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Councilman for Cascade Locks
- Lance Masters
- This blog is intended as a way for people interested in Cascade Locks to share ideas and opinions. Posts that are interpreted as hindering the free flow of ideas and opinions may be removed. Please be encouraged to discuss ideas and opinions rather than individuals and names.
90 comments:
It's a stupid idea. We don't have money to waste on this kind of horse****
I mean, c'mon - people who are adults are SUPPOSED to pay their bills.
Could someone explain briefly what this is? I appreciate the hell out of having electricity and I'm sure the city appreciates it when I pay the bill. Is there an angle on this arrangement I'm not aware of?
The fact that its not even IN Cascade Locks means I dont go. Yes I know Multnomah Falls buys power but we need to support businesses IN CL. Who the hell wants to drive 13 miles they dont have to? If the city wants to show their appreciation, fire the City Administrator and fire the City Planner.
Why exclude the late payers? Don’t we appreciate them paying more than they should via late fees?
Maybe we should encourage late payments by putting the late fees in a 50/50 pool and drawing for “winners” each council meeting.
What’s the problem being solved here?
We are wanting to spend money and time to reduce the amount of money the electrical dept makes?
Council has so little to concern itself with that it is going to discuss this again?
What’s with the little general’s fixation on social experimentation? The “stick” approach ($25 late fees) got knocked out by the voters, now the “carrot” approach? What’s next, free sterilization clinics, for those who can’t seem to pay their bills by the 15th?(we don't need um pop'in out the next generation of late payers now do we)
Here’s something to appreciate. The money we earn is our money. The city isn’t entitled to any more of it than we agree to give it. Slippery accounting, transfer payments and charges for utility use of city property are all (in a mixed metaphor) taxes in sheep’s clothing, imposed by city administration without consent of those being taxed and seem, to me at least, contrary to democratic principles.
Wow I need to pay better attention.
My earlier rant was that the volunteer dinner was at Multnomah Falls. The real issue is something else all together. What kind of bs has BS thought up this time?
Looks like this one is a none starter. As for volunteer dinner at Multnomah Falls, I ate there just over a year ago, had steak, couldn't cut it, couldn't chew it. What a waste of time and money......
Jeez Lance. Sorry you came back?
The issue is a dumb*ss (IMHO) contest that BS came up with that is if you pay your City bill on time, you are entered in a drawing to get $100 off of your services next time. Of course we need less revenue in the city. And the big fight seems to be whether or not to allow the City employees to participate in this.
Now, as City employees are well compensated, and have the added ease of paying their bills at their place of employment (no problem driving or remembering, or even getting there during the snow season) I don't think they should be included.
Why start it at a time of year when the bills are going to go way up? Why should we reward someone who may not need the relief? Why does BS insist on treating City employees better than other citizens?
Is the electrical dept. running out of money or in other words, piggy bank low Bernard? What do you want to buy this time?
Do we think they are just not paying for the fun of it? Maybe they can't afford to pay the bills, people.
We are running an electrical company not a carnival!
I just love how this city seems to keep thinking that this inability to pay utility bills on time is somehow the citizens’ fault.
The reality is it is because this city does not operate following the same rules based on law that regulated private companies must adhere to.
So let me get this right, instead of trying to find out why this is happening to help those having trouble meeting the cities 10 day from bill to payment deadline (against the law for regulated utility companies) and fixing the problem, we want to bring Bozo the Clown in and spin the bingo wheel for one lucky resident per month.
What can the city lose as they are drawing interest on all the deposits collected which they never give back and pay interest on, and that stolen citizen money can pay for this? (Again against the law for regulated utility companies).
Instead of this childish approach at business lets grow up and change the rules to those as regulated companies must follow, then not only will citizens have a better ability to pay their bills on time, but watch how fast our rates fall.
The fact is we run our utility company with no regard for these laws.
It is the cash cow for these kinds of ideas every term it seems and for every idea.
That is where this discussion should be so the citizens have the same rights and protections as private regulated utility customers.
I hope someone on council has the nerve to question the reason why and bring our utility into compliance to the rule of law.
Yet watch as council ignores any mention of these facts and many others in the laws of the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
I can see Bozo now spinning the wheel.
Cody
Cody,
Thank you for what you said. I so agree with you. Why don't we just go Public Utilities District with the electrical? PUD rules and regulations exist primarily for protection of the consumer. I am thoroughly against our on-going game of rob the citizens to fill the piggy bank, and then rob the piggy bank.
Let's see if they dare to even discuss it.
Before you decide you want a PUD you might want to find out what rates you will get, do all PUD's get the same rates, ie, do Seattle City Light customers pay the same rate as the PUD across the river, will you have the same standing with Bonneville, and just what are the responsibilities and privileges of a PUD?
Ok let’s compare rates for our area alone.
Why look farther than our very neighbors.
Hood River Electric Co.
