"40 MILES OF BAD ROAD" duane eddy

I see our finance department and city manager received, for the umpteen time, a financial award. Congratulations! Now I would like to see an award for street and/or public maintenance.
The intrastructure of our city seems to be failing; bad roads, bad water lines, along with the usual sewer problems, but we keep getting finance awards.
At last Mondays council meeting a long debate on a 91 year old water line on Elm St. took place which included a newspaper article in which our present city manager stated 11 years ago that the Elm St. water line needed replacing. Fast forward 11 years.... guess what....same broken down water line.
Now I will suggest to Dan the Waterman that before the next council meeting that he and I go to Mrs. Arcaro's house... fill up some containers... and that will be the drinking water council will use that night. Everyone said even though it's a little cloudy it's safe to drink, so drink it.
Sorta like putting your throat where your mouth is.
Councilman Flock couldn't even get a second for a vote on the measure. One councilman said they wanted to know how this affects the city's finances? Probably the same as the effect $185,000 had on replacing a vehicle with 30,000 miles.
Every motion a councilperson makes should get a second. It should be made public record why a councilperson thinks something is or is not a good idea. I want to see Paul Hach, Joe Hada, even Hal Werner or any of the council vote "NO" on an issue....any issue.
How much money do the utility companies have in reserve? Did you see your water bill is going up next month for the third straight year? Don't worry though, it's going to automatically go up for the next three, yet at the same time council is told Elm St. is fourth or fifth on the list of bad pipelines. Wonder if any who read this blog live where-ever those other lines are?
The reason this practice goes on is because you and I let it. The city administration seems to be preoccupied with finance awards, along with double-dipping department heads.
How much money do we have to fix what's broken?

Have most of you had your utility bills estimated lately? Even the U.S. Post office delivered during the bad weather.

"YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET" b t o

Well, attended the Queens court last night... a good number of rabbits and myself were wondering if the Queen would grant authority to purchase the rabbit holes by the river. Sad as it was, it was hard to understand why no one was held accountable for the rabbit dens not having the proper flood insurance. (That's another story for another day).
After the vote passed unanimously by the Queen's council and all numbers were explained, I asked "if you have the jars of honey, then why can't we give it to the rabbits and let them go on their merry way?" First, "that's not how Emperor FEMA operates"... I was told the city or someone else must purchase the land. Only then will the jars of honey will be released!
So the rabbits are still in Limboland.
Then one of the most idiotic things I've ever witnessed in the Queens Court happened. The Head Knight slandered (I believe) the Bear numerous times. Such as "One Bear's inhumanity to another's wild life" in the forest and many more such comments. Yes... let's pontificate to the crowd and it's great theatrics but will it move the process forward for a public official to slander a private Bear?
I took someones advice and sat down with the Bear. Was he unreasonable? No, all he wants is his fair share of jars of honey for the parcels of property he owns down by the river. When I asked the Queen, she said she had no intention of purchasing the Bears property, and had never held discussions about it. Really? I happen to know that the Queen's main Shark had met over lunch a the Elks' house with the Bear. Guess they were talking about old times?
Now when the Bear views the DVD of the meeting what do you think me or anyone else's chances are of getting the Bear to act reasonably? Knowing the Bear, he will show the Queen's council just how unreasonable he can be. Thanks for making this another Groundhog day... Knight Joe, you should have known better.
In our paper today, the Queen claims she will bid as high as 2.3 million jars of honey.... which breaks down to 60,000 jars of honey per rabbit den, not the 93,000 or 88,000 jars I've heard or seen elsewhere. [ their more money people]
Numbers of the Jars of Honey are all over the place and when the Bear views what transpired at the meeting more roadblocks seem to be forthcoming.
Also, if the Queen's court runs under Robert's procedural rules then why is there discussion on the resolution before a second was asked for? The Shark is slipping.

"IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE" conway twitty

A comment was left stating 'why not just let the state run this system?' Short answer: Because it's the Painesville City Schools, it's owned by the residents of Painesville.
O'K. I'll buy that, but if 65% of your funding comes from somewhere else, what exactly do you own.
If our schools are funded this much by an outside entity how can you believe you're running it?
We have a new Governor and I wish there was a way to get him to run the schools for the next four years... his way. Any movers and shakers 'got any juice' down in Columbus? Everything from cirruculum to whether to keep the 50% policy? Hold parents responsible for attendance.{There was a sign on the office door at Harvey Monday evening starting 02/14/11 any one tardy for three times in a day will receive a suspension?} to wages of administrators, teachers, food service employees.
The first thing we have to do as a town is admit that the present way isn't working.
If this would be successful, the Governor could show it as a model to other districts.
We have to think outside of the box and be open to any ideas. Maybe our governor could even show us a cheaper way to get more bang for your buck?

