Think hard about Public Works

Published 3:36 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2008

To the editor:

I am writing in response to a letter that was published in the May 14 edition of The Daily Citizen addressing the employees of the Dalton Public Works Department.

The writer expressed her concern on the state of the lawn care the Public Works department is providing to Dalton, more specifically at the Walnut Avenue exit on I-75. I wonder if Ms. Jones realizes that a crew of approximately eight people with the occasional help of community service workers has the responsibility of keeping all the public areas in Dalton mowed and trimmed. They do what they can to keep up with this maintenance, and I think they do an excellent job.

As to her comment on the group of five Public Works employees she saw in front of Steak ‘N Shake with only one actually working, I have a question for her. Can she name one place of business or place of employment where every single employee stays busy or “on task” 100 percent of the time? Unfortunately for the Public Works guys, they are out in front of everyone and are constantly under scrutiny.

I don’t think the citizens of Dalton realize just how much work the department actually does around our city and for the people who live here. I’m not even going to attempt to list everything they take care of, because that would take up an entire page in this newspaper.

Everyone is concerned about where their tax money goes and would like to pay as little tax as possible. Personally, I don’t think cutting out portions of the Public Works department is the answer to cutting city taxes. Maybe the mayor and council should take a step back and look to see what other entities within the city could be made more efficient.

For example, I wonder just how much money is spent yearly to heat and cool our Taj Mahal of a City Hall? And what about the trade center? While I’m not completely clear on how it is funded I do know that in the past the vast majority of its annual budget comes from the city. How much do they spend yearly to maintain that facility and its staff, and just how much money do they take in annually? And why are city workers and city vehicles and equipment being used to hang and take down banners for several different organizations and events here in Dalton which do not actually fall under the city government umbrella?

I realize these things are merely drops in a very large bucket, but maybe the mayor and city council members should take a little time to come up with a fair and sensible plan to cut the city’s budget without putting one-third of the public works department employees on the chopping block.

All I’m asking is that the residents of Dalton — as well as the mayor and members of the city council — please take a minute to think about the employees and all they do to keep Dalton a wonderful and beautiful place. From garbage and brush pickup to traffic signals and signage to mowing and landscaping, there are people who earn their living making sure these things are taken care of every day. Take those people away and how will these things continue?

If you support our guys with the Public Works department and their hard work and dedication, let our mayor and council know. There has to be a better way to cut taxes without putting so many people in the unemployment line.



Yvonne Anthony

Dalton