.05750 Per kWh
Skamania PUD
.04950
BPA adjustment
.01130
=.06080 Per kWh
Cascade Locks
.07050 Per kWh
So a customer in Hood River using 1,000 kWh would be charged $57.50
In Skamania 1,000 kWh would be charged $51.80
In our fair city that same 1,000 kWh cost us $70.50
How many kWh do you use per month and then see the real savings our very neighbors have whom are regulated.
Remember we are paying $13.00 to $18.70 per 1,000 kWh than our neighbors to the North and East.
Then we have a $9.90 electrical meter reading charge and at the very same time I am charged a $10.38 water meter reading charge every month.
So every month I pay $20.28 to read the meters which takes what 5 minutes tops?
Maybe this should be looked into as well as they have been changing over to wireless read meters for both the electric and the water so what is the justification for this charge now.
Cody
People's Utility Districts are a public organization for community service as defined by law found in ORS chapter 261.
These have the same rights as a municipal utility which we are.
The Bonneville rates you speak of would be just as they are today and tomorrow based on BPA’s crystal ball they use with our city now.
I just wish our city would use our municipal utility the way they are supposed to so we do not have to scream regulation at every wrong.
There is no reason that we the people pay more than our neighbors when the purpose as stated in state law for municipal utilities is to be able to provide utilities at a lower cost than regulated companies can offer.
What we the citizens need to do is hold the city to the law and force the city to set rates in accordance to the law.
I myself am going to post the laws the city is to follow for all citizens to read. If nothing else it will put the council on the spot at any future mention of the use of electrical fund monies for any purpose other than the electrical department.
ORS 225.230 Rates set in accordance with estimates of annual expenses. (1) The officer referred to in ORS 225.220 shall annually before January 1, make a written estimate of the probable expense of maintaining and conducting the electric light plant or distributing system during the next ensuing year, including the cost of any contemplated alterations, improvements, additions or extensions, together with the probable amount necessary for redemption of any unpaid warrants and the interest thereon, as well as the amount required for payment of interest and maturing principal on any outstanding bonds of the city issued for or in connection with any such electric light plant or distributing system.
(2) The officer shall thereupon ascertain and prescribe as near as can conveniently be done an electric current rate or rates for the ensuing year which will create a fund sufficient to meet all requirements in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The officer may also include a further amount sufficient to create such fund, as in the judgment of the officer may be desirable or necessary to meet requirements of future contemplated additions, improvements or extensions to the plant or system.
Now those expenses are for nothing else other than the electrical department.
ORS 225.250 Application of earnings; The earnings of the electric plant or distributing system shall be applied and used in payment of warrants and interest thereon issued in connection with operation of any such plant or system, and also in payment for alterations, improvements, additions or extensions and for redemption and retirement of outstanding bonds, together with interest thereon, and shall be expended only in connection with and for improving such plant or system and not for other municipal purposes, except as otherwise provided in ORS 225.270.
225.270 Use of surplus earnings. When any city which owns or operates a municipal electric power plant or system or distributing system, has paid principal and interest to date on all indebtedness incurred in connection therewith, and has created and accumulated an adequate depreciation and replacement reserve in the judgment of the officer having control of such plant or system, the city shall, for the purpose of reducing general property taxes within such city, pay to itself not less than three percent of the annual gross operating revenue of such plant or system, or a volumetric charge based upon the amounts of electricity delivered, transmitted or distributed to retail electricity consumers regardless of the source. The volumetric charge shall not be less than the equivalent of three percent of the gross operating revenues of the municipality utility in 1999. The city shall adjust a volumetric charge to end users such that charges established for different customer classes bear the same approximate relationship as the gross revenues per kilowatt hour paid by the classes in 1999
What are your thoughts on this subject?
Cody
Wow, sounds like a lot of people here want something for nothing. How can you compare an agency in another state that is governed by different laws / rules to the ones here in Oregon? You can't. Lets keep this debate apples to apples not apples to oranges. HRCOP is nothing like cascade locks. We are a smaller utility. Smaller meaningless customers means it costs more to run. When you have less people paying into the pot the costs can't be spread out that far. Who gives a rats A$$ if we are paying $10-13 dollars more a month. I don't hear any one complaining about the crazy fuel prices in this town. Go ahead and pick on the city some more. Eventually you will run it into the ground!
As for the appreciation, I like the idea, "if" we can afford it. To reward people for not paying thier bills is like letting a speeder off without a fine. IF you don't like the time frame, change the time frame. I think we should charge the late payers more. Our fees are way too little.
A PUD might sound nice, but it could be more trouble than it’s worth. If you want to get rid of city light, consolidate with PP&L. They have low rates. The thought of creating yet another government agency in cascade locks is just plain stupid!
