Portland, Tennessee Blog

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF PORTLAND. IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT THESE CITY EMPLOYEES MAKE AN HOUR. I DONT THINK YOU WOULD BE GRIPING ABOUT US TAKING A BREAK.THE CITY EMPLOYEES JUST BARELY MAKE ENOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING.THINK ABOUT THE ONES THAT HAVE TO GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL KINDS OF WEATHER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CITIZENS OF PORLAND HAS WHAT THEY NEED.THE ONES THAT BENEFIT FROM THIS IS THE ONES THAT WORK AT CITY HALL.CHECK THEIR SALARIES. THEN YOU WOULD SHUT YOURE MOUTH ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES TAKING A BREAK.

In response to "d" below

A case by case bases makes no difference, we all pay taxes and utility bills but this doesn't make it ok at anytime for county, city, or private company vehicles to carry non authorized passengers. Should an accident occur the company is liable for it's occupants, and can become a large legal battle that will cost the company/city big dollars in law suits & court costs, not to count a substantial increase in insurance.

I'm sorry your child had to wait an hour for another pick up but I would think that a city employee that uses a company vehicle all day regardless of how close they are wouldn't be the first point of contact for the childs pick up. Probably over 70% of the children in schools today have both parents who work, many of them travel as far away as Nashville, Bowling Green or like my household Murfreesboro. We all plan for these occurances and have a back up plan.

As for city workers, I find the guys that pick up the trash are great!, now those that fix sidewalks, street repairs, yards they tear up and the like..... wellllllllll those are some costly repairs on our tax dollars.

As for leaving a sign to not pick up your trash and not paying that bill........ NOTTTTTT, you have to pay the trash fee on your bill wether you use it or not!!

I have two family members that work for the city. Both work thier fannys off! I tell you what if you dont like the job they do then do it yourself, post a sign that says do not pick up my trash, dont pay your bill and take it to the dump yourself!!!!

Also, stop worrying about the breaks they take. Check your labor laws they are entitled. Sanatation workers here dont make enough money for you to complain about thier breaks.

One more thing, in a case by case basis they should be able to carry family members if they have too. did it ever occur to you that maybe thier grandchild or child had to be picked up right then and couldnt wait. let me guess you had rather them go back, get thier vehicle take the child, come back trade vehicles again. thats just CRAZY when it was a 5 minute car ride and you turned it into a 45 minute stint.(just so you know) this issue has been addressed with the employees and i need my child picked up and couldnt get him picked up when he was sick and he had to wait over an hour. so thank you, thank you very much for making a sick little boy wait because you were worried about family members riding in the trucks

Sure there are things I dont like about Portland and I have lived here all my life.

The shopping. we should of had the walmart

The Parks could be upgraded. however they have done a huge improvement over the last few years.

the teenagers need something to do..a skating rink...bowling alley...something that keeps them out of trouble.

to me there are better things to complain about than what you a fussing about

It sound like jealous in the people, in town, & on blog(portland) I wish people would keep there big mouth closed...people like to talk all the time about some one,, you are pose to love your neighbor,,& the city people`s too

Yes, this is a blog to state our feelings, but you need to have the facts first before you start bashing a company or employees. When I said "Back Off", that wasn't being hateful, I'm just saying just because you might see workers on the side of the road doesn't mean they are not working. They could be waiting on extra help or equipment. Like I said before, if you are not happy with something go to the Mayor. I don't think we should be bashing anyone until we know the facts first.

Well I will chime in on this, yes they do take breaks and yes we pay for them but they do work and my trash is pick up every week.

But they do pay for the meals unlike the mayor eating at arby's free when he wants too

Well I will chime in on this, yes they do take breaks and yes we pay for them but they do work and my trash is pick up every week.

