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Managing Editor Scott Wright has been with The Post
since 1998. He is Sounds like a good idea to me By Scott Wright American author Napoleon Hill once said, “All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.”With that quote in mind, I would like to inform the people of Cherokee County about a good idea I recently came across. The idea, publicly presented by Probate Judge Melvyn Salter earlier this year, is for the Cherokee County Commission to pass a resolution asking the Alabama Legislature to split the jobs of probate judge and commission chairman. When Salter introduced the plan last month, it generated many pertinent questions from our commissioners, including: How long would the term of service be? What would the annual salary be? Would the position include heath benefits? Another question that has been asked – on one occasion in a letter that appeared in this publication – is whether or not Judge Salter conceived of this split for the purpose of creating a new job for himself, since state law says he will be too old to run for probate judge again after his current term expires. In response to that charge, Judge Salter has gone on the record stating that he “has no plans to seek that office.” Admittedly, Salter's choice of words does not inspire a high level of certainty regarding his intentions. But, since 51 of 67 counties in Alabama have already split the jobs, I think it's pretty weak to argue that Salter is being self-serving. I personally feel he wants to change the system because he currently has both jobs and realizes there is more work to be done than one man can efficiently accomplish. Salter has said as much to me, and I believe he is absolutely correct. Here's why. For starters, a full-time chairman could devote all of his time to running the county. He or she could seek out grants and other federal funds that could help pay for a wide range of programs, from assisting the poor to upgrading infrastructure. Also, a dedicated chairman could finally enact, and then enforce, the countywide building codes that should have been in place since Weiss Lake was completed in June 1961. There's almost fifty years of shortsightedness, laziness and downright incompetence to correct, right there. Is it starting to sound like a full-time job? Also, the fees generated solely from the building code aspect of the new chairman's job could help pay for any additional annual costs in salary and benefits, and might even turn a profit if the county's past tourism-related growth continues -- and it will continue growing, unless Weiss Lake turns into a cesspool. Speaking of which, the new chairman could also better coordinate with state and county health officials to put an end to the dumping of raw sewage into the lake – something that is happening, unabated, in hundreds of places all around our beloved reservoir as you read these words. In defense of our commissioners, I thought their questions about the pros and cons of the job split proposal were indicative of a keen level of oversight – a talent our local government has sorely lacked at times through the years. Should Salter have provided more facts if wanted the Commission to fast-track the measure onto the 2010 ballot? Yes, absolutely. In Salter's defense, however, there were some facts the commissioners asked for that he simply couldn't provide. For example, Salter could not estimate the new chairman's annual salary because the Alabama County Commission Association will determine that salary based on several variables after the position has been created by the voters. (Perhaps Salter could have mentioned that the new commission chairman in Lauderdale County is going to receive around $40,000 a year, plus benefits.) Almost every person with whom I have discussed the job split proposal has voiced their support. How could anyone be against creating a position that streamlines local government, makes Cherokee County a better, cleaner, more efficient, tourist-friendly place, and pays for itself in the process? Without trying to sound like too much of a kiss-ass, I honestly believe that we are fortunate to have level-headed people running our county. It is my hope that when all of their questions have been answered, and when the time is right, those leaders will ask the Legislature to allow the rest of us to decide whether or not we would like to split the offices of probate judge and commission chairman. When they choose to give voters the chance, I believe our commissioners will find that there are a lot of other level-headed people who believe it is time for a few new “achievements” and additional “earned riches” in Cherokee County – both of which a dedicated, full-time chairman could help provide. |