This is a link for the January 6, 2011, Port Commission Meeting Minutes.
I had to put this on a web storage site, as it was to large for the blog.
Just open the link, and choose the free user option.
Then read where the day after our City Administrator, was put on administrative leave and forbidden to represent or speak on behalf of the city, he did just that.
http://rapidshare.com/files/443971606/Commission_Meeting_1.6.11_1_.pdf
Cody
62 comments:
Haha it is so long because Lance and Bernard are quoted ad nauseum and verbatim. Seven out of 12 pages worth to just insult the Port. Nice going for the Arrogance Brothers.
wow... il try to finish up my letter to the mayor about which volunteer position i would like to fill by the end of the week... looks like im not the only one that's been busy though...
"...and forbidden to represent or speak on behalf of the city, he did just that"... bullsxxx. Why did the new mayor not stop him...?
He was taken by surprise, George didn't believe that anyone could actually behave that badly and in public.
Thank you Carl! No kidding, Don Haight was also present and didn't say a word. They set Bernard up! Lame.
Misanthrope - Come on, seriously.. "Taken by surprise"?! Is George that big of an idiot, oh wait, he is.. The man can't even run a meeting without Benson or Pruit reining him in and telling him what to do. Wow, what a big mistake 4 votes can make. Just goes to show that you can be mayor if you don't have a very high IQ, all you have to do is lie, lie, lie....and get a bunch of screaming angry people behind you to get enough votes to squeak by.
It is really sad that our new mayor can't make it through a whole meeting without complaining about his back and tabling items he wants just because of his back..What the hell? The item is on the agenda, so DISCUSS it!
"just goes to show you that you can be mayor if you dont have a very high IQ, all you do is lie lie lie......, I thought Lorang's term was over?
Brad Lorang ran the meetings, knew the rules, and I was never lied to by Mayor Lorang.
It seems the new mayor does a pretty good job of taking orders from Kevin (his good friend) and Tiffany. I agree with the last poster, if he truly was keeping to his campaign promise and statement about being there for the community, he sure needs to do his homework. Not knowing who Dave Meriwether is is pathetic. I know he is new, and I think he is doing a better job than Lorang in keeping people at bay, so I'm willing to give him a little latitude. I just hope he can think for himself, and not always listen and follow Kevin like a little puppy.
Wait, did someone say low IQ? Did he go to school in Cascade Locks?
I am appalled that the new mayor sat there and said that he is going to make sure that everyone is respectful on the council and that the council is respectful of the citizens. Then five minutes later our fire chief gets up and talks about how he is going to support the new council and hopes that there can be a fresh start between the council and the fire dept, and the mayor starts treating him like dirt. I do not feel that the mayor is leading by example, it seems as those there was a personal issue and all he cared about was giving the chief a hard time, rather than protect the community when the chief is off duty. I would challenge the 3 that voted 'no' to give a real good reason as to why? I think it is hilarious that tourism can ask the council to spend $9,000 and they unanimously vote 'yes' after the chairman only spoke for 5 minutes. But the fire department is asking for help to protect the community and we deliberate for almost 2 hours about it?? How does that add up? What are our priorities here? I would much rather know that someone is going to come when I dial 911, rather than have someone come in and tell me where to market my town and how to do it.
I have to say, I have lived in Cascade Locks a very long time, I have seen people come and go from this town claiming to make a change and never do it. Jeff Pricher has made a change. He has worked hard to equip this town and our volunteers with the equipment and training that they need with little to no credit. I have heard so many negative things around town and on this blog about Chief Pricher and it saddens me to think that anyone can say such things about someone that has done so much day and night for this community. I think it took guts for him to stand before council after what has happened with Mr. Seeger and Mr. Morgan and try and mend the way for better communication. He isn't running off and finding another place to work or live. He is sticking by his community and his volunteers. That has to count for something and speaks volumes for his character, regardless of things you hear around town. Mr. Pricher - I raise my hat to you and commend you for all that you do everyday. I know that I am only one person, but I do appreciate you as our fire chief and as a person in general.
Come on guys.
This new mayor has only been on the job for less than a month.
I see more backbone in this mayor, than any mayor we have had in decades.
Even if he has a bad back.
But all I can tell you is, there was more going on in that meeting than anyone realizes.
Do you remember, that the auditor mentioned the budget law compliance issue debts.
But also realize that he mentioned 4 of 5 funds were operating at a loss.
Well I have bad news for all of us.
The local budget compliance law issues of $32,000.00 and $1,005.00are nothing.
Those 4 funds running at a loss, are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Money due now, which the city does not have.
Doubt me just read the report.
So are you going to blame this new mayor for that debt?
As far as not having the workshop on the Eva Lane issue, that citizen asked to cancel it as she could not stay.
So the meeting ended when it should have.
And again to pick on a persons disability for that is uncalled for.
That is the act of a fool to do that and not say who you are is cowardly.
If the mayor missed on the Roberts Rules of Order issues, let's consider he has never served on a council before.
Maybe then, we the citizens, should require, our mayor to be a previous councilor in our charter?
But since we don't, the fault of him learning on the job falls on the people.
Yet this mayor, is far better than our previous mayor, who rudely interrupted councilors rebuttal, arrogantly claiming a right to rebuttal because he was the mayor.
I await the day that this council makes this financial status of our city publically known.
I see many employees having to be let go.
I see services dropped.
We have been mis-managed into the gutter folks so tighten your seat belts.
