Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Muskegon County hires consultant to study sewer rates

Muskegon County hires consultant to study sewer rates MLive.com
"As is the county's rating policy, the four men rated the seven proposals without looking at the bid price."

This is classic Muskegon county at its worst.

The pubic works committee under Marve Engle scheduled a no-public-notice, last minute meeting minutes before the full board was to vote to make this contract permanent.

Most of the commissioners had no time at all to review the spending and only minutes later had to vote again to spend, spend, spend.

The drain commissioner was against it, as was the only county commissioner who gives a crud, Alan Jager.

Typical Chicago style. Ignore the low bidder. Rush the vote. Twice.

What a wonderful bid process! Rank the bid without knowing what they cost!!

My my, I'll take the new Cadillac Mr. Commissioner Engle. Price don't matter no more, do it?

And make no mistake no mistake about this "consultant's" real purpose.

They will recommend that water/sewer rate be raised.

So for $25 (and counting) the commissioners won't have to make that vote on their own. They'll just do what YOUR $25,000 (and counting) told them to do.

Folks, if you wonder why our county is in such a state of near collapse, take a good look at your county commissioners .

And look closely at the only commissioner who has the courage to tell the truth, Alan Jager.

A pox on the rest of them!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Gentleman in need of help from government abuse



Another man willing to employ and succeed in Muskegon county who has run into the bureaucratic buzz saw.
Folks, we can make our county business friendly.
But we've got to stop these types of abuses!

Muskegon company hiring is a challenge



An executive at a major employer in Muskegon county making a presentation to the Muskegon county commission.
Imagine that finding workers in Muskegon would be a challenge.
Folks, we have a culture problem in our county.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

I don't understand liberals.

I really don't understand liberals.
They offer themselves as experts on the conservative right in our country without any first hand facts at all.

Except those supplied them by those on the extreme left who openly admit they hate conservatives.

As a local Muskegon Tea Party member, I'd be happy to introduce you to the truth about us TeaPers.

On social issues, most prefer the end of post-birth abortion and we support the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution.

We agree with President Obama that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

On fiscal issues most agree that spending more than we bring in is wrong.

We believe that allowing government bureaucrats to spend the national (and local) "credit card" but leaving the payments to our children and grandchildren will destroy their very chance at the American Dream.

We believe that leaving our children with trillions of dollars of debt is a form of child abuse.

That increasing the amount of government workers and their out of control compensation, at every level, is unsustainable and downright destructive.

We believe that our education system is broken and the education unions need to be held accountable.

We have disagreed with republicans and democrats alike.

But the biggest difference between conservatives and liberals is that we believe in our American capitalistic economic system.

We don't believe that government today does much very efficiently and that the less government must do the better.

A taxpaying private company doing the work of a tax sucking government agency produces revenue and efficiency.

We are not anti government.

We pro accountable and efficient government.

And we do not have accountable or efficient government at any level in our country today.

There are consequences when our elected leaders vote to spend money they not only do not have, but must borrow from future generations.

There are consequences when the majority of the electorate simply trusts our leaders to do the right thing without requiring them to be accountable for their decisions.

We conservatives see the consequences of fiscal irresponsibility and are fighting to restrain out of control spending, unaccountable government and the growth of anti-business governments everywhere in our great USA.

If you'd like to meet a real Tea Party member, join us at Whitlows every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7:00.

Everyone is invited.

Stop being the victim of your own self censorship.

Say "Hi" to me!

Jim Riley

Friday, May 20, 2011

An amazing event!

This is a first for me.
And maybe a first for the Muskegon County commissioners.

They voted "No" on two spending bills!
Both are listed in the posts below.

They voted to end discriminatory favoritism and stopped the $3000 gift to the Muskegon Heights summer festival. They give no other city/township events any "free" money and it was about time they ended this obvious racial pandering.

Super kudos to Muskegon Tea Party chairwoman Susie Hughes for being the "point of the spear" on this one!

And they voted to reduce the $3000 request from the Miss Michigan pageant to $2000.

Let's hope this is a sign of future tough-love budgeting for our county.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Coming Thursday!-Muskegon County Board of Commissioners

Muskegon County Board of Commissioners
(click link-go to May 19 "Community Development/ Strategic Planning".)

Another "feel good" for the commissioners but a decidedly "feel broke" for the taxpayers and residents of Muskegon county.
Even more interesting is that Muskegon Heights is the only county municipality to get financial support for their event.
And no strings attached!
$3000! Ka-ching! What a county!

Spendathon continues:Muskegon County Board of Commissioners

Muskegon County Board of Commissioners
(click link-go to May 19 "Community Development/ Strategic Planning".)

Our county is over $100 million in underfunded pension and health care debt.

