As the work session was breaking up Monday night, and after I had shut down the live blog, there were some harsh words exchanged.
Dotty Smith and Mell Kuhn told Patrick McDonald that they didn't appreciate some of his political activities. They were referring to emails and things he has said publicly that were negative about other commissioners.
McDonald is running for re-election. Smith and Kuhn are not up for the vote this time.
Dotty said "you are still going to have to work with us after the election if you win."
Mell was a bit harsher, saying he didn't appreciate some of the things McDonald has done.
McDonald didn't respond except to just acknowledge what was said.
He has been distancing himself from the "three amigos" as part of his campaign.
Mell and Dotty are two of the three amigos. Scott Margolius is the third one, and he is running for re-election.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
38 comments:
Good for Pat!
The three amigos have managed to tear this town apart with there uninformed decisions! The three amigos are all self serving. Glad to see Pat step up and take them on. With Scott out of the way this town has a chance to move forward! Go Pat, Gene and Jay!
You want Pat, Gene and Jay now who talking the three amigos. Each has an agenda and we the lowly taxpayers are not it.
Mell is a bully...
April 7th can't come soon enough.
They want the city to move forward and are not afraid to step up to the bully tactics of Mel. Mel wants change just for the sake of change. These three know that before change can be made the issues have to be carefully studied. These three will stand up for the community and the next time KAKE television is in town, it will be to show how great we are not to make fun of us.
We are mired in fighting and have no trust in the current commission. I am ready for a positive change...not just the mess we currently have.
The working people don't see it that way. Maybe the have's don't like it because the little people are getting a tiny piece of the pie. The have not's have always bee n overlooked for your art's council, and your programs that benefit your have's. Now a real commission is standing up and shutting programs that are not to the benefit of all the citizens. Tightening belts and taking people to task who have abused the system for years. this commission is listening to the people. ALL THE PEOPLE not just the upper crust. They don't like it that is why they want their buddies, GENE, JAY and PAT.
So they can go back to treating the have not's like we don't matter again.
Seeing Jay Gene and Pat's big signs together that all look like they were made by the same group begs one very obvious question. Who gave Pat the money? Follow the money I say.
You probably don't have to ask but in the interest of fairness and not pointing fingers that is a reasonable question.
Pat couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. He hasn't stood up for anything. All he has done is whined and complained as far as I can tell.
Ron Don and Don er I mean Jay Gene and Pat will represent one primary interest other than the burford. They can be the heroes that take back the town for the elitests. They will have my undying gratitude.
Maybe they will bring in an applebee's and a big box store and shopping. I can't wait to kill the downtown. It is dead anyway. Then we can move the town out north according to the secret objectives of the money holders that will directly benefit.
That brings my ramble full circle. Follow the money.
Anonymous @7:59 said "Maybe they will bring in an applebee's and a big box store and shopping. I can't wait to kill the downtown. It is dead anyway."
Can't kill something that is already dead (you said it, not me). Maybe you should make up your mind. I work downtown, and it looks pretty lively most of the time. Building a big-box or applebee's will not kill downtown. Building a large strip mall with beauty salon's, pizza and sandwich shops, computer repair stores, TV and furniture stores may hurt it.
Oh, wait a minute, we already have three "strip-type" malls on the north of town. All three of them still have vacancy's open. They are real ""downtown" killers.
Being that I have been present at many of the last commission meetings and been attending the worksessions, town halls meetings and even a few minutes of the hospital board meeting at city hall. I think I want to say somethings
We the taxpayers, voted in this sales tax because we wanted this hosptal. Now I went on my own and meet with the CEO of the hospital. Nice lady, I called a hospital board rep at his place of business and said we the people want to know what you need to get our hospital done. I have talked to Mayor Kuhn, and all the commissioners about the same topic. Last night I was at the work session and another hospital board representative stopped me and we spoke. I told her the same thing get our hospital built. If we can help let us know.
But I don't see it the way several of you anonymous people are seeing it. You describe in a harsh way, things that are happening but I don't know that you are there in the meeting. So you are going off of passed around news.
Now I like each of the commissioners and I am very sorry that Joel is not running again, I have told him that I think he is a great person and that he has a lot of offer. That said I I like each of the commissioners. I visit with each and share my opionions with them when the need arises, and ask their opinions as well.
Last night I was there when Mel, spoke with Pat, in the room in what James, describes as the late-meeting fireworks.