And I know who to blame for all of this.
Cody
I can tell you, why I think the 3 did not vote for it.
$213,166.00 fund operating at a loss.
$1,005.00 personal services budget law violation over expendature.
$32,000.00 fund deficit budget law violation over expendature.
And lets not forget the $450,000.00 debt plus monthly interest, the emergency services department owes the electrical reserve fund.
Not to mention the 2 monthly OIB loans that department cannot pay now, which has to be payed from the general fund.
Then there is the new fire truck loan, that has to be paid from the general fund. Because that department is broke.
That is all, the emergency services department debt.
It was not personal.
It was reality.
That department is broke and in debt.
It is as easy as that.
So now we just took that $32,000.00 fund deficit budget law violation over expendature and added $2,000.00 making it $34,000.00.
Does that help you understand, why they may have voted the way they did?
Cody
I mispoke on the fire engine being paid from the general fund.
That should be a 24,280.00 loan taken from the water utility.
That loan plus interest is to be paid monthly.
To date not a slim cent of the principle or interest, has been paid on that loan.
Just like the principle and interest on the $450,000.00 loan emergency services owes the electrical reserve.
Now concerning the 2 OIB, Oregon Investment Board loans.
First off to get these loans if you remember it took a reduction of the OEO hours from 40 to 20 per week and cleaning out parks and rec.
After that, the genreal fund is supporting this loan of $2,784.24 per month, as that department cannot even pay their utility bill each month.
So now that you know the hard facts, what do you think now.
Then I have to consider the fact, that this department being so broke can't even bill for services in a timely manner.
Yet as it looks, we will be lucky to end up with a volunteer fire department, back at the old fire hall.
Cody
In my opinion, the fire chief is not to blame for all of the deficit. We had a CA who was in charge & did this to the citizens. The CA knew what he was doing & that we were running at a deficit. He is the one who put an inflated appraisal on the old fire station. He is the one who borrowed from Peter to pay Paul. He always talked as fast as he could to put his spin on everything. I believe the City should have had a "complete" audit long ago & not let the former CA scramble the figures & then leave a sinking ship. Then he had the balls to resign & ask for $18,000+ & his friends voted for it.
I am thankful we have a talented, dedicated fire chief/EMT. Put the blame where it belongs & quit making it a personality thing.
Perhaps those people complaining about fire dept. receipts coming in too slow should look at Medicare/Medicaid & their inequity in paying on time. Sometimes they have to be re-billed many times in order to collect. It is time consuming & frustrating. I say quit the blame game & look for solutions.
Of Course The chief wants a fresh start, anyone of us would be lobbying to keep our jobs in that position. And yea maybe he has got new equipment and a new truck, but look at the response times and the fact that a simple house fire requires at least one other departments help almost every time. I'm not saying he has done all bad, but some of the fire chiefs before him made major improvements for the department and they weren't being paid for it. As for the former mayor, sure he did not lie to you, he did everything right in front of your face with a blatant disregard for the fact it was supposed to be for your benefit not his or his close friends only. Wow our new mayor has back problem... at least that's the biggest complaint you can so far come up with. And after a month he still has a lot to learn, do you remember Mr. Lorang when he first became mayor? it takes a little learning when you all the sudden become the big man on campus, it doesn't just come naturally to us all. And is there a problem having a friend on the council, should have told Mr. Seeger and Mr. Lorang that then, maybe they would have been voted back? Haha I'm funny. There is a reason more than 4 people voted against the former mayor and while yes, it may take some learning and maybe even a few mistakes, nothing will compare to how dismal this town has become the last decade. As for Mr. Seeger speaking on behalf of the town, it's not like his comments were all bad, he is trying to sell something that the port commission did not seem interested in buying at all. Even if they do, it will be long after he is able to benefit from it. And As Mr. Masters stated, he was a member of the council, but was not there as a council member, meaning Mr. Seeger was also there as a city citizen and not employee. Just playing word games comes in handy in that little document. It was obvious who he was speaking for, but none of us can prove he wasn't there out of the kindness of his heart *cough* *cough* *cough* (wait I'm choking up now). He cares so much that he is about to bail. Give the new mayor a few months before you start harping about his back problems. He's got a good reputation as a worker and I'm sure once he gets settled in he will be just fine.
As for the record debt Cody, nothing new to this town and we both know this. good news is...... um.... well... I'll get back to you.
Jeremy E.
I see a different tone, now that I released the figures.
But understand, that these are only the figures for one department.
There are still 3 others that are very unhealthy.
But one thing is certain.
The emergency services department is bankrupt.
In the process it took to get to this point, it is taking down other departments.
Let's take that water department loan for the fire truck.
$24,280.00.
Well looking at the books, that department has a present fund deficit of $27,577.00.
Not to mention a depreciation deficit of $133,835.00.
So I would say, that loan needs to be paid back with the interest, and now.
But how is the city to do this?
I agree with you that, Jeff has made some good changes in our fire department.
But you have to realize, that these changes, might have had a part to do with this financial meltdown?
That will take a review of the facts leading to this meltdown, to determine.
We all know the C.A. and the 4 rubber stamp gang members of his agenda, were responsible for this.
Are they all financially liable?
I do know, that this council has to make some tough decisions.
Decisions which none of us will like, but they have to be done.
I do not see how this can be resolved without some major cuts.
Cuts in services and employee cuts.
Yet I do not know, if that will be enough to bail us out?
