CU: Not to be Compared with Ditch Diggers!

Frankly, I’m thankful for the ditch diggers and sewer cleaners of the world. They do our civilized community a valuable service. Apparently, one City Utilities (CU) executive found that being compared to Springfield Public Works Department was a smack in the face him telling reporter Mike O’Brien:

"You can't compare us to ditch diggers!"

I should say not. Look at how much they make, according to the story:

“So it seems odd to many that the CU general manager's compensation is almost double the city manager's. And that a half-dozen top CU assistants make more than the city manager. And that 80 of CU's 1,000 employees were paid more than $100,000 in 2006, compared to 17 among City Hall's workforce of 1,600. And that CU spends five times as much per person on its "company picnic" as City Hall does for its workers.”

And CU wonders why the public is upset. I’m sure John Twitty’s electricity was on skippy quick after the ice storm. Read the article in the News-Leader. O’Brien gives CU a much needed hickory switch across the rump. Hopefully the attitude adjustment works.