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#Post#: 12332--------------------------------------------------
What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: Mr.steve
Date: March 10, 2014, 4:44 pm
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I have been working with a business or two that have been the
recipients of a "slammed door in the face" by local governments.
The one case is involving the "room tax" and how it is spent. A
hotel pays in about 65% of the total tax collected in one
tourism zone just west of Wood County. The entity selected to
over see the 70% of total take for tourism is the local Chamber
of Commerce. Now the hotel that pays the 65% is not a Chamber
member and does NOT get promoted. Do you find this to be wrong?
I do and during the investigation I happened upon other issues
involving the local city council. These other issues have been
investigated and awaiting official charges filed by the DA.
The other 4 issues:
1) The mayor over seeing the street crew hooking up a sewer
lateral to his brothers house( work done equates to be just
short of $2k........ nothing PAID TO CITY)
2) City worker inflating time sheet to double work hours.( mayor
and council never questioning it)
3) Gravelgate---- City worker owns his own business in
landscaping/excavating. He takes city purchased sand/gravel for
free and sells it to his customers. The mayor defends this
action by claiming a barter system and there is NO paperwork to
indicate a return of equal or greater services.
4) Mayor wants to be re-elected and is using his city assigned
email( oops.... John Doe in a local race?) to campaign.
Tell me, do YOU see a problem with any or all of this?
#Post#: 12333--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: luvcats
Date: March 10, 2014, 5:04 pm
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I think that Steve Koth should of have a chance.
#Post#: 12334--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: trollslayer
Date: March 10, 2014, 10:26 pm
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--- Quote from: Mr.steve link ---
>
> I have been working with a business or two that have been the
recipients of a "slammed door in the face" by local governments.
> The one case is involving the "room tax" and how it is spent.
A hotel pays in about 65% of the total tax collected in one
tourism zone just west of Wood County. The entity selected to
over see the 70% of total take for tourism is the local Chamber
of Commerce. Now the hotel that pays the 65% is not a Chamber
member and does NOT get promoted. Do you find this to be wrong?
I do and during the investigation I happened upon other issues
involving the local city council. These other issues have been
investigated and awaiting official charges filed by the DA.
> The other 4 issues:
> 1) The mayor over seeing the street crew hooking up a sewer
lateral to his brothers house( work done equates to be just
short of $2k........ nothing PAID TO CITY)
> 2) City worker inflating time sheet to double work hours.(
mayor and council never questioning it)
> 3) Gravelgate---- City worker owns his own business in
landscaping/excavating. He takes city purchased sand/gravel for
free and sells it to his customers. The mayor defends this
action by claiming a barter system and there is NO paperwork to
indicate a return of equal or greater services.
> 4) Mayor wants to be re-elected and is using his city assigned
email( oops.... John Doe in a local race?) to campaign.
>
> Tell me, do YOU see a problem with any or all of this?
>
--- End Quote ---
Since this is Wood County I think the correct answer is no.
Since nobody signed a paper saying this is improper conduct,
there can be no charges filed. Correct?
#Post#: 12335--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: luvcats
Date: March 10, 2014, 11:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: trollslayer link ---
>
> Since this is Wood County I think the correct answer is no.
Since nobody signed a paper saying this is improper conduct,
there can be no charges filed. Correct?
>
--- End Quote ---
Oh dear!
#Post#: 12336--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: rapids_60
Date: March 11, 2014, 12:08 am
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--- Quote from: Mr.steve link ---
>
> Now the hotel that pays the 65% is not a Chamber member and
does NOT get promoted. Do you find this to be wrong?
>
--- End Quote ---
No, I don't.
Paying the room tax doesn't entitle you to anything. The fact
that some (or all) of that money is funneled to the chamber is
irrelevant. Quite often taxes paid do not benefit the payee.
They have the opportunity to join the chamber and take advantage
of the promotion if they want to.
--- Quote ---
>
> 1) The mayor over seeing the street crew hooking up a sewer
lateral to his brothers house( work done equates to be just
short of $2k........ nothing PAID TO CITY)
>
--- End Quote ---
I haven't built a house in many years, but never had to pay for
sewer/water connections other than a couple dollars for a permit
fee and pre-connection inspection. Do they normally charge for
that now?
--- Quote ---
>
> 2) City worker inflating time sheet to double work hours.(
mayor and council never questioning it)
>
--- End Quote ---
It would be that worker's supervisor's job to question it, not
the mayor and council who may have no idea what the worker
actually worked, no? Are they supposed to micromanage like
that?
Sounds like theft to me, but the devil is in the details. There
are reasons hours might be added that are legit.
