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.
The confusion is not political. Your question should be, We spent $16,000 for redi-mix last year--Is bill #12-1136 $175,000 ALL FOR REDI-MIX? Or does that bill have other maint needs..
Why is $175,000 needed this year?. What's so hard to understand.? Why so hard to answer? It doesn't matter who asked that question.
The Council Members from Districts 1, 2 and 4 are the only three on the Council that ask the hard questions and because of their nonallegiance to the party, Janet and George Engelebach worked hard to see that they were voted off the Council. Unfortunately, for the future, there will be no more hard questions asked by the 4th District Council person unless it involves Agenda 21, watering rights and water sheds. I doubt that you will be provided with an answer to your question ever because the Council Members from Districts 3, 5, 6 and 7 could care less about the wants and needs of the residents of Jefferson County. There are those of them that have no clue about how to read and understand a Bill. I have witnessed Kelly Waymon reading the Bills a half hour before the meeting. I for one am honored to support the Council people from Districts 1, 2 and 4. Unlike Marie Crowley, I know from experience how much work they've put into being members of the Council. She speaks not because of her concern for the County, but from total allegiance to Janet and George Engelbach. Too bad for her because of her party blindness and too bad for the future of Jeff. County.
Mrs. Crowley, if we're going to talk about families evidently you're in favor of sticking your own family with more debt and you don't care about how much your kids have to pay because our local representatives want to spend an extra $100,000 on whatever. We don't know what the extra $100,000 will be spent on since Mr. Jonas did not have to present details of projects, equipment, etc. You are the sad one who doesn't care about the future of your children or your grandchildren (that is if you have either). I happen to care about how much my children will owe because of party politics.
Shame on you, Ms. Crowley, you sound like the Democrat that sits in the White House demonizing every small business owner. You can see how well this sort of demonization is working for our country that used to be a country of entrepreneurs and is now becoming a Socialist nation of people beholden to the government for their handouts. I look at those that scorn the successful people as envious, small minded and petty, with little ambition.
If the video says it was for Rocks, I would now ask---What are the Projects? If Jonas asked for $75,000, what Projects are needed for $100,000 more in ROCKS? I'm skeptical!!!! Ms Crowley should know that once the year ends, all Actual projects making up the $175,000 budget usage becomes fair game for Van De Reit. Either $175,000 is spent or $75,000 is spent. One of you will be certainly proven wrong. That's the beauty of Numbers. Numbers don't hide behind "rocks". To be continued!