tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23696838981386503592024-02-06T22:41:55.988-09:00Citizen LobbyistUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-82420902523888098602014-11-03T21:37:00.000-09:002014-11-04T14:30:25.269-09:00IT'S YOUR FUTURE..VOTE TOMORROW<div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Mat Su Borough Assembly has a different look these days. Oh it still an "all male" club but thanks to voters who finally acquired a taste for moderation in the last couple of elections the men that have taken a seat at the table (Beck, Sykes and Mayfield) appear to be much more interested in working together with the public for a better more transparent government and place to live. They seem to be determined to give more than lip service to a public process and actually include and invite folks to the table to be part of the solutions. Change that could give you whiplash if you aren't paying attention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They also seem to be determined to keep their ego's in check. That in itself should trim hours off of assembly meetings. A welcome change for those of us that find the chairs in the new assembly digs not that much more comfortable than the old ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speaking of elections and change and in case you've been living under a rock TOMORROW is the statewide election.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After months of teeth gnashing, wild promises. finger pointing, twisted truths and flat faced lies that came into our homes and even our businesses in the form of an avalanche of mailers, phone calls, door knockers and commercials the day of reckoning and maybe referendum is upon us. Hopefully you take this duty to vote seriously and have done your homework beyond the soundbites. Also that you recycle that mountain of glossy fliers mostly paid for by outside money laying in the seat of your car or kitchen table. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">IF you haven't voted early or by absentee so you can dangle your feet in the ocean or some other place with a clear conscience, you will head to your voting precinct tomorrow to cast your vote to either change the look of the state with new leaders or continue to support the status quo. Of course there will be some people for one soggy reason or another will fail to cast a vote and become part of an epidemic more serious than ebola, low voter turnout. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oddly this wild ride on the election roller coaster comes down for most people to a couple of issues that are important to them. If your concerned about the future of Alaska at all one of the top issues will be <b>EDUCATION</b>. Something important in our state constitution <b>Article VII </b><i>states "t</i><span style="background-color: white;"><i>he legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State, and may provide for other public educational institutions. Schools and institutions so established shall be free from sectarian control. No money shall be paid from public funds for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution".</i> During last session of the legislature one of our own valley freshman legislators, Dunleavy launched an attack on that amendment that narrowly missed the target, trying to sell the idea of school vouchers. A bad idea with a side of bad idea. But make no mistake, that attack will be back in earnest if voters stick to the status quo and don't make a change by electing his opponent Warren <a href="http://www.keoghforsenate.com/">Keogh</a> a strong supporter of public education and using public money for that purpose and not into the pockets of corporations or religious organizations. Keogh is in the company of some fine candidates across the state that have received the seal of approval from Great Alaska Schools who did your homework for you and through their thoughtful questionnaire came up with the <a href="http://www.greatalaskaschools.org/">best voters guide</a> of the election when it comes to education. It will tell you who really talks the walk of the education of our young being a priority and not a campaign slogan shell game. There are other issues for sure but few rises to the level of a good FAIRLY FUNDED education for our kids and future workforce. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have a feeling that Alaskans are in the mood just as borough voters were in for a new look for their leaders in state government. Folks are ready to let the adults back in the room now that the piggy bank has been turned over and the food fight it over. They are tired of being shaken down for their lunch money and they are ready for some sense and sensibility in their leaders. If that's the case than Keogh won't be the only new legislative leader but there will be a few more whose name you will see in the voter guide. Along with them if the stars align the unity ticket of Walker/Mallott, will take the helm with their steady hands and guide us through the rough seas ahead. And despite Ted Cruz and his mom jeans "desperation weekend tour" of Alaska, the bush will carry the water of the state and send Begich back to the Senate and Ohio Dan back to his trust fund and the arms of the Koch Brothers and his new BFM, Mitt. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whatever happens it will happen tomorrow (Tuesday Nov.4th) and our bleeding ears will get a rest. Do your part of what may prove to be an historical election. <b><u>Vote.</u></b> Any questions find the answers on the <a href="http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ei_general.php">state website</a>. </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-5569929872443365442014-03-30T18:27:00.000-08:002014-03-30T18:27:57.549-08:00DOUBLE, DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE...<div class="p1">
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<span class="s1">What is it? Campaign boiler room or a Borough government that serves the interests of its citizens? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Assembly Ordinance 14-050 comes before the Assembly this Tuesday, April 1, 2014 for public hearing followed by Assembly action to approve or deny. This hastily drafted and pathetically ill-conceived ordinance would allow the expenditure of public funds…. our taxpayer funds… to influence statewide ballot propositions. No requirement for accurate representation of the issue; no cap on the amount of funds that may be expended; no limit of Borough staff time to work on the Assembly’s narrow, extreme agenda; no prohibition on using borough facilities.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">If Assemblyman Arvin and company have their way this Tuesday (which happens to be April Fool’s Day, or is it make fools of the public day?), the Mat-Su Borough Assembly will go a long way towards becoming nothing more than a political platform to further an extreme ideology of at least one assemblyman at the expense of the public interest.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Instead of dealing with a heaping plateful of serious underfunded road projects, classrooms becoming more crowded, emergency services beaming with litigation and liabilities, and dry docked ferries hemorrhaging taxpayer money just to name a few, furthering political agendas instead of meeting the real everyday needs of our citizens gets thrown in the already ugly political polarized stewpot and given a place on the assembly agenda? Really? How exactly to you square that up with a bunch of elected officials that were elected under the banner of “fiscally conservative”. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Is Mr. Arvin so emboldened by the toss of his own hat in the ring for a state level house seat that he wants to show his political party just how big a bucket of water he can carry? It’s hard to think of anything smacking more of political partisanship unless of course you count of the Wasilla assemblyman’s influence in the states redistricting fiasco. All of this while pointing a finger at the size of government and demonizing public workers with one sweeping ordinance, this would let a tango line of foxes in the peoples hen house and use borough property tax money to pay for the privilege of the raid.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Cities across the country are starting to realize that the “big project” approach the ceremonial mayor and the spending hound majority member assembly love takes up too much staff time, wastes too much political energy and distracts too much from the basic needs of existing neighborhoods. But that memo hasn’t seemed to reach some members of this assembly. Despite the election of two even handed assembly members (Beck and Sykes) who have put the brakes on a few bad ideas and started asking questions that clearly annoy those on the assembly that are only used to telling us what to do and not answering our questions, they are swimming against the same powerful tide. Toxic brew supplied by cronyism!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Assemblyman Jim Sykes who is walking his talk of protecting the borough checkbook and property taxpayer monies wrote an excellent piece in today's Frontiersman that makes it clear this is one elected official that thinks passing Ordnance 14-050 is a terrible idea. We encourage you to <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/meet-the-assembly">read </a>it and other sane men on the assembly to protect our public funds from this nonsense and vote NO. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">We also suggest contacting your <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/meet-the-assembly">Assembly</a> person (and while you are at it… cc the entire Assembly and the Ceremonial Mayor) and say DON’T MAKE FOOLS OF US…. VOTE NO ON ASSEMBLY ORDINANCE 14-050! If you want to see the sparks fly on this you are encouraged to come to Tuesday's assembly meeting at the borough building at 6pm or listen to the live stream at <a href="http://www.radiofreepalmer.org/">www.radiofreepalmer.org</a>. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Even if Mr. Arvin pulls this terrible ordinance off the agenda before the meeting his introduction of this idea and the smell of it is so bad it should serve as a reminder of what nefarious things lay ahead if we aren't paying attention and hand power of representation to the wrong people. And yes we are looking at you if you fail to vote. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-26749471881695410112014-01-13T13:02:00.000-09:002014-01-13T13:02:05.722-09:00WAIT..IS THERE A CRACK IN THE CEREMONIAL MAYOR'S MEN? <div class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After watching the last borough assembly meeting it’s
beginning to look like the “lockstep dance” might
not be trending this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the last couple of years the mayor and some members of the
assembly have done a lot of gerrymandering with boards and commissions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In 2011 saying it was time to go on a “board
and commission diet” assemblyman Arvin led the charge to
successfully eliminate the “Real Property Asset Management”
Board on the grounds it was “redundant”. No
actual financial analysis was done to see if it would save money but with the
votes lined up on the assembly (Arvin, Colver, Colligan, Woods, Salmon) and no
threat of a mayoral veto, like magic it was gone. As Garfield the cat said “diet”
is “die” with a “t”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The board’s job WAS to “act in
an advisory capacity to the assembly and administration, on all matters
affecting real property and natural resource development.”
With that ball kicked through the goal post no time was wasted in unhinging the
subdivision code, passing handfuls of resolutions in support of coal mining everywhere and
anywhere, eliminating the existing tall towers regulation (and by looking at
the cell towers that have popped up like chickweed with no notice that worked out
well), watered down the gravel ordinance
thus allowing for gravel mining in the water table, lifted the cap off the
noise ordinance and dropped taxes for
business all in the name of “opening the borough for business”.
Draining the nice reserve balance the borough HAD including the emergency fund
was the cherry on the top of the less oversight of government diet sundae.
Opening a door to business that was<u><b> never closed </b></u>was just a pesky detail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like most dieters only one food group was eliminated (oversight
of borough asset management) and more calories were packed onto boards like the
port commission.This commission had the limit on appointment terms raised from <b><u>two</u></b> 3 year terms to <b><u>three</u></b> 3 year terms. The port
commission has always functioned with a revolving door not uncommon in
skyscrapers but rarely good for government.
In fact, that revolving door is likely to get another spin soon as
defeated Assemblyman Noel Woods is up for mayoral confirmation to warm a seat
that he not so long ago occupied on the port commission. This ensures no
disruption in the total agreement that everything and anything that has “port"
in the title gets a nod. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The assembly binging has continued with dozens of people
appointed by the mayor and confirmed by a majority of the assembly to a various
array of real and invented boards and commissions. And then there are the “working
groups” which by the way cost money because they require staff
time. Important items like economic development are once again being taken up
by a working group that includes a laundry list of cronies and political supporters
of mostly yes men (and few women). The membership seat count was even raised
for the ethics board but with the soggy mess the assembly has made of that
ordinance it’s doubtful they will be called to meet
anytime soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No other board or commission other than the “Real
Property Asset Management Board” was ever eliminated ! Go figure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No reason when the gatekeeper to protect the public and taxpayer
interest was the only real target.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No reason when the borough buffet table is full of members
serving up some big oversize helpings of special interest to their buddies in
business to benefit with their own personal interests sprinkled on top. And
with hardly anyone paying attention by evidence of the pitiful voter turnout why
not, right? Only thing standing in their way is office holder ethics. And oh
wait once again Assemblymen Arvin and Colver took care of that.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No reason when the whole goal of the assembly spending hounds
(see earlier post) is to privatize the profits and socialize the costs and
losses of local government.</span></li>
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<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SOMEONE IS PAYING ATTENTION </span></u></h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last week the assembly asked for a special meeting with the Borough
Fish and Wildlife Commission and chances are they got more than what they
bargained for. In what's become the accepted dog and pony show was well,
without its dog or it's pony. Instead it was presented and documented by the
well-spoken and very knowledgeable acting chair of the commission former state
fish and wildlife biologist Larry Engel. His presentation made it pretty clear
that he and the others on the commission take their duties and purpose to “represent the interests of the borough
in the conservation and allocations of fish, wildlife, and habitat”
pretty darn seriously. Serious enough to take issue with HB77 a hotly debated
bill that has some serious implication to water rights and gutting the public
process that will most likely involve much arm twisting and teeth gnashing
during the upcoming legislative session. You should again pay attention or you may not have any
say on what happens on Alaska’s public lands and waters.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RUT-RO! </span></u></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Somehow in the storm of giddy cronyism appointments to the Borough
Fish and Wildlife Commission, it appears to have much of what the real property
asset management had before it ended up in the sacrificial stew, people with
expertise who care about where they live and are not afraid to speak up. It has
appointees that are subject authorities that seem to understand the difference
between “public service” and “lip service”. So
much so it has found itself in the middle of a tug a war between the mayor and
some assembly members over a couple of letters sent to the governor speaking on
behalf of the borough. The Frontiersman sums up the serial over-stepping of the
mayor here <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/editorials">http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/editorials</a>.
So off base were the mayor’s actions it brought out former
assemblyman Warren Keogh to speak up as a private citizen during audience
participation. Often the lone wolf protecting the public and pointing out the
ceremonial mayors political partisan actions and wrong-headed opinions, Keogh
didn’t hold back and for good reason. That testimony is required reading and can be found
here <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/house-bill-is-an-extraordinarily-bad-piece-of-legislation/article_fd2f8610-79bf-11e3-8b73-001a4bcf887a.html">http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/house-bill-is-an-extraordinarily-bad-piece-of-legislation/article_fd2f8610-79bf-11e3-8b73-001a4bcf887a.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And to make matters worse, in the process of carrying his political
water, the mayor splashed some on the shiny new assembly members.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FALLING MORE IN LINE WITH THE PUBLIC </span></u></h4>
</div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Assemblyman Jim Sykes has seen years of political hi-jinks. Last fall
voters selected him over another of the good ole boys in part because they knew
he would use is wisdom and experience to make sure there would be more
transparency and a robust public process in the borough. He was the first to
step up to take issue with the dueling letters and the inconsistent message it
sent to the state. For that his assembly
brethren instructed him to work with fellow Assemblyman Colligan who is always
at the front of the pack to demonize those that don’t
agree with his narrow ideology. Colligan’s mastery in obstruction of measures
to protect the public is only second to his skills in pushing the borough
nearer to the radical conservative cliff. Finding that common ground might be harder
than finding water in the Mojave Desert. Colligan has repeatedly claimed he
hasn’t had time to read the 24 page bill. Perhaps Sykes should
consider the Ted Cruz approach by reading it out loud Dr. Seuss style to his
fellow assemblyman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the other hand Assemblyman Matt Beck is a fresh face on the scene
and is proving tout suite that he is nobody’s consort. We are going to go out on a limb here and forecast
that he will be the kind of assembly representative that does his homework on
the packet and builds coalitions of balanced thinkers just as he is for a
valuable resource. That can be a big threat to those filling chairs for the
political purpose of their party or own political futures. The chance that he
cannot be counted on "to go along to get along" poses some hurdles to the lockstep
dance recitals. According to his comments he is making it clear that he
understands that borough code says that NO ONE speaks for the position of the
borough or the assembly other than the manager.
He also made it clear that he doesn’t like to be accused of being closed
minded on issues before he has made up his mind. This may be tough for the
mayor and lock steppers on the assembly to take in. To say deciding the merit
of issues on the facts and not political parties and personal dogma hasn’t
been the spending hounds strong point might be the biggest understatement so
far this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it’s looking like there will be a few
more dance steps on the assembly. That even perhaps the “lockstep”
will turn into a “knee lock” that
brings down those that are only fiscally responsible in their own minds. We
have some hope that the changes will shine some needed light on who on the
assembly is working for the public and who is working for their buddies or
their own political futures and that the October election will cull out some that don’t seem to understand that public
service shouldn’t be confused with private
entitlement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But then there is that old saying.”If wishes were horses we’d
all ride”. The public can take the reins and lead they just have to show up and want to. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-91669207532990849042013-10-08T12:08:00.001-08:002013-10-08T20:24:28.729-08:00CANVASING BOARD AND MORE OH MY! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueky12nRhwEorLFV6fq33bKO09G5zXG-EsMAlyvs5Cp0_-yJnEP3HBKSGxarXgXP8agW9bncxr4e_unRCDR6nJ0W2SG2DWRx-1irkP4uZ6BkAkAC2X_9JNoaKBV_RFIbMdvoW1N2pieU/s1600/ii+Voting+referendum+DE+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueky12nRhwEorLFV6fq33bKO09G5zXG-EsMAlyvs5Cp0_-yJnEP3HBKSGxarXgXP8agW9bncxr4e_unRCDR6nJ0W2SG2DWRx-1irkP4uZ6BkAkAC2X_9JNoaKBV_RFIbMdvoW1N2pieU/s1600/ii+Voting+referendum+DE+04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></h4>
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></h4>
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></h4>
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These days’ elections often aren't over until they're over.</span></u></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we
were hoping the next post would be about the borough wide results of last
Tuesday's election (insert eye roll for those that didn't know there was an
election) the official count is still in
the hands of the hardworking borough canvassing board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So who is
the Canvassing Board you ask? </span></u></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Canvassing Board falls under the purview of the Clerk's Office. This in itself
is a huge relief. Our head almost explodes at the thought of the this process
falling under the micro managing finger of the assembly that if what to do with
a ferry is any gauge of their abilities to make decisions would make the results of
this election be available about the fall of 2020. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the
borough clerk and her department are on it. This is not their first trip to the
election rodeo. There is a process that is embedded in borough code. Their job
is to certify the validity of the absentee, questioned, and poll votes cast.
The Clerk knows the value of picking a seasoned group of election officials from
the pool that are hired to run the election. It's pretty clear the group she
has selected knows this process completely. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have
been meeting daily in the old assembly chambers which are presently set up for
this activity. One member of the public designated by a candidate is able to
attend after taking a oath of confidentiality (sometimes personal information
is discussed while debating the eligibility of a vote or voter) to view the
work of the board. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching
this process to see what happens to our vote after they are mailed, cast early
in person or fed into the Diebold voting machines (which we are not alone in
having concerns about) the day of the election has been enlightening. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first
thing that is striking the difference in watching the canvassing board
operate in the old assembly chambers in contrast to how the assembly operated
before they relocated to the school district to await their new fancy chambers
(thank you property taxpayers) which will host it's first assembly meeting and hopefully swearing of new members next Tuesday, October 15th. </span></div>
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />When the assembly spending hounds filled the room: </span></u></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made up by a majority of members of the good ol' boy network that are interested in mostly their own self-interest. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always busy scatter shooting, waffling, punting issues like costs and consequences down the road or assigning blame to whoever wasn't there to defend themselves or some "liberal or environmental" boogeyman. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Few attempts made to really follow or improve procedures or hold each other accountable. Abundance of decision making done out of the public purview. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />On the other hand the Canvassing Board:</span></u></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is made up of a spirited public team of WOMEN with a public interest goal. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scheduled and deadline orientated their process is very black and white. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With laser like attention they make efficient use of the public resources letting a set of procedures of checks and balances guide them. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The board is observable and document decisions only after consulting written references and considering the clerk's expertise. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is
no one on the canvas board texting or receiving a text to tell them what to do. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is
no one standing in the hall trying to influence their decisions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is
no one complaining about smaller government, federal government over-reach or
the evil EPA.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The canvassing board isn't about egos, special interest, or future political careers. They are there to do a serious job thoroughly and thoughtfully. The whole process is reflective of the borough clerk as one of her most important duties of her job. She and her staff are watchful over the process but not imposing and do their jobs without running any interference or influence. They are professional. They are just public citizens doing a task they have been hired and trusted to do the best of their abilities.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile in the rest of election land...</span></u></b></h4>
<div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Election
night results than what was reported for the cities didn't change a whole lot.