Volunteer dinner, the Charburger tastes like A$$ and they charge too much. At least the inside of the joint inside of the falls doesn’t make me feel like I am walking into a feeding trough. Some people keep complaining about volunteers and the lack thereof, I say we don't do enough for them. The better you treat them, the more we might actually get. Spending 20-40 dollars on a dinner and potentially getting a $1000 plus worth of work from someone seems like a good investment to me. You want services, you have to pay for it. It’s time we start paying the real cost of our needed services, not bitching about $10. If $10 is going to break the bank, maybe this isn't the place for some. There is no such thing as free or cheap. Cheap usually comes around and bites you in the A$$.
Last but not least, easy on this BS BS. I hold all of the council responsible! He makes suggestions to the council. They are the ones that decide. BS has accomplished a lot for this community and has personally gained nothing.
Here is something to chew on, why is it that we pay the Port manager $100,000 a year, someone who does not even live her, who manages less employees than the city and who has accomplished NOTHING except passing off a poorly managed business (still waiting on the casino-10 years and counting, beach-seriously?). Let’s talk about the port that is buying up all of the land in our downtown and taking it off of the tax rolls. How does that help out our city? Have they ever sold any of their land holdings?? They are a government agency and are messing up a lot of the economic vitality of our community. Their mission is supposed to be economic development; where is it? You what to know why the city is hurting for money, start with that. Why do we keep beating up the city employees, city council and the city manager when they are working so hard with so little? I think it’s time to focus on the port and the sham that's going on down by the river with our taxpayer dollars.
As far as the rates go... small potatoes. Great question lance. Thanks for asking!
Anonymous 11/17/09 @ 7:17 P.M.
To set the record straight I give a “rats A$$” if my bill is $10.00 to $13.00 dollars a month more as well as many of the retired people whom live here on a fixed income to the families trying to raise children in the world we live in. Truthfully I don’t care if your rich and can afford it I still care if you are being taken advantage of so let’s add up the reality of it all.
Understand that those figures are only based on 1000 kWh of use.
Now as a residential user I myself use twice that much and in the winter that goes up by 2 to 7 times.
So take that $10.00 to $13.00 a month and do the math.
I myself have monitored it and my financial lose is in excess of over $100.00 a month more in the winter compared to the costs of our very neighbors. That Anonymous adds up.
Then look at all our struggling businesses in town. They use much more electricity than that and I would imagine that this hurts their very survival and you know what? Those losses’ are passed on to whom? To you and I and every citizen and consumer of their product so maybe you might want to rethink your statement on the gas prices which I agree with in most part yet that gripe might be best served in Salem whom zoned our price structure and even so our inflated prices in our commerce is much deeper than that. The fact is it costs too much to operate a business in this town and if a business wants to move to our area they look at the costs of overhead. Utilities are a major aspect of any business. The fact about any business is if you can offer a lower priced product you will sell more. We are not talking pennies here we are talking a quarter higher. Do you throw a twenty cents to a quarter away of every dollar you earn? Would you move your business here knowing it will cost more than 5 or 20 miles away?
As for wanting to charge more for late charges it is apparent you have never dealt with a privately owned utility. They cannot by law, charge a late charge on residential customers until that bill is overdue for at a minimum of 2 months.
What makes our city so special to be able to set policy in confliction with the rules set by our very legislature that private utilities must abide by?
I suggest you read the following link and tell me just how much our city policies concerning our utilities are in confliction with the laws privately owned utilities must adhere to or face strict and costly fines and punishment.
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_800/OAR_860/860_021.html
I also refer you to this link;
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/225.html
Here you will find that in 225.220 we did not exercise our statutory right to be a municipal utility.
Show me anywhere where we have any mention of the officer in charge of our utility in our city charter.
As for your smaller is more expensive opinion, that does not fly in any way. First being a municipal utility we are immune from the up to 25 % of gross revenue that privately owned utilities must pay the PUC each year. That fact is in the first link.
I can go on and on but it is best to have you read it for yourself as to the benefits being a municipal utility has over the private utilities and I believe you will be a believer in the changes the majority of this town demands.
As for your PUD being governmental how do you get governmental out of a people’s utility district?
Again I suggest you read this.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/225.html
Yes it is governmental in nature and has governmental oversight but is not much different than the charter school being attempted at this time. It is run by a citizens board snd st least it would not be used for purposes other than the electrical utility.
I do agree with you as it may be more trouble than it’s worth as working in the utility industry for decades many questions I would have as to how it is formed and whom is qualified to operate it and many other issues would have to be answered before I would even consider it. The citizens would also need to be fully aware of the risks involved as there are many.
My problem lies with the policies and the confliction with not only the laws but what is morally right and good business practices.
I know that these problems were not the doing of this administration yet I am tired of fighting the same fight decade after decade to no avail without going before the court with a court action to force regulation.
All I want is a municiple utility that is adminstered in the proper manner with the protections provided for not only the people but for the investment of the utility that the people own and for our government to stop using it as a cash cow in confliction with the law and lower not only our rates but our property tax as the municiple law intended.
