"COMFORTABLY NUMB" pink floyd

Well, I was hoping to pass on some great news to city residents. It has been over a month since the city purchased Millstone and I have been made aware the deal was finalized. The rabbits should have received their checks from the Queen so ,"We can all live happily ever after." What there's some kind of snag? You better get and cash that check before August 2nd, seems we might have a problem with that account?
So you all know the snag has nothing to do with the Bear, he just giggles with a paw in his honey jar.

As most of you might have guessed by know I have been blamed for the "terrible rumor" as one councilman called it about the rezoning of that 3 acres of commercial land the Goldberg Properties owns that the city wishes to rezone residential? As Council-President mentioned the other 6 plus acres they own behind Cedarbrook, between Chestnut to Hickory they could start building on. I went to the County Auditor's site and sure enough there are 45 plots that can be developed already, or could they? I believe the city or the developer would have to put in all new infrastructure if a development was to be built. I also believe the city would end up in a legal battle with the present homeowners.
Someone mentioned why I didn't take the city at their word? I told them I had good reason to look out a window if anyone at city hall told me it's sunny outside. When asking questions at council I get many half-truths such as "We will not pay a dime for AMPGS until we start receiving electricity" or The Painesville's portion of the EPA fine at Gorsuch is $8,000.00 don't look now it's $86,000.00 now.[ These remarks I have kept on videotape] How about that promised Lake Health Urgent Care Center? Along with a little retention pond in the northwest corner at Huntington Park, have you seen that corner? What about the $250,000.00 spent on a park by the Grand River next to the Richmond St. bridge [Horvath's Lagoons] over 7 years ago? Looks worse now then when we purchased it, without even a clear reason to spend that much money on swamp land in the first place. I could go on and on. It's a sad day when residents can no
longer trust what they are told.

A city resident shared with me a story about a conversation with a city official. This resident wanted to know the number of city employees in the DROP program. This is a program where an employee can retire and come back to work, also known as "double-dipping" This resident didn't even want to know who the people were only the total number? He was told by the city official the city wasn't obligated to release that number by law and wouldn't. So again "just pay the man."

Now a another Painesville resident has suffered another coincidence, We started a community organization to look into ways to alleviate the flooding in the Cedarbrook area, he has had two meeting with as many as 50 residents attending. Low and behold he goes to city hall where a clerk assess him a $100.00 for a new electric meter band for his house. It seems the clerk mentioned the old band was tapered with and the only reason she could give was that the resident possibly was stealing electricity? This person lives alone has been a homeowner in Painesville for close to 50 years, probably has more money then dirt. Along with knowing this person I trust him.

Riverside Schools will be looking for a levy this coming Tuesday I have read this levy will cost the averge homeowner of a $100,000 an extra $186.00 a year, $15.06, a month. Never in any of these remarks is it mentioned that that average homeowner presently has a property tax bill of over $1,700.00 presently.which with this levy passing will make his property tax around $160.00 a month. Something to ponder.
*************************************************************************************
Riverside Schools levy failed almost two to one. I guess people can't afford to pay anymore. The next question the teachers will have to ask Do we layoff peer's, or agree to a pay cut? I'm guessing layoffs, Then try to explain "it's for the children?"

"KNOWING WHEN TO LEAVE" the carpenters

Many of you on this site tell me to do something more than complain. Well, Tuesday morning I filed a recall petition against council member Paul Hach and council president Joe Hada. This is a direct result of the failed AMPGS power station in Meigs County, Ohio. Painesville's share could be as high as 2.7 million dollars. Painesville does not have the funds to throw this kind of money to the wind. I believe this money will be paid out of an increase in the "power factor" in our utility bills.
We know who is responsible for this loss yet the city holds no one accountable. There is no mention of where the money will come from. Others who voted for this no longer serve on council and Mr. Fountain has shown no interest in running for another term. Both of these highly educated people should have known better than to involve Painesville in a 50-year contract with AMP-OHIO. I was informed I would need 1,600 signatures from registered Painesville voters. That is another story in its self. If you see these council members, please ask them where Painesville will find the money for this latest blunder.

