Friday, August 7, 2009

At it again ...

Mell Kuhn trying to assert himself again. This is familiar to his criticism of the type of ammo Chief Wallace was trying to buy a couple years ago.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

How much money is actually being expended and where is it coming from? I've heard a lot of rumors on this.

If they have the money now, and they will get better service and be able to buy parts locally in the future what is wrong with getting new ones?

Does Kuhn have a preference he is pushing on the city or is he representing a friend?

Anonymous said...

Not sure what Commish. Kuhn is looking into. My questions would be, were the HKs worn out, are the Glocks the sme caliber. I can understand the issue with getting parts for the HK (but is possible that a left hand decocker is a special item, not somethign that is normally carried?). I don't beleive the accuracy part (that the Glock is more accurate than a HK). I have shot both (USP and G21); they shoot about the same.

Dustin Schuetz said...

It is typical for you to try and be rude and make Mell look like the bad guy. When in all actuality you have no idea about guns and the amount of money that is actually being spent. Until you have been fully informed by both sides people should not be so quick to judge or make snide comments. The amount of money is not the issue, it is the fact that there are several underlying issues with all departments and "frivolous" spending. Somewhere we have to put a cap on spending and say the buck stops here. If you check your facts, since Mell has been elected Ark City has actually saved money and has a bigger reserve than ever before. Mell may not be perfect but he has the best overall interest in mind for now and the future.

Respectfully,

Dustin Schuetz

Anonymous said...

Mell needs to move far far away. Personally I'm getting sick of all of the crap that comes out of his mouth. He continually gets his nose in stuff that is really none of his concern. As far as I have been told the money for the guns is there as a result of drug busts and grants. Dustin, why don't you call Chief and find out the facts before you start defending your ignorant daddy.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised that a "business man" like Kuhn is opposed to this purchase. Unless there are additional factors not disclosed in the article, the purchase pays for itself with one-year (immediately) and brings the PD into this decade. Don't understand why it's an issue...

Anonymous said...

CONTROL! Kuhn has to have control and final say. He does not like other ideas or suggestions. He has a few good ideas, but has no respect for ideas of others. Kuhn has no view or vision of the future so has no idea what an investment could be. Keep things the way they are and prevent us from moving forward. It is not cost cutting, it is preventing the city from updating and getting into the 21st century. No big box, no TIFF, don't let the PD get newer or better equipment, run police cars and city equipment into the ground regardless of maintenance and repairs. Don't change anything!

charles said...

Mayor Kuhn, continue to lead with the best accountability to your own conscience and with a resolve for the constituency that elected you.

Do not forget that, in a fair election, you received enough votes to be awarded the seat.
Your conversation is as consistent today as it was five years ago on these topics.

You have pulled no punches and played virtually no politics. None of this is personal. The criticism is not personal and neither should be any supportive or defending remarks. This is all about public policy.

You will be remembered as a tight fisted commissioner (and that's not a bad thing) who kept his eye on the bottom line and who acted in consideration of what the tax payers can afford.

Chief Wallace is also a good man of sound conviction. I know him well enough to know he is not intimidated by valid questions from the council or from the citizenry. Also, he expects and is able to support his proposals for expenditure in his best judgment.

Government should and shall govern. It must and will be accountable and held to the utmost scrutiny of its constituency. It is the process that separates the USA from other nations.

May we preserve it to the end times!

Anonymous said...

I have an odd take on this it seems. Let me say first that I do not agree with Kuhn on anything I can think of other than AC is a nice place to live. I completely have issues with how he treated the developer a couple years ago at the town meeting and how he chose to behave with the whole black face incident and his statements immediately afterword.

That said, I do not see a whole lot to get bent out of shape about. Is Mel maybe going too far with the micromanagement? Should he go through the city manager instead of dealing directly with the Police Chief? I think the answer is yes to both of those. However I see this as more of Mel just being Mel. He got elected, next time we will not get my vote, but I do not see how this is quite the story it has turned into. Seems not surprising, likely honest mistakes, and consistent with past actions to me.

No I do not blame any newspapers or websites for the coverage, not much going on around here lately.

Anonymous said...

Just Mel being Mel.

Anonymous said...

And just David Allen Seaton being David Allen Seaton...if you can't find news worthwhile you have to fill in the blanks somehow. Especially since Mel has now pulled his advertising (of course that was 2 months ago, you thought he was "kidding").
Technically, Glocks suck for most small handed shooters, Springfield XD's would fit very nicely, why not ask the officers what they want?...Because they don't need to be asked...70% of all police departments use Glock. WHY? Glock cuts the price to the core, so no other manufacturer can compete.
But whatever the decision, let the commissioners and Chief of Police figure out the fine print.

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with Mel on some things and do agree on others. The largest criticism I have is his ego and lack of tact when speaking. On the subject at hand, I think he was fair is asking about the need to spend that money. I strongly disagree with the micro-managing accusation. He was elected to watch the bottom line and asking question about large expenditures is normal and expected. Not asking questions is how the city got stuck spending a ton of money for a bariatric ambulance that is rarely ever used. Mel, Dotty & Scott ran on a platform of not rubber stamping bad ideas from city heads and have done that. I think it's good to make the department heads justify what they want to spend. It looks to me like we're headed back to the rubber stamping type of administration. The long time power brokers in town are back in control.

Anonymous said...

Glocks are the best duty gun out there. Period. They are simple to use, and they do have smaller sized versions to fit smaller hands if need be. I have never seen anyone with hands too small to shoot a Glock, but then I never went shooting with the folks from "Little People, Big World".

The Chief and his officers know what they want and can rely on, and it is their lives in the balance. Let them get the gun they can feel secure in carrying and save your fight for the next time they want to buy a new fleet of cars.

Anonymous said...

If you have never seen someone with hand to small to shoot a glock how come the girl cop carrys an XD40?