Group Calls For More Transparency in Redistricting Eyewitness News 9
"The redistricting collaborative wants any proposed map to be posted on the Internet 30 days before adoption so citizens can study it and offer their comments."Contact your county commissioner and every member on the Muskegon county redistricting board today!
Tell them you want TRANSPARENCY!
Phone calls ALWAYS get better results!
Commissioners phone numbers and districts:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/brd_comm.cfm
Commissioner's e-mail address:
www.co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners
Apportionment board members:
Christina Achterhoff (R) (231) 744-2454
Steve Markel (D) 231-722-2254
Tony Tague, Prosecutor (D)
Phone: 231-724-6435
email: archerwe@co.muskegon.mi.us
Nancy A. Waters, County Clerk (D)
Phone: 231-724-6221
email: clerk@co.muskegon.mi.us
Tony Moulatsiotis, Treasurer (D)
Phone: 231-724-6261
email: moulatsiotisto@co.muskegon.mi.us
Following Muskegon county news.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Muskegon County group charged with drawing up commissioners' districts to meet
Muskegon County group charged with drawing up commissioners' districts to meet MLive.com
"The commission’s organizational meeting, which is open to the public, is set for Thursday in room G203 of the Central Services Building, 141 E. Apple.
The commission is expected to elect a chairperson at the organizational meeting."
9:00 AM tomorrow.
"The commission’s organizational meeting, which is open to the public, is set for Thursday in room G203 of the Central Services Building, 141 E. Apple.
The commission is expected to elect a chairperson at the organizational meeting."
9:00 AM tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
NS millage to cost $12,000
I'm just back from the Norton Shores city council meeting.
Mostly dull except for a question about the cost of next week's millage election.
It is expected to be about $12,000.
Don't forget to vote next Tuesday!
(enter "NS" in the search box, top left, for more info and links)
Mostly dull except for a question about the cost of next week's millage election.
It is expected to be about $12,000.
Don't forget to vote next Tuesday!
(enter "NS" in the search box, top left, for more info and links)
Editorial: Laptop dilemma: Efficiency, cost savings vs. appearances
"A proposal to purchase laptop computers for Muskegon County commissioners needs close review."
An additional perspective:
Best Buy has a high power (3 GB ram) laptop for $350.
The county estimate for each laptop for the commissioners is $1391 with warranty and MS Office.
Open Office, a free version of MS Office is free.
The county's only stated reason for the taxpayers to foot the bill for commissioner's laptops is that it will provid savings on printing and mailing costs.
The county reports $2000 in mailing costs.
The commissioners are in the county building twice a week.
Why are they mailing ANYTHING to commissioners?
Can't they simply pick up all paper when they are in the building?
They can start saving taxpayer's money today.
The county reports printing costs of $3857.
That is because the current policy is to print everything for every commissioner.
Commissioners have told me that many commissioners go to their county mailbox and dump most of it in the trash.
If the commissioners cared about cost, they would only print what they need.
They can start saving taxpayer money TODAY.
Not to mention that most of what is printed is already online for those commissioners who have home computers.
Our county commissioners are paid $16,000/yr plus full medical benefits, including dental and vision care.
And for those who qualify, lifetime medical and pension.
A total cost to the taxpayers of about $25,000 per year.
And these part-time employees want us to pay for free laptops?
Most commissioners already have desktops and laptops at home.
We've heard no cry from them that important information has been unavailable.
They already have the tools.
If laptops would provide such great efficiencies, why has no commissioner brought theirs to county meetings?
(yes, one commissioner brought his last week and flailed around with paper during the meeting.)
Their actions speak louder than their words.
Free laptops are not a "tool" for these part timers, they are a statement from our elected commissioners to us.
I hope we listen to them very carefully!
Update on "the Rosemary Woods moment"
Well,
We finally got a copy of the audio of the Feb. 8 meeting of the full county commission board.
Excerpts will be posted soon.
But it did take four visits to the county clerk's office, after I had already paid for my disk.
We had to use our own flash drive to get the recording so my $5 went to...who knows where.
It must be noted that my first request was to have the file sent to me via e-mail.
A savings to the county.
In a county that tells us they are working HARD to reduce costs.
I'm told that county clerk Nancy Waters has been "stung" by citizen complaints about the clerk's office.
Imagine if our local Best Buy provided similar service:
Day one-I buy my software but ask if they could e-mail it to me. I am told the boss must make that decision and I leave my phone number and ask to have it e-mailed or if it can't be e-mailed, to call me so I can pick it up later in the day.