Now I am not slamming anyone. I may be ridiculing them for not having the foresight to realize where the problem lies and suggesting such nonsense instead of fixing the true problem in the first place but trust me when I say that is not a slam.
So I hope you realize that rates are a big potato as they effect the economic growth you speak of and not only the financial well being of the citizens it appears you could care less about.
Just a little food for thought.
Cody
Anon 7:17
You're an A$$, and a long-winded one.
Dear Anon November 17, 2009 7:17 PM
It'$ great to know I have $uch a caring and intelligent fellow citizen.
I certainly feel like a "meaningle$$ cu$tomer", meaningle$$ taxpayer, meaningle$$ volunteer, ect. I gue$$ I'm ju$t being $elf-centered again.
I'm $ure Dan & Judy appreciate your critique of their busine$$, it really help$ build the morale that'$ going to make other$ want to invest and bring job$ to Cascade Lock$. It'$ nice to $ee local$ $upport the busine$$' that are foolhardy enough to $tay here and provide job$.
What are your thought$ on the local art $cene?
I knew all along it was the Port'$ fault our electrical rate$ are $o high......thank$ for your insightS though.
Anyway, I'm $ure I'll $ee you at utility bingo. If I win, I might be able to afford my in$ulin this month. $ure hope $o, I've only got a couple of toe$ left.
Look what comment just popped up on the janissary blog, folks!
HydeinShame said...
Everyone needs to attend this meeting and ask each council person, the mayor, the city manager and planner, If ODOT says close the ECLI, will you still support the casino. Everyone but T. Pruitt will say yes.
That will be the proof that the rest of them dont care if the downtown dries up and Forest Lane properties get bought up to make room to widen the road and add sidewalks landscape strips and bike lanes. The Port is playing dumb now that the Tribes have bought the property. The message you get from them is " its not our fault the ECLI is closing, its Federal Highway, its the state, its everyone but us"
I guess the fact that the Port is buying up property downtown isnt their fault either. Our stacked deck council and city staff is so full of people that have an personal economic interest in a casino its no wonder they are selling out.
The administrator can put it all on his resume and move on to the next group of rubes. The Mayor and his wife the real mayor can open their gallery at the casino. The nepotism sisters can get cushie jobs for the rest of the family. Cramblett can stop mowing lawns and cleaning bathrooms and concentrate on his captains duties. Randy can continue to do what he always does by nodding and agreeing with everything Lorang and Bernard say in the hope he can be Judge someday.
What a pathetic way for a town to die. Shame on all of us for letting it happen. We sat here and stayed quiet and voted for this group of self serving boneheads. And for what? Minimum wage jobs at the casino. Hope the tips are good. See you all at the county health clinic. I hope the Casino buffet will take my Oregon Trail card.
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Here is another good website:
www.uptimeamerica.com/video/uptime_small.wmv
Food for thought....
You know you need to pay more attention to your blog when trolls are posting commercials. Can't you spare 10 minutes of your time to promote conversation, Lance?
At least ask about the feelings within the community about the library bond.
An open letter to Mr. Carl Zerfing:
Dear Mr. Zerfing,
Thank you for your years (decades) of service to Cascade Locks. Without your volunteer efforts, we wouldn't have been able to build the Fire Department we have today.
I sincerely hope you weren't as offended as I was by Jeff Pricher's remarks about the compensation you were offered by Bernard and the Mayor. We couldn't afford to pay you anything close to what you have already given us for free. Additionally, I hope the others who give their time for free to help others in need are as even tempered as you.
he was... he and Jeff the Pritch had words outside of the council meeting. loud words, mad words. This city is run by a pair of idiots.
I wonder what the volunteers will say when they find out Jeff wants to join back up with HR Fire?
Wow, go look at the fight on the janisary blog. Whew!!
Hey, Lance!
It's a new year and waay past time for you to get off of your lazy ass and either update this piece of crap or take it offline. What was we elected you for again? Oh yeah - to make a difference. Which you sure haven't. What are YOU doing to keep the ECLI open? Or do you hope to sell your front yard? They won't need both yours and the Lorangs, one of yours ought to do it.
Pretty demanding of someone doing something for free aren't you?
I didn't vote for him because of his blog, I don't think it even existed during the election.
If you've got something on your mind, post it.
Or are you even capable of an original thought?
Gawd Deb, find something else to do besides the galley. You obviously have too much time on your hands, if you are answering a troll
I think you meant gallery.
How is it you are an elected official yet could not be bothered to go to the meeting about closing the ECLI. You really are a pathetic piece these days, try to show some stones or resign, you have been nothing more than an empty suit with a vote for whatever Mrs. Mayor wants
Oftentimes the posts on this and the other blog have a negative tone regarding council & mayor. I think I heard someone say the other day there will be four seats open at the next election. Who do you think will run for council and/or mayor???