But they do pay for the meals unlike the mayor eating at arby's free when he wants too

I would hardly say you could consider stating opinions and complaints of a service we pay for "parks amployee bashing". So try not to be so defensive, just because a few people don't think that the workers are doing a great job, doesn't mean that everyone feels that way. You can't please everyone no matter what type of job you do, but in all honesty, there are needed improvements in lots of the city employees and how they do their job and if you don't feel the same way, there is no need to tell someone else they are wrong about their feelings or to back off, that is nonsense. This is a blog to state our opinons and I certainly am not going to hold my tounge to ensure I am not hurting someone's feelings.Sometimes the truth hurts.

About the workers taking breaks and so on. My husband works for Bellsouth and they do get a break in the morning and afternoon, so to the guy who made a comment about CEMC, back off. Those guys work hard, very hard. I know from first hand experience.

I don't care when a City of Portland takes a break as long as my trash is taken care of. I had an issue one day so I emailed the Mayor of Portland and he got back with me within minutes. Maybe if you a suggestion or a comment, try emailing the mayor. If you have so much frustration, then take it to the head of Portland.

maybe you parks employee bashers should step back for one minute and realize how much ground we have to take care of. we have 168 acres in richland park and another 15 or so in meadow brook to tend to. not to mention mowing city hall and 2 other properties in town. there are 8 soccer fields and 9 baseball/softball fields to manicure. we also have a pool and a gym that require attention. so don't tell me that "there are very few that are good at all". i work harder for the city than i have ever worked before and get paid less than i ever have. and i resent the fact that you judge all employees because of what you have or haven't seen. i am proud to work for the city of portland and maybe if some of you would try taking better care of our parks instead of telling us how lazy we are, then you might have a reason to complain.

City employees don't come close to CEMC guys cheating on break-time. Watch the big yellow trucks and put the clock on these $27.50 per hour people and see what they add to your light bill.

If you have a complaint about the city make your voice heard where it will do some good.
1. Call the Mayor
2. Go to the next council meeting
3. VOTE!!!
Even writing a letter to the editor of the 2 papers we have will have more impact and be seen by more people than this blog. I personally called our former mayor on 2 different occasions about something I had a problem with. He listened and said he would check into it. Did he? I don't know. But at least he listened and was very nice and this made we feel better and I am sure the present mayor will do the same.
I have never had a problem with the trash pickup. They seem to do a good job in my neighorhood. Maybe if people took the time to praise the good work that most city employees do, then maybe they would all take pride in their work. When is the last time you told someone "Good Job" and "Thanks". This is OUR city. Let's take a little pride in it and stop pointing out all the negatives unless we are willing to take the next step to make it better.

A City Employee,

You are saying, I should be happy that my trash is dumped on the street and I have to go back out there and pick it up, place back in the trash can that I paid $60 for for the sanitation dept to dump in their truck and pay a high trash fee now. Heck give me my money back if I have to do your job. I just dont understand why they cant pick up the trash on the road they spill. And do not tell me that city employees dont let family ride in the vehicles. I watched a gas truck emplyee carry family the other day. Get you facts straight before you say this stuff does not happen.

Jona, I am a firm believer of that as well, but in some situations, you can not change other people's behavior no matter how friendly you are to them, they are set in their ways and are down right rude. I just find it so odd how so many people in customer service HATE customers..doesn't that seem strange? Why would someone want a job that deals with the public's problems if you hate dealing with the public? this is reflecting on not only city workers,but all workers, even the little old lady at WalMart who refuses to smile at my toddler when he cheerfully says "Hi!" to her every week,anyway the problem on hand is so many people hate their jobs, and it shows through to customers.

I have never had a negative experience with a city employee, but I find it interesting that others on here seem to have had many bad experiences with city employees...officials etc...

The first thing that popped in to my head when I read all of this is:

Attitude reflects leadership..........Right?