Day two-No e-mail or call so I go back to the store and am told the only person who can help me is in a meeting. I leave my phone number again and ask that she call me.
Day three-No contact at all from the store so I return, am told that the boss still hasn't ruled on sending me my software via the web, so the nice lady makes me a copy on a disk.
That evening I find the disk is corrupted.
Day four-I ask a friend to return to the store with his own flash drive and try to get the software.
It easily uploads.
Store manager openly laments that unfair complaints about service have been made by customers.
Day 5?-Muskegon County commission opens hearings on "outrageous customer service" by Best Buy.
We finally got a copy of the audio of the Feb. 8 meeting of the full county commission board.
Excerpts will be posted soon.
But it did take four visits to the county clerk's office, after I had already paid for my disk.
We had to use our own flash drive to get the recording so my $5 went to...who knows where.
It must be noted that my first request was to have the file sent to me via e-mail.
A savings to the county.
In a county that tells us they are working HARD to reduce costs.
I'm told that county clerk Nancy Waters has been "stung" by citizen complaints about the clerk's office.
Imagine if our local Best Buy provided similar service:
Day one-I buy my software but ask if they could e-mail it to me. I am told the boss must make that decision and I leave my phone number and ask to have it e-mailed or if it can't be e-mailed, to call me so I can pick it up later in the day.
Day two-No e-mail or call so I go back to the store and am told the only person who can help me is in a meeting. I leave my phone number again and ask that she call me.
Day three-No contact at all from the store so I return, am told that the boss still hasn't ruled on sending me my software via the web, so the nice lady makes me a copy on a disk.
That evening I find the disk is corrupted.
Day four-I ask a friend to return to the store with his own flash drive and try to get the software.
It easily uploads.
Store manager openly laments that unfair complaints about service have been made by customers.
Day 5?-Muskegon County commission opens hearings on "outrageous customer service" by Best Buy.
County Directory - Board of Commissioners
County Directory - Board of Commissioners
"MUSKEGON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS"
Personal phone numbers and home addresses of our county commissioners.
A good start.
With all the talk of free laptops for commissioners, why don't they list their personal e-mail addresses?
Give your commissioner a call!
They tell us that citizen input is important!
"MUSKEGON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS"
Personal phone numbers and home addresses of our county commissioners.
A good start.
With all the talk of free laptops for commissioners, why don't they list their personal e-mail addresses?
Give your commissioner a call!
They tell us that citizen input is important!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
I just wanted my CD.....
That's in addition to the two months off each year they already get.
Read the memorandum for specifics:
The union contract information that has been given to the commissioners (and us taxpayers) is 2 pages (scroll to pg. 13-14):
(http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/waysmeans_11_02_03.pdf)
During the meeting, there were some very interesting questions and answers about the spending that totaled well into the millions of dollars of American taxpayer's money.
And a very important explanation of his "NO" vote on the union contract by commissioner Alan Jager.
But, at the end of the meeting, there was a particularly obnoxious and thuggish call-out of a citizen sitting quietly in the peanut gallery by commissioner Bob Scolnik.
A loss of composure that made clear his contempt for any citizen who would dare criticize county commissioners.
That citizen being ....me.
The official minutes of meetings as published by county clerk Waters have recently and mysteriously "disappeared" any comments by citizens and even by commissioners who want to explain their vote on an item.
So, I thought us citizens of Muskegon ought to be able to hear the exact words of our county leaders.
As spoken by those leaders.
The county has a policy of voice recording official county meetings so the next day I went to the county clerk's office to buy my copy of the recording.
Not too expensive, $5.
But I asked if I could have it sent to my via e-mail and the nice lady said that might be possible.
So I left her my phone number and asked if I wasn't going to get it as an e-mail, would she call me so I could return and pick up the CD I'd paid for.
Next day, no e-mail.
No call.
So I went back to the county clerk's office and asked why I hadn't received my copy of the audio of the county meeting.
And was told that the nice woman was in a meeting.
So left my phone number again and asked if she would call me when convenient.
No call again.
So, the next day I returned again, found the nice lady and asked why the silence to my request.
She told me she hadn't gotten the approval from county clerk Nancy Waters to e-mail the file to me.
Two days had passed since my first request.
She hadn't bothered to call me.
