County board "planning session" May 4, 1:00 p.m.

C. Board Planning Session -May 4th , 1:00 p.m., Louis McMurray Conference & Transportation Center

Put this on your calender.

They will likely discuss the county commissioner's travel expenses and budget.

I'm sure some commissioners don't want you to see their past expenses or their plans for spending your tax dollars soon.

County Commission Agenda for Thursday, 4-8-2010

Maybe someone ought to ask why the county has a hiring freeze?
And what's with all the "reclassifying" of jobs?
Another secret way to create a new employee when an old position is no longer needed?
My comments are in bold.


COURTS/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AGENDA:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/courts_10_04_06.pdf

CPS 10104 -26 (Probate Court) Approve to Reclassify Clerk II Position to Probate Court Clerk

CPS 10/04-32 (Sheriff's Office) Waive the Hiring Freeze and Allow Sheriff to Fill Vacant Deputy Position #505018
CPS 10/04-33 (Sheriff's Office) Authorize Reclassifying the Current Vacant Registered Nurse/Sheriff FT to a LPN/Sheriff PT Position


HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE AGENDA
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/hr_10_04_06.pdf

"Waive, waive,waive" the "hireing freeze!
HR10/04 -23 (Mental Health) Waive the Hiring Freeze to Allow CMH to Fill Supports Coordinator/DD Full-Time Position
HR10104 -24 (Mental Health) Waive the Hiring Freeze to Allow CMH to Fill the Vacant Employment Coordinator Assistant Position
HR10104 -25 (Mental Health) Waive the Hiring Freeze to Allow CMH to Fill the Vacant Transcriptionist Position

HR10104 -29 (Mental Health) Amend CMH FY2010 Budget and Approve Personnel Changes

This one has supporting documents on pg. 51.
It may be OK but what was the $1,500,00 (or $750,000) supposed to be spent on before this transfer?
Will we next see a new "revenue" need to fund the place we just looted?

HR10104 -30 (Mental Health) Approve an Equity Transfer from CMH Adult Benefit Waiver Reserve to the Equipment Revolving Fund:

"This is approximately $1.1 million and is deposited in the County revolving fund. This is sufficient to cover the debt retirement for most of the 25 year period; however, there will be a few years at the end of the schedule when additional fund reserve will be required, up to approximately $1 ,500,000.


CMH proposes to make an allocation from current reserves to partially fund the future shortage in the revolving fund. This will ensure fund availability through the 22nd year of the bond repayment cycle. Future transfers to this fund will be required to cover the remaining shortage.

SUGGESTED MOTION (STATE EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD APPEAR IN THE MINUTES)

I move to approve an equity transfer of $750,000 from the Community Mental Health Adult Benefit Waiver Reserve to the Equipment Revolving Fund (in a reserve account for Community Mental Health) to cover future debt retirement payments for the Mental Health Center building.HR10104 -30 (Mental Health) Approve an Equity Transfer from CMH Adult Benefit Waiver Reserve to the Equipment Revolving Fund"

Muskegon County Board of Commissioners

Muskegon County Board of Commissioners

The agendas are posted for the April 6 meeting.

Today's County Commission meeting items

Items for Consideration:


WM 10104 -64 (Administration) Approve Accounts Payable WM10104 -65 (Administration) Approve to Continue Collection of the Local 9-1-1 Surcharge

WM10104 -66 (Administration) Approve Transfer of Position and Funding of the Compliance Review Supervisor/CMH to Administration and Change Title to Grants Coordinator

This one looks fishey.
Why did we have a "compliance review supervisor" if we don't need one now.
Who did that person supervise?
What does a "grants coordinator" do?
Doesn't the county already have people employed to deal with grants?


WM10104 -67 (County Clerk) Waive Hiring Freeze and Allow Filling of Two Circuit Court Clerk Positions G19504 and G19505

More "waives"....

WM10/04 -68 (Finance Management/Accounting) Accept and Place on File the Single Audit Report for FY Ended 9/20/2009

This might be an interesting read!

John McNally reports on the 1:00 County planning meeting!

This is a classic example of citizen input in our county government.

John showed up. He was respectful. And he had a camera!