I am not in agreement with the way James described it. I don't see Mel, Dotty, and Scott as three of anything. They are all independently elected commissioners. Who sometimes agree and sometimes they don't. That is what we want. A full circle of experience.
Mel, spoke to Pat about an email that Mel stated Pat had sent out that was disrespectful of Mel, and other commissioners. Pat at first kinda of denied then he said he sent a one sentence, with a link to the city websight where the commission video was. Having seen the email in question it was not a nice thing for anyone to have done to someone else.
Most of the commission meeting in question was over the skateboard fee/fines. some of the commission was concerned that adding additional court costs would make it nearly impossible for the youth to come up with.
A parent said that her son was charged with crimmal tresspass. Are you aware that we are having children finger printed for riding a skateboard. I was proud of Commissioner Margolius and Mayor Kuhn, for bringing forth the issue. And yes several times Mayor Kuhn brought forth a little humor.
Some of you anonymous people are really getting very bitter with your comments they almost border on hate. I understand that this is an election season and I understand that you want your canidate to win. But why can't you win because your canidate has better ideas or a plan or something positive why is the only way you think your canidate can win is by disrespecting the others.
I am one of the small people. The one that works, pays my taxes, that wishes for more but will keep dreaming.
I want a commission that does not label people by where they live or how much they make. I would like one that does not govern by bully tactics.
It is not bad that the people running have been involved in things away from their jobs. You are upset that Jean (Gene?) has volunteered his time helping the Burford but the reality is that it has saved a downtown building and many taxpayer dollars...that is bad? The programs there benefit anyone that cares to attend, enroll their kids in the afterschool events, etc. It is NOT about the haves or the have nots. It is about what has been done to benefit many. Want to be involved at the Burford...walk in and volunteer and you will not be turned away.
It is the efforts of Mr. Warren on the rec center that has benefitted many kids and the efforts of Mr. Snell that has moved us to a better community. If volunteering, if having earned a living, if hard work, if being positive makes them elitist then what does that make the rest of us.
Judging someone by the looks of their signs...have YOU tried to find companies to make signs at a reasonable price? Red, white and blue are the best because they are visible and evoke patriotic ideas. They may look alike but I know for a fact that these three men are not alike.
Have you taken the time to talk to the candidates and judge the way they treat others, their ideas for the future, their integrity, their vision. Would you take time from your retirement or your job to devote to a city that wants to call you names for being successful. This is about the community not income, not social status, not petty jealousy.
I do not earn much but I know that I am embarrassed by the way things are going. I also think that for all the bashing of these three...equal bashing could be done for the candidates that Mel wants. Difference is that they will cower to his bullying and these three won't.
What tiny piece of the pie are we poor people getting? I haven't gotten mine yet because the pie I have tasted has been seasoned with bickering and bullying and negativity. Where is the sweet stuff?
I can appreciate some of your comments but here's some other things each and every activity I know of at the Art Center for kids costs money to join. Between $15-$45 per session per child. Not many hourly working people have their children in those programs. I understand that there are some waviers that parents can apply for but that makes parents feel like a free lunch card. And most just avoid the program.
The building was donated to them and many efforts have been undertaking to rasie funds throughtout the community for it's restoration.
I have been to several of the commission meetings, here's what happened. Mr Mathews, Mr Fry, Mr Snell, and Mr Warren have mostly been present, Mr Warren and Mr Snell usually leave together or at the same time. Mr Mathews, and Mr Fry almost always stay for the entire meeting.
I am not embarrassed I may not agree with every desicion and I let them know that and sometimes I make a point and sometimes I don't.
As for 3 together, I hope we don't do that. I hope we elect on the basis of each one standing alone. His or her merits.
Snell is a volunteer remodeling and not in charge of setting fees. I was told the fees are to pay for supplies. The instructors do not get paid. Not sure who sets fees but guess the remodeling guy wouldn't be the one and the opportunities for cultural growth is there for everyone. We do not have a vacant hole where the Burford had been. It is being done with private fund raising.
I have been at meetings as well and i have talked with the current commission when my job allows...I am disappointed with the attitude and the way they have treated people from out of town. I have found it embarrassing.
Kanyon, I respect your opinion but too bad it doesn't work like you describe. The commission has always been polictical in its make up. The Mayor sets the pace and agenda. I would think you would have a hard time being proud of our current commission. They have not represented our City very well. If you think that Gordon Fry will be his own think pot, you are mistaken! He will follow Mel's lead right or wrong. You can follow Fry's path of destruction as an ubstructionist in Coffeyville. He will take us back to the stone age.