Here is the statement for recall:

*************************************************************************************

In 2008 the Painesville City Council passed an ordinance to participate in a [take or pay] 50 year contract with AMP-OHIO to purchase electric power from a plant planned to be built in Meigs County, Ohio ["the Plant", AMPGS]. As part of this contract, the City of Painesville guaranteed a portion of the construction cost of the Plant. Because of escalating cost relating to the fact that the Plant was to be "coal-fired," AMP-OHIO decided not to proceed with its planned construction, leaving the city to repay up to 2.7 million dollars. Many Painesville residents opposed the City voting to participate in the contract. The final council vote was 5 to 2.
Councilmen Paul Hach, Joseph Hada, Robert Fountain, Arlene Becks and Abby Delamotte voted to participate in the contract. No concern for the money lost by the City or the financial impact it will have on the City has been expressed to the citizens of Painesville. Current Councilmen Hach and Hada have been or were derelict in the sworn duty to the citizens of Painesville.

*************************************************************************************

Most of the information that instigated this recall can be found in the February 19, 2008 council meeting minutes, as well as the October 14, 2010 council minutes meeting.

Petitions will start showing up around town soon.

"THE ANSWER IS BLOWING IN THE WIND" pp&m

For anyone interested in my communications with the Rally Team....here are the e-mails I sent them (and before anyone jumps on me about the capital letters...these were written when I first started using a computer and then I was told that writing like that was the same as shouting)

I can't say whether they blocked me but as you can see I did request to be taken off their mailing list.

On Fri, 6/8/07, angelo cimaglio wrote:

From: angelo cimaglio
Subject: RALLY IDEA
To: "RALLY TEAM"
Date: Friday, June 8, 2007, 5:09 PM
JUST A NOTE ON THE NEXT RALLY. HOW ABOUT PROTECTING OUR BORDERS RALLY? WE WON A BATTLE THIS WEEK, BUT ITS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THIS BILL WILL BE BACK. ENFORCEMENT OF CURRENT LAW IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. BUT WE MUST FIRST VERIFY THEN TRUST. A SMALL NOTE THEIR WERE MORE DEMOCRATS AT THE RALLY THAN YOU MIGHT THINK , THIS BILL COULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF THIS COUNTRY FOR ALL CITIZENS.


THANK-YOU ANGELO CIMAGLIO



RALLY
Monday, June 18, 2007 7:39 AM
From:
"angelo cimaglio"
To:
rsmith@plaind.com
READ YOUR ARTICLE ON THE RALLY SUNDAY IN PAINESVILLE SUNDAY. I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION, WHO MADE HOLA, AND VERONICA DAHLBERG THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE LATINIO COMMUNITY IN LAKE COUNTY . SHE DOES NT EVEN LIVE HERE. NEXT TIME YOU COME TO PAINESVILLE AND ASK THE MEXICANS WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE DOING TO THIS COMMUNITY. I ASKED AN IMMIGRANT, WHY THEY LET HER SPEAK FOR THEM. I WAS TOLD SHE LUMPS THEM ALL TOGETHER NATURAL BORN, LEGAL AT LAST AMNESTY, LEGALLY HERE, AND THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. SHE IS NOT THE LEADER YOU THINK SHE IS. ITS ALL ABOUT VERONICA.

THANK-YOU ANGELO CIMAGLIO



--- On Tue, 6/19/07, angelo cimaglio wrote:

From: angelo cimaglio
Subject: names
To: "RALLY TEAM"
Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 9:08 PM
LJUST THINKING IF I WAS A NEWS REPORTER I WONT WRITE A STORY WITHOUT THE NAMES OF THE RALLY ORGANIZERS. ITS JUST GOOD JOURNALISM TO KNOW WHO YOUR TALKING TO. MAYBE WERE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS? YOU MAY USE MY NAME AS LONG AS I SEE WHAT YOU ARE WRITING,


--- On Tue, 6/19/07, angelo cimaglio wrote:

From: angelo cimaglio
Subject: OUT THERE
To: "RALLY TEAM"
Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 8:52 PM
I HAVE ALREADY SENT MR. SMITH AN E MAIL ABOUT THE LATINO RALLY. {SENT COPY TO YOU]. I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE READY TO PUT OUR NAMES 'OUT THERE' THIS IS TO IMPORTANT NOT TO, I SIGN MY LETTERS WITH MY FULL NAME, WHAT ARE PEOPLE AFRAID OF?

thank-you ANGELO CIMAGLIO


--- On Tue, 6/19/07, angelo cimaglio wrote:

From: angelo cimaglio
Subject: names
To: "RALLY TEAM"
Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 9:08 PM
LJUST THINKING IF I WAS A NEWS REPORTER I WONT WRITE A STORY WITHOUT THE NAMES OF THE RALLY ORGANIZERS. ITS JUST GOOD JOURNALISM TO KNOW WHO YOUR TALKING TO. MAYBE WERE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS? YOU MAY USE MY NAME AS LONG AS I SEE WHAT YOU ARE WRITING,


THANK-YOU ANGELO CIMAGLIO
-- On Thu, 6/21/07, angelo cimaglio wrote:

From: angelo cimaglio
Subject: SUNDAYS MEXICAN RALLY
To: "RALLY TEAM"
Date: Thursday, June 21, 2007, 8:03 PM
I THINK ALL RALLY MEMBERS SHOULD PICK-UP A COPY OF THE LAKE COUNTY TRIBUNE JUNE 22ND EDITION THERE IS AN ARTICLE BY DEBBIE CORDES ON THE HOLA MARCH' GREAT READ IND, BALDEMAR VELASQUEZ THE HEAD OF FLOC, AND I QUOTE THEY CAN HAVE 'RETURN TO SENDER' WE WILL HAVE OPERATION TAKE BACK OUR LAND', VELASQUEZ SAID. 'IT IS A SILENT CONQUERING OF OUR LAND. WE ARE HERE TO RIGHTLY TAKE BACK WHAT IS OURS'. AT LEAST HES HONEST ABOUT HIS MOTIVES, WHERE WAS THE NEWS-HEARLD AND THE PLAINDEALERS ARTICLE ON THIS SUBJECT?

THANK-YOU ANGELO CIMAGLIO


On Thu, 7/5/07, angelo cimaglio wrote:

From: angelo cimaglio
Subject: ACCUSATIONS
To: "RALLY TEAM"
Date: Thursday, July 5, 2007, 4:47 PM
AS I SPEND MY JULY 4TH CELEBRATION I CANT HELP BUT WONDER IF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WOULD HAVE ONLY USED THEIR FIRST NAMES, FOR FEAR OF WHAT THE BRITISH WOULD DO TO THEM, I DO NT THINK THAT DOCUMENT WOULD HAVE HELD WATER? DO YOU? ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY BETTER OFF THAN IT WAS WHEN I WAS BORN. I AM NOT A FOLLOWER BUT WHEN I DO ITS IMPORTANT TO ME TO KNOW WHO I AM FOLLOWING. IF YOU ARE ALL SCARED YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THE PUBLIC ARENA, THE MEXICAN AT THE RALLY THE SUNDAY BEFORE YOURS DID NT GIVE HIS NAME BECAUSE HE WAS ILLEGAL. ARE WE ILLEGAL? PEOPLE AT THE RALLY EVEN QUESTIONED ME IF THE JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY WAS PUTTING ON THE RALLY? I SAID I DO NT THINK SO BUT I REALLY DO NT KNOW WHO IS. 'GRASSROOTS' TO ME MEANS LOCAL PEOPLE WANTING TO HELP ORGANIZE LOCAL ISSUES. THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE YOUR GROUP COULD HELP DETERMINE AND STOP IS LOCAL ILLEGAL HIRING BY PUTTING PRESSURE ON LOCAL EMPLOYERS. WHY NOT ? BELIEVE ME WE DO NT HAVE ANY POWER ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE CAN JUST KEEP OUR CITY, COUNTY OFFICIALS HONEST AND LET THEM KNOW OUR FEELINGS. AS OF JULY 5TH I NO LONGER WANT TO DEAL WITH WHOEVER YOU PEOPLE ARE I DECLARE MY INDEPENDENCE FROM SUPERMAN, ZORRO, THE LONE RANGER WHOEVER YOU PEOPLE ARE. PLEASE TAKE ME OFF YOUR E-MAIL LIST I AM 56 YEARS OLD NOT 9.


THANK-YOU ANGELO CIMAGLIO [SOMEONE WHO DOES NT LIVE IN FEAR]

Real Horrible ,Uh?

