Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Parking ramp documents





click on each document to enlarge.

Note the "1-year" expense estimate and the "10 year expectation" of an almost full-all-the-time-ramp.

And ya gotta love the increase in year 4, bingo "a nice increase!".

Also NO provision for security or police protection for the ramp. Doh!

Maybe if a few Frauenthalians get mugged there will be police protection.... at a cost not built into the "estimate".

We pay, they get.

Same old, same old....

Unless we get calling, e-mailing and get 20-30 folks at the next commission meeting.

There is a county commission work-group meeting soon. That's where the REAL spending gets done.

I'll find out and let us all know.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

"waive" good bye to your money!


The county "hiring freeze" is pure myth.
7 "waives" last meeting alone!

http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/01132009_board_minutes.pdf

2009-16 WAIVE HIRING FREEZE TO FILL DISTRICT COURT CLERK POSITION
#D15017
CPS09/01-01
The Courts and Public Safety Committee recommends, moved by Gill, seconded by Engle,
to approve the hiring freeze to be waived to fill District Court Clerk position #D15017,
through the current posting procedures as set forth in the Teamsters Local 214 labor
contract.
Roll Call
Ayes: Collins, Derezinski, Engle, Gill, Mahoney, McMurray, Nash, Scolnik, Wade, Buzzell
Nays: None

Last chance?

It was tabled last meeting.

It'sssss baaaaak.....

This is perhaps, the last chance to stop the $8.6 million "Disaster in Downtown", the new parking ramp.


http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/board_agenda_012709.htm
Tabled
TR09-01-01 Move to approve the Muskegon Area Transit System’s FY2010 application for $2,748,222 in state operating and capital assistance, to authorize the Resolution of Intent to apply for financial assistance, to name the Director of Public Facilities as the Transportation Coordinator, and to publish the public notice.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Longtime local Dem leader steps down

Longtime local Dem leader steps down
"The Democrats' executive committee last month unanimously elected Keglovitz to replace the retiring Conrad. Also elected unanimously were Janet Thomas as first vice chair, Rillastine Wilkins as second vice chair, Patsy Petty as recording secretary and Jacob Gillette as recording secretary.
Keglovitz took office Jan. 8.
Keglovitz, 52, is president of the West Michigan Labor Council AFL-CIO. He is retired from Sappi Fine Papers, where he was president of Paper Allied Chemical and Energy Local 1015."

Hopefully, Keglovitz will have the same success as democrat leader as he had at saving jobs at Sappi.

Bond issue meeting rescheduled

Bond issue meeting rescheduled
"An informational meeting about Mona Shores Public Schools' upcoming bond issue originally planned for tonight has been rescheduled.
The forum will be 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in the media center of Lincoln Park Elementary, 2951 Leon.
On Feb. 24, voters will be asked to keep the current millage rate at or near its current 4.3 mills and extend it two years through 2019.
School officials are asking for $13 million for improvements districtwide, but with many upgrades to the middle and high schools.
The issue is not an additional tax for voters; without the public's approval, officials estimate the tax gradually will be reduced to 2.3 mills by the time it expires.
ON THE 'NET:
Details about the bond and proposed improvements can be found at www.monashores.net/proposedbond2009."

Today 3:30 commissioners meet!

The big one here today is the Transportation committee and will they continue their quest to tear down the Herman Ivory bus terminal and replace it 50 yards away in the new parking ramp across from the Holiday Inn.

Big money to be spent on a multistory parking ramp, baby!

Oh yeah. It's your money.

Here's the toolkit.

3:30 at the County building.

GordoM-knows-most-would-prefer to complain-rather-than-actually-do-anything-but-our-new-President-wants-them-off-their-butts-too-who'd-of-guessed?


Toolkit

County commission committee meetings 1-22-2009


Community Development/Strategic Planning

Agenda:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/cd_09_01_22.pdf
Last meeting minutes:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/minutes/cd_08_12_11.pdf

Transportation
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/transportation_09_01_22.pdf
Last meeting minutes:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/minutes/transportation_08_12_11.pdf

"It's the SPENDING Stupid!"

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I want a political party that stands for these points

Muskegon needs leaders and political parties that stand for SOMETHING!

Here's my short list:

1. Smaller government at every level in our county.
Our governmental entities are simply trying to do too many things and much of what they attempt to do is done poorly and expensively.

2. Efficient allocation of all expenditures.
Our county and local governments are paying too much money for much of what they do. We demand a review of all expenditures and contracts to make them competitive with the prevailing wages and costs of our Muskegon community.