Oh the sunlight that so frightened those so used to the cover of darkness!

John, you are the MAN!

We now have a core of "citizen reporters".

Who will step up next?



Fellow Patriots,

I wanted to thank Jim Riley for inviting me to a County Board meeting. It was interesting to say the least.
Highlights

At one point one of the commissioners suggested that they streamline the process for starting new businesses and get more proactive to develop small businesses. Another commissioner replied if I may paraphrase that almost 80% of new businesses fail so what is the point? Wouldn't we (the board) just be helping them to fail? I felt like reminding him these businesses help pay his salary.

There was a presentation on the process for the Indian Gaming casino. I am not sure what your opinion is on this matter but the board was all for it. At one point the attorney for the tribe commented he was the one person happy to see that unemployment went up in the county. The commissioners got a big laugh out of this one.

Discussion of wind farms: The board's role appears to be minimal; either an endorsement or a "kick in the pants". They are waiting for the state to issue the guidelines and updating themselves on the issue.

Equalization:

Donna Stokes (The Equalization Director) gave a presentation including a chart. A commissioner asked about the foreclosure issue. She said there was misinformation in the paper's editorial page and that foreclosures were no where near 2/3rds of the sales. I spoke up indicating that I wrote the opinion letter and the 2/3rds figure came from a freedom of information request which was responded to by Kelly Sobel the Executive Admin. for the State Tax Commission. I also asked her how many foreclosures were included in her data. She did not know.

Budget:

The commissioners were given a copy of a budget. There seemed to be an atmosphere of gloom. A lot of talk about strategic planning and the need to work together took place. There was some talk of across the board cuts but it seemed to be a last resort solution.

Camera: I filmed quite a bit of the meeting. One thing that Jim mentioned is that the board has felt that there was no one watching them. I think they were surprised by the camera.

Idea: Jim is doing a great job finding out about these meetings and attending them. The more we show up for these meetings the better. I would also like to form a group of people focused on reviewing all the county expenses and other documents. If anyone is interested in this project let me know.

John McNally

john@mccoyltd.com

radaris.com/p/Kimberly/Misak/

Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Expenditure Detail ...

Recipient, Amount, Description, Date. Friends of Kenneth Mahoney, Montague, MI, $350, Non-Federal Ken Mahoney (MI-D), 10/27/06 ...

https://www.opensecrets.org/.../expenddetail.php?...Kenneth+Mahoney

Update on Tues. 3-23-2010 Full Board County Commission meeting

Everything I hi-lighted in my earlier blog post passed with no dissenting votes:

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-county-board-meeting-today-330.html

So we got:

1. $3000 free money for the Heights festival board to do with as they please.
NO other city or township in the county gets any money at all for their festivals.

2. A total of $6,500 of porky earmarks to favored/connected groups (including Muskegon Heights) from the Convention and Visitor's Bureau fund that is supposed to fund out of our county advertising. Just more special interests taking from most of us and giving to their special friends.

3. More trolley money...no trolley riders. And no commissioner dares to ask for an accounting of riders vs cost.

4. The "waives" just keep on rolling. This is one tsunami of waives that keeps on rolling ....and it's entirely created by the commissioners who voted for the "hiring freeze". Gotta love the freeze!

5. I never even got to ask about the "retiree dental benefits". Done deal for them....and our pocketbooks. Doesn't EVERYONE have full dental benefits in retirement?

6. The worker's comp amount was an oversight but I was the only one to spot it. And I don't get a vote. Neither do you. None of the commissioners who voted "aye" noticed it either. I wonder how often this happens. Do you?

No Thursday meeting this week Mar. 25 or Tues.Mar. 30 next week..

See you (I hope) all next week Thursday, April 2.

The agenda isn't posted yet but why don't we all keep checking out the site:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/committee_agendas.cfm

I can't do this entirely alone.

Join me!

Jim Riley
231-557-9912

Another County board meeting today 3:30 at County building

Another County board meeting today 3:30 at County building
Today (3-23-2010) there will be a full board meeting of the Muskegon County Commission.

Among other items I found these most interesting:

1. I'm against ANY porky funding for this type of public event but especially when our financial future is so bleak.

But look at the funding for the Heights "Festival".
$3000.