'SUICIDE SONG" lee evans

After attending Monday night's council meeting, I have to wonder if Councilman Werner intends to commit political suicide. As a member of council and being a person that should know better than most just how stretched our safety forces are, he calls the police over a neighbor’s cat.
Now if Mr. Werner has any hopes of being re-elected, this feud with his neighbors (including Jackie's Place) and the residents behind the establishment should end now.
I believe Hal has always wanted to serve as a good council member, sometimes he just goes off the reservation.
At Monday night's meeting, Ms. McMahon mentioned that liquor licenses were being reviewed by the State in September, and if any resident should want to file a complaint on an establishment, contact the city. To be honest, I thought Hal's eyes glassed over. Here was his chance to rid himself of his nemesis. My thanks to the city manager for waving the red flag in front of him.
I do not believe Hal will listen to me, but he might listen to someone else out there.
Hal, you have spent too much time and money to get on council to become this petty. Do you have some neighborhood problems that you think need addressed? Yes, you might, but your present tactics really should stop.
Discussing this with someone I trust, the comment was made "wasn't there a bar there when he bought the houses?" If they were and it was, now is not the time to raise a fuss.
Your position on council is not to be self-serving, we have had enough of that, please get off your high horse and do what you were elected to do.
End this juvenile feud now!
Hal, your opponent is having a fund-raiser at Jackie's....does that tell you anything?

"FORTUNATE SON" ccr

You have to wonder where the City of Painesville is financially at the present time? First off we just raised water rates approximately $8.00 a month on residents bills.
Although this is a fee you could also look at it as a $96.00 tax increase on a homeowner? What items has the city purchased this year that we could have done without? First thing comes to mind is red paint. We have purchased four new parks in the last year and with the exception of two it seemed like a good idea.
We were told by an AMP-OHIO offical that the city owed over $2,000,000.00 in sunken costs at Meigs County AMPGS Plant? That hardly brought up a sweat from anyone at city hall.
Now Mr. Fodor brings up the "L" word a levy for street improvement. Why not just tell the city manager to include it in the 2012 budget? Find savings please that's what we pay her big bucks for. Under the "Golden Dome there happens to be close to $950,000.00 in Manager, and Directors salaries. This doesn't count the other employees in that building or the directors of the utility departments. Do we really need all these people in a town with a population of around 19,000 people? Where is the accountability,where is the justification, who decides this? Why do we spend $100,000.00 on road improvements and at the same time tell residents it costs $500,000.00 to maintain two cemeteries?
I'm starting to believe I wasn't as fortunate being born here as I thought. Well atleast 350 who work for the city seem happy?

"COUNCIL MEETING 07/18/11

Well, due to the summer session, council has only one scheduled meeting in July and one in August.
This meeting will have no departmental reports but will be centered on three areas in the city that the city would like to put in zoning compliance. The property behind Atwell's is of the most concern to Chestnut St. rezoning. Many fear this is the keystone to a large housing development bounded by Chestnut, Cedarbrook and Hickory Dr. No one can be against development of this property, but at the same time, homes in this area already flood after a hard rain. Truthfulness by the administration would probably be welcome. This problem must be resolved before anyone builds anything.
In new business, Councilman Fodor is offering "Next step in the search for energy". Maybe if we had done this in 2007 we would be 2 million dollars richer.
Also, Councilman Fodor is inquiring about a Road Improvement Levy.
Councilwoman DiNallo will propose a "Council Appointed Utilities Commission."
Enjoy another warm week.


*************************************************************************************

Quick note on the council meeting. All zoning were put on third reading. Most comments came from the Chestnut Cedarbrook area. Most question concerned the 3 acres behind Atwell's. Wonder why Goldberg Builders weren't present? Change all the property to R-1 that currently have addresses but the city should not be in the business of changing zoning for people. Let them apply like everyone else.
Painesville is presently looking for another company to help us with our electic energy needs seems AMP-OHIO has left a sour taste in every ones mouth.
This went to Mr. Fodors question about energy and Mrs. DiNallo question about an energy committee. Ms. McMahon said she was gathering information for council.
Mr. Fodor brought up the need for Painesville to maybe do the "L" word, meaning a proposed levy. Mr. Flock said lets bring up the "C" word, meaning cuts. Joe Hada attempted to make it sound like the cuts Flock mentioned would come on the backs of the safety forces, that was not what Mr. Flock said. Mr. Torre thought it was a bad idea, I mentioned that there was a better chance of it snowing tomorrow yhem a levy passing. Mr. Tibitts then brought out some interesting facts. Not counting utility directors, Painesville spends close to $950,000 on managers and directors. Seems like Painesville has become a place with to many chiefs and not enough Indians?