That means we're effectively broke. So we make promises someone else must keep...and pay for.
All so we can have a happy day giving someone else's money away.
Note that the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee suggested $2000. 
The request is for more, $3000.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Muskegon county apportionment from a republican's view

Interesting that the final determining vote was from republican party chairwoman Christina Achterhoff.
Christina's public comment about the 11 district plan “I just feel if this is accepted that I think there will be zero Republicans on the board come 2012,”, was printed in The Chronicle.

Let's see how republicans fared:
This is the 11 commissioner plan that was voted down.
Markel/Waters YES. Tony T/Tony M/Christina Achterhoff NO

http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/apportionment/11-1_large_map.pdf
This option is similar to the current districts.
Jager's district essentially intact.
Engle's district essentially intact.
Snider's district essentially intact
Scolnik's district split but the addition of RP shouldn't keep the new district 8 from staying republican.
And the new district 9, "East NS is a potential win for republicans if they attracted a candidate.
Mahoney's very close district 1 remains a possible win.

Possible net republican wins 6/11 54%
Most likely outcome in 2012: 4/11 36%
Current districts:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/map.htm


District w/Commissioner Name
1 Kenneth Mahoney
2 Alan Jager
3 I. John Snider II
4 James J. Derezinski
5 Marvin R. Engle
6 Lew Collins
7 Scott Plummer
8 Anthony T. Longmire
9 Rillastine R. Wilkins
10 Benjamin E. Cross
11 Robert Scolnik

This is the 9 district plan that was adopted:
Tony T/Tony M/Christina Achterhoff YES  Steve Markel/Nancy Waters NO

http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/apportionment/plan_9-3_large_map.pdf
Jager has a tough task in beating Derezinski (yes, Jim has told me he will run again) in Eggleston and he has no name recognition (yet!) in Mooreland/Casnovia. But Derezinski hasn't run a contested election in a long time and Jager's middle name is "giant slayer". Toss up.
Engle's district should stay with Marve. Lou Collins looks like he'll be out.
Snider's not running and the new, expanded (GOP leaning) district will depend on who runs.
Scolnik's district should be safe for a republican.
Mahoney's district adds Blue Lake and Dalton. Both townships voted solidly GOP in 2010. This one stays with the chairman unless a newcomer realizes the opportunity here.

Net possible republican wins: 5/9 55%
Most likely outcome in 2012: 3/9 33%

Feel good programs with no follow up.

These are all authorized programs voted by the Muskegon county commission in a two week span late last year.
None have any follow up requirements to see if they achieved their goals.

2011-19 AUTHORIZE STAFF TO APPLY FOR FUNDS UNDER THE JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATION PROGRAM CPS11/01-01 The Courts and Public Safety Committee recommends, moved by Snider, seconded by Collins, to authorize staff to apply for funds under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CFDA #16.745) in the amount of $50,000 with an in-kind match of $12,500 to be provided by the County of Muskegon for planning funds expand programs providing appropriate services for multi-system-involved juveniles with mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Roll Call Ayes: Cross, Derezinski, Engle, Longmire, Chairman Mahoney, Plummer, Scolnik, Vice Chairman Snider, Wilkins, Collins Nays: Jager

2011-20 APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT CPS11/01-02 The Courts and Public Safety Committee recommends, moved by Snider, seconded by Collins, to approve the acceptance of the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant in the amount of $21,000 for the purchase of gang activity software through OSSI and Sheriff overtime patrols. Roll Call Ayes: Cross, Derezinski, Engle, Longmire, Chairman Mahoney, Plummer, Scolnik, Vice Chairman Snider, Wilkins, Collins Nays: Jager

2011-23 AUTHORIZE THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH NETSMART NEW YORK, INC., FOR THE CONSUMER CONNECT SOFTWARE HR11/01-03 The Human Resources Committee recommends, moved by Plummer, seconded by Engle, to authorize the Community Mental Health Executive Director to sign the contract with Netsmart New York, Inc., for the Consumer connect software, effective January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2015 at a cost not to exceed $56,050 in Fiscal Year 2011 and $223,011 over the five (5) year period of the contract.

2011-31 AUTHORIZE THE BOARD CHAIR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH MUSKEGON COUNTY AND LAKESHORE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION SERVICES HR11/01-11 The Human Resources Committee recommends, moved by Plummer, seconded by Engle, to authorize the Board Chair to sign the agreement between Public Health Muskegon County and Lakeshore Coordinating Council for substance abuse prevention services, subject to final review and approval by Corporate Counsel, in the amount of $120,331.00, effective from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011, with no effect on County General Fund. Roll Call Ayes: Derezinski, Engle, Jager, Longmire, Chairman Mahoney, Plummer, Scolnik, Vice Chairman Snider, Wilkins, Collins, Cross Nays: None



2011-35 AWARD THE PROPOSAL FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRAC, TO JAMES T. STOKES TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE CLASSROOM BASED SERVICES WM11/01-04 The Ways and Means Committee Recommends, moved by Collins, seconded by Snider, to award the proposal for a one year contract renewable for up to two additional years based upon performance and the availability of funding, to James T. Stokes to provide intensive classroom based services designed to enhance the life and employability skills of jobseekers with little to no work history who are now entering the labor force. Muskegon County Board of Commissioners January 13, 2011 Full Board 3:30 p.m.