So, I asked if I could get the CD I'd already paid for and another very helpful woman in the office made it for me.
When I got home, I opened the CD, listened and...big surprise!
Everything from about half way, from the start of real commissioner and audience comments was garbled.
Especially commissioner Bob Scolnik's aggressive accusations at a citizen sitting in the audience.
Who'd of guessed?
Now, I'm not a paranoid person.
But this is the third time this has happened to me.
The first was this Rosemary Woods moment:
http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2010/04/rosemary-woods-moment.html
The second was when I asked to purchase an audio CD of a meeting and was told that "the system just didn't work" that day.
And now I see my $5 bucks only bought me everything but the important words of our commissioners.
I'm going back to the clerk's office tomorrow.
I'm bringing a flash drive so they might give it another try.
Maybe this time I'll get the entire audio.
I'll let you know!
"defriended"!
Wow! My county commissioner "defriended" me on Facebook.
I openly criticized the entire commission for voting on spending items without reading them.
I guess that's offensive to my representative.
Isn't it kinda "13-year-old-girl-hissy-fit-ish"?
The skin is thin for those used to slavish adulation, isn't it.
Sad, because he was a real friend....sorta.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Carmen's tomorrow at 2:30-3:20 Meet me!
Anyway, if you want to chat about local politics, old Gordo will be at Carmen's every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30ish to 3:15ish.
I'll buy you a nice glass of water!
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/cd_11_02_10.pdf
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/pworks_11_02_10.pdf
NS millage public meeting this Sunday!
I would like to formally invite Norton Shores voters to attend a question and answer forum, sponsored by the Citizens for Norton Shores Committee.
This will occur on Sunday, February 13th from 1-4pm, at Pints and Quarts.
The Mayor, council members, administration, department heads and staff will all be there to answer questions you may have.
Capacity is limited to 250.
I look forward to meeting all of you on here.
Joe Kinnucan
This will occur on Sunday, February 13th from 1-4pm, at Pints and Quarts.
The Mayor, council members, administration, department heads and staff will all be there to answer questions you may have.
Capacity is limited to 250.
I look forward to meeting all of you on here.
Joe Kinnucan
Searchable PDF-"waive the hiring freeze"
Muskegon County Board of Commissioners
"Click here if you have a high speed internet connection and would like to view/search all 2011 meeting minutes in one PDF document."
This is an excellent tool.
Simply enter a term in the search box, click and voila!
I entered "waive the hiring freeze" and got 52 items for 2010.
And this is for Muskegon county, the county whose commissioners have voted for a "hiring freeze".
Jepers.
52 hits.
52 weeks in a year.
Who'd of guessed?
"Click here if you have a high speed internet connection and would like to view/search all 2011 meeting minutes in one PDF document."
This is an excellent tool.
Simply enter a term in the search box, click and voila!
I entered "waive the hiring freeze" and got 52 items for 2010.
And this is for Muskegon county, the county whose commissioners have voted for a "hiring freeze".
Jepers.
52 hits.
52 weeks in a year.
Who'd of guessed?
Downtown needs to shovel its walks, now
Letters: Downtown needs to shovel its walks, now MLive.com
"In response to your news story, “Downtown Muskegon Now Broadens Promotion” (Feb. 6), I have a fabulous idea: Provide pathways for pedestrians, especially around the Frauenthal Theater.
We attended the concert on Friday night, and Muskegon was not rising.
Instead, everyone was struggling to stay upright.
Very narrow pathways made walking treacherous.
I know Muskegon has been blessed with much more snow than we need, and finding a place for it can be a problem.
However, if the idea is to promote the downtown area, then a solution must be found for making the walks safe and accessible.
And what about the sidewalks around the old Chronicle building at Fourth and Western? Shouldn't someone be responsible for clearing those sidewalks?
It seems to me these are obvious glitches that could have simple solutions.
Marilyn Nygren
Muskegon"
Lot's of talk from city leaders.
But no one to shovel the snow.
Bummer.
"In response to your news story, “Downtown Muskegon Now Broadens Promotion” (Feb. 6), I have a fabulous idea: Provide pathways for pedestrians, especially around the Frauenthal Theater.
We attended the concert on Friday night, and Muskegon was not rising.
Instead, everyone was struggling to stay upright.
Very narrow pathways made walking treacherous.
I know Muskegon has been blessed with much more snow than we need, and finding a place for it can be a problem.
However, if the idea is to promote the downtown area, then a solution must be found for making the walks safe and accessible.
