxpayers’ money. Every piece of requested equipment is the most expensive and they specifically will ask for this type or name brand and will not except an equal substitute.
I understand that some items are specific in nature and have to be purchased, but a majority are unnecessary purchase, that can be bought cheaper or substituted.
The purchasing department is not to blame for these overruns on the budget. They follow all the guidelines set forth by government regulations. The people to blame are the management. They sign off on all the purchase requests for items such as a motorized warehouse sweeper that costs $500, when a push broom costs $15 to $20.
The purchases of unnecessary parts and equipment seem not to bother the people managing this project.
Maybe if they spent the money on auditing, they would stay below their budget.
Kelly Tumlin
Eastaboga
Angry fanatics
I was a participant in the protest against the rally for Roy Moore on the capital steps in Montgomery, which was actually a fund-raiser sponsored by the Christian Coalition. I can’t help but comment on very “un-Christian-like” behavior that was witnessed by all.Upon arrival, one could not help but notice the Christian music that was blaring loudly from the speakers pointed directly to the protesters. I guess the Moore supporters thought they could run us out if they played a little loud Christian music. We delighted in it, as many of us had heard it before, and we danced and swayed amongst each other.
There were as many protesters (if not more) as there were Moore supporters. I was part of the “silent” protest. However, there were people in attendance who chose to be more vocal.
At one point, Mr. Perry Hooper, former Chief Justice of Alabama, pointed to one of the more vocal protesters and said, “the fat guy who has been running his mouth since we got here” and then he threatened to have “someone come and ‘take care’ of him.”
Time and time again, the “Christians” in support of Moore showed us their true colors. A woman in a white hat came over to our group and shouted obscenities at us. All the while we stood there silent and held our signs that read, “show more love, not Moore hate.”
It was quite obvious that these people were nothing but a bunch of angry fanatics who definitely don’t know what being a true Christian is all about.
Michelle McHugh
Montevallo
