Hope that everyone is safe at home or wherever? Remember to keep the goodies down too a low roar and that your families want to see you safe and sound. 'nuff said'.
0 Comments
Here we are, another three day weekend to celebrate the end of yet another year. Will again use the time to clean up some old issues and prepare for 2018. We can chat some more on the 2d. 'nuff said'
For those of you who are minutiae lovers, the 28th was the start of the second week of Winter. Only 11 more to go and the first sweet breezes of Spring?
Enjoyed the "Our Opinion" column in the Daily Blat of the 27th wherein it stated "Steps needed to improve competition". Lots of Truth there folks. First issue that needs attention is the lack of teeth in what remains in the Public Service Commission (PSC). And from what I have read and observed does not seem were many to begin with? Far too cozy with the Utilities they are supposed to oversee and than SB 234 gutted more on the oversight of local Public Service Districts and Municipal Sites. Look at us as an example of no one guarding the chicken coop. Or better yet wait till next month when the new and engorged Sewer/ Water bills begin to roll out. Than for the sake of comparatives comes out the plan to sell the Power Plant in Pleasants County to West Virginia subsidiaries. Another great deal for West Virginians' in the making. The Blat was more revealing than I think it meant to be? But it is more swallow able to blame it all on the EPA and Mr. Obama. Lots of room for blame there, but still a lot more to eat here because of the coziness that exists. Suggestions for reducing the ever increasing costs to those who usually can least afford it and by that I mean the working folks with low wages to start with. I would like to suggest that the PSC show some stones and require the Utilities to eat more of the costs of improvements both in their bottom lines and in the dividends paid to stockholders. Want to see a PSC with stones, check out Washington State. It is not afraid to stand up to a Utility and saying "hold on kemo sabe" with that increase request. It could and did force a roll back in rates when the local Puget Sound Energy (PSE) went crazy for a year or so, years ago. Forced it to eat more of costs AND reduce dividends in sharing the pain. 1. Insure that increases are based on a "Rate of Investment" (ROI), rather than a "Guaranteed Rate of Return" (GRR). This is highlighted in the Lubeck request in its latest rate increase to include pay increases. I would suggest it is hidden in the need to cover "increased costs"? Cost containment is never a big priority for any Utility. A GRR is a sad way of screwing the Utility Customers into the ground based on a mandated profit margin. It is seldom a legitimate charge, but often used. 2. The use of a "Sunset Clause" for any increase so that when the monies are recouped, the increase goes away. New increase needs must stand on their own and cannot be piled on top of old ones. Here in lovely Old Vienna, the VUB/ City Council is already planning on another Rate Increase in two to three years. But note the first Bond on the Sewage Uplift Station is supposed to be a 10 year Note. When that is done (2025), the cost of THAT increase should IMMEDIATELY go away. Notice, there has been no talk on if Chemour/ DuPont agreed to eat the cost of rehabilitating wells 7 & 8? That was supposed to have been resolved last week? It is interesting to see where the County Commission is asking about cost reductions to include pay increases and the ever hidden increase payments in benefits in place of supposed pay increases. Don't remember that being pursued in the Claywood PSD increase? But not too worry, there will be a healthy increase for the Lubeck folks, be it $1.77/ month or 14.8%. The real issue is rate increase on top of rate increase. 100 pennies still make a dollar folks. Here, that was about $2,600.- 2,700 on average per employee PLUS the $728. in cash. That is a $3,300- 3,400/ year bump per VUB employee and the City as a whole. Ms. Smith got her customary $4,800- 5,300. And Mr. Rapp got his $12,000/year increase PLUS the hidden health premium coverage. The Blat for sure got it right on what those Coal fired plants are going to do too this State. If the product can hardly be given away, it has to be paid for by the captive audience. In this case, it will be you and me until the plants do finally reach the life expectancy? Should not be a problem for West Virginia to attract the alleged 19,500 new residents by 2020 to save one Congressional Seat. The number of out of State workers to get jobs as Residents after being here for 30 days will swell the body count by that amount easily. But what happens when most of the drilling is done and only maintenance crews are needed? That may in times to come when we have a problem again? But again, the promises of unparalleled production and manufacturing plant increases should still offset any further losses? Guess we need to listen to the Government at every level. Everything is coming up Roses for us if we just follow the Party Lines. 'nuff said'. I am impressed with the forward progress of the OVU Clean Energy Project down in P'burg. It will bring supposedly about 100 people in all three divisions. And these are not going to be just minimum wage jobs. Plus using that old boogey man- COAL. So far life is good with them.
