"OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL" bob seger
Painesville, Painesville, Painesville.
Today's Monday March 30, 2015 had a front page story on the sale of the Allen Building which the county plans to demolish and build a new office building at that site.
The county paid only $275,000 for the building and the property far below what the senior center believed it was worth. They have until March 2016 to vacate the building. Where will they go?
First as I am the age of a "senior citizen" I don't understand even the need for such a place. A wise person told me once "if you want to stay young hang around young people, older people remind you your well. just old." Now I am not suggesting there isn't a need only an understanding of purpose. The article suggested the Painesville senior wished not to combine with the Fairport seniors. Fine it's there choice. Board member Alberto DiIorio suggested renting space until the money ran out and then just closing the doors? Another board member suggested building along with the Lake County Health Department on the site of the old hospital? (news to me) I was always under the impression that was prime downtown real estate and between the center and the Health Department will generate no property tax. plus very little commerce, unless you count the second-hand shop. Plus where will the seniors find the funds to build a new building? Maybe a tax levy?
Where is this plan for downtown Painesville? None of this was ever mentioned in "Streetscape" I never heard of the Health Department moving on that spot let alone a Senior Center. Now is the time for the leaders of Painesville to think this out not after the decisions have been made. It is my hope that the city and county can work all this out mutually with co-operation from both.
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Things I have noticed in the past week ;
Followed a semi-truck with a 53' trailer down Shamrock Dr. after going over the bridge the driver could not negotiate the traffic circle at the bottom of the bridge. Inexperienced driver or poor planning for the traffic circle?
Waited at a railroad crossing for a coal train to go by seemed like it went on for miles. Reason? The average home uses 8,079 pounds of coal and 5000 gallons of water per year. No wonder the trains are so long.
Speaking of coal...
A resident questioned my concerns of the manpower at the Painesville Power Plant sighting the First Energy Eastlake plant for comparison. Well Eastlake announced it's bond rating has been lowered by Moody's. Seem numerous reasons were mentioned including that First Energy that normally employed 120 people is converting the plant over to a site featuring five synchronous condensers.The easiest way to explain this it's like a pumping station for electricity. When the conversion is completed no more production of electricity, no more 120 workers, but 15/20 to man the plant what an 80% reduction?
What I get from our council's insistence to not layoff electric plant workers it will cost the city in lost income tax dollars? What a concept , pay everyone in Painesville not working a check and collect their income tax, to fund the city!
Also have heard of rumblings from other departments that when the plant workers are shifted to other departments where workers say make $16.00 per hr. the electric plant worker keep there plant pay of say over $25.00 for doing the same job. Soon the thing will be if you can pay them that much you can pay me the same amount. Now that's called human nature.
Bet those 100 First Energy workers wish Painesville was their employer.
posted by terminator1 @ 12:15 PM
18 Comments
18 Comments:
First question that come to mind it....is the county taking this property by iminent domain?
9:45 I don't believe so, the building has been on the market for a couple of years.
isn't that considered an historic building? where are the preservationists?
So you're saying the average pay at the electric plant is over $25/hr?
Why is it that the commissioners can tear the whole building down, but the deal breaker for the church buying the property was that the city insisted that the front third of the building had to remain. So the commissioners pay less than value for the property and now can do whatever.
Refresh my memory, is there a levy for Seniors? I seem to remember signs promoting to vote for seniors. Did any of this involve the senior centers? Where do they get their funding from?
First don't get the idea you have the right to suggest how dumb posters are.
5:57 I don't believe it is. I will always remember it as the Sears & Roebuck store.
8:39 It's public record go find out.
9:52 I believe the church wanted to tear the building down for a parking lot? At least the county will replace the building.
11:52 Yes there is a county levy that passed in 1992 and renewed last in 2012 the county collects over $3,100,000 and it is divided amongst senior services. This year the county decided to spend $70,000 to a private firm to divide the money up. Seems like a waste to me.
The question was "Are YOU saying the average wage at the electric plant is over $25/hr?", not what is the average wage. I already know that it is less than $25/hr. It is pretty much on par with what the same type job is in other departments. This yet another inflammatory statement put out by you because you have a hard on against a plant that even with only brief periods of operation saves the city (which ultimately even includes haters like you) some four million dollars a year. This has been explained to you forwards, backwards and every other way, but you have already made your mind up that anyone who disagrees with you is wrong. The comparison with Eastlake plant and Ashtabula and lake shore for that matter was to show that for almost three years those plants were idle, yet First Energy kept them fully staffed. Something you said would never happen in the private sector. Once again, you were wrong, but can't admit it. Meanwhile, Painesville's plant has not been completely idle during that time frame, and yet the city has reduced the work force there to a skeleton crew. Sheesh man. You SAY the purpose of this blog is to inform people of what the city is doing, but you never publish REAL facts, only distortions as you see them.
