Not sure if spiking the sheriff’s Segways are a signal that Guilford County commissioners are reversing course, but rest assured John Hammer has more than a few suggestions, one of which is doing some equity pay in reverse on the next county manager, whether or not it’s acting manager Sharisse Fuller:

One thing the commissioners should look at before they hire a new manager is the salary for the manager. The Guilford County manager is grossly overpaid compared to other top government administrators in the area. It goes back to the days of former Guilford County Manager Roger Cotton, who thought he should make more than the superintendent of schools, so he got a huge raise. Of course, the county manager no longer makes anything close to the superintendent of schools because in spending no one can keep up with the schools. But the superintendent of schools has over 10,000 employees reporting to him. The Guilford County manager has around 650.

Regarding former Chairman Skip Alston haunting his old stomping grounds, hey, it’s free country. Too bad his presence prompted current Chairman Linda Shaw to embarrass appointed successor Ray Trapp by saying she’d wished Alston had run again.

Alston said he was at the retreat because he’s “got nothing else to do.” Perhaps he should take up mah-jongg.