At Wednesday's special called meeting of the Industrial Development Board of the City of Morristown, the previous officers were re-elected.
Jack Fishman will continue as chairman.
James Craine continues as vice-chairman.
Marshall Ramsey was elected as secretary-treasurer.
Anderson Smith apparently continues as "assistant" secretary treasurer.
Prior to July 1, 2014, Marshall Ramsey acted as secretary-treasurer of the IDB and signed documents on behalf of the Board although he was not qualified to serve on the Board.
He was not qualified to serve on or be an officer of the Industrial Board of the City of Morristown because he did not live in the City of Morristown nor did he own property in the City of Morristown.
Luckily, Ramsey had friends in high places.
Ramsey finally became a "legal" member of the Industrial Board on July 1, 2014, when George (MUS) McGuffin, Don "TIF" Bunch, and Wayman Skelton deeded him a city lot in Hampton West Subdivision and a few hours later the City Council appointed him to the IDB.
Showing posts with label Jack Fishman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jack Fishman. Show all posts
Friday, August 22, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
August 20, 2014 Industrial Board Elects Officers Today
At the Morristown Industrial Development Board meeting this morning, the IDB will be electing "officers."
The current officers are Chairman Jack Fishman, Vice-chairman James Craine, and Secretary Marshall Ramsey.
It appears that the IDB is holding an election right now because one of its current officers (Marshall Ramsey) has been serving on the Board and has been signing legal documents for the Board for nearly two years without even being qualified to serve on the Board.
The most basic qualification for IDB membership is that an individual has to be a city voter--i. e. they reside in the City or they live outside the city but own property in the city. [This came from a discussion I had with IDB Attorney Bill Foutch about IDB qualifications several months ago]
Another requirement is that an IDB member can't serve on any other city board.
Ramsey lives in the county.
When questions about Ramsey not meeting IDB qualifications were raised recently, George McGuffin (of MUS and McGuffin Law fame), Don "TIF" Bunch, and Wayman Skelton came to Ramsey's rescue. They deeded a city lot in Hampton West to Ramsey on July 1, 2014, which made Ramsey a city property owner. With that freshly-signed July 1, 2014, deed in hand, Ramsey was re-appointed by city council to the IDB on---yep---July 1, 2014.
Now to tidy things up, the IDB is electing officers so its newly-qualified member Marshall Ramsey can be officially elected as secretary to the Board and can legally sign IDB documents.
And, yes, it is possible that someone else could be elected secretary or to any of the other offices today.
Another item of interest for future posts: Ramsey was not the only member of the 16-person Industrial Board who had been serving without being qualified to serve on the Board...more on the others later.
The current officers are Chairman Jack Fishman, Vice-chairman James Craine, and Secretary Marshall Ramsey.
It appears that the IDB is holding an election right now because one of its current officers (Marshall Ramsey) has been serving on the Board and has been signing legal documents for the Board for nearly two years without even being qualified to serve on the Board.
The most basic qualification for IDB membership is that an individual has to be a city voter--i. e. they reside in the City or they live outside the city but own property in the city. [This came from a discussion I had with IDB Attorney Bill Foutch about IDB qualifications several months ago]
Another requirement is that an IDB member can't serve on any other city board.
Ramsey lives in the county.
When questions about Ramsey not meeting IDB qualifications were raised recently, George McGuffin (of MUS and McGuffin Law fame), Don "TIF" Bunch, and Wayman Skelton came to Ramsey's rescue. They deeded a city lot in Hampton West to Ramsey on July 1, 2014, which made Ramsey a city property owner. With that freshly-signed July 1, 2014, deed in hand, Ramsey was re-appointed by city council to the IDB on---yep---July 1, 2014.
Now to tidy things up, the IDB is electing officers so its newly-qualified member Marshall Ramsey can be officially elected as secretary to the Board and can legally sign IDB documents.
And, yes, it is possible that someone else could be elected secretary or to any of the other offices today.
Another item of interest for future posts: Ramsey was not the only member of the 16-person Industrial Board who had been serving without being qualified to serve on the Board...more on the others later.
Monday, August 18, 2014
August 18, 2014 Industrial Board Meets This Wednesday (8/20/14)
This week, the Industrial Board holds a special meeting on Wednesday, August 20, at 7:30, in the basement of the Chamber building.
On the City website, it says the meeting is for the election of officers, more action on the TIF at Popkin Center (the Food City on part of the Berkline site), and any other business that may properly come before the Board.
In addition to placing notice of this meeting on the City website, the Industrial Board put notice of this meeting in the "news"paper owned by the Industrial Board Chair Jack Fishman.
Let's see if the "news"paper changes its practice and sends one of Jack's reporters to cover this meeting.
More on the Industrial Board later---what you don't see in the "news"paper that is controlled by the IDB Chair Jack Fishman.
It was interesting to read the "news"paper's report on the special MUS meeting last week. The meeting was described as being the "second revision" of the third list of nominees for the Board seat currently held by Gene Jolley last week. Why an original list followed by two revisions?
Because the MUS Board with five members with over 80 years experience apparently didn't know that MUS Board members can't serve on any other city board and/or didn't bother to check (TWICE) whether its nominees were on other Boards.
Scroll down for the two posts on the MUS nominees. The second revision of the third list goes to the Mayor and council tomorrow.
On the City website, it says the meeting is for the election of officers, more action on the TIF at Popkin Center (the Food City on part of the Berkline site), and any other business that may properly come before the Board.
In addition to placing notice of this meeting on the City website, the Industrial Board put notice of this meeting in the "news"paper owned by the Industrial Board Chair Jack Fishman.
Let's see if the "news"paper changes its practice and sends one of Jack's reporters to cover this meeting.
More on the Industrial Board later---what you don't see in the "news"paper that is controlled by the IDB Chair Jack Fishman.
It was interesting to read the "news"paper's report on the special MUS meeting last week. The meeting was described as being the "second revision" of the third list of nominees for the Board seat currently held by Gene Jolley last week. Why an original list followed by two revisions?
Because the MUS Board with five members with over 80 years experience apparently didn't know that MUS Board members can't serve on any other city board and/or didn't bother to check (TWICE) whether its nominees were on other Boards.
Scroll down for the two posts on the MUS nominees. The second revision of the third list goes to the Mayor and council tomorrow.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
May 23, 2013 LeBel Questions James Craine on East End Food City TIF and Masengill Springs Food City TIF
On May 21, the Morristown City Council approved a $2.5 TIF (tax incremental financing) for the Masengill Springs Food City by a 4-3 vote. In favor were Alvis, Bivens, Chesney, and Thomas and opposed were Garrett, LeBel, and Senter.
These videos show what took place before the vote on the Masengill Springs TIF.
James Craine, vice-chairman of the IDB, stated that he performed the Masengill Springs economic impact study that is the basis for the IDB's recommendation of a TIF. Craine said that he was requested to perform the study by the IDB of which he is a member. He added that he was paid approximately $5,000.00 for his work. [Apologies for the poor video but the audio is clear]
LeBel then grilled Craine about the IDB's handling of the only currently active TIF--the east end Barton Springs Food City TIF.
LeBel also questioned Craine about the Masengill Springs TIF that was on the council's agenda and that was later approved by a 4-3 vote.
These videos show what took place before the vote on the Masengill Springs TIF.
James Craine, vice-chairman of the IDB, stated that he performed the Masengill Springs economic impact study that is the basis for the IDB's recommendation of a TIF. Craine said that he was requested to perform the study by the IDB of which he is a member. He added that he was paid approximately $5,000.00 for his work. [Apologies for the poor video but the audio is clear]
LeBel then grilled Craine about the IDB's handling of the only currently active TIF--the east end Barton Springs Food City TIF.
