Forgot to post anything else about the meeting yesterday. You can read about it in today's paper, or in the online edition.
They are trimming what they can. A couple good ideas came up, such as consolidating the mowing ... instead of every department having mowers and mowing and having to wait on each other, they may just have a summer mowing dept. That should save some money.
It was stuff like that for 3 hours. Or using trucks longer, or replacing 1 ton trucks with half-ton trucks etc.
The museum is likely to feel the pinch.
They are cutting 50,000 from their budget. At least thats the plan now, it could change.
They want the museum to be more self supportive.
With that cut the museum can stay open and the director will still be full time, but thats about it.
Anything else - such as special exhibits or programs - will have to be self funded.
They want the museum board to get more active as well.
Thats going to create some controversy i would imagine.
What do you all think about the museum. Do you ever go out there?
I really dont think we take advantage enough of our history.
Happy Fourth of July everyone.
Ill be gone until tuesday or so, maybe wednesday.
In the meantime, you can still post, "someone" will be putting your posts up even more quickly than I do.
If anyone wants to start a topic, or a question, send me an email. Ill want to know who you are, but if we start the question or topic on here, ill negotiate with you about your identity :)
jj
Posts
40 comments:
Instead of worrying about how many lawnmowers Ark City has, why not make the businesses that are right at the edge of the city limits who receive city services and utilities pay their fair share of taxes, instead of raising taxes on the grandmothers.
Amen Grandma! There are more than one business in the city that are avoiding paying their taxes in the city!
This is how it starts. Now I am wondering which businesses and and why? Names and reasons, please.
Skyline for one, Barry Violas building for another, the old trailer manufacturing building too across from the car dealership, or at least it WAS on county tax instead of city. And I know there are some on west Madison but can't remember which ones right off hand, I guess you can check the county tax register!
What about KSOK? I see they keep cows at their studios to declare it "farm land" instead of a radio station business property. Are they in city limits? The Dockings can afford to pay their fair share.
Sure got your names and reasons, didnt you....and proof to back it up!
I'm glad someone pointed this out. Now hopefully the City can look into it if they haven't already and see who really is and isn't paying their fair share. Then they will hopefully do the right thing and reduce the tax burden on us all!
So what makes you think this is uncharted territory? They know very well who and why they are exempt from taxes. But, turning cannibalistic isn't the answer!
We are probably at the end of an era. THE FACT WE CAN'T ACCEPT THAT IS THE PROBLEM!
Things that worked before don't -those who remain are forced to adapt. Specialization and competition are changing markets.
It has just taken awhile for the changes to reach the smaller communities.
But there are still opportun-ities!
When we went to Cessena (as I was told by some who were involved) to try and get the production facility for light planes back at Strother Field. We went with a Humvee mounted with a machine gun -Independence showed up in a tank!
Who would've thought they would have a War Chest?
It's time to work together in the area to be able to compete!
One other thing - there are others who don't live in your City Limits that still depend on your decisions/jobs/growth.
ITS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD!
Goodness. The "old trailer manufacturing facility is in my back yard. Its owner/s don't pay city property tax? How about the trashy "forest" behind the water store next door? Taxes there? And who/where is Barry Viola and his building? And as to one of the many "anymouses" your letter sounded more like a nyah nyah than a declaration. Proof - where?
its hard to annex land in kansas
they likely moved out of town just for that reason.
So Rick or Kathy how are you not an "anymouse" with first names?
That attitude probably comes from
Counseling!
BTW Barney keeps his aluminum bullet in his pocket. Do You?
Hello?! Did someone say county tax resister?
The tax dodgers get away with it because the city looks the other way and have been doing that for the last 20 years.
The last City Manager was going to stop that and he is gone. Good luck changing it. I'm sure Steve won't have any problems with keeping it the way it is.
It's why he is the City Manager.
They were able to annex the land for the Lowe's and then de-annex it when it didn't happen. It happened in just one meeting. Not exactly impossible, if you want it done. There are those who say it is impossible. I don't believe them.
Why is Independence able to be such a powerful competitor to Ark City? Independence has even fewer people than Ark City does.
So what's the problem?
The problem is that the fix is in. If a handful of people don't want it, it is not done. If someone rocks the boat, they are gone.
The problem is that Ark City people will make excuses to avoid working or thinking and we always lose to other places where lame excuses are not tolerated.
Apparently the economic development people say it is impossible to do industrial development in Ark City.
So, instead of turning it over to someone who might actually do economic development, they will continue to do "economic development" and see to it that none of it is applied toward recruiting industry. What good is that?
The only reason that anything in Ark City is impossible is that lazy people won't get off their butts and work.
The saying is "lead, follow or get out of the way". Not too much of any of that going on in Ark City. Ark City's motto is "delay, oppose or obstruct", and go back to sleep.
Now now, let's not argue. We should all put our heads together and try to be positive.
Ark City is a fair place. If something is wrong, the right people will step up and fix it.
They just must not know it is wrong, or it would be fixed already.
SG,
You're awful calm. But I can work with that.
Please, AC, remain calm... and positive... and work 'together'
;)
Hopefully not the calm before the storm!! :)
Gadzooks - I've been unmasked! By the way, a gentleperson never asks a man what he has in his pocket. One must simply assume that he is glad to see you. As a Counselor you learn to separate yourself from a situation in order to evaluate it without bias. I feel that the elected officials have a fiduciary responsibility to the citizens that transcends their personal feelings. A good example was the school board's failure to unload the old building downtown in a timely manner and putting it back on the tax roles and relieving the tax payers of utility and insurance bills. That is a dead issue now, but more will arise, I'm sure. If taxes are being avoided either by collusion or apathy, those with the responsiblity to correct that must be held accountable.
Finally, one of the mice mentioned the county tax records. An interesting area to research. I would love to have the time or schedule to avail myself of these resources and take a more active part but working from 7 to 4 limits me. This is one reason why so many small governments are run by a few who have great flexibility in their jobs. Must one retire to be a player?
Ummm... we like the museum? (wasn't that the question???)
okay, I'll bite. I want to help bring in industry. how do I help?
"I want to help bring in industry. how do I help?"
Maybe contact AC Industries and volunteer some time or money. It seems to be the only group that can do it. Strother plays office and the so called economic development says they won't pursue it. Need a dog that hunts. AC Industries may be the only one that does.
Sorry, AC Industries but you have had your chance! You are a funnel!
1. Go to the Cowley First Meeting at the Senior Citizens Center if it isn't too late.
2. Push to resolve the structure problems between the county and the cities at Strother Field and Goff Industrial Park.
3. There is no reason that the two cities and county can't be a greater force together than they are as separate entities.
4. The local banks have a presence in both towns. I don't personally have a problem with that except - I have to wonder if outside competing financing is discouraged. You'll have to check that out!
Lasly, get the industry leaders in the area involved. They know more about their businesses-
industries and what might complement the area. They also have access to greater informartion
through personal contacts.
Ex. A sub-contractor - machine shop - metal fabrication - even aircraft related businesses.
Service centers - distribution
of services or products.
We need to build a network - not just a person or one appointed committee or AC Industries!
Thurber's trial staying here. Beginning in October!
Annexing in Kansas is difficult, not impossible, but difficult.
You have to have the owners permission. If you owned some land next to the city, and got services bu had to pay no taxes .. would you agree to be annexed so you could pay additional property tax?
I know I am wearing out my welcome and I'll lay off after this post.
But before I do I want you to throw out a couple of concepts!
About two years ago when fuel first spiked the local UPS drivers were talking about a possible plan by their company to put a terminal in this area. They weren't happy cause the plan was to bring the freight down on a semi trailer each day, The smaller delivery trucks were to be based locally and the workers would have to drive their own vehicles here each day or they would hire local people.
That didn't happen - but it could!
Then you have to wonder if Spirit could benefit from a sattelite faciltiy in our area that would employ their workers and the final assembly or product shipped to Wichita or Seattle. Smaller scale projects no doubt.
Then a really off the wall - An industrial bakery in a town with two flour mills. I know a liitle over the top!
I have to wonder if what was immpossible yesterday might be possible tommarrow! Is anyone looking?
This is an outrage that you should report on.
did the fact that the County Attorney is busy cause this case to be plea bargained down to nothing, or was it something else?
It's Disgraceful that this man got such little punishment for raping a woman and a child repeatedly.
Here is the newscow article:
Winfield man reaches plea for sex assault
By Judy Welch
July 9, 2008 - 11:52:55 am
A Winfield man originally charged with six counts of rape has pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
The remaining five charges were dismissed against 20-year-old Aaron Williard during a hearing June 20, according to Cowley County District Court records.
He is to be sentenced for the level 6 person felony conviction at 1:30 p.m. August 26. The penalty ranges from 17 to 46 months in prison and a possible fine of up to $100,000.
The original complaint alleged that Williard forcibly raped an adult woman in June 2006 and raped a girl under 14 years of age on five occasions in 2006. The victim was 15 when the complaint was filed.
OMG, I just finished reading that same article. I am glad someone else feels the way I do. Are you reading my mind or what? We have been through a similiar situation in our family and he did let us know how busy he was. Yes, I realize the Justin Thurber trial takes gobs of time, but those attorneys need to remember that others need their attention. I have been noticing around the last 2 years that alot of these cases are being plea bargained and no one is going to prison for their crime. If your lucky they may spend a few months in jail. I know I don't know all the details of each case, but it is getting a tad suspicious. I better stop now, this is one topic that is really gets me heated up!
Ditto!!!!
The County Attorney is moving the cases through the system in a far more expedited manner than his predecessor and that was the chief complaint against his predecessor. That is only part of the equation. It is entirely reasonable to plea bargain in these cases. It saves time and taxpayer resources. It also gets a surefire conviction and that is something any prosecutor has to weigh out because as rock solid as you might personally feel a case might be, you might be too close to it to see the big picture and the prosecutor has to keep in mind that virtually anything can happen in court because of so many factors so getting a precommittment to accept fault in the form of a plea is often the best scenario for many reasons and protects both the taxpayer and the victim. Think how you would feel if this child rapist that got the plea had gone to trial and gotten away with it completely due to some technicality with evidence or a lousy jury pool or whatever. Those kinds of unforseen circumstances happen all the time. Often, prosecutors and law enforcement personnel are better off taking what theyk know for sure they can get rather than risk losing everything. In addition to that, in this particular case you are talking about, we all know and agree that the rapes are horrible and also that the repeated raping of the child is an abomination. But if you look at this objectively, the attorney really went after and got the very best conviction because the rapist is getting nailed with the worst offense. The real beauty of the whole thing is that everyone knows that once this creep goes to jail, child rapists don't get treated very well. You should all take solace in the fact that this guy will now get what is coming to him. Plus, that came about quickly. If this had gone all the way to trial instead it could have dragged on forever and that often NOT in the best interests of the child or victim. This allows them to get closure a whole lot sooner. So, please take these things into consideration and re-evaluate your knee-jerk reactions. Things aren't always as cut and dry and easy as they seem.
good points there.
you never know what youll get when you go to trial.
in another state, i served on a jury that was trying a man for raping his stepdaughter many times over a 2-3 year period. he denied it and her mom testified against her.
pretty sick.
the evidence was pretty strong though.
but there were people on the jury who thought the girl was partly to blame and didnt think he should have to go to jail for that at all.
he did go to jail, but only for a couple years.
a plea bargain there would have probably worked out.
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
But the issue here is 'what passes' and 'who passes' and 'what gets the most points' in the NEWS!
:(
Yes, I do see your point in the plea bargaining process. I've been debating on whether I should say anything or not, but I think people need to know a few things.
In our case my daughter couldn't handle a trial. I think the county attorney is actually a pretty good guy and I imagine overworked, but when he says it is his case, he should be the one in court and not his assistants. He never really gave much advice. Never told us what to really expect. There was something that came up from the defense that we should of been told about. If I am thinking correctly than all evidence is supposed to be presented before sentencing between the lawyer and ca? Lord, we have never been through any of the court process on either side of the table, it was rather terrifying. I talked to the judge, told him everything my daughter had been going through the last year. Here is what has me upset the most..The guy received a deferred sentence from the DOC if he did 60 days in jail and then boot camp. Did the jail time, but didnt have to do the boot camp. What is up with that? Now I am not sitting here just wanting to vent my problems, but their is something seriously wrong with this system lately. All I am trying to do is let people know that what they tell you is not what is really going to happen most likely. Also, just a little advice,if anyone ever has to go through anything like this or similiar, ask questions, questions, and more questions because they sure aren't going to tell you a whole lot! Get a court advocate and get the full police report.(Yes, you are entitled to the whole report, even though a few officers don't realize that!)
As sickening as it may seem, we can at least be grateful that this guy is going to do some time. I hope the girls he hurt will grow up knowing that adults believed them and supported them on this issue. It is important for them to know this and that the perp was punished.
Expediting trials should not come at the expense of the victims!
Back to industry... I believe one poster just put in some very good ideas. I believe we need to consider how shipping costs are going to effect current industry and how AC could use this to an advantage. How do we get jobs to this town and help businesses ship their products efficiently?
Keeli, no disrespect meant here, but don't be delusional about the guy getting prison time. If he hasn't been in too much trouble,then most likely he will just spend a little time in jail and be on community corrections.
You do not think he will spend any time in prison? I'd be a hot momma!
You are probably right. I'm probably being delusional. I've seen it happen before. Just not on a rape case.
Keeli, I apologize for calling you delusional. I wasn't thinking too good when I said that. I just want people to know that it doesn't always go the way a person wants it too on sentencing day
I am not comfortable putting up a post by "anonymous" about a person accused of a crime - that names the person.
Ive not deleted it either.
Could Mr or Mrs. Anonymous repost it without the name?
Keeli, That article on Newscow said he was being charged with 1 count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and they dropped the rape charge. There is a big difference in the severity of the feloney and punishment. My daughter went through the same thing and he got a deferred sentence from Dept of Corrections, 60 days county jail and supposed to of gone to boot camp, but his lawyer got him out of that. If he violates his probation orders then he could go to prison for 5 years, but somehow it is doubtful. My guess would depend on who the judge is, who his lawyer is, how much physical damage he did and how much trouble he has been in before. So yes i do think I got a pretty good idea what happens. But I will say right now that I hope this is not going to be the case and that they lock him up and let him rot.
I have a brother in prison right now. Not in Kansas, mind you! He was picked up over and over in Cowley for things like driving on a suspended, no insurance, minor in consumption, possession or paraphanalia, hot checks and more hot checks. However, he has spent VERY little time inside a Kansas jail of any sorts. He moved to another state, which did not put up with that stuff.
My brother will tell you that the state of Missouri saved his life. He says that prison is a bad place, but he would have died outside those walls due to a drug addiction. He will tell you himself that no one gets locked up in Cowley, and that is not because of poor police work.
Also, I just wanted to add: He asked over and over again for drug treatment, but did not receive it. I'm not saying that tax payers owed him that, just that he KNEW this thing was bigger than he was and asked for help. He did not get it until he got to Missouri. I can not wait to see him again. I miss my little brother and it will be great to see him "straight and sober".
Keeli.... good luck to your brother then, i hope things turn out good for him and I will keep him in my prayers. Cowley is getting way too leniant on the habitual violators anymore. There are other counties in Ks that are way stricter even on first time offenders. The cycle is going to continue until the Cowley justice system starts being more strict on following their own rules whether it is prison, jail, or probation.
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