And what about the sidewalks around the old Chronicle building at Fourth and Western? Shouldn't someone be responsible for clearing those sidewalks?
It seems to me these are obvious glitches that could have simple solutions.
Marilyn Nygren
Muskegon"
Lot's of talk from city leaders.
But no one to shovel the snow.
Bummer.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
My comments at today's Muskegon County commission meeting
Please understand that I never commented on the SEIU contract itself. (even though it is so awful you ought to read the synopsis with a drink in hand..or maybe a whole bunch of drinks....link http://muskegontaxpayers.blogspot.com/2011/02/thoughts-on-tomorrows-union-contract.html)
During the first "public comment" time I asked the commissioners two questions:
"Have any of you commissioners read the entire contract that you will be voting on today."
And "Have any of you commissioners ever seen a full copy of the printed contract?"
There was a "deer in the headlights" response from the commissioners which I took as a "no".
But immediately after my questions, as I waited for the "deer" to blink, commissioner Marve Engle leaned over to County chairman, Ken Mahoney and said "questions are not allowed".
And Chairman Mahoney responded "oh yeah no questions" or something like that.
The official minutes as published today by the county:
(from the minutes- http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/02082011_board_minutes.pdf:
"2011-71 PUBLIC COMMENT (ON AN AGENDA ITEM)
Jim Riley made comments relating to the union contract agenda item.""
And they moved on.
The commissioners then mostly (except for Jager) voted for every spending opportunity and the big union contract.
Again, except for Alan Jager.
So, at the end of the meeting when the gorging at the public trough of spending was over, public commentary was allowed once again and I spoke to my commissioners for the second time:
"In deference to commissioner Engle's aversion to questions from taxpayers, the questions in my statement are rhetorical."
(I didn't want to be stopped in the middle of my comments because of some new prohibition of questions!)
The "deer" look returned, and there was no love that I could detect.
Anyway, here's what I then said, verbatim:
"I have a heavy heart right now.
Today you commissioners, all save one, voted on a very expensive union contract.
And all of you voted "aye", save one.
And yet you tell us all that none of you have read the contract in its entirety.
You haven't even seen the full contract in written form.
And yet you voted "aye".
All of you, save one.
Here is a copy of the memorandum, a "summary outlines the changes in the tentative agreement reached on January 7,2011, between the County of Muskegon and the SEIU Public Works Unit."
But this summary doesn't compare this new contract with the previous contract.
This summary doesn't provide you with any information about whether this will cost the county more or less than the old one.
Whether the employees are giving back or taking more or it's the exact same as last year.
This summary provides words like "county pays 100% for employees with 25 years."
1000% of what?
What will it cost?
What did it cost last year?
Did you know before you voted?
This summary says "county pays 12.99% toward the defined benefit plan".
12.99% of what?
What is the real cost to the county?
How does it compare with last year's expense?
Did you know the answers before you voted today?
And it goes on with more fuzzy vagaries.
Many of you have owned or run businesses.
You would never...never! sign a contract so expensive without fully reading and understanding every detail.
But that would be your money you'd be spending, wouldn't it?
You all have families and households.
You would never enter into a costly agreement without reading and understanding it.
And budgeting so that you could afford it.
But this vote, like so many before, was a nice quick "aye" times eight.
Well, we elected you all to represent us.
We gave you our trust.
We expected you would do the heavy lifting.
That you'd read, do your homework, ask the hard questions and in the end you would be knowledgeable and we would trust in your judgement.
And this is how you reward our trust?
It is a sad day in Muskegon county."
Well, have you ever seen a really ANGRY deer?
Or 8 of them sitting behind a big line of connected desks with microphones?
Well, I saw that today.
But it gets "better".
Commissioner Scolnik, took great umbrage at my comments, responded that he had in fact read a comparison of the two contracts, that the commissioners worked real hard at their jobs and who was I to criticize them when I never ran for election ...and then went on from that.
The official minutes from that exchange:
"Jim Riley addressed the Commissioners regarding the union contract agenda item."
I'll try to get the audio of the meeting that is required by the county board to be made available for all meetings so that I might more accurately recount what was exactly said.
I have offered commissioner Scolnik my public apology if he can produce the comparison report that he told the audience he'd read.
I'll let you know.
No one said that going against the establishment was gonna be easy.