TERM 2:25, anonymous 9:52; Because the building is being rebuilt doesn't make it right. The Parmly was torn down and rebuilt. Is that better? And yes, it is an historic site. That is what was said when the church wanted to tear it down. Now the commissioners can tear another piece of history down and build another taj mahal. This is so screwed up.
Sears building and wasn't there an automotive center behind it? Is that building still there?
I busted tires and installed batteries there for a while when I was 16. Hard work.
Lets not forget what is going to happen to the CoOperative Extension house across from the jail - when the county claims almost the entire side of that street too. Pizza parlor - gone,
Dwarkin Building - gone, next on the chopping block - that beautiful building. Maybe BurgerKing too? There arent many around elsewhere? Shame on the county officials.
8:55 Yes there was I believe it was called Allstate Service?
5:00 You see anyone else investing in Painesville? Sad but it's reality.
5:38 So are you saying you would rather have a parking lot than a building?
10:11 First Energy Eastlake had 100 unit coal trains to produce power, Painesville could probably put all the coal they have used in a good sized dump truck.
Seems you know a lot about how much people make how many steps does a boiler licensed operator need to be to get to $25.00?
Hater? Look I now waste when I see it and on top of everything else show me a check or an invoice for 4 million anything's?
Look I understand somehow you have a personal interest in the plant workers keeping their jobs, I don't blame you but exactly how much power has been produced there in the last three years and at what cost. The people who run the power plant seem to have AMP-OHIO interests first and over the past eight years have given city leadership poor advice. Put the hate where it belongs.
10:11
Okay, so if the $25 per hour is not accurate, what is correct? No one says that the amount they might earn is not in line with what the job should pay.
The real question is, should the City continue to own and "operate" a coal fired (non-producing) power plant?
Comparing it to CEI is apples to oranges. CEI management has share holders to answer to. If the share holders don't like what is being done, they can replace them.
The City is very different. As tax payers and rate payers, we are also the customers. We have ZERO input into the operation of that plant.
I don't want to see people put out of work BUT I also do not care for a "welfare plan" than keeps them employed at my expense without producing anything at all.
Like Term says, show us where we get 4 million of anything. Where does it show up on a ledger? BTW, that 4 million has to come from somewhere/someone else. It is not free.
Yesterday Peabody Energy closed at $4.87 down from a year high of over $19.00 what does that tell you about coal? Power plant workers are in the horse whip business.
TERM 8:17, this is 5:38, where did I say I wanted a parking lot rather than a building? I want the old building. I'm just pointing out the injustice being played out here. Or favoritism. Or "do as I say, not as I do". I'm asking how the commissioners can do something that wasn't allowed to the church.
10:06 If the church bought the property it is my understanding that the land would be used as a parking lot. (City objection)
County will build a new structure on the property. Also the second floor of the Allen Building was never repaired.
8:17 - I occasionally will post on here for the benefit of lurkers who might be looking for accurate information. Something you have proven unable to provide.
"First Energy Eastlake had 100 unit coal trains to produce power"
- has nothing to do with the FACT that you said no private company would ever keep a staff on hand at a plant that wasn't producing anything. You were WRONG. First Energy did just that and in more than one location.
"how many steps does a boiler licensed operator need to be to get to $25.00?" - to quote you at 2:25: "It's public record. Go find out."
9:12 - "I don't want to see people put out of work BUT I also do not care for a "welfare plan" than keeps them employed at my expense without producing anything at all." - This is quite laughable. First of all, have you ever visited the plant to find out what the workers are doing? (Doubt it) Secondly, you and Term seem to be begging for the opportunity to prove the saying true, "a fool and his money are soon parted." Do you really think you would save money if the plant were closed? Your rates would skyrocket like everywhere else that they depend on purchased power.
As to the $4 million savings, have you ever received a check for saving money? No. That would be a rebate. This is a SAVINGS. The bill is DISCOUNTED. And it is shown on the bill. Unfortunately you have chosen to rely on a person who is unable to do math to tell you what is on the bill. Do you own research and you may be surprised at how much Term lies to you.
9:36
This is 9:12
"First of all, have you ever visited the plant to find out what the workers are doing?"
If you have an answer as to what the workers ARE doing, please tell us. They sure are not producing power (which is what they were hired to do) since the plant does not produce power more than once a year, or so. Correct or not?
"Your rates would skyrocket like everywhere else that they depend on purchased power."
Based on what?? The fact that you say so?
BTW, we are purchasing power virtually all the time so please explain how that would make the rates skyrocket.
Did I ever write that I expect to receive a check? If so, where? There is no way my current electric bill is discounted. Heck, the people in charge can't even explain the adjustment factors in a way that makes any sense. Want proof? Try watching the Council meeting where the power plant super attempted an explanation.
Just so you know, I do my own thinking. Term has nothing to do with my views and doesn't influence me in any way. Nice attempt at slamming both of us at once though!
Something tells me that we are trying to talk with an employee at the plant who is on the gravy train and is hoping to make it to retirement. No one who has a business to run would view it your way.
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