A Fayette County resident informed the county commission Thursday night he did not understand why county officials decided to keep several water system employees who were instead reprimanded, some with suspensions, for the recent troubles with water production. (See full story here.)

Ozzie Sanchez, addressing the commission during the public comments portion of the meeting, said he would have been let go from his job for such a litany of problems.

“In my work, if I had dozens of cases of negligence or tasks that were supposed to be done and were not done, I would not be wearing this uniform,” Sanchez said. “… I can assure you I would have been let go.”

Sanchez said that in his opinion the results from the water system have been “unacceptable.” He shared a critical assessment in particular for keeping the management structure in place.

“If you have less than excellence from the top, what are you going to have below? You’re going to have less than excellent,” Sanchez said. “And you’re talking about stuff that we consume.” — John Munford