Town as we know it won't exist by then
Nothing like some fresh optimism to end the day.
It was nice of Lance to set up this blog so folks can visit. Instead of giving a party and nobody comes, with him its like giving a party and the host never shows. Hellooooo, anybody home??
"Who do you think will run for council and/or mayor???"
I think some will seek re-election. In these tough economic times I wouldn't want to leave decisions that could effect my spouses's job or my business' bottom line to anyone but myself.
My forecast:
Mayor candidates -Bob Walker, Lance Masters,
City Council - George Fischer, Jeff Helfrich, Marty Pearson, Dennis Snider
What? You don't think that the pro-casino whore, passive-aggressive, gavel slamming, hen-pecked toady to the CA is not going to run again?
Anyone want to start a pool to see how long he stays in if the casino is a definite no-go?
Both Lance and Randy are tiptoeing around, unable or unwilling to truly be a Councilmember and yet want to run for judge and mayor. Pathetic is the only word to describe them. If they truly wanted to be leaders, then they should start now and stop pussyfooting around waiting for what they think is a real job
Oh I am laughing so hard!!!! People got sick of the negativity, pointlessness and rudeness on Janissary's blog so she shut it down until somebody "gives a ****". There is hope for this town yet! Kindness, love, support, positive attitudes and hope will help this town more than any fight a mean and unhappy person can muster. I think she would find that she could accomplish much more if she worked with people instead of against them. I think people want to hear about the good that is going on here and not just the same negative rhetoric over and over and over. It makes people hopeless. What is the point of fighting if you don't have anything worth fighting for?
There sure seems to be a lot of fighting "against" things nowadays. I would like to fight "for" positive things and I think more and more people feel the same way. Unhappiness gets old and lonely.
I am going to go outside now and enjoy the heck out of this gorgeous area with some great friends! You all have a beautiful day!
And to those of you that are going to frantically write mean and sarcastic replies to my long-winded and idealistic comment I offer you a pre-emptive sigh and wish you luck in finding your happy space. :)
By golly, I think she's right!! I remember a song....
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Sound's like the theme song to BS's Field Notes.
Who really cares if they take a little for themselves once and awhile anyway, they deserve it, I know because they told me so.
Oh why not, I'll give you another sigh! :)
People got sick of the negativity, pointlessness and rudeness on Janissary's blog so she shut it down until somebody "gives a ****"
Misquote! "Until somebody ELSE gives a shit." Wow, you read a lot into such a simple comment.
I think you are channeling your own delusions or had too much caffeine, perhaps. Remember that Janissary has stated before that more than one person is involved. Could be an internal fight.
And what has Lance done? Nothing for over 3 months. My way of thinking? Janissary's way is a bit more honest.
Honest...a word you don't hear or see much since the "New Faces of Cascade Locks" regime has been in charge.
The "laughing so hard" post gave me a chuckle as well. Preaching "Kindness, love, support, positive attitudes and hope" while throwing stones is so "you". I guess a conscience is necessary to recognize your own hypocrisy. sigh :(
A look through this blog's archives explains what the "fighting" is about. It's about behavior, plain and simple. Bad behavior that for the most part is not even disputed. Instead it's the fault of the negative people for pointing it out. People will be more positive when you stop screwing them over, I promise.
Hey Lance, a little bird tells me that although you had the nerve to speak up at the showing of Tapped in Hood River you didn't identify yourself as a Council Member. Afraid of questions?
They said Cascade Locks is in the process of developing a mountain biking/hiking trail system and will soon enlarge the entrance into Port Marine Park to accommodate larger tour buses and further promote ridership on the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge.
“We are doing the best that we can with what we have,” said Seeger.
Yeah, sure that will add jobs. I'm LMAO over this. Way to sound whiny, Bernard.
I believe the bike paths and the overpass are both Port projects...???
It sure seems out of character for the BS to try and take credit for the work of others. Why can't he just point to his own achievements? Didn't his "Everybody loves Stevenson, nobody wants to live in CL" quote get us coverage in the Oregonian?
All the Port has accomplished is to buy property and take them off of the tax rolls. Jobs? what jobs?
Give me a break! What inthehell did Nestle think they were doing? That "study" has been on their website for months - months!
Why didn't they talk to ODOT or to the guys at the weigh station? How stupid do they think we are?
What the hell? Has everyone been beat down so much by the New Regime that nobody gives a damn anymore.
Apparently.
Beat down? Maybe. It could also be the recognition that reminding this group that they were elected to serve others is pointless. They don't care what you think and have no shame when it comes to looking after themselves and their allies/puppet-master.
Need a better job?
More Business?
More hours for a relative on city payroll?
More face time on channel 23?
November will be here soon. Who knows, maybe these guys are the best this town has to offer?
I'l start caring again when the job of Mayor does not primarily consist of playing meat puppet for the City Administrator.