LeBel also questioned Craine about the Masengill Springs TIF that was on the council's agenda and that was later approved by a 4-3 vote.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
June 9, 2012 Freedom Energy Diesel Going Overseas for Financing
The main topic was Freedom Energy Diesel, a project dubbed "Project Victory"when the IDB announced one year ago that FED was coming to Morristown.
In June 2011, the City sold 116 acres in the East Tennessee Project Center to FED at a deeply reduced price with the provision that the property would revert to the City on June 27, 2012, if FED had not begun construction on its building by thar date.
Construction on the FED building has not begun, so FED representative David Wild, a local contractor, came to the IDB to ask that the IDB recommend that the City give FED another year to get its financing in place and start construction.
Wild said that a lot of gradework has been done, but final gradework has been halted while FED goes overseas to try and obtain "final" financing.
The IDB Board voted unanimously to send a recommendation to the City of Morristown asking that the City give Freedom Energy Diesel an extra year to get its financing in place and start work on its building in the East Tennessee Progress Center.
The recommendation will go to the City Council for a vote on June 19.
www.morristownhamblencfa.com
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
August 3, 2010 Run, Stancil, Run! (Hit-and-Run!)
While the local "news"paper is still protecting County Commission Chair Stancil Ford from any local coverage of Ford's hit-and-run on June 30, 2010, there is a brief report in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel. Click here for the News-Sentinel article.
I provided info on Stancil's hit-and-run on July 17 with copies of the Traffic Crash Report and Impound Form. Click here for the blog post and documents.
Thankfully, Stancil didn't hit the older couple head-on and no one was killed. But just like Teddy Kennedy's cut-and-run at Chappaquiddick, what Stancil did and said after the accident is telling. According to the News-Sentinel, Stancil said, "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."
No concern for the victims. No explanation of why he went to a meeting right after the accident. It's all about Stancil! It's all about power. It's all about protecting the powerful. FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."
Stancil and MPD Chief Roger Overholt say that Stancil wasn't charged with hit-and-run because there was a medical problem. Overholt then admits knowing that Stancil went to a county commission meeting after the wreck!
Overholt never explains what kind of medical condition prevented Stancil from being charged with leaving the scene of an accident but didn't prevent Stancil from showing up at a county commission meeting immediately after the crash.
Stancil doesn't comment at all about showing up at a county commission meeting immediately after the wreck and apparently driving right past the people he had hit so he could do what he wanted to do instead of what he was legally and morally required to do.
Click here for a picture of Stancil at the county commission meeting 90 minutes after the crash. Too sick to be charged with hit-and-run but healthy enough to make it a county commission meeting?
When the cover-up starts, it never ends. And, in typical political fashion, protect yourself and blame someone else. FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."
Jacko Fishman and Miko Fishman own Stancil and don't want to damage their puppet. Jacko and Miko and crack reporter Bobby Moore know that it's pretty near impossible to explain--with a straight face--how Stancil was too sick to be charged with hit-and-run but was plenty healthy enough to drive past his victims and show up at a county commission meeting. There is no local "news"paper or "news"radio. Both are controlled by the Fishmans and simply ignore any "inconvenient" news and facts about political friends.
Stancil is part of the good old boys ruling class, so he can flee the scene of an accident involving $6,000 property damage and personal injury to others, go to a county commission meeting, and not be charged and not have it even mentioned in the local "news"paper.
[Sometimes the local "news"paper is forced to report "news" after the Sentinel or some other outlet breaks the story. After totally ignoring the story for over a month, we'll see if there is some little "all is well" report in today's or tomorrow's "news"paper.]
According to one of the victims, 73 year-old Betty Eldridge, her car still hasn't been repaired. Well, of course not. Stancil has more important things to take care of--like making sure that HIS truck has been fixed and re-painted and doesn't show any evidence of his hit-and-run.
It's all about Stancil. The little people? They don't count.
I provided info on Stancil's hit-and-run on July 17 with copies of the Traffic Crash Report and Impound Form. Click here for the blog post and documents.
Thankfully, Stancil didn't hit the older couple head-on and no one was killed. But just like Teddy Kennedy's cut-and-run at Chappaquiddick, what Stancil did and said after the accident is telling. According to the News-Sentinel, Stancil said, "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."
No concern for the victims. No explanation of why he went to a meeting right after the accident. It's all about Stancil! It's all about power. It's all about protecting the powerful. FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."
Stancil and MPD Chief Roger Overholt say that Stancil wasn't charged with hit-and-run because there was a medical problem. Overholt then admits knowing that Stancil went to a county commission meeting after the wreck!
Overholt never explains what kind of medical condition prevented Stancil from being charged with leaving the scene of an accident but didn't prevent Stancil from showing up at a county commission meeting immediately after the crash.
Stancil doesn't comment at all about showing up at a county commission meeting immediately after the wreck and apparently driving right past the people he had hit so he could do what he wanted to do instead of what he was legally and morally required to do.
Click here for a picture of Stancil at the county commission meeting 90 minutes after the crash. Too sick to be charged with hit-and-run but healthy enough to make it a county commission meeting?
When the cover-up starts, it never ends. And, in typical political fashion, protect yourself and blame someone else. FORD: "The only thing that bothers me is that it's being used politically."
Jacko Fishman and Miko Fishman own Stancil and don't want to damage their puppet. Jacko and Miko and crack reporter Bobby Moore know that it's pretty near impossible to explain--with a straight face--how Stancil was too sick to be charged with hit-and-run but was plenty healthy enough to drive past his victims and show up at a county commission meeting. There is no local "news"paper or "news"radio. Both are controlled by the Fishmans and simply ignore any "inconvenient" news and facts about political friends.
Stancil is part of the good old boys ruling class, so he can flee the scene of an accident involving $6,000 property damage and personal injury to others, go to a county commission meeting, and not be charged and not have it even mentioned in the local "news"paper.
[Sometimes the local "news"paper is forced to report "news" after the Sentinel or some other outlet breaks the story. After totally ignoring the story for over a month, we'll see if there is some little "all is well" report in today's or tomorrow's "news"paper.]
According to one of the victims, 73 year-old Betty Eldridge, her car still hasn't been repaired. Well, of course not. Stancil has more important things to take care of--like making sure that HIS truck has been fixed and re-painted and doesn't show any evidence of his hit-and-run.
It's all about Stancil. The little people? They don't count.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 12, 2010 State Comptroller Sends Letter to Mayor Barile on City's Violations of State Law and Audit Compliance Issues
The local "news"paper and its city and crime beat reporter Bob Moore have run several stories about the May 4, 2010, council meeting. Bob has taken a week to gradually cover bits and pieces from the May 4th meeting!
Despite taking a week to cover the May 4th council meeting, there hasn't been a front-page article about the April 20, 2010, letter from the State Comptroller to Mayor Barile (click on each page above to enlarge and read) regarding the city's loan application (TRAN) and the City's continuing violations of state law and audit compliance issues. [5/14/10: See UPDATE below]
At the May 4th meeting, a portion of the 4-page letter from the State Comptroller to Mayor Sami Barile was read aloud by Administrator Cox at the direction of the Comptroller. The entire letter describes numerous violations of state law by the city as well as audit compliance issues.
The letter adds that state approval of the city's current application for a loan/line of credit (TRAN) is conditioned on the City coming into compliance with state law, paying the "loan" back by June 30, 2010, submitting a proper budget for 2011 no later than 7/31/10, and addressing issues in the 2009 and 2010 audits as required by the Comptroller's Division of Municipal Audit.
The letter (Page 3 at the top) notes that Stormwater, General, and Sewer Fund issues have not been addressed despite the Comptroller's direction to the City to contact Municipal Audit to resolve these issues. The General and Sewer Fund "issues" apparently relate to improper interfund loans in 2009. NOTE: The local auditor reported these improper interfund "loans" with the 2009 audit----but failed to report similar improper "loans" in 2007 and 2008.