All of them will have an agenda, admit it. We just have to choose which agenda is best for this community. I for one will choose to not further the agenda of a commission that has made our community seem like a bunch of hillbilly redneck racist!
I am not indicating one way or the other for Mr. Fry. I simply said that he stayed for the entire meeting.
I understand that Mr. Snell doesn't set fees or I like you would guess that he doesn't. My point was that while I think the project is great in the idea of having the center. And I believe that it does have some paid staff, it has a cost attached to each project for the children. be it for supplies or not.
'All of them will have an agenda, admit it. We just have to choose which agenda is best for this community'.
I don't know that that is true. I hope that each person can be judged on their own. I have seen them differ and come together.
I know that most will not admit this but we are a divided community. We have the people that speak up and the ones that don't have a voice because they don't know how, they feel uncomfortable or they are afraid. So they stop a commissioner in the store, or while they are having dinner out, or they call them at home. Or worse yet they just feel left out.
I have talked to other community to see what they have heard of Arkansas City, what they think of us. They think our taxes are too high, they think our utilites are too high, they think we have too many upper management people. Some think that we should have more commissioners. Some think that we should elect a mayor and then the commission. But each one of them said that the people are not engaged enough. But no one said I can't believe you live therer based on the commission.
Does this sound familiar. We have done this same thing before. We have said we have to get the people with the agenda's out. Same song different verse.
A staff person last night put in writing for the commission what I considered a negitive attack on we citizens that opposed the water bill, by calling us a vocal minority that is hurtful we are all citizens and we deserve to be heard and have our desires considered. This is not just the staff's city we should be able to respectfully oppose items and not be belittled for it.
I don't always see the glass as half full and I am not looking at the world with rose colored glasses. But I can see the good in most everything. And for me that's a good place to be.
Kanyon: I know what you ae saying I hope that people will listen. Though I do think Mell goes way overboard sometime. We can't have it all one way or the other. We have that nationally and look at the trouble we are in there. We need balance. Yoe are right about the burford too. I don't put my kids in there because I can't afford it.
Now I went on my own and meet with the CEO of the hospital. Nice lady, I called a hospital board rep at his place of business and said we the people want to know what you need to get our hospital done. I have talked to Mayor Kuhn, and all the commissioners about the same topic. Last night I was at the work session and another hospital board representative stopped me and we spoke. I told her the same thing get our hospital built. If we can help let us know
Kanyon needs to get over her self
this alot about all she does , sorry thanks for the light bulbs
i said anonymously
I'm not sure what that meant. I did try and put together a light bulb project. It didn't work. Not sure why you felt the need to slam me because I tried to do something.
Don't let'em talk down to you. It's one of the 'I think I'm all that' of Ark City. They are just ridiculing you because they are bored and you put your name on it and made yourself a target. Don't expain yourself it just fuels the fire for people who don't have their own stuff to talk about.
Now I went on my own and meet with the CEO of the hospital. Nice lady, I called a hospital board rep at his place of business and said we the people want to know what you need to get our hospital done. I have talked to Mayor Kuhn, and all the commissioners about the same topic. Last night I was at the work session and another hospital board representative stopped me and we spoke. I told her the same thing get our hospital built. If we can help let us know
No just pointing out a lot of "I" in that paragraph , thanks for letting us know all you do
why dont Kanyon run for commision????
Did Dotty and Mel shake their badges at McDonald and order him to stop telling the truth about them?
Mr. and Mrs. Mayor (or Amigo 1 and Amiga 2 if you prefer); It is unethical to use your positions on the council to tell someone how to run their own campaign (or where to park, for that matter). If you have a problem, you should have contacted him outsided of a meeting, or better yet, kept it to yourselves, because it's none of their damn business how McDonald chooses to run his campaign.
I, for one, would like to see this email they were so upset about. Can someone cut and paste it here?
"Good for Pat!
The three amigos have managed to tear this town apart with there uninformed decisions! The three amigos are all self serving. Glad to see Pat step up and take them on. With Scott out of the way this town has a chance to move forward! Go Pat, Gene and Jay!"
March 17, 2009 7:03 AM
+1 on that, my friend!
Go Pat, Gene, and Jay -- yes, I agree.
I find it weird too that Kuhn and Dotty decide to argue with Pat in public and not behind closed doors, not very tactful, but I guess they usually are not. Apparently aren't to used to how elections go as well. I have seen nothing done that is out of the ordinary by any of the candidates. Too bad we can't get rid of Mel and Dotty this time.