Thanks to my peanut gallery supporters Paula, Sue, Nancy, David, Susie, Eric and us other "great unwashed" Tea Party members!
My heroes are county commissioner Alan Jager, Sarah Palin and Michigan proposal 2 heroine, Jennifer Gratz.
During the first "public comment" time I asked the commissioners two questions:
"Have any of you commissioners read the entire contract that you will be voting on today."
And "Have any of you commissioners ever seen a full copy of the printed contract?"
There was a "deer in the headlights" response from the commissioners which I took as a "no".
But immediately after my questions, as I waited for the "deer" to blink, commissioner Marve Engle leaned over to County chairman, Ken Mahoney and said "questions are not allowed".
And Chairman Mahoney responded "oh yeah no questions" or something like that.
The official minutes as published today by the county:
(from the minutes- http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/02082011_board_minutes.pdf:
"2011-71 PUBLIC COMMENT (ON AN AGENDA ITEM)
Jim Riley made comments relating to the union contract agenda item.""
And they moved on.
The commissioners then mostly (except for Jager) voted for every spending opportunity and the big union contract.
Again, except for Alan Jager.
So, at the end of the meeting when the gorging at the public trough of spending was over, public commentary was allowed once again and I spoke to my commissioners for the second time:
"In deference to commissioner Engle's aversion to questions from taxpayers, the questions in my statement are rhetorical."
(I didn't want to be stopped in the middle of my comments because of some new prohibition of questions!)
The "deer" look returned, and there was no love that I could detect.
Anyway, here's what I then said, verbatim:
"I have a heavy heart right now.
Today you commissioners, all save one, voted on a very expensive union contract.
And all of you voted "aye", save one.
And yet you tell us all that none of you have read the contract in its entirety.
You haven't even seen the full contract in written form.
And yet you voted "aye".
All of you, save one.
Here is a copy of the memorandum, a "summary outlines the changes in the tentative agreement reached on January 7,2011, between the County of Muskegon and the SEIU Public Works Unit."
But this summary doesn't compare this new contract with the previous contract.
This summary doesn't provide you with any information about whether this will cost the county more or less than the old one.
Whether the employees are giving back or taking more or it's the exact same as last year.
This summary provides words like "county pays 100% for employees with 25 years."
1000% of what?
What will it cost?
What did it cost last year?
Did you know before you voted?
This summary says "county pays 12.99% toward the defined benefit plan".
12.99% of what?
What is the real cost to the county?
How does it compare with last year's expense?
Did you know the answers before you voted today?
And it goes on with more fuzzy vagaries.
Many of you have owned or run businesses.
You would never...never! sign a contract so expensive without fully reading and understanding every detail.
But that would be your money you'd be spending, wouldn't it?
You all have families and households.
You would never enter into a costly agreement without reading and understanding it.
And budgeting so that you could afford it.
But this vote, like so many before, was a nice quick "aye" times eight.
Well, we elected you all to represent us.
We gave you our trust.
We expected you would do the heavy lifting.
That you'd read, do your homework, ask the hard questions and in the end you would be knowledgeable and we would trust in your judgement.
And this is how you reward our trust?
It is a sad day in Muskegon county."
Well, have you ever seen a really ANGRY deer?
Or 8 of them sitting behind a big line of connected desks with microphones?
Well, I saw that today.
But it gets "better".
Commissioner Scolnik, took great umbrage at my comments, responded that he had in fact read a comparison of the two contracts, that the commissioners worked real hard at their jobs and who was I to criticize them when I never ran for election ...and then went on from that.
The official minutes from that exchange:
"Jim Riley addressed the Commissioners regarding the union contract agenda item."
I'll try to get the audio of the meeting that is required by the county board to be made available for all meetings so that I might more accurately recount what was exactly said.
I have offered commissioner Scolnik my public apology if he can produce the comparison report that he told the audience he'd read.
I'll let you know.
No one said that going against the establishment was gonna be easy.
Thanks to my peanut gallery supporters Paula, Sue, Nancy, David, Susie, Eric and us other "great unwashed" Tea Party members!
My heroes are county commissioner Alan Jager, Sarah Palin and Michigan proposal 2 heroine, Jennifer Gratz.
Viewpoint: Why I voted to repeal and replace the health care law
Viewpoint: Why I voted to repeal and replace the health care law MLive.com
"The law was written behind closed doors and passed before anyone, even those voting on it, had time to figure out the true cost or consequences of its 2,000-plus pages.