With the end of the City's yearly money-switcheroo gig, the City is being forced to comply with state law in obtaining outside loans and in making any interfund loans.
Surely, a lengthy front-page article with a Bob Moore byline and a banner headline (City Violates State Law and Fails to Address Audit Issues) is coming soon to report on the Comptroller's letter.
Nah, a "news" article now would be nothing more than a press release with a few pithy remarks from some "official" about how everything is being taken care of and it's time to "move on." The official line/spin would be that we can't and don't want to find out who ordered the illegal transfers/loans; we can't and don't want to find out who, in addition to the auditors, failed to report that illegal transfers/loanswere being made; and we absolutely don't want to hold anyone accountable for years of illegal transfers/loans!
And would the "news"paper try to find out who approved the unauthorized transfers/loans, which individuals and employees knew of the unauthorized transfers/loans, why no city department head or employee reported the unauthorized transfers/loans, and why the auditors didn't report the previous violations? Not likely. More to come. For background click here.
[UPDATE 5/14/10: Yesterday, nine days after this "news" broke at the May 4 council meeting and just one day after my initial blog post on this topic, the Trib at long last ran a story on the Comptroller's letter. Bob Moore's belated "news" article was full of official spin and quotes but did contain some very interesting statements.
If the article is correct, Budget Director Brian Janish and former/interim city administrator Lynn Wampler "executed" a $649,000 sewer to stormwater "loan" in late 2009 or very early 2010, apparently without getting council approval as required by state law and without first submitting the loan to the state as required by state law. Janish and Wampler took this action knowing it was in violation of state law and then graciously "reported" the issue and asked for state "guidance" about their knowing and intentional violation of state law. Just ponder that action for a while.
The article also briefly mentions a temporary "transfer" of $1.24 Million from the sewer fund to the general fund in 2009. The "news" article states that this transfer--carefully avoiding the word "loan"--was made "to avoid reflecting a negative cash balance" in the general fund? The article does NOT mention that this "transfer" was also a violation of state law.
The article adds that at the end of fiscal year 2009 "the money in the general fund ($1.24 Million) actually belonged to the sewer fund." Can you say robbing Peter to pay Paul?
And the City executed these illegal/improper loans or transfers or money switcheroos repeatedly in prior years and then again in 2009 without required approval, without any oversight, and without any prior audit findings or reports about these and other violations of state law as noted in the Comptroller's letter! Can you say cover-up?
Click here for more background. An e-mail was all it took to find out about the illegalities of all the money switcheroos and how to properly loan money from one fund to another.
Is anyone going to be held accountable? Will there be a meeting where the tough questions are asked? Are any staff changes going to be made?]
Sunday, January 31, 2010
January 31, 2010 David Purkey, Still Wanting To Be Tennessee Safety Commissioner, Latches onto Gubernatorial Candidate Haslam's Coattails
The local "news"paper had an interesting picture on its front page on Friday, January 29. Gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam and his wife knocked on the door of Lynn Purkey in the Alpha Community, and a Tribune cameraman just happened to be there to record the event.
The article then mentioned that Haslam was "flanked" in his door-knocking campaign by long time friend and supporter Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey.
[I'm not sure why, but the "news"paper forgot to mention that the Lynn Purkey who just happened to answer the door is Otto Purkey's wife and that Otto is David Purkey's big brother and that Otto is the former Sheriff of Hamblen County who lost his re-election bid in 2006 to current Sheriff Esco Jarnagin. Lynn Purkey's door was not randomly picked so an explanation of who Lynn Purkey is and her connections might be in order]
I haven't decided whom I will support in the governor's race in Tennessee. This post is not about the governor's candidates but about the fact that David Purkey has grabbed onto Haslam's coattails with all his might in the hope that if Haslam is elected, David will finally get the dream job that he has always wanted---Tennessee Commissioner of Safety with power over the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
To understand Purkey's dream, you have to go back to June 2006 when David was in the middle of what he had declared was his "last" run for County Mayor. Although David had said that he wanted to serve one "last" term as mayor, ironically David ran off to Nashville and applied for Safety Commissioner right in the middle of that "last" campaign for County Mayor.
What was even funnier was that the local "news"paper either didn't know that David had applied for the Safety Commissioner job while in the middle of running for County Mayor OR the "news"paper knew and decided not to report this significant bit of news to its local readers. Nope, the "news"paper never said a word about any of this until after I had a blog post based on a story in the Nashville Tennessean about David's application.
Click here for my June 26, 2006, post that was based on a June 22, 2006, Tennessean article. Then click here for the "news" story that the local "news"paper ran on June 27, 2006 (5 days after the Tennessean article and one day after my blog post). Noe4accountability is a personal blog--not a newspaper with full-time reporters. There is something ironic about a local "news"paper that didn't know what the local Mayor was doing OR that chose not to report what the local Mayor was doing until five days after it had been reported across the state in the Tennessean. In fact, the local "news"paper only reported that the Mayor had applied for Safety Commissioner and had withdrawn one day after I finally went ahead and mentioned it on this blog. How "news"y is that?
Of course, there is plenty of other "news" that the local "news"paper chooses not to report. The "news"paper decides what is "news" and how that "news" will be reported. Bob Moore will cover up anything that Jack Fishman says to cover up. Bob will slant anything as directed by his boss. Bob will print just about anything that a government office or official tells him to ---without checking the accuracy of the information. Click here for one example of how Bob just publishes what government officials hand him and refuses to check on the accuracy of what he is provided. Some--but not all--front-page articles by Bob are little more than front-page press releases with a little flowery language added for that personal touch. Whether it's appropriate or not in a "news"paper article, I will admit that Bob's style of writing and word-choice are entertaining.
Frankly, I doubt that Haslam really knows much about David Purkey, the man who has always wanted-- and still wants--to have control of law enforcement in Tennessee. I don't know the whole story about David. I do know that he hates me because he couldn't control me while I served on county commission (2002-2006). I know he hates that I brought in the state auditors to perform the county audit in 2003 when Hamblen County had more findings (29) than any other county in the state. Click here. I know that he hates me because I pushed for openness and accountability throughout county government and for better control of spending.
This is a man who became upset and red-faced when I simply asked that a county decal be placed on all county taxpayer-provided vehicles (other than undercover vehicles or exempt law-enforcement vehicles). David wanted that county car, but he definitely didn't want a decal on it to let people know that it was a Hamblen County taxpayer-provided vehicle. The rest of the commissioners blinked.
And when I decided not to run again in 2006, one of David's first requests to the new commission was to ask for a car allowance of $7200/year---paid as a salary increase. David had two goals in this. He would get the county to pay for a car that he could keep (no decal, of course) after he left office AND, by having his car paid for through a salary increase, his future government retirement pay would skyrocket since his retirement pay is partly-based on the highest five years of compensation. With the car allowance/salary increase deal, Purkey upped his highest compensation from around the $83,000 he had been drawing as County Mayor to $90,000+ and upped his retirement for the next 20-30 years as well.
With David's continuing desire to be Tennessee Safety Commissioner, it's time to let the public know at least some of what the local "news"paper covers up about David Purkey, the lifelong politician and master of the cover-up, with help from friends in high places.
The article then mentioned that Haslam was "flanked" in his door-knocking campaign by long time friend and supporter Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey.
[I'm not sure why, but the "news"paper forgot to mention that the Lynn Purkey who just happened to answer the door is Otto Purkey's wife and that Otto is David Purkey's big brother and that Otto is the former Sheriff of Hamblen County who lost his re-election bid in 2006 to current Sheriff Esco Jarnagin. Lynn Purkey's door was not randomly picked so an explanation of who Lynn Purkey is and her connections might be in order]
I haven't decided whom I will support in the governor's race in Tennessee. This post is not about the governor's candidates but about the fact that David Purkey has grabbed onto Haslam's coattails with all his might in the hope that if Haslam is elected, David will finally get the dream job that he has always wanted---Tennessee Commissioner of Safety with power over the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
To understand Purkey's dream, you have to go back to June 2006 when David was in the middle of what he had declared was his "last" run for County Mayor. Although David had said that he wanted to serve one "last" term as mayor, ironically David ran off to Nashville and applied for Safety Commissioner right in the middle of that "last" campaign for County Mayor.
