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The Beaver Chronicles" There is chaos under the heavens and the situation is excellent. " - Chinese Proverb |
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November 03 Damned Straight !Just a timeless comment…short and sweetWe were sitting at city council and I remarked something about Muncie moving into the 21st century. My buddy, Deborah, blurted out “You expect them to be like the Jetsons when they can’t even keep up with the Flintstones?” I thought the woman sitting in front of me would die laughing. It was a great line…thought I would share it with you. Thank you to www.munciepolitics.wordpress.com A Night At The Opera...OK, I Lied...But, It Was Still TheaterCity Council 11-2-09 (Or Why I Like Living in Muncie, Indiana)After a whirlwind evening of Delaware County government meetings, Tuesday has finally arrived. Basking in the afterglow after a fantastic night of theatrics, one can now understand why I like living in Muncie. City council members all took their respective places and after the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation the show began. “Slashing” Sam Marshall took to the budget with a zeal never before seen. In a loud voice and a nearly perfect recital of departments and account numbers he cut 12 jobs, water fee and utilities. No surprises on what positions were cut, but how in the world are we going to power our city? Well, since the city council governs like it is 1850, we may as well live without 21st century amenities. Mayor McShurley took to the podium and true to form, as soon as she began to speak, Councilperson Barton had a question. The mayor asked politely if she could finish. Mary Jo Barton, with her gracious southern charm, allowed her to speak. See what happens when people work together? The administration has finally received the insurance costs. Insurance premiums can be increased, saving the city $1,500,000.00. You could see the calculating mind of Ms. Barton as she tried desperately to compute the figures. “Employees pay more. That’s unheard of”, she exclaimed. Perhaps it is such a shock to her because she is so ill informed on what people in the private and public sector pay. Pay more insurance, keep your job. Pay less for insurance, lose your job. That is a tough call. Not! Brad Polk, a member of the finance committee, was unaware of these cuts. Which brings up a point, if city council is unable or unwilling to work with its own members, how can you expect these people to actually govern our city? Most have no business holding these seats. Mr. Polk also suggested cutting 911 service by $500,000.00. Total cut 2 million dollars and no jobs are lost. The budget was passed 7 yeas, with Conatser voting to “move it along”. Gregory and Polk voted no. City council members are so predictable. Most of us can see this for what it really is. I guess they think the citizens are stupid. Many of the ordinances received a suspension of rules, allowing city council to vote to approve immediately. Ordinance #62-09 requesting a transfer of funds from the mayor’s edit plan to have station 4’s lot paved was passed. Chief Burcham thanked the mayor for her assistance. Not to be undone, Marshall thanked Chief Burcham for keeping the council apprised on this request. Two outdated ordinances, one from 1968 and another from 1991 were introduced. Basically a raise in fees. No biggy. Chief Davis spoke on ordinance #68-09. This ordinance would allow the city to collect $6.00 additional for every traffic violation. The money would be placed in an account and be untouchable, only to be used for retaining police officers. You see, Chief Davis has applied for a grant which will allow the return of 5 laid off officers to the force. Once the grant runs out, the city will need to pick up the tab. Chief Davis has brought a solution. I have the utmost respect for both Chief Davis and Chief Burcham. I truly believe both work hard for their departments and the city. We are fortunate to have them, make no mistake about it. Then a standard ordinance of transferring funds from the motor vehicle fund to pay for the paving bill. The rule was not suspended, which I find odd. The money is there, the company needs paid and it really is a no-brainer. Jim Arnold asked President Quirk how they planned to pay the water bill and keep the lights on. Hydrant fee…no real answer on the lights. President Quirk fumbled throughout the evening. She was really off her game. I wonder who will be president next year? You can almost bet your life, anything the mayor brings before the council will be delayed or voted down, but not before Ms. Barton plays the 20 questions game. The video of city council should be on Citizens of Delaware County for Property Tax Repeal. Muncie Star Press 12 Jobs Cut article Remember: Good government begins with YOU! Election: 2010 Election: 2011 Thank you to www.munciepolitics.wordpress.com From Natasha on The Frontlines !Here's the edited version of the exciting CHAINSAW budget cuts approved last night by City Council. Here's hoping Nick will have a detailed article in the paper today. If not, ponder these actions.
