Heard an interesting rumor that Mr. Azinger is running for Mayor? Allegedly because the City is spending too much money? Now this is the same guy who voted for the $3K pay increases effective 1 July of this year per employee but against any tax relief for the property owners. Now if he runs will he be a "stalking horse" for Mr. Rapp? This to divide up votes to hopefully allow Mr. Rapp to win re-election with a much lower vote count than if it were a truly viable Candidate who gave a damn about Vienna rather than the status quo? Having watched Mr. Azinger operate from his last few months as a Delegate when he and Mr. Ellem's failed in an attempt to pass a Law to stick it to the people in the State by requiring them to have to go to a Doctor to get a Prescription for OTC items like Sudafed because of the ingredient used in Meth. Than, as a City Council Member, I must say he is a Politician and nothing more. He appears a nice enough man but I am not sure when to separate the Politician from the man? When is he just schmoozing or actually concerned about someone?
And also was told a cute little story about the properties to the North of the new park. It seems that when they came up for the Auction Block due to non payment of taxes in 2014, one or more members of the Harper family allegedly got them? How that really played out, I am not sure? There are supposedly several successful members of that family in construction, trucking and ?? in Vienna? This being even before the City bought the Johns Manville site. Mr. Rapp had about $47K authorized for bidding for several properties, but lost every bid.
Now in the City Council meeting of 12 November, an Executive Session was called when the Agenda reached the Johns Manville item. It has to do with a "Real Estate" matter. Now I was suspicious at the time on what was going since the land was pretty much supposedly settled? The City had gotten an extension on its demolition permit through the end of 2016 from DEP. I am still questioning the total disregard for what may be in the "Ravine" that Mr. Rapp says never existed; Triad's pooh poohing on drilling any deeper than about 12- 18 feet IN IT because they hit water, or around it? It does NOT pass the smell test and what a man raised holy Hell in the Visionary Meeting in July 2014 about corruption in DEP is starting to raise its head again? This is just rolling along and seems to have inadequate drillings where needed and a too fast tracking of permits? Having monitoring wells around it seems is not quite as good as a DEEP one in it? It seems that Mr. Rapp is again questioning the Integrity of those who worked there or had relatives there for decades and say they dumped who knows what all over the property TO INCLUDE the lining/ insulation bricks from the Smoke Stacks INTO that ravine? It has been so long since I have seen one who could bend, twist and rewrite History to fit an Agenda and not allow any alleged facts to cloud the issue? Should we require that his grandchildren when they arrive to play on that property from birth to 18 when they can legally make their own decisions? Or would that be called child abuse?
In any case the Executive Meeting was held. Was it the Brownfield Grant? Or maybe as I was just told that the owner's of the lands that were forfeited for lack of tax payments had redeemed the land in the past few weeks before the time period for redemption expired? And the story goes that the City is buying up those properties? With what? At this time, there has been no attempts to authorize OPENLY those purchases till now? It was told to me that possibly the City gave/ loaned the money to the Property Owner's to redeem the property to sell to the City? Where would that money have come from? Was it still the above noted $47K that was authorized earlier to buy properties in 2014? The City is known to carry funds forward in accounts and use them in another Fiscal Year. Was also told that there is some kind of a falling out with some of the local businesses that somehow involves the Public Works Department via some employees? I don't know, but it for sure will bear some watching in the New Year to see what the City really does? If they end up with those properties after all, could there have been what used to be called a falling out among thieves? I am very, very curious to see how this plays out? There have been several allegations on cute land deals in the past few decades that involved of course our City Council at those times and some local businesses?
One allegedly being the Mobile Home Park near Jackson School and another on a lot bought for Taxes at about $7500, but than bought by the City for nearly $200K? And this was followed up by excavating the lot to make it level for a project with the dirt being hauled by City Vehicles to fill in some wetlands for the private party until EPA or DEP stepped in and stopped it? Now you folks that have lived here forever and ever probably know the rumors and who did what? Me, have not been here long enough to even know about such things? This wonderful little town has been milked for decades. It is said that some got quite well off working for the City? Seems a lot of smoke for no fire?
Getting a little bit away from just our fair Community, let us talk about the Election next year for a new Senator. Mr. Deem, our local representative is waving the flag of divisiveness against the appointed Senator from Roane County and saying Wood County must/ should have that position back? Now allow me to point out that he was one of the Coup d'état group trying to overthrow Mr. Cornelius as head of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee for some months. I am not sure if they have for the short term kissed and made up to go after the new Senator? Instead of rallying to protect the seat as I noted earlier from being rolled to Democratic; it appears they are starting the go "at each others throat" approach is alive and well here. Lose the seat before letting another Repub area get it. If there are some folks who want to run for the seat, God speed. If the only reason is because we must have a Senator from Wood County, Credentials/ experience be damned; hmmmm, not good. And we wonder why the Dem's ran the State for 80 years? Not too hard when only one party? It still may be a blood bath for the Delegates due to the infighting of this year? Would it be a bad thing if Mr. Deem was retired by the voters to hug/ hold his grandbabies? I am absolutely dumbfounded at how much bull s*** goes on in such a little town; yet so many good folks? Why are you in hiding? 'nuff said.