It all just doesn’t

add up



Great math, mayor!

In the articles on the new “interim” city secretary in Thursday’s 4/16 Item, Mayor Turner is quoted as saying “...I don’t think the citizens of Huntsville would have thought it prudent to offer a 47 percent raise to someone for an interim position. I think we did the right thing. I have no qualms about that.”

Now, let me understand this; we offered the current, in house, assistant secretary McGinty the interim job at $40,000, but rejected her $50,000 counter offer to do the job. That’s a 25 percent increase, maybe it reaches 47 percent with additional benefits, retirement plan increases.

So possibly the 47 percent figure is true. Or from her assistant secretary pay of $37,086, it’s a 35 percent increase. Not small change, a hefty raise to be sure!

However, and this is the part I like. Our mayor must assume that the citizens of Huntsville do find prudent a $26 per hour, out of town, interim secretary. Let’s explore that: 40 hours per week X 48 weeks per year = $49,920 per year.

Now my Big Chief tablet and #2 pencil tells me that’s a 25 percent increase before the “...agreement calls for the city to pay Texas First $26 per hour AND provide adequate housing expenses and pay gas mileage.”

Three nights per week, and mileage....maybe a total of $300 per week X 48 weeks + $49,920 of pay = $64,320? A 61 percent increase over the $40,000?

Maybe I’m not seeing the whole picture?

So, the message is what? Our mayor is poor at math? Or just chooses to dump an existing employee qualified enough to be offered the job, but not qualified as much as an out of town “expert?”

I feel good about it....NOT!



Brian Smith

Huntsville



One container is more than enough



Man are we lucky at Elkins Lake. Not only are we having our garbage collection reduced by 50 percent, but we are going to get to pay another $3.50 a month for garbage collection. Our water, sewer and garbage are already way too high but now we have to sacrifice for a poorly conceived recycling program that only means I have to find space for another unsightly garbage container that will only be emptied twice a month.

I do not have a space for another ugly green container, one is more than enough. It would be nice if we could go back to what was a great garbage disposal system.

I think our city “leaders” need to go back and see who pays for these services and give us our money’s worth.



Ken and Peggy Egger

Elkins Lake