Did all you folks count your fillings when the Chinese Delegation left? You may not believe it, but there are people there that are so intelligent that they have been trained to memorize long complicated formulas off of blackboard/ whiteboards and even the intricacies of a plant infrastructure just from walking past them. Now these are not those with just the infamous "Photographic" minds, but also highly educated and trained people. I don't know if we have anything to match those capabilities here in the U.S.? But be assured any Lab or Plant they meandered through has few secrets left once they passed through. They are a remarkable group. And yet again, the State has lost population. For the fifth consecutive year it was said in the Daily Blat of the 21st. I did a quick look to see if it got down to our level but found nothing. But am comfortable we are continuing our share of the slide for now. The annexation of Rosemar Meadows with its 11 families will be a bump in the road or maybe not even that in the short term? Believe it or not, one should not be surprised that soon there is a strong expectation of the losses to stop and even turn positive for our population woes. But also the thought that by the 2020 Census, West Virginia will lose a Congressional Seat due to population decline. Following up some more on the comments on a possible lack of fund due to the Police Department (PD), Fee being eliminated to the tune of about $24K Dollars and the "mixing" of the PD funds into and part of the City General Fund. The City Budget was approved o/a 18 April 2017 for the period of 1 July 2017- 30 June 2018. This to be for an amount of $9,085,363., Lotta money folks, a lotta money. I received the information in a FOIA dated 23 June 2017. Now in the latest"Audit", it was disclosed that the City carried over an "unassigned" Fund Balance of $374,721.00, This may well be what was called the "unencumbered" fund before. These are the monies from the 1 July 2016- 30 June 2017 budget. At the end of June 2018, whatever remains is converted into the old "Capital Reserve" fund. So it takes two (2) years to move money from an end of year General Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund. In the intervening year, it is what I call a "slush" fund for whatever the City wants to use it for? Looking at the in question PD Fund (Line Item 700+), it has been allocated $2,649,881., for 2017- 2018. So let us go look at this PD Fee that is causing so much strife on the City Council and among those who just want to see blather and rambling? According to the City of Vienna Budget for this current Fiscal Year, the PD is to receive $215,000 from the Fee. Here is an interesting fact in the Budget as approved, 85% or $182,750. is to go too the PD. Question: where does the other $32,250., go too? Sounds like some sort of Administrative charge? Since I am not looking at the 30 June 2017 end of year balance, I am going to speculate that a large amount of the just ended years PD budget ended up in the $374,721. carry over? But still can not see all the brouhaha over that $24K? Seems we are missing $32K to some where? Now, I am not going to blame Mr. Conley for NOT knowing the above. He truly does not have a clue on what is going on, but keeps getting his name on it. I just found it by going through what is supposed to be a "Budget". I listen to him give a "Treasurer's Report" every City Council Meeting, so guess he is the Treasurer? But where is he getting a $218,+++. yearly Budget and why? So many questions in this piece of Trash the City has dreamt up for the City Monies? How about some answers? There is the same 85% concept for the $50K in Fire Fees that the City shows it is collecting (but from whom?). Those were ALL supposed to have ended by October of 2016? The same for the Streets Department with it 85% allocation amount. So for the "What are we doing group", there are distinct lines of Revenue and of Expenditures for what is going on. EXCEPT: Health Insurance Premiums, Employee Premium Payments, the "Retention Payments" made monthly to some of the VFD folks. Once you begin to pay them a monthly stipend, I would ask but that they are technically no longer Volunteers? The 2017- 2018 Budget/ Audit is basically a piece of Trash. Too many dollars missing; too many pages missing. I received 33 pages for the above FOIA. But just by looking at page numbers, I am missing at least 6 of 8 and by reviewing what I do have, there are numerous entries missing for expenses as noted above? And the document that I received, is like in the old days when one had to do a Class Paper or Essay. The Teacher would require an "outline" to check on what we were doing? If it passed muster, we continued with the entire project. This is what I got for the FOIA- an Outline. Or, it is like a Stockholder Report from a large company. Very broad and ambiguous positions/ statements on what is/ has happened but one must go into the fine print to find what is really going on. Again, I did not get the fine print but know it is there- just hidden. Again, if the City Attorney wishes to whine about the cost of defending against Law Suits, he need only look to his left. The above FOIA is another example where the City is telling me what I can see versus what I can review and choose to have copies of per the FOIA Law. There have been missing pages from the VUB Documents; the City Minutes are being Censored/ delayed and who knows what all? 'nuff said'. A bit of a look back on yet another attack by Mr. Manchin on a prescription drug that while can be and has been abused is not the bête noir it is being made out to be. That of course being his latest shot at Gabapentin.
