Letters: What if they gave an election and nobody came? MLive.com
Too many of us spend far too much time complaining about out of control government and far too little time actually doing anything about it.
This is your opportunity to run or support someone who is standing tall.
Following Muskegon county news.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
ITPP Tea Party Legislative Scorecard for Michigan
ITPP Tea Party Legislative Scorecard for Michigan - Michigan Votes
A public service of the Independent Tea Party Patriots (http://www.itpp.us/)
The Tea Party Scorecard only includes votes on tea party issues.
Very interesting!
Sen. Hansen doesn't look too good.
Rep. Hughes looks OK.
Who'd of guessed?
A public service of the Independent Tea Party Patriots (http://www.itpp.us/)
The Tea Party Scorecard only includes votes on tea party issues.
Very interesting!
Sen. Hansen doesn't look too good.
Rep. Hughes looks OK.
Who'd of guessed?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
EyeOnMuskegon this Sunday Oct. 16-Success vs Failure?
A tale of two counties: Muskegon county vs Oakland county.
Muskegon county has $100 million in unfunded pension and healthcare promises to its workers.
The residents and businesses of our county will have to pay that debt or suffer severe cuts in services.
Or, most likely, both.
Oakland county, a far larger county, has ZERO unfunded pension and healthcare debt.
What are the leaders of Oakland county doing that our elected leaders in Muskegon county are not?
We will contrast the two counties.
Their leaders, their decisions and their finances.
My guest this Sunday is one of the architects of a fiscally sane governmental body, Tom Eaton, Oakland County Deputy Director of Human Resources
Mr. Eaton was a featured speaker at the Mackinac Center's Issues & Ideas Forum "The Future of Unionized Government".
(video link http://www.mackinac.org/15711).
There is absolutely no reason our county should have enormous debt and no hope to reduce that debt.
Listen in Sunday morning at 9:00 the hear the "secret" of balancing your county budget.
Excellent video created by an Oaklanc county leader:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3071161216271798982#
http://www.oakgov.com/index.html
Muskegon county has $100 million in unfunded pension and healthcare promises to its workers.
The residents and businesses of our county will have to pay that debt or suffer severe cuts in services.
Or, most likely, both.
Oakland county, a far larger county, has ZERO unfunded pension and healthcare debt.
What are the leaders of Oakland county doing that our elected leaders in Muskegon county are not?
We will contrast the two counties.
Their leaders, their decisions and their finances.
My guest this Sunday is one of the architects of a fiscally sane governmental body, Tom Eaton, Oakland County Deputy Director of Human Resources
Mr. Eaton was a featured speaker at the Mackinac Center's Issues & Ideas Forum "The Future of Unionized Government".
(video link http://www.mackinac.org/15711).
There is absolutely no reason our county should have enormous debt and no hope to reduce that debt.
Listen in Sunday morning at 9:00 the hear the "secret" of balancing your county budget.
Excellent video created by an Oaklanc county leader:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3071161216271798982#
http://www.oakgov.com/index.html
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Norton Shores city council election-Tue. Nov. 8, 2011
Norton Shores Ward 2 boundaries are Sherman Boulevard to the north, Henry Street to the east and Porter Road to the south.
If you want to run as a write-in candidate, last day to file Fri. Oct.28:
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8721_11839---,00.html
Or even better, call Muskegon county clerk Nancy Waters or Kim Grimm at the Muskegon county clerk's office: Phone (231) 724-6221
Nancy A. Waters, Muskegon County Clerk
141 E. Apple Avenue, 2nd Floor*
Muskegon, MI 49442
Phone (231) 724-6221
Fax (231) 724-6262
Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Closed Holidays)
*Our Office has moved.
Upcoming Election Dates:
October 11, 2011 The last day to register for the November 8, 2011 Election
November 8, 2011 Election Day
Absentee ballot info:
Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk (798-4391) no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday (Sat. Nov. 5) before the election.
Or print your own and mail it or drop it off at city hall:
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_8722-21037--,00.html
If you want to run as a write-in candidate, last day to file Fri. Oct.28:
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8721_11839---,00.html
Or even better, call Muskegon county clerk Nancy Waters or Kim Grimm at the Muskegon county clerk's office: Phone (231) 724-6221
Nancy A. Waters, Muskegon County Clerk
141 E. Apple Avenue, 2nd Floor*
Muskegon, MI 49442
Phone (231) 724-6221
Fax (231) 724-6262
Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Closed Holidays)
*Our Office has moved.