Replying to the city employee, do you have any idea how many people have to get up at 4am for work? It is hardly a sacrifice to get up in the morning to go to work and get paid,thats just life,buddy..they are certainly not doing it voluntarily! It is called a job. You get paid to do your job,so they aren't doing us a big 'ol free favor, they are making a living, and if it requires early morning work,then you get up and do it. I am not feeling the sympathy here, I pay good money every month for them to have a job.While you are on duty, you are entitled to a break, yes, but there should be guidelines on how long these break last,
just like every other job has. City workers tend to act as if they run the city instead of working for it (not everyone,but quite more than a few!!!)Rules still apply and they should be enforced,this should go for every city employee, cops,firemen,even the secretary at CEMC. And it wouldn't hurt if these city workers were a tad bit nicer, I must say that a few employees at the Portland Police Department have quite a smart mouth on them that is completely unnecessary. So if you're one of the city workers eating a hardees, enjoy your break, but try to remember you are on the job, not on a boy's night out.

I don't know who's righ or wrong in this discussion about the city employees at Hardie's every morning. Maybe they have a legitimate reason for taking a break at the same time, but it does look bad. I don't know how much time they are entitled to, but this morning I was there for over 30 minutes. There were 6 already there when I went in and 5 were still there when I left. All in all I believe we have good city employees but some one in authority should take a look at this situation. If there is a legitimate reason the public should be made aware of it.

The vitriolic attitudes and the pure ignorance put forth by the same 6 or 7 people are amazing. Never nothing positive or good to say. What miserable lives they must lead.
If their guts were as stout as their words, they would be proactive and not negatively reactive.
I pronounce the death of this blog.
Leave it to a few to destroy the free exchange of ideas.
They only attack and never put forth common sense solutions.
You complain the city does not grow, but yet you lamblast ideas that are different; you complain about service, yet you lamblast those which do the service.
How unsatified and lonely of a life you must lead.

You now have a captive audience; yourself!

Well city employee,you can tell us one thing but we see another. What you are telling us is that you all are perfect and you are not. No one is perfect. You all are city workers for the city. Being nice, cutious, on time to work, and doing your job should be what you strive for. No matter what goes on behind the closed it is what happens in person that matters. I do not care who you are you should never act like some of the city employees act. Being rude to people when they call or not being to work on time when I have a question is a problem. That is what is going on in our city.

David,

Just to inform you. I have been with the City of Portland for the past three summers. And I just happen to know what really goes on around there. A matter a fact I am in the same building with the guys who run sanitation. And I must say that these guys are probably the hardest working guys in any department. When you come in at 4am to pick up someones trash you would also want a break around 8am. It is true that one of the garbage trucks are down and they did get behind but that’s why the city had to rent a trash truck and and the guys had to come in at 4am. Every city employee is entitled to a 30 minute break and they can spend it as they please. Also, I have never known any employee of the City of Portland to have family members in a city vehicle with them. So next time you take your trash to the road just be glad that you don’t have to take it to Gallatin yourself. So me being a city employee… Have a nice day.

The Parks Maint fees are crazy! Too much to give to the park dept & get nothing in return. Can't even spray for mosquitoes? Let the kids get bit while trying to practice.
I've noticed this same situtation at Hardee;s in the morning time. WHat's going on? Do they get a 30 min break every 2 hrs. I dont think this is how the rest of the regular employees do.

And check some of the salaries at the city. This is public record. A lot of people that make a lot of money just voted for a big raise. Do they really need it? some of the best employees don't get nothing. GO check the salaries.
I wish the newspaper would print them for everyone to see where their tax dollars are really going.

some employees seem to do what they want. THey forget they work for me citizen.
Just one person view.

Well as far city empolyees go there are very few that are good at all. I have called up to city hall at 8 or so in the morning and it seems like the only person there is the receptionist. I have ahd questions about my water bill or my taxes and no one is in the office yet. If the office opens at 8 they shoudl be there at 8. When you get some one they are rude and really do not want to help you. The parks department seems to have some of the rudest people that work there. When you call they are hateful. They are always so scatter brained that non of them seem to know what is going on. It is nice to know that our city taxes and maitence fees are not being used. It really makes you feel proud of our city.