Does the county board "spread the money around" to the other cities?
Or is the heights just "special"?

Either way, it ought to stop.

They've already spent us broke.

They shouldn't have the fun of spending us broker.

CD/SP1 0103 -03To approve the financial contributions be made and that the funds be utilized from the CVB's Community Promotions (902020) line item:
Muskegon Heights "Festival in the Park" -$3,000.00;
The Associationof Concert Bands 2011 National Convention Committee -$500.00;
the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant -$3,000.00.

2. Most every trolley I've seen was empty or mostly empty.

Has there ever been a study of ridership vs cost?

Wouldn't it be nice to see that report?

TRlO/03-12 Move to approve operation of a 2010 Trolley Route Program as proposed.

3. They "waive" just about every meeting.

Maybe we citizens ought to get an explanation?

To waive the hiring freeze and allow the Human Resources Department to fill the vacant Human Resources Analyst position #N39502 at step 1 and change the funding from 100% 1010-0226 to 75% 1010-0226 and 25% 6770-0203.

4. Wait-a-minute!

County retirees get dental benefits??!!!!

What's that cost?

Do you get retirement dental?

Gimme a break!

To approve Professional Benefits Services (PBS) for the Third Party Administration of the Muskegon County retiree dental plan from 4/1/2010 -9/30/2012 at a rate of $1.90 per line item.

5. Probably nothing here but anytime I see vague wording, I get the ginchies.

"..grant the authority to sign NECESSARY contracts....

"I'd just like a bit more info sir.....

To grant the Chairperson of the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners and the County Clerk the authority to sign necessary contracts with Web Tecs, Inc., and Ottawa County.

6. This one is minor but says volumes about our state.

They want to hire a kid and pay him about $5,700 but the worker's comp is $1,011 for this part timer!!!!!
No wonder jobs keep leaving our state.

Requested Position Class/Pos. Description WATER SYSTEM ENG AIDE/SEASONAL Requested Table/Grade/Hourly Range $850~/HR~ Salary and Wages Social Security Hospitalization Ins. Life Ins. Retirement
$5,746
Worker's comp$1,011


Come on and join me in these meetings!

Every Tues and Thurs at 3:30 at the County Building.

Big meeting tomorrow 1:00PM!

There will be an open "planning session" meeting of the full Muskegon county board tomorrow from 1-3:00 PM at the Muskegon County convention and visitors bureau building.
That's the old train station across from the Eagles, corner of 7th and Western.

All citizens are legally entitled to attend.

On the agenda will be discussion about:
1. Equalization and assessments.
2. The new casino in Fruitport.
3. Long range financial planning for the County.
4. The county commissioner's travel budget.
5. County purchasing policy.

This is where much of the real policy info is discussed and in the past, the commissioners have had the luxury of little citizen attendance or input.

So they could do just whatever they and those with their hands out wanted.
With little public scrutiny.

Let's change that!

I'll be there tomorrow at 12:45, outside by the front door to greet any of you patriots who will stand tall and attend.

It is YOUR future and your money they will be talking about!

See you there!


"It's the SPENDING Stupid!"

"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." -Patrick Henry, revolutionary (1736-1799)

Government meeting tool kit!

Muskegon County Commission Citizen Action Toolkit!

If you are interested in learning about how our Muskegon county government works, it helps to attend the county commission meetings.

If you want to see "change you can believe in", you need to provide your own citizen input.

Or it will continue to be the same old, same old.

Here is a "toolkit" of links you can use to see what happened last time and what will be discussed at the next meetings.

All meetings are held in the Board of Commissioner's Room:
4th Floor of the Hall of Justice (County building)
990 Terrace Street, MMuskegon, MI
3:30 p.m sharp!

Agenda for full County Commission Board Meeting: http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/board_agendas.cfm

Past full County board minutes:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/board_minutes.cfm

Standing committee minutes and agendas: http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/committees.htm

Future meeting full board and committee schedules:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/meetings.htm


Be an educated citizen!

"It's the SPENDING Stupid!"

"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." -Patrick Henry, revolutionary (1736-1799)

Mona Shores Millage 2009 ballot

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.

"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.

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!"

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.

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.