Was noticing, that the big to do over the local "dancing with the stars" seems to have lost our wandering Mr. Rapp? In the build up, he was all over the place and now is seems he did not get the first place award for anything so I guess went home mad?
See where Ms. Myer on Sunday took a cue and made sure he got in the kiddies egg hunt story. What he was doing again in P'burg finding eggs instead of being home here in Vienna is again a question of where are the reporters with the cameras and microphones? Maybe just trying to find the golden egg to sell for more pay raises/ benefits for the City Staff?
Mr. Cole for sure has his work cut out for him to try and "really" balance the budget. With the phony numbers on incoming revenue already pointed out, it will be a tough act to balance.
Still waiting for the new taxes to fall on us? No way around it if we are to not break the bank on using up the rainy day fund. Ain't enough there to cover everything and I don't believe the last shoe has dropped yet for this year ending 30 June? One quarter to go but the State managed to go into the hole for $376 Million very early on in this year. And now they have stripped the slush funds, used some rainy day money and a few "adjustments" (this one should scare us the most), to protect the PEIA costs AND now back up to about the same again with the $92 million bump add on. Wonder how much of that is going to be a PEIA charge?
The big push now is "diversity" to help grow jobs and get those tax dollars. For decades, the powers that be were quite content to talk a good story on keeping the kids home to live and work; but nothing seemed to happen? Now the mines, wells and transferring of same out of the State is in the hole and no sunlight in sight so again the push for tech jobs. State is way, way slow on this one. First thing is going to be to teach the kids to read, write and do math. Right now, the curve is downward and holding. I am a little skeptical but will say give the State about 10 years and it might have a fledgling tech group or two here. But don't hold your breathe; a couple of good mining/ drilling years and it will be business as usual. Don't need smart kids to dig coal and drill for oil/ gas. Just strong as Hell and willing to do dangerous work for decent wages. I would like to put my money on teaching the kids to read, do math and write no matter their career path. AND pursue diversity...................
Was supposed to have a hearing today with Mr. Beane at 1:30 PM. Got there and I was not on any list with the officer at the front doors. So he sent me upstairs at about 12:50; had come in early to go to the Circuit Court Clerks Office and then up to the fourth floor. All locked up; it was lunch so I went into a little side room. About 1 ish, a lady came down the hall and asked if she could help me. I said who I was and found out the hearing had been cancelled last Thursday. Of course being a nobody, I did not get a call, but will bet the ADA/ City Atty., for sure did? Now this is what ticks me off, people get a little power and forget who works for who. And at 4:00 PM, got the notice in the mail that the case(s) were both with Mr. Reed again. I HATE arrogance from Elected/ Appointed Government Employees. So now will wait until I get a notice to do both cases at same time. Lucky me !
See where in the "Their Opinion" today (Monday), that Mr. Myer is asking questions on what do all the State Employees do? Their numbers are climbing while the budget is busted bigtime. And these folks will not be cheap.
I will make the same suggestions as I did when the Wood County School Board was complaining about having to may be cut positions. Start at the top; list every Asst./ Vice anything below that person. In this case, Governor and then Dept. Heads be it a small or large group. List in each block as you go the number of people that person does or is supposed to be doing something for how many people in the State. Obviously the Gov., will have the whole 1.8 Million, but after that, all bets are off. As this pyramid grows taller and wider, as some point responsibilities and numbers of people will begin to run into each other. This is where someone with a lick of sense begins to cut people and dividing the responsibilities/ people up into other layers of the pyramid. By starting at the TOP, you get the big fish making all the money/ benefits. And this will eventually end up with fewer of the "real" workers getting fired and the fat overhead still in place. I know this would need some tweaking, but it would work as long we used the people of the State as the qualifier on who stays and who goes.
I have also noted we have gained about 18 people in the past couple of years in City Staff. The City population keeps going down while the overhead is screaming out of control. In fact, I was just told the Public Works Dept. has hired another new guy. I said "yeah, there was one temp left and it decided to hire him as full timer". Was told NO, this guy had never worked a day for the City. Say what, said I? Was told it was some young guy who used to bowl in the league that Mr. Rapp was involved with a couple of years back. So the old Cronyism germ is still alive and well on 29th Street?
The more I watch Mr. Rapp and his Council, the more sleaze that oozes out of it. What is sad is that most will just look at the ceiling as things slide by. We didn't do it they probably think? But again, I am asking if they have heard of aiding and abetting; collusion; conspiracy? The old line "I was just driving the car and thought the masks and guns were for an early Halloween Party and not a bank robbery", only go so far? Think a WHOLE lot and vote once.
Had a really nice lady call me up this morning. She started out asking if I used to write letters to the paper all the time? I said yes, but they won't print them anymore for about a year now. She said she and her son both used to like to read them as I told it like it is. Of course I thanked her as I appreciate that what I am trying to do for you folks is a little thankless when dealing with the City Council as it decides what is best for everyone else but not for them or their buddies.
I noted that I was no longer allowed to speak at the City Council meetings either. She said "what do you mean"? Don't we have Freedom of Speech? I said "no not in Vienna. I hurt too many of their little kiddy feelings telling them that some of them were doing a lousy job" Can not lie; the lady got ticked.
Someone else asked me about what could be done IF and I repeat IF it could be proved Mr. Rapp got Health Insurance and was not entitled to it do to the Pre Existing Condition Clause AT THAT TIME? I told him I did not think much could be done on that now. BUT, I am not so sure but that he could instead be charged with misuse of Government Funds by using City Tax Dollars for his own Personal use? That being the payment of his Health Premiums with Tax Dollars? That would be a more long term offense if applicable? IF and I repeat IF he also moved his family from Highmark coverage due to Ms. Rapp working there to the City Policy, there could be an issue on their Premium payments also? One has to remember that the City plan only charges a $100/ month for a family. I would be very, very surprised if the Highmark employees got off so cheap? And one must remember the process of multiple plan coverages and what pays first?
Tomorrow, I will talk about the C8 and our water some more. 'nuff said.
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).