"WE GOT BIG TROUBLE HERE IN RIVER CITY" robert preston
Yes, and it starts with "A and ends with O"
Last nights council meeting was electrifying as the headline in the News-Herald pointed out.
Funny how seeing some old faces brings up some memories of a sales job by AMP-OHIO over six years ago? At that time we were told by our "Professional Electric Providers" that by 2006 electricity on the open market5 will become very scarce and the prices for this power will go threw the roof. I had visions of only having enough power to keep one sixty watt light bulb on. I remember than councilman Hada's quote that, "It's my responsibility that when Painesville residents cook their Thanksgiving Turkey their stoves will have the power to cook them." Well a turkey got cooked that night and it was the ratepayers of Painesville Power. and it was the residents of Painesville's. Now to be honest councilman Hada claim that Painesville has the 10th lowest electric rate in Ohio,and 98% of resident's in this state pay more for electric power than we presently do. This begs the question can he come back in five or six years and make the same claim? Prairie State has only been on line for a little over a year, Meigs County AMPGS is defunct, and we have another five year purchase with these snake-oil salesman stating in 2015.
This was a match made in Heaven...for AMP-OHIO they showed graph after graph on everything from how safe things were a Prairie State was that one point a representative from AMP I will call Foghorn Leghorn said boy look we estimated an operating rate of 85% and wow we are at 68% we are on track???? Councilman Fodor mentioned the graph on the wall wasn't the same graph as the one presented to council in 2007? Assistant law director asked if we only owe a little less than $40,000 in so called levelization costs at an interest rate of .01% why is it stated here that we owe $500.00 in interest costs per month. "Oh that number is a mistake!" Seem like alot of numbers AMP-OHIO seem to be a mistake? One council member compared this higher cost to a person buying a set of tires for $800.00 and finding out the car needs a brake job also, the AMP people got a chuckle out of that analogy. Look the 48.06 per MW was only an estimate, not a guarantee, was what we told. Well what were we promised? $48.06 to $104.04 doesn't even seem to be in the realm of an estimate. How many on council knew about levelization let alone the administration? They pay the bills they should have known?
No mention of Painesville ever getting that 2.1 million dollars back we sent them last December? Wonder why.
In the end council voted 5-2 NOT to send a redundant letter to the Ohio Attorney General, Flock and DeLeone were the two yes votes. What the Hell it's only money. Speaking of Hell, AMP-OHIO's definition of a 'take or pay contract is "Come Hell or High Water" your obligated to pay.
In the end we were duped, the sad fact is these deals have afar reaching affect on Painesville at least the next 30 years. The people I hold most responsible for this terrible gamble is former Cit Manager Rita McMahon and Councilman Hada, yes this will be your legacy enjoy it as long as you can.
Seems these two never learned to listen to anybody but who they wanted to.
posted by terminator1 @ 8:01 AM
32 Comments
32 Comments:
Sounds like AMP had another suit case full of cash to pay off city council members to switch their votes again.
Fuuny how the Columbus burb of Westerville never got into any of these AMP contracts, was never worried about buying power, owes ZERO to AMP for Prairie State or AMPGS.
Painesville has idiots running the community and has for years, AMP numbers they release are never correct and any belief that Painesville owes so very little for rate levelaztion is a cock of ...
Oh let's not forget councilman Hada bought back the old hotel from the Port Authority for $10. Is he taking that with him when he exits? Have we heard anything about plans for the old hotel? Legacy?
Let me understand this, Flock and Deleone voted to send the letter and the others didn't? Well it seems Mr.Delone is the only attorney on council Imust assume he viewed something troubling, and the school teachers on the council say just pay the man. Mr. Fodor its a bad deal? What than are you going to do about it?
Fodor calls this a gamble? Tell him and the rest of council to gamble with there own money. not ours. No wonder Painesville schools are in the mess they are.
go to
www.prairiestatecoalplant.org
To see Painesville article great we're national now.
Well what better gift to 30 year serving councilman Joe Hada. Sandy lets all chip in buy the old hotel for double what the city paid for it $20.00 and give it to Joe?
The gift that keeps giving.
Sorry no returns.
My experience with most teachers is that they are afraid to voice any opinion or concern. They get swatted down if, and when, they do. There certainly are exceptions but we don't have any of them here.
Read this recently and thought Painesville? Oh we have so far to go.......... A hipster city..... someday? Nahhhhhh......
From the article America's Most Hipster Cities. This about sums it up. Best generalization EVER...and if the shoe fits...
"While New Yorkers like to think of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as the epicenter of the American hipster, it's hardly the only place in the country where vegan, handlebar-mustachioed trustafarians ride their single-speeds to nanobreweries inside organic farm-to-table restaurants inside abandoned artist lofts tricked out with rooftop gardens where they grow only kale".
