Friday, November 21, 2008
SHOULD REMOVAL OF THE BUCKNER MALL BE A PRIORITY?
Magistrate David Voegele wants "someone" to come up with several thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to remove the buildings in Buckner which have become known as "The Buckner Mall." Obviously, he has little concern for the many problems that many other people in the county have. For example the residents of Lakewood Valley have some severe flooding problems and according to the Judge Executive the sewers have many problems. Still, both Judge Murner and Magistrate Voegele continue to seek taxpayer money to remove buildings which are not hurting anyone instead of putting the money where it is needed for real problems. The buildings do not pose a threat to anyone. The flooding and sewer problems do present a threat to the well being of many people.
Magistrate Voegele promised to remove the buildings when he was campaigning for office while also complaining about the county coffers having been depleted by the prior administration. How do you claim that the county is broke while promising to spend more money on a frivilous idea like demolishing five buildings and putting the occupants out of business? Easy, just be concerned about your own "desires" rather than the "needs" of others.
Magistrate Voegele promised to remove the buildings when he was campaigning for office while also complaining about the county coffers having been depleted by the prior administration. How do you claim that the county is broke while promising to spend more money on a frivilous idea like demolishing five buildings and putting the occupants out of business? Easy, just be concerned about your own "desires" rather than the "needs" of others.
TIME TO TURN THE CORNER WITH EDEN PARK
Now that Judge Duane Murner has announced that the latest deal with the Hocker Group has fallen through, perhaps the Oldham County fiscal Court should consider another name change for Eden Park/Oldham Reserve. One name to consider would be "Safari Land" since that is where the white elephant and the deer are located. Eden Park has certainly turned into a white elephant. Neither the county nor the City of LaGrange can afford it. I have been saying this for a long time but few people would listen.
The governing bodies of this county need to realize that Oldham County is a bedroom community where people want to live in a serene setting and educate their children. They did not move to Oldham County looking for jobs and for the most part they are not interested in turning Oldham County into the industrial center of Kentucky.
The current county administration inherited Eden Park from the prior administration which was made up of several members (5) of the present fiscal court. Thus, the current administration cannot place all the blame for this fiasco on the prior administration. However, the fact is that they do have a white elephant on their hands. The other fact is that they must do something to alleviate the problem that Eden Park presents. Simply pushing the problem to the next administration is not the best solution. Sooner or later the county has to pay the bill. Putting the issue off to the next administration has already cost the taxpayers a lot of additional money in interest.
The county and the City of LaGrange should consider cutting their losses and moving on. This should have been done before the current economic downturn but pride was allowed to get in the way of good judgement. To continue down the current path is akin to pushing rope and that is tough to do. Perhaps the land can be sold some day for more than the purchase price. However, how much suffering must be borne by the taxpayers to get to that point? Will the end justify the suffering?
It is time to do something with the land besides using it for deer hunting. I hope that the county does not get the idea that they could charge significant fees for deer hunting and then claim that an airport is needed to provide a means for the people to come to the county to hunt. Surely, they wouldn't do that.
The governing bodies of this county need to realize that Oldham County is a bedroom community where people want to live in a serene setting and educate their children. They did not move to Oldham County looking for jobs and for the most part they are not interested in turning Oldham County into the industrial center of Kentucky.
The current county administration inherited Eden Park from the prior administration which was made up of several members (5) of the present fiscal court. Thus, the current administration cannot place all the blame for this fiasco on the prior administration. However, the fact is that they do have a white elephant on their hands. The other fact is that they must do something to alleviate the problem that Eden Park presents. Simply pushing the problem to the next administration is not the best solution. Sooner or later the county has to pay the bill. Putting the issue off to the next administration has already cost the taxpayers a lot of additional money in interest.
The county and the City of LaGrange should consider cutting their losses and moving on. This should have been done before the current economic downturn but pride was allowed to get in the way of good judgement. To continue down the current path is akin to pushing rope and that is tough to do. Perhaps the land can be sold some day for more than the purchase price. However, how much suffering must be borne by the taxpayers to get to that point? Will the end justify the suffering?
It is time to do something with the land besides using it for deer hunting. I hope that the county does not get the idea that they could charge significant fees for deer hunting and then claim that an airport is needed to provide a means for the people to come to the county to hunt. Surely, they wouldn't do that.
Monday, November 3, 2008
DOES LAGRANGE CITY COUNCIL HAVE A COUNSEL?