Upcoming Election Dates:
October 11, 2011 The last day to register for the November 8, 2011 Election
November 8, 2011 Election Day
Absentee ballot info:
Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk (798-4391) no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday (Sat. Nov. 5) before the election.
Or print your own and mail it or drop it off at city hall:
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_8722-21037--,00.html
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Musings
It did NOT happen at an airshow. It happened at the Reno AIR Races, not an airshow.
Eco-libs bias against airshows is legend.
Now NBC jumps in to rename an air race to pander to the followers of AlGore? Beware the lying MSM!
Why don't we hear more about how big government is damaging big and small businesses? Are business leaders cowards?
Remember "recovery summer" 2009? How's the hopey changey "recovery" thing affecting your family?
Honeybunch and I rented kayaks at Putters Creek in NM recently. Super fun and only $15/kayak for 1 1/2 hours. Easy to paddle and they're still open Sat/Sun.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Carmen's/County board dates
We'll meet twice more this month at Carmen's Cafe:
County commission schedule for the rest of the month:
All county meetings are at 3:30, 4th floor county building.
Ways and means- Thr. Sep. 22-******note change!
Full board-Tue. Sep. 27
County commission schedule for the rest of the month:
All county meetings are at 3:30, 4th floor county building.
Ways and means- Thr. Sep. 22-******note change!
Full board-Tue. Sep. 27
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Musings
Is this any way to keep local employers?
Is this any way to keep local employees?
A local restaurant owner recently told me if Obama requires that they have to provide health care to employees, he'll close the restaurant.
They just don't have the extra profit to do it.
And they're not alone.
How many small businesses in Muskegon will have to close to make the ObamaCare zealots happy?
The new "no smoking rules have devastated many local bars and restaurants.
And these are the local businesses local leaders say they want to nourish.
I'm thinking those local "leaders" care more about their own personal power than some poor business owner struggling to survive.
I just drove past the beautiful homes on Jefferson Ave. just N of Laketon.
I'd forgotten just how beautiful that area was.
The faded glory still shows but it's clearly a neighborhood under pressure.
More an oasis than a neighborhood.
Sad.
Last week Honeybunch and I rented kayaks at Putter's Creek in NM. $15 for an hour and a half.
Very easy to paddle and lots of fun.
We'll be back when the fall leaves get grand.
County board location change!!!!!!
BIG Location change!
The county board will meet at Blue Lake Township Hall today instead of the County Building.
Today transportation and community development/strategic planning committees meet.
The county board will meet at Blue Lake Township Hall today instead of the County Building.
Today transportation and community development/strategic planning committees meet.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Taxpayers deserve more information about public employee contracts
Viewpoint: Taxpayers deserve more information about public employee contracts MLive.com
Some recent union contract specifics might be of interest to those who will be paying for the contracts:
A union contract approved by the county board last February included an increase of four paid days off that brought the total paid days off for senior employees to 58.
Yes, that's 58 paid days off for the year.
You might note that we have 52 weeks in a year.
Or that 58 days is almost 3 months of work days.
CLICK LINK TO READ THE ENTIRE LETTER
Some recent union contract specifics might be of interest to those who will be paying for the contracts:
A union contract approved by the county board last February included an increase of four paid days off that brought the total paid days off for senior employees to 58.
Yes, that's 58 paid days off for the year.
You might note that we have 52 weeks in a year.
Or that 58 days is almost 3 months of work days.
CLICK LINK TO READ THE ENTIRE LETTER
Monday, September 5, 2011
New radio show in Muskegon!
Hi friends,
Yes, retirement does give one some free time and this one, me, has decided to start my own radio show right here in politically tumultuous Muskegon county.
My new radio show begins this coming Sunday, September 11.
Here's the data:
"EyeOnMuskegon" starts next Sun. Sept. 11.
Every Sunday morning from 9-10 on NewsTalk WKBZ 1090 AM.
WKBZ is a legendary Muskegon talk radio station now owned by Clear Channel, the same behemoth that just gave Rush Limbaugh his $400 million contract.
You can imagine that I'll be emulating my hero, Rush, in thought and deed so I'm already shopping private jets and Oxycontin.
Nothing like being prepared, eh?
