Lets Keep our Eye on the Ball
Hello and Good Evening:
I see all of you have been quite busy today. I hope through this link that as a collective group we can effectively make changes in our town for the good. It is good to disagree when we can discuss the differences in a civil manner. However it doesn't solve the problems we are all concerned about,when you make personal attacks on one another.
The town is like a company and we as the citizens are the Board of Directors. When we see something is wrong, we should take steps to correct it. And there are a few out there who want nothing more than for you to make personal attacks on one another. In doing so, we are being distracted by the real issues at hand. We have the same goal, to make this a better town and to know that our money we pay to the City Government is being used wisely.
That being said, Lets keep our eye on the ball!
It's good that everyone is paying attention and asking questions. I certainly would like to know if the city employees are filing the use of town vehicles as part of their income. A call to the IRS should give us an answer.
As for the town equipment i.e. mowers and tractors, the only way to stop the misuse is to take a photo. Otherwise its deny, deny, deny, and its your word against theirs. Fred R. Barnard once said, a picture is worth a thousand words. Just make sure that when you take the pictures, you get enough background to recognize the area.
As I have stated before, I appreciate the job our firefighters do. I would like to see our money spent to support the fire hall more than any other cause.
I would also like to know if anyone knows whether the town can legally build the city hall on our community center? The community center belongs to the people. I believe if we take a stand they will have to put the palace some place else.
Can someone tell me what department of the State will know if bids for building the new City Hall is required?
To Nick,
If you can e-mail the budget, I will try and post it.
Good Night All!
posted by John Q. Taxpayer @ 8:47 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Regarding the cost of the new town hall
allow me post what I have found outand pose this QUESTION
At the risk of someone suggesting I move to Pegram. Anyone who takes a ride up toward Bellevue would have seen the new all brick, large and pretty fancy City Hall & Fire Department in Pegram. Some calls were made inquiring about the cost of that construction. From what I hear it was around $600,000. Much less than HALF what is proposed here for White Bluff City Hall. I know building cost do rise, and I have not seen the inside of the Pegram facility, but it looks large enough to more than handle anything we need here, plus that includes a new Fire Station, not a make over of an old one.
Just wanted to give a comparison, have to wonder just what all they are asking us to pay for, and if more than one plan and firm should have be considered. Take care everybody.
J Q keep it going.
Traci, Crystal et al
hang in there.
And as I said, I count myself in good company among the 'accused' of being John Q.
Who knows maybe we all are part of this vast conspiracy to say what we think...damn outragous ain't it?
From Common Sense
Thomas Paine 1776
"SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and GOVERNMENT by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last A PUNISHER. 1
Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a NECESSARY EVIL; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that WE furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the PALACES of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise. For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform, and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of HIS property to furnish means for the protection of the rest; and this he is induced to do by the same prudence which in every other case advises him out of two evils to choose the least. Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the LEAST EXPENSE and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others."
Common Sense was a pamphlet first published on January 10, 1776, during the American Revolution by Thomas Paine. It is credited with inspriring Washington, his troops and the new nation in their struggle against tyranny.
I would be curious to know exactly what everyone who is wanting to look at the personal IRS tax returns of the city employees, deduct on THEIR income taxes.
John Q said "I certainly would like to know if the city employees are filing the use of town vehicles as part of their income. A call to the IRS should give us an answer."
So, John Q, you think you are the all powerful "Oz" so you can just give the IRS a call and they will give you personal information on taxpayers?!? Are you kidding me? These city employee's don't have to account for anything on their personal tax returns. If you want to see the City's tax returns that may be another story. You can't demand to see someone's personal information and then say that they are hiding something when they refurse to furnish it to you. You furnish yours and maybe they will furnish theirs. Anyone who is complaining and wanting to question the city employee's personal IRS tax returns want to volunteer to share their own personal information?
With regard to a picture, you can interpret a picture a thousand different ways. If you don't have the full information about what is going on a picture is completely useless. Yes a picture is worth a thousand words and also a million different opinions and interpretations.
IGNORE ANONYMOUS!!!
All their arguments are off base and easily refute BUT they are just trying to get off the topic of bad management of our town.
IGNORE THEM
What Pegram built compared to what White Bluff plans?
$600,000 vs $1,500,000
just what brainiac negotiated that bargain for our town?
The one is Pegram looks like more than a small town even needs.
Looks like we are getting taken to the cleaners.
Tim - if you think my comments are "easily refute" (I think you mean refutable) then by all means feel free to refute them.
I am most certainly not trying to get off the topic of bad management. I am trying to get people to understand that you simply can't go by accusations and half-truths. You need well documented, hard-core facts and proof BEFORE you start into a tyrade about INDIVIDUALS who are employed by the City. There have been more personal attacks and grips about individuals than "Management" in general. I know there are problems, but take it up with the "powers that be" and quit bad-mouthing individuals who are working and trying to earn a living!
IGNORE ANONYMOUS
John Q
The state does require bids on the construction of the new City Hall.
I don't think that process has started yet.
So that one and one half million could go even higher.
But what White Bluff has done is not seek bids from the design firm.
That alone is one hundred thousand dollars.
Legally they did not have to get a bid on that.
But they could have and with the amount of money involved they should have to insure a good deal for the town.
And with the estimated cost of the City Hall it sounds like they did not.
The reason some of you are chanting "Ignore Anonymous" is because you are are incapable of answering the questions and addressing the issues I have raised. You can't provide any physical, tangible proof of corruption or tangible evidence of misappropriation of funds, etc. Your responses are simply to be childish and badmouth individuals and run away from the issues and questions (for proof) I have raised. That reaction speaks loudly about those who not only started all this but those who defend and console them. You can certainly dish it out but when you are confronted you cannot stand up and take it. Your reaction is to run, run away.
I personally don't care about other peoples tax returns. If I'm not reporting the way I should, I'm sure it would catch up with me.
I looked up some things on the net. If what I could find, vechicles for personal use, gas allowance, ect. are considered "perks".Perks are like salaries and should be reported as income.Remember this is what I understand as I found info on the net.
Any lawyers out there who know for sure?
YAWN
IGNORE ANONYMOUS
Jack one reason people should be worried about the tax returns is because the city (then us as taxpayers) could be in trouble if the city office girls are not filing them properly
(before you all start shooting, this is a different anonymous . . .)
but if i hear those 40-yr-old women referred to as "girls" anymore, i may have to scream.
at least give them that.
40 hell
50 if a day
The community center was started by some citizens as a place to get together for the town poeple. I think the city of white bluff bought it from them.
I have a question about veterans park.Why did they buy more than 50 acres for that?Are we going to have a 6 flags over white bluff or something?
I don't care what kind of a deal we got. Why can't the city be built out there, it's plenty of room for it to grow.
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