We are in serious trouble here.
So above all, this council has to do what is in the best interest of our city, not in what the city wants to do anymore, to appease any class of citizens.
The days you mentioned of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul are over.
Peters debt is payable and overdue.
So my best advice to everyone is get ready for the ride.
This may be an E-Ticket at Disneyland before this gets resolved.
Cody
I agree with Anonymous January 25, 2011 10:20 PM.. I voted for Haight and Fischer and they haven't even been in office for a month and I am already questioning my vote. Now that Bernard and John are gone, it seems to me that they were not really as bad as certain council members told me they were.
Fischer was not treating the chief with respect, he told him very rudely that he did not have the quarterly reports done and then repeated it countless times. We get the point, for what ever reason the reports were not done, MOVE ON, don't rub his nose in it over and over again.
I also voted for Tiffany when she was running for council, I thought she was doing a great job her first year on council, now she has a chip on her shoulder and if she doesn't like you personally she votes 'no' or she makes a snide comment at the council meetings. Her and Kevin always talk the same way, always vote the same way. Kevin sits there radiating anger all the time. He clearly hated Bernard and he clearly hates Jeff and I have yet to see a good reason as to why. I didn't agree with Bernard all the time, but the guy did his job and he at least communicated with respect. Tiffany and Kevin not once referred to the chief as 'Chief Pricher', Jeff said "yes, sir" and "no, sir". How about our city council try something refreshing, lead by example!
Cody, I disagree with you. You always say you are stating the 'facts'.. But I always read your 'facts' and they are swayed. You are NOT a lawyer, so why the hell does anyone listen to you? Just because you think you are smart, doesn't mean that you are. Just because you know the legal terms and use big words doesn't mean anything to me. I don't care what you have to say. It is not the emergency services departments' fault that we are in debt. Take a good look around you. AMERICA is in the debt, the whole WORLD is in debt. Welcome to 2011, Cody. Poor little Cascade Locks is not the only town going through this.
First of, what does any other town have to do with this one? and in case you haven't heard, this town owns and runs everything it has, unlike other municipalities that incorporate other business to do services for them, thereby avoiding the whole crisis our town is going through. Really it's not there fault? then who's is it? are you going to point the blame somewhere else? that's called scapegoating, don't know if that's to big a word for you or not. You are trying to say Cody is not smart then why the hell r you reading any of this in the first place? I'm sure your blog is just ever so popular. By the way, how r his facts swayed? because they present fact and then Cody presents his opinions on the matter? That is the whole intention of this blog and our first amendment right protects us to say what we want when we find out the facts. and just because the rest of the country drives off a cliff, we are just supposed to buckle up and go for the ride? obviously we see what kind of conformists you would be. At least put a little effort into your rebuttal. I don't even agree with everything Cody says but at least i will have the decency to back myself up if I want to argue with him. Stop trying to just stick up for a couple people you like and go gets some facts to back yourself up.
By the way, our city has a higher debt/asset ratio than Hood river, who's emergency department does not run at a loss. So if everyone around is so "Poor" why is the other city in our county doing so much better financially? and they aren't even out of the red. but at least there key departments are making an effort to make money.
Jeremy E.
Anonymous, January 26, 2011 11:34 AM
Boy it appears you are confused?
You say, "I voted for Haight and Fischer and they haven't even been in office for a month and I am already questioning my vote."
To date in the council meetings, all but one issue, has been decided by a majority vote of the council.
But in that one issue, there was a yea vote cast by Councilmember Haight and a nea vote cast by Mayor Fischer.
Yet you question your vote on both men?
That is logic I do not understand.
You say, "Now that Bernard and John are gone, it seems to me that they were not really as bad as certain council members told me they were."
As far as John, mistakes were made, then he resigns and debases the citizens.
Bernard, now that is bold statement in my mind.
After learning of this audit, keeping in mind, that that audit consisted of records that management gave the auditor.
That point being stated by the auditor, leaves me to question.
Could it be any worse?
On a personal note any manager of a corporation, which we are.
Who can say that, the city can take 5% of the monthly gross revenues from our utilities.
And tell council, that it is up to council if they pass those costs on to the consumer, I feel is incompetent.
Realistically, what part of business class, did this man miss, I must question, to think that when you raise the cost of doing business, that you do not have to pass those costs off, on to the consumers.
After all we are not talking about the net income.
We are talking the gross.
You know. the portion, before any bills are paid.
So what is the net effect, of that kind of illogical management, in my opinion.
I would think that these figures, are proof enough.
So now, were those council members so wrong after all, whom you say told you they were bad?
The fact is even with all of this we do not know how bad it really is.
I do know that this problem is so big, that it is going to take more than this garden spade, to bury it.
Cody
Who the hell decided it was a good idea to have Scot Sullinger on the committee to choose a temp administrator?!? And what qualifications does he have anyways?? He owns a run down motel and I cannot remember a time when he was actually ON a committee of any sort. Sounds like the new mayor and Scot's best buddy Benson have a little personal agenda of their own.
Anonymous, January 26, 2011 11:34 AM
To continue on, you say; "Fischer was not treating the chief with respect, he told him very rudely that he did not have the quarterly reports done and then repeated it countless times. We get the point, for what ever reason the reports were not done, MOVE ON, don't rub his nose in it over and over again."
Well maybe we need to put ourselves in the shoes of the mayor.
The mayor, just minutes before the chief spoke, gets this financial report.