"AMERICAN PIE" don mclean

"Drove My Chevy to the Levy but..."
Attended Monday night Board of Education Meeting. Myself and 25 other people were in attendance.
Mr Bull made a presentation on the schools' progress concerning the "Race to the Top" funding.
Transforming Curriculum, using data to improve performance, great teachers, great schools. Now who could be against that?
Local government loves to use acronyms. The new one I learned tonight? IIS
'Instruction Improvement Systems".
Learned that 19 to 25 teachers are on the chopping block, along with a host of programs.
Heard of cuts here... there... and everywhere... except in the Administration? Why?

This evening I received a call from a parent regarding receipt of a call from a school Principal asking if she supported the levy. (Of course you're going to say "yes" why give them something to be upset about with little Johnny?)
'Can we count on you to put up a yard sign?' She also noticed voter registration sign-up stations at the school. One in English, Uno in Spanish. [A reminder: all Puerto Ricans are American citizens and can vote in their legal language.] I thought about signing up as a Challenger, at a local voting site, but why bother... they can mail ballots in now.
The system still has not heard from the state about funding cuts, who is responsible down at the district office for handling their PR? Why is the only mention of all this coming from this site? Don't want too many to know perhaps?
Talked about cutting kindergarden back to half a day. Wonder if parents that wanted to could pay tuition for the other half?
On a humorous note whoever does the agenda paperwork must have a sense of humor.
10.15 Resolution #11057 to approve an overnight field trip for Harvey High School students participating in the Science Olympiad.
10.16 Resolution #11-058 to autoorize the implementation of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention at Harvey High School.
Maybe you just had to be there?

"DON'T GO BREAKIN MY HEART" kiki dee el john

Well as it seems AMP-OHIO seems to have one goal "Let's stick it to everyone"
Meigs County seems to be it's latest target.

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This story is from the Point Pleasant Register in WVA. The story was written by Beth Sergent
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — American Municipal Power has announced its abandoning plans to develop its Letart Falls site in Meigs County into a natural gas combined-cycle generation plant in favor of buying one in Fremont, Ohio.

In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, AMP announced it has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) regarding the Fremont Energy Center, a 707 MW (fired) natural gas combined cycle generation plant currently under construction by FE and located predominantly in the City of Fremont. The Fremont Energy Center is owned by FirstEnergy subsidiary, FirstEnergy Generation Corp.

Perry Varnadoe, Meigs County Economic Development Director, said officials with AMP had contacted him by phone Wednesday afternoon about the decision. Varnadoe, along with many local officials and residents, vehemently supported AMP in its efforts to locate to the county for over the last five years.

“We are angry and stunned and feel they’ve (AMP) been a bit disingenuous in this process,” Varnadoe said. “It’s hard to believe they’re down here in late fall making an announcement and suddenly purchasing another facility and abandoning this project.”

The end of the AMP press release reads as follows: “In late 2010, AMP announced its intent to develop a natural gas combined cycle facility on land in Meigs County that was formerly the site for a proposed coal-fired facility known as the American Municipal Power Generating Station (AMPGS). Those plans have been suspended based on the new developments with the Fremont facility.”

When visiting with the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce last fall, officials from AMP spoke about the company’s plans to resurrect AMPGS into a natural gas fired power plant in Letart Falls. That plant’s estimated cost was $600-$700 million at the time, would’ve produced an estimated 500 construction jobs and 25-30 permanent operating jobs.

The press release goes on to say construction of the Fremont Energy Center is largely complete and the plant is expected to be commercially available by year end. Under the MOU, AMP and FirstEnergy have agreed to enter into exclusive negotiations toward AMP executing a definitive agreement by March 11, 2011, to purchase the facility from FE on or about July 1, 2011. The Fremont Energy Center was formerly owned by Calpine Corporation, which filed bankruptcy in 2005. Calpine subsequently suspended construction of the plant and it was auctioned in 2007.

AMP says it conducted considerable due diligence and bid on the facility at the time — with FirstEnergy ultimately having the winning bid. The release also said important to AMP members is the mitigation of construction and permitting risks by acquiring a facility that is largely complete.
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Seems it a risk being in the same room with these people , Meigs County believes they are disingenuous?
Remember Calpine Corporation bankrupt. First Energy doing something for a major competitor?
Can't wait to watch how they sell this to council?
We can tell them we will enter an MOU whatever that costs?

