Page 6 - eagle102011.qxd

I hateOctober.

I mean I really, really, really

hate this month. Every year, about

the middle of September, this free

floating anxiety begins to color my

attitude about everything because

I know the fates are plotting and

lining up to do me great harm

beforeHalloween.

Seriously. I hateOctober.

So far this month, I have had an

extremely unpleasant correspon-

dence frommy good friends at the

IRS, had to spend more than $500

on emergency plumbing repairs

and had an unpleasant communi-

cation, or two, with some local

political leaders orwanna bees.

But, none of that really mat-

tered when last week my son

called to tell me that Lucy was

severely injured.

Lucy is my son's golden retriev-

er who is just turning 3. Now, this

isn't the smartest pup in the litter

my any means. Lucy is actually

pretty dumb if we're going to face

the truth here, but my son and his

family hit the lottery with this dog

despite her lack of active brain

matter. Goldens have a reputation

as just about the best companions

and most loving breed of dog one

could wish for. Lucy triples that,

and then some.

She wears her heart on the out-

side and is absolutely sure the rest

of the world was created just so

she could love every living thing in

it. She can't go to doggy day care

because she won't play with any of

the other dogs, she only wants to

be with the people. Same with the

dog park. Her attitude is if all

these other stupid mutts ran off

and left their people alone, they

are hers for the loving and she's

not going to miss out on charming

every one of them.

And she lovesme.

I mean, this dog adores me. I

make an appearance at my son's

house and Lucy nearly tears the

door off the hinges, and at her size,

she's just the girl who could do it.

Lucy never barks, until I appear

and then she just won't stop

expressing her joy for everyone to

hear and see. She wiggles parts of

her anatomy

that other dogs

have never

found no mat-

ter howhard they've tried.

Lucy and I bonded very early

when my son brought this little 8

pound bundle of fluff home from

the kennel. She loves her family

andmy daughter-in-law is the light

of her life, but I am a close second,

there is no doubt about it.

So when my son told me that

Lucy had been hurt, it was the

biggest dagger the month of

October leveled at my heart. The

poor tortured animal couldn't walk

and when she tried she whim-

pered and cried in pain. When my

daughter-in-law called the vet the

receptionist told her it sounded a

lot like hip dysphasia, which sent a

cold chill down everyone's spine.

My son stayed home from work

and they loaded this 85-pounds of

pitiful whimpering, whining fur

into the car and got her to the vet,

who promptly said the level of her

painwould require complete anes-

thesia to do the x-rays she needed.

The lesson we all learned from

this is just howmuch this crazy dog

means to us. As my son said, she's

such a pain in the butt sometimes,

but when we thought we were

going to lose her, we all looked at

each other like what on earth

wouldwe ever dowithout her?

Nobody likes cleaning up the

SSOCIATED

EWSPAPERS OF

ICHIGAN

AGE

October 20, 2011

If you quit your job to take another position with the same

employer, moving from leading one department to another,

would you receive an entire year's salary as severance?

We don't think so.

If we're wrong, and you would, please send along the name

of your employer and that of the attorney who negotiated this

deal for you.

Severance, we have always understood, is paid when one

leaves an employer involuntarily. This clause is usually in a

contract so that if the individual is fired or laid off, there is

some financial security for some time so they are able to find

another job in their field. During the boon days of our economy,

many managers were negotiating these 'golden parachutes'

which allowed for severance pay even if they left voluntarily.

That was then and this is now.

We are particularly aghast that the employer in question is

Wayne County, which is fundedwholly by the taxpayers. We are

discussing $200,000 of taxpayers' money being paid to one indi-

vidual while the majority of Wayne County employees are

being asked to, or have already taken, wage concessions.

We repeat, when Tukia Awada Mullin, the Wayne County

economic development chief, accepted the position of director

of the Wayne County Metropolitan Airport, she took a check

with her for one year of her salary, $200,000 of tax money. In

addition, she was paid for all her unused sick, personal and

vacation time, which is pretty standard inmost industries.

It is the $200,000whichwe find so offensive.

After initially vociferously defending the payout, Mullin

agreed to return the funds to the county and take her new

$250,000 plus salary, with benefits, from the Wayne County

Airport Authority. In the meantime, Wayne County Executive

Robert Ficano also defended the payout, claiming Mullin took

a salary reduction to go to the airport. What he didn't mention

was that a private 'foundation' was making her salary $50,000

more than the job she was leaving. Contracts and agreements

were produced, signed by Ficano, some only a few paragraphs

long, agreeing to the payout to Mullin. Some admittedly pre-

pared this September but undated and conspicuously on old-

style county stationery.

Defending herself, Mullin said she was worth the money,

and more. She said that people should ask what she had done

for the county in her last job and realize how successful she

had been in bringing millions of dollars of development to the

area.

That's great. We appreciate the fine job, but wasn't that what

you were paid to do? Good job performance doesn't entitle one

to a $200,000 bonus to, in essence, transfer to another depart-

ment. We might also mention that Mullin has no experience

whatsoever in any form of airport management or employ-

ment. None.

She says that a good manager is a good manager and that

her focus at the airport will be on development of more busi-

ness, as it was inher former jobwhere shewas so successful.

OK, maybe that's true. But her first official task was the

announcement of 'right sizing' the airport workforce, laying off

nearly 100 people.

These folks worked just as long, if not longer, just as hard, if

not harder, and were just as successful at their chosen field

whether it was driving a truck, repairing the tarmac, managing

luggage or working to help passengers as did Mullin. She got

$200,000 and they got laid off. Cause and effect?

Pardon the pun, but that just won't fly.

And Mr. Ficano's apology and firing of an already retired

employee and 30-day suspension without pay of two others is

disingenuous at best. This was an attempt at a cover up when

sticky fingers were caught in the county cookie jar. When those

In the meantime, Wayne County Executive Robert

Ficano also defended the payout, claiming Mullin

took a salary reduction to go to the airport.

”

When my daughter-in-law called the vet the

receptionist told her it sounded a lot like hip dysphasia,

which sent a cold chill down everyone's spine.

”

Taxpayers deserve a better financial steward

Organizer announces

chili winners

To the editor;

The 16th Annual Great Lakes

Regional Chili Cook-off and

Motorcycle Show was held on

Sunday, Oct. 9 in downtown

Plymouth, - the biggest chili

event of the year. The estimated

20,000 chili and bike fans ate 86

different chilies in The

Gathering along with 15 restau-

rants in Kellogg Park serving up

their best chili. Over 50,000 chili

samples were enjoyed. A great

chili day.

And thewinners are…

Best Booth: Leo Buk -

Nuclear Chili - Trenton

People's Choice: Ron Smith -

Motor CityHarleyChili - Novi

Salsa 1st Place: Bill Donovan -

Donovan's Code 3 Chili -

Cincinnati, OH

Chili Verde 1st Place: Richard

Chauvin - South of the Border

Chili - WindsorOnt.

Red Chili 1st Place: Diane

Lentz - Belle Breezing Bordello

Chili - Nicholsville, KY

Restaurant Chili Challenge

People's Choice

:Picnic

BasketMarketplace - Plymouth

Best Judged: Fox Hills Golf &

Banquet Center - Plymouth

Also…The Chili Bike Show