That report says that department is basically bankrupt.
So along comes the head of that department.
And that department head, wants money his department does not have.
Money, of which will have to, once again, come from another department of the city.
Then the report the chief gave, lacked much needed information.
Then council learns that someone budgeted $10,000.00, for this trial program, when council specifically set the trial with a $5,000.00 limit.
Then council learns that a condition for the trial program was imposed, but not fulfilled.
That condition was quarterly reports to council on the trial program.
A condition in which the chief was to fulfill.
Then council learns of the delays in billing.
Delays which information from which the chief was fully responsible for.
So tell me who disrespected who?
Now I do not know about you, but I was raised learning that, respect was earned and not a granted part of life.
If I did wrong, my parents would punish me for their lack of respect, from my bad actions.
When I entered the workforce, respect worked the same way.
If I made bad choices, respect was lost which parents and employers would call me on, all because of their lost respect of me.
I did not take me long, to learn that respect was everything in life.
And building back up that lost respect, is harder than losing it.
As parents and employers do they rub noses in those whom they have lost respect in.
Yes it happens over and over.
Because once that respect is lost it cannot be forgot.
That is the nature of people, wanting people to never forget, to prevent things from reoccurring.
That is a protection mechanism. It protects all parties.
Because lost repect hurts every party to the dis-respect.
Cody
Anonymous, January 26, 2011 11:34 AM
To continue on again, you say; "Cody, I disagree with you. You always say you are stating the 'facts'.. But I always read your 'facts' and they are swayed. You are NOT a lawyer, so why the hell does anyone listen to you? Just because you think you are smart, doesn't mean that you are. Just because you know the legal terms and use big words doesn't mean anything to me. I don't care what you have to say. It is not the emergency services departments' fault that we are in debt. Take a good look around you. AMERICA is in the debt, the whole WORLD is in debt. Welcome to 2011, Cody. Poor little Cascade Locks is not the only town going through this."
So you say you read my facts and that is imposable.
There are the facts on this blog.
There are facts I write to council.
There are facts to the Oregon Department of Revenue, the Oregon Department of Utilities, the Oregon Governmental Ethical Department, the Oregon Secreatry of State and even the Attorney General of the State of Oregon.
Then there are facts to my attorney.
There are facts to the Sheriff and his three investigators.
Which take these facts to the district attorney.
So being you seem to think you know all the facts, please tell us all just what are the facts?
In light of, only I know all the facts concerning my involvemment here?
So just how am I swaying the facts you seem to know all?
Coming from someone whom does not know all the facts.
Not to mention someone throwing statements, based on feelings and nothing factual to back it up.
The problem with some people in this town is, they know nothing about me.
Those that do know me well, know my background, they know my education, they know my accomplishments and they know my weaknesses.
So if you care not about what I say, all I can say is you must not care about this town.
Because that I do.
I care that our city has been mismanaged like this, to the point of bankruptcy.
I care that our utilities are as high as they are due to illegal misuse of utility funds.
I care that people are having a hard time making ends meet, because of the illegally inflated costs of these utilities.
I care that business can go across the river or down the road and set up shop because these high utilities rates, would raise the costs for them to do business here.
So in my mind, my cares outweigh you care, based on the facts after all.
As far as you AMERICA is in debt statement.
Can I ask is that an excuse you are proposing?
No s*&t Sherlock, America is in debt.
But just because our federal government has failed us, does not give this excuse to this city.
When it could have been avoided to begin with.
So just who's fault is it that we are in the financial state we are in?
And be honest with yourself in that answer.
No I give you the floor for some factual based statements
Cody
Fer chrissakes Sarah, first you behave like lovesick fishwife, alternately kissing Jeff's ass with screaming at the Council and then come onto this blog, using the same words and sentiments and we are toooooooo stupid to recognize you? Leave off the hysterical characterizations and learn to read a budget report. Also, you could do everyone one big favor if the next time you try to claim you understand billing when no one else does that you remember that if the billing is not sent out that it can't be paid.
Cody, I just got back home and read all the new entries. I am amazed and grateful for your clear-eyed assessment of the mess our budget is in. I am sorry that some folks are unable to separate the personal from the politic and cannot allow a learning curve for a Council beset by monetary facts recently made obvious to all of us. It scares me that some among us think that just because they think it should be that way, it has to be that way. This town can only survive with compromise and clarity from our elected officials and honesty from our hired officials. This is truly a nexus for Cascade Locks and hysteria and grandstanding will no longer cut it nor I hope, frighten us into frantic decision-making. The pyramid scheme known as our current budget based on future possibilities has come home to roost, and boy, is it pissed! I would hope that the blame game that is so evident in too many of the above comments evolves into an intelligent and adult conversation about what to do and how to pay it. Thank you for what you do, lawyer or not, what you do is needed and is greatly appreciated from at least my household.
Jeremy.
Boy are you in tune with what goes on in city government.
Why aren't more young adults as passionate as you?
The problems these adults have created, are problems you young adults will have to pay for.
So it is only fitting that the young adults should have a voice.
But as far as I know, you are the only person between 18 and 30 who is speaking out.
Things are going to get worse in the next few months.
The small portion of the audit report I spoke of here, is only a small part of it.
So stay tuned to what is going on.
Get your peer group involved.
Speak out if you feel the need.
And by all means, if you need anything from watching previous council meetings, documentation, to questions, you know how to contact me.