3. Accountability when public money is spent.

If money is authorized for a project we want a report that compares the promised cost and benefit with the real cost and final results.

4. Advance public input.

We want public comment for every major contract that our local governments enters into. We want the facts and the time to disseminate and understand them in advance.

5. Prioritized spending.
We want our local governmental bodies to prioritize all spending. Why is snow plowing or police protection reduced while lesser expenditures seem to grow endlessly.

6. An acknowledgement from our elected and appointed leaders that high taxes and inefficient spending will destroy our community.
The current "business plan" that more new spending ideas and more earmarks or grants trump efficient, lean government and low taxes has failed. That mindset is the main reason for the current mess that engulfs Muskegon county and the state of Michigan.

Six points that we might all agree on.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance

Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance

"I don't get it. We had an empty supervisor position we didn't need and now they use that non-needed position to create two new positions we didn't need before.

HR09/01 - 07 To authorize the reclassification of the one (1) vacant full time Community Mental Health Residence Care Supervisor position (N69006) and two (2) hourly Resident Care Supervisor positions, effective January 1, 2009."

County commission committee meeting tomorrow Jan. 20, 2009

All meetings are held in the Board of Commissioners’ Room on the fourth floor of the Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace Street, Muskegon, Michigan, at 3:30 p.m.

No agenda on their site yet.

Why not?

Minutes from the last meeting:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/01132009_board_minutes.pdf

Committees at work!

Committee reports and my commentary from Jan 8, 2009:

http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/board_agenda_011309.htm#sum1

"waving the hiring freeze" seems to be a weekly event.
How nice.
The Courts/Public Safety Committee met on January 8, 2009, it was recommended and I move:
CPS09/01 - 01 To approve the hiring freeze to be waived to fill District Court Clerk position #D15017, through the current posting procedures as set forth in the Teamsters Local 214 labor contract.
CPS09/01 - 03 To waive the hiring freeze and allow the Circuit Court, Family Division to fill the vacant Probation Officer II positions, position numbers G62004 and G62007.

No worries, our County health dept just got $17,350 to make "safe routes"!
Hey, it's free money from Jenny!
The Human Resources Committee met on January 8, 2009, it was recommended and I move:
HR09/01 - 03 To authorize the Health Department to accept $17,350 from the Michigan Department of Community Health for the assessment phase of the Safe Routes to School program.


Yikes! Sure glad our county will establish a "Quality Improvement Guidebook"!
How did we ever survive before this book?
Human Resources Committee
HR09/01 - 05 To authorize Public Health - Muskegon County to establish a QI policy and plan utilizing the guidebook created by Michigan Multi- State Learning Collaborative entitled Embracing Quality in Local Public Health: Michigan’s Quality Improvement Guidebook; and further, to implement the QI policy/plan accordingly.

I don't get it. We had an empty supervisor position we didn't need and now they use that non-needed position to create two new positions we didn't need before.
HR09/01 - 07 To authorize the reclassification of the one (1) vacant full time Community Mental Health Residence Care Supervisor position (N69006) and two (2) hourly Resident Care Supervisor positions, effective January 1, 2009.

Retro block grant! How cool is that!
HR09/01 - 11 To authorize the Community Mental Health Director to sign the Lakeshore Coordinating Council Substance Abuse Block Grant, with the MIChild and Adult Benefits Waiver Attachment Agreements, for a total of $1,028.00 Block Grant funds, for the provision of outpatient substance abuse treatment services to dually diagnosed consumers for the period of October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.

More "retro".
This stuff must have been REAL important!
HR09/01 - 13 To authorize the Community Mental Health Director to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) to operate the Northridge Adult Foster Care (AFC) Home, effective October 1, 2009.
HR09/01 - 14 To authorize the Community Mental Health Director to sign a contract with Hope Network Developmental and Community Services for the provision of Specialized Residential Services, effective December 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009, not to exceed a total cost of $79,017.50.


The Ways and Means Committee:
More waving of the freeze!
Golly, it's almost like going to Florida for the sun!
How did we EVER survive without a deputy drainer?
WM09/01 - 05 To waive the hiring freeze and allow the Drain Commissioner to fill the vacant Deputy Drain Commissioner, position #X27001.

The poor commissioners don't have laptops?
WM09/01 - 06 To direct staff to investigate the feasibility of laptop computers being purchased by the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners for those Commissioners to assist with documentation review and information sharing/management.