The same Detroit Democrat Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick that, last year, simultaneously threatened to layoff 800 public safety professionals while authorizing more than $650,000 of taxpayer money to be spent refurbishing some old statues has done a better job of city management this year.

Now, while his city continues to face a budget crunch, Mayor Kilpatrick is using $200,000 of taxpayer money to fix up his swimming pool.

Even as the city was shuttering 30 percent of its recreation centers and city pools due to a lack of funds, the mayor’s staff got $200,000 from the Recreation Department to repair the pool, exterior walkways and outside lighting at the Manoogian Mansion, his official, city-owned residence.

An interesting side note to Kilpatrick’s mismanagement of the city…

Hamilton Anderson, the company hired to oversee the landscaping, received a no-bid deal for $6,500. Co-owner Rainy Hamilton is a major Kilpatrick financial backer.

I think he and Mayor Nagin would get along well.