I think Mel and Dotty know that if they were in this election, they'd have about as much chance as a snowball on the equator of getting back in office. They probably will not run again, and may even quit when they lose their majority and have people that will stand up to them.
From:(deleted for privacy)
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 5:32 PM
To:(deleted for privacy)
Subject: FW: Commission Meeting
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 11:55 AM
Subject: Fw: From: Patrick McDonald
To
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 8:49 AM
Subject: Commission Meeting
You missed a very strange second half of the commission session last night. Mayor Kuhn and commissioner Margolius were mocking our city system and making fun of recent decisions and present concerns. It became very obvious as we spent more than half an hour on certain subjects that neither had any idea of what we were working on.
If you have an opportunity to watch the meeting on cable you should do so. You might also recommend that anyone else concerned about our present commission should watch it as well. It will be on Wednesday 8:00am, 5:00pm and 8:00pm, and some time during the day it will be available on the internet at the city website. Many people have taken to watching it over the internet.
If you get a chance, please try to watch what you missed. If you agree with me that people need to see what our present commissioners are doing, please pass it on!
Patrick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.7/1983 - Release Date: 3/4/2009 7:41 AM
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.7/1983 - Release Date: 03/04/09 07:41:00
Pat right on!
The commission is disfunctional! Dotty and Mell are probably scared they will loose their preceived power and control if Scott is not elected again.
"The commission is disfunctional! Dotty and Mell are probably scared they will loose their preceived power and control if Scott is not elected again."
I have no doubt that that is what is going to happen. Then they will just have to chase down illegal parkers and flash their badges at them for fun, since they will no longer be able to bully the council.
Thanks to whoever posted the email. I don't see anything wrong with that myself. If they don't want people to tune in and see them showing their butts, then they should stop showing their butts in the first place.
Think when I find some time tonight, i'm gonna watch this. Is it shown all day on the city web site? Any one know?
The problem was not the sending of the email but they lying about having done it. Watch away. You will see a bump on a log next to the city manager.
The confrontation was at the work session Monday, which is not televised or recorded.
Pat should have stood up to them a long time ago. He cowarded down until election time. Now he wants to stir it up? Mel is a bully and I'm afraid Pat will coward down again.
Maybe Pat will stand tall with Gene and Jay behind him. Not sure, but definately do not want to pick Mel's choices. Can anyone clarify who they would be so I know not to vote for them?
Pat simply didn't tell the truth and say I wrote it that's how I felt, feel. To lie about an email brings into question the same thing that we aak children. Why would you lie about something we both know you did. The deed didn't snowball as always the lie did. When you go door to door and champaign for a man to keep his job so you can keep yours (a volunteer job at that) that is an agenda. Wake up Ark City they are out to throw the average guy out with the trash. So they can have their special interests again.
I think the current city commission and every commission for the past twenty years efectively and accurately represents the people that elected them. Anyone who takes a moment to read through these posts, regardless of the topic, can see that Ark City is just a bitter bickering and petty minded community. The way the commissioners operate is quite like all these anonymous idealists who delude themselves into thinking they are saying something important on here while not thinking it important enough to affix their name to it. Snipers and backbiters operate that way - so do the people you elect. Look at the way you all have slammed people who try in this community in business or volunteerism or just out of kind heartedness. You get on here and spit in their face. So too do your elected representatives when talking to people whose taxes are paying for everything they spend and do. They do it because you do it and you are the ones who chose them. Also, give credit for the two cowards at City Hall who post on here anonymously to stir things up and make targets out of people who challenge accountability at City Hall. Ark City is mean, unsupportive, backbiting, manipulative and pathetically falling behind other communities in every area except entertainment. In that category, you have video clips of commission meetings and these cowardice blog comments as your best efforts
To anonymous at 12:39, did you affix YOUR name to that blog? thanks for the chuckle.
Anonymous said...
To anonymous at 12:39, did you affix YOUR name to that blog? thanks for the chuckle.
March 20, 2009 11:55 AM
And your brave name would be??? Thanks for solidifying the point!!!!
"The way the commissioners operate is quite like all these anonymous idealists who delude themselves into thinking they are saying something important on here while not thinking it important enough to affix their name to it. Snipers and backbiters operate that way."
So which one are you, Mr or Mrs Anonymous?? A Sniper or a backbiter? LOL
You don't practice what you preach!
Post a Comment