Council spat emerges between Rico, McGary

Two City Council members are trading jabs, with Council Chairman Manny Rico accusing Councilman Andraé McGary of not doing his job Tuesday during a Budget, Personnel and Finance Committee meeting.

Councilwoman Carol Berz, chairwoman of the committee, started the meeting and said Mr. McGary was listening from his job as a radio talk show host at 102.3 Talk Monster radio.

"He is really not going to listen very well here and he's not doing his job too well over there if he's trying to do two things at the same time," Mr. Rico responded.

The council sat in silence and did not respond.

Mr. McGary later remarked about the incident in public, referring to Mr. Rico as a character from the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and also a character that actor Mike Myers portrays in the "Austin Powers" movies.

"For the record, I called him the mayor's Oompa-Loompa and the mayor's Mini-Me," Mr. McGary said.

Hullander shows successor the ropes

Hamilton County Commissioner Bill Hullander, recently elected as county trustee, on Thursday gave the nickel tour to his successor to the County Commission.

Chester Bankston, a school board member who won the Republican ticket in May and has no Democratic opposition, is the likely successor to Mr. Hullander.

Mr. Hullander showed Mr. Bankston the commission office and introduced him to some of the commission staff.

Up for a vote

When the Hamilton County Commission meets next week, it will consider approving several items, including:

* Awarding a $202,430 contract to Costcon General Contractors to build a football field at East Hamilton Middle/High School.

* Approving a $32,500 contract with S&ME Inc. for environmental consulting to clean up the former Charles A. Bell Elementary School.

* Awarding a $27,727 contract to Y and S Technologies for 67 televisions and wall mounts for East Ridge Elementary School.

Compiled by Dan Whisenhunt and Cliff Hightower. Dan Whisenhunt can be contacted at dwhisenhunt@timesfreepress.com. Cliff Hightower can be contacted at chightower@timesfreepress.com.

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