2011-35 AWARD THE PROPOSAL FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRAC, TO JAMES T. STOKES TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE CLASSROOM BASED SERVICES Roll Call Ayes: Engle, Jager, Longmire, Chairman Mahoney, Plummer, Scolnik, Vice Chairman Snider, Wilkins, Collins, Cross, Derezinski Nays: None

2011-36 AWARD THE PROPOSAL FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, TO COMMUNITY ENCOMPASS TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TRAINING, WORKPLACE READINESS TRAINING, AND GED ASSISTANCE WM11/01-05 The Ways and Means Committee Recommends, moved by Collins, seconded by Snider, to award the proposal for a one year contract renewable for up to two additional years based upon performance and the availability of funding, to Community enCompass to provide construction skills training, workplace readiness training, and GED assistance for

18 to 21 year old high school dropouts. Roll Call Ayes: Engle, Jager, Longmire, Chairman Mahoney, Plummer, Scolnik, Vice Chairman Snider, Wilkins, Collins, Cross, Derezinski Nays: None

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Head buttin' commissioners.

The new Muskegon county apportionment districts have Alan Jager and Jim Derezinski sharing the same space.
And Marve Engle and Lou Collins facing off when the music stops..
Everyone else has essentially the same district lines.
Or at least no encroachment by another commissioner.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

We will have 9 Muskegon county commissioners for the next TEN YEARS!

Two less that the last 10 years.

The county apportionment commission just voted.
Markel N
Tague Y
Achterhoff Y
Moulatsiotis Y
Waters N

Let the political jousting begin!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Muskegon County Road Commission board vacancy filled by Muskegon Heights firefighter, not tea partier

Muskegon County Road Commission board vacancy filled by Muskegon Heights firefighter, not tea partier MLive.com
"Rothoff, 41, of Dalton Township said he was disappointed in the process, not that Sabo beat him out for the position."

Violate your own rules.
Change the rules in the middle of the game.
Have no clue what your own policies are.
Business as usual in our broken county.
$100 million dollars in unfunded pension and health benefits, that's Muskegon dudes!

MuskegonPundit: Former state representative to conduct financial forum at Whitehall library

MuskegonPundit: Former state representative to conduct financial forum at Whitehall library
"Nancy will tell us how the few remaining businesses in Michigan are ripping off the public.
Let's tell Nancy what we think of her anti-business attack!
She's running hard for something, state rep. against Holly Hughes I'd suspect.
Try to make this meeting!"

Tomorrow May 11-Big Decision-Be THERE!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Muskegon's last chance? Tonight! Tuesday, May 10 Whitlows 7:00!

(bumped)
Typical election night last week:


It only took 7493 folks in our entire county of 175,000 to vote and have all of us pay more money for our county museum.
You're big on that, right?


Big union democrats Steven Keglovitz and Ben Gillette were elected to local school boards.
That'll help with the overspending, right?


And 28, 25 and ONE were the numbers of votes that decided other county elections yesterday.


Did you skip the vote?


Our county is $100 MILLION dollars in debt due to underfunded pension/healthcare costs promised to it's employees...but the money isn't there.


Someone is gonna get stung....and who do you think it's gonna be?


Well, we have a voice and we can have real CHANGE THEY WILL BELIEVE IN if we stand together.


Next Tuesday, May 10 will be our first "2nd Tuesday" meeting of the Muskegon Tea Party Action Group.
We will meet at Whitlows at 7:00 and I expect us to be done at 8:00 sharp.


Of course some of us, me included, will arrive at 6:00ish and stay after to chat but if you want a quick "action directed" meeting, come join us.


Our goal is to bring up issues that will be voted on in the next month and have a group brainstorm about how we can affect those votes.


The two biggies we will address this Tuesday are the Muskegon county apportionment committee's vote on how many county commissioners we will have for the next TEN YEARS and how much we will have to pay for them for the NEXT TEN TEARS!


And we still have an opportunity to stop the union dominated county board's plan to have ALL UNION CONTRACTS come due on the same date, Oct 1, and not be discussed for the next 3 or 4 or even 6 years.


We are $100 MILLION bucks in the hole because of outrageous union contracts and this may be our last chance to save our county from bankruptcy.


The Heights is now under state control.
We may be next.


So see you next Tuesday.
Bring a friend.
Remember, a few standing tall can change the future for all!


Jim Riley


231-557-9912

Apportionment committee TODAY!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Muskegon County Clerk

Muskegon County Clerk
"Documents from May 4, 2011 Meeting"

Proposed redistricting maps using 5,7,9,11,13 county commission districts.
Pretty good site.