commentary

The Corradino group is subcontracting out the numbers on annexation to a group that did the numbers for annexation 4-5 years ago. Who is this subcontractor? Do they have any ties to the City? Do you think the value of the properties in the areas proposed to be annexed are decreasing like the property values in the Springs? Springs property values decreased 28.3 % in the past year, and are still dropping. More unemployment leads to more foreclosures, which leads to more properties on the market and a decrease in their values. Real estate people believe (hope?) that values will bottom out sometime this year but nobody can be sure of that. As property values drop, so goes property taxes, and revenues coming into the City. Sales taxes are also down because people arent buying as much and conserving their capital, a logical response to the recession. Why isnt the Council and Mayor doing the same thing? Gas taxes are also down. How many negative indicators will it take before our Mayor and Council smaell the coffee? WAKE UP! It has taken the City Manager 14 months after the recession started to realize this - how much longer will it be before the Mayor and Council have it sink in? EVER? Or do they just plan to raise our taxes and fees some more to make up for the shortfalls?

GDP drop worst in 25 years

WASHINGTON - The economy shrank at a 3.8 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century, as the deepening recession forced consumers and businesses to throttle back spending. Although the initial result was better than economists expected, the figure is likely to be revised even lower in the months ahead and some believe the economy is contracting in the current quarter at an even faster pace.(AP) Where is the idiot who was waiting for the GDP to contract three quarters in a row, so that an official recession could be declared? Is he satisfied NOW that we are in a recession? And have been since December 2007! He should run for Council, as he is JUST as clueless as they are.

too much experience?

While its true that a lack of experience, good judgement, and qualifications are problems that have faced the City in their past hiring situations, it did NOT stop them from hiring those without the aforementioned credentials! A case could be made that city employees have TOO MUCH experience- making handshake deals instead of contracts, fabricating resume checks and various other things, giving away the use of city facilities for pennies on the dollar, being clueless regarding City revenues and how they were derived, overpaying 300% and more for City construction projects, repeated change orders and cost overruns,and taking over TWO years to complete a 4-month project, among other snafus. Maybe we just need to wipe the slate clean and start over.

commentary

All of these mishaps, screwups, and fiascos are taking place on the City Managers watch. He is quick to take the credit when something occasionally goes right, but even quicker to shift the blame when the foulups are exposed. The hard-to-believe part is, the COUNCIL allows this, and even aids and abets him in these disasters! "Have rubber stamp, will follow," could easily be their motto. Except for Dotson, none of them seem to know or care what Gym does, or how much it costs the taxpayers. "Clueless and Unconcerned in City Hall", could be another motto. What they DO have is an abundance of ambition and agendas! They seem to be saying, "Sure, we dont have a clue and could care less if it doesnt help us achieve our personal agendas! We have fooled the people so far and if we can JUST fool them a LITTLE longer all of our personal agendas can be realized! Sure, it might bankrupt the City but the building will be there for Decades! Truly a testament to our egos and agendas, at the very least! Dont worry if the next generation will be left to pay the outrageous bills, as we will be LONG gone into a very comfortable retirement by then!" Obama froze all federal salaries today- that would and could be a lesson for OUR government officials. We have no place to go but to get better, from here. We cannot afford any more Unconscious and/or Clueless Councils. The Rubberstamp Regime has to end.

education is a wonderful thing

Are the ones who dont show up HERE, on an anonymous blog, with numbers and facts to support their position also cowards? The only one that is KNOWN to have told a lie so far is the City Manager, with his Optimist fairy tale. The revenue numbers make NO SENSE, but may just be incompetence and general cluelessness on the part of city officials, giving them the benefit of the doubt. That is not necessarily a good thing to have in your city officials, but it beats having liars and thieves there! Right? What are the chances we have ALL OF THE ABOVE in City Hall? With NO Council oversight, save Dotson. Its a sad situation- and expensive! sad and expensive for the taxpayers! NOT to the City Managers, or the Council! THEIR checks roll in steadily, and in full. Where are all those people who spoke FOR the pool being open year-round at a cost of 200k HERE? They could present their own facts and figures HERE for discussion! NONE show up with credible or rational responses. This forum requires NO time off work, travel time, parking, babysitters- NOTHING! And STILL they dont show up here, the easiest forum for anybody to access! Are THEY all cowards too? Perhaps they are just not fully informed on ALL the issues? If so, this is a good place to become educated, as there are several people in the community who have considerable knowledge and experience at the pool and are familiar with its workings, and others who are open-minded and willing to learn.

clueless

Can it be that the Asst City Manager, after over THIRTY YEARS of having the pool for meets and practices, REALLY doesnt KNOW how much revenues we get for every meet and swim practice? That would be incredible INCOMPETENCE, wouldnt it? Isnt that one of his main responsibilities? He told Mr Dotson he didnt HAVE A CLUE, but that he HOPED to get a handle on that information soon! The REC DIRECTOR doesnt KNOW anything about the revenues that are received at the pool???? Why is THAT so hard to believe? If its true, then hes just incompetent beyond belief, and needs to be fired. Apparently he doesnt know if we received ANY revenues from the recent meet! OR the GMAC meet a couple weeks ago! OR any of the HUNDREDS of swim practices at the pool each year! Lets make a shorter list- what DOES he know? How does the City Manager allow an employee that is so utterly CLUELESS to remain employed ? He DOES report to the City Manager doesnt he? The ultimate responsibility for clueless employees does lie at the City Managers desk, doesnt it? Incredible incompetence, at best; incredible corruption at worst.

58th street landfill

IF the mitigation fee for the 58th street dump is 5.5 mil and 1.5 mil PER YEAR, WHY would we WANT to annex that property? Hasnt our illustrious Council made ENOUGH screwups for the next 20 years? Never underestimate The Council's propensity for flushing our tax money away, by the truckloads. With their repeated and truly incredible lack of vision, common sense, economic awareness, and/or fiscal responsibility they have taken municipal futility and haplessness, if not criminality, to new levels. How many MILLIONS will have to disappear before the people either wake up, OR the City goes bankrupt? Cluelessness is, as cluelessness does.