I will be focusing on Michigan and Muskegon politics and how the decisions of our political leaders affects us here in Muskegon.
And the decisions they've made lately have gotten us in big trouble.
It may seem to be a simple small town show (and we are thought to be podunk by some.....) but what happens in my small town is most likely happening in your town and state too.
The forces of spending and greed are not all that smart but they've been writing the rules while the rest of us have gone about our lives.
They mostly use the same crooked playbook and bet on us taxpayers not reading the book.
And so far, their bet has trumped ours.
If you live outside of Muskegon county you can listen on your computer.
We'll be live-casting on WKBZ's website: http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html.
"Live-casting" means you can listen to the show, live, on your computer.
Just click the link http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html,
then click "Watch and Listen" on the site,
then click "Listen Live" to hear EyeOnMuskegon on any computer.
EyeOnMuskegon will be a call-in show so I will take your calls.
If you want to call in, just listen on your radio or computer and give your old friend, me, a call.
I don't have the phone number yet (we just signed the contract Friday) but should have it shortly.
I'll announce it during the show.
We will also be "podcasting" the entire show so you can listen to the show ANYTIME on your computer.
How cool is that?!!
Simply click the link http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html , then click "Watch and Listen" and then click "Podcasts".
I'm sure many of you will want to listen to each show multiple times........right?
If you could forward this info to your friends (enemies?) I'd appreciate it.
JetA and Oxy prices are going through the roof!
Your quiet old friend,
Jim Riley
Eye On Muskegon
With your host
"The Mouth of Muskegon"
Jim Riley
Every Sunday morning 9-10
NewsTalk WKBZ-1090 AM
The Talk of Muskegon
Yes, retirement does give one some free time and this one, me, has decided to start my own radio show right here in politically tumultuous Muskegon county.
My new radio show begins this coming Sunday, September 11.
Here's the data:
"EyeOnMuskegon" starts next Sun. Sept. 11.
Every Sunday morning from 9-10 on NewsTalk WKBZ 1090 AM.
WKBZ is a legendary Muskegon talk radio station now owned by Clear Channel, the same behemoth that just gave Rush Limbaugh his $400 million contract.
You can imagine that I'll be emulating my hero, Rush, in thought and deed so I'm already shopping private jets and Oxycontin.
Nothing like being prepared, eh?
I will be focusing on Michigan and Muskegon politics and how the decisions of our political leaders affects us here in Muskegon.
And the decisions they've made lately have gotten us in big trouble.
It may seem to be a simple small town show (and we are thought to be podunk by some.....) but what happens in my small town is most likely happening in your town and state too.
The forces of spending and greed are not all that smart but they've been writing the rules while the rest of us have gone about our lives.
They mostly use the same crooked playbook and bet on us taxpayers not reading the book.
And so far, their bet has trumped ours.
If you live outside of Muskegon county you can listen on your computer.
We'll be live-casting on WKBZ's website: http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html.
"Live-casting" means you can listen to the show, live, on your computer.
Just click the link http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html,
then click "Watch and Listen" on the site,
then click "Listen Live" to hear EyeOnMuskegon on any computer.
EyeOnMuskegon will be a call-in show so I will take your calls.
If you want to call in, just listen on your radio or computer and give your old friend, me, a call.
I don't have the phone number yet (we just signed the contract Friday) but should have it shortly.
I'll announce it during the show.
We will also be "podcasting" the entire show so you can listen to the show ANYTIME on your computer.
How cool is that?!!
Simply click the link http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html , then click "Watch and Listen" and then click "Podcasts".
I'm sure many of you will want to listen to each show multiple times........right?
If you could forward this info to your friends (enemies?) I'd appreciate it.
JetA and Oxy prices are going through the roof!
Your quiet old friend,
Jim Riley
Eye On Muskegon
With your host
"The Mouth of Muskegon"
Jim Riley
Every Sunday morning 9-10
NewsTalk WKBZ-1090 AM
The Talk of Muskegon
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Mr. commissioner, why?
Why did you vote for free new laptops for your own use but don't even use your own now?
"THE CHAIRMAN RECOMMENDS, MOVED BY ENGLE, SECONDED
BY LONGMIRE, TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PURCHASE LAPTOP
OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR THE MUSKEGON
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS UTILIZING THE BOARD’S
FLOWER FUND"
This really is amazing.
