rick uhl ( [email protected] ) 8/28/2016 20:22:51
I guess I'm lucky to not have to complain about petty theft in my neighborhood, just the HIGH SPEED drivers, IGNORANCE of the stop sign by drivers, makes me wonder why waste the time putting the stop sign in at 18th ST & 9th Ave, the laws are not enforced. I listen to the scanner daily, seems like there are a lot of pull overs up on that HIGH WAY, oh GRAND CENTRAL, and most of what I hear are "Verbal's" being given to drivers. I'd like to see more saturation into the neighborhoods, and giving of TICKETS. There's a VFD associate which flies up and down this street and runs stop signs here several times daily, of course, HE'S in the loop, so HE doesn't have to worry. I'm sure that my comment here, will entitle me either, a trip to the woodshed, or maybe even a ticket.
For those who are wondering about the stop sign at 18th St and 9th Avenue, consider this from the 28 July City Council meeting:
Police Department – Stop Sign Placement – 18th Street at 9th Avenue:
Police Chief George Young explained that he and Code Enforcement Officer Duane Fluty have reviewed the intersection at 18th Street and 9th Avenue and are requesting approval from Council to make this intersection a 4-way stop intersection following complaints of parked vehicles obscuring the view of westbound traffic.
Recorder Cathy Smith moved to approve the placement of stop signs enabling this intersection to be a 4-way stop intersection. Motion seconded and carried unanimously. Vote: 7-0.
May I suggest signs seem to be working like a charm? Police Department seems missing in action?
I took a beating from a lady the other day who did it through one of my supporters. As noted before, it was on me not respecting the Senior Citizens at the Senior Center because I felt we should better use what we have before we throw $300K at an extension to that building.
After thinking some more on it, I cannot quite find the kernel of Truth in her position and based on yet another issue that just popped up feel there was/is as usual a hidden agenda in the attack.
I said before and will again that until we have utilized our Senior Center to its best possible usage, we have no business wasting Tax Dollars. Not even to allow Mr. Rapp to do it as a possible Election Voting Buying trick?
At a City Council meeting recently, Mr. Rapp and Mr. Rogers prompted Ms. Kerns, who is among other things the "Event Director" to comment on how there were so many people there that they had to exercise in the hallways and the bathrooms. Were over 60 people she said. May I ask this? How many of them were not from Vienna? If a head count is not taken then one cannot say that any of our folks are being deprived? If we are allowing folks from other places priority over our own, than we are poorly planning the events. Why do I feel so strongly about people from Vienna having priority? It is simple; if a person has lived here for 30, 40, 50 years and has paid taxes to the City all that time or any portion of it, than they have more than earned attendance if they wish. The others would be on a "space available" option.
And, what is the occupancy limits on the upper floor? That many people, some who for sure not quick on their feet do to age/ disability could be in a lot of potential danger if a Fire were to break out? The new elevator appears to be slow? Those classes should have a "Maximum" attendance number for obvious safety reasons? Are you seriously going to try and tell me that any large number of people in that upstairs area is safe with their ages and physical capabilities in question? Does the City even think they could easy get down those stairs or that so slow elevator? Why is Public Safety seemingly a never ending issue in Vienna? Where is Mr. Scholl? Does he even have a clue on what his job really is? When was the last time that building was inspected and a "Capacity" per floor and the building done? Does everything have to be about Tax Dollars and Photo Ops?
These exercise classes need to be done DOWNSTAIRS and 3-4 days a week under a better utilization schedule of the work hours in the day. If this is for the Senior Citizens of Vienna, I would think the classes need be done more for their convenience? Morning, noon or night as will work for them. I don't think my questions concerns are foolish?
The more I have watched and thought on this, the more it seems the Seniors are being used. They seem be getting jammed into a small upstairs area that is not safe for them. Even downstairs if they were to go back to exercising there is iffy due to evacuation options for the building. AGAIN, smaller classes more often.