Nice work Term covering all this.
Archive this blog and archive this post.
For it is a record of the insanity that is city government of Painesville.
If there is to be any local government in the future at least a historian can see that not all civic representatives went along with the party line.
1:19am said, 'school teachers on the council say just pay the man'... this could be true, it could be just the mentality of the Hada that he just blindly accepts the master without questioning.
or
is it something else??
not sure how some people can look at numbers (that don't rationally make sense)... and just pay... ..
oh wait it is easy if it isn't your money ...
Anyone that just pays when the numbers are in your face and don't line up with logic is a fool.
Either A. they don't care
B. They are ignorant and still don't care
C. on the take
Period.
I wonder if the "levelization" has the same properties as an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage)?? will the interest rate float with the market??
TERM, am I to understand that your beloved Katie voted not to send the letter? Have you rethought you support of her?
What ever deal Bryan may strike with AMP concerning Prairie State and purchasing power elsewhere, must be allowed to all other AMP communities as well.
I'm not sure how purchasing cheaper power gets Bryan off the hook as they still owe millions for Prairie State in the form of bonds sold to pay for their portion of the boondoggle.
Bryan purchased 7.5 MW and is home to Ohio Art ... maker of Etch a Sketch among many other toys manufactured there. They have made it quite clear to city officials they will move their entire production to a cheaper location if need be.. would be devastating to a town of 9,000 residents
3:19 It bothered me the teachers on council were well we made a deal, we gambled, lost, hey we are all in this together,right?
5:06 Hipster? The only thing hipster around her is the number of hip replacements. I'm to old to use the word Homer really.
5:26 Come back in five years and you will see how bad this deal really is. See seem to understand how this all works.
6:27 Katie, disapointed, with the exception of maybe Paul Hach seemed least prepared for this meeting. I have to question if she, DiNallo work for Painesville or AMP-OHIO? Look there are members on council that seem to believe the main focus of being a councilmember is to be well cheerleaders of the city. Great but do the business of the city than go out and be unofficial ambassador's to the city.
7:30 Looking into this deal AMP-OHIO made with Bryan,Ohio it seem's the rumor is that AMP-OHIO will sell them power @ 45.00 MW This along with the recent contract with Columbus, Ohio. AMP-OHIO says one thing and does another.
Many have questioned me and many don't understand how this deal is structured. I am working on a fairy tale that takes place in the kingdom of Pain is around 1007 A.D. All you will have to know is a little Medival lore.
@ 10:34
AMP can not do that ... all other communities by the chartered agreement HAVE to be offered power at the exact same prices.
RECALL the city council members that refuse to do anything about this. By Ohio law, those that have served at least 1 year can be removed from office.
You think things are going to get better by the explaining how to use vaseline for the utility pole that is going to be shoved up ...
Fodor gambled?
Look many times as assistant superintendent of schools. I believed Fodor gambled with my two sons education such as the 50% policy. Everything on council seems like a big joke to you. First Hada and crew gamble that interest rates would go up instead of down now power prices go down and they gambled they would go up. What exactly are you trying to teach us?
If this meeting had been a month sooner you might not be sitting there in January.
Found this article in the Bryan, Ohio newspaper.
April 19,2013
Council OK deal
Village council approved a four year deal with AMP-OHIO to contract for non-pool electric power for 2014-2017 at a FIXED rate of $41.48 per MW.
Joe please have them explain this?
@ 11:30 The Bryan paper has further info on October 16,2013.
The City authorized the utility manager to conduct conversations with AMP and to go to outside electrical sources other than AMP for power ... nothing has been signed yet with AMP or anyone else.
http://bryantimes.com/news/local/article_d68d9e05-c42e-5223-8f6b-96068e843a55.html
Bryan mayor and city council " This allows time for BMU ( Bryan municipal utilities ) and board members time to evaluate future contracts "
My enail to some of the council members:
All we were asking, was for a letter asking the Attorney General to look at this deal and see if anything was illegal. Was that too much for you and the rest to do?
Also,This presentation should have occurred before the November election. Some of you would no longer be representing Painesville!
A very concerned citizen
What does the proud man of PVille have to say about the Bryan, OH power deal??
Good to bring up at next council meeting.
Batavia, Illinois raises electric rates a whopping 30%.
PRAIRIE STATE - the gift that keeps on giving ... year after year after year.
http://prairiestatecoalplant.org/batavia-residents-speak-out-against-electric-rate-increase/
at 11:30 ... the village was Holiday city and they contracted for Prairie State a miniscule amount of power compared to Painesville and Galion - 0.995 megawatts 6% of their peak power as compared to Galion 41% of their peak power and Painesville 18%/
Bryan, Ohio just signed a contract with AMP-OHIO in October to have them purchase electricity off the grid with a CAP of $45.00 per MW? We inturn buy the farm and God knows how much we will end up paying. The AMP reps only claim that $48.06 was an estimate? Please have them explain this $45.00 deal.