On Monday evening a discussion over the city attorney position erupted into a shouting match and ended with five members of the LaGrange City Council walking out, thereby leaving Mayor Elsie Carter without a quorum.
At the September 2008 meeting of the City Council Graham Whatley was appointed city attorney by Mayor Carter. The approval of the appointment by the City Council was conditioned with the caveat that Whatley withdraw from a lawsuit involving Property Valuation Administrator Ron Winters and one of his former employees. At the October 2008 meeting the City Council voted to rescind the appointment because Whatley had not been allowed to withdraw from the lawsuit.
Subsequent to the October meeting Mayor Carter had Whatley handling city business. I received a letter from Whatley in which he stated that he was the appointed city attorney. At tonight's meeting Mayor Carter alleged that the action taken by the council to rescind Whatley's appointment was invalid; therefore, she had sworn him in as the city attorney today. Council member Jason Taylor tried to speak but Mayor Carter refused to allow him to speak and stated that he was out of order. When Taylor continued to try to speak Mayor Carter ordered a city policeman to remove him from the room. Taylor stated that he would leave without being escorted. As he left four other members left with him. As councilwoman Lucy Ricletts was absent that left only two council members and the Mayor. The meeting was then adjourned by the Mayor without a motion. Mayor Carter was seen being escorted from the building by a LaGrange city police sargeant.
Whether the City of LaGrange has a city attorney or not will likely be decided in court. It is very doubtful that the issue has been resolved by Mayor Carter's supposed appointment.
Is this the "redneck" method of handling your opposition, i.e. have them escorted out of the meeting? Or, is this the new method of assuring that all of those present vote with you?
Mayor Carter surely needs an attorney but it must be an attorney who satisfies the majority of the council. If this were the County Judge Murner wanting a particular person for a position there would be no problem as the members of the court have always approved whatever the judge asks for with very little questioning. Seems like the LaGrange City Council has more mettle than does the Oldham County Fiscal Court. I would urge the Magistrates to exercise a little more control over the County Judge Murner. Although he would be very upset if they did not give him what he wants, I don't believe that he would try to have one of them removed. If he were to do that, I suspect that he would find himself in another kind of court.
Oh well, this is just wishful thinking on my part - this Fiscal Court would never demonstrate any hint of independence - that just might appear to be "redneck" even though it might also be effective.
At the September 2008 meeting of the City Council Graham Whatley was appointed city attorney by Mayor Carter. The approval of the appointment by the City Council was conditioned with the caveat that Whatley withdraw from a lawsuit involving Property Valuation Administrator Ron Winters and one of his former employees. At the October 2008 meeting the City Council voted to rescind the appointment because Whatley had not been allowed to withdraw from the lawsuit.
Subsequent to the October meeting Mayor Carter had Whatley handling city business. I received a letter from Whatley in which he stated that he was the appointed city attorney. At tonight's meeting Mayor Carter alleged that the action taken by the council to rescind Whatley's appointment was invalid; therefore, she had sworn him in as the city attorney today. Council member Jason Taylor tried to speak but Mayor Carter refused to allow him to speak and stated that he was out of order. When Taylor continued to try to speak Mayor Carter ordered a city policeman to remove him from the room. Taylor stated that he would leave without being escorted. As he left four other members left with him. As councilwoman Lucy Ricletts was absent that left only two council members and the Mayor. The meeting was then adjourned by the Mayor without a motion. Mayor Carter was seen being escorted from the building by a LaGrange city police sargeant.
Whether the City of LaGrange has a city attorney or not will likely be decided in court. It is very doubtful that the issue has been resolved by Mayor Carter's supposed appointment.
Is this the "redneck" method of handling your opposition, i.e. have them escorted out of the meeting? Or, is this the new method of assuring that all of those present vote with you?
Mayor Carter surely needs an attorney but it must be an attorney who satisfies the majority of the council. If this were the County Judge Murner wanting a particular person for a position there would be no problem as the members of the court have always approved whatever the judge asks for with very little questioning. Seems like the LaGrange City Council has more mettle than does the Oldham County Fiscal Court. I would urge the Magistrates to exercise a little more control over the County Judge Murner. Although he would be very upset if they did not give him what he wants, I don't believe that he would try to have one of them removed. If he were to do that, I suspect that he would find himself in another kind of court.
Oh well, this is just wishful thinking on my part - this Fiscal Court would never demonstrate any hint of independence - that just might appear to be "redneck" even though it might also be effective.
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