Maybe now would be a good time to start caring....I'm sure the New Faces have another meat puppet in waiting (Lance?Randy?) to wield the mighty gavel in response to the tug of the strings.
Finding candidates interested in serving OTHERS instead of themselves might be a good place to start.
I've been laughing at the large number of households who are for two or more judicial position candidates. Can't make up your mind?
Pick one of these criteria:
Who is prettier?
Who looks better in uniform?
Who are you more closely related to?
Who scares you the least?
Whose partner do you feel sorrier for?
Who acted less like a power-hungry megalomaniac when handed the gavel at a
council meeting?
Who is running because it messes with the power bloc on the Council?
Maybe the only question you should answer with your vote is who cares more for the City.
Even if I could answer "who cares more" would it be relevant? Caring doesn't mean acting appropriately. There are plenty of abusive relationships where those involved care deeply for each other.
I'm more interested in having someone smart enough to understand the rules they are expected to follow, and who has the integrity and self-discipline to do so regardless of whether they want to or not, or how the outcome effects them, their friends, or their family.
It hard to imagine electing someone to a position with the word Justice in its title who feels no compunction to follow the law, even if it's only a city ordinance.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4146610/battle-over-water-bottling-plant
What a crybaby. Could he please just stop badmouthing town?
Do you think that next time we are going to be reported on the we could have someone speak for Cascade Locks that doesnt sound like a wino?
That is so unfair. I know many wino's and they speak quite clearly!
Has anyone else heard the rumor that they want to pay Mayor crybaby? For what? Promoting his own business and badmouthing the city all the time?
Congratulations to Cindy Mitchell! So glad most of us recognized she is the right person for the job.
Maybe now that both candidates for governor have said they wont support a casino in Cascade Locks, Mayor Meat Puppet needs the cash to leave town.
I'm glad to see that, finally, the casino will either happen or it won't. The drawn out decision hasn't helped this town in even the slightest.
Congrats to Cindy as well. I hope the voters remember this coming November how important that council seat was to her opponent when there was some $'s and a title up for grabs.
Hard to believe a Morresettite could poll so poorly....
Maybe supporting using taxpayer money to send our mayor & BS to Washington DC,
to present stuff BS bought from the mayor (with taxpayer money)
while BS was being payed by the taxpayers to "administer" the city,
while BS is counting on the mayor's support to keep his job,
isn't such a good idea after all.
Who would'a thunk it..........?
Guess we'll find out in November
You elected 'em
You deserve 'em
Anyone who attended the showing of Flow watched the Mayor make an ass of himself just one more time. The anger was palpable and his hastily spouted statistics inaccurate. The moderators were both courteous as was most of the crowd. Lorang, red-faced, was downright rude and failed to identify himself. Also unusually rude was Don Haight, declaring himself insulted by the travelogue, as he referred to the movie, yet he asked no substantive questions while he had the opportunity. This is not the way for our community to obtain needed information to make intelligent decisions about our children s futures.
I think all should be entitled to express their opinions whether or not they ask what you deem a "substantive" question. Don Haight has many years of experience in business and industry. I would trust his opinion and assessment.
You have made a valid point and are correct. Don has a great of knowledge and wisdom. Like many other elderly people however, he can be predisposed to thinking that the 1950's had the answer to everything. I just wish he had been more focused and asked questions where that obvious experience and assessment could have come into play.
Commissioner Groves asked if there will be a public hearing on the Port’s plan for an overpass into the park. Commissioner Groves stated that he would like to see a hearing scheduled.
GM Daughtry stated that he would investigate whether or not there is a requirement to have a public hearing.
Commissioner Woosley stated that we had a town committee group meet about the project. GM Daughtry stated that we did an informational session where we invited a broad range of people from the community to listen to the options, what was technically feasible and the justification for the overpass, it clearly pointed to the property to the west (firehall/tviedt).
Commissioner Woosley stated that there would be a public hearing when the site review goes through the planning commission.
Commissioner Groves stated that he thinks the impact of the project will be substantial and believes the public should be aware and able to make comments.
Thank you Kathy and Jesse. Nice try Chuckie
Is there another blog out there or is everyone on vacation?
Not a vacation, I would think more like a hiatus from hate. There is a lot of negativity floating around right now. Although after what the City Council just did and at midnight no less, it just might re-open. Lance, Randy,
Kerry Jo - you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
I notice you don't think the Mayor has a conscience
OK, I work for a living and cant stay up until midnight watching local cable access. What happened at the last council meeting these three need to be ashamed of?
Unfortunately, your question needs to be more specific. Are you interested in their vote to ignore the City Charter, or a City Ordinance?
I agree, there are a lot of us who work for a living, and IMHO a lot of crap that is going on we don't hear about. Why can't the City Council meetings be re-run on channel 23 at a time when the people who support this town with their earnings can watch?
Lance, if you still monitor this at all, please answer.
It could happen. That's what they do with the tape from the candidate's forums that the Lion's club puts on in election years.