Now that it is law, we are discovering it includes a lot of negative consequences and ever-increasing costs."
Sounds a bit like the methods used by our county commission.
"The law was written behind closed doors and passed before anyone, even those voting on it, had time to figure out the true cost or consequences of its 2,000-plus pages.
Now that it is law, we are discovering it includes a lot of negative consequences and ever-increasing costs."
Sounds a bit like the methods used by our county commission.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Commissioner Bob Scolnik delivers again!
Hey, hey!
My county commissioner,
Bob Scolnik came through with the county's elusive study that "proved" giving free laptops to commissioners, in perpetuity, is worth the money expended!
Kudos to Bob for getting the info before the vote.
And double kudos to Bob Scolnik for being the ONLY commissioner to get this info to the public!
Bob has attached an EXCEL spreadsheet that I haven't yet figured how to add to this post but I'll work on it.
Perhaps the county will add it to the agenda?
My quick reading of it suggests that "free" computers for county commissioners is a bad idea.
But I'll also remind us all that communication from us great unwashed with our representatives is important.
And not all of our representatives understand that concept.
Bob Scolnik does.
But I'll still blast him on this votes, if necessary......which is becoming more often.....
Keep Bob on the Job......as long as he keeps us on his mind.
My county commissioner,
Bob Scolnik came through with the county's elusive study that "proved" giving free laptops to commissioners, in perpetuity, is worth the money expended!
Kudos to Bob for getting the info before the vote.
And double kudos to Bob Scolnik for being the ONLY commissioner to get this info to the public!
Bob has attached an EXCEL spreadsheet that I haven't yet figured how to add to this post but I'll work on it.
Perhaps the county will add it to the agenda?
My quick reading of it suggests that "free" computers for county commissioners is a bad idea.
But I'll also remind us all that communication from us great unwashed with our representatives is important.
And not all of our representatives understand that concept.
Bob Scolnik does.
But I'll still blast him on this votes, if necessary......which is becoming more often.....
Keep Bob on the Job......as long as he keeps us on his mind.
Thoughts on tomorrow's union contract
A few last minute points on the union contract to be voted on tomorrow:
1. The union contract that will get its final vote in tomorrow's full board meeting has never been seen (much less read and understood) by any of the commissioners I've had contact with.
I suspect none have seen/read it.
2. The union contract information that has been given given to the commissioners (and us taxpayers) is 2 pages (scroll to pg. 13-14):
(http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/waysmeans_11_02_03.pdf
Note that this "information" doesn't even compare the new contract with the old contract nor does it include any analysis as to the increase or decrease in absolute cost of the contract year over year.
NO normal business would EVER vote on an expensive contract with so little information.
We expect our representatives to do the job, do the research.
And yet, they don't seem to be doing it.
Only if we taxpayers stand tall will we get commissioners who actually read, understand and question union contracts.
Do we care?
1. The union contract that will get its final vote in tomorrow's full board meeting has never been seen (much less read and understood) by any of the commissioners I've had contact with.
I suspect none have seen/read it.
2. The union contract information that has been given given to the commissioners (and us taxpayers) is 2 pages (scroll to pg. 13-14):
(http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/waysmeans_11_02_03.pdf
Note that this "information" doesn't even compare the new contract with the old contract nor does it include any analysis as to the increase or decrease in absolute cost of the contract year over year.
NO normal business would EVER vote on an expensive contract with so little information.
We expect our representatives to do the job, do the research.
And yet, they don't seem to be doing it.
Only if we taxpayers stand tall will we get commissioners who actually read, understand and question union contracts.
Do we care?
Are minutes hiding county commission votes?
Letters: Are minutes hiding county commission votes? MLive.com
"Anyway, unless we citizens attend the meetings, we have no way of finding out how our elected representatives voted on any committee vote and on many of the full board votes.
I think this a policy that only increases the suspicion of the voters that our county leaders have something to hide.
If the votes are hidden, how the heck do we make informed decisions on election day?"
A brilliant letter to the editor....heh.....
"Anyway, unless we citizens attend the meetings, we have no way of finding out how our elected representatives voted on any committee vote and on many of the full board votes.
I think this a policy that only increases the suspicion of the voters that our county leaders have something to hide.
If the votes are hidden, how the heck do we make informed decisions on election day?"
A brilliant letter to the editor....heh.....
Muskegon county just bought Wilbrandt farms?!!!!!