6:38 you can count on it along with another lie he told.
I have been told that many residents have been calling council members that voted No to the investigation as for the reason of their vote. Please keep the calls and e mail going to them. I believe Jenkins DiNallo, Fodor, Hach as well as Hada DID NOT act in good faith for Painesville electric ratepayers. Watch the council meeting .
TERM, have you heard what answer any of the council people have given to the residents who have called to find out why they voted NO on the investigation?
8:14 Seems many are fielding questions as to why they believed to not to send a letter. If I hear anything I will post it.
I wondered if residents would question them? Look I have watched the AMP-OHIO presentation 3 times now, and for the life of me I can't understand how council could be happy with ther answers they received?
I called my council person to confirm your assertion they were getting calls, and they had not received one call. No one called to urge them to vote for the letter, and no one called to question why they didn't. Perhaps the reason some voted the way they did was because residents AREN'T contacting them....and they believed they were acting in the best interest based on what they are seeing. Say what you want, but without resident feedback, the council people have to make their best educated guess as to what they majority would want.
5:18 One of us isn't being told the truth. To many people have told me they called a council member. If they haven't they should. Jenkins, DiNallo and Fodor did nothing but act as representatives for AMP-OHIO. So in a few years when the damage starts to show they who had nothing to do with voting for this project have made themselves part of the issue, for no good reason.
Notice our city manager stayed clear of the debate?
Along with the attorney on council voting to send the letter?
I heard enough about $800.00 tires and brake jobs,to we are in this with others. A gamble? It wasn't sold as a gamble it was sold as a way to make Painesville's energy future sustainable. No gamble was ever mentioned. So what if we already have paid over 2 million dollars, Why didn't Mrs. DiNallo ask when we will be getting that money back?
At the next meeting I will present numbers AMP-OHIO sold Bryan, Ohio why not ask about that?
If that council wasn't so pro Amp just maybe we wouldn't be in this mess?
Tires I almost crapped.
We are in this with other communities? So we all go broke?
Gamble you can gamble me? Only 50% of the time. and only with my childrens education Jim.
Fools rush in.
Lori Dinallo claims we have a seat on the board of directors? Who is it?
Fodor knows how not to do anything.and take your money he knew about a maintenance guy who does not work! has been at the schools for years and still is!
and you think he is going to do his job NOW DON'T THINK THE NEW SCHOOLS WILL LAST LONG SPEND ALL THE MONEY NOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT AMP WAKE UP PVILLE!!
5:48
What??
Did you read that to yourself before you hit "send"?
The reason I ask is that it makes no sense at all.
Before you write, perhaps it would be a good idea to calm your nerves and then write whatever you want to say. Don't write in anger.
BTW, proper punctuation would go a long way too.
I was at this meeting, and no one was acting as a rep for AMP. And it was Flock who introduced the car analogy, not Jenkins. Perhaps she was just trying to get Flock to see that the analogy goes both ways. Unforeseen repairs/bills can be discovered after they've looked under the hood, at least that's what I took away from it. And I spoke with her just last week and asked about calls. She's gotten none - pre-vote and post-vote. Perhaps YOU should check your sources. Have you called the council people yourself to ask if they've been contacted?
4:35 You and I must have been at different meetings.Flock ientered an estimate anology. Tell me honestly if you reeived an estime of $48.06 and the final cost to you was $73.00 to $104.00 what would you do.
I heard council member defend AMP-OHIO for I know what reason.
I stand by me stating them getting emails.
Ask the city what that present $39,000 figure from September has grown to presently.
One person emailed, post vote. One person....does not make the majority or even a minority. The council member I spoke with mentioned the one....Questions have been asked during their time on council, but nothing was specifically brought up to encourage or discourage.
And do you view presenting alternative explanations as standing up for AMP? Exactly what I heard was Jenkins saying you went in for tires, and theyf ound other repairs needed....it didn't sound like she was arguing for AMP as much as trying to get Andy to stop seeing everything in concrete.
I believe the estimate of costs they provided at the meeting and in 2007 were a range - $45 or so to $72 or so. There was NEVER a promise of an exact amount being charged
9:38 The only estimate given in 2007 was $48.06 nothing else.
.
My question to you is would that council with Katie, Lori, and Jim have voted for it?
All that was asked was for a resolution into looking
into the contract. Again who are those people protecting us or AMP.
We vote to look send a resolution about Asian Carp but something that will cost Painesville millions nothing? _Please explain?
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