What was even funnier was that the local "news"paper either didn't know that David had applied for the Safety Commissioner job while in the middle of running for County Mayor OR the "news"paper knew and decided not to report this significant bit of news to its local readers. Nope, the "news"paper never said a word about any of this until after I had a blog post based on a story in the Nashville Tennessean about David's application.
Click here for my June 26, 2006, post that was based on a June 22, 2006, Tennessean article. Then click here for the "news" story that the local "news"paper ran on June 27, 2006 (5 days after the Tennessean article and one day after my blog post). Noe4accountability is a personal blog--not a newspaper with full-time reporters. There is something ironic about a local "news"paper that didn't know what the local Mayor was doing OR that chose not to report what the local Mayor was doing until five days after it had been reported across the state in the Tennessean. In fact, the local "news"paper only reported that the Mayor had applied for Safety Commissioner and had withdrawn one day after I finally went ahead and mentioned it on this blog. How "news"y is that?
Of course, there is plenty of other "news" that the local "news"paper chooses not to report. The "news"paper decides what is "news" and how that "news" will be reported. Bob Moore will cover up anything that Jack Fishman says to cover up. Bob will slant anything as directed by his boss. Bob will print just about anything that a government office or official tells him to ---without checking the accuracy of the information. Click here for one example of how Bob just publishes what government officials hand him and refuses to check on the accuracy of what he is provided. Some--but not all--front-page articles by Bob are little more than front-page press releases with a little flowery language added for that personal touch. Whether it's appropriate or not in a "news"paper article, I will admit that Bob's style of writing and word-choice are entertaining.
Frankly, I doubt that Haslam really knows much about David Purkey, the man who has always wanted-- and still wants--to have control of law enforcement in Tennessee. I don't know the whole story about David. I do know that he hates me because he couldn't control me while I served on county commission (2002-2006). I know he hates that I brought in the state auditors to perform the county audit in 2003 when Hamblen County had more findings (29) than any other county in the state. Click here. I know that he hates me because I pushed for openness and accountability throughout county government and for better control of spending.
This is a man who became upset and red-faced when I simply asked that a county decal be placed on all county taxpayer-provided vehicles (other than undercover vehicles or exempt law-enforcement vehicles). David wanted that county car, but he definitely didn't want a decal on it to let people know that it was a Hamblen County taxpayer-provided vehicle. The rest of the commissioners blinked.
And when I decided not to run again in 2006, one of David's first requests to the new commission was to ask for a car allowance of $7200/year---paid as a salary increase. David had two goals in this. He would get the county to pay for a car that he could keep (no decal, of course) after he left office AND, by having his car paid for through a salary increase, his future government retirement pay would skyrocket since his retirement pay is partly-based on the highest five years of compensation. With the car allowance/salary increase deal, Purkey upped his highest compensation from around the $83,000 he had been drawing as County Mayor to $90,000+ and upped his retirement for the next 20-30 years as well.
With David's continuing desire to be Tennessee Safety Commissioner, it's time to let the public know at least some of what the local "news"paper covers up about David Purkey, the lifelong politician and master of the cover-up, with help from friends in high places.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
January 29, 2010 And the Sewer Rates Are Going Up AGAIN
Another bad budget bites the dust.
In June 2009, the Morristown City Council adopted a deficit Fiscal Year 2010 sewer fund budget against the advice of its paid consultant Lamar Dunn. [Dunn presented a rate study to council in June 2009 and told council that the FY 10 sewer rate increase should be 14% to cover sewer fund expenses. Council ignored the recommendation and instead raised rates by 8% in FY 10, adopting a deficit sewer budget] For more on adoption of the current deficit sewer budget, click here and here.
Now just seven months later, the Mayor and Council called Dunn to come to the Finance Committee meeting yesterday and give them a sewer "update." Without saying "I told you so," Dunn's update reminded the Mayor and councilmembers that they adopted a deficit budget (which they already knew) and that the city's sewer fund is in the hole as result (exactly what he told them would happen).
Solution. Pay Dunn for another rate study--since you ignored the last one you paid for.
Industries and residences better start socking away money--if they have any--for yet another big sewer rate increase.
Sewer costs are a major factor in the budgets of many existing Morristown industries and of industries that might consider locating here. With large sewer rate increases year after year, the City and Industrial Development Board (IDB)/Jack Fishman may at some point realize that spiraling sewer rates are one reason that it so hard to get new industry to locate in Morristown (without tax incentives) and that spiraling sewer rates have a negative impact on existing industries (that get no tax breaks).
And it goes without saying that skyrocketing sewer rates have a major impact on hard-pressed family budgets as well.
The new increase could be adopted right after Dunn's study is complete or it may be included as part of the adoption of the FY 2010-2011 sewer fund budget in May or June 2010.
[Dunn also told the Mayor and Council that the "unknown" regulatory cost that he mentioned in his June 2009 rate review is now a huge "known" regulatory sewer cost. Morristown is under a Commissioner's regulatory ORDER to fix sewer problems that were ignored for years and years, to develop and actually implement a maintenance plan, and to provide reports to the state for the next several years of compliance with the Commissioner's ORDER. This known regulatory cost will be a factor in Dunn's new study.]
In June 2009, the Morristown City Council adopted a deficit Fiscal Year 2010 sewer fund budget against the advice of its paid consultant Lamar Dunn. [Dunn presented a rate study to council in June 2009 and told council that the FY 10 sewer rate increase should be 14% to cover sewer fund expenses. Council ignored the recommendation and instead raised rates by 8% in FY 10, adopting a deficit sewer budget] For more on adoption of the current deficit sewer budget, click here and here.
Now just seven months later, the Mayor and Council called Dunn to come to the Finance Committee meeting yesterday and give them a sewer "update." Without saying "I told you so," Dunn's update reminded the Mayor and councilmembers that they adopted a deficit budget (which they already knew) and that the city's sewer fund is in the hole as result (exactly what he told them would happen).
Solution. Pay Dunn for another rate study--since you ignored the last one you paid for.
Industries and residences better start socking away money--if they have any--for yet another big sewer rate increase.
Sewer costs are a major factor in the budgets of many existing Morristown industries and of industries that might consider locating here. With large sewer rate increases year after year, the City and Industrial Development Board (IDB)/Jack Fishman may at some point realize that spiraling sewer rates are one reason that it so hard to get new industry to locate in Morristown (without tax incentives) and that spiraling sewer rates have a negative impact on existing industries (that get no tax breaks).
And it goes without saying that skyrocketing sewer rates have a major impact on hard-pressed family budgets as well.
The new increase could be adopted right after Dunn's study is complete or it may be included as part of the adoption of the FY 2010-2011 sewer fund budget in May or June 2010.
[Dunn also told the Mayor and Council that the "unknown" regulatory cost that he mentioned in his June 2009 rate review is now a huge "known" regulatory sewer cost. Morristown is under a Commissioner's regulatory ORDER to fix sewer problems that were ignored for years and years, to develop and actually implement a maintenance plan, and to provide reports to the state for the next several years of compliance with the Commissioner's ORDER. This known regulatory cost will be a factor in Dunn's new study.]
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
December 16, 2009 City Council Votes 5-2 To Proceed with ETPC Land Acquisition
In a tense meeting yesterday where there was at least some actual "public" discussion by councilmembers of an issue before the city council, the council voted 5-2 to proceed with appraisals and acquisition of land in the East Tennessee Progress Center (ETPC).