Recently we have made some changes to the Muskegon County Recreation Plan.
The changes include the addition of the development of the Rotary property adjacent to Heritage Landing and the YMCA, the acquisition of parts ofthe Owassippi Boy Scout Camp property in Blue Lake Township and the acquisition of the Wilbrandt Farms in North Muskegon.
In order to be eligible for receiving grants for such projects, they must be included in the MDNRE approved Muskegon County Recreation Plan.
We need to hold a public hearing on the amended Recreation Plan to receive comments from the public. Staff requests that the Board establish a public hearing date of February 22, 2011, at the Board of Commissioners meeting.
This is a shock.
First thoughts are:
1. Where they going to get the money?
2. How much did we pay? Was it fair market?
3. How long has this been in the works?
4. What are they going to do with the land.
5. I assume that wilbrant farms paid property taxes. Who makes up the difference?
In the absence of any info from our commissioners, I say this has a smell about it.
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/fullboard_11_02_08.pdf
scroll to pg. 7
The changes include the addition of the development of the Rotary property adjacent to Heritage Landing and the YMCA, the acquisition of parts ofthe Owassippi Boy Scout Camp property in Blue Lake Township and the acquisition of the Wilbrandt Farms in North Muskegon.
In order to be eligible for receiving grants for such projects, they must be included in the MDNRE approved Muskegon County Recreation Plan.
We need to hold a public hearing on the amended Recreation Plan to receive comments from the public. Staff requests that the Board establish a public hearing date of February 22, 2011, at the Board of Commissioners meeting.
This is a shock.
First thoughts are:
1. Where they going to get the money?
2. How much did we pay? Was it fair market?
3. How long has this been in the works?
4. What are they going to do with the land.
5. I assume that wilbrant farms paid property taxes. Who makes up the difference?
In the absence of any info from our commissioners, I say this has a smell about it.
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/fullboard_11_02_08.pdf
scroll to pg. 7
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Holy shiitake!
A friend found this gem from county commission minutes of this last summer.
Muskegon County Board of Commissioners July 13, 2010
Full Board Meeting 3:30 p.m. 194
2010-398 CONTRIBUTE $3,500 TO SPONSOR THE MUSKEGON AREA LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE’S 33RD “TRIBUTE TO INDUSTRY & LABOR” DINNER
Moved by Wade, seconded by Collins to grant the request to contribute $3,500 to sponsor the Muskegon Area Labor-Management Committee’s 33rd “Tribute to Industry & Labor” dinner.
Roll Call
Ayes: Buzzell, Collins, Derezinski, Engle, Gill, Mahoney, Nash, Snider, Wade
Nays: None
Excused: McMurray, Scolnik
Motion Carried
If this doesn't clue the taxpayers in, nothing will!
Our county board is run by the unions and spends taxpayer money like drunken......Chrysler union thugs!
We've got to take back our county before the current commissioners and their union supporters destroy what's left!
Muskegon County Board of Commissioners July 13, 2010
Full Board Meeting 3:30 p.m. 194
2010-398 CONTRIBUTE $3,500 TO SPONSOR THE MUSKEGON AREA LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE’S 33RD “TRIBUTE TO INDUSTRY & LABOR” DINNER
Moved by Wade, seconded by Collins to grant the request to contribute $3,500 to sponsor the Muskegon Area Labor-Management Committee’s 33rd “Tribute to Industry & Labor” dinner.
Roll Call
Ayes: Buzzell, Collins, Derezinski, Engle, Gill, Mahoney, Nash, Snider, Wade
Nays: None
Excused: McMurray, Scolnik
Motion Carried
If this doesn't clue the taxpayers in, nothing will!
Our county board is run by the unions and spends taxpayer money like drunken......Chrysler union thugs!
We've got to take back our county before the current commissioners and their union supporters destroy what's left!
Norton Shores City Manager clarifies millage issues
Letters: Norton Shores City Manager clarifies millage issues MLive.com
"The new revenue generated from a public safety millage would be placed in a separate fund.
It would only be used for police and fire services.
It would not be used to “free up” General Fund monies for nonpublic safety services."
So, they spent all the money that should have been for public safety on other things.
Just what were those "other things"?
"The new revenue generated from a public safety millage would be placed in a separate fund.
It would only be used for police and fire services.
It would not be used to “free up” General Fund monies for nonpublic safety services."
So, they spent all the money that should have been for public safety on other things.
Just what were those "other things"?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)