--- Quote ---
>
> 3) Gravelgate---- City worker owns his own business in
landscaping/excavating. He takes city purchased sand/gravel for
free and sells it to his customers. The mayor defends this
action by claiming a barter system and there is NO paperwork to
indicate a return of equal or greater services.
--- End Quote ---
Sounds like theft to me, a legit trade arrangement would have
paperwork in place.
--- Quote ---
>
> 4) Mayor wants to be re-elected and is using his city assigned
email( oops.... John Doe in a local race?) to campaign.
>
--- End Quote ---
Ah. Using taxpayer resources for a personal campaign. This is
always a fun one. We have a sitting governor accused of the
same thing, a former mayoral candidate accused of the same
(firehouse). Seems people only care when the 'other guy' does
it.
Nobody should be doing it.
#Post#: 12337--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: rapids_60
Date: March 11, 2014, 12:15 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: luvcats link ---
>
> I think that Steve Koth should of have a chance.
>
--- End Quote ---
He did have one. Steve's a good man, but was short on two
things: Details on exactly what he'd do differently and some
sort of track record, either in business or other, to back up
his ability to actually do those things.
I hope he tries again, perhaps at a school board or aldermanic
level, somewhere to get the feet wet and build a record of
accomplishments.
#Post#: 12338--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: Mr.steve
Date: March 11, 2014, 6:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote ---
> Since this is Wood County I think the correct answer is no.
Since nobody signed a paper saying this is improper conduct,
there can be no charges filed. Correct?
--- End Quote ---
LOL! That would seem to be a typical response by most wood
county officials but unfortunately this is happening in Jackson
county.
#Post#: 12339--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: Mr.steve
Date: March 11, 2014, 6:25 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote ---
> No, I don't.
> Paying the room tax doesn't entitle you to anything. The fact
that some (or all) of that money is funneled to the chamber is
irrelevant. Quite often taxes paid do not benefit the payee.
> They have the opportunity to join the chamber and take
advantage of the promotion if they want to.
--- End Quote ---
I'll let you think about what you posted for a while. Please
keep in mind the original intent of the room tax was not to
fund the operational expenses of such an entity as the chamber
but to promote "heads in beds" for hotels/motels within the
tourism zone.
--- Quote ---
> I haven't built a house in many years, but never had to pay
for sewer/water connections other than a couple dollars for a
permit fee and pre-connection inspection. Do they normally
charge for that now?
--- End Quote ---
Cities only bring the lateral to curb, from there it is the
homeowners responsibility.
--- Quote ---
> It would be that worker's supervisor's job to question it, not
the mayor and council who may have no idea what the worker
actually worked, no? Are they supposed to micromanage like
that?
> Sounds like theft to me, but the devil is in the details.
There are reasons hours might be added that are legit.
--- End Quote ---
Gee, the mayor submits a budget to the council for approval and
the info for that budget comes from dept heads, If one dept is
continually over budget, red flags/sirens/ warning bells should
be going off and trigger at least an attempted look to see what
is going on.
--- Quote ---
> Sounds like theft to me, a legit trade arrangement would have
paperwork in place.
--- End Quote ---
Much like over inflated time sheets.
--- Quote ---
> Ah. Using taxpayer resources for a personal campaign. This is
always a fun one. We have a sitting governor accused of the
same thing, a former mayoral candidate accused of the same
(firehouse). Seems people only care when the 'other guy' does
it.
> Nobody should be doing it.
--- End Quote ---
Does it matter what side the person leans? No, it is wrong for
all! BTW: That was a candidate for state assembly district 72.
#Post#: 12340--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: Sheila
Date: March 11, 2014, 7:38 am
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Wi Rapids must do it differently than other towns. I had to pay
a plumber to set in the the lateral to the curb. The city didn't
charge a thing to connect it. It was a very hot, summer day. I
sent the guys on their way with a 12-pak of beer for the
after-work cool down.
#Post#: 12341--------------------------------------------------
Re: What do you think makes a local government corrupt?
DIR By: Mr.steve
Date: March 11, 2014, 7:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote ---
> Wi Rapids must do it differently than other towns. I had to
pay a plumber to set in the the lateral to the curb. The city
didn't charge a thing to connect it. It was a very hot, summer
day. I sent the guys on their way with a 12-pak of beer for the
after-work cool down.
--- End Quote ---
Must be the rum talkin! LOL! Let me try this again:
The city only deals with the main to the curb( all under road),
from there it is the homeowners responsibility( curb to house).
Now Sheila, is that the ONLY payment or is there something
special about the "very hot summer day"? ;)
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