Bend Over Jefferson County Tax Payers

Last night was like watching a scene from the news related to the fiscal cliff we are facing because of Obama's spending.  Now it is happening on a local level in Jefferson County thanks to our infamous chair of the council, Bob Boyer, councilman from the 3rd District, Terri Kreitler, councilwoman from the 5th District, Cliff Lane, councilman from the 6th District and Kelly Waymon, councilman from the 7th District. 

It all centered on the following bills on the Consent Agenda, Bill No. 12-1132, Bill No. 12-1135, Bill No. 12-1136 and finally Bill No. 12-1141.  These four bills dealt with future expenses in the Public Works Department (roads, maintenance, etc.) for the county.  The new public works director, Jason Jonas, was asking for $150,000 on bill No. 12-1132, $175,000 on bill No. 12-1136, $75,000 on bill No. 12-1136 and $400,000 on bill No. 12-1141.  Renee Reuter asked Mr. Jonas some very important questions about these bills such as, why when we spent only $16,000 last year on services for Ready Mix Concrete (related to bill No. 12-1135) was he asking for $175,000 this year?  His answer was that he was basing his numbers on 2009-2010.  I have to ask, why are we going backwards, why are we trying to spend more money in a time when Jefferson County along with most of the country no longer has any extra money to spend?  I laughed to myself when Kelly Waymon, District 7, asked Mr. Jonas if this would hurt the county. Of course Mr. Jonas said "yes", why wouldn't he, he wants the money.  Mr. Waymon, why didn't you ask yourself if this would hurt the taxpayers instead?  That's your job as a representative OF THE PEOPLE, you are not a representative for the county.

Renee Reuter then made a motion to remove these bills from the agenda for further consideration.  It was asked of Mr. Jonas three times if the county was under a time limit to get these funds and three times he answered "no."  When Renee Reuter made the first motion to remove bill Nos. 1132 and 1136 and Charlie Groeteke, District 4 seconded it, Bob Boyer, Terri Kreitler, Cliff Lane and Kelly Waymon voted against further consideration to reduce the amounts asked for and voted for a cost increase of 15 times more than what  Mr. Jonas originally asked for.  Councilwoman Reuter tried to reduce the amounts to $60,000 (well above the $16,000 spent last year), she was voted down by the same four council members.  Councilman Bickowski, Councilwoman Reuter and Councilman Groeteke also asked to remove bill No. 12-1141 for further consideration to try to reduce the amount Mr. Jonas wanted in the amount of $400,000 that we as taxpayers will have to pay for and again, the council members from Districts 3, 5, 6 and 7 voted their motion down.

Last night was a clear example of politics at it's best.  Bob Boyer, Terri Kreitler, Cliff Lane and Kelly Waymon had no concern about how it affected the taxpayers in Jefferson County.  They had one thing on their minds, if the council members from Districts 1, 2 and 4 wanted to do what's best for the county, they preferred to increase costs by 15 times in order to show the other side their power.  This is not advantageous to any of us that voted for these so called Conservative Republicans and one Libertarian who runs on being a huge advocate of being fiscally conservative.  I expect this type of spending from Cliff Lane, he is a Democrat, but not those council members who paraded around during their campaign with messages about how they would save the residents of the county from the bad guys that spend too much money.  As far as I'm concerned they are Democrats in Republican and Libertarian clothing.

I'm sure all four council members will say I don't have all my facts.  If you don't believe me, watch the video, it is all telling.