a pattern emerges

What are the chances that the city numbers arent out yet, and wont be, until they have been massaged and altered sufficiently? To say they are just incompetent and inept is to state the obvious. To say they are doing all this with criminal intent could also be a plausible explanation, but the proof isnt there yet. All they can be convicted of so far is an amazing and unbelievable lack of common sense, judgement, and management principles. As they screw up one thing after another, a pattern emerges. Where theres smoke, theres usually fire, so its entirely possible this isnt just cluelessness, and could easily involve kickbacks, bid rigging, and fraud. The proof is just not there yet. Stay tuned.

pool comments

They are very clear about expenses (how much its costing US). They just dont seem too clear about how much money was taken IN. Its the same problem there was, and IS, at the golf driving range, where revenues TRIPLED overnight when automated machines were put in to dispense golf balls. Somehow, even after they were installed, the employees found a way to frequently break the machines so they could go back to the old way, and revenues dropped accordingly, again. The pool generates a lot of cash, especially during the Summer months, but also during meets. Makes one wonder if ALL the cash and revenues are being accounted for at the pool too, doesnt it? If it wasnt being accounted for, would that be considered grand theft or fraud? Three years of free pool usage would amount to OVER 100k in expenses to the MDAC that were never charged to them(not to mention meets)- is THAT why there ARE no contracts? no records? poor admission records? few effective controls in place? Are we talking about kickbacks here, or just incredibly, unbelievably poor management? ANY business has contracts with the people they do business with, dont they? especially if the services provided run up into the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars, right? Apparently that business concept has eluded our city officials, at the pool anyway, as they do have contracts in other areas ie CC, tennis courts. They even had contracts for the CC project and the bathrooms- even tho they were horribly written, left out many safeguards for the taxpayers, had no deadlines or penalties, and were unenforcable as written- the IDEA was there, the concept. There are NO contracts at the pool. NONE. ZERO. ZIP.

commentary

American innovation can be a wonderful thing, but it will NEVER cure poor/corrupt management, unqualified personnel, incompetent and inept(if not corrupt) city officials, backroom sweetheart deals, rigged bids, kickbacks, $400-600 a square foot construction projects, or an oppressive, arrogant, bullying, and secretive management styles. Without getting to the core of this problem and correcting it, whatever THAT takes, more money would just be more losses to the taxpayers and more money for them to disappear, as previously stated. What are chances that there are some creative, imaginative, and innovative things happening at City Hall as we speak, trying to explain this pool fiasco?

bad business and management

What are the chances that those who are NOT concerned that 13,000 residents pay taxes so that a half dozen or so kids can swim, are the parents of those kids? or affiliated with the private MDAC swim team we somehow support? IF there are NUMEROUS organizations and individuals who utilize the pool those revenues should be reflected somewhere. Where is that revenue reflected? Where is the revenues from last weekends meet reflected? Is a Freedom of Information request necessary? What are the chances this closing the pool issue could be put on the ballot with the annexation issue? Let the people vote. Losing hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to indulge a few is just bad business, and bad management, especially in an ever-deepening recession. Its a luxury we can no longer afford. To lose those hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars so that a private organization can profit, is HIGHLY questionable at the very least! WE are losing money while they profit? Incredibly poor management of our tax dollars, at the very least. At worst.... well, you decide if it sounds like corruption and/or kickbacks for yourself.