GREEN ONIONS" booker t

Is Painesville like an onion? Why do I ask that? Well, recently the city manager proposed zoning changes in the Chestnut-Cedarbrook area. The city manager said the reasoning behind these zoning changes was to make the area conform to the surrounding properties. If you live in Painesville long enough, you should understand that the city manager does nothing without an ulterior motive. All sounds well and good, but please explain why people representing a developer have been attempting to buy property from a resident for an access road parallel to Cedarbrook to connect with Hickory Dr. and Chestnut St.? I guess it's not so much that someone wants to build a development, its just the shady way it's done. And lets not forget that before one roof is constructed in that area another large interceptor sewer pipe needs to be installed.... not just connected to the pipe that presently runs down Chestnut St. Maybe residents in that area should band together and tell the city to leave the zoning alone. Peeling the skin off an onion is the only way to find the truth in Painesville.

Now, just a thought: if Painesville was the winning bidder for the Millstone property, they had to put 10% down in cash with the rest payable in 30 days. So if the rumbling I hear is true that FEMA still has the grant money would Painesville forfeit $230,000.00 if they don't finalize the Sheriff sale on time? Lets hope not uh?

Windmill Estates and the rest of the Cobblestone project rest on a bridge being built over the CSX tracks west of new RT.44 The city manager is looking for $3,500,000.00 to build this bridge. As late as May of 2010 she estimated the cost at $5,900,000.00.... how did it get cheaper? Recently Geneva built an overpass over the same railroad tracks. The final cost of that project was $8,900,000.00. Could we have some factual numbers before we move ahead with this bridge?

My favorite, Washington Cemetery. Nothing can happen until we can prove no bodies are still buried there. The only way to know for sure would be to dig a section up, right?

"CAN'T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING" rolling stones

Seems the sale of the "old" Harvey property between the schools and the port authority has reached a snag. Those of you that have been with us from the beginning will remember a post about an old cemetery located on the grounds in the southeast section. I remember seeing headstones there in the mid sixties. At one time, there must have been one there. Well, the records of what and who are buried there were destroyed in a fire back in the 1930's so, as Dr. Hanlon mentioned, there is a REMOTE possibility of some graves still there. Another "only in Painesville."
The board took action to approve #11-177 - ‘Student Designation to Transport’. What that means is Painesville will no longer provide bussing to Lake Catholic and Andrews-Osborne (I am not even clear about the others). The school board reported that transportation for these students costs over $3,097.35 per student annually.
Well, that might be true since the average pay of a Painesville City School bus driver is $33.93 per hr. This includes wages, hospitalization, retirement, etc.
What happened tonight is that all those Painesville parents who provide a private education for their kids now have no reason to support the schools.

In other news, long-time board member Andy Thompson turned in his resignation effective July 12, 2011. I guess this means another position is open. What is that….. four in the last three years? Mr. Thompson has spent over forty years in the field of education. A big ‘thank-you’ is well deserved.

Still wondering which elementary school my five-year-old granddaughter will be attending. She is on the borderline between Maple and Chestnut. Will there be all day kindergarten? Still no answers yet. This is July 11th… right?

'CHOICES" george jones

Well it seems most, if not all, of the people seeking a ward council seat have thrown their rspective hats into the ring. I know a good number of these people and it will be interesting to see how they are seen by the wards that they want to represent.
I have already talked to Derrick Abney about securing a school to have two "Meet the Candidate nights". All incumbents, as well as challengers, will be officially invited to these meetings at least two weeks in advance.
Ward I......Andrew Flock*
......Christine Shoop
Ward II.....Hal Werner*
.....Kathy Jenkins
Ward III....Richard Tibbits
....Michael DeLeone
Ward IV.....Paul Hach II *
.....John Murphy
* means incumbent

The coming weekend will be Painesville's "Party in the Park". I'm sure a lot of candidates will want to speak to you.

Sorry, but on this post only positve comments about the candidates..... Unless you're willing to leave a name.

"THE PAIN OF LOVING YOU" dolly parton

105 CHESTER STREET







I guess there is pain in loving Painesville?

One thing nice about living in Painesville; chances are you will never say, "now I've seen it all" because there's a chance with every drive home from work you will see something new....while our city manager fiddles with downtown "Streetscapes" [painting cross walks red?] Really Ms. McMahon? We, here in the north end, have something I guess we could call "Garbagescapes"? After viewing this late Friday afternoon I called my councilman Andy Flock to take a look.