You could call city hall and request it. You can also request a copy of the video tape - or tapes.
As for the meeting, Kevin Benson requested that the council go back into regular session. The attorney and all council members were asked for their interpretation of who should do the hiring and firing of city employees. No vote was taken. Kevin read an ordinance from 1968. After it appeared she wouldn't get the result she wanted, Tiffany Pruit complained about the meeting. The minutes of the meeting are available on the city website.
"After it appeared she wouldn't get the result she wanted, Tiffany Pruit complained about the meeting."
Whoo-hoo! Aren't you the b*tchy one.
That was a very unnecessary and telling comment on your part, big boy. Where's that respect you are supposed to show to your fellow Councilors?
I have to agree with the Jan. Lance, that was just childish, rude and totally indicative of the crappy attitude of the majority of the Council that made me stop coming to meetings. Why bother when the majority vote whatever you want and ignore what the citizens may want. Anytime Bernard starts saying that it's too complicated he is insulting both the Council and the citizenry. As I have previously said to your faces, the constant 4-3 votes are nothing more than a slap in the our faces, the voters who elected you into office to co-operate and run the city, not form partisan cliques with the automatic rubber-stamping of a bureaucrat. Really, it is far past time to stop the further polarization of this community. I am disgusted with you taking this little potshot. Respect the office, if not the person was the way I was brought up. Drop your arrogance and get some manners. And, I'm signing my name to this, unlike the other correspondents you choose to ignore.
Could anyone interpret this part of our current charter?
Section 41. CONTINUATION OF ORDINANCES. All ordinances in force when this charter becomes effective shall remain in effect until modified or repealed.
The year the ordinance was adopted, 1968, 1994, or 1931 makes no difference, "in effect until modified or repealed" doesn't seem hard understand.
"I choose to support the decision of the Charter Review Committee that met for 9 months in an open and public forum."
The rest of us - the ones out earning a living, caring for our parents or children, the ones who gave of their time 10,15 years ago, those without the time to join your precious committee - the hell with us.
The rest of us (per our mayor) are the "80% of voters who don't even bother reading the voters pamphlet", or are so ill informed or incapable of understanding anything they should be forced to rely on the decisions of our "informed" council.
Pretty telling remarks, hopefully he will include them in his re-election platform.
If anybody in this current batch runs and is re-elected this town is stupider that I thought possible.
Anonymous said...
Could anyone interpret this part of our current charter?
Section 41. CONTINUATION OF ORDINANCES. All ordinances in force when this charter becomes effective shall remain in effect until modified or repealed.
Well when interpreting our City Charter it does not matter what we the citizens think it means as it comes down to where the powers in the City are.
CHAPTER II
POWERS Section 4. POWERS OF THE CITY. The City has all powers that the constitutions, statutes, and the common law of the United States and of this state now or hereafter expressly or impliedly grant or allow the City, as fully as though this charter specifically enumerated each of those powers.
Section 5. CONSTRUCTION OF CHARTER. In this charter, no statement of a power is exclusive or restricts authority that the City would have if the power were not specified. The charter shall be liberally construed. All powers are continuing unless a specific grant of power clearly indicates the contrary.
Section 6. WHERE POWERS VESTED. Except as this charter provides otherwise, all powers of the City shall be vested in the Council.
My answer then is, only Council can interpret the meaning as to what this means, as you and I know what it means but we do not have the power to even suggest what it means.
You see this power we granted the City by voting for this charter stripped the people of any power.
The only power the people have when we protest actions, knowing they are decisions which are wrong, is to basically get the finger and take it.
So until the citizens get it together and have a committee of our own and create a charter for the people we will have to keep paying for the mistakes of our elected officials.
So instead of trying to interpret our charter, go above them to who holds their power, which is the State.
Remember, The City has all powers that the constitutions, statutes, and the common law of the United States and of this state now or hereafter expressly or impliedly grant or allow the City.
Do as I have done. File complaints, for violations of state law, concerning municipal governments and municipal utilities.
All powers are continuing unless a specific grant of power clearly indicates the contrary.
So what do you think is going on in our City?
Let it out as I am curious to see if we have the same complaints.
I myself like a true home rule charter such as;
WE, THE PEOPLE, OF THE CITY OF CASCADE LOCKS, IN ADOPTING THIS HOME RULE CHARTER, RECOGNIZE THAT GOVERNMENT IS COMPETENT ONLY WHEN THOSE WHO COMPOSE IT WORK AS TRUSTEES OF THE PEOPLE. AS A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, GOOD GOVERNMENT MUST BE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS. THEREFORE TO SECURE THESE GOALS THIS CHARTER IS ORDAINED AN ESTABLISHED. THIS CHARTER SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF CASCADE LOCKS, OREGON (date here) AND REPEALS ALL CHARTER PROVISIONS THIS CITY ENACTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THIS CHARTER TAKES EFFECT.
