Heard another rumor this past week. That being that the fair haired boys who were supposedly to get the plum jobs on the new Camera Truck did not get to stay. One replaced allegedly due to problems with running the equipment and another getting a plum promotion into lower level management.
Now a couple of things came to me also via normal and abnormal routes. One from a VUB meeting that a member of the Sewer Department had transferred to another Department. Initially I thought maybe P'burg as it is a constant mantra of losing people to justify getting higher raises for everyone? I have since found out it was Parks and as just one of the guys. Was told the transferee got tired of all the B*** S*** and asked for the move? Than someone elsewhere dropped the name of one who was now on the Camera Truck and while I was surprised, I should not have been. Some pretty smart folks that work for the City and get theirs from working and not having their lips surgically removed from Bosses' butts each day before going home. Don't know much about the two new guys, but what is, is? Maybe that was why it seemed to take almost a year to get the truck off 60th and into the 'hoods?
Had another person (third), tell me about ATV's and/ or a Pickup that seemed to end up with someone it should not have in the City? Too much damn smoke to be no fire? But this is Vienna and if one works for the City is assured perpetual employment as long as he/ she stays on the right side of whomever is Mayor? We should never forget what should be the City Logo: Nepotism, Cronyism and Favoritism. And maybe in smaller letters, the words "Sweet Heart Deals" right underneath?
The most interesting occurrence at the 27 April City Council Meeting. Wayne Dunn and his co-speaker, one Dave Ballentyne gave a presentation on Climate Change. Now I will say with no hesitation that as I am almost a zealot on good Governance so is Mr. Dunn on Climate Change. I am far more an expert on good Governance than I am on Climate Change so was in fact interested in what was said by both. I got a bit skeptical when it was quoted that 97- 99.9% of Climate Scientists all agreed it was occurring and at an alarming rate.
Lot of emphasis on Waste Water Processing, other wastes of water usage which can only help to play into the upcoming Rain Gardens for the folks who put their downspouts into the Sewer System.
But all in all it was quite interesting. Sadly, I could not get any of the paperwork that Mr. Dunn gave to the City Council. But watching how Mr. Rapp sat bobbing his head up and down like a child listening to a Fairy Tale, plus his comment that he and Mr. Dunn has spoken for hours on the matter gave me a pretty good idea of where the City would go on the issue.
Would not be totally surprised to see the City issue decals on which days of the week one can drive and the number of occupants in a vehicle (called car pooling)? Was done in the days of the gas embargoes, so why not for emission controls? Now that of course could only apply to those of us who live in the City. Outsiders bringing in their Sales Tax dollars would be exempt. (Just a bit of sarcasm folks).
A Mr. Henthorn (Asst. Soccer Coach?), made his long delayed appearance and spent a few minutes praising Mr. Rapp, Mr. Elam and Mr. Harris on their efforts to get Jackson Middle School field for practices/ games while the Jackson Park field "healed" from overuse/ abuse. Noted the several hundred kids out soccer, but also the apparent issue with Lacrosse participation. Overall a fine Kumaya moment for the gang.
As the meeting progressed on the debris clean up at Johns Manville and Climate Change, we all got a position presentation by Mr. Leach on how the City had no choice but to buy Johns Manville. So with just four months into the year, it is apparent that Mr. Rapp has his gang all in place to pursue massive spending combined with highest possible taxes and the infamous double middle digits for the Residents/ Tax Payers in the City.
And then, yet another "Our Opinion" on what a Bright Spot, West Virginia successes are on which we can build. A per capita income of approximately $37,000/ year which puts us on a comparable level with Japan and France at the $40- 41K range. The "compounded rate of growth for net earnings has been estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis at 2.1%", despite the opioid epidemic, the incredibly low rate of workforce participation and the very high number of people receiving disability insurance.
Mr. Cowen, a Bloomberg writer points out most of the states industries have added workers since 1990; the population while aging, is growing slightly; and while the unemployment rate is quite high, "it would be the envy of many a European country".
Than we got the "pep talk"; "Do not give in to the temptation to see nothing but the negatives that threaten to over whelm us. Be determined to keep those small successes going, and growing". My only question is when and IF Mr. Cowen bothered to check the Census Data estimates that are put out each year? Population in the State and especially Wood County/ Vienna has been dropping. In Vienna for decades. And I would question but what his data exclude or includes the pay raises for Government Workers versus the Private Sector? No where near in sync and the Government at any level produces nothing. 'nuff said'.