Until he began his campaign against it, I had not given much thought to it being a danger. But as with any drug be it prescribed or even an Over the Counter (OTC), if abused can have devastating effects. When will he start on Tylenol? If used improperly, it will slowly and so painfully kill you as your Kidneys fail from the abuse. I am all in for trying to do the right thing to help people who are unable to control themselves, but when we begin to thwart the help it brings to non abusers, there need be some common sense approaches. But the idea to reduce the number of prescriptions is a two edged sword for people. It is just like the ill fated attempt by former Delegates Mr. Azinger the Elder and Mr. Ellem from our area to get a bill passed requiring a prescription for anything using Ephedrine because it was also used to make meth. Fortunately, the bill was defeated by the Senate the first try and by the House of Delegates the second. A poorly planned approach to cost many money they could not readily afford and the State an estimated $146 million over 10 years for Medicaid costs. We have heard very little about that lately because realistic and workable methods were developed without all the expense and inconvenience. I can only say, I would have been a bit happier if Mr. Manchin had made as big a todo on his daughter and her shenanigans with the EpiPen drug when she jacked the price up into black space. Even an almost 1/2 Billion dollar fine does not excuse what happened. And one has to question what influence he used to keep her out of much deserved jail? No one is supposed to be above the Law Mr. Manchin, even in this lawless State. It soon will be necessary here to have Voter ID to vote. One of the items being touted is a Social Security Card. That is interesting as mine says "Not For Identification" Not to mention that they can be bought for a few dollars on many street corners. We have entitled our Illegal Brethren to vote using one of these. We live in strange times. It was posted a few days back that a Resident of Vienna was found deceased in his apartment on Friday morning? Yet, excluding word of mouth so far, there has been no notice in the Media or via the Vienna PD. Now this person was a renter, may well have not voted ever and had as many do a substantial issue with drugs. But why is his passing been hidden? The last time something like this popped up, it was alleged to be because of embarrassment to the family? Yet, his family more than knew of his issues. Did he O.D. on prescribed drugs? For sure had some that might well have done that? Did he O.D. on illegal drugs? Certainly had a history with those. Has supposedly no immediate family here but some in Charleston and Ohio. Would think that we have another "lessons learned" here if used properly? While he might well have qualified as one of those that some of the City Council would rather have lived elsewhere, he did bring something to the table many or them can not. His belief in Service to his Community via his actions to help others. Did not cost him a lot in money, but did cost him several hours a week doing what he loved and believed in. So who would have more value to us? A person serving from his Heart and Soul or a Council Member serving only themselves? I fear some will have trouble answering? Will have more on this interesting 2017- 2018 City Budget tomorrow. "nuff said". Tis sad on the terrible flooding and the building fire in the Philippines. 150 dead so far and without a doubt more to be found in the flooded area(s). There has been so much clear cutting on the hillsides there that there is little or nothing to hold back the water in the rains.
I have for decades called the Philippines the Gateway to Hell. 15-20 Typhoons a year with about 5 of tremendous strength and damage. But even the "gentler" ones bring death and destruction to many areas as noted above. Than, we have the Volcanos that can and will do as Mother Nature directs them. Again massive destruction and loss of life. My wife was telling me that Mt. Pinatubo that erupted some years back, the locals have rebuilt on top of the lava flows as best they can. We should all be thankful that here we have nothing and I mean nothing that compares to those ongoing disasters. Recently read a posting on another site where one of our going to help you folks people has shifted direction and is now cautioning on a lack of money it seems if the PD Fee is done away with and returned to those 65 and older. I am going to say again to one and all to include those who post without doing any research that there is NO PROBLEM with money. There is a HUGE PROBLEM with spending. So when someone tries to give you a big helpful grin and tells you what they are going to do for you, take a quick moment to ask "based on what"? There is a group of really nice folks who got involved because of the Sewer/ Water Rate Increases. However, that fellowship soon got hijacked and became a who knows really what? It operates in the Randi Rapp Handbook of no disagreement/ opposition to an idea. We already have that on 29th Street. We do not need it in an opposition group. Opposition means "against", not in favor of but quieter. There is no protecting what has been done to the Community for years, probably decades It is rumored on the Council Members who are long gone and getting a dividend check each month on some carefully maneuvered property transfers?. And of course the questions with the Corruption in the past two administrations? This year is rapidly coming to a close. I am of the hope that several things happen next year to promote Public Safety, Fiscal Responsibility and sound Citizen Representation by those who have alleged to represent you for years. So enjoy the balance of 2017 and what it may bring you for Happiness and Contentment. And the Daily Blat again condemns itself in it's "Our Opinion" column on "Free Speech". The various Public Bodies continue to say you can but only if you request permission and/ or fill out a card before to disclose on what? That is NOT Free Speech, it is a form of Censorship where somehow- Oops, somehow you got forgotten, Oops we have run out of time and whatever. Free Speech is what is called a true Public Forum? Does anyone wish to address (fill in the blank) and than is allowed a reasonable time to express an opinion or a problem. Yes, some possible surprises to them who have or are erring, but still an "Open Public Forum". And how say you does the Daily Blat works itself into this? By "Censoring" what is allowed to be expressed in its so called Letter Section? Letters can be discarded, lost, torn up or whatever to insure an issue does not see the light of day? Don't be confused on what has happened here over the past years and don't expect anything to improve? They have gone after Twitter (probably deserved). It needs to cleanse its skirts before it takes on the "big boys". But we have the other big players who are suddenly going to protect us from ourselves. Am I the only one with a delete on my computer for various reasons? I do not use it on this site because I believe you, one and all have a right to an opinion. I have a right to disagree with you. But in other areas, I have no problem deleting the trash popping up. The only qualifiers are threats, carnage, extreme profanity. You do not have to agree with me and all I have asked is read, think and talk to your friends, neighbors, family to promote the use of the mind for your own best interests if you live here- be it Vienna, Wood County, the State and of course our Nation, itself. 'nuff said'. Heard a clatter and a bangin' so rushed to check the House,
Not even the lazy dogs were up and about. Checked high and checked low, but found naught but a gentle glow. So I decided as was up to check my stocking for any bit O' luck, found not nary a bit of coal, but instead out peeked an elfin head. Was it an elf from Santa's North, looking for a last cookie morsel, or just finishing up with a delivery bit? Twas not much as the things I relish in this time of Life, a memory of things done well and knowing how to care. So with a wink of his eye and a shake of his lil' head, it was off and out to catch his team and go on and off. I heard a gentle ripple of breeze within my head, and a "Merry Christmas Larry", a swirlin' in my mind. So as early as it is, I will extend to one and all a, "Merry Christmas" to all of you instead. So may one and all Worship your Lord in the manner that you choose; open the mounds of presents and maybe a tot of booze? "nuff said" This is a day to reminisce about those who have come and gone before us in the fabric of our lives. We should also be Thanking our Lord for the Gift He gave to each of us those many years ago, and every day today. More to be "said: later.
As I am pretty confident that many or most of you are deep in the Wonder and Warmth of the Christmas Weekend leading up to another Great Xmas on Monday, I am too going to enjoy a long weekend. More to be 'said" later.
I was asked the following by a reader after my posting of the 20th on covering the small amount needed by the City to offset the elimination of the PD Fee for all the Seniors 65 and older:
"Larry, your second point indicates that VUB could reduce their budget to help cover "police fee" reduction. Is this possible since they are seperate from the General Fund and funds cannot be mingled"? The answers I would like to give are that 1. The VUB has Storm Water in it even though it is said to belong to the Street Department. And because Mr. Rapp and crew refuse to adjust the Storm Water fees, it will need as has been the case for several years large infusions of cash to keep it functioning. It some respects, it is broke. We are taking around $130,000., in just the past two years. For this year, I do not know the number yet. And because of the co-mingling of expenses for Personnel between the whole City, there are employees who work for the City, Sewer/ Water that also work for Storm Water. In the FOIA I got on how many full time Employees in Storm Water, I was told one (1) only. The other nine are from all over as needed it is said. Mr. Metz was only a 25% employee and the Ladies at the front counter in the City Building were charged 10% against Storm Water. In the attempt to hide as much as possible, the City has created very grey areas on what truly exists and where. Storm Water is in some respects a paper division. 2. By doing an honest reappraisal of the premiums paid by the Employees, it would be quite easy to free up the few thousand dollars needed by just VUB for the massively subsidized Health Insurance Coverage. And before the Rappites go off on me, I am not talking about taking away benefits, just asking a larger share of Premiums on a realistic basis for them. As a rough and I mean very rough gauge, just by doubling the Premiums would free up the few thousand needed. I.e., $32, to 64., $80. to 160., and $100. to 200/ month I have probably just freed up the whole $24K out of this one expense? Allow me to continue with the comments from the Council Meeting on the 14th. Mr. Bibbee was than at the mike and noted that two (2) years ago when the Home Rule 1% Tax was in the works to use some of it per Mr. Stephens to reduce Real Estate Taxes. Now the Council of the Whole is with the exception of Mr. Stephens who at that time said he now (than), understood what I had been pushing for in Tax Relief. This has been going on since 2011 and the Council based on the very mentality showing above AND their dislike of my open criticism for their Pi** Poor Performance since 2008 would not consider any relief. He was gracious enough to note he was pursuing my idea and requested the reduction as I had been asking for and also ran on in my Election Campaign of 2016. It was said to have been researched with the Tax Assessor at the time Mr. Shaffer and would cost about $78K for the City. In the vote the rest of the Council handed Mr. Stephens his head with resounding "NO" votes. In the 2016 year, he brought it up again and was told it should have been discussed in the Budget Processing that had just happened. He was the sole "NO" vote against that budget. I have thanked ever since for having that bit of decency for the Residents/ Tax Payers. But one need note ALL who voted NO than are still on Council- Mr. Rapp, Ms. Smith, Mr. Bibbee and Mr. Rogers. Birds of a feather do flock together. But it CAN be done and I took the time to think outside of the box and know how the City can do it. Now Mr. Bibbee said he had Ms. Roberts do several scenarios but could not get the relief he wanted apparently in the 2017- 2018 Budget. I did NOT hear a single word in the whole process about Tax Relief so question who is blowing smoke up what? Now at the same time this was going on, is when Mr. Rapp as noted earlier interjected to wait on reducing the PD Fee till the Budget Cycle next year and the Health Insurance costs in February. I was asked if I knew why Mr. Bibbee seemed to have changed his usual position as a "YES" on command voter? I said he could take cover on position that would not happen but still look like he was for the people. The person said "NO", that he was afraid of the Election. I said that was three years down the road. Response was that he was still afraid of not getting elected again. I gave it some thought and believe was right? Mr. Bibbee did not win as handily last time as he has in the past. Remember we got Mr. Miracle so the next weak link is now Mr. Bibbee and people are going to be madder than Hell from now on for what is happening. I also think that the poor attitude shown by Mr. Leach and some of his family to the poorer folks in the Community may well be the end of him too. Than came Mr. Conley's turn and he was of course upset that he was being sandbagged even on a discussion. He noted that comments on losing PD Officers concerned him. That anything the PD asked would be approved. And that calling the $2.00 reduction "ludicrous" Lowering the Fee does not do a lot for the 65+ Seniors. Says City needs to do more than what is done for the people at the Senior Center on 29th St. Would support lowering 65 to 60 but need the reduction also. If Department Heads need to look at budgets, than now is the time to start. He asked where do we go from here? Put it on the next Agenda? Mr. Rapp said to talk to Ms. Smith for the next meeting on 4 January 2018. The 29 December meeting is being cancelled. Can you see where he has again been sand bagged? It need be noted that the scare tactics, no money and absolute "against" by rest of Council was so obvious? So you have some very, very accurate comments on that meeting. We need to be aggressive in changing the direction of our Community. Remember: Men stutter, Bull S*** talks and Money walks. If we are not careful, our money is going to walk right up Rosemar. Some may think I have been too hard on Council. But unlike most of you, I have listened to lie after lie for five (5), years. I have thought and can only question if Mr. Rogers as an example who is said to have taught so many of the young people in Vienna now when they were only children, plus their parents from the day, can understand the damage he has done to them over the years doing what he does? Every time he or any of the Rapp crew do something to help so few at the expense of so many, it is wrong. Be it questionably Criminal, Civil or just plain Ethics, Morals and Integrity issues, it is wrong? I do not believe all of them are the "types" of family via High Income/ Powerful Position that are now the preferred Residents in Vienna? Some are just plain folks trying to get by and succeed in whatever capacity they can. So they are now the victims as are so many of the elderly to the corrupt system that has rolled over the Community. For five years I have questioned via FOIA after FOIA trying to get honest and open answers to what goes on. It would seem a thankless job to many and they would give up in frustration. But each and every person deserves to know what is being done and what has been done and sadly what is going to be done to them. 'nuff said'. |
Archives
January 2019
Categories |