Andy dutifully checked it out and he couldn't believe his eyes. A call was made to the "Golden Dome' and Assistant City Manager Doug Lewis went to the scene and told Mr. Flock he would not authorize overtime to clean up this mess due to Painesville's present financial situation. Mr. Flock said something should be done due to this being a safety and health issue. Mr. Lewis mentioned maybe if you would have called earlier? Mr. Flock informed Mr. Lewis we both work and he notified the city immediately after I informed him.

Now Mr. Lewis... a thought: that garbage must have been sitting there for more then a few hours. With Painesville's Public Works building just down the road you would think someone, anyone, from any number of city departments passing by that mess (police, electric, water, streets, parks, community development) that someone would have reported this? Is that a result of what happens when over 75% of your employees don't live here?

The update is that there is a full roll-off there now. I have no idea who finally authorized it but sure appreciate Mr. Flock getting the ball rolling.

I posted this for two reasons: in case residents on Casement, Bank, Cumming, and other streets can't understand why they can't sell their house or that no one seriously wants to move here... this house is appraised at $81,000. Think it would sell? Look at how out-of-towners on their way to Silvestro's or Chester's will view Painesville? The other reason is: if a resident is thinking about moving... he might think he can just just throw his garbage out like this guy. What, no retribution? This could become a common sight.... like cars parked all over lawns.
The city administration must realize we expect results when we pay an assistant $93,000 a year. We also expect residents and landlords to know there are consequences for their actions... even after 5:00PM on Friday.

"WHO ARE YOU" the who

I really want to know.
At a recent POC meeting the members thought it might be a good idea to get a recall petition started on the three councilman still serving on council that voted for the AMP Ohio Meigs County deal; Council-President Joe Hada, Ward IV councilman Paul Hach and Ward III councilman Bob Fountain. Since we believe Mr. Fountain will not pursue another term, and councilman Hach can explain his votes at 'meet the candidate' meetings it was decided that a recall at this time will not be beneficial to the city. At the same time, some of us were given the job of researching what a legal recall entails.

The following is an excerpt from the city charter:

Section II Recall

The power of recall of elected official of the city of the City is reserved to the people of the City. The procedure to be followed shall be provided by state statute except that a petition for recall shall require the signatures of registered electors of the City equal in number to 20% of registered electors of the City.
No person removed by recall shall be eligible to be elected or appointed to any office of the City for a period of two years after the date of the recall.

Pretty ambiguous. Mr. Gurley is the final arbiter in deciding if the petitions meet the proper standards. Do I need a reason? Does the elected officials all have to have separate petitions?
I was told in the distant past a City petition was disallowed by him due to language in the petition.
I (along with everyone else involved in this process) don't want Mr. Gurley to act on behalf of the people with the recall petitions, I certainly don't expect him to take sides. I only expect some guidance so that if we do all this it meets his standards to be put on the ballot.
Mrs. Clair, Lake County Board of Election Director suggested we ask him what he wanted in our recall petitions. I waited a week and sent another request to him.
Mr. Gurley"s answer surprised me. He felt like any advice he gave would be a "conflict of interest." Well, all along I thought he was the City Law Director... not Council's. Again, I didn't see a conflict here. Mr. Gurley is an unelected city official appointed by the city manager, and not hired by council. Where is the conflict? Is he CITY law director or COUNCIL law director?
Maybe if at some time during the Meigs County 50 year power purchase some council member would have asked him to review the contract with AMP-OHIO we wouldn't be in this position....or would we?

"HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY"

It's nice to celebrate the Fourth of July on July 4th, instead of the closest Monday. We should all remember the freedoms our founding fathers gave us. I am also sure that they knew somehow that keeping this country together wouldn't be easy.
We should all be proud of how diverse we have become on so many issues. It would be nice if we quit calling each other names and got down to solving our problems. Maybe if we all listen more and spoke less? Someone once told me God gave us two ears but only one mouth, there must have been a reason.

Take a minute out to thank a serviceman (present or former) and again, have a Happy Fourth of July.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is one of my favorite stories about our national history....makes me believe there can be such a thing as divine intervention.