The final tallies can be found on each city website which you will find a link
to on the side of the blog. In another phenomenally low voter turnout election, voters cherry picked candidates in most cases and there wasn't any huge surprises. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A ballot
measure that passed in <b>WASILLA</b> allows funding to move forward on a new public
library even though it was closer than the hair on a hedgehog on election
night. The mail in and absentee votes pushed it safely over the goal posts.This is a huge step forward to the reality of a new library that many in the city has been pining for with a small increase in sales tax paving the way. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What
wasn't close was the race between Councilman Brandon Wall and desperately
seeking redemption retread candidate Vic Kohring who thanks to a 306 vote loss
will have much more time to write his long, rambling "Oh the injustice of
it all" letters to the editor. Vic's voters can put their tin hats and
bibles back on their side table by the lazy boy and go back to watching Glenn
Beck cry crocodile tears. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>HOUSTON</b> had no surprises. Voters declined to roll back sales tax on the sales on
fireworks by a safe margin. The city runs on diet plan that would make the
founders of Weigh Watchers envious. It makes us wonder if even the owners of
the 1/4 mile of firework stands know without bringing revenue to the table in the City of Houston there would leave little reason to host such business. Pretty sure folks that have spare cash in their pockets for
fireworks and are on a mission to see things blow up care little about a few
pennies that find their way in the city coffers. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PALMER'S</b> largely civilized race for mayor resulted in no changes with voters
re-electing DeLena Johnson their city
leader by even a larger margin than her first term. City Council candidate Steve Carrington with
a minimal campaign effort did upset long-time council woman Katherine Vanover who has spent the last 12 years on the council. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were hopeful this would bring a much needed change to the City of Palmer City Council but after watching the same political gymnastics that has plagued the council for the last year at a simple swearing in we are less hopeful. A ordinary request from the mayor to appoint seasoned councilman Ken Erby (often the voice of reason and one who keeps his distance from political jousting) Deputy Mayor was met with objection from the council. Instead newly elected Councilman Steve Carrington was given the nod for no good reason that we could see besides it wasn't the mayor's choice. We have great hopes for Carrington who has some past experience on the council but we find it unfair and unnecessary to bring him into the fray when he barely was able to get his feet under the chair that he was just elected too. Was it done in the better interest of the people of Palmer? Seems unlikely. Was Erby the councilman nominated by the mayor more versed in current Palmer issues? We think so. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hats off to Representative Shelly Hughes attending the swearing in and invited to speak that gave some very good advice to the council about making a better effort for the council to get along for the sake of the people of Palmer. .We hope the council listened. Hughes should know a thing or two about getting along with a variety of elected officials. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This shouldn't be hard to understand. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several Palmer Council members need to put down
their spears and future office aspirations in their wing of a political party (we're looking at you Council members Best and DeVries) and get on with doing what is best for the people they are elected to represent in Palmer. There may be members on the council that don't like the outcome of the voters wish but that's the way city democracy rolls. As for the other council members participating in this nonsense by their votes, you don't have to be the one with the spear in your hand to be just as culpable as those throwing it. So far your feeble attempts to resist being part of the problem aren't very convincing. Just stop it and try using the example of the borough canvassing board listed above. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will sort out the borough election results when that work is done. We need to spend a little time on the fainting couch first. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-4808860869170151142013-09-29T19:33:00.001-08:002013-09-29T19:33:09.394-08:00ARE MATSU VOTERS SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span id="goog_7285121"></span><span id="goog_7285122"></span></span></h2>
<div class="Body1">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer to that question will be Tuesday when the polls close and the ballots
are counted in the borough-wide election and we see if they show up to vote. Reportedly absentee and early voting
has been more robust this time around. It wouldn't take much to improve the
18.5% turnout from the last borough wide election. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
result of that miserable election played out more painfully than anyone could
have predicted. Thanks to that small percentage of people that live in the
valley that embraced the campaign rhetoric about the need to elect a
"conservative businessman" things have as grandma would say
"gone to hell in a handbag".</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That
small majority of registered voters elected a pack of assembly spending hounds
that don’t know who they are, don’t know what they want, don’t
know how to ask or save to get it, suffer from an attention span of a gnat,
have become masters of manipulation for their own or their business buddies
monetary gain, exhibit few manners, and don’t
follow rules unless reminded and then only on a limited basis. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>How's
that working for us so far? </u></span></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">We
have watched while the "conservative businessmen" put speculation
before services and savings. They have played fast and loose with the people’s pocketbook spending untold money on a dock-less ferry, a
bridge that is on life support (KABATA), a ship less port, and a ghost rider
railroad. Gambling with the public's money is seen as good stewardship by these
assembly spending hounds.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">These
"conservative businessmen" voters have used crystal balls and wild
ass guesses to estimate bonds and other expenditures. They have started but left
unfinished borough projects that have been tossed in the air like the juggler
dancing on hot coals. Pretty much every bid awarded these days can be traced
back to a process laced with a heavy dose of cronyism.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">The
assembly bully hounds embrace the love of micro-managing staff and projects.
They have successfully chased employee moral down the drain faster than a can
of Drano. Manager Moosey the most frequently "performance reviewed"
manager in history has been placed in the assembly slingshot on a regular
basis. He is tasked to herd up a revolving door of department heads,
insufficient numbers of qualified staff who continue to be bogged down with
assembly members hanging on their backs breathing down their necks with
conflicting directives and layoff threats of position eliminations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">What
once were well rounded publicly accessible advisory bodies that added expertise
to save personnel costs have now been reduced to a theater production of
appointed puppets pushing personal agendas or those of the business buddy
assembly. No more evidence is needed than witnessing their much beloved
tower commission appointee, Mr. Aaron Downing who is doing his best to convince everyone that
will listen that Cell Towers should be able to pop up </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">anywhere</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> and the borough
shouldn't be shy about using imminent domain on private property to make sure
it happens. We’re pretty sure that is NOT
what the defenders of "private property rights" have in mind. The people
of the borough don’t want corporate America to
take, rent, buy or grab what belongs to them.</span><!--[if !supportLists]--></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s face it the last couple of elections have resulted in a
tea party temper tantrum delivered up by a few voters that got out of their
easy chair and took time out of their busy agenda to take off their foxgoggles
to vote. They have had their way with
the rest of us by electing candidates that don't want to govern just destroy
things. They have elected people that truly believe that praying and paying is
the best strategy. By not voting borough residents have become their hostages.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we are
ever going to rid our elected bodies of crime syndicates we have to SHOW up and
exercise our ability to vote. When we let things get in the way of showing up
at the polls our politics immune system is stressed and up pops another self
serving "conservative business man" who becomes the political
equivalent of herpes, or a yeast infection and among other things is too
immature or ideology wrapped for the responsibilities they’ve been given.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Complain
all you want. That's fine. But don't limit it to complaining. </u></b></span></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ve put up too long already –
we can’t afford what’s happening any longer. Many of those who are elected in
these low voter turnout elections say one thing and do another, they waste our
public money and grab for more, they afford us no explanation or justification,
and they put us at risk by increasing our liability for litigation and physical
harm. We gave them our votes and our trust, and they give us worse than no
respect.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
people of the borough CAN be smarter than a 5th grader. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They can
cast a vote NO to more "conservative business men" that want that
allow partisan politics to decide our borough financial future instead of
electing those of character of conviction to protect the public checkbook, our
quality of life and personal investments in our homes, public schools and
community spaces. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<u><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's an
easy choice for us. </span></u></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the
borough ballot for District 1 it means casting a vote for <b><a href="http://sykesforassembly.com/">JIM SYKES </a></b>who will be
a worthy replacement for Warren Keogh who has been too many times the lone voice of common
sense on the assembly these last 3 years. Keogh really became the
assembly man for ALL borough residents but first and foremost District 1 and did an outstanding and tireless job representing constituents. He walked into
the dragons den on more than one occasion and changed the hearts and minds of
many that had drank the kool-aid served up by the good ol boys club of what he
believed and stood for. The whole valley owes him big thanks for a job done
better than anyone in recent memory. Those will be big shoes to fill but we
know<a href="http://sykesforassembly.com/"> <b>JIM SYKES</b> </a>has the ability, time, diplomacy to do the job well.
The last minute character slams Aaron Downing and his hate filled cronies are
serving up only serves to reinforce what they fear most. That is the balanced,
smart and ETHICAL governing <b>SYKES</b> will bring to the table. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you
live in District 2 that means a vote for <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-J-Beck-for-Mat-Su-Borough-Assembly-District-2/505280649552147">MATHEW BECK.</a></b> There </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is not</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a sliver of doubt he should replace Noel Woods who is
well pass his freshness date. Voters in District 2 (Palmer area) should run not
walk to the polls to elect Beck to fill the seat. He brings in baggage that is
small enough fit in an airplane overhead bin which is nothing much. He is NOT
wrapped in a political party flag. He is a fierce defender of farmers which
really is about food security something this assembly has not given the time of
day. He believes in our public schools system and knows the value of listening
to all sides of issues but standing up for what is right for people and
neighborhoods. Although conservative by his own admission the other self
processed "conservative business men" on this assembly will not find
him a push over for their own ideology or agenda. <b>BECK</b> is the kind of fresh
leadership we pine for.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>There are
two seats for school board voters will decide. </u></b></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is
without ANY reservation for seat "G" we will cast our vote for sitting school board member
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DavidCheezemForSchoolBoard"><b>DAVID CHEEZEM</b></a>. There is no doubt that <b>Cheezem's</b> agenda is doing what is best
for kids. He can actually think outside the box for solutions. <b>Cheezem</b> knows
that there are times you've got to go along to get along. But there are also
times when the principled stance is also the smart one. A vote for <b>DAVID
CHEEZEM</b> is a smart one. Both the teachers (MSEA) and certified employees (CEA)
unions have endorsed <b>CHEEZEM</b> along with candidate <b>NEIL LACY. </b>Having the voice
of the people that work for the district is a strong endorsement which gets
our agreement and even though <b>Lacy</b> can be rough around the edges he has
provided some valuable input. There will be another open seat on the school
board in November when Cordero steps down and we are hoping Donna Dearman will
get the nod for that. She will be a good addition to the board at that time but
a vote for her now could make a 3 way split go to the other candidate Jacobson
who would bring a very partisan element back into the board. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>The two
bond issues have their pro's and cons</b></u>. One measure gives the borough more tax
dollars and the other sends tax dollars out the door to address infrastructure
needs. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ballot
measure B-1 is a areawide alcohol tax of 5%. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ballot
measure B-2 is a 50% borough match for borough transportation system bonds.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
cities have their own ballots and a buffet of candidates to choose from.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Staying on course in Palmer</u></b></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
doesn't seem to be much reason to change horses in Palmer. The City of Palmer
is without term limits so it's not complicated. There is a choice
in the race for mayor but little reason to change. <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-Elect-Delena-Johnson-for-Palmer-Mayor/148536785185291">Palmer Mayor DeLena Johnson</a> </b>has grown nicely into her position as mayor and has used her vision for moving
Palmer forward leaving a pretty darn satisfied city of people and an even more
vibrant business community under her leadership. If the yard sign didn't give
it away, <b>Johnson</b> will get our vote for re-election and deserves yours if you live in the city
of Palmer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<u><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wasilla, Wasilla...</span></o:p></u></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are
hoping the voters of Wasilla give the green flag to an increase in sales tax
for financing a new library even though most of those that pay it will not live
in Wasilla. As much as some elected officials would like you to believe that
libraries are not a worthy investment we disagree. They serve a huge purpose
particularly to those on the bottom of the financial pole. Wasilla struggle for
a new facility to serve its bulging population and those from outside the city
limits is well documented and supported by convincing data. What isn't convincing is giving a second
chance to disgraced former legislator Vic Koring. If Wasilla voters give him
the nod to sit at their council table they might as well mount big damn cameras
everywhere and call their city a full time reality show. Get a hold of yourself Wasilla voter and vote for <b>Brandon Wall.</b> </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SO.....</u></b></span></h4>
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Electing
the right people should not be about holding a liberal or conservative
ideology, it's about facts that are based on truth and data and not some build
it and they will come strategy.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is
simply no excuse for not voting and we have had our fill about hearing about
those who don't. Bothered enough to consider once this election is over to
publish the list of your friends and neighbors that couldn't be bothered to
take a couple minutes out of their day to put a few marks on a piece of paper.
A voters list is public information and it may be time to engage in some good
ol fashion public shaming for those voting deadbeats. If you are a teacher or employee of the district or borough the fate of your own job may be in this election. Being "too busy" to vote could make your next project finding a new job. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So don't
make us call in the flying monkeys. But do call your friends, neighbors,
co-workers and relatives and get them to the polls Tuesday. Corporations are
NOT people and
the borough is NOT open for funny business, corruption, or exploitation. Let's
get to the polls and prove it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2YD2PEgNoWJZkixukViJ00Fbk3zipsm5mJ5zGvCJrS8JJHOixQKeBdQnctAt8pMMpT6A4ZJqW-2Je2PCnGlF58ZBbyiG4BgPb83YfBVxbXy9nSnrQLWBSXlFpbXe54vLHz77J9eK4zc/s1600/release+the+flying+monkeys+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2YD2PEgNoWJZkixukViJ00Fbk3zipsm5mJ5zGvCJrS8JJHOixQKeBdQnctAt8pMMpT6A4ZJqW-2Je2PCnGlF58ZBbyiG4BgPb83YfBVxbXy9nSnrQLWBSXlFpbXe54vLHz77J9eK4zc/s1600/release+the+flying+monkeys+.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-41514192659648790162013-07-26T12:16:00.001-08:002013-07-26T12:21:13.394-08:00BEGINNING OR THE END???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iuOoOl0lz5CQSPc2g5mg7urd3jttjXUVGqbkshvGMaUcePBZPoTmaGh0cQfVerpK8b4HSrABkL-hH51npPLmGoHf9LGPzBaGPAMXBo466V-sgHGzgT8vYGKOyH9BMb4F6__WK01x53Q/s1600/hourglass1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iuOoOl0lz5CQSPc2g5mg7urd3jttjXUVGqbkshvGMaUcePBZPoTmaGh0cQfVerpK8b4HSrABkL-hH51npPLmGoHf9LGPzBaGPAMXBo466V-sgHGzgT8vYGKOyH9BMb4F6__WK01x53Q/s1600/hourglass1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> <span id="goog_775828837"></span><span id="goog_775828838"></span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The
deadline for having a selection of sane candidates to choose from for borough
assembly as well as on city councils in Palmer, Wasilla and Houston THIS
October is looming today at 5pm . So unless you want to make borough
history of your own and launch a write in campaign to beat back the crazy it's
time to step up. Almost past time. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Here are
a few Citizen Lobbyist rules to guide those throwing their hat in the ring of fire:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Walk your
talk: </u>Spare us and don't flood us with literature that says to vote for you
because you are "fiscally conservative" because that means nothing
these days. Zero. In fact it has become a laughable claim in so many ways. We
currently have a elected tables full of those people and they are spending
money faster than any time in history. Valley residents deserve at least as much good from valley taxes as private enterprise and big business gets. They don't want to give up more services from their local government to finance your pipe dream or new mega project or even an old one that chances are will never pay back. </span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Show up:</u>
Those holding elected seats should actually sit in them and not depend on the
closest cell tower although they are popping up faster than the fireweed to
count as their participation. Living in a foreign country or a snow bird
location for most of the year and then acting like you were fully engaged
earning a public servant salary and perks doesn't cut it. Not even a little
bit. Don't even bother if that's your game plan. We all deserve better. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Remember
who you work for: </u>It's not your political party. It's not your campaign donors
no matter how many hundred dollar bills they are stuffing in your pockets. It's
not your business cronies. It's not your church. It's not the imaginary voice
in your head. You work for the people of the borough that elected you and that
pay your salary and or benefits. The salary and or benefits that no one asks
you to punch a time clock for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A salary
that doesn't even measure your effectiveness or success in what you say that your
going to really do. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Read your
packet of information BEFORE you take your seat;</u> Don't try to fake it. We know when your faking it. Public documentation is messy and necessary. We
know you won't read it all. Hardly anyone does but you should at least have a
vague idea what your voting on. And quit comparing it to the way private business works. Read the memo. It's not private money, it's public </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Thumb
through a copy of Robert's Rules of Order; </u>The clerk isn't your mother and the
attorney isn't your father. It's awkward when you force them to have to be
because you don't know the damn rules or how a meeting is suppose to roll and
when you are allowed to speak. If in doubt always grab the "be quiet"
lifeline. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Know the
difference between</u>: The interest of the people of the borough, personal interest
and special interest. We aren't interested in your personal agenda and
ideology. Save that for the sermon Sunday. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Public
offices belong to the people:</u>You aren't elected to carry on your family name
or dynasty. You aren't elected to build your own empire. Leave the monarchy's
to the people across the pond looking for the baby wipes. Term limits are rare.
Invoke your own and come up for air once in awhile. It's a win win for
everyone. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Don't plan to be a serial office holder</u>; If you have had your official picture taken to hang on a public building wall more than a couple times its time to move on and find a new hobby. Don't
confuse your experience with your obsession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's not healthy for any of us. Term limits are rare. Invoke your own
and come up for air once in awhile. It's a win win for everyone. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>
</u></span><br />
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Be accessible and accountable;</u> but turn your cell phone off when your at the
decision table. Doing the people's business is way more important than your own
when your on the public's dime. Reading a text or the latest facebook post can
wait. Those people in the audience have been waiting too. At least sit up, look
up and act like you care they are there and are interested in what they have to
say. By the way if your already seated we're looking at you and expect to start reading about your actions here. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Treat the
public employees with respect;</u> The herd has been thinned down about as much as
it can be without killing the species off which we recognize may be your goal
but you have some great talent under the public roof who have taken a ride on these political
roller coasters more than once. Those heads won't hold anymore hats. If
employees aren't doing their best work it's a management problem not an
employee problem. Wiping your feet on employee moral doesn't make anybody want
to do better. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><u>Don't
micromanage;</u> We realize this is a tall order for some of you. It may make you
feel important in the short term storming in offices or demanding action behind
the scenes but it serves no one in the long term. Government is a team sport.