You know my door is always open to you.
Cody
Kate
Thank you.
Oh you are so right about the blame game.
The fact of the matter is we do not have time to play the blame game.
Anyone with half a brain knows who to blame and there are many.
Getting out of this trouble is going to take some creative thinking.
Yet today after this audit report, it just got worse.
All I can say is, things in hiding are raising their ugly heads.
So my statement of being in serious condition, just went to being on life support.
We could lose it all.
So again we do not have time for the blame game.
We need a plan to attack these problems.
If ever there was a time to have faith in a council, now is that time.
Now I am going to go back to being in shock, from what I just learned.
Cody
I'm impressed by Jeremy's grasp of the issues, as well as how many issues are intertwined.
I'm sure his granddad would be proud of him.
Keep it up Jeremy!!, and please encourage others of your age to get involved as well.
Enough, cookie lady! Why on earth with all your choices of places to live, did you choose an "isolated" place like Cascade Locks? Don't look for your false pride in an over sized, over decorated, over lighted, fire hall, with an undersized, over blown, self promoting demi-god at the helm.
Thanks to narrow, shallow minded, clueless people like you, a small group of interlopers have been able to use an emotional issue to divide this town. Nice going, cookie lady. Meanwhile, the town is being driven into unfunded debt. The initiatives were intended to control spending. Fat chance, with BL, JP, and BS and their group of worshiping minions. Not even manipulated and unrealistic projections come close to closing this gap between reality and la la land.
You, empty vessels filling yourselves up on - what? Pride? You may call yourself "expert" or "the cookie lady". I call you cruel and ignorant.
I understand why volunteer citizens can make financially irresponsible decisions, sometimes when it is not your money it is easier to gamble with. Paid officials with job titles such as City Administrator making $6,000 a month in a town that is dwindling financially and to still make decisions my 4 year old daughter could make with her piggy bank money? Really? Everyone knows he ran because he was going to get fired for just 'cause from the new mayor and council. He got his wish, and good riddance, we are better off in every way without him. I could volunteer for his position and do a better job and I dare you to challenge me to it. As for the Fire Chief, he stands at odds with the new council, but he did not vote on the issues that gave him the money to run at a deficit, I am sure in the hell going to spend money when it is given to me, if the council continues to vote to give you money over and over, then no one checks everything to make sure it's spent properly. Easy simple mistakes to make, but he his a paid official of our VOLUNTEER fire department, he should be playing the game a lot better than that. It's called No. My daughter says it every time I ask if I can use her money to buy something, but you know if it's my money she wants me to get it for her. She is 4. Think about that for a minute.
By the way, since the department is running at a loss wouldn't the simple fix be to let the Chief go? He makes enough to almost balance out the sheet. At least for a loan or two. Would you rather keep the new fire truck or fire chief? I'm pretty sure our volunteers could handle for a year or two til we get back in the black to hire a new chief that may have taken at least intro to business at MHCC.
As for getting anyone in this city under the age of 30 to care about the matters of this city? Ha ha I've been trying to do that since I was 13. Never gonna happen.
Jeremy E.
Jeremy you are just as big of an idiot as the guy you worship (Cody)!
The only reason Cody started this blog was to have a little fan club of his own.
Both of you are extremely pathetic.
And whoever keeps saying that Jeremy is SO involved - that's bull**** - I never see you at the city council meetings or holding a seat on a committee. Blogging does NOT make you involved. And I get rather sick of seeing all of your comments about how "great" Cody is! We should fire the chief huh??!! Let's see you do his job any better!!
PS - For all of you idiots out there who think the "cookie lady" is the only one that supports the fire dept - THIS POSTING WAS NOT WRITTEN BY HER..
Worship?? wow. I'll admit I have a strong opinion of the guy 'cause he is obviously smarter than you. As for why I don't go to the council meetings is because I work during every single one of them, sorry for having a job that requires me to work nights, but my fiance works days and it's a lot cheaper to not have a babysitter 40 hours a week. Sorry if saving financially is not something that you cope well with. Seeings how you stick up for people that spend extraordinary amounts of money they don't even have.
You must pay more attention to people's writing in order to talk bad about someone, I support the Fire department too thank you very much, I do not support it running at a deficit considering how many calls they get sent out on just for search and rescue. Our volunteers do a hell of a job and u will never hear me say differently. But has the response time changed since the hiring of an official paid chief? Has the waiting for the volunteers, two of whom live in dodson/warrendale, to get there before they can go out on a call changed? Has the proximity of the new fire hall really helped out? All these questions have a simple answer yet the council continued to plow money into it thinking it would resolve some of the easiest issues.
By the way I submitted letters to the city recorder for a seat on both the budget and charter councils (try checking your facts first jackass). And maybe if the city council decides to start there meeting at 10 i could attend one. As for now i will try and get appointed by the mayor to one of these councils to continue to voice my opinion. In which I have only lived back in Cascade Locks since December 09. And have worked at night since I moved back, sorry if that doesn't suite you, but I don't give a rats ass about pleasing you.
Let's get on to the subject of you,
You called me pathetic correct? You have absolutely no facts when you talk and then you try to talk shit about someone's facts that are real? Unlike your assumptions about why someone is not at the council meetings.
And please come up with something better than I worship Cody, I respect the guy for what he is trying to do for the city, and am not going to back away from a dip shit like you trying to alter someones perception by saying there facts are bullshit. Where are your facts? You just trying to talk shit but having nothing to back yourself up with, so keep your mouth shut 'cause no one really cares about the blah diditty blah blah crap spewing from it.
