Monday, August 31, 2009

Avery taxes

Donna Avery is paying off back property taxes. Some folks might question why this story was inside the paper instead of on front like the Kuhn-tax story. The question has several answers: Donna is making payment arrangements with the county; she is less high profile than a city commissioner who champions fiscal responsibility; and she was not dismissive of the fact that her taxes were not paid on time.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Quote of the day

“The Internet is like closing time at a blue-collar bar in Boston. Everyone’s drunk and ugly and they’re going to pass out in a few minutes," - Leon Wieseltier, literary editor of TNR.

Alsup retirement

County Administrator Leroy Alsup's says he'll probably retire soon.

Do you think, as the Cowley County's first chief executive, he's done a good job and shown that the county administrator position is worthwhile?

I would say yes based on the success of getting the new jail built, establishing Cowley First, settling a tax dispute with GE, getting a property clean-up program going, and other things...

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Paid up

Mell paid his back taxes, which is good. It might be wise for Mell, politically, to issue a mea culpa. Something on the grounds of how every citizen should pay their taxes on time if they are capable and he, especially, should have known better as a city commissioner who watches over others taxes.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Taggart's internship

Taggart is certainly qualified and would likely do a great job as intern for Cowley First. The concern, though, is the appearance of favoritism and deal-making. It looks little insider trading. The question for Wall, County Adminstrator LeRoy Alsup and other elected officials who oversee Cowley First is .... is employing Taggart and fostering some suspicion worth it? Also, it does not appear that the position was advertised to see who else might be qualified out there who is not an elected official.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Arrest secrecy

For some reason, Kansas officials are scared to release the subpoenas officials file to get arrest warrants to the public. Most states do this, and it shines light on what law enforcement is doing to justify arresting citizens. But Kansas is being mossback on this and sticking to secret ways that engender distrust and distance between authorities and citizens.

The media and other first amendment interests will keep fighting for this, I'm sure.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Mell taxes

This one leaves me almost speechless ....

Almost

What kind of example does this set when an elected officials is dismissive of deadlines for paying taxes? Guess we can all just pay our water bills when we feel like it.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Beer-alalah

Commission approved the beer garden. Churches pretty quiet about this deal. We'll see if any boycott the parade again.

Hospital humming along

Hospital took a big step today with sale of bonds and hiring of designer-contractor. There are big hopes for this project, both in terms of better health and economic development, and I don't see why they won't be realized. Not to mention a nice economic stimulus (created right here at home) when construction starts.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Health care craziness

I don't understand all this nuttiness over health care and the criticism of Obama. It's become clear that you can't pass a plan with a public-run insurance plan in the Senate, where you need 60 votes. Obama recognizes this, and liberals go crazy , adding to the craziness of the hard right, which is just mad in general that a Democrat is in charge (not to the mention general discontent across the country about the recession, unemployment, etc.) Our former governor says the media is creating the story, which holds some truth because Obama has never said the public option is a make or break thing.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Housing rehabs

This story could signify that the Neighborhood Housing Revitalization program is working as planned, although some of the property owners Foss Farrar spoke with weren't aware of the program, which provides a tax rebate on increased taxes if you improve your house.

There was a bit of controversy a couple years ago when the commission extended the program to nearly the whole city. We'll see if we can get the stats on how many people have taken advantage of the program. In any case, it's nice to see some of these blighted properties getting a make over. Delapidated housing is a big problem in Ark City.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Kuhn vs. McDonald, Wallace

Mell lashed out at Patrick McDonald as a commission workshop yesterday for telling the press about emails Mell sent to city officials criticizing a gun purchase in the police department. There's long standing static between these two. We've got the email exchange online, or at least part of it. What's interesting but hasn't really been reported is a broadside critique of Police Chief Sean Wallace for, Kuhn says, being egotistical and trying to turn the police department into a SWAT team.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Beer garden is back

Check today's Traveler or Web site later. Chamber asking permission to host an outdoor beer garden, like they did in 2007. As I recall, there weren't any problems associated with it, and many people enjoyed it. But I think at least one church boycotted the parade due to it.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Stimulus working?

Lots of criticism about federal spending right now, but the stimulus package is protecting jobs and creating work, including here locally. City of Ark City, County have received money for infrastructure projects. Sheriff has applied to fund two deputies. Cowley College and of course the local school districts have benefited. The local arts council received a stimulus funded grant to make up for funding cuts to keep positions. I know of several small businesses taking advantage of no-interest Small Business Administration loans to help pay of debt.

Could it be that, in the end, the deficit spendingwill have keep us out of a deeper recession and saved people's livelihoods?

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hill resigns

This was expected. Too bad to see Heidi go. Public probably will never know what happened. The question for the public again is, what happens to Cowley First?

Smoke Free? or Free to Smoke?

This is a good letter by Ralph McDonald. It does seem that business owners should have the right to allow smoking, but there are waiters, cooks, delivery people to consider, and the occasional non-smoking customer who finds him or herself in a smoking establishment due to appointments, or trying to accommodate a friend. Seems like when you look at it from a public health standpoint, smoking bans over ride the choice issue.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Boon or boondoogle?

Cash for clunkers is getting cars sold including here in Cowley County but car dealers are still skeptical
Is this the stimulus at work boosting the economy or is this government waste and interference?

Friday, August 7, 2009

Reasonable Republicans

Nine GOPers in the Senate approved Sotomayor. She did make some questionable statements in speeches, but her judicial record was not extreme or out of the mainstream, according to experts, and in fact some liberal voices thought she was too moderate. What will the consequences at the ballot box be in the Latino community..

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.