Privatizing put off

Looks like hiring a private company to run the winfield vets home didn't get any interest. I had mixed feelings about it — good to save money but you wonder whether the responsibility and accountability would be there. You hear some horror stories about private firms running prisons, for example, but they can do well with other things the public must have — utilities, hospitals, etc., with enough oversight. The govt. doesn't exactly have a great track record with veterans facilities - ie. Walter Reed Hospital.

Read a story not long ago about cities privatizing utilities - trash, water and sewer, especially — services to save money. Seemed like a mixed bag there, too.

HNB history?

Seems pretty clear that the bank will be sold soon. Hopefully the services and jobs it provides to the community will not go away.

Wine and wings?

Well what do you think of this, folks?

Sound pretty harmless to me. They've got good ideas for covering up the drinking area. (Not sold on wine and wings combo, buy hey, this ain't Central Park Manhattan, right?)

HNB for sale

Roger Brown is retiring from the bank board and the bank is looking for a buyer. Wow. End of an era. Banks were hit hard in the recession — three years ago we were writing about how successful local banks were. This is what everybody has been predicting, but confirmation didn't come until now.

I know HNB gets flack for trying to push its weight around and, frankly, the people behind it being targets of jealously, but the bank has been a tremendous contributor to local causes and events. It's role in the community can't be questioned. You might have disagreed with some of it - like not being a Cowley First funder — but the contribution to the community is there.

Hopefully, whatever happens, that will remain the case to some degree.

Tax ads

The Kansas Policy Institute is out with radio ads against statewide tax increases to solve the budget crisis. I heard one this morning on KKLE 1550 AM. They claim education spending has gone up 24 percent in five years, and can afford more cuts. This is a good argument, but of course the other side is that some believe they were very underfunded before the Supreme Court ordered more funding. The Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) was the conservative Flint Hills Center before it changed its name. The funders of the group are mysterious, but there is apparently a Koch Industries tie. The KPI, or the Flint Hills Center, has long been battling the notion that schools need more money. They put fort the rather superficial argument that schools had cash reserves or balances to get by the recession, when that money was actually spoken for in construction or personnel expenses.

This will be quite a battle in the coming weeks. The Ark City Chamber, of which I am a board members, stepped into the discussion by advocating for a balanced approach - tax increases as a reluctant option.

Oversold Tea?

I think this story from politico is about right. Tea Party has definitely had influence, but much of it is because of the media attention. The movement, if you can call it that, is an easy substitute for more complicated discussions, especially tv, cable and Web, because it fits into a nice narrative of opposition to the ruling leaders with good pictures, bad guys, good guys, etc...

Mayor movement

In the end, the commission followed tradition and voted in Patrick McDonald, the second highest vote getter in last election, the new mayor.

Hard to know exactly what motivated NOT changing. But I think McDonald's comments about Warren's ability to be a conciliator are accurate. He seems to have generated some good will among all the commissioners with his ability to listen and respect all sides and use mature language.

He's actually doing what he campaigned on - bringing some integrity and maturity back to the commission. Before Mell and his supporters attack this comment, I have to say it seems that Mell himself has brought been pretty diplomatic since the new commission was seated. In fact is seems like the two sides are getting along rather well! Disagreement on some issues, but working together on others. Sounds normal and healthy.

Warren's other campaign promise, to end micromanaging, has been less fulfilled. Not because they want to, however, but because they've HAD to. The problems with questionable information from staff, and with personnel issues, has forced them to get knee deep into operations. Hopefully this audit of the city and attention to the personnel issues will straighten this out.

I think Steve Archer, city manager, is growing into the job. He probably gave dept heads too much reign.