Jeremy E.
Involved as in I know the peoples names on the council, I know what issues the council is talking about, I know some of the behind the scenes problems not everyone knows about. Go ask most people around 18 - 30 that live here and tell me what kind of answers you come up with? Most of them could care less, they hate living here. Why is that? Is that because an older generation plowed this place into the ground so far that even the older generation doesn't want to be here anymore? Yes I would like to be more involved in the city, but I don't have the kind of time I would like to. I am trying to get my own life situated, which happens to be in this town, and yes i am BLOGGING about my opinion of this place and the way it is going, and I am pretty sure you have been doing the same, mostly trying to talk shit to people instead of providing a basis for an argument. You obviously weren't on a debate team in school.
Jeremy E.
P.S. Neither Was I. I graduated from CLHS. I had to take Spanish as an elective.
Wow your vileness knows no bounds and you seem to portray a very sore loser....hmm I wonder who that could be. At least Jeremy has the integrity to stand behind his name and not hide behind anonymity. Kudos to Jeremy for asking the questions and considering the answers instead of being led around by a brass ring in the snout.
Cody are you going to put the latest council meeting here?
Jeremy welcome to the rebellion.
From what I read here you know Cody.
This may explain the attack that was made on you.
My take after being a follower of his blogs is he has done allot of public harm to certain groups and people in town.
I am sure that those people want some serious payback.
So along comes a young adult I take who knows Cody and you start giving your take on things.
Your take on things is not what that side wants to hear.
Understand that you are dealing with people that have no facts to fight back with.
The only way they can deal with facts is to take the fight to a personal level.
All I can tell you is you showed them how make it personal.
I hope you showed them that the young as well as the old can take the fight to them.
Do not let them get you down as they want to control your beleifs.
They want you to think like they do.
So now they know you will not submit, but a word of advise, do not let them know you took it personal.
Laugh at them or thank them as that would deflate the bubbbles they sit on.
I hope the mayor does put you on the committees.
We need that young energetic spirit instead of the same old boring take to much time for nothing groups we have had controlled by worthless council people or hand picked by worthless mayors for their personal wants.
Keep it up and realize that you made them mad the minute you bucked their beleifs.
Beliefs that the facts keep disproving.
P.W.D.
Jeremy
I was called about this and I had to see it for myself.
Now Jeremy knowing you as well as I do, I would take you over this clown in an IQ test, on your worst day.
I know how well you did in school and I bet that person, can not tell you, that at 18 or 19 was it, that they worked as a machinist for NASA, as you did, now can they?
You see Sigmund Fraud classified people like this as 'jingoist", meaning they can make themselves believe their s*#t doesn't stink. So when they tell you their s*#t doesn't stink and you do not believe them, that they resort to bullying, debasement, prejudice, insults, and degradation to make you believe their s*#t doesn't stink.
Then when you prove to them that their s*#t doesn't stink, its off with the gloves and dirty fighting.
You can go so far as to prove it with these types of people, that you can be gagging and barfing from the stench so bad, that they still do not believe that their s*#t doesn't stink.
As a matter of fact you could feed these jingoist types, there own s*#t and they would make themselves believe it tasted good, just to prove a point.
Their point.
Now to the little flea that picked on this young man.
You have been flicked.
Now that you are flopping around on the ground right now, I will tell you what.
Although my daddy always taught me, that no matter if I thought I was smarter than everyone, that there would always be someone smarter, right around the corner.
So far those words of wisdom from my dad has been right.
But I do not believe you are one of them.
I was also raised that when someone challenges your pride, that I was to knock that person on their ass.
If I did not my dad would knock me on my ass.
So grow a set of balls enough, to put your name here and then lets go see who has the higher IQ.
I can always call one of my college's and set it up for us.
British Columbia is to far, but one is in downtown Portland and another one happens to be in Vancouver, Washington.
Are you up for that?
Because if you are, make out your last rights, as I will squash you, like the rodent vermin flea you are.
As it is more than clear to me, that your daddy did not teach you these lessons and I beleive it is time to school you.
It's just a phone call for me away and I live for a good challenge.
Cody
Thank You Cobalt, P.W.D. , Cody, and the Anonymous Author from January 26 at 10:27. I learned a long time ago facts are usually a sure bet to an argument, and never bet unless you're sure you can win. I would also like to think my great grand-dad would be very proud also, which by the way was Eugene Miller, who was a very highly respected fire chief, considering he was paid absolutely nothing for what he did (and our town had 3,000 residents and over 50 business permits then, not the measly 1,100 people and 10 or less permits it has now), I would gladly take the Fire Chiefs job, not sure I would do better, but I couldn't really do much worse financially could I? Which I have absolutely no credentials for the job except taking financial accounting and business management. I don't know where that would help in a fire, but, You are the one saying I want his job, I'm saying we should find someone a little more suited for the job. Maybe with a new council JP will start managing more financially, I would give him 6 months, things don't improve, can him, plain and simple. The City Administrator was a different story, he was our biggest financial problem, he was like a shady loan officer. Knowing we have no income to pay for a loan he would recommend we take it anyways. Yes, I could do better than that, just take a look at our bookkeeping and you would understand why we are so broke.