The coach stays on the sideline and lets the players do their job. They will
let you know when they want you to pick the sod out of their helmet. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">It's not
that hard to do the job of an elected official if you follow at least some of
the above suggestions. It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can even be
enjoyable. Okay maybe not that enjoyable but fulfilling in many ways once you
learn how to weed out the nonsense that comes with it. </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">We have
been hearing loud and clear the complaints and teeth gnashing and anguish about
the deep disappointment in not only the lack of real leadership but
accountability, transparency, diversity, you name it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want many more people<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to consider serving the people of the
borough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That's a tall order these days. We get that. We have to work with the tools in the tool box. We hope laying out a few rules will help. Now if only they read it. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">We will
be making some noise ourselves on Radio Free Palmer today. Starting at 4:45pm
today tune in for a live broadcast you can find at KVRF 89.5FM or
<a href="http://www.radiofreepalmer.org/">www.radiofreepalme</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">r.org</a> announcing the final list of those that have filed to run for
office in the borough and city elections. That will be followed by a live
broadcast of the "Valley Edition" hosted by Michael Chmielewski with panelists
Mark Kelsey, Frontiersman publisher and your own Citizen Lobbyist as we discuss
the final slate of candidates. Who wants to miss that right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><u>Oh and one more rule. </u></span></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The public bites. They will break that chain and jump the fence faster than you can run if you abuse your given power. In fact we are happy to open the gate for them. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-24761333466754080482013-05-28T11:33:00.001-08:002013-05-29T08:10:18.416-08:00 WASILLA HAS ITS OWN BUDGET SAGA...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Turns out the Mat Su Assembly Hounds aren't the only ones throwing money around and stuffing their own special interest trunk while crafting a budget. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">We are pleased to pass on the following account provided to us by a CIty of Wasilla Watcher. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Get a cold one and enjoy the ride. And try to remember. We all live here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">. . .but lacks pizza and cake thanks to Council Member Dianne Woodruff who noted that if the people have to skip dinner to be at City Council meetings, the Council Members shouldn’t be eating dinner in front of them on the peoples’ dime. So, Woodruff moved to delete from the budget the money for pizza and cake for the Council. It passed unanimously.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">In a similar vein, Council Member Woodruff proposed deleting over $2,000 for bottled water. She pointed out that City Hall is on City Water, and if City Water is good enough to charge city residents over $40/month (minimum) to drink it, why shouldn’t the City Council and employees drink it, too? After bragging about the City’s prize-winning water, the Council rejected Woodruff’s amendment and decided to retain the $2,000+ for bottled water. Voting to retain water were Council Members Steve Lovell and Clark Buswell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Council Member Colleen Sullivan-Leonard wanted the rest of the Council to share in an attack on Troy (Tankersley, Finance Director) by inflating the estimate of sales tax revenue into an Ultra-rich Chocolate Trojan Horse; it would have “given” the Council more money to spend. But the chocolate horse was too high in fat, and Wall, Buswell, Woodruff and Lovell defeated Sullivan-Leonard’s attack on the budget of Troy, who had done an excellent job of presenting a defense.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mr. Clark Buswell, who looks to the Mayor before casting his vote, told the Council that everyone should just order everything on the budget menu that the Mayor was ordering.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Council Member Leone Harris’ drank Online Absen Tea during 3 of the last 5 City Council meetings. When she was present, she tried to get the Council to take dessert off the budget menu by dramatically reducing department budgets for staff overtime. After attempting to take the overtime dessert off the menu of many departments, the other Council Members and the public started to realize that Harris was right, and that skipping dessert is generally quite do-able for people who manage well, so voted for all or part of many of her proposed reductions of departmental overtime dessert.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><em><strong>The City Business Plan: Sell Winners and Keep Losers</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The City Council bought Meta Rose Square because it was on prime real estate at the center of the City, thinking that it might be a good building for a new library. When the building was determined not to be of suitable size or structure for a library, some Council Members hoped that income from Meta Rose Square could help fund a new library. According to the FY14 budget, Meta Rose Square is making money for the City: about $100,000 a year. But <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>heaven forbid</em></span> that the City take any of the burden off its taxpaying residents and develop an additional source of revenue besides sales tax! So, a couple members of the City Council are pushing the Mayor to get rid of this money-maker ASAP.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Discussion of the City budget had begun with an hour-long presentation by the Director for Recreational and Cultural Services, Mr. John Combs. All who heard this presentation by the Champion of Non-stop Talkers were left hoping that he made better use of the peoples’ dime than he did of the peoples’ time, however, given that the Menard Sports Center is losing close to $1 million a year under his management, that seems unlikely. It also seems unlikely that this millstone will be removed any time soon from around the necks of Wasilla’s taxpayers. It may be a big loser, but it’s a real GEM of a money-loser and we're not going to let anyone have it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><em><strong>Running the City like a Featherbedding Business</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The glowing report Mr. Combs gave the Council about his most recent hire at the Menard Sports Center, Ms. Joan Klapperich, left many wondering why the City needed him on the payroll, too, so he was asked to bring back to the Council in 90 days a plan for achieving certain objectives. Apparently, the Mayor has never defined any goals and objectives for Mr. Combs, nor requested any work plans from him: that would be something only a good business manager would do. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mayor Rupright was asked by Council Member Colleen Sullivan-Leonard why Bert Cottle, Deputy Administrator, was the City’s Designated Meeting Attender, suggesting that this was a part of the Mayor’s job. The Mayor’s answer to this question didn’t erase the widely held perception that the main purpose for Mr. Cottle’s attendance at so many meetings is to promote Mr. Cottle’s ambition to be Mr. Rupright’s successor. How this benefits the City remains obscure, as does whatever else Mr. Cottle keeps himself busy doing on the taxpayer's dollar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Council Members Brandon Wall and Dianne Woodruff asked Mr. Cottle what his Administrative Assistant did all day while he was away from City Hall at meetings. Mr. Cottle answered by reporting the number of times this employee answered the phone and interacted with the public. This observer was amazed that the employee was able to stretch out so little work to fill 40 hrs a week, but was <em>not </em>surprised that Council Member Buswell was impressed with how busy she was, because the employee is a very nice person. (Of course, none of this was personal, all the City Council Members said.) Could it be that Mr. Cottle doesn't know what the one person he supervises actually does?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Council Members Wall & Woodruff continued to point out that there just wasn’t enough work to justify so many full-time Administrative Assistants upstairs at City Hall, so proposed amending the budget to reduce funding for staff. Suggesting that the City should be run like a business, Council Members Lovell and Buswell insisted that all staff must be kept at 40 hrs/wk just in case there is something for them <strong><u><em>all </em></u></strong>to do some day. Voting to keep the City in the Featherbedding Business was Council Members Buswell, Lovell, Harris and Sullivan-Leonard. No self-respecting Union Rep would ever make the pathetic arguments in support of Featherbedding that Council Members Buswell and Lovell made.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The fastest growing sector of the Wasilla economy is senior citizens and services to seniors, adding millions annually to the City’s economy, but the funding request of Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. for matching funds for grants and to install energy-efficient lighting was defeated 5 to 1, in part, Council Members said, because of the cost of Featherbedding. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(Lecturing the longest-lived members of our community about sustainability, the Council did, however, vote to approve a one-time appropriation to the seniors in this fiscal year out of the City’s fund balance.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Naturally, the cost of Featherbedding didn’t interfere with the Council approving $10,000 tax dollars for the Chamber of Commerce, which didn’t persuade Three Bears to locate in the City, costing the city mega-bucks in lost sales tax revenue. The Council likes to support those who are not paying any taxes. No one from the Chamber ever testified during the budget hearings as to what the Chamber does for the City or would do with this ten grand, so this observer is wondering if this is one of those FOMs (Friends Of Mayor) thingees.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Businesses pay no taxes to the City (they just turn over to the City the sales tax they collect from customers), but senior residents <strong><em>do </em></strong>pay taxes to the City: another reason why the senior service sector of the economy doesn't deserve any support from the Council, apparently. The Council Members expressed so much love for the Seniors, it is frightening to think what they would have done had they not loved seniors so dearly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><em>Henny Penny, Deficit Budgets and that Trojan Horse Again</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Having failed to convince the rest of the Council to give her the Ultra-rich Chocolate Trojan Horse of inflated budget revenue estimates to attack Troy, Council Member Sullivan-Leonard started to sing Henny Penny’s song, “The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling! This is a Deficit Budget! ” as her rallying cry against Troy. Council Member Harris responded to this cry, but the other Council Members were wisely unresponsive. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Troy’s defense was that the <strong><em><u>budget was balanced</u></em></strong>--as anyone who paid attention to his budget presentation could see--by spending down some of the City’s fund balances (savings). Proposing to spend some from the fund balances, according to Sullivan-Leonard, meant to her that Troy was proposing a deficit budget. Apparently, there's 2 definitions of a deficit budget: the one professionals use and Sullivan-Leonard's.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Since Sullivan-Leonard is on the record stating that all fund balances (savings) should be reduced to zero, it was unclear to this observer why she was upset about Troy balancing the budget by reducing some fund balances a bit. Could it be that because the Council wouldn’t let her have her Ultra-rich Chocolate Trojan Horse, she was determined to cast the budget as a disaster? Of course not! Why would anyone think that?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Could it be they thought that because they have observed Council Members feasting on sour grapes and, like Council Member Wall, they observed that a pencil was thrown down and eyes were rolled by someone opposite him in the cushy tilt-a-whirl seats?</span></span></div>
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<u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><em><strong>The Invitation and the Dis</strong></em></span></u></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">If you are invited to make a presentation to the Wasilla City Council, you might want to keep your coat on until after the agenda is approved, because you may be dissed (as in dis-invited and dismissed). MEA was invited to make a presentation at the last City Council meeting and then basically told by 4 Members of the Council that we don't want to hear from you, please go home. The City Council has listened to both sides of the debate on all sorts of issues, including Wishbone Hill/Usibelli Coal mining, and KGB and Parks Hwy upgrade projectls even when the greater part of those projects were outside the city limits. For as far back as anyone can remember--decades--Council Members have been able to invite an entity to give a presentation at a City Council Meeting, but when Council Member Woodruff invited MEA to come to the City Council and present their proposed routing for an 80-100 ft high transmission line to the Herning Substation near the heart of the City, oh, the uproar! Experience leads this observer to note that the degree of the passionate anger expressed by elected officials is directly proportional to the amount of politics involved (as opposed to facts, reason and considerations of the common good). In a shameful and embarrassing display of politics that left everyone wondering what the Council Members were afraid the Council and public might hear, MEA was dis-invited and dismissed, dropped from the agenda. Voting to keep MEA from spreading light on the issue were Council Members Buswell, Lovell, Sullivan-Leonard and Harris. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><em><strong>Not Ready to go to Press</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The budget has yet to be voted on as a whole. So, if you think that there’s more changes that need to be made to the budget, come to the meeting <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://12" x-apple-data-detectors-result="12" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">on June 10th at 6pm</a>, or send your comments to the City Clerk for distribution to the Members of the Council.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-90859488344855709962013-05-22T10:33:00.001-08:002013-05-22T14:03:20.808-08:00HOUND EDUCATION HOSTAGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The assembly hound car fires up again to take another trip down the taxpayer money spending freeway tonight at 6pm and tomorrow night if needed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And there seems to be a lot of "needs" pending in secret hound pockets and not so secret that its looking like tonight might not do it. Our own heads are hitting the desk with that thought. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We do know of the threat of one amendment that tumbled out when the car threw on the brakes quite suddenly at the end of last nights meeting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Assembly spending hound Halter gave notice he plans to have an amendment tucked under his hound arm at tonight's budget deliberation meeting to cut the already adopted education funding. Uh huh the amendment passed already giving the school district the nominal 3% increase they have asked for that was proposed by both Keogh and Arvin and adopted. We recall Halter was the lone "no' vote. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hound Halter said his proposed cut would whack 1% out of the measly 3% and bring it to 2%. Huge dollars when the district is stinging from another year of flat funding from the state. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We don't know why but we are pretty sure it has to do with something about putting more in the spending hound trunk for Halter's district for things like the $1.4M Talkeetna library. A project <u>we support</u> but not at the cost of education for kids in the whole borough. We wish spending hound Halter would show a little more leadership to advocate for the adequate funding for borough services that continue to climb in cost and projects even if that means a slight increase in the mill rate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Is assembly hound Halter that afraid of the ceremonial mayors scepter veto pen that might threaten his $75,000 for portable bathrooms in Meadow Lakes or some other tucked in project? Or is he nursing some kind of a grudge against the district for a undisclosed sin? This is his second whack at the school budget. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The spending hounds are suppose to be delivered tonight the list of where they can find hiding $3M in past capital projects of unassigned funds from both the manager and the hired financial analyst sitting in the borough piggy bank.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We are expecting all kinds of fun hearing the outcome of that tonight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The borough manager is out of town on a scheduled approved vacation so the assistant manager and finance director will be fielding those question handballs It's possible the hounds will be taking the borough attorney out for a good run trying to keep them in line of what can be loved around the financial checkerboard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We don't know if Mr. Wilson the hired budget guru will be here in person earning his $225.00 a hour fee. Perhaps he will be calling it in or he has submitted his homework via email. We hope the dog didn't eat it.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There is much to do on the budget. The assembly spending hounds have drug it through the streets of the public process like a favorite squeaky toy. Part of the squeak is the cost to the taxpayers of the process to deliberate the budget that has been adopted this year. You however can hear it for free as it is streamed by our community radio station at <a href="http://www.radiofreepalmer.org/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors="true">www.radiofreepalmer.org</a>. starting at 6pm tonight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Not too late to send the assembly spending hounds a note to let them know your priorities for the budget. While your at it let them know how you feel about holding education hostage for their sacred cows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We'll be there until its done. However spending assembly hound Salmon has already given notice after tonight his attention span will have reached his limit. Besides, his wife is having a birthday and cold assembly pizza for dinner and sitting on a hard chair isn't what he has in mind for the evening. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-34429125027286889922013-05-19T11:58:00.000-08:002013-05-19T11:58:06.724-08:00SPENDING HOUNDS PART 2<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi3kSOlypB77jaeRIgna9q_NjTSeh_HsiokYLQWP2RmD1ipN8da9WSyTBG91FNpJycUUELsQ1deuS0Y8zlQVWBWDlaxnN49NbJ9PokDbwAFo3bvEnxLChcqEDAHxSFn_8JwdSLWMV36k/s1600/CL+houndsphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi3kSOlypB77jaeRIgna9q_NjTSeh_HsiokYLQWP2RmD1ipN8da9WSyTBG91FNpJycUUELsQ1deuS0Y8zlQVWBWDlaxnN49NbJ9PokDbwAFo3bvEnxLChcqEDAHxSFn_8JwdSLWMV36k/s640/CL+houndsphoto.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>The running of the assembly
spending hounds continues...</u></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't read the post before this one you might want to start there then proceed below. If you did read part one and picked yourself off the floor and have been so patiently waiting for part 2 after much teeth gnashing here you go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After you might want to wander over in the side of the blog and read a page we are calling..QUESTIONS WE WOULD LIKE THE BOROUGH ASSEMBLY TO ANSWER. If we get any coherent answers (unlikely) from the assembly we will add them. The plan is to keep adding a dialog we SHOULD be having as a borough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now...ta da ..Part 2 of the adventures so far of your borough assembly spending hounds with the borough checkbook and savings...</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly spending hound
Arvin is still at the wheel with his hound foot firmly on the gas driving to
his vision of a free market solution for the future which seems to include
fewer borough employees and that less pesky public transparency. He scoffs at the suggestion that replacing
three temporary positions in the IT department with one full time employee will
save money for the borough in training investments and costly turn over as
those trained move on to higher paid and more secure private sector jobs
through the revolving borough door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all a “temporary employee” surely provides a more
controllable expendable workforce right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending hound Arvin does
allow a stop to add a new position for a full time emergency management
coordinator. Does he think anyone can be found to handle even a small portion
of the emergencies this assembly is creating? Or is the attraction that part of
the job has to do with timber? He also
allows the hound car to roll slowly so the spending hounds can move a “financial analyst” position under <i>management administration</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it possible with this
assembly anyone can really work <u>under</u>
management and <u>not through </u>some assembly
members? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ceremonial mayor hound
has found his way out of the manure field and is now chasing the spending
assembly hound car but he keeps spinning his own wheels on the loose gravel on
the side of the road and losing track of the car. He has annoyed some of the
spending hounds by letting his favorite hounds run amuck and not stay on the
hunt. He also has his eye on a brand new shiny Pt. Mackenzie town site and like
the joker in the jack in the box; he pops up and down now and again to make
sure the assembly spending hounds are sprinkling taxpayer cash along the
unimproved road for its development. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly spending hound
Colligan who now glows red with a computer screen tan is leaning further and
further out of the assembly spending car. He is jumping in and out of the car
asking to throw the borough spending ball again and again. He is sure he is
right around the corner from a spending signal. He seems to forget much of the
time where it ended up the last time it was thrown. He is just sure if they
keep building his empire doghouse in the technology yard they will all be able
to get out of the car and run through a field of daisies. The IT department
director is becoming his best friend. His spending hound eyes have changed to
dollar signs thinking of how if the bulk of taxpayer funds are directed from
other departments, the hounds can succeed in changing some part of how the
borough is managed without having to debate the merits of the reorganization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending assembly hound
Woods has realized he is out of the yard and is full of glee because he thinks
they are headed to a coal mine being planned close to Palmer. He is sure there
are money bones for him and his old hound friends and family under all that
coal dust. In fact he seems anxious to roll in its toxic brew of arsenic, mercury,
metals and seems unafraid of any lethal health threats like asthma, chronic
bronchitis, emphysema, and heart disease. His generation didn't depend on any
science and data. Facts are so inconvenient and he doesn’t really understand them anyhow.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending assembly hound
Halter even though he has managed to acquire some pretty nice money bones for
his own yard isn’t done with the ride. He is
gaining support from the other hounds desperate for their own kennel upgrades.
He has found the magic of putting more than you need in the trunk of the
spending hound car trunk so it appears that he is actually giving something up
when trading for things for his hound yard. He has also convinced the other
hounds to stop the car long enough to task the borough manager and the hired
mad "forensic scientist budget analyst " hound (who again was phoning
it in for the whole meeting and spoke for about 10 seconds total) to each bring
a list of $3 million "uncommitted" capital dollars in the borough
coffers to the next meeting. He is hoping there are enough money bones to fill
his part even if it also flows into other hounds' parts of the trunk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending assembly hound
Colver gets his hound collar out of the door long enough to jump out and lift
his leg on some bushes and pace around with his frustration several times.
Hound Colver is increasingly getting his feelings hurt by the ceremonial mayor
hound that does not seem to recognize his
importance and need to hear his own bark to bloviate and pontificate about
using his process of "Colvinating" to get it right. He is impatient
to see how much money can be saved for his more things for his own empire annex
doghouses that will be ready for occupancy some day. He is afraid he won’t be able to stash enough taxpayer funds in hiding places in the
yard to dig up later for projects that allow him to keep his powers and reward
his barking buddies. He is successful in pushing off some big decisions to the
next meeting when both the manager and clerk will be absent and his tales will
be threatened with less truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending assembly hound
Salmon got out a growl to say “We hired a manager to
manage the borough. It’s his job. My job is to set
policy”. His next bark gets
$70,000 of taxpayer money to count the cars and people that might help his
fellow KABATA board members dispute that pesky audit the legislators believed.
Hound Salmon wants you to believe that a shiny new demographic study will
benefit the borough but says nothing about his own benefits as a Realtor if the
math is believed. This spending hound hopes the car won’t stop long enough for the people to bother to read about the
moment in time around 2000 when he was borough mayor. The time when big plans
for a ferry were hatched that now floats in the waters far away and requires
big borough taxpayer checks monthly for its room and board. He also hopes the
magical thinking he played a part in that sold acres and acres of borough land
for less than market value for the big profit of some will not be remembered.
That money was then and now is the time for deals for the deal makers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly hound Keogh,
sitting on the curb, inhaling toxins from the spending hound car, is still
guarding the people's house. The line to
admire and pet him is stopping traffic because people that own the house know
he is the only one staying around to stand guard. The ceremonial mayor hound
tries to ignore Keogh by not acknowledging his barks to participate in the
debate. Spending hound Colver is especially irritated at Keogh for his attempt
to cut some money out of the assembly budget that might be used for trips to
Juneau. Spending hound Colver has successfully had his picture taken and posted
on the front page of the borough website with governor candidate Walker. His
dreams of a run for Lt Governor make him giddy. Spending hound Colver is
particularly irritated that hound Keogh would try to dig where he is placing
funds for his later projects. Like the
wise hound he is, Keogh ignores this and continues his plans to protect the
people's house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To say the ceremonial mayor
has pretty much no control of these meetings is not a stretch. He might as well
stay longer on vacation buying breeding stock. Discussion on amendments and
motions on the table are being blurred out of recognition as assembly spending hounds
are allowed to jump from one sacred cow to another. Maybe the cow part has the
mayor distracted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>WHO PAYS?</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of the $120 million dollars
placed in borough coffers this year $82 million is property tax dollars.
Dollars that have been flying out of the window of the assembly spending hound
car like confetti. The hounds continue down the road of throwing the least
amount they can to the the critical needs in a growing borough with a land mass
the size of Scotland and miles of roads that make goat trails look like
freeways. Growing populations need services from a borough assembly with an
insatiable appetite for mega projects and truly not much more. Where is there
room in a budget for services? Oh and why we are on the subject we are up to about $9 million dollars in lost revenue from all the "property exemptions" the state mandates and then doesn't reimburse the borough for. Along with the still uncalculated loss of revenue coming to the borough from this assembly <i>giving big business a go free pass </i>on anything under $1 million dollars in inventory with a plan to do away with it altogether which is probably why there is nothing but huffing and puffing being done to calculate or enforce it. The city of Anchorage must be laughing all the way to the bank as they collect on business inventory of anything over $20,000 which brings the city millions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>WHAT WILL THERE BE ROOM IN
THE BUDGET FOR? </u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s what the assembly hounds would like to call “economic development”. Based on what we have seen and read and what
history serves up, we prefer to call it “wishes and hopes” planned by a herd of unicorns drunk on power rainbows and paid
for by property owners. Small property owners not the ones with acres of land
and prime borough property they got during the last raid of borough assets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The spending hounds much
like the neighborhood dog that never has a hope of catching the passing car
seem unlikely as ever to reach consensus on a 2014 borough budget that chooses
service to the people that live in the valley instead of serving up profits to
business. The economic director has become shamelessly the Great Dane that is
able to sit like a Chihuahua on some assembly spending hound laps licking their
faces and is paid handsomely to do their bidding in the community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Press releases are
carefully worded to sound almost like the thieves are doing you a favor
cleaning out your house in the middle of the day while you’re at work. No doubt a limited borough staff makes good productions that sell big business in
the borough but do they really portray what is going on here? Are they
attracting the right type of business to the borough that will care about a
long term commitment and investment and not just a lack of regulation and
oversight that allows them to make a quick profit and leave? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>ARE WE THERE YET?</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are the spending hounds
done with the budget meal that was served them and now ready to move on to
transformation into spending buzzards that pick off all the meat available and
leave the borough piggy bank carcass in the ditch? Several of the spending hounds are convinced
there is still some unspent money from borough projects left buried in the yard
and they are relentlessly digging with questions and threats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes the assembly spending
hound car took a pretty wild ride at the last meeting but it elected to stop to
refuel (no energy saving vehicle for this pack) so it can roll again next
Wednesday May 22nd and possibly even the next day before it eventually bounces
off the curb and is ready for the next ride with taxpayer funds. Heck there could be a deal being made to sell the whole borough off to some investor in China brewing behind closed doors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this rate the budget
should be ready to sign off on sometime before you start your Christmas
shopping. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-32387002033694504302013-05-15T18:25:00.000-08:002013-05-16T06:46:45.418-08:00SPENDING HOUNDS ....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can borough residents stand more "conservative"governing? </span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>WARNING SPENDING HOUND
VISUAL AHEAD…</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We think this about sums it up because you know pictures even mental ones are better than words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine
the spending hounds ie: your assembly driving a hound clown car that holds not
just the assembly spending hounds but the taxpayer check book. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly spending
hound Arvin is driving the car with only one destination in mind. The
destination only he and he alone knows and will take no directions from
any other hound or spectators along the road who are for the most part trying to stay out of his way. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly spending
hound Colver and Assembly spending hound Colligan with tongues wagging are
hanging out the front seat passenger window relentlessly asking “When will we be there” and “can we get out now?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly
hound Colligan is trying to make his fellow hounds pay attention to a map he
wants to download if he could only find a signal and get the other spending
hounds to pay attention. He knows how the trip will be successful if he can
just get their attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly
hound Colver more comfortable wearing a cape instead of a collar is stuck in
the door and can only get a few barks out. He worries he won’t get to the fire hydrant he has picked out before spending
hound Arvin decides to stop the car. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly spending hound Salmon
is in the back seat of the hound car and as grumpy as can be because he
didn't want to leave the yard and no one told him he would have to take this
long car ride. His pleas for stopping the car so he can get out are falling on
deaf white floppy Arvin spending hound ears. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly
spending hound Woods is in the backseat next to Salmon. It’s not clear he knows where he is or why he left the yard in
the first place. He keeps looking for the EPA or somebody from the federal
government to blame but the car is going too fast. Where he’s not sure. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly
hound Halter is running behind the car trying to take some big things like
money for education out of the trunk so he can get some other goodies that he
thinks will look good in his dog yard. He is smiling and biting the tires
almost simultaneously. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assembly
hound Keogh is sitting on the curb. He is the only one with enough sense not to
want to go for the ride in the spending hound car because he was told to guard
the people’s house. He knows it’s quite likely that the spending hounds will crash. He is
catching all the toxic exhaust from the clown car while he waits for the
inevitable. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
ceremonial mayor hound is still standing in the field trying to figure out how
to get his veto equipped tractor unstuck in time to pop a few tires on the spending hound car. He wants to ride in the car but the other hounds have made
sure his tractor wont go anywhere because it's stuck in an
abundance of cow manure. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hired
"budget analysts-financial mad scientist" is running alongside the car trying not to roll
under the tires which might preclude his chance to jump in the car and always
ride around with the spending assembly hounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>You get the picture...</u></b></span></h4>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night’s special assembly budget deliberation meeting started out with the ceremonial mayor giving the floor to Assemblyman Arvin who joked “the dog ate my homework”. This after successfully suspending the last meeting nearly a week ago because the assembly contract financial guru Jim Wilson wasn't there and Arvin argued that he needed to be there to "get it right". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But wait Wilson was nowhere to be found when last night’s meeting began. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was Arvin</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s joke on the taxpayers of the borough who is paying for this series of special deliberations and turning into quite the messy process?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a hasty break 30 minutes into the meeting Wilson was found and...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wait for it ...he PHONED it in. From his home in Oklahoma we suspect. Either that or from under the hotel bed considering what followed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wilson quickly tried to unravel some knots he made in his budget suggestions (that Arvin admitted was only to he, Colligan and Colver) and the spending assembly hound Arvin attempted to cut $425,000 out of the borough retirement reserves.Wilson was the "expert" hired by this same sitting assembly two years ago but he clearly didn't know or remember how the state retirement program in which the borough participates works and the needed reserves be kept for them to operate. Wilson gave a few soggy, hard to hear answer to questions carefully filtered by the mayor who also seemed frustrated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending hound Arvin moved to put the retirement reserves back into the budget until they had more answers. But other cuts were made by the suggestion of Wilson. Cuts to finance (really..the assembly is micro managing tax bill printing costs?), administration, the revenue and budget department and their favorite target the Planning Department. Wilson's </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">advise for a cut to the legal department was stopped in its tracks when the assembly was informed after settling yet another lawsuit the account he wanted to move it out of was dry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending hound Colver described Wilson's technique as historical and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">scientific forensic accounting</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”. W</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">re guessing Wilson used this same method to not understand the borough retirement system or seemingly to even talk to borough finance about it.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Turns out this </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">forensic accountant</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> reporting comes via pen and paper consisting of notes scribbled on an existing borough spread sheet or at least that is what was handed out to the audience. No pie charts, formulas or shiny glossy reports. Even at $225.00 an hour plus </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">reasonable expenses</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe spending hound Colligan should talk to Wilson about this century accounting software programs or be provided a lesson from the school district before he makes more suggestions to chase down the rabbit hole.</span></div>
</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></o:p>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>SPENDING HOUND CAR CONTINUES ON...</u></b></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several amendments were left on the table without action with promises for more to hit on Thursday. No word if Mr. Wilson will join in the meeting or spend any time asking questions of the people that work at the borough instead of talking to the hounds. We see that spending hound Colver has offered an amendment to move the position for a "financial analyst" into administration's budget for $113.838. What does that mean we don't really know except we're pretty sure the last thing the manager needs is more management from the micro managing spending hounds. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To his
credit spending hound Arvin offered and passed an amendment to fulfill the
school district’s 3% increase in local funding although it should be more to put it on par with other large districts . Keogh <u>had already</u> offered up the amendment to fully fund the request from the district but it had not been acted on yet. Health and social service grant
matches ($150,00 and already offered by Keogh too) youth court ($75,00) and Wasilla
City Planning ($200,00 for the SART program in disguise) all passed but are
still subject to amendments and the ceremonial mayor's veto pen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending hound Colligan has made a few suggestions about more money for accounting software to bring the borough into this century. Not a bad idea unless he wants to put Wilson in charge of this century and he might have to wrestle with hound Halter for the $400,000 prize for his yard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a complete wrap up and much more to fill in the blanks we
suggest you tune into Radio Free Palmer KVRF 89.5 FM (or <a href="http://www.radiofreepalmer.org/">www.radiofreepalmer.org</a> ) tomorrow
(Thursday regular feature of Mike and Friend’s Show) at 8am-9am when the citizen
lobbyist visits. The full meeting from last night is available for your own listening torture
on the Radio Free site. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>TRAVELING ON FOR MORE FUN...</u></span></h4>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
hounds are back at it on Thursday for yet another "special budget deliberation
meeting". Since as the ceremonial mayor said they hadn't "made much
progress" and despite the little snarl by Salmon they scheduled two more meetings
next week for deliberations. That would
mean if they don't finish tomorrow night the assembly will meet for their
regular meeting next Tuesday and then again Wednesday and Thursday on the
budget. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not sure
we can stand that much fun. They say it's not over till the fat lady sings.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We say it's not</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> over till the spending hound
car comes to rest in the unregulated junkyard and the hounds spill out into the runoff pond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9e-Pk2uRWVKqP2l_t4yapBQJ7TK3tQMO7saZjNo2iIvRDIctaCJTKg5hplxQ5W1e9icVaKDzDyUWeMcwwZNLx4DAGeOph_CQvqsuNlKh0mHrZuLhzoC-c5eDPCx6Uyu1RqRqBVu7K8E/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9e-Pk2uRWVKqP2l_t4yapBQJ7TK3tQMO7saZjNo2iIvRDIctaCJTKg5hplxQ5W1e9icVaKDzDyUWeMcwwZNLx4DAGeOph_CQvqsuNlKh0mHrZuLhzoC-c5eDPCx6Uyu1RqRqBVu7K8E/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-5842012902797616842013-05-14T10:43:00.003-08:002013-05-14T12:10:45.439-08:00NOT FALLING FOR A PIG IN A POKE...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Ly_Zch5GCL5GqCYxcHtRb4_tHIccykEC7CX302ohQ8HEa7WJCOOzH3D2KkcsTcbv8VrW79k6wXJuq1xpzMfG0Dl8OmIBba4FlT7besdolHBfel2Zg0soFPCw_ecSIWrqpmcoVdDTEE/s1600/Pig-in-a-Poke-220x300.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Ly_Zch5GCL5GqCYxcHtRb4_tHIccykEC7CX302ohQ8HEa7WJCOOzH3D2KkcsTcbv8VrW79k6wXJuq1xpzMfG0Dl8OmIBba4FlT7besdolHBfel2Zg0soFPCw_ecSIWrqpmcoVdDTEE/s1600/Pig-in-a-Poke-220x300.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another
special assembly meeting for budget deliberations will be held tonight to
decide the fate of not only the taxpayer piggy bank for 2014 but perhaps to seal the future of borough in the ground like a set of tent spikes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have
questions. Lots of them. And you should too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>WELL THAT
WAS A COSTLY TAXPAYER 15 MINUTES…</u></b></span></h4>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
second budget deliberation meeting may have set the record for the shortest
assembly meeting. The ceremonial mayor, full assembly, attorney, numerous clerks
and almost all the department heads ready to go to work were told to onlookers surprise there would be no
meeting. Assembly member Arvin seemingly feeling much more comfortable calling
the shots now that he isn't perched in China moved to adjourn until tonight so
he could have more time with the hired consultant now back in his
home in Oklahoma at his other job. Although hired as a consultant to the WHOLE
assembly, reportedly he is spending his time primarily with Arvin, Colver and Colligan
making you know all those hard “male” decisions. Advising them at a rate of $225.00 a
hour plus "reasonable travel & per diem that includes transportation,
lodging and meals". So with Arvin refusing to reveal his plans for the FY14
borough budget and without the hired consultant the assembly meeting was cancelled.
Sorry about all that expense for nothing taxpayers.And h</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eck you
would think those other assembly members were "women" as little regard these
three are giving fellow brethren about the plans to craft a budget.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b> </b></u></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>THE
RUNNING OF THE HOUNDS</b></u></span></h4>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will
be the third year the assembly has used an outside budget analyst to
"assist" them with decision making on the budget. This year when
Assembly member Colver first brought the action to hire a professional forward
he suggested only he and members Arvin and Colligan do the vetting with the manager to fill the position. Luckily that little
Machiavellian move didn't fly and the search went out to bid.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How far
and wide a net was cast in a bid for a qualified CPA or Government Accounting
Specialist is unclear. What is clear is that it was issued March 5th with a
March 18th deadline. Following a troublesome pattern of no or low amount of
bidders for projects and contracts, the borough received 2 responses for the
job. Oddly the same number of applicants for the job of lobbyist for the
borough received as a response to bid. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In walked
Mr. Jim Wilson to claim the prize of this year’s
temporary borough budget analyst.
He required that the borough provide him with copies of prior year documents, current
year documents, strategic plans and "current and emerging issues"
from Assembly members, mayor, manager and department heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are these
things taxpayers have at their easy disposal? Probably not. Especially since
the borough has been insisting employees sign confidentiality statements as of
late.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr.
Wilson, now serves as a deputy city administrator -director of finance
& management in Altus, Oklahoma working for Elizabeth Gray the ex-borough
assistant manager who now resides in Altus and serves as the City
Administrator. Gray acting borough manager in 2010-11 hired Wilson to
consult for the borough on the 2012 budget. That year Wilson’s advice to the delight of the assembly empire builders was
to spend, spend, and spend down those borough reserves that were reportedly
sitting at some $14 million plus dollars. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
spending hounds were unleashed and went right to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>A LAUNDRY
LIST OF TAXPAYER DOLLAR BILLS</u></b></span></h4>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost immediately
an addition to the existing borough building was given a green light. No pesky
need for voter approval for the $7 million plus addition. Mr. Colver, taking a
page from his own playbook for building the Academy Charter School Empire
without one ounce of voter approval brought forth serial assembly resolutions
that authorized taxpayer money.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With
legislation likely to be approved at the next meeting the total on the borough annex is
sitting at $7,081.687 SO FAR which does not include any AV equipment, furnishings
or even chairs (and for as much as we use them they better be some damn nice
chairs) for the public in the new space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh and
the new "space" is for new offices for the ceremonial mayor, assembly (who for the
most part with the exception of Keogh that don't even to bother to read the packet
and hardly need more space unless it serves as an echo chamber for their own
voices), manager, and clerk and attorney departments. Also included is
"public space" but with no money allotted so far for furnishings the
public might count on using some old
discarded milking stools brought in from the mayor’s barn for seating. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then
there was this low hanging fruit that brought assembly action with the taxpayer
checkbook.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">$100,000
for a "Port Operational Technical Advisor"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">$50,00-$90,000
EVERY MONTH last year for the M.V Susitna Ferry while it floated in Southeast
Alaska waters. It never saw the waters of the Matsu Borough and the borough has
reportedly signed an agreement to sell the $78 million dollar ferry for $6
Million to satisfy the debt to the federal government.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">$95,000
for "economic development cultivation". In 2010 an economic
development plan for the borough was adopted. In 2011 the position of economic
development director was eliminated. In 2012 a brand new director was hired
with the marching orders of the assembly tucked under his arm. The shiny new
director went to work bringing together a new set of
voices for yet another economic plan. This one "business friendlier".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">$200,000
for a Hatcher Pass REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT plan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">$278,812
from the school site selection reserve to supplement funding for the Academy
Charter School expansion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">$300,000
from last budget cycle to consider and study a regional emergency dispatch
center.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's
just the list of low hanging fruit. Expenditures under $100,000 don't need
assembly approval. Listing all that along with the expense for a bevy of “working groups” the ceremonial mayor has
dreamed up along with "other contracts" would make us all want to
drive chopsticks through our eyes. Trust us; the list includes plenty of dollar
signs. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
proposed <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/finance/revenue-a-budget">2014 budget</a> is online for those that feel a need to tap dance through
a mine field. It's doubtful at the end of this messy process it will look
anything like it does now. It doesn't
take a crystal ball to predict the budget this year goes to port, rail, the
ceremonial mayor's new Point Mackenzie town site, and economic development.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hired
gun budget analyst has mostly delivered his own spin on it taking up the bulk of
the first deliberation hearing that only saw a few technical changes passed.
Wilson didn't reveal anything new other than his suggestion for drawing down “unassigned fund balances”
and to continue the lowering of wages for what is left of staff and paring down
their benefit package. No mention if the salary and full benefits
including contributions to retirement the assembly and ceremonial mayor
collect were part of planned cuts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wilson
and Arvin haven’t suggested YET he serve on an
extended contract as adviser with money they are mining from taxpayer funds but
we are bracing ourselves for the suggestion. Wilson’s longest tenure was in the state of Texas, a free for all
business hub until he was “let go” according to local newspapers. He would be helpful to a majority held assembly that
models itself after so much of what they call governing there. The city of
Houston, Texas population 2,099 MILLION people has NO ZONING. Fertilizer plants, and
warehouses at the port along with every square inch of the borough own resources
developed is the dream of this assembly. Gambling with other people’s money is seen as stewardship in their parallel universe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>QUESTIONS THAT PROBABLY WILL GO WITHOUT ANSWERS..</b></u></span></h4>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Are
assembly members getting even periodic revenue and expense reports and if so
are they capable of understanding the implications of what they are reading?</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Will the money collect by the
borough this year by an increased tobacco tax help with some of the revenue
lost from cutting taxes for big business, airplane owners and developers and
more importantly will any of that money that could reach an additional $2
million dollars go to matches for health and social service programs and
education?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should
we even count on any increase in revenue considering when Anchorage raised its
own tobacco tax the expectation was a 35% increase but only resulted in a 10%?</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Can
we borrow the school district transparency meter since the boroughs may be
packed away with FY04 fund balances? </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If Arvin is run over by a pink bus, do we
use the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">unassigned fund balances</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">”</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> to backfill the Deputy Mayor seat?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">5. What return to public is the
continuing investment in the port, rail. eliminated business contributions, public
funds to promote projects like KABATA that are really at the mercy of the
legislature?</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> How do we finish those projects now that due to an estimated $4 billion in revenue going back to the oil companies and not in state coffers? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">6. What did electing men wrapped
in </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">“</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">conservative</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">”</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> flags do for us as a borough? Wait we are living the
answer to that one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>AND THIS..</u></b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assemblyman
Colligan could have been talking about this year’s
budget process when voting for an ordinance at the last meeting with some
reluctance and referred to it as "nothing more than moving chairs on the
titanic". Even a blind pig finds an
ear of corn. Colligan is right once in awhile. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this
tea party fueled majority assembly profit trump integrity, transparency and
oversight. And as with tobacco the glorious moneygasm only works because of the
long delay between cause and effect. We are seeing a slight glimpse of that with the proliferation of cell towers popping up like chickweed in the valley thanks to the absence of any regulation for well over a year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With two
do nothing budget special budget meetings behind them the borough assembly will
meet tonight (Tuesday April 14th) at the school district offices at 6pm and it
will be live streamed on your community radio station <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/">Radio Free Palmer</a>. There is another special assembly
deliberation meeting scheduled on Thursday at 6pm if the budget analyst isn't done whispering in Assemblyman Arvin’s ear we guess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our
expectations for one of both of these meetings is an endless debate on debts,
deficits, little pockets of saved taxpayer cash to be spent for more empire building with little regard by the majority of the assembly for the human costs of their decisions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the residents of the
borough don’t want this assembly to take,
rent, buy or grab what belongs to them they better pay attention. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-88765794247060741712013-04-30T21:09:00.000-08:002013-04-30T21:09:41.393-08:00MEMO TO THE BOROUGH ASSEMBLY -JUST DO THIS..<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We agree with those that say "schools are fundamentally communities". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The following is the testimony your citizen lobbyist gave tonight during public comment to the borough assembly in support of equitable funding of what we believe is the the heart of the borough, our public school system..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Our
school district has been given a very clear directive by the borough mayor and
assembly. Bring forward a reasonable
request for funding along with an even more efficient plan for use of those
funds. The district has been told to
work harder and smarter.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">The Mat Su School
District has done that. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The
district was told to present a clear thoughtful budget document that assures
that the district is not only being good stewards of the funds they are
receiving from the borough but the state and federal government too. There
needs to be documentation to show that regardless of the uncertain funding
challenges, that Mat Su students are coming first as are efforts to increase
their academic successes.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">The Mat Su School
District has done that. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The
message from the borough to the district has been that there needs to be
continual evidence that the resources are used to employ top rate employees but
no more than required to do the job and that the ratio of administration to
staff is to be kept minimal making it the leanest district of its size in the
state. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">The Mat Su School
District has done that. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Another directive has
been to use local valley vendors and recognize valley business whenever
possible. The district is to give priority to the 207 active vendors in Palmer
and 380 vendors in Wasilla that they do business with. Data shows that for
every $1.00 the district spends it returns $9.00 in investment right back into
our valley.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">The Mat Su School
District has done that. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The
district has been instructed that school choice for parents and students with a
robust curriculum should be a top priority. With 11 non-traditional schools and
3 alternative high schools making 14 of the 45 schools choice based learning<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">The Mat Su School
District has done that. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The
mayor and assembly directed the school district to work with the state and our
legislative delegation for funding level increases to meet the needs of a
growing student enrollment and to continue to close achievement gaps, and
increase college and career readiness. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">The Mat Su School
District has done that. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Now
as a voter, a multiple property taxpayer, and advocate for a fair and equitable
public education system I am asking the Mat Su assembly and mayor to do your
part to meet a 3% increase in local funding to the school district as requested
and in fact do more if you can. Rebate of property tax paid from leased space
for Charter schools this year should be clear to make that funding come to the district
as an additional piece of funding as the ordinance was intended. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>There
has been a visible increased cooperation between the school district and
borough this year. The district's foresight in remodeling this room for
district training needs became a great asset to the borough to seamlessly
utilize it during construction of borough public space saving potentially
thousands of dollars in renting other accommodations. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dr.
Paramo and her staff has done a good job with the budget, maintaining aging
facilities, planning for new schools and most importantly in continuing to keep
our district a leader in education in our state. The district deserves the
reasonable request for increase in funding to continue the job to not only to
educate the needed workforce in our future but honor the family wage jobs that they
provide to the valley. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">"The borough assembly
should just do this</span></b><b><span style="color: red;">. </span></b><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was passionate public testimony from a number of people who drove all the way from the Talkeetna to plead for borough funds to match grant and state funds to build a needed yesterday public library. Libraries are the center of the universe for a lot of our residence and even more so outside the core. The librarian of the Sutton Library is now finished and well in use in that area. They joined the chorus recommending the assembly fund their neighbors in the north so they could enjoy the benefits to the community a new facility provides. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Champions for funding for the Sexual Assault Response Team turned out along with those that dream of the economic development possibilities if only more funds were available. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hats off to the brave employee who put one foot in front of the other and spoke to the assembly about the increased cost and lost of production should the borough travel down the road of eliminating flex time. They even seemed to be listening. We need to remember that our public employees,teachers, firefighters, police etc are taxpayers too. In fact they are the bulk of our jobs in the valley. They have children in school, roads that need to be plowed and ambulance rides unfortunately to take. They SHOULD be encouraged to weigh in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are hoping the assembly wasn't paying to close attention to the speaker that is sure the answer is selling off all borough land assets. The comparison to Dubuque, Iowa was interesting but we are still scratching our heads with last weeks comparison to Anahiem California by the economic development director.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The assembly knows what some people feel is important. The assembly needs to know how you feel about funding for public education, social service grant matches (with no money allotted in the budget so far) services for public works, parks, planning and yes libraries. They will meet again Thursday this week in Wasilla at the Central Fire Station to take up another round of public testimony. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They will also vote on an ordinance to increase the local taxation of tobacco which is woefully less than other organized areas and is a great tool to discourage smoking particularly of our youth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don't hand out kuddo's to Assemblyman Arvin very often for a variety of reasons and one of them being because he hasn't been here physically until lately to receive them. But he gets one for bringing this to the table for a vote and a revenue increase of benefit to the borough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get out and make some noise to your assembly. If you don't you will have to wait another year before they take a whack at the borough budget. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And who knows what kinda ax they will be holding next year...</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-58906734976662268652013-04-29T09:00:00.001-08:002013-04-29T09:00:55.228-08:00TIME TO FEED SOME UNICORNS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next couple of weeks the borough assembly will be conducting a tango line of </span><a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/meetings-agendas-and-minutes/2013" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">meetings</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that will probably have more impact in valley life than any meeting all year. The borough has gotten their final love letter from Juneau with money kisses (sans any poison veto darts from the governor) and its almost time to feed the unicorns by filling the holes in the budget and start digging a few new ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The manager of the borough (who besides John Boehner probably has the worse job ever) along with his department heads (except the one that packed up and left last week) presented the budgets in two meetings. If you needed a dose of depression that was the place to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, all the department heads breaking out their top hat and canes trying to dance through the minefields presenting a flat budget as they were expected to do. A chorus of pathetic professional pleadings for ample funding and people in the workforce to do the job from an assembly that rarely, if ever even bothers to measure whether or not something is working before they proceed confidently to the next big thing. .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were a couple of floats decorated with accomplishments for last year were in spite ongoing decreases in people to do the job. But the list was shorter this year as everyone recognized that there is just so much water you can cover when the boat is left with little crew and the oars are sitting on the dock. The low moral in the room was almost palatable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a couple of years of being told to do more with less and being pulled in many different directions the <i>new directive</i> is that employee "flextime" is to be eliminated. The borough has used the concept of flextime for many years and it has saved the borough thousands in overtime pay but is also an important tool in the public process. Over a third of valley residents drive to Anchorage every day to work. It's impossible for them to attend hearings and public meetings during the day. Having employees able to work flextime (adjusting starting and quitting time from a range of available hours) allows the public to have borough staff available at community council , road and fire service board meetings, speak to community groups that meet at night and most importantly be available at platting, planning commission or assembly meetings to answer questions from members of the public or those sitting in the chairs making the decisions that effect residents that don't bother to read their packet or get questions answered during the day. When asked the finance department alone determined it would increase their budget by some $50,000 to eliminate flextime for the overtime that will be needed during election, property tax appeal time and other labor intense times of the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this decision stands we can shut the door on public process and expect it to cost more to operate the already limping along borough. A door that was has been barely propped open lately. Another knee jerk reaction to a perceived problem. We aren't willing to say there isn't some abuses in all of the borough as we have found days ourselves that much of staff is out of the building but if there is shouldn't it be identified and addressed by management to establish a core part of the day employees must be at work and work with the rest of the day? Micromanaging staff by SOME ceremonial mayors and assembly members has become tiresome and expensive in so many ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hard to tell by what was presented and heard that our borough is not only the fastest growing place in Alaska, the state has the lowest unemployment rate in over 5 years.Never know that voters had such confidence in our growth a couple elections ago that they agreed to the biggest school and road bond in the history of the borough. Or that 40% of "all new housing construction in Alaska occurred in the Mat-Su in 2011". And it wasn't even a peak year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet in this budget presented to the assembly there is NO increase in funds to the school district. NONE. The borough already at the bottom of the list in local governments in providing financial support to education has nothing but the minimum for this year included in the budget presented. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with that NO matching money for grants for social and health programs. NONE. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plenty in there for a port that is a beast that can't be fed enough. Plenty for economic development and subsidies for business as the assembly found new ways to make sure their tax obligation was even lower this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our borough employs only about 50 people in full or part time positions for emergency services and over 90% are on call volunteers to our borough and cities which make up a land mass the size of Scotland. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should make you hope enough are available for YOUR ambulance ride, to handle the car on the side of the road during your commute that turned suddenly into an accordion and the passenger inside who had a very bad morning is waiting for the jaws of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The assembly has head from the staff of the borough. This week Tuesday at 6pm at the school district building and Thursday at 6pm in Wasilla at the Central Fire Station they will be ready to hear from you. We are hoping they get an ear full. The assembly has quite a task ahead of them. The shells they will need for the shell game might become the next man made beach in the borough which would fit in just about right to this band of dreamers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's pretty clear your assembly wants smaller government for the same reason crooks want fewer cops. It's easier to get away with your property tax dollars. </span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-66315625887511296142013-03-31T18:34:00.000-08:002013-03-31T20:55:01.304-08:00DOES THE COUNCIL NEED A COUNSELOR?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh Palmer City Council how we had high hopes for you. When we started attending meetings a couple of years ago by all appearances the council though not without a few warts seemingly was balanced both by gender and designed thinking. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But after </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the last council meeting we can't lie. Our hopes for a different than the rest </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">council are a bit dashed. The gender </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">balance is still there but the thinking seems to have taken that sharp ugly </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">turn straight into political partisanship and pre-election posturing that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">unless a tow truck shows up and pulls a few ego's out of the ditch and some of those elected are reminded what they are there for, we are probably </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">headed for some serious mud blogging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's puzzling really. A council by all appearances made up of self processed conservatives should be on the same page. It would appear they have so much to agree on like the same tired "smaller government", "live within our means" blah blah blah. But a few members of the council are now showing the signs of an appetite for conspiracy theories and setting the stage for gotcha moments to move their own personal agendas along. There is further evidence the council is now getting caught in the tug a war of politics sprinkled with heavy doses of ego's, jealousy and personal political agendas. The residents of cities rarely win when that gauntlet is thrown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Should we</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> blame it on lack of circulation from too many members having </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">their feet stuck in concrete unable to move on any of the big subjects on their </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">plate? For example a long still unresolved negotiation with the Palmer Senior's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">over the transfer of the old center seems high centered with wheels spinning. Wheels AND attorney fees.The only thing seemingly moving on the Mat Maid property development is you guessed it...attorney fees. Along with the council acting like they are trapped in a house of mirrors at a traveling amusement park. The politics have already taken a toll on that issue in some ways.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b> TETHERED TO THE PAST?</b></u></span></o:p></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There has been much talk about Palmer frequently not being represented at borough assembly meetings passing on the ability to not only offer brief city reports but taking advantage of having the ability to weigh in on subjects that directly affect the city's bottom line.Too many times information and action taken at the borough table makes its way to the city <i>after </i>the fact. There isn't the best communication by the sitting assembly member (Woods) and the council on matters. We believe the City of Palmer manager, mayor and the very small staff do their best to be at these meetings when they can but their own council meets on the same night of the week nearly every time the assembly does which creates an instant conflict. A fixable conflict. The cities of Wasilla and Houston have their calendar scheduled so that it allows them to be at the assembly meeting and you can normally find representatives from those cities there using their allotted time to inform or speak on matters that effect them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mayor Johnson heard the concerns from members of the community and introduced an ordinance to change the day of the week the council meets. Seems simple enough. Should be worthy of discussing the pros and cons. But the ordinance didn't even get a motion for a second <u>so it could be </u>discussed. Let's see its being brought to the council’s attention the day of the week that the council meets MAY have an effect on the city they are governing and they decide to take a pass on even TALKING about it. Why because change is hard? Or is avoidance of the conversation a way just to avoid voting on it? We will never know. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>IS STICKING TO THE CITY AGENDA SO BAD?</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This wasn't the only example of council members not willing to govern in the best interest or discuss in public what was really for the good of the city. Member DeVries brought forth a resolution to support House Bill 19, to "Offer a Permanent Vehicle Registration and Tax Relief on Vehicles at Least Eight Years Old". After 10 to 15 minutes of a strained conversation concerning the uncertainty of the actual cost of the bill to the city and why it was brought forward if it passed, DeVries finally admitted not having any real<br />good reason to bring it forward other than “who” the sponsor was Representative Stoltze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay we get that the council woman is a good Republican Party member and tea party darling and likes to support her guy in Juneau. We all appreciate what Rep.Stoltze delivers up to the city in funding for needed projects. All council members including the mayor seem to have a good relationship with Stoltze. Nobody would deny that. But really should it be up to the council to support legislation still being hashed out in Juneau when they have no clear idea the financial implications to the city that they represent? Particularly when it is brought forth by a member that claims to be watching every dime the city spends. Mayor Johnson at least voiced her concerns that the council didn't have the full picture of the possible loss of revenue (the city receives approx $88,000 a year for all vehicles) and how the bill would actually help move Palmer forward before joining the vote to pass the resolution so it could be unanimous but you could tell she was concerned not having answers. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS TIME FOR A BIG DEAL THAT'S NOT..</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If that wasn't enough disappointment for one night the last piece of business the council took up was brought forward by Council members Best and DeVries who apparently has had their fee-fee's hurt because Mayor Johnson accepted an invitation to represent the city on a state wide board that will meet 4 times this year to discuss the state rails plan. Typical of state DOT (department of transportation) fashion a letter arrived to the mayor with a couple of day deadline inviting the city to provide a name for representation on a temporary board. A very brief conversation with the manager and mayor resulted in Mayor Johnson's name being forwarded. It was so not a big deal. Never mind that Mayor Johnson had already been advised by the head of state DOT when last in Juneau that he wanted to hear more from about the city's plan for reestablishing rail service and that she had been the<br />point person selected by members of the community that have launched a 501C to get that job done. She has spent countless hours interacting with members of the community on this subject and advocating for replacing the tracts that were removed by another project before she was elected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DeVries were so sure they had captured a "gotcha" moment to launch an </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">attack on the mayor and bring to the council claims of violations to the city </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">code and other nonsense that just contributed to more unseemly behavior. Council </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">member Combs left in the middle of the debate ill. Deputy </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mayor Hanson recognizing the silliness attempted to calm the waters by</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">suggesting that it be a learning opportunity on procedure for selecting names<br />for future committees down the road and that they move on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Best and Devries would not let it go. The manager did his best to throw water on the fire by suggesting they just blame him for not bringing it to the council although there was no council meeting scheduled that would have allowed sufficient time to move forward another name for representation. Suggestions by the attorney who seems to weigh in more like a 8th council member these days instead of with what should be sparse thoughtful pointed comments only muddled the waters more. The City Clerk and Council members Erby and Vanover tried to follow Hanson's lead and stay out of the fray probably seeing no good would come of it. It looked and smelled like an ambush on the mayor for clearly just trying to do her job and use her knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the city. The whole issue was an example of how to make a big deal out of no big deal and they still haven't settled it. </span></div>
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<br /><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HEAVY SIGH...ALWAYS ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION</span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a few idea's on how the council finds itself in this current mayhem. Most fingers point to the upcoming election in October when Council members DeVries and Vanover will be up for re-election along with Mayor Johnson's seat as mayor. The council has no term limits and none has publicly said they will be running again but it is widely thought that they all will. There is some speculation that DeVries may challenge Assembly member Woods for his seat which is also up which could prove interesting. Maybe she hasn't gotten the memo that women aren't encouraged to hold positions of power at the borough. In the past we are told DeVries has relied on "visions" to tell her what direction to go. Who knows when that might occur? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And who might challenge Mayor Johnson is an unknown as well. Apparently the still stinging council member Best having been replaced by Hanson as Deputy Mayor earlier in the year by a vote of the council is always eager for some recognition and an official name tag so perhaps that is his plan. Being the sponsor of bringing such pettiness and personal agenda to the council doesn't instill much confidence in him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the intent by these elected officials if the next election is getting in the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">way of their governing they should as the last member of the public (and chair </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of the city planning commission) testifying told them "just stop it".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enough already with the partisanship and politics. This gentleman also made some good points about recognizing the importance of Mayor Johnson, who as the face of the city and the manager who is paid to lobby make trips throughout the session to Juneau but it wasn't going unnoticed the other couple of members that were traipsing down there not in the interest of the city but themselves. He said after attending council meetings for a long time he had lost respect for all but a couple of members currently seated watching them play politics instead of doing what was good for the city. He had become very disappointed in what he was seeing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too. We hope the next council meeting on </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">April 9th sees some changes with a lot less drama and political posturing. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's hope the council pulls it together and makes it worth all our time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Face </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it with all that we have to cover with the shenanigans at the assembly (meeting Tuesday at 6pm) we </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hardly have enough for another standing invitation to the dance of the foolish.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-34888824692231359442013-03-25T18:58:00.002-08:002013-03-25T23:32:49.126-08:00WASN'T THAT JUST CONVENIEEEENT?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All assembly members that actually live in the borough were
physically present at the last meeting except Mr. Arvin who continues to reside
in China thus adding another week and meeting with his participation through
that all too familiar speaker box. Even when the
impending outcome of losing his own assembly seat for violation of borough code
concerning physical absence is on the agenda he continues to choose to just "call it in". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The issue
of Mr. Arvin's excessive physical absence has been swirling about for months. The new
visitors to assembly meetings unfailingly asking us if he is still gone and where
is his name plate and chair on the long assembly stage. As amusing as it is we continue to ask ourselves the same question. Who objects besides us? That part of the question was answered in testimony last week but it made little difference to the seated assembly staunch protectors of their own interests . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>FIVE PAGES OF NONSENSE</u></b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ceremonial mayor's "babbling" resolution excusing his absence retro-actively brought
some strong testimony by those clearly fed up with not only the behavior but
the mayor's "obfuscation of the issue". They called on the assembly
not to continue using "bad judgment" just to appease the mayor's
"good old buddy club". They
boldly asked because Mr. Arvin failed to "represent them with
responsibility, knowledge (even of the code that governs assembly service) and
humility that his resignation be submitted both verbally and in writing"
right then and there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That
didn't happen. No crystal ball was
needed to see the future of the vote to retroactively excusing this assemblyman’s long physical absence. Even Mr. Arvin was able to cast
one of the 6 of the 7 "Yes" votes (Keogh the lone sane "No")
to give a nod to the mayor's resolution to keep all the sheep in the fence. In fact it was more than a "nod". They not only approved Mr. Arvin's physical absence since Oct 2012, they excused him in advanced to be gone until the end of May. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's
hear it for dumb herd animals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>SPEAKING OF SHEEP...</b></u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Mr
Colver, </b>Mr. Colver</i>. Just can't help
yourself can you? Almost as many people that ask where Mr. Arvin, ask what
has happened to Mr.Colver and his judgment on issues and increasingly
shameless self serving way of governing. We knew we could count on Mr. Colver to lead the
"can't we all get along" nonsense and claim of some kind of personal attack. Apparently to Mr. Colver it's personal when someone is concerned about blatant code violations. What we didn't see coming was Colver's attempt to shift the blame from Mr.
Arvin and<i> HIS</i> own lack of oversight to the borough attorney and clerk for not
advising <i>HIM </i>to do<i> HIS</i> job and enforce borough code. Say what? Yeah. Let's hope they remember that next time they
drop everything to accommodate his endless trips down the rabbit trail. Pretty sure that knife landed right between the shoulder blades..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just to be clear, no one should be more familiar with borough code than Mr. Colver who has spent
the last decade hop scotching his way back and forth between the assembly and
school board seats ensuring his government retirement and health benefits. Pretty sure he is familiar with the ethics code that he had a dance with in a previous
term which was a little stronger then that he voted to successfully assist in watering down this tenure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do
us a favor and spare us next time from the theatrics. Oh, and sorry we didn't
tell you Channel 2 would be there so you could wear your suit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Mr.
Salmon</b></i>, We're sorry someone woke you up during assembly comments. We could have
lived without the motivational speaker story, the great benefits of
teleconferencing and your general face licking of Mr. Arvin. Silently casting your bad vote would have suited you
better and would have left a much less sour taste in our own mouth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Mr.
Colligan,</i></b> Credit where credit is due. We're glad to see the anger management
issue under control for one meeting. Just sticking to bad
decisions when you cast most of your votes is way better without the insults to
the testifiers. By the way we suggest your idea to "update code"
regarding increasing allowable absence with teleconferencing go in the
"never" file. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Mr
Halter</i></b>, Lately <i>you</i> never fail to disappoint us. You’re an attorney. You should know something about upholding
the law. And calling the whole thing "technical" left us momentarily
speechless. We appreciate you are all in on the fight to defend a limited
amount of issues in your district but sorry upholding code that assures people
in other districts responsible representation isn't one of them. You have
proven once again that your neighbors in your own district have something to
worry about if their issue isn't yours. Shame. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Mr.
Keogh</i></b>-Our only regret is that you are the lone voice for the reason and
fairness on the assembly on many issues including this one. Bringing a blatant
code violation to the attention of your fellow assembly members for correction
should have been congratulated. Casting
the lone vote to follow code and reject the mayors rambling nonsensical
partisan resolution was brave and the right thing to do which is just how you roll and we cheer you. You are truly the assemblyman
for all reaches of the borough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Mr.
Woods</i></b>-Your stoic, statesman like presence was appreciated. We're sorry your lack of skills and
partisanship as in this case allow you hardly ever to break from the pack to do
the right thing for the people of the borough. We think there is a public
compass buried there somewhere but buried it is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Mr.
Ceremonial Mayor</i></b>-Nothing more to say about your partisan life line thrown to
Mr. Arvin in the form of a resolution so bad it might go to the top of the ugly
pile. Just when we thought your pitiful
choice for planning commissioner was as bad as it gets you double down on
terrible. For someone who is making
rapid progress dragging the borough back to 20 years ago it’s laughable that you should suggest that borough code be
"updated for the world we live in". Your world, Mr. Mayor is costing
us a bundle in lost revenue, quality of life and health. Do us a favor and quit
pushing your "values" on the rest of us. And sometime you should take the time and explain what that actually means. You don't want to know what
our imagination tells us they are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Mr.
Arvin-</i></b>The strong testimony against the ceremonial mayor’s resolution should speak for itself. Your right, they
should be eye opening. Your suggestion that you will be back at the end of the
month does nothing to change the past and your long absence depriving your
constituents from full representation for nearly 6 months is just inexcusable.
Almost as inexcusable as the five votes that joined your own to break the back
of borough code and retroactively excuse you.
Your promise to finish your term and "moving some other code
adjustments and resolutions for the betterment of the whole borough" does
nothing to comfort us. We have lost all
faith that you will "honestly, faithfully and impartially discharge your
duties" when it comes to representing the borough in your elected position. Especially when you won't even
start with the borough code that pertains to the office you hold. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact
we are gearing up for a very ugly storm on the horizon with further assaults on
our own "values" and what we love about living in the borough. What we do know the majority members of this assembly are way past their freshness date. It's a body of elected officials born of the witches brew of free market dogma, uninformed idealism and personal opportunity and there is seemingly nothing short of recall that can be done about it until the next election. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-77346617932928670962013-03-14T20:22:00.000-08:002013-03-14T20:22:13.227-08:00ATTENDANCE RECORD TOWEL SNAP....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1kL3hJVe0IWzGTXgdGBXNXJRV_9Lj-BzfSOoBNjpE08GDQJjHTn2ay9rbFH4aG0UW0DJI8UQn07jjzfByZDpBVdfuhRf6OJfHUuQIvu1HD2pnpyhllhG3sy6W8NyYVmFHj9ssrT3iSY/s1600/he%2527s+not+here1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1kL3hJVe0IWzGTXgdGBXNXJRV_9Lj-BzfSOoBNjpE08GDQJjHTn2ay9rbFH4aG0UW0DJI8UQn07jjzfByZDpBVdfuhRf6OJfHUuQIvu1HD2pnpyhllhG3sy6W8NyYVmFHj9ssrT3iSY/s320/he%2527s+not+here1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We told you about the problem of assemblyman Arvin's nagging absence from assembly meetings since October. And the attorney's opinion that says that calling it in from China is a good try but 90 or more </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and still counting days </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of being physically absent leaving an empty chair and missing name plate doesn't cut it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We decided it was time for a open letter to Mr. Arvin We know it didn't really help the ceremonial mayor make the right decision on his pick for the planning commission when he decided to stick with "his man". But maybe with that attorney's opinion floating around with the ink hardly dry and knowing all the out of sorts constituents Mr. Arvin will have to come back to, that he will be persuaded to heed some advice and throw his feet up in China and enjoy himself so DISTRICT 3 can have an assembly member that likes talking to people in person instead of through speaker boxes, email and fax machines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Dear Mr. Arvin...</u></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We could tell when we saw you last you were under a lot of stress. We hear rumors the job in another time zone is no bed of daisies even though it comes with some nice perks. The tone in your voice over that speaker box that we will always visualize when really seeing you in person again some day has had some statements and undertones emitted from it that made you beyond a bit disagreeable and down right grumpy many, many times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are sure you didn't really think the audience was full of spruce hens and witch hunters. We got a good chuckle out of that! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trust us. It's just an increasingly big sea of people that care about some of the bad twists and turns the borough has been making the last few years. Towers popping up like chickweed, buckets of water being thrown at ethic and subdivision codes, master plans after years of work and public input thrown in shredders, threats of new "felony flat" development everywhere and don't even get us started on that ferry business. It's been like watching our future on the belt of an assembly line at a toilet plunger test factory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides that the villagers are getting grumpy themselves at your long physical absence. They aren't near as forgiving as some of the members of the Matsu Business Alliance that are no doubt sharpening their pencils for a good ol' fashion letter campaign to save you. People in your district and the borough for which are paying your salary and benefits out of their taxes expect attendance by their assembly representative at their community council, road and fire service meetings now and again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The good news is we have made a lot of new friends putting in our time on those hard chairs in the audience at assembly meetings watching the wheels of government work. Folks on every end of the valley like to visit us here and there to find out what they missed. All kinds of folks..attorneys, engineers, contractors, teachers, farmers. business owners, developers, accountants, public employees, ex-public employees, youngsters, retired and hard working folk. Yep and those "greenies" that give you a sour stomach. Nothin like family right? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you know what? Turns out a whole lot of that public that annoys you so much are thinking that they have a right to see your furled brow around the table and here in the same country that you were elected in because they gave you their vote and all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now we know your friend the ceremonial mayor has a six page resolution he will be asking for support for from the assembly with 19 "whereas" about what a swell guy you are and how he knew all along you might be a little delayed coming home working on that "matter of national importance constructing facilities". </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That silly mayor he forgot the whereas that says you are reportedly making a pretty penny for all that "imporrrrrrrrrrrrten"stuff and you being a man of trickle down economics, and staunch defender of the open market, well it's a shame he missed that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I guess we will see what happens at the assembly meeting next Tuesday. Pretty sure there will be a lot of arm waving from your friends at the table about how much of a "national importance" you are to their cause which is really to hold a majority in their quest at skulduggery in the borough. There will undoubtedly be at least someone at the long table that goes all Rodney King about "all just getting along". B</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ut we should be able when we don't to respectfully find some balance in our different views. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We know the public deserves better than you have to give.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We know you would rather be some where else. That you have proved. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not sure what day or time it is in China but the meeting is <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet">Tuesday/March 19th 6PM</a> at the school district offices. There will be a presentation open to that pesky public at 4pm from state labor economist Neil Fried. We know Mr. Fried and his scientific economic data and forecasts are contrary always to your own doom and gloom forecasts for the valley but maybe you will tune in to hear the discussion after on preparing for the upcoming budget. Pretty sure you have already been dreaming of sharpening your samurai sword to go after that target again. Those reserves you poked holes in last year have just about drained it plum dry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly we think maybe all that tropical heat that your residing in that your memory might be a little foggy. <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/news/is-there-a-vacant-assembly-seat-mat-su-borough-assemblyman/article_9a8cc5e6-7fd2-11e2-af12-001a4bcf887a.html?_dc=213065108284.35422">You told the Frontiersman</a> (and we hear you are just a media favorite everywhere you go!) that you would stack your "attendance record against any other assembly member past or present". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know how they say "so here's your sign"? Well here's yours and it's your attendance record and there are a couple of assembly members and a whole lot of voters that might have a wee problem with that statement. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-36257963758856064162013-03-08T16:32:00.000-09:002013-03-09T17:23:37.809-09:00CHANGIN THE RULES TO FIT THE CASE....<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
doesn't get any better when the opinion of a attorney rolls out about
the conduct of assembly members and it is released to the public. So grab a beverage. We have tamed the
legalese to a manageable level for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>A LITTLE HISTORY..</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First
let’s travel back in time since that is where we seem to be headed on a regular
basis and recall the November 2012 meeting after the election when assembly
member Arvin was re-elected. The
ceremonial mayor also re-elected needed to choose his deputy ceremonial mayor.
His choice was Arvin who had by then returned to his place of employment in
China. The defense the mayor has offered up about voters knowing this is just weak. Mr. Arvin's campaign webpage is still available and says nothing about him taking a six month junket if elected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
mayor was questioned then if assembly member Arvin planned to “be present more often than in the
past”. The mayor replied that he “ didn't anticipate Mr. Arvin attending telephonic-ally much longer”. And that was that. Arvin was appointed deputy
mayor and still receives the small difference in pay to hold that position
which he continues to collect along with his full borough tax payer paid benefit
package to date. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fast
forward to this year’s February 26<sup>th</sup> assembly meeting when Assembly
member Keogh requested a third party opinion to determine if borough code had been violated by Arvin’s
physical absence for well over the 90 days code states is the time period allowed. Code states</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that an assembly seat be <b>declared vacant</b> if the member is "physically absent from the Borough for 90 consecutive calendar days and the absence is not excused by the Assembly."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We assume “p</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hysical absence" is limited to 90 days, because physical presence entails visual elements that are
lost in physical absence regardless of ability to communicate otherwise. Elected assembly members are expected to meet with constituents, attend community council
and other meetings, and personally witness neighborhood high drama like
unanticipated tall tower erections and houses floating away from eroded river
banks. It makes sense that a public servant be physically present to provide
that service, apparently sufficiently important to be stated in borough code.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><u>PLAIN TALK OPINION</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Borough requested the outside opinion for guidance as to whether assembly
member Arvin was eligible to remain on the Assembly even though </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> this "extended trip” or perhaps a slow boat back from China </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he has </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">reportedly been on from October 2012 to February 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly,
the opinion assumes (and no one on the Assembly seems to argue otherwise) that
Arvin has, in fact, been physically absent from the district for 90 consecutive
days and that nothing the Assembly has done has excused that absence. The conclusion to be drawn from those facts
might seem to be simple. He must be
removed. A vindication of that those watching this drama unfold at the borough
knew all along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But
the opinion goes on to consider whether an absence can be retroactively
excused. And it concludes it can. Not only that, it concludes that--though the
law is unclear--the existing law and the Assembly's own conduct (not to date
declaring a vacancy and letting him appear by phone) "weigh in favor of
permitting the Assembly to excuse the absence so long as it has not yet issued
a declaration of vacancy." You know we will let you go down that street again and this time don't go through the stop sign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Such
a leap of this kind of makes us wonder what instructions the law firm was given
when the opinion was requested. It also makes us wonder how many public
employees at the borough or anywhere else would get to turn in a leave slip
AFTER they took the leave. Excused is something that happens BEFORE the
absence. A person does not miss work,
for instance, for 90 days and then, when someone notices, request a leave of
absence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Permission
to be physically absent is granted BEFORE the fact. Pure and simple. Of course
unless your part and parcel of the GOB (good ol' boy) club then you ask for a
life line from the ceremonial mayor to announce at the next meeting that he
will sponsor a resolution to <i>excuse your
absence</i>. Good deal for Mr. Arvin. Not so good for the people he represents
or anyone else that wants to try that hat trick and doesn't have a ceremonial
mayor in their corner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If
the assembly goes ahead and votes to excuse the absence after the fact, it must
decide whether the circumstances warrant excusing the absence. It must consider the reasonable necessity of
the absence from and must determine that the absence is not unduly prejudicial
to the public. One has to wonder whether
it would be embarrassing to elected officials to decide that a fellow
assemblyman's absence from his job--a job which they also hold—can be fully
done with having to physically attend a meeting. Can they all just not be
seated at the table but on giant screens with umbrella drinks and hula girls nearby? How unimportant can you be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>CHASING BOOGY MEN THAT AREN'T THERE...</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
little retaliatory tactic assemblyman Colligan in questioning Mr. Keogh’s
residency is hardly worth the ink to talk about it and certainly wasn't worth
taxpayer money for the hired attorney to earn his fee by filling seven pages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
a person can have only one voting address, there is nothing disqualifying in
having more than one home or in this case, a home and an office in a condo to
avoid the long commute from Chickaloon. And even though we recall the ceremonial
mayor has no trouble with allowing people who own more than one piece of
property to vote in more than one community council area we are still a one vote,
one person borough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Residency
for holding office is the same as for voting. A person can only have one
residence for voting purposes. And the
address on one's voter registration record is "presumptive evidence of the
person's voting residence." A
person loses residency if he votes in another district or another state. Mr.
Keogh hasn't done that. He resides in Chickaloon and has for many years. Simply
owning two residential dwellings is not a disqualifying factor. See we told you …not
worth the clean up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Really.
You can’t make this stuff up. Reportedly the mayor will present his resolution
to excuse Arvin at the March 19<sup>th</sup> assembly meeting. It will be
interesting to see if Mr. Arvin slaps some more horsepower on that boat from
China and makes an appearance. You know the ceremonial mayor will be there ready to save "his man" . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-6588422526480850832013-03-04T18:17:00.001-09:002013-03-04T18:17:24.835-09:00THE CEREMONIAL MAYOR GETS HIS MAN...<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drum Roll please..</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ceremonial mayor of the borough continues to protect his perfect record of selecting MEN to borough boards and commissions no matter how inferior
their qualifications. Except now he even admits it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />There was an avalanche of testimony at the last borough assembly meeting along with emails from District 1 residents not to confirm the mayors selection. The districts own assemblyman insisted he select one of the two overly
qualified women that had applied and had prior experience on the board from the area. Not too unexpectedly it fell on deaf ears. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devilbiss said he was sticking up for his 'man". That his selection had "values that aligned with (him) the mayor". Oh here we go with the "values" thing. What does that mean really? Does the mayor just "value" men over women? Does he "value" people that attend his church more than those that don't? Does he value less qualified people more than the more qualified to serve the borough? As a farmer does he not "value" people that like potatoes more than the carrots he grows? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the ceremonial mayor and his brothers voted</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in lockstep 6-1 to keep the planning commission all
male and not threaten it with any female ideas or expertise. This despite even the mayor's own admission that his selection "wasn't as
qualified" as the women applicants nor that he had bothered to interview
anyone that had applied even though it was his normal practice to do so. In fact he knew them all</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. But he was still as dug
in as one of his carrots left to freeze in the soil. We are beginning to think some other place will freeze over before the mayor acknowledges any well qualified women join any decision making body for the borough. </span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>BAD TO THE BONE BEHAVIOR...</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After one testifier spoke </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assemblyman Colligan asked to address HER "slanderous accusations". Wow. Apparently suggesting that Colligan may think about declaring a possible conflict if it were true that one of the male applicants to the planning commission and the mayor's selection was once an employee of his is something Colligan considers slander. It clearly got way under his thin skin. Colligan, just a delicate flower that can't handle himself in the real world was visibly upset that the public is allowed to say, his words "whatever the hell they want". The mayor was wise to call a break after testimony to see if maybe Colligan could gain control of his blood pressure. But it didn't work. Nor did it stop Colligan from confronting this professional woman in front of at least one witness and tell her she was a "F--cken nut job". Really those were his words. It was so outrageous it merited a <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/not-exactly-democracy-at-its-finest/article_db8c083c-7e55-11e2-9773-001a4bcf887a.html#user-comment-area">letter to the editor in the Frontiersman.</a> For those keeping track of Mr. Colligan's habit of using very colorful and offensive language in his frustration this just went to the top of the top ten list. It was brought to the mayor's attention after the meeting ended. While the mayor seemed sympathetic to the inappropriate act we will be curious if the he does anything publicly about it in the next meeting. </span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u><u>THE VERY,VERY EMPTY CHAIR...</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Assemblyman Arvin's long physical absence from the borough assembly table has been publicly challenged. Arvin has a perfect record since taking his oath also by telephone of "phoning it in" </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from his home
away from home in China. The last time anyone set eyes on Mr. Arvin was at the
September 26th assembly meeting conveniently held right before the election where he was re-elected for a second term. Reportedly he has not been seen at any public functions of the borough, road service area or community council meetings in his district in many, many months. He was physically absent from the table at over 50% of the assembly meetings of his first term. In fact he has been physically absent so long they have
even removed his empty chair and name plate from the meeting table. Kinda like
that seat held open for crazy Uncle Frank at the dinner table. The one who you
could count on to show up to start the family insults that
end in a food fight and then he just magically started staying home with his
crazy. But he just starts calling while the meal just as everyone is setting down at the table just to be an annoyance. Then you realize how you like that empty chair so much better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Borough code 2.12.040 is pretty clear on what constitutes an assembly vacancy. It says that the seat is vacant "unless excused by the assembly and is physically absent for 90 consecutive calendar days". Pretty clear Mr. Arvin has been gone much longer than that and no one has mentioned that he is excused. During this long physical absence he has continued to receive his full salary and benefit package from the borough </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in fact even a bit more because he serves as deputy mayor as well. A</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ll other assembly members that are physically here are in attendance and available for interaction (as well as over-reactions-see above) with the public and community meetings. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The request is for the clerk to get a third party legal opinion to consider if there is a violation. That opinion should be in front of the assembly Tuesday. We are wondering if they will make it public. Taxpayer money paid for it. They should. Even though t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">his isn't an assembly that takes to heart on anyone else's opinion. They would rather do what they want and what serves their own purpose and worry about expensive challenges down the road. Valley residents deserve to know the rules of the road when they elect someone to serve. They need to know if the code in place protects them from someone putting their interests backseat to theirs. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If this is acceptable maybe we should think about changing our ballots to indicate just what kind of representative we are getting. The "physically will be there elected official" or the "call it in elected official". All kinds of information is handed out at the assembly table by testifiers, other assembly members and staff that who ever is on the phone if they ever do see it is much delayed from when its delivered. It would sure seem that assembly members rendering decisions from the comfort of where ever they are often don't have all the information to cast votes. Perhaps that is why the state legislature nor our Congress doesn't allow votes to be phoned in.They have to physically be there and in some cases physically is all they are. But it's the rule of the land. To serve is a choice you make knowing the sacrifices it brings and we should agree there are many. But allowing our representatives to do the business of the people from another country seems a pretty big stretch of the rules wouldn't you agree? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The people of the borough deserve better and if this wasn't one of the majority members of this assembly the yelling and screaming about the injustice would have started long ago and be deafening. As you might imagine this demand for accountability has ruffled a few feathers of the assembly members that seem pretty sure that demanding accountability is just their own job to demand of others certainly not them. Stay tuned...</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>HOUSE OF FUN AGENDA</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Contained in a tamed down 433 page packet for Tuesday's assembly meeting lays these treats:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ceremonial mayor's veto of the Jim Creek Motorized Master Plan-turns out the mayor's values don't include the small concession</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> made to residents in the area that allowed no shooting in the area. Making some drive a couple miles down the road to the state area that is designated for pretty much full out anything you want to do irritates the mayor. He is afraid it will create an enforcement problem which leads us to ask...what rules really do we enforce these days in a borough that is quickly being turned into the land of the lawless?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Removal of a female member of the animal control board. This whole deal is just ugly with a side of ugly. Better pop an extra bag of popcorn as a whole line of dirty laundry might parade out. We wonder if chair John Wood who has reportedly been spending his time in Juneau working with the folks that would like to deliver gobs of oil tax money back to the oil companies will be there. If he is maybe he can offer why he has been cancelling so many board meetings when animal control has been such a hot subject at assembly meetings and in the newspaper lately. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A referral to the planning commission amending the ordinance for the board of adjustment and appeals is being brought to the table by assembly member Colver and the mayor. The BOAA job is to hear and decide cases of appeal relating to zoning, platting, waivers, permits. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one is going to full of attorney speak and add that to the characters that are asking for this change (Devilbiss and Colver) you have a right to be suspicious. We are. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of the planning commission now that their ALL MALE board has been completed by the mayor and his "values" they are priming to take up more unwinding which might explain the mayors insistence on his "man" being on the board. They will be looking at a pile of new gravel pits, a update to the noise and sound code, a revision to the adult entertainment code, and the inevitable race track code update. Ah yes a bevy of fun ahead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
Look the whole state should be reeling over all the evil being played out not only here in the borough but in Juneau and Anchorage. Legislators who are voting to pass legislation that they are admitting before even voting is unconstitutional. The ruling majority are drunk on power and behaving like a long episode of the television series "Seinfield". You know the one with that famous Jerry quote "I am so busy doing nothing...that the idea of doing anything-which as you know, always leads to something-cuts into the nothing and then forces me to have to drop everything". Right now what is getting dropped is any good legislation to tackle big problems and instead stuff that paints us closer to the crazy corner. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is much work to be done but one ordinance and law change at a time is driving this borough and state backwards and into the ditch so they can hand it all over to the private sector. They are putting lots of miles on the crazy bus right now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attendance at borough assembly meetings has picked up the last few months. Perhaps people just need to see it to believe it. Whatever the reason you should go. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday's (March 5th) assembly meeting will be live streamed on </span><a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Radio Free Palmer</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> starting at 6pm sharp. Too bad we don't have video to go with it and you could gaze upon that missing name plate and empty assembly "man" Arvin chair.....</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-26458855856231027042013-02-18T19:16:00.000-09:002013-02-18T19:16:19.904-09:00SO WHERE IS THE MAYORS BINDER FULL OF WOMEN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an exercise to see if we could make our eyes bleed we read through the packet for tomorrow nights borough assembly meeting again today. Missing from the blog post yesterday was the discussion of the vacancy report for boards and commissions. We think the best way to deal with an issue on the report and a new development that transpired both involving the ceremonial mayor was to send him an open letter. All in the sacred name of transparency and because we know the mayor and his peeps read this blog that they love to hate it so here it is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Ceremonial Mayor Devilbiss:</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As residents of the borough we wanted to bring to your attention that the assembly will be taking action on the open seat on the<a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet"> Matsu Borough Planning Commission for District 1</a> at tomorrow (Feb 19th) night meeting. This seat has been vacant since the end of last year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two very qualified women threw their hat in the ring for the planning commission position as soon as the vacancy was available and have been keeping each other company in the "application received" column for some time. As evidence of their past experience and resumes it seemed very puzzling that neither of these well qualified women were selected. Normally having a citizen serve on the planning commission that has a planning degree or prior experience on the commission and wanted to serve at this time would be a stroke of luck for a conservative borough like ours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several weeks ago another candidate applied this time a male with seemingly no planning experience except if you count his efforts to stop public participation in the Buffalo Mine Community Council. His application was quickly followed up by yet another male applicant who owns rentals and brother was appointed by you to the platting board. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now we see that you have moved Mr. Endel with his vast no planning experience into the column for the assembly to confirm. This just begs the question Mr. Mayor, if these two women with much higher qualifications than either of the MEN applicants aren't good enough...well then who is in your binder of women? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And really Mr. Mayor when will there be enough MEN serving you? The entire assembly is made up of MEN. The entire planning commission is made up of men. The platting board has six MEN and one woman. The aviation board seven MEN and one woman. Even your shiny new tower commission has five out of five positions filled by MEN. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are hoping by bringing this gender imbalance to light you will reconsider your recommendation. We would like to think that a carrot farmer like yourself sees the value in having good female insight to help you plow the fields of the future of the borough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly it came to our attention you are instructing the assembly to make some changes in the newly passed Jim Creek Motorized Master Plan. While we were hopeful you would suggest a revisit to the plan for more parity for non-motorized users we were dismayed to learn it was because "it does not accommodate firearm discharge for hunting purposes". Say what? Really Mr. Mayor talk to anyone out in the Butte. The only thing getting hunted down to discharge into in the area is empty barrels and cars formally set on fire. The residents in the area trying to raise their families and co-exist with out of towners giving the throttle on their ATV a workout beg for some sanity in the plan. They deserve it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Mr.Mayor we hope you will take the above in consideration when you raise the gavel on tomorrows assembly meeting. The valley will be watching and listening while doing their best to keep the snickering level down for what voters have sown.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-91420880714103255352013-02-17T17:32:00.002-09:002013-02-17T17:32:27.427-09:00GET OFF THE COUCH AND FIGHT..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYOqUGi86uSe2NW2UV1JTNO5MaZ2U8KocQu5Z9XDvEtDSRBkNsqBvMBxfbRe8mkGyoGWtfGeghxF2Ke_hcPlmcdSHHj5nccXCjC0leYVo8G667aj2cwr5Mi91eBsxgD8rLMnRFCj0TP4/s1600/chipmunk_firing_bazooka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYOqUGi86uSe2NW2UV1JTNO5MaZ2U8KocQu5Z9XDvEtDSRBkNsqBvMBxfbRe8mkGyoGWtfGeghxF2Ke_hcPlmcdSHHj5nccXCjC0leYVo8G667aj2cwr5Mi91eBsxgD8rLMnRFCj0TP4/s1600/chipmunk_firing_bazooka.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><b>ROLLIN THE CHAIR..</b></u></h3>
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The first shots across the bow of public education rang out in Juneau last week and the bazooka was loaded up by what some are not so fondly referred to as the "Mat Su" mafia. <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/editorials/education-funding-argument-does-not-pass-constitutional-muster/article_ff5948c8-78c0-11e2-ae3f-0019bb2963f4.html">Valley legislators</a> with a little help from other evangelical and retrograde political actors are bypassing the public process. The majority held extremists are using a universally frowned upon process called "rolling the chair" as a way to avoid Senate and House committees designed to evaluate and examine bills. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This political witches brew of free market ideology, uninformed idealism and political opportunism is for us that have been watching the borough assembly only too painfully familiar.We have been pounding the drum to warn of the sneaky and underhanded ways these local officials have operated trying to force conformity to their world view that they demand and few share. The virus is spreading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>MEANWHILE THE FUN IN THE BOROUGH CONTINUES...</u></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet">packet</a> for the next assembly meeting is out and its 522 pages more of that worldview. There are no less than 13 resolutions of support for various projects. Among them are:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A resolution in support of the Susitna Forrest which they voted against last year but now that its reworked in their supporters favor the ceremonial mayor is only too happy to carry it forward. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A resolution in OPPOSITION to the school district keeping its unreserved funds which are directed by the state and borough for education as a way to build a fund balance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A resolution in support of the Kabata because apparently the 6-7 they have already passed isn't enough that they need more support with a side of support.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A resolution supporting <a href="http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20%20%204&session=28">HB 4</a> for a gas line even though any real conversation at the assembly table about the pro and cons of different projects has been rebuffed.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the resolutions which we have referred to as memos to themselves you can find in the <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet">packet</a>. We are guessing these resolutions in part are because you just can't expect all those <a href="http://doa.alaska.gov/apoc/pdf/2013LobbyistDirectory.pdf">paid lobbyists</a> to do their cheer leading to spread influence dust alone. And we know the majority of this group likes to help their friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of lobbyists<a href="http://doa.alaska.gov/apoc/pdf/2013LobbyistDirectory.pdf"> the list</a> just gets longer and longer every year. Its worth a few minutes of your time to look through it to see how well the oiled revolving door is and how hard it must be for our elected officials to say with a straight face that they are making decisions based on facts and on what their constituents want and not "paid influence". It should be noted that the same lobbyist the borough employs Ex-Speaker of the House John Harris is also the new lobbyist for the Freedom Foundation for Educational Choice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't be swayed by "Choice" in their name. This is a well known ultra conservative think tank founded on radical free market economics. They have clearly stated that "vouchers are not an end in themselves and they are a </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">means to make a transition to a market system". </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hugfest in Juneau has now turned into the concentration of ramming through some pretty awful legislation another thing we in the valley are all to familiar with the last couple of years. They are on a roll and the public be dammed! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SMALL VICTORIES FOR THE PUBLIC</u></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does turn out that at least during assembly meetings reading parts of the borough ethics code as testimony even if its the watered down revision to the code passed last year is pretty effective. That's what happened at the last assembly meeting after a well publicized attempt by Assemblyman Woods who stepped well in the bounds of "financial gain" was squashed. His attempt to shove through an ordinance instructing the manager to get busy to force a land acquisition for a future school site which would have resulted in substantial gain for his family trust was about as flagrant a misuse of power that we have seen. It rather shocked us that it was Woods who was so obviously up to this public skulduggery when there are so many other worthy candidates on the assembly. Credit where credit is due and although it is rare we applaud the ceremonial mayor for jerking the whole thing off the agenda after public testimony made it clear those storm clouds ahead held some pretty good hail stones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way Assemblyman Salmon can save his ire at the media the next time around. We know facts are pesky but some people still prefer to know them. We know it's human nature to take advantages of advantages but still most of the public thinks that might just be a little bit shaddy when it involves an elected official. Pointing this out is the newspaper's job even if it does leave a mark. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So get busy reading the packet to find out what mischief your assembly is up to this Tuesday. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep in mind there is no audience participation on resolutions. They barely allow that on ordinances so if you have an opinion you better let it be known via email to the sitting monarchy or bring it up during general audience participation which can depending on who moves what chess piece around on the agenda at the beginning</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of the meeting be any time. As always you can listen to the live stream at <a href="http://www.radiofreepalmer.org/">www.radiofreepalmer.org</a> or download that handy KVRF app for your iphone or andriod if you don't get 89.5FM. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>LET THEM HEAR FROM SOMEONE NOT WEARING FOXGOGGLES..</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next Saturday Senate President Huggins will be holding a second townhall meeting with his friends and accomplices Gattis, Dunleavy and Hughes 10am at the Wasilla LIO. Get off your easy chair and get there to ask some hard questions like why education bills now no longer belong in education committees or bills on a woman's right to abortion need not stop at Health and Social Services or changes in legal standards in the permitting process did not receive a referral to the Judiciary Committee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Senator Wielechowski is spot on when he said " not referring bills to their proper committees erodes the public trust in the process". We are guessing that doing things in the public interest doesn't apply when you are facing a legislature populated by ALEC zombies, deep pocketed special interest and zealot religious groups with "social agendas" regardless of what is good for Alaska. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-56238239810172887372013-01-13T18:24:00.000-09:002013-01-13T18:24:11.966-09:00THE FLOGGING OF THE DEAD HORSE CONTINUES...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3E2-pYanl9-WpuvOFliM_FHbnL-fYclxpu3kBXx7KnrB9tz9eJ8kim_5lf1poRmBZluTijeDt_xB8VOMYkBAciVInay_9jpjGlicAGwcp9Mtk7urZEVeJpIZeFzyktlaCmOsnownV_c/s1600/usher-eating-popcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3E2-pYanl9-WpuvOFliM_FHbnL-fYclxpu3kBXx7KnrB9tz9eJ8kim_5lf1poRmBZluTijeDt_xB8VOMYkBAciVInay_9jpjGlicAGwcp9Mtk7urZEVeJpIZeFzyktlaCmOsnownV_c/s1600/usher-eating-popcorn.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looky there's another
opportunity to read it and weep. Available for your viewing pleasure and teeth
gnashing is the bulging 1172 page borough assembly packet for this Tuesday's
meeting. The clerk</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">s office has taken this
huge bloated meal and cut it up in small bites for you. Go ahead and at least
read the <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet">agenda</a>.
After you read it you will know why we suggest if you go to the meeting you carry
along at least two boxes of popcorn and a flask full of something strong. Good
times ahead for sure..</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">NEVER ENOUGH PILLOW
FLUFFING FOR BIG COAL</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guessing the ceremonial
mayor didn't get enough coal in his holiday stocking. He is headed to the first
assembly meeting of the year with a resolution tucked under his arm for yet
ANOTHER coal lease. After all what is an assembly meeting without one right?
This time it is located in Canyon Creek 18 miles from Skwentna. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people understand that
to make the port at Pt Mackenzie ever return a small portion of the buckets of
money poured into it something needs to be to transported some day. But is all this endless rush to get coal
there NOW without refusing to discuss the impacts or ANY alternative energy
methods (that whenever mentioned brings more than a few snarls and blank stares) a
way to beat the clock on natural gas? We know natural gas produces more
kilowatts of power than the equivalent amount of coal and although not clean
either it does provide <i>more</i>
energy. We also know with the explosion
of the bounty of natural gas from fracking creeping into the export markets that coal
is fast losing its glamour. The evidence is building daily that the term
"clean coal" is nothing but an oxymoron. But when you elect decision
makers straight out of an episode of </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mad Men</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> you better not count on them to acknowledge there are a few
roadblocks to their master plan or a weakening global market for what they want
at the end of a shovel or promised there will be. Though most third world
countries are waking up to the long term human impacts and costs of burning
coal to both their air and people the decision makers for the valley cling to
their fossil fuels.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coal and the mining industry
is spending a lot of money in our state to get the right people elected who
have no appetite for moving beyond fossil fuels and they have been successful.
This is not any more evident than the people that are seated at this assembly
table. As Upton Sinclair said "It is difficult to get a man to understand
something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it".</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cough, Cough...Pretty good
indication the sloppy kisses to coal will continue this year.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPEAKING OF ENERGY...</span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">This energy, development hungry
assembly would like to be the fathers of a shiny new energy policy for the
people of the borough. They would like to do this by repealing or changing..
you guessed it....<i>the current ordinance</i>
in place about where power plants can be built in the borough. The one set in
place by that other assembly to protect that pesky public and their property values. Assemblyman Colligan is the sponsor of a resolution for a <i>temporary commission</i> to review the current
ordinance to "make recommendations" which has become assembly
shorthand for hopping on the unwind train to ditch it. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">No word on what the cost
will be for this new little exercise and doubtful we will know since the cost
of the unwinding process is never discussed by an assembly who seemingly
prefers to functions under the </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">whatever it takes</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> method of governing. Setting policy for energy that gets the blessing of the
majority of this assembly can't be a tall order. It could be the shortest policy set on
record. Most likely really only four letters.
C O A L. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">But shouldn't the taxpayers
know the cost of all the erasers or scissors the group will use and staff time
and resources the temporary commission will use before returning something to
the assembly to fawn over? Or must valley residents settle for another group of hand puppets to only give agreement to the
bloviators on the assembly? Does turning
the clock back on the current policy include allowing for coal bed methane
drilling in the Big Lake area?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are hoping the ceremonial
mayor who collects payment to sit not only to hold the gavel at assembly
meetings but also his seat on the MEA board will recuse himself. The question is will Mr. Arvin (who will no
doubt be keeping his perfect record of calling it in from China for the
meeting) also recuse himself? His
appointed position again for which he receives $$ on the Alaska Energy
Authority should be a glaring conflict.
But then neither of these officials cares much for conflicts unless they
create them. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">STATION BREAK HERE...</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></u></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">So you can thank everyone
that didn't educate themselves and vote in the last borough election which
would be other than the 17% of the people in the valley here..</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>OH JUST KEEP YOUR SEAT...</b></span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you that have applied for seats on any boards or commissions and been given the bums rush it should
interest you that two ordinances on the agenda ask to extend to a time
uncertain the present members of the Emergency Planning and Fish and Game
Boards. Is it possible the ceremonial
mayor is running out of people willing to serve as marionettes or are sitting
members just getting the green flag to stay seated until this band is
done? We also notice in the mayors
conformation of two termed out members of the Animal Control Board. Unless we
missed something that board hasn't had terms extended and there are members of
the public that have applied waiting for appointment. Can this stacking the
deck mayoral style be any more obvious?</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ABOUT THAT TOWER ORDINANCE....</span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">The timing to talk again
about towers is interesting to say the least.
Poked sleeping bear Wasilla mayor Rupright reportedly had so much smoke coming out of his ears about the
threats to the views from all those big box stores that MEA picked up their
tower playing cards and left town. But the majority of this assembly doesn't give
much stock in the degradation of views, property values or how development can have in profound ways economic and social impacts so they will take another
dance with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assembly member Colligan consistently
peeved about something and anxious to get off the bench with any type of
thoughtless legislation is ready to amend the just adopted tower ordinance now. You know the <u>one just he voted for</u> in
the <u>last assembly</u> meeting. The time to reconsider gone he will
apparently force upon the taxpayers this messy amending process in order to
revert to the old tall tower ordinance that sat in place until November 2011
when in all their wisdom the assembly decided to ditch and go without any
regulation in the borough for a full year.
Cue the parade of new towers you see popping up all over. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO after over a year of NO
TOWER ORDINANCE in the borough and with the ink barely dry on the one the
assembly did finally pass he wants a redo. Colligan must have a doctorate in
gerrymandering by now. We know he had a
heavy hand in the whole redistricting mess the state courts wrestled
with and finally just threw to the curb. His company (based in Anchorage where
he has to pay real business inventory tax) assisted Anchorage in the dark of
the night to come up with their own assembly district changes. Sans any real
public process of course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assemblyman Colligan must
be frustrated with his first year of non achievements. He was a sponsor of
legislation like an assembly resolution supporting HB88. You know the one we
have all been reminded of lately. The anti-sharia bill that got a state
legislative aid in ethical problems and booted from her cushy state job because
apparently hate group leaders taking over legislative offices isn't acceptable
even in Alaska.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Undaunted Colligan spent a
good deal of assembly time last year bringing forth several pieces of failed
legislation. For example a change to when borough residents vote that was so
bad even he voted no on it. Having his arms fully locked around anything
corporation the Wasilla assemblyman must think he has finally found a winner in
the tall towers industry. We'll see.
Valley property owners that have spent oodles of time testifying and writing
letters to get the ordinance that is in place passed are none too happy about
starting up the battle again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">LET</span></u><u><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">’</span></u><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">S HEAR IT FOR THE TIE BALER..<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is one item on the
agenda that even the most conservative members of the assembly can earn some redemption on.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assembly member Salmon is the sponsor on a
resolution to allow the borough to complete its obligation to the very
successful valley recycling center by writing the check for the promised
borough matching funds for a windbreak and the tie baler the center so desperately
needs to increase recycled material for the valley. Good for Mr. Salmon for
bringing it forward. This is long over due and has intense support from valley residents. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPEAKING OF PAYING THE
BILLS</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">…</span></u></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like an acquaintance run into when it</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">s avoidable no more the
ferry makes it back for an appearance on the agenda. Back with a reminder that
the monthly dripping of taxpayer dollars continues and this assembly while they
are itchin to fix something just can</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">t find the right tool to
fix this. Cue the taxpayer cash register</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">…</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>YEAH
YOU..GET OFF THE COUCH...</b></span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">The assembly will warm up
early Tuesday @4pm with an executive session (the PPP meeting..no public please) to discuss borough employee union
contracts and some ongoing litigation. Knowing the majority of the assembly</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">s love for public government employees and unions this should put them in a good mood. Hearing
about litigation should be something they are used to or better get used to
with the way they govern. Quite the warm up which could set the tone for the
whole evening. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regular meeting starts at
6pm once again at the school district building because the new grand assembly palace
isn't ready yet. Maybe they are stalled installing the moat. In any case <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/">Radio Free Palmer</a> will be streaming the meeting live. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">These times they aren't
normal. At least we're hoping not. To
use a line from "The Birdcage</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "It</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">s like riding a psychotic
horse towards a burning barn".</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">So start your engines. It's
time to throw down the spike strips and invest in popcorn futures. The crazy
car is out of the garage again with some really scary drivers at the wheel. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-4047791999996254002012-12-31T08:49:00.002-09:002012-12-31T08:50:19.713-09:00IT'S A 2012 WRAP...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lcqI4GO7GD3v_1Tlqqzi4R3fVHV5kve9CU-rT3hdHNISEPXqeybbIkGwnUkXNjLHkRxttbzeApo3EL4Bq6c6XdRK4h3c3FX7t5bzHn2JTXrABW2T7fF6Mp-zFQrH0xLOLhklQgVT_xE/s1600/DC-Misc-Movie-Thelma-Louise-Car-Over-Cliff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lcqI4GO7GD3v_1Tlqqzi4R3fVHV5kve9CU-rT3hdHNISEPXqeybbIkGwnUkXNjLHkRxttbzeApo3EL4Bq6c6XdRK4h3c3FX7t5bzHn2JTXrABW2T7fF6Mp-zFQrH0xLOLhklQgVT_xE/s1600/DC-Misc-Movie-Thelma-Louise-Car-Over-Cliff.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the country is </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tied in the middle of a political knot</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> waiting to find out what its like to go off the fiscal cliff </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">borough residents already took a little ride off their own cliff in 2012 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's just take a little peek at just some of the actions the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">borough assembly took. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>IT'S ONLY TAXPAYER MONEY</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The assembly </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in order to stick to a majority held ideology that the only good government is a starving one, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">took out their samurai swords at budget time and set about spending a big chunk of spare change sitting in the taxpayer savings drawer . Reserves went from about $14 million dollars to sit hovering at last check around $4 million left in the ever shrinking piggy bank. That included a big fist full of greenbacks moved out of the emergency fund reserve because we all know there are never any emergencies in the valley and when there is we can always take it out of petty cash or rely on it to be just bad enough so that either the state of feds will pony up for the costs right? E</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ye roll here, followed by palm slapping forehead..</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with changing the "revenue cap" to a presto chango "tax cap" things could get pretty interesting this next year when the same troop sits down with a much smaller savings and a borough with growing needs that are staring them in the face. One has to wonder with an assembly that is always vowing not to raise property taxes just which services will get the ax and be 2013 sacrificial lamb? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>FERRY DUST CLOUD....</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a nearly year long kabuki dance with administration on what to do with now borough owned M/V Susitna Ferry that by all accounts still sits in its expensive berth in Southeast Alaska. Lots of talk about the ferry and it's $60-$80,000 monthly costs to taxpayers. That is right up to <i><u>after</u></i> the borough election where it promptly dropped of list of things to point fingers around the table about. Has it found a home in some tropical paradise or should taxpayers be visualizing the teflon manager searching the borough building for hidden shoe boxes of money to continue to pay the monthly bills? Have some port insiders been silently working away at their plan to beach it at Pt Mac? Will some valley folks get that floating casino some have been talking about or will it end up becoming a certain construction companies glorified "work boat" to get the borough off the hook for the monthly gushing of taxpayer money? Can the fed's who will be calling for a refund from the borough on their investment for the ferry if it isn't put into service be tamed?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>JUST CAN'T LEAVE IT ALONE...</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ceremonial mayor whose job it is mainly preside at assembly meetings and act as the ceremonial head of the borough continues to take full advantage of the position particularly with the agenda and what goes on it and where and when. That pesky public. Our carrot farmer mayor couldn't find much love for opening up community councils to non residents or eliminating the part on the agenda for "Person's to be heard" but he did manage to issue a handful veto's (however not very successful) and a few tie breaker votes. That along with some real zinger comments now and again that lifted the scalp on more than a few audience members and the borough attorney a time or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>TOWERING PROBLEMS...</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tall Towers spent over a year to the joy of industry having no regulation by the borough. The persistence of one assembly member (Keogh) resulted finally on a new ordinance being adopted just last month. Meanwhile grandfathered in are the 50 or so that have already sprouted up around the valley in the free for all blocking views, enraging neighbors and costing big taxpayer dollars in an ugly process that may continue if the mayor (who we must give credit to for casting the tie breaker vote for passage of the ordinance) has his self appointed new tower board likely to be weighted heavily by industry and likely to come up with some suggestions for change. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PUTTING ON THE POUNDS...</span></u></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while were at it we continue to wonder how that "board diet" your assembly ordered up when they successfully removed from the list the Real Property Asset Management Board going? Like most dieters does it goes away when the dessert tray gets passed around? Actually the borough will have to loosen its belt loop after this year as they expanded one board from 5 to 15 members, changed the requirements for expertise and extended the terms of members on a couple of others. What was that saying about lipstick on a pig? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>BUCKETS OF COLD WATER...</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there was the great watering down period. The first bucket hit the borough ethics code striking "personal interest" out of code and making "financial interest" rise from $200.00 to $1,000. Impossible to go into all the consequences of these and other changes made to the code but it sure made it smoother sailing for some people sitting in positions of power. We'll leave it at that for the moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next bucket got a hefty lift from the MatSu Buisness Alliance and some developers in a painful revamp of the borough subdivision code. It turns out, for a segment of the assembly open for "business" means setting up a system to amass fortunes for some supporters regardless of consequences on others. Short term gains that could serve up some long term consequences and not unlike the tower mess the borough found themselves in. Unfortunately when the blame game begins on this one many of the ringleaders of this on the assembly will be termed out. Yes, we're looking at you Assemblyman Colver, Arvin and a couple others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>SPEAKING OF WATER..</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assembly members got a quick lesson on how important mapping of the flood plain can be as a fall storm gushed through a fairly new subdivision in Wasilla. Pretty much all corners of the borough were effected as emergency services, public works and other departments at the borough dropped everything to respond. Besides the importance of flood plains, river management took on a whole new significance and not just in Butte area who has had houses sliding in the Matanuska River like hot chocolate hitting ice cream for years. Turns out "your problem" is "our problem" after all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plenty of water and personnel was needed to stop a what could have been a catastrophic fire in one subdivision a hair away from the downtown area of Palmer. Fast action by borough (much of them volunteers) and city crews responded to fight the flames and curb what could have been life changing for the valley. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>PLENTY OF RESOLUTIONS TO GO AROUND..</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were resolutions a plenty many of them fulfilling what we have described here as memos to themselves. It was easy to loose count on how many in support of KABATA, coal, gas exploration and even one for Sharia law. A resolution presented several times for support for a full health impact statement on the effects of open pit coal mining </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">never could find anything but the bottom of a recycling bin thanks to this develop at any cost majority at the table. Endless passionate </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pleas from borough residents</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> time and time again got the mute button. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sandwiched in between were ordinances for a long list of gas improvement districts, removal of easements, several new gravel pits (which now allow for drilling in the water table) lowering the decibels for noise which when you think about it for a borough that blesses fireworks for all anywhere any time kinda fits in. It sure seemed much of the time common sense was in short supply much of the time. You could however find plenty of politics and special interest laying around. It was as if </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not only the train left the station but no one was allowed to ask where it was going or who was driving it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>THE TEENIEST, TINIEST OF HIGH NOTES</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was some good news for Hatcher Pass Nordic Skiers as the Government Peak Area was able to hold on to its traditional non motorized designation and pass a plan. Assemblyman Colver got to pull out his cape that he keeps tucked away for other projects in his district especially if they are related to a certain charter school and led the successful charge on this one. Although we tire of the messy process Assembly member Colver continues to cling to in doing even credible things at least the ball got over the line on this phase of a very worthwhile project. In addition a knowledgeable contractor writing the plan and diligence of a slew of volunteers who had put the trails in, groomed them for years and other borough wide supporters who testified were the right ingredient for passage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those that recreate in Jim Creek without a throttle although the final verdict is still out, things aren't looking so good. Some members of this assembly seems to be determined to find a home for icky and punish this area of the borough and personal property values no matter what the cost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The timing couldn't have been better for the excellent coverage in the Frontiersman about the relocation of Felony Flats and possible threats of a move to some nicer neighborhoods in Willow or Big Lake. That hot mess on the Parks Hwy was just fine with people that were just driving it but the thought of it becoming one of their real neighbors sparked a whole new set of concerns and people with petitions showing up at Assembly meetings. Assembly member Salmon who had passed off the multi-family ordinance that currently is on the books off to the planning commission hoping to kicking it all to the curb, felt the heat on his collar and settled for a re-write still making its way through the process offered up by fellow Assembly member Halter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey people in nice neighborhoods....your not out of the woods yet on this one. We know you haven't had much experience at what goes on at assembly meetings but be forewarned things can go badly very quickly when the boys at the horseshoe get together to pass legislation. Just ask the people of the Butte who are stuck with "Motorized" master plan in the works when they thought they could preserve at least some part of that area from a cloud of exhaust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other good news is a very ugly longggggggggggg election is over and even though we can see the engines warming up for the next one in the fall there is a small respite. Keeping in mind that if one thing re-elected assembly members (including Mr. Arvin who is setting a whole new standard for "calling it in" and has continued to do so since the election) its not actually what is true that matters, it's what you can convince the right amount of people that vote is what counts. Remember that when you go to the voters booth next time or if you are an assembly member that complains about this blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Were working on warming up own engines for the first assembly meeting on January 15th but meanwhile you can get your fill by wandering over to Radio Free Palmer and listening to the Citizen Lobbyist <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/?cat=28">year end wrap up</a>. A bit more detail there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trust us talking about 2012 was painful enough but writing about it here was like hot pokers to the eyes. And while you are at the Radio Free Palmer site peel off a few green backs for a end of the year donation and don't forget to put them at the top of your "Pick, Click and Give" list when you doing all that hard work filling out your PDF form for that free state money. We know you will...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's hope for a better New Year with more people paying attention and that moderation with triumph over extremism. And yes we do know that is kinda like teaching a mule to tap dance.. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-54089595463369809022012-11-11T17:01:00.002-09:002012-11-11T17:01:34.538-09:00OFF THE ISLAND....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The borough assembly met last week and voted some important stuff off the island again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of them was a chance to establish a tall towers ordinance. But it was quickly set adrift. The usual suspects of the assembly gave it a shove remaining steadfast in refusing to let local government be in the business of protecting people that live in the valley. Clearly, the</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> roar of the public about the absence of ANY tall tower ordinance in previous meetings is long forgotten. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This compromise ordinance wasn't even allowed to be introduced for a vote at the next meeting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was the mute button "on" when resident after resident testified outraged pleading for protection when without notice sky high transmitters started appearing all over the valley next door to them or in some cases robbing homeowner's pristine views which assuredly will devalue their investment?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Did all the emails assembly members reportedly received insisting immediate intervention get caught in the assembly spam filter? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">have anything to do with the election being over. Can it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlikely you will actually see District 3 Assemblyman Arvin back from his perch in China to thank him in person but maybe you will see assembly members Colligan,Woods and Salmon who voted with him to send the tall tower ordinance to the killing fields. They tried to gloss it over by pledging their faith in the ceremonials mayors still waiting to be appointed new committee of five to do the work that other stakeholders and professionals took years to go through. That's the way a dictatorship works right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To keep the tall towers ordinance company in the discard heap was a resolution that would establish a policy and minimum for an emergency response reserve fund for the borough which is currently sitting on EMPTY after the budget setting raid and fall flood. Turns out there is no appetite for the self professed "Conservative" members of this assembly for saving funds for an emergency. Who could imagine that the borough could have a disaster that might require emergency funding huh? Can you really trust the science that says we live in a earthquake zone? Besides there is never enough wind to blow roofs off public buildings. No rain that swallows houses and roads right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you blame this assembly for voting down common sense legislation while they are busy, busy draining what's left of reserve coffers of local government or micro-managing staff? After all isn't time better spent instructing the teflon manager to write monthly $60,000 plus denial checks for a borough owned ferry or for even a bigger check for right of way the borough doesn't need but does fatten the checkbook of the largest private land owner in the borough? If you do. Just go tell Alice and her 10 foot tall rabbit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you know what there is plenty of time for? JESUS. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first 20 minutes of the borough assembly meeting was filled with a invocation from the mayor's own church pastor. That checked off the agenda the ceremonial mayor then read a rambling proclamation of recognition delivered to another fellow church member for his work since he moved to Alaska way back in 2006. He even allowed the gentleman to deliver his own personal story about salvation that we are guessing was to remind all the heathens in the audience what they were missing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ceremonial mayor will also make time to take up an ordinance to do away with "PERSONS TO BE HEARD" at the next regular meeting. We are guessing that won't include people the mayor wants YOU to hear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If that wasn't enough fun before any real business of the people was taken up the ceremonial mayor announced his appointment of Assembly member Arvin as deputy mayor. With a perfect attendance record of only teleconferencing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">his participation so far this term from his home away from home in China, Arvin was glad to accept the title and extra taxpayer paid salary that comes with it. A question asking if it was even legal to appoint a consistently physically absent deputy mayor or and if it was Mr. Arvin's intent to spend his entire term of 3 years participating via teleconferencing were scoffed at. After all didn't voters of District 3 know what they were getting when they re-elected him last month? Clearly back up deputy Salmon manages to get to nearly all meetings and will handle the gavel since there hasn't been a way found to do that over the phone. Yet. Silly public. Look at all the money that is being saved. Why it doesn't appear that the borough has even had to spend the money to print a name plate to place in front of Arvin's empty chair at the assembly table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next up for your assembly a planning session November 17th. We are guessing the ego's of some of the members of this group have gotten so big they have found the need to have the meeting at the Menard Center in Wasilla. It starts at noon and although the public is allowed to watch they aren't invited for lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh and the ceremonial mayor won't be there. He let everyone know he is butchering a cow that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After we're sure he has baptized and blessed it of course. Can a resolution of recognition be far behind?</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-57831812736397514582012-11-05T15:28:00.003-09:002012-11-05T15:41:22.126-09:00VOTE OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You better check your pulse if you don't know there is an election TOMORROW! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Seems people can't agree on much these days but we should agree life can be uncertain. If you don't believe us ask 20 million people on the east coast about an unwelcome visitor by the name of "Sandy" that came calling and has put voting probably pretty near the bottom of their list. You can </span><span style="color: #222222;">find out the details where and how <a href="http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ei_general.php">here</a>.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> There is also information at the link on where your polling place is which after the hairball of redistricting can be confusing. You should always be able to cast a question ballot at any polling place if things get desperate! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>VOTERS SHOULD HEED THIS OCTOBER SURPRISE</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Turns out the valley is no stranger to a little October election season surprise. A well written <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/news/gattis-had-loan-conflict/article_37284da8-24bb-11e2-ad51-001a4bcf887a.html?_dc=322043363936.2454&cbst=96">article</a> and <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/opinions/editorials/it-s-not-just-business-when-you-re-a-public/article_8d1b3b66-24bc-11e2-bae5-001a4bcf887a.html#user-comment-area">editorial</a> in the Friday's edition of the Frontiersman concerning a <a href="http://www.frontiersman.com/news/gattis-had-loan-conflict/article_37284da8-24bb-11e2-ad51-001a4bcf887a.html?_dc=322043363936.2454&cbst=96">candidate </a>running for office in a new Wasilla house district has raised more than a few eyebrows and again should make us ask about the ethics and character of candidates that are bidding to represent us. This one concerns a big bunch of public money from the borough taxpayer that ended up in private hands one of which is a candidate Gattis. Her challenger Merrifield asked during a candidate forum about this and was told more details would be released AFTER the election. Say what? Actions should speak to us about just whose interest elected officials would be acting for once they are in office. Because remember once they are elected it takes more than a crowbar and sometimes a new wardrobe of vertical stripes to get them out. Worth a read for sure before you vote especially if you are from the greater Wasilla area. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another reminder that Tuesday is also the night for the borough assembly to meet. Our email has been busy with folks weighing in on the ceremonial mayor's introduction of legislation to eliminate the part of the agenda for PERSONS TO BE HEARD. The reaction has been what you might expect by civilized informed people. But here is one we can print from a reader that pretty much hit the nail on the head:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"How is it that the Assembly can justify new Assembly chambers when they are taking the “public” out of public view, public testimony and public opportunity?</i><i> </i><i>Shouldn't they need less room for Assembly meetings since that pesky public is being be shut out?</i><i> </i><i>Without the public there to comment or oversee, Assembly meetings could be held in a large walk-in closet thereby saving taxpayers lots of money.</i><i> </i><i>Oh wait…they already operate in a closet.</i><i> </i><i>Quick…somebody turn on the lights and watch them scamper like cockroaches"</i></span></b></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is still time to speak out on this and other subjects in the <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet">packet</a> by showing up or emailing members of the assembly. Saying nothing about this and other issues seems to give some members of the assembly the false impression that we all just agree with their actions. And you thought Halloween was over. Scary but true... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>FINALLY OUR OWN VALLEY EDITION!</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Another source (besides the blog of course) of good current local information launched Friday on <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/">Radio Free Palmer</a>. </span><span style="color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 22px;">The <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/?p=2207">"Valley </a></span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/?p=2207">Edition"</a> is a panel</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> discussion of Valley news and events much like "Alaska Edition" on KSKA. The program will be broadcast on 89.5FM </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Friday's at 5pm and repeats every Monday at 8:30am. The panel this week was Frontiersman publisher Mark Kelsey, independent journalist Zaz Hollander, and the Citizen Lobbyist. Mike Chmielewski moderated. There will be other guest journalists from time to time. The recording of Friday's show can be found on the <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/">RF website</a>. While you are there check out "<a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/?p=2212">Another vote done gone" </a>by a couple of local Palmerites that is true fun.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are your walking orders for the next couple of days. Important stuff. Not paying attention will only get you more of the same frustration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time we wont be telling you how we're voting. After all that is what that cute little curtain in the voting booth is for right? </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369683898138650359.post-67638265844543575232012-11-01T18:09:00.001-08:002012-11-02T13:03:45.824-08:00HANDS OVER YOUR EYES BAD....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember our harping about elections having consequences? Nothing drives this point home harder than a re-elected assemblyman "phoning in" his oath of office. Apparently the mayor of Anchorage set the bar for swearing in from afar but at least he was on Skype so voters could all SEE him dressed in his aloha shirt taking the oath. All valley voters got was the same disembodied voice from China as Assembly member Arvin back in his pre-election perch in China reportedly raised an invisible hand. That worked out well. At least for him. For District 3 voters well not so much. They face another three years not having their elected voice in the same time zone let alone in person to hear their concerns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><b>POUCHES AREN'T JUST FOR KANGAROOS..</b></u></span><br />
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The <a href="http://www.matsugov.us/assembly/assembly-e-packet">packet</a> for the <a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/">Nov 6th</a> (yes the night of the election) is finally out. It should be no shock to see one of the items scheduled for introduction comes from the hand of the ceremonial mayor. Not wasting any time, he will be introducing legislation to gerrymander the agenda once again. This time he is taking a knife to the part that concerns PERSONS TO BE HEARD. That pesky public again! His reasoning is "low usage of this agenda item". Not used it seems means not needed. Clearly in the mayor's parallel dictator universe people being heard and people that aren't in lock step with he and his majority held brethren are a big bother. Should be no surprise to those that have followed the gavel in the hand of this carrot farmer. But it should make us wonder if AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION will be an amendment also eliminated during the meeting. That would be perfect for completion of this assembly that is increasingly operating as a Kangaroo Court. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><b>BOW YOUR HEADS....</b></u></span><br />
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While we are on the subject of the agenda it should be noted that starting the meeting with a prayer is back on the roster. No added shocker that it is the pastor of the ceremonial mayors home church that will be delivering it. Not sure if that will be a added feature taking the place of the time normally allotted for that pesky persons to be heard or not. But if so does it mean that the mayor will be rotating different religious affiliations other than his own to give the invocation? We know some really nice Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Lutheran, Buddhists, Hindu, Muslim. Sikh, Wicca and other religious affiliations that would like a turn. Seems only fair to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>THE INVISIBLE CEREMONIAL DEPUTY..</u></b>.</span><br />
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Oh and for good measure the ceremonial mayor will be re-appointing the invisible assembly member Arvin as deputy mayor again, begging the question if he will be appointing another back up to the back up like he did last year since Mr. Arvin wasn't there physically to run the meeting? Or will they just amend that part of borough code to allow a voice from afar to hold the invisible gavel or some other steaming cup of nonsense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>MORE GAS,VIEW SHED-MOO SHED, LOCKIN SOME FUNDS IN PIGGY...</u></b></span><br />
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There is all other kinds of fun on the slate but most of it is being introduced to be taken up the following meeting. There are a couple of pages of the 674 page packet requesting approval for limited gas improvement districts. So many you would think the borough is laying it's own natural gas line.</span><br />
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The tall tower ordinance that has been successfully defeated at every turn by the ceremonial mayor and assembly opting for a NO ORDINANCE approach concerning towers but it will be back for discussion. The mayor was successful in creating his own self appointed five person board that is in the works and you can pretty much count on that resulting in one or two suggestions that give the whole topic lip service. </span><br />
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There is legislation to beef up the reserve for the emergency response fund after the the assembly has whittled it down to chump change during the last budget dance. Coming on the heals of the borough's own flood and in view of the damage "Sandy" has caused it would only seem prudent to have some extra money in the till for what is becoming increasingly likely emergencies down the road. But for a group that doesn't believe in climate change or planning for future generations it has a good chance to slide off the table in the un-recycled trash like most plans for the future. </span><br />
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<b><u>IN THE END ITS ABOUT THE VOTE...YOUR VOTE!</u></b><br />
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Seems that voters (particularly those that don't inform themselves or don't vote) are their own worst enemies. At least that is what we thought until a string of articles have hit. Vote rigging is something that many folks in the valley have been concerned about for a long time. One lazy mountain resident sent along this <a href="http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/14198-focus-how-to-rig-an-electio">link</a> with the following commentary:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"A thoroughly chilling historical view of vote rigging. Ms.
Collier indicts the media as well as the politicians on this issue. Those
who question the authenticity of the system get smeared with ‘conspiracy
theorist’. Funny, it’s just fine if we’re sitting in history class or
watching a PBS documentary on Huey Long or Boss Tweed’s vote rigging, but, to
talk about the possibility of it occurring in our time is considered
unthinkable. You’re wearing too much tinfoil on your head. You’re a nut-ball After the mess in the Anchorage election, the national 2000 and
2004 presidential debacle, you’d think we’d have a decent soul-searching on the
issue. It is notable that the Irish have just tossed the computerized
voting system in the trash bin and gone back to a completely transparent,
publicly verifiable method…paper and pencil.<br />A public discussion of vote-rigging with computers should not
stop the voter from participating. It should make us all more vigilant.
The mainstream media should bring the discussion into the light and forget
about being smeared as conspiracy nuts. If computers can be used
successfully in bank fraud, white collar crimes, etc., they can be used to sway
an election. And the scientists at U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne
National Laboratory have determined that any junior high kid could do it
without actually needed sophisticated hacking methods…just 26 bucks and some
hardware. Their team leader called it a national security issue and,
apparently, no one is listening. Will you?"</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So now we are facing another nationwide/statewide election on November 6th. We are suspicious of the new slipped in method of voting via the internet the Lt. Governor has introduced with little fan fair. We like knowing the information on who we vote for is our own. After all isn't that is why they have those little curtains on the voting booth? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can cast your </span><a href="http://www.elections.alaska.gov/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">vote now</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> or wait and test fate that something will come up to give you an excuse not to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We do know that the noise in the room is making our ears bleed listening to those that race to mislead the public as they are chased down by those that think truth in politics and policy should still rule the day. Truth in advertising just doesn't exist in politics and it seems to be getting weaker by the day in business even though there still does exist a federal law. As an advertiser, violating federal laws regarding truth in advertising carries stiff penalties. The law says that as a consumer you should have recourse if your a victim of a violation. Not so much in politics especially after elected. </span><br />
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As a voter you do have recourse. But it means doing your own homework and not leaving your fate in the hands of soundbites. We need to consider the personal motivation of those that would try to persuade us to vote one way or the other. Voting against our better interest because our boss, clergy or someone else suggests it will rarely serve us well. We must know the issues, profiles, voting history or dogma of those seeking our vote. Letting peer pressure or fear rule the day instead of hope keeps us tethered to the post forever. </span><br />
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This election season has inflicted pain beyond what we have discovered. It has left us feeling like we have been rolled in acid and trapped in a bottle of hospital ether that has kept us in a fog of finger pointing but for the most part it will be over next week. We hope. Nationally if the outcome goes the way it certainly looks it will go you will be able to count on four more years of talk about federal over-reach, bogie men breaking into our house to take all the guns in the middle of the night and how better off we all would have been if we would have just elected that white guy who believes in free markets or free for all markets. </span><br />
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Alaska doesn't have a big clout nationally in electoral votes but we do in our local vote. That right wasn't exercised very well locally in October. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With what is on the agenda of this upcoming assembly meeting you can see the outcome of that October election in the rear-view mirror and it is here to haunt us. The hollow talk of transparency and listening to everyone's viewpoint is just as dead as the leaves on the trees. Don't expect the register of the borough check book online or the public to be invited as a welcome participant in the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tuesday it will be time to put on your hat and coat and see what your tax dollars are being spent on by attending the borough assembly meeting. If you can't make it tune in to </span><a href="http://radiofreepalmer.org/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Radio Free Palmer</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> who will do you a favor and spare you the hard chair by streaming it live or downloading the podcast later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let's be clear though, if we are forced to go through the gates of hell by this assembly it better be on pay for view. </span><br />
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Oy vey...</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0