The head of the Industrial Board, R. Jack Fishman, was not present at this meeting. Previously, he had spoken twice to council about this land acquisition--once in a work session and once in a Finance Committee meeting held in a small conference room near the Mayor's office. Fishman did not choose to appear at yesterday's regular city council meeting to present the Industrial Board's case or to field questions about the proposal.
In light of the city's pathetic financial condition and the recent cutting of hours of city employees, Councilmember Gene Brooks asked where the money would come from for the appraisals and land acquisition. [The city was broke as of 6/30/08 and only recently paid back a $2.5 Million loan from its sewer fund that had helped cover up its dire financial status].
Mayor Barile mentioned that the city had recently sold some of its property to MUS (Morristown Utility Systems). She said that money could be used to help pay for the land acquisition. The property she was referring to was some acreage on Sulphur Springs Road that the city had acquired years ago to erect a public works facility. Because of the city's financial condition, the Mayor negotiated a deal for MUS to purchase that property from the city for just over $300,000.
Despite offering her assurances that the $300,000 could be used, the Mayor did not state where the additional $1 Million+ would come from for appraisal costs, land acquisition costs, and possible court battles if the city decides to invoke eminent domain on property owners who do not want to sell at all or who do not want to sell for the price that the City/Industrial Board/Jack Fishman offer.
More will follow in coming posts.
The head of the Industrial Board, R. Jack Fishman, was not present at this meeting. Previously, he had spoken twice to council about this land acquisition--once in a work session and once in a Finance Committee meeting held in a small conference room near the Mayor's office. Fishman did not choose to appear at yesterday's regular city council meeting to present the Industrial Board's case or to field questions about the proposal.
In light of the city's pathetic financial condition and the recent cutting of hours of city employees, Councilmember Gene Brooks asked where the money would come from for the appraisals and land acquisition. [The city was broke as of 6/30/08 and only recently paid back a $2.5 Million loan from its sewer fund that had helped cover up its dire financial status].
Mayor Barile mentioned that the city had recently sold some of its property to MUS (Morristown Utility Systems). She said that money could be used to help pay for the land acquisition. The property she was referring to was some acreage on Sulphur Springs Road that the city had acquired years ago to erect a public works facility. Because of the city's financial condition, the Mayor negotiated a deal for MUS to purchase that property from the city for just over $300,000.
Despite offering her assurances that the $300,000 could be used, the Mayor did not state where the additional $1 Million+ would come from for appraisal costs, land acquisition costs, and possible court battles if the city decides to invoke eminent domain on property owners who do not want to sell at all or who do not want to sell for the price that the City/Industrial Board/Jack Fishman offer.
More will follow in coming posts.
Friday, December 11, 2009
December 11, 2009 City Finance Committee Puts ETPC Land Acquisition by Purchase or by Eminent Domain on December 15 Agenda
The Finance Committee of the City of Morristown met at 3:30 PM yesterday in the little conference room near the City Administrator's office. The room---which can only hold about 10-12 people comfortably--was full. The Mayor and councilmembers were seated around the table with Jack Fishman, Bobby Moore (Tribune reporter and employee of Jack Fishman), and a few department heads. Frank McGuffin, chair of the Finance Committee, was late in arriving. Councilmember Kay Senter was not present.
A few people managed to find a seat inside the room, others stood inside the room, and still others, including some city department heads and sewer consultant Lamar Dunn, stood in the two doorways or in the hallway.
[Despite the larger council chambers right next door and a large community room upstairs in the multimillion dollar City Center, the Finance Committee meets in a cramped conference room that is probably not larger and is likely smaller than the City Administrator's office. This conference room is also a secluded meeting place for unannounced meetings of the Mayor and Councilmembers to discuss and deliberate on public business privately prior to walking into the council chambers to vote, but that is a separate issue that I will address more fully in the coming weeks.]
Jack Fishman, who is the longtime head of the Industrial Development Board and President of the company that owns the local newspaper (the Citizen Tribune), wants the City to go ahead and approve acquisition of privately held land in the East Tennessee Progress Center (ETPC).
Click here to see the previous post about the private land that Fishman wants the city to purchase from willing owners or take by force through eminent domain from any who don't want to sell their land.
Fishman said that he recently obtained local employment figures for 2002 and 2009 from the state employment office. He said that these figures show a "startling" loss of 5,000 local manufacturing jobs during that time, explaining that there were about 13,000 manufacturing jobs in the area in 2002 and in 2009 there are just over 8,000. Most people are not startled by that figure. Most people have known about and have been concerned about the exodus of local manufacturing plants to Mexico and China for a long time. Many of these same people have lost their jobs because of the "sucking sound" of jobs leaving this country for cheap labor, less regulation, and lower taxes.
Fishman said, "Our situation is not good." He added that the Industrial Board had been through a 2-year "hiatus" of no prospects. Apparently, there are now two new industrial prospects (1 foreign company and 1 domestic company) along with a possible plant expansion of an existing industry. Fishman used code words for the two new prospects that have completed preliminary surveys. He said that they each would require about a 90-acre site if they eventually decide to locate here. He added that Thom Robinson, director of the Chamber, was not present at the Finance meeting because he was working with a prospect and "I sent him to 'bow'."
[Fishman added that most companies start by selecting about five states and then checking out four locations in each of those 5 states. The company then does a preliminary evaluation of those 20 sites, conducts additional research, narrows the choices down, and, of course, makes site visits before making a selection.]
A map of the Master Plan for the ETPC was flashed on the screen. Randy Corlew, engineer for the Industrial Board, discussed the Master Plan. Fishman said that he doesn't want to invite industry to our community if "I don't have a place to put them."
Claude Jinks said that he can't believe what has happened in the past two years.
Mayor Barile said we can see the problems in the increase of people at the Daily Bread.
Bob Garrett said, "Put it on the agenda." Then he said (jokingly), "I want to thank Mr. Fishman for coming and bowing to us."
Fishman said the Industrial Board could probably have an appraiser by February. The appraiser will determine Fair Market Value for the property, an offer will be made, and then the purchase/sale will "close." Neither the Mayor nor any councilmember asked what happens if a private property owner does not want to sell. Of course, they already know that Fishman's answer to that question would be--- "Take it" through eminent domain. They also already know that Fishman has prepared an ordinance for them to pass that provides for just that-- "taking" the property of anyone who does not want to sell through eminent domain proceedings.
If eminent domain is used, this could end up being a negative for industrial prospects. Often new industry is hesitant to come and locate on land that has been taken from its owners agains their will. If there are several industrial locations available, most companies would prefer to locate on land that has been developed without the ill-will created by the use of eminent domain.
In light of recent city cutbacks of employee hours and other financial concerns, Gene Brooks asked Fishman how the city could pay for the private land that is currently appraised at about $1.3 Million.
Fishman first said that he is not the Finance Director for the city. Then he added that he would recommend borrowing the money through the issuance of bond anticipation notes over the 3-year phased acquisition period.
Perhaps Fishman should have stayed to hear more about the city's situation, but he left before the city's sewer meltdown was discussed.
A few people managed to find a seat inside the room, others stood inside the room, and still others, including some city department heads and sewer consultant Lamar Dunn, stood in the two doorways or in the hallway.
[Despite the larger council chambers right next door and a large community room upstairs in the multimillion dollar City Center, the Finance Committee meets in a cramped conference room that is probably not larger and is likely smaller than the City Administrator's office. This conference room is also a secluded meeting place for unannounced meetings of the Mayor and Councilmembers to discuss and deliberate on public business privately prior to walking into the council chambers to vote, but that is a separate issue that I will address more fully in the coming weeks.]
Jack Fishman, who is the longtime head of the Industrial Development Board and President of the company that owns the local newspaper (the Citizen Tribune), wants the City to go ahead and approve acquisition of privately held land in the East Tennessee Progress Center (ETPC).