I also learned to never back down from a bully. They are only trying to hide some shame of there own, and if you would like to make this personal I will gladly open my closet for you to try and find whatever skeletons you may. Just be forewarned you start bitching about my lawn and I might just come over and mow yours for you ;).
Jeremy E.
P.S. My IQ is over 130.. Wont tell you the actual score, but I have the results right here and will gladly take another test anytime. Not against you though Cody... I hate losing...
P.W.D.
I am sorry I did not let you know this, when I checked the blog last night.
I have a bad case of tunnel vision as you can see.
I have 2 parts uploaded now.
This takes time but I will begin uploading the last part shortly.
If you would like to watch the 2 parts I have finished here are the links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pONdm3rDe64
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IN-m-P99KM
As soon as this last part is finished, I will post them all on a new page.
Cody
To those of us with more than hot air between our ears, lets look at this debt problem, as our financial managers should have been doing.
Since the Emergency Services Department has the biggest debt problem, lets start there.
There are two formulas which apply here.
I will start with one that applies to the people as we are the stakeholders of this enterprise business.
This is known as the debt to capitol ratio.
This would be a determination of this departments financial worth, calculated as the company's debt divided by its total capital.
Debt includes all short term, mid term and long term obligations.
Total capital includes the company's debt and we the stakeholders equity.
As we do not get paid for this as a stockholder would, we do benefit from this enterprise business.
That said we need to look at this enterprise business as a stockholder would before buying that stock.
Now some of you may see other benefits but I am going to target 4.
The first benefit is public safety.
The second benefit is, without the fire department, our homeowners insurance would skyrocket and our property values could go down.
A third benefit would be the personal, moral and pride effect.
All I have to do is say, remember when the high school closed how did you feel?
Was it morally wrong?
How does it feel explaining to people, that because of financial problems, they closed our high school?
The fourth is not a benefit but must be factored in.
Face it or not, we need jobs in our town. If we cannot protect a business owner and their employees, with fire and critical life saving services, that would have a negative effect impact, on bringing any business into our town.
Granted there are allot of unknowns here in the report.
Also know that that audit was done in June, so things could be better or they could be worse.
But also realize that the auditor was not disclosed the financial information, concerning the loans made to the fire department, for the fire hall and fire truck.
Had those loans been obtained from a financial institution, they would have been in default years ago.
As a matter of fact, the fire hall and the fire truck, would have been repossessed within 3 months of the taking of those loans.
So now put yourselves in the shoes of a person wanting to buy stocks in a company.
The generic financial statement, shows this company is in a financial meltdown.
This company has short, mid and long term debt which the revenue cannot pay.
This company has outstanding loans with no means to pay for them.
This company cannot live within a budget and violates the law, because the debt is greater than the income.
Now would you buy stock in this company?
As for me I wouldn't just walk, I would run away as fast as I could.
But I am not allowed that choice.
I am stuck buying worthless stock.
Cody
If attending council meetings is prerequisite for voicing an opinion, we all fail.
There are neither heroes or victims here. Not Cody, Jeremy, George, Brad, Jeff, or anyone else. The only heroes I know of are fighting and dying for our right to bitch and moan without worrying about airplanes flying into skyscrapers, and for about minimum wage no less.
If you lack the intelligence to create a convincing argument to support your opinion, then name calling is all you have left. If you feel threatened by discussion and have nothing to add besides how dumb you think someone is, stay out of the room (blog).
If we don't require spending, regardless of how great anyone thinks the cause is, to remain within our city's means we are sunk. Plain and simple.
Yes we need fire coverage here, we also need help to arrive in less than 30 minutes. We don't have any more money to spend. What are we going to do?
I think we need volunteers that view themselves as part of our community first and mayor, council member, committee member or firefighter second. The good of the community is point of the whole exercise. If you can't get your mind around that then we need to find someone else to fill your position. There is no one who can't be replaced.
No more threats. If we have to start over, then we have to start over. Let's just get on with it.
Now we determine the debt to asset equity ratio formula's.
These formula's should have been used, long before this department buried itself in the debt it has.
This formula would have shown the city in advance, if it could safely borrow the money it has.
It does this by comparing the company's total debt and dividing it by the amount of owner's asset equity.
Now we all know what debt is.
But people have different meanings for equity, so lets use it in the business definition.
In business equity, it's the owner’s rights to the assets of the business.
Which leads us to assets in the business terms.
Something valuable that the business owns, benefits from, has use of, in generating income.
In accounting, an asset is something an entity has acquired or purchased, and which has monetary value.
That was just the first step to take before would have applied for a loan.
Remember when factoring this out for example, that you cannot claim the fire hall that is being built, as equity.
That is debt you are try to establish credit to build, using equity that department already holds title to and owns.
The next thing I would have done, is determine the debt-to-income ratio.
This is the percentage of net income, that goes toward paying the debt, which finances this department.
Not knowing the debt or the terms, we hold debt under, I may have to determine this, not only monthly, but quarterly and annually.
Short term, mid term and long term.
This would have told me the money I would have in the bank, to safely pay off this loan.
Then if I wanted a loan for 10 years for example, I would have to go back 10 years and average my net income, over those 10 years.
Now I can determine what a financial institution would want, to give this department a loan.
The debt to equity ratio. What is the company worth today.
This is determined by taking the net income per year and dividing it by the rate of interest.
Lets say a business nets a million dollars in a year and the 10 year interest rate is 5%. That company is worth $20,000,000.
Now some financial institutions, want to know what the future potential earning would be.