It is a bit suspicious that Mr. Rapp and Mr. Rogers were at the class except for Vote getting. I do know in Mr. Rogers defense he does attend a lot of the Senior Activities and has for some time. Mr. Rapp, well that speaks for itself. Why does everything with this City Administration have to be for Political gain? Again, we need a Mayor who is here everyday and working for the City; not himself.
So with 3 days out of 5 on the City Calendar showing no usage and the Building was said to have been shut down on Mondays for some period of time due to non usage; why $300,000 for an extension? It is a very common ploy on the part of Mr. Rapp to want to build something new and shiny as the Sun twinkles on it versus use of some Fiscal Sense in how City Tax Dollars are spent. He is just like a child with a cookie jar. P'burg spent $15K to connect water to Vienna. But we had to build a $250K pretty blue water tank at the end of Ninth Street to have water for them in an emergency. Anyone smell anything yet?
Now let me go back to the lady who went after me on the Senior Center issue. Per the person who told me about the call it was alleged to be one Cynthia Buskirk. Now at the same time this was going on, the Neale Cook Cemetery was being voted on to be "Quit Claimed" into the City as I have requested several times in the past few years. Ms. Buskirk is one of two remaining Trustees for the Cemetery and are alleged to be no longer able to manage the care of it.
I have some questions with this annexation for the following reasons:
1. Do not feel it is appropriate for the City to mow, trim and care for the Cemetery with Tax Payer monies; no matter how well intentioned it maybe. It was and is still private property. Yet, the City has and is unwilling to care for a lot of City property which can not be put out as a "Public Relations" stunt. That is why for some years, the City has cared for the Cemetery; Public Relations that can and have been used to the advantage of the City Council.
2. Now that the City is to Quit Claim the Cemetery into the City, it is the intent of Mr. Rapp to no longer take care of it with City People, money and equipment; but to instead contract the care out to whomever for about $1,500/ year. Once we own it, there is no longer any Public Relations value to the City taking care of it. This smell to anyone yet? Election is coming up of course so still a couple of Photo Ops for Mr. Rapp to pose as a Hero of those who have passed before us.
3. Part of the rational is that there are deceased Veterans there going back to the Revolutionary War. Okay, can anyone say there are not any old Cemeteries in Wood County that do not possibly have some of these fine and brave men buried in them no matter the War or Conflict? It is a "Historical Site" is one of the arguments. Yet note above and the City no longer has interest to maintain it.
Now it could be and seems to have some legs to an argument that Ms. Buskirk in a show of open support for Mr. Rapp (she is a Rappite), did as has been done by some of the other ladies to come after me with stories that were far more full of lies than truths? It could be called quid pro quo? Mr. Rapp is very good at this as I alleged with his Health Insurance in 2013. He allegedly got his Health Insurance and the Insurance Company has gotten the City Contract every year since? There is more to how this has gone down, but this is the basic allegation.
In any case, Ms. Buskirk has followed my blog for some time and earlier, again called my supporter to say she had caught a grass cutting company cutting the grass in front of City Hall. I did a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), request on any contract to be cutting the grass. The FOIA came back with the comment that the company had no contract to cut the grass. When I noted in a chat message to Ms. Buskirk that if she saw it again to take a picture as that would resolve the issue. Her response to me was that "I only saw it once". It was only later I was told she was a Rappite; so some surprise to me?
So she appears to have gotten a burden removed from her; which is fine with me if the City is going to maintain it. But then for the City to walk away and contract the duty out is a little petty. Are those folks there that are the reason to take if over any less now than when the Trustees had the responsibility? A deceased Veteran to my understanding does not lose the Respect due to them by a Quit Claim?
Again as with the Gold Star Memorial, it seems is a matter of taking advantage of those who lost so much and those who gave so much for a Political advantage?
I cannot and will not makes any changes to either the Memorial or the Cemetery. By getting Mr. Rapp and others out of office, it will remove some of the black stain put on those deceased folks. We should never use our people who have passed over for Profit, be in Financial or Elective.
I cannot imagine using the loss of anyone under arms in any Military Action to be used for any purpose that would take away from their integrity, honor and what they gave be it willingly or not to protect what we have today. 'nuff said'.
I am asking for your Votes. "Change is in the Air".
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).