Sam Marshall was spewing the categories out so fast, the citizens couldn't always keep up. Let's just hit the highlights for those of you not lucky enough to be in attendance. Almost every category has small cuts in Soc. Sec., Perf, Supplies, Medicaid etc. Let's not list those just the MAJOR eye openers.
Dept. of Mayor:
Mayor - $4,528, Deputy - $48,000, Assistant - $27,000, Health insurance - $16,000, Promotion - $4,000, Subscriptions & Dues - $1,000. Total Cuts $104K (Axed Shirey, Assistant)
Dept. of Accounting :
Controller - $2,009, Purchasing - $34,000, Payroll - $1,659, Health insurance - $8,000. Total Cuts $78K. (Axed Wagley)
Dept. of Clerk:
Clerk - $1,535, Deputy Clerk - $1,177, Health insurance - $30,000. Total Cuts $104K.
Data Processing :
I'm not sure. Something was $243K.....if that was cuts it may have been the whole dept. which I believe we have advocated for in the past.
Dept. of Law:
- 50K
City Court Judge - $2,000, Probation - $2,091, Court Recorder - $1,196, Bailiff - $11,338, Public Defender - $1,560, Courty Secrty. - $1,133.
Dept. of Bldg. Commissioner:
Commissioner - $1,678, Plumbing Inspect. - $1,285, Electric Inspect. - $1,393, Zoning - $37,604, Secrty. #2-$29,290, Health insurance - $20,500. Total Cuts $96K.
Dept. of Personnel:
Director - $1,535, Specialist - $1,052, Sectry. PT - $13,711. Total Cuts $16K.
Animal Shelter:
Super. - $1,478, Control - ??? (I was talking), Health insurance - $8,000, Gas - $2,000, Other Services $17,983. Total Cuts $62K.
Merit Commission:
Fire Tests - $23,557, Testing Site - $398, Police Application Exam - $2,600, Oral Exam - $4,000, Site - $390, Advertising - $800. Total Cuts ???
Human Rights:
Director - $1,520, Investigator - $1,344. Total Cuts 3K.
Board of Works:
Electricity & Lights - $315,000, Repairs - $15,000, Other Services - $75,000. Total Cuts $405K. Muncie "City of NO lights!" The council likes to keep us "in the dark," that's for sure.
Police Dept.:
Chief - $1,000, Deputy - $2,000, Office Mgr. - $1,139, Investigative Clerk - $31,748, Records Clerk - $30,601, Overtime - $50,000, GAS & OIL - $100K. Total Cuts $254K.
Fire Dept.:
Chief - $1,480, WATER - $625K. Total Cuts $626K. The council likes to keep us nice and dry as well as in the dark.
Common Council:
Somebody(ies) - $6,603, Attorney-Legal - $3,000. Total Cuts $13K.
Other Services:
$361,000 in Cuts.
General Fund Total Cuts: $1,500,000.43!!!!!
I guess Beech Grove is outside the GF as it was mentioned afterward. Where are Parks and Rec? Are they in public works?
Beech Grove Cemetery:
Secrty. - $29,960, Supplies & Gas & Oil - $2,000, Garage - $800, Other - $800, Lawn supplies - $3,000. Total Cuts $39K. (Marshall commented that this was additional cuts, as about 60K had been previously cut from this budget.)
The votes for the question on considering these amendments passed 6-3 with all in favor EXCEPT Polk, Gregory and Conatser.
The votes for passing this budget as AMENDED passed 7-2 with only Polk and Gregory voting NO! Conatser said he "wanted to move it along."
Remember, the above data is incomplete. The above are the highlights. Obviously, with the exception of Polk and Gregory the council wanted to slash and burn the budget and make a point by crippling departments that are vital to any city. It is an "in your face" farce to everyone involved. The mayor said she had an alternative with 1.5 million in health insurance costs with a 4 tiered employee contribution plan. Mary Jo (I guess speaking for the council) told the Mayor "they didn't need her help now, they did it and she didn't think they would."
Polk offered pursuing the $500K overpayment to the 911 dispatch center. Jim Arnold summed it up well at the end of the meeting. He said "the council sharpened their pencils and got out their cost cutter scissors". He recommended taking the Mayor's 1.5 million $ plan, Polk's $500K suggestion and some of the councils cuts and the city would have about $3 million in savings next year. He also asked an important question: Who is going to leave the lights on and how will the fire department function without water????? After suggesting a hydrant fee and/or insurance payment on active fire calls he got something rare: a round of applause from about 8-10 firefighters!!!! Go figure.