Click here to see the previous post about the private land that Fishman wants the city to purchase from willing owners or take by force through eminent domain from any who don't want to sell their land.
Fishman said that he recently obtained local employment figures for 2002 and 2009 from the state employment office. He said that these figures show a "startling" loss of 5,000 local manufacturing jobs during that time, explaining that there were about 13,000 manufacturing jobs in the area in 2002 and in 2009 there are just over 8,000. Most people are not startled by that figure. Most people have known about and have been concerned about the exodus of local manufacturing plants to Mexico and China for a long time. Many of these same people have lost their jobs because of the "sucking sound" of jobs leaving this country for cheap labor, less regulation, and lower taxes.
Fishman said, "Our situation is not good." He added that the Industrial Board had been through a 2-year "hiatus" of no prospects. Apparently, there are now two new industrial prospects (1 foreign company and 1 domestic company) along with a possible plant expansion of an existing industry. Fishman used code words for the two new prospects that have completed preliminary surveys. He said that they each would require about a 90-acre site if they eventually decide to locate here. He added that Thom Robinson, director of the Chamber, was not present at the Finance meeting because he was working with a prospect and "I sent him to 'bow'."
[Fishman added that most companies start by selecting about five states and then checking out four locations in each of those 5 states. The company then does a preliminary evaluation of those 20 sites, conducts additional research, narrows the choices down, and, of course, makes site visits before making a selection.]
A map of the Master Plan for the ETPC was flashed on the screen. Randy Corlew, engineer for the Industrial Board, discussed the Master Plan. Fishman said that he doesn't want to invite industry to our community if "I don't have a place to put them."
Claude Jinks said that he can't believe what has happened in the past two years.
Mayor Barile said we can see the problems in the increase of people at the Daily Bread.
Bob Garrett said, "Put it on the agenda." Then he said (jokingly), "I want to thank Mr. Fishman for coming and bowing to us."
Fishman said the Industrial Board could probably have an appraiser by February. The appraiser will determine Fair Market Value for the property, an offer will be made, and then the purchase/sale will "close." Neither the Mayor nor any councilmember asked what happens if a private property owner does not want to sell. Of course, they already know that Fishman's answer to that question would be--- "Take it" through eminent domain. They also already know that Fishman has prepared an ordinance for them to pass that provides for just that-- "taking" the property of anyone who does not want to sell through eminent domain proceedings.
If eminent domain is used, this could end up being a negative for industrial prospects. Often new industry is hesitant to come and locate on land that has been taken from its owners agains their will. If there are several industrial locations available, most companies would prefer to locate on land that has been developed without the ill-will created by the use of eminent domain.
In light of recent city cutbacks of employee hours and other financial concerns, Gene Brooks asked Fishman how the city could pay for the private land that is currently appraised at about $1.3 Million.
Fishman first said that he is not the Finance Director for the city. Then he added that he would recommend borrowing the money through the issuance of bond anticipation notes over the 3-year phased acquisition period.
Perhaps Fishman should have stayed to hear more about the city's situation, but he left before the city's sewer meltdown was discussed.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
November 17, 2009 Jack Fishman Recommends Acquiring Additional Land in East Tennessee Progress Center, Eminent Domain Threatened
Industrial Board Chairman Jack Fishman, who is also owner of the Citizen Tribune, appeared at the city council work session yesterday. Fishman wants the city to fund the purchase of 11 pieces of property inside the East Tennessee Progress Center near I-81 and 25-E. Fishman wants the city to purchase the property from willing buyers but, if the buyer is not willing, then Fishman wants the city to take the private property by eminent domain
One of the owners of property on Fishman's list was present and spoke passionately about her desire to live out her life on her 14 acres. Alice Purkey, 86, said her land is "not for sale" and asked simply to be left alone.
While Fishman said he wasn't rushing the council, he made sure that each councilperson was given a resolution (below) to pass in December or at some other time. Fishman's resolution provides for the purchase OR taking of any parcel by eminent domain.
UPDATE 11/18/09: It should be interesting to see the Tribune ace reporter Bobby Moore's article on Fishman's appearance at council. How does the reporter "report" on his boss in a fair and balanced way? Will there be a disclaimer noting that Fishman is the reporter's boss and writes the reporter's paycheck? Just guessing, but I would imagine that the article will concentrate on Fishman implying that the main reasons Morristown lost a Harley-Davidson plant were because the ETPC (East Tennessee Progress Center) looked too "rural" and also because the city does not have "control" of certain parcels of land in and around the Park. The article will imply, as did Fishman, that H-D would have been an almost sure thing if the City had just had these other parcels and had spent millions to improve the ETPC. Hence, Fishman's decree that he/IDB/City obtain control of eleven more parcels within three years. Control by sale from willing owner(s) OR forced control by eminent domain!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August 27, 2009 Crumley's Departure and Information That the Trib Doesn't Report
Sometimes, there is so much going on at home and at work that posts get postponed. [I like puns. If you don't, just give that last one the obligatory groan.]
Here's a quick catch-up post on the City Council meeting on August 18 with some interesting information that the Trib didn't report!
City Administrator Jim Crumley was "honored" at a reception at the City Center on August 18. At the council meeting that followed, Mayor Barile, Crumley's most ardent supporter, gave him a plaque and Crumley then gave his farewell speech to the assembled council and public. It was a whopper! He thanked the council and the staff for accepting his leadership and then said that there are issues of leadership in the current council.
Crumley added: "I forgive you all for the mistakes in judgment that you have made." He also offered his two bits (pun intended) of advice on the process for hiring a new city administrator. "You all have to find a leader...somebody who ends this 4-3 environment...You have got to stop the fear in your professional staff...You have got professional employees who are right now afraid to give you honest, professional recommendations because they are in fear of their jobs... I wish the City of Morristown the very best...This is not the time to hunker down. This is the time for our city to be moving." Not one person clapped.
The Trib reported Crumley's farewell speech.
What Bobby Moore, the Trib's city council reporter, did NOT report were some very interesting public comments made at the meeting.
One citizen stood up and said he was offended by the use of the term "railroad" job in reference to the firing of Crumley. [That was a term used by Mayor Barile to express her disgust at the firing/resignation that she then voted for.] The gentleman thanked the four who had removed Crumley and expressed his displeasure at Mayor Barile's removal of Kay Senter as chairman of the Finance Committee. He added that the local paper's reporting was so one-sided that it was like watching "MSNBC."
Steve Sublett also addressed council. He asked council if they knew that the Industrial Board was harassing his neighbors, wanting to buy their property. He also wanted to know if council has approached Jefferson County to let them know that Morristown is interested in property in Jefferson County. In an apparent reference to the East Tennessee Progress Center, Sublett reminded the council that "you've got 500-600 acres out there. I don't believe you need to harass people who aren't interested in selling."
He then mentioned another "pretty good rumor" that the city is interested in a new Exit 9, one mile past the current Exit 8. He asked, but received no response to his question: "Why would the city need an exit another mile up the interstate?"
Sublett added that the Industrial Board is interested in an Exit 6 as well. He mentioned that the city owns no property there. Why is an exit needed there? Most of the property being looked at is in Jefferson County. Sublett closed by saying that he'd like to know if the council "has a clue" about what is going on at the Industrial Board. No one responded, but after a long silence, Mayor Barile said: "The Industrial Board is always looking to bring in new jobs."
Sublett replied: "You already have 600 acres out there. The City is already 77 Million in debt. How are you going to buy more property? Who's going to fund that?"
No member of the council spoke. If they knew anything about discussions about purchasing property in Jefferson County and two next exits, councilmembers and the Mayor were not talking. Finally, Barile thanked Mr. Sublett and said: "I will talk with the Industrial Board and see what is happening."
She may do it, but I would suggest that no one holds his or her breath while waiting for Barile to find out and actually report to the council and to the public about what is going on at the Industrial Board in regard to purchasing property in Jefferson County or pushing for two new exits on I-81.
Hopefully, Mayor Barile has not signed any "confidentiality" agreement with the Industrial Board or others--like Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri did--where she has agreed to keep public business a secret from the public. [Jefferson Countians found out that their Mayor, Alan Palmieri, and two county commissioners signed confidentiality agreements with Norfolk-Southern railroad and thus agreed to keep information about public business a secret. Word got out in Jefferson County, but only after word leaked out that discussion and conduct of public business was taking place behind closed doors. Someone needs to get an understanding of what the meaning of "public business" is and what the Tennessee Open Meetings Act is about. Of course, Hamblen County has its own problems abiding with the Open Meetings Act. Here and here.]
The Jefferson situation has been reported extensively in the Knox News-Sentinel. Here. Here. Here. Here. The comments that follow each article in the News-Sentinel are usually worthy of reading regardless of your personal position on the issue at hand.
Only if you were at the city council meeting would you know about the praise for the four councilmembers who pushed for Crumley's departure. Only if you were at the meeting would you know about the intriguing public comments by Mr. Sublett. Bob Moore of the Trib never mentioned the comments of either of these individuals.
Of course, Bob is the powers-that-be personal, if unofficial, press agent. Bob works for the only major newspaper in town and its owner is Jack Fishman--leader of the City's Industrial Board. Bob, if he wanted to be a reporter checking out leads, could have walked into Fishman's office on the day following the meeting and asked his boss if Mr. Sublett's information is correct. Of course, Bob may have already known about this whole deal. We'll soon see if Bob knew or followed up on this situation. When will Bob, the investigative reporter, confirm or quash the report that the city/industrial board is or is not trying to buy property in Jefferson County despite still having hundreds of acres of undeveloped land in the East Tennessee Progress Center?
Maybe that article is still to come?
Here's a quick catch-up post on the City Council meeting on August 18 with some interesting information that the Trib didn't report!
City Administrator Jim Crumley was "honored" at a reception at the City Center on August 18. At the council meeting that followed, Mayor Barile, Crumley's most ardent supporter, gave him a plaque and Crumley then gave his farewell speech to the assembled council and public. It was a whopper! He thanked the council and the staff for accepting his leadership and then said that there are issues of leadership in the current council.
Crumley added: "I forgive you all for the mistakes in judgment that you have made." He also offered his two bits (pun intended) of advice on the process for hiring a new city administrator. "You all have to find a leader...somebody who ends this 4-3 environment...You have got to stop the fear in your professional staff...You have got professional employees who are right now afraid to give you honest, professional recommendations because they are in fear of their jobs... I wish the City of Morristown the very best...This is not the time to hunker down. This is the time for our city to be moving." Not one person clapped.
The Trib reported Crumley's farewell speech.
What Bobby Moore, the Trib's city council reporter, did NOT report were some very interesting public comments made at the meeting.
One citizen stood up and said he was offended by the use of the term "railroad" job in reference to the firing of Crumley. [That was a term used by Mayor Barile to express her disgust at the firing/resignation that she then voted for.] The gentleman thanked the four who had removed Crumley and expressed his displeasure at Mayor Barile's removal of Kay Senter as chairman of the Finance Committee. He added that the local paper's reporting was so one-sided that it was like watching "MSNBC."
Steve Sublett also addressed council. He asked council if they knew that the Industrial Board was harassing his neighbors, wanting to buy their property. He also wanted to know if council has approached Jefferson County to let them know that Morristown is interested in property in Jefferson County. In an apparent reference to the East Tennessee Progress Center, Sublett reminded the council that "you've got 500-600 acres out there. I don't believe you need to harass people who aren't interested in selling."
He then mentioned another "pretty good rumor" that the city is interested in a new Exit 9, one mile past the current Exit 8. He asked, but received no response to his question: "Why would the city need an exit another mile up the interstate?"
Sublett added that the Industrial Board is interested in an Exit 6 as well. He mentioned that the city owns no property there. Why is an exit needed there? Most of the property being looked at is in Jefferson County. Sublett closed by saying that he'd like to know if the council "has a clue" about what is going on at the Industrial Board. No one responded, but after a long silence, Mayor Barile said: "The Industrial Board is always looking to bring in new jobs."
Sublett replied: "You already have 600 acres out there. The City is already 77 Million in debt. How are you going to buy more property? Who's going to fund that?"
No member of the council spoke. If they knew anything about discussions about purchasing property in Jefferson County and two next exits, councilmembers and the Mayor were not talking. Finally, Barile thanked Mr. Sublett and said: "I will talk with the Industrial Board and see what is happening."
She may do it, but I would suggest that no one holds his or her breath while waiting for Barile to find out and actually report to the council and to the public about what is going on at the Industrial Board in regard to purchasing property in Jefferson County or pushing for two new exits on I-81.
Hopefully, Mayor Barile has not signed any "confidentiality" agreement with the Industrial Board or others--like Jefferson County Mayor Alan Palmieri did--where she has agreed to keep public business a secret from the public. [Jefferson Countians found out that their Mayor, Alan Palmieri, and two county commissioners signed confidentiality agreements with Norfolk-Southern railroad and thus agreed to keep information about public business a secret. Word got out in Jefferson County, but only after word leaked out that discussion and conduct of public business was taking place behind closed doors. Someone needs to get an understanding of what the meaning of "public business" is and what the Tennessee Open Meetings Act is about. Of course, Hamblen County has its own problems abiding with the Open Meetings Act. Here and here.]
The Jefferson situation has been reported extensively in the Knox News-Sentinel. Here. Here. Here. Here. The comments that follow each article in the News-Sentinel are usually worthy of reading regardless of your personal position on the issue at hand.
Only if you were at the city council meeting would you know about the praise for the four councilmembers who pushed for Crumley's departure. Only if you were at the meeting would you know about the intriguing public comments by Mr. Sublett. Bob Moore of the Trib never mentioned the comments of either of these individuals.
Of course, Bob is the powers-that-be personal, if unofficial, press agent. Bob works for the only major newspaper in town and its owner is Jack Fishman--leader of the City's Industrial Board. Bob, if he wanted to be a reporter checking out leads, could have walked into Fishman's office on the day following the meeting and asked his boss if Mr. Sublett's information is correct. Of course, Bob may have already known about this whole deal. We'll soon see if Bob knew or followed up on this situation. When will Bob, the investigative reporter, confirm or quash the report that the city/industrial board is or is not trying to buy property in Jefferson County despite still having hundreds of acres of undeveloped land in the East Tennessee Progress Center?
Maybe that article is still to come?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
February 2, 2008 Dialing (oops) Mailing for Dollars
The full-court press is on. Morristown Mayor Sami Barile and the city council have sent out their PRO-SALES TAX letters. [Click here to see Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey and Commission Chair Stancil Ford's pro-sales tax letters that were mailed by the local P-16 council. ] The Tribune is going full-tilt with pro-tax pictures, pro-tax interviews, pro-tax front-page articles, pro-tax everything.
If you click on the images above, you can read the desperate plea of city officials to city residents, "asking... encouraging...and recommending" that city residents vote YES to increase the local sales tax. The city is trying to piggyback on the schools and get a coalition of votes with the "for the children" theme. Strangely, the city actually had to send a reminder to the school board to get the school system to call a special meeting to jump on the "for the children" tax bandwagon.
The city is also using a variation of the county's 2002 "pick your poison" wheel tax referendum tactic. In 2002 the county told voters that the wheel tax referendum was an opportunity to pick your (tax) poison. The Tribune ran a banner headline and front-page article reporting that voters could EITHER vote for the wheel tax OR there would be a property tax increase. A majority of county voters took the bait and voted YES on the wheel tax. Then the county laughed and went ahead and added a 15-cent property tax increase three months later. So much for truth in politics.
The city has put a little twist on the county's 2002 "pick-your-poison" blackmail. Instead of waiting until after the referendum, the city raised property taxes a whopping 40-cents first. Then the sales tax referendum was put on the ballot with promises by the city that it will reduce its historic 40-cent property tax (poison) to a historic 25-cent (poison) if voters fall for the referendum bait again. Of course, the city can keep its promise by simply cutting the tax rate for one year and then go right back to the same old overspending and overborrowing again.
Just like the 2001 sales tax referendum and the 2002 wheel tax referendum, the Tribune is providing free front-page advertisements (oops) articles promoting higher sales taxes.
Just like the 2001 sales tax referendum and the 2002 wheel tax referendum, the Tribune is providing free front-page advertisements (oops) articles promoting higher sales taxes.
What's missing in this money grab? Accountability. Fiscal responsibility. Honesty. Concern for the taxpayers.
City and county government and the school board are pushing the tax increase for various reasons, most of which are hidden behind nifty words like what a great "opportunity" a sales tax increase is. One-half will be "for the children." The other half will be for city residents who will have their massive 40-cent tax increase pared back to a 25-cent tax increase. Yes, county residents get the wonderful opportunity to subsidize the city property tax reduction.
The real opportunity that the city is looking for is a way to grab more tax dollars. The city may make a one-time adjustment in the city property tax. Then the city will wait it out a year and jump right back in to hike the local property tax again and again as the impending financial disaster arrives. The disaster on the city doorstep is inevitable. Years and years of overspending and overborrowing have only postponed--at great cost--the time when the city has to "pay the piper."
The county also is looking for a way to grab more revenue while there is cover in saying it's all "for the children." The $5 million extra BEP funds that the School Board received this year are never mentioned. Just the familiar refrain of more, more, more money.
There are many county financial problems, and they go back to the pattern of overspending, overborrowing, and paying interest only on huge bond issues. The city and the county are in deep financial trouble.
There is no talk of righting the city or county financial ship of state. The only discussion taking place is about increasing the tax burden for citizens of Morristown and Hamblen County even more.
Interestingly, the school board is not pushing the sales tax nearly as persistently as one would expect. The board had to be cajoled by the County Mayor and City Mayor to hold a special meeting to endorse the sales tax increase. The school board's low profile in the tax debate is not all that surprising. Board credibility isn't high, and they do not want to draw any attention to the fact that the schools ALREADY RECEIVED over $5 Million extra BEP dollars this past year. Where did all that money go? The schools and teachers ought to be in great shape with that bonanza. Why doesn't the board like to discuss the way that it switches money all around after their budget is approved.
The familiar pro-tax opinions of Andy Smith, Tish Jones, Thom Robinson, David Purkey, Stancil Ford, Sami Barile, Jack Fishman, and Janice Haun get front-page or editorial page press day after day after day.
I am far more impressed with the honest and forthright opinions of taxpayers such as Dr. W. Robert Gronewald, H. Richard Haley, Gwen Holden, and others who have written letters to the editor expressing their disgust with $100 million dollar "wish lists," uncontrolled debt, a temporary wheel tax followed by county property tax increases, an unprecedented city property tax increase, and the ever-increasing costs to taxpayers of gas, milk, utilities, and insurance.
Many of those who draw a government paycheck every week--particularly elected officials who drive taxpayer-provided cars and get paid even when they don't show up for work--don't get it.
They have never punched a time clock or met a payroll with THEIR OWN MONEY.
They don't realize that there are people who have nothing--NOTHING--left at the end of the month. They don't realize that there are actually people out there who get NO pay raise, have NO pension, have NO health insurance, and have NOTHING left to give.
The schools have $5 million more BEP dollars this year than last year. Yet, in these toughest of economic times, the schools are trying to get more and the city is trying to piggyback on the schools.
When will the government have enough tax money? When it has ALL the money and ALL the power.
Friday, January 25, 2008
January 25, 2008 Purkey-Ford Send Out Tax-Us-More Letter
The letters are in the mail.Hamblen County Mayor David Purkey and Commission Chair Stancil Ford want your vote FOR increasing the local sales tax in the referendum.
Purkey and Ford have sent out a "tax us more" letter using the old 2002 "pick your poison" wheel tax blackmail tactic.
"Pick your poison" was the Tribune headline during the 2002 wheel tax referendum when Commission Chair Maudie Briggs proclaimed loudly and clearly that voters could choose EITHER the wheel tax OR there would be a property tax hike.
Well, voters "chose" the wheel tax in May 2002, and Hamblen County Commissioners, no doubt laughing the whole time, took that $1 Million+ and then went ahead and increased the property tax by 15 cents anyway.
Predictably, the Citizen Tribune (a/k/a Jack Fishman) has endorsed the higher sales tax and, just as predictably, the Tribune is running a series of articles on the sales tax referendum---a series that so far has only included comments and interviews of people who support the newspaper's editorial stand.
Fair and balanced? Nope. Slanted and tilted toward taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Yes.
Ford and Purkey stated yesterday that the "education foundation" paid for the printing and mailing of the letter that they signed and that went out on county letterhead. Purkey and Ford were apparently referring to HC*Excell, a 501(c)(3) non-profit---but the letter itself doesn't provide the identity of the financier.
County Mayor David Purkey has already been quoted in the newspaper encouraging people to vote to increase the local sales tax and stating that the commission was unanimous in supporting the sales tax increase.
At yesterday's commission meeting, Commissioner Larry Baker pointed out that Purkey's statement about the commission supporting the sales tax increase was wrong. Baker said that he did NOT vote to support the sales tax increase; he only voted to put the sales tax on a referendum. Stancil Ford agreed that the only vote commissioners took was to put the referendum on the ballot.
School Board Chairman Janice Haun got her turn in the newspaper yesterday. Her message was the same old/same old-- send more money to the school board. Haun said that she ISN'T sure where the money will go, but she IS sure that she wants it and that Dr. Lynch will find a place to spend it. She never mentioned that the school system got an extra $5 Million in BEP money last year. Hopefully, Dr. Lynch was able to find a place to spend that!
Purkey, Ford, Haun...Who will be next in line to tell voters how to vote and to encourage a YES vote for a sales tax increase?
Some Predictions:
Morristown City Mayor Sami Barile and/or City Administrator Jim Crumley, both of whom are adept at overspending, raising taxes by 40% in one year, and then dreaming up the sales tax increase to get county taxpayers to help city officials lower the city tax rate.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Thom Robinson keeps a somewhat low profile but would be good for a pro-tax soundbite.
Director of Schools Dale Lynch will surely jump in and push for more money. The schools got an extra $5M in BEP funding last year. But, of course, that can't be enough. More, more, more!
HC*Excell Director Tish Jones will be pushing for higher taxes of all kinds as she constantly repeats "it's for the children, it's for the children, it's for the children."
Alex Rom-Roginski, newly-elected Chamber of Commerce president and Tish Jones' husband, would gladly speak in favor of higher taxes as he has before.
Commissioner Ricky Bruce, who has been telling Hamblen Countians for years that they are undertaxed, should be giving his enthusiastic support for this tax increase and the next and the next!
Commissioner Joe Spoone, whose wife, sister, and brother get school system paychecks, might say something, but he usually likes to remain quiet and let others vote for the tax increases that end up benefiting him and his family.
Commissioner Joe Swann, whose wife is a school teacher, thinks you just can't tax people enough "for the children" no matter where the money goes or what happens.
A smattering of P-16 officials, industry leaders, and perhaps even a current or former principal or teacher would round everything out nicely.
By the time the newspaper series ends, everyone should know exactly how to vote (remove tongue from cheek).
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