The capital of the United States, on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland was designed by Pierre L’Enfant and became the capital in 1800. In August 1814 during the War of 1812 the British captured and sacked Washington, burning most of the public buildings, including the Capitol and the White House. It is one of the few cities in the world planned expressly as a national capital. Map courtesy of the National Archives.



by Evelyn Dole
Air Force Reserve Command

-- The summer of 1814 was one of the hottest on record. In late August, the afternoon rains and temperatures of over 100 F made the air humid with beads of moisture and turned the stagnate marshlands surrounding Washington D.C. into disease-carrying mosquito hatcheries. The 8,000 heat-weary townspeople were even more miserable when news came that the invading British Army was marching in from the Chesapeake Bay.
Although our young country had been at war with the British Empire for over two years, the majority of indeterminate skirmishes had occurred in the Great Lakes region. Now that Wellington had defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, the Empire was ready to turn its full attention to the task of defeating its former colony by sending battle-hardened troops to squash the up-start Americans. Washingtonians along with Dolley Madison, the First Lady, were confident the British Army would attack the strategic thriving port of Baltimore rather their capital city. However, the British General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral George Cockburn did have two specific reasons for an attack on Washington. The British and Canadians were seeking revenge on the United States for the destruction by the American Army of the capital of York in Upper Canada (now Toronto, Canada) and they hoped the destruction of America's new capital city would demoralize the country enough to obtain its surrender.
On Wednesday morning, August 24, 1814 Dolly Madison looked through her spyglass from one of the upper floor windows of The White House. She was watching the surrounding lands, searching for her husband, President Madison. All she saw were weary, hunched-over-with-defeat American troops walking back into the city. By 3 p.m., she received word from her husband, who was with his cabinet and many other government officials who had fled to the mountains of Virginia, to evacuate Washington. She began the task of loading a wagon with portable articles, documents and other items of importance, notably the full-length Gilbert Stuart painting of President George Washington. As the British troops marched down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Presidential Mansion, she reluctantly left moments before the soldiers entered the building.
Admiral Cockburn ordered all government buildings burned which included the buildings housing the Senate and House of Representatives, (the central rotunda of the Capitol not yet constructed). Also burned were the Library of Congress, the U.S. Treasury building, and many other public buildings. Next Cockburn turned his attention on The White House, where the soldiers were dining on food found in the dining hall. After they were finished, they set about destroying the building - finally setting it on fire.
Dawn rose the next morning and the remaining Washingtonians felt the day's warmth not from the sun but from the heat of the fires. While the British soldiers continued to set fires and destroy the stores of ammunition found, they failed to notice the early afternoon sky begin to darken. Westward beyond the city, large clouds were forming, beginning to swirl, and soon the sky intensified with lightning and thunder signaling the approach of a thunderstorm. The British soldiers familiar with thunderstorms in England and preoccupied with their orders discounted the Americans watching the sky.
As the storm front neared the city, Washingtonians took cover. The winds dramatically increased and a tornado developed over the city that produced a "frightening roar." The tornado ripped through Washington and headed straight toward the British occupation. Structures were torn off their foundations, other buildings were blown down. Feather mattresses were sucked out of windows, trees were uprooted, fences were blown down, chimneys collapsed, the heavy chain bridge across the Potomac River buckled, and many British cannons were picked up and tossed around. Panic ensued; many British soldiers did not have time to take cover and were killed by collapsing buildings and flying debris.
Finally, the winds quieted but the rain fell in torrents for more than two hours quenching most of the flames and prevented Washington from continuing to burn. The British Army regrouped near Capitol Hill, a bit shaken by the harsh weather and decided to depart Washington that evening. Downed trees across roads hampered their journey and when they reached their ships, it was discovered two had broken free from their moorings and were washed ashore. The British Commander later reported that more of their soldiers were wounded and killed by this catastrophic disaster than from all the firearms the American troops could muster in their ineffectual defense of Washington.
President James Madison and his cabinet returned to Washington and started the rebuilding of our Capitol. Never again, would a foreign army enter our city and only rarely would Washingtonians see a tornado.
Three tornadoes struck near Washington that day. It was later reported that one landed to the northwest, another in the high country [which is now called Georgetown], and the one that struck the Capitol Hill area. Whether there was a single tornado taking a southeasterly course or a tornado swarm, it will never be known. What can be said for certain is that a powerful tornado with destructive winds did hit downtown Washington at a crucial time; forcing the British out of the city, and saving what was left of our Capitol.