They spend many meetings and almost an entire "planning session" grappling with this "important move into the 21st century" but now NONE even pretend to use a computer during county commission meetings.
Sup wit dat?
"THE CHAIRMAN RECOMMENDS, MOVED BY ENGLE, SECONDED
BY LONGMIRE, TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PURCHASE LAPTOP
OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR THE MUSKEGON
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS UTILIZING THE BOARD’S
FLOWER FUND"
This really is amazing.
They spend many meetings and almost an entire "planning session" grappling with this "important move into the 21st century" but now NONE even pretend to use a computer during county commission meetings.
Sup wit dat?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Nice pension!
Wow!
54 years old and ya get $46,284/yr pension starting at....well ......54 years old.
But wait there's more!
Free medical!
Free dental!
Free vision!
All starting at ....54 years old!
And ending at...good golly, who knows! One would hope it would be a long time, wouldn't one?
It's nice being a Muskegon county retiree, ain't it?
(click to biggify)
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/waysmeans_11_08_16.pdf
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Transit Agency Demands $300 to Reveal CEO's Salary
Transit Agency Demands $300 to Reveal CEO's Salary [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"The County of Muskegon said they no longer had the 2009-10 information and the 2010-11 information would cost $300."
At today's county commission meeting, a citizen asked the assembled county commissioners about this absurd county embarrassment.
If the slack jawed look on every commissioner's face (except Alan Jager) was any indication, none had a clue about the multi-million dollar department's inability to find the compensation data for 2009.
And the slack jawed looks were immediately followed by ...... well, nothing.
No questions.
Nothing.
What else lies out there that escapes the interest of our elected representatives?
"The County of Muskegon said they no longer had the 2009-10 information and the 2010-11 information would cost $300."
At today's county commission meeting, a citizen asked the assembled county commissioners about this absurd county embarrassment.
If the slack jawed look on every commissioner's face (except Alan Jager) was any indication, none had a clue about the multi-million dollar department's inability to find the compensation data for 2009.
And the slack jawed looks were immediately followed by ...... well, nothing.
No questions.
Nothing.
What else lies out there that escapes the interest of our elected representatives?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Muskegon Tea Party meets tonight! (8-9-2011)
We meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 7:00 at Whitlows
(click to biggify)
Snider/Scolnik running....AGAIN????
Long...long...long time county commissioners John Snider and Bob Scolnik both announced they will join Marve Engle and will run for reelection to the Muskegon county board of commissioners in 2012 on the GOP ticket.
All three have consistently voted with democrat county chairman Ken Mahoney and his democrat majority on most (every?) major increase in spending and hiring over the last nine years.
Bob, John and Bob tell any who will listen they are republicans.
That must be enough since one could never tell by their votes.
If you love the financial bind our county finds itself in today, reelect those who got us there.
Or just give them a call and ask why they voted for EVERY union contract increase since they were elected.
All three have consistently voted with democrat county chairman Ken Mahoney and his democrat majority on most (every?) major increase in spending and hiring over the last nine years.
Bob, John and Bob tell any who will listen they are republicans.
That must be enough since one could never tell by their votes.
If you love the financial bind our county finds itself in today, reelect those who got us there.
Or just give them a call and ask why they voted for EVERY union contract increase since they were elected.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Bailout tracker - CNNMoney.com
Follow the money: Bailout tracker - CNNMoney.com
"CNNMoney.com's bailout tracker
The government is engaged in a far-reaching - and expensive - effort to rescue the economy.
Here's how you can keep tabs on the bailouts."
"CNNMoney.com's bailout tracker
The government is engaged in a far-reaching - and expensive - effort to rescue the economy.
Here's how you can keep tabs on the bailouts."
Muskegon County set to change dog license renewal schedule
Muskegon County set to change dog license renewal schedule MLive.com
"County commissioners gave their preliminary approval this week to the new dog licensing schedule, changing from a March 1 renewal date for all dogs to the last day of the month of the dog's current vaccination.
As part of the change, a dog owner can purchase a one-year or three-year license."
A great idea!
We need more like it.
"County commissioners gave their preliminary approval this week to the new dog licensing schedule, changing from a March 1 renewal date for all dogs to the last day of the month of the dog's current vaccination.
As part of the change, a dog owner can purchase a one-year or three-year license."
A great idea!
We need more like it.
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