Cody
Section 22. MUNICIPAL JUDGE. The municipal judge shall be the judicial officer of the City....The municipal judge shall exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction of all offenses defined and made punishable by ordinances of the City....
Council doesn't get to determine so called ambiguity in ordinances, nor does it get to instruct city employees to ignore ordinances.
I think the current council is a perfect example of why legislative bodies aren't allowed to interpret their own work.
U Elected 'em
U Deserve 'em
Bernard's charter feint.
Attend the meeting tomorrow for yet another demonstration of the rectitude of our current CA and the majority on our city council.
Should be entertaining...
(invest some time now or get screwed this November, your choice)
So it seems Councilmember Masters that you intend to delete my blog entries and censor me from your blog discussions.
Was it that I hit a grand slam with my input, or are you upset that I have lodged complaints, with the State and am shaking up the way the city does business, as well as the City as a whole.
I really do not understand what you could object to, as all I am doing is keeping the City honest and making the City follow the higher rules and laws that the State requires; Cities to abide by.
Or could it have been that I hit a nerve, which could make citizens realize, that they have no powers in our present charter, or the proposed charter.
So I guess if you intend to censor me, you can read about it in the Hood River News.
It also looks as if I am going to have to start my own blog as well.
You surely do not keep this one updated.
So stay tuned.
Cody
Cody,
I didn't delete your comment. I never saw it on the blog, but I did get it in my email. For the record here it is:
"Anonymous said...
Could anyone interpret this part of our current charter?
Section 41. CONTINUATION OF ORDINANCES. All ordinances in force when this charter becomes effective shall remain in effect until modified or repealed.
Well when interpreting our City Charter it does not matter what we the citizens think it means as it comes down to where the powers in the City are.
CHAPTER II
POWERS Section 4. POWERS OF THE CITY. The City has all powers that the constitutions, statutes, and the common law of the United States and of this state now or hereafter expressly or impliedly grant or allow the City, as fully as though this charter specifically enumerated each of those powers.
Section 5. CONSTRUCTION OF CHARTER. In this charter, no statement of a power is exclusive or restricts authority that the City would have if the power were not specified. The charter shall be liberally construed. All powers are continuing unless a specific grant of power clearly indicates the contrary.
Section 6. WHERE POWERS VESTED. Except as this charter provides otherwise, all powers of the City shall be vested in the Council.
My answer then is, only Council can interpret the meaning as to what this means, as you and I know what it means but we do not have the power to even suggest what it means.
You see this power we granted the City by voting for this charter stripped the people of any power.
The only power the people have when we protest actions, knowing they are decisions which are wrong, is to basically get the finger and take it.
So until the citizens get it together and have a committee of our own and create a charter for the people we will have to keep paying for the mistakes of our elected officials.
So instead of trying to interpret our charter, go above them to who holds their power, which is the State.
Remember, The City has all powers that the constitutions, statutes, and the common law of the United States and of this state now or hereafter expressly or impliedly grant or allow the City.
Do as I have done. File complaints, for violations of state law, concerning municipal governments and municipal utilities.
All powers are continuing unless a specific grant of power clearly indicates the contrary.
So what do you think is going on in our City?
Let it out as I am curious to see if we have the same complaints.
I myself like a true home rule charter such as;
WE, THE PEOPLE, OF THE CITY OF CASCADE LOCKS, IN ADOPTING THIS HOME RULE CHARTER, RECOGNIZE THAT GOVERNMENT IS COMPETENT ONLY WHEN THOSE WHO COMPOSE IT WORK AS TRUSTEES OF THE PEOPLE. AS A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, GOOD GOVERNMENT MUST BE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS. THEREFORE TO SECURE THESE GOALS THIS CHARTER IS ORDAINED AN ESTABLISHED. THIS CHARTER SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF CASCADE LOCKS, OREGON (date here) AND REPEALS ALL CHARTER PROVISIONS THIS CITY ENACTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THIS CHARTER TAKES EFFECT.
Cody"
Lance
I do not understand how that can be as you do not have Settings/Comment moderation/ set to always as when a comment is made it comes right up.
That post was removed.
Also Janissary had a comment undermine this afternoon announcing that blog was back on line.
Where did it go?
I am sure you have get email notifications set to receive them turned on so you did probably get an email of my comment.
But that does not explain to me how my comment and now another just disappeared.
Would it make sense to you if you were me right now?
Cody
Cody,
I don't understand why it didn't appear either. That's why I reposted it. I was out of town until 5 last night. Either way, your post is back up.
Lance
I thank you for that.
Cody
But Cody is right, Janissary had a comment right below his and then another one was posted last night during the Council meeting - I receive any postings to your blog by email. Where did THEY go if you're not deleting them? or are you? What if you don't like my posts?
"All censorships exist to prevent any one from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions."
-- George Bernard Shaw
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