I hope you enjoyed this summary and read more about it in the SP and on www.munciepolitics.wordpress.com. It's a great site.
Thank you, Natasha for the update and a thank you to Boris for working through the night to get it ALL on video.
November 02 Almost Three Years On... Since the moment taxpayers began receiving out of control property assessments which did not bode well for the taxpayers of Muncie and Delaware County ( actually, this was a statewide issue ), the voices of the people soon became faces familiar to each other and to the Muncie City Council, as well as the Delaware County Commissioners. Not that those faces meant anything more than names and numbers in a poll book. When small groups of concerned citizens bonded and banded together, their voices became one and they became impossible to silence. Although God knows They tried.
Before anyone jumps for joy over a few progressive steps forward, let us stop for one moment and remember there is still more to do and also to reflect what has been done to those who worked so hard to help bring about " change. " Their work, their dedication and their sense of community was never in question, but they have been hounded, stalked, hassled and slandered...for starters. That's called " Politics in Muncie, Indiana. "
Oh, its' dark history goes back many years, which is one reason finding good people for the right jobs can be difficult. Very few people can withstand an onslaught of unwarranted personal attacks and, at times, the physical threats. You see, Muncie is a very small pond, but alot of people have made a good living swallowing up the small fish. Visit an aquarium - the resemblance is striking. Even down to the feeders who swim alongside and sometime attached to the sharks who circle their prey, feeding off the leavings. We have those too.
Muncie, Indiana is indeed A City In Transition.
We are making yet another change in how we live, how and where we work and how we think. Those who are not afraid to think ahead - to find a vision for this city and to work toward it, rather than to stay mired in a past which has, in all truth, been very good for a chosen few, but has been the root cause of stagnation which threatens our future for the majority.
Tonight, we again go before the City Council and County Commissioners and fight the same fights. I can only assume they are sick of us, because quite frankly, we are sick of them - although the reasoning is completely different and non-negotiable. Ordinary people who put their names, reputations and, sometimes, their livelihoods at risk for something some people will deny exists - The Greater Good. We go before Them because we must. Truthfully, it's not a pleasure, because one can hear the same lies only for so long before you want to scream. On Their side of the table, I am sure they are afraid someone might actually " hear " what we are saying and start asking questions, too.
Who are these people we face ? Most of them, I can easily say, are " sell -outs. "
Sell - outs who will sell us down the river for a another term in office or much needed favors from The Powers That Be who sit behind closed doors and with one sneer or mumbled word pound another nail into the coffins of the lives of Muncie and Delaware County residents who have no other option but to stay in their homes for as long as they can and hope for better days.
It's all been remarkably easy.
One example. Over two years ago, many of us started looking at the financial tornado about to hit us and we began hearing the words " LOIT " and " it's a win - win situation. " Not once did we hear sound a hint of sound financial management or changing the way our city / county could be better managed. No, instead a very orchestrated and carefully choreographed war was created in order to cast doubts and hatred on a local group who was calling for responsible and responsive government, simply by telling The People that a particular was anti-MFD, which was then and is now, a contemptible lie. It was their version of screaming " fire ! " in a crowded thater amd it did backfire. Not before every trick in the book was played. I should know - They even tried to influence my family to shut me up or to at least alienate them from me. It didn't work.
So, tonight...we ride again. There are other things I would like to do, but there is nothing else as important as this night. Oh, one other thing, for those who did try to use my family, I will not deal with you tonight, but the time will come and it will be when and where I choose and it will hurt - maybe not physically, but I will inflict major pain and it will last a long time. Count on it.
Deborah King - Eichholz
 October 27 Ruth Ann KursmanDear Baby Sistah,
This would be Ruth Ann King Kursman...you owe me big - time for EVER saying I cannot keep a secret. So, as penance, you shall telephone everyone we know and say " My Older Sister ( that would be me, Deborah King - Eichholz ) CAN keep a secret, " while balancing on one leg and twirling a baton.
Also, when you DO arrive, which is so NOT a secret, you will promise to NOT bitch about my driving and will admit to being the worst possible backseat driver since Mother.
To those reading this...pictured below is the culprit / Baby Sistah, who was, I must admit, the best administrator the city of Orlando ever had and who does make a kick-ass casserole. Wait...you must also make that casserole while in town, as well. Ha !
The King Sisters...the duo voted Most Likely To Have A House Dropped On Them.
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