"THE QUEEN AND THE BEAR"

The Queen has made an announcement that the rabbit hole fiasco solution is just down the road.
Soon rabbits will get what's coming to them for not having the proper Cabbage Insurance. The Queen is going to spread carrots around as if she were growing them herself. The Bear watches from close-by, wondering what the Queen is up to.
The funny secret is this won't be over until the Bear receives his fair share of the Carrots.
The Queen is painting a picture of a passive park where you can fish on the sides of the river banks. The Bear looks at the maps that the skunks had made up for him, and low and behold, the Bear owns the bank of the river along with the road down to where the old rabbit holes used to be. The Queen even sent one of her merry men to get him to widen the rabbit-hole road so that if the old rabbit holes catch on fire they could respond and put out the fire. The Bear asked what were the plans the Queen had for the rabbit holes? "Well..." she responded... "to burn them down and level the area." The Bear scratched his head in amazement? His thought was to buy smaller Fire Trucks!
Seems like the end isn't in sight yet though. The Bear just might have to hire bigger sharks. The Queen might even have to drag out the dreaded 'power factor' to beat the Bear up with. I just hope I live long enough to find out how this fairy tale ends. I have a feeling it won't be everyone living 'happily ever after'...(except the sharks).

"COUNCIL MEETING 02/07/11

If you plan on attending bring your pajama's.
8 ORDINANCES, 5 RESOLUTIONS. Plus a presentation from the Police Department.
We have three resolutions authorizing grant applications for the three new parks. New bucket truck for the Electric Dept. "One" new police cruiser.
Ordinance relating to classified positions, One relating to a subdivision regulation? Housing code,parking and storage of vehicles, Permits and Fees, Property maintenance, Rental Dwelling Regulation. One concerning unsafe structures. And the beat goes on.
The one that intrigues me the most is ENACTING SECTION 1113.211 RELATING TO SUBDIVISION REGULATION.

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Attended Mondays council meeting everything passed as expected. One item that was brought up was the purchase of a new bucket truck for $185,000 dollars. The CM said that replacement parts were unavailable for the hydraulic's on this truck. City councilman Andrew Flock asked how many miles were on this truck? He was told that this truck had 30,000 miles, his quote was this is a sin. Now the city claim that the bucket portion of this truck was the problem. Council President Hada chimed in that the workers using this vehicle must be safe. Now why can't the truck have a new body put on it? Also who wants to bet that the bucket parts on the new truck will be manufactured by the same company? $185,000 $20,000 trade-in, can any one say $165,000 added to the "Power Factor"

"YOU NEVER GIVE ME YOUR MONEY" beatles

Seems at Thursday's (February 3rd) Lake County Commissioners meeting there was a little flack about different governing bodies asking for new or renewal levies through a special election to be held on May 3rd. All three Commissioners thought this was a waste of public funds. I can't agree more with them. For instance, take Painesville's failed levy this past November. It failed by 19 votes: very close but would voters be given an opportunity to repeal the election in May if it would have passed by 19 votes? The truth is the School Board and administration will keep asking for money until it passes. May, August (another special election), November, back again in February if need be. How many times can they go to the well on the county's dime? The Commissioners are right to ask for the money to finance these "Special" elections. One even stated that maybe there's something wrong with the your message if voters keep voting against your levies.
Painesville's levy will, I agree, be a STEALTH Levy; the least amount of people who know about it the better.
I'll throw down first. If none of the levy money will be used to increase system-wide wages and pay for steps, along with no further amount paid in hospitalization benefits by the administration I will support this levy. Then and only then will it truly be for the children.
And a final note....at least we won't have to hear how we need to pass this levy so we can retain our 'excellent' state ratings.
I would expect this in writing, and all of you should too.

"WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN SCHOOL TODAY"

pete seeger

I only bring this up because all the schools (not just Painesville) have been closed for the last two days. Tuesday seemed a stretch but today it was 40 degrees?
Now I know administrators will err on the side of caution for safety's sake but the last two days seem to have been over the top.
Parents work and they have to line up sitters at the last minute to watch children if there is no school. I don't want to be one of those old fuddy duddys that tell kids I walked 10 miles to school and 12 miles home. I don't remember any days like yesterday and today that the schools closed.
It was interesting that yesterday was the first time in twelve years Chicago closed its schools.
I also have noticed the weather reporting is getting more intense with each reporter and news channel. You have to wonder how much influence this has on deciding to shut schools down. Any other thoughts on the subject?