This formula is a big guessing game.
First you have to figure out the present value to determine the future value.
Then you have to determine based on the past performance what percentage the business has grown.
Then you have to use what is known as, the rule of 72, which means you take that percentage and divide it by 72.
At that point you have determined how long it will take to double your investment.
Then over that period of time you have to deduct the inflation percentage, from previous years average rate of inflation.
Then you have to determine the cash flow stream, concepts of earnings normalization, terminal values, and discounts for marketability, size, reliance on the owner/operator, geographic concentrations, lack of diversity of product, and many other factors, and many other things which would significantly affect the derived values.
But at this point, we are not talking about putting this enterprise up for sale and it is pointless to continue.
Because at that point a business is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Cody
The problem was how overestimated some of our growth was stated to be. We have actually lost residents over the last 10, 20, and 30 years, so why would you be predicting growth when all we have done is shrank? It's a lot easier to get the money when you are telling them what exponential growth you will have in both industry and residents, but neither has happened yet. The only new businesses in town belong to the former mayor and the art gallery right across the street from that, which is leased from the owner of the local grocery store. They should have ball parked it somewhere towards the low end, like instead of saying we will grow to 2,000 say we will shrink to 1,000. That way when you do grow, it is an unexpected boost in revenue, not a much needed expectation you already didn't meet.
Is this town being run by the people on wall street? that one dude said something about the whole world being broke. Yes. It is. This town shouldn't be though, but we followed everyone right down the same path of fudging numbers until it bites us in the ass.
And now they are figuring out how hard the bite can be..
Jeremy E.
"Now to the little flea that picked on this young man.
You have been flicked.
Now that you are flopping around on the ground right now, I will tell you what."
Wow - seriously?!
It is really funny to me how you two can dish it but you can't take it. That is how all you nuts are. You run around this town and this dumb blog lashing out at everyone that doesn't do everything EXACTLY the way YOU FEEL it should be done. Then when someone challenges you and does the exact same thing back to you, you cry like little babies and get all defensive.
F**k you both, you two are just a BIG waste of time.
Dude you seriously have some issues, you are the one that is having a problem taking insults back, and you were the one that started with insults instead of facts in the first place. it's dip shits like you that got this town into this mess and nuts like me that are going to get us out.
You still have provided nothing worth arguing over except a few lame insults. Grow a pair of nuts and actually get something to defend yourself with. You are worthless, you have absolutely nothing to base any of your bullshit on.
I have a two year old son, he sounds a hell of a lot more like you than he does me... I can take anything you dish out. And have yet to even resort to anything nasty like you. Come on pussy. BRING IT!
If you can actually prove even one point you've tried making, I'll give my kids each 50 bucks. Each point thereafter another 50... bring one fact to the table, one shred of your self respect. Oh wait, you are hiding behind yourself already.
Jeremy E.
P.S. At least my names on here wussy... i think it's funny you tell me i can't take insults when you are the one that had to resort to them in the first place. Say whatever you want. I will insult you back because I can.
I don't even know who you are and I can insult you better than you can insult me... Pretty sad...
And I'm not scared to write it Fuck You!
When you want to have a actual debate about the problems you have with the facts and/or opinions I have on here, great. If not, insult me all you want, you still prove nothing like I have proven.
Again.
Fuck You
Jeremy E.
Now all that mumbo jumbo is nice to know if you are a business owner.
Yet, even if you thought that was all that was needed, you are wrong.
Because this city does not treat it's enterprise businesses as it should.
Realize that a business's success or failure, is measured by its worth to produce revenue, as a means to support the operation of the business.
If the business cannot support itself, then the business fails.
It's a simple as that.
Yet our forefathers did it wrong.
They were not wrong in supporting these enterprise business, they were wrong in not implementing safeguards, to protect and ensure their financial survival.
Let's use the electrical light utility.
The day that city began creation of this enterprise business it should have set aside three separate funds.
A operational fund, which would support the day to day operation and maintenance, financial needs of that specific utility.
Then a reserve fund should have been set up. This would account for fund to protect the utility financially, in case of unforeseen catastrophic events and to finance future upgrades to the infrastructure.
Then a depreciation fund. As the reserve fund accounts for the physical plant, this fund is specific to account for the depriciation of equipment and tools needed to support the enterprise business.
But the most important part of these funds, would be a restriction in the funds creation, stating that the funds for the electrical light utility, cannot be used for any other purpose, other than for the electrical light uses.
After all, that is in accordance with the law.
But we know, how that has worked out for us, don't we?
Well now comes the 70's.
All other towns have cable TV and our city does not.
So our forefathers then make the cable TV, a part of the electrical light utility.
When what they should have done at that point, is made divisions within the electrical department.
Then under the division of electrical services, we would have the department of electrical light and the department of cable television.
In layman's terms the goal of the electrical light was to provide electrical light to power alternating current electrical devices.
The goal of the cable TV was to provide low voltage, modulated radio waves to television sets.
Separate goals, separate businesses.
As a matter of fact, the only thing these two distinctly businesses have in common, is they share space on the telephone poles, to hold their individual cables.
But our forefathers made another mistake.
They overlooked creating separate funds specific for the cable TV division.
With its own safeguards.
So the cable TV operates under the divisional fund as a part of the electrical light division.
Then along comes some more forefathers and what do they do.
They make the same mistakes as the other forefathers and create an internet division as a part of the electrical light division.
Cody
So what we have is electrