Commissioners repealed the crash recovery fee tonight, effective immediately.
Very few individuals paid. They said they would not be refunding any of the money collected from insurance companies, but they may look into that further.
Full story in tomorrow's paper.
On the Thurber sentence.
I was not really surprised that it went the way it did.
There will be appeals and it will take a few years. I dont think the families will have to go through it again. The appeals will involve just lawyers and judges I think
Thurber did mutter a small apology to the Sandeholms, but only after being convicted.
I might have felt a shred of sympathy if he had taken the stand, taken responsibility for his actions, and apologized publicly.
Not that I am happy he will be executed.
Just saying it would have made a difference to me if he had done that. Might have made a difference to the jury too?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
31 comments:
Wow, THAT is a nice black eye you have there Mr. Wallace!
I am glad they put a stop to that ridiculous money grab.
I think those of us on here who argued valid points against that fee may have had a lot to do with it getting overturned. Lagonda especially dug into the facts. Here is your pat on the back.
As for Thurber and any sympathy you might feel for him, why don't you take another look at what he did to that poor girl, and then ask yourself if you would have any mercy left for him if that were your daughter.
I think the outcry had a lot to do with it getting overturned.
Maybe you could re-read my post.
I did not say anything about feeling any sympathy. :
cool.
It makes Ark City a better place.
Lagonda,
Thanks for your research into this, I think it made a difference.
I am glad the commissioners came to their senses!
What scares me is the fact the CRF was put into place in the first place. I think a lot of city laws and ordinances need more research before implementing them. At the worksession I believe most the commissioners there said they believe in the fee just did not relize it would be so high. I hope it teaches all of us that things should be investigated before signing the dotted line.
The important thing to realize is that when there is a service presented to the City or the ACPD, generally, it is a company marketing a service for profit.
Whether it is the drug recovery and analysis boondoggle of the late 90's, police dogs or crash recovery fee, it is all companies from out of town trying to make a (sometimes dishonest) buck off of Ark City, and generally the copshop.
They will do and say anything to convince us we "desperately need" their cockamamie product, whether we do or not.
A lot of times it comes along with FUD (fear uncertainty and doubt) as in "all of these terrorists are going to take over the city" or "you are running out of money and it is the fault of out-of-towners because you have to work their wrecks", "mexican drug lords are taking over the town", etc.
We should take them for what they are: commissioned salesmen with a probably unnecessary product.
When they strike a deal in Ark City, they might celebrate in a bar in Cleveland or Los Angeles. They've made their quota. (and you are it)
So the next time you see some character in a suit and tie from somewhere 600 miles away saying we "have to" use their product on the school kids or out-of-town drivers or senior citizens in nursing homes, etc, then be suspicious.
Think:
1 can Ark City do this "service" themselves?
2 do the recipients have choice to "receive" the service?
3 can you find out in 5 minutes on the internet that the company leaves a trail of lawsuits a mile long?
4 is it the right thing to do to people?
The first answer to these "get-rich-quick off of Ark City scheme-ers" should be no.
There are a lot of prison security companies hitting the streets now trying to use their prison dogs in public schools. Is that a good thing for AC or the students? Of course not. Can they make a buck? Hell yes!!
The FUD: there could be kids with drugs in their lockers!!!!!!
The sales solution: you must spend $30,000 on our product to find out!!!
The real solution: have the teachers stay 20 minutes late and scan through the lockers.
That sort of thing.
One question I have and one that other cities have raised is: CRC says that very few have paid.
Since they send out the bills and make the collections and phone calls, how do we really know that to be true?
After all, they said individuals would not be billed, but they billed them anyway.
It might be a good idea to send out a letter to all who have been reported to CRC in the past that the billing is over, just in case CRC might get sneaky. Then pay attention to what these people may tell us.
I like the Andy Taylor method of dealing with slick out-of-town salesmen. Politely listen, rock back in his chair and think about it a long time and then decide or not. "well, you see..... we'll be getting back to you on that one".
If you want to know more about CRC, hit the web. They heavily fund the law enforcement conventions in Florida.
There is an account of the owner of the company(!!!!!!!) singing the national anthem at the prayer breakfast. What a hypocritical con-man (woman).
I don't feel it is a black eye for Chief Wallace. I believe he honestly felt this was in the best interest of the city to help recover costs. Perhaps this wasn't the right avenue but kudos for him for trying!!
Sheriff Andy Taylor would have thought it through and figured it just wasn't right and neighborly to be mean to out-of-towners like that.
Whoo boy 700 dollars for having a wreck in town? Just ain't right, there, Barn.
How you reckon these folks are gonna feel when they have to tell their families what happened?
Well, they're gonna be mighty embarrassed that this month's house payment has to go to pay that bill. It'll make their lives real bad, Barn, and we just cain't be doin that to folks, ya hear? And I don't care if they aren't from Mayberry, it just ain't right.
Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how it would turn out.
Black eye? Yes. Bad one.
Think.
Google.
So, are they gonna refund the money they already took?
Im still not sure any individuals actually paid it.
City officials are saying it won't be paid back to the insurance companies.
No one ever "had to" pay the bill even if they got one.
The collection company may have misled people in this, but it has been said from the beginning that it was a "request for payment."
It was voluntary.
"The collection company may have misled people in this, but it has been said from the beginning that it was a "request for payment."
It was voluntary."
Yeah, it has been said from the beginning... IN THE TRAVELER! How many out of town people do you suppose read the Traveler? Wake up McFly. I'm sure the CRC never ONCE told them it did not have to be paid. The right thing to do would be to refund the money to any individuals who paid if any have. If I ever come across anyone who paid, I will recommend they sue the city and show them the research lagonda found.
I know this is off topic but not sure where to ask. Why is the city commission so set on "reorganizing the hospital board" or any board for that matter? The rumors are flying that they have personal reasons and if that is the case it needs to be explained. If there is another reason to reorganize then what has the board done that is so bad to be thrown out?
If there is a legitimate explanation that is great...if not, we need to know. What do they REALLY plan to do...
I told you a long time ago - right after the bond election. I won't repeat it because JJ will call me a gossip (even tho it is fact) lets just say MK is involved,the location of the hospital is involved and for some reason nobody cares. By the way, this blog is boring when I'm not here.
Yep, I agree there are things possibly going on that reek of politics as usual.
My questions, why was the chief vote getter canned right after the elections? Who stands to gain what and how? Does the hospital normallly get a special rate for utilities? Are there any deals being talked about with out of towners who will only come if they get something in return? [rolling out the red carpet kind of thing]
Maybe asking on here is not the answer, but these are the questions that have been going through my mind. Is this how things are normally done?
If the hospital board meetings are open to the public maybe we should go and ask? But would we get straight answers or the runaround?
Lots of questions and also not sure who to ask or what to ask at this point. I just don't want to see a fleece job done on the taxpayers over this.
From 1:29
I guess what I am getting at if there is truth to the rumor mill, lets get things out in the open and dealt with now BEFORE things become a done deal and taxpayers say why wasn't something done?
I am trying to figure out why this has turned on the hospital board. If a city commission disagrees do they have the right at their whim to "reorganize" the board to meet their agendas?
I am really asking the Traveler to get the facts about the future commission agendas and publish the info way in advance of the meetings so the public has time to address what is really happening. Rumors are based on what people THINK is going on and not always based on accurate information. In the days before an election this is especially needed.
This situation really worries me since I am afraid that this will not be the only board that will be reorganized to meet the whims of a few commissioners and that means we have developed a new method of governing in Ark City. In the past people had actual terms and were allowed to finish their terms not be dismissed.
Some people have been asked to come to serve on a board and went to the meeting and then told to leave...they were no longer needed and I know that is a fact. I was at the meeting when it happened. I hoped it had been a poor communication issue but now I am beginning to see the light.
As a citizen, we need to look at these on a serious level.
Good point about the hospital.
its kind of a different deal because the city owns the hospital.
but what they are doing, is streamlining the operation.
that they are building a new one has a lot to do with it.
ill get into it some more soon.
hey all you naysayers disbelievers and the like: why don't you go to the meeting at the hospital at 9am on Saturday the 28th? that is the first time all of the potential contractors for the new hospital will be in one place to explain who they are what they've done and what they can do for us. it will be a good opportunity to ask questions after the presentations are over and watch what goes on and how things are handled. maybe you will get some facts instead of the wind blowing through your ears.
"that is the first time all of the potential contractors for the new hospital will be in one place to explain who they are what they've done and what they can do for us."
My guess is that it won't turn out like the meeting where the Lowe's land developer was saying what he would do for AC.
Although we could only hope it would.
"By the way, this blog is boring when I'm not here"
I agree. me too.
Glad your here, too. We just get bored and quote scripture without any good gossip.
JJ,
If people have questions or concerns about any aspect concerning the hospital, where can they go for answers? Do they go to the city? The hospital board? The city commission? Or somewhere else?
Instead of adding to the gossip on line, please direct us as to where to go for the answers?
Thanks!
Glad your here, too. We just get bored and quote scripture without any good gossip.
>>>>
Oh my
we've become a baptist blog.
austin 3:16
If people have questions or concerns about any aspect concerning the hospital, where can they go for answers?
>>>>
You can go to hospital board meetings.
Also city commissioners are on the board.
Either one should be able to answer your questions.
Ill put together a story about the hospital board in a day or two.
The questions I have would surely not be answered honestly in a public forum.
The questions I have would surely not be answered honestly in a public forum.
>>
In that case, Go to a city commissioner, or hospital board member individually and ask the questions.
"In that case, Go to a city commissioner, or hospital board member individually and ask the questions."
Good. Any or all of them would be more than willing to visit personally.
I thought the commissioners weren't supposed to frequent these boards anymore? A couple of these posts say different.
Riiiight. Q. - Commish X, did you send out IM's calling for a last minute change in hospital plans???
A - Why, no...no I did not.
Q. - We have proof you did.
A. - Well, maybe, I don't..um...I changed my mind since then.
Q.- This happened after you said you changed your mind.
A. - Ummm...let's reorganize the hospital board. Is it getting hot in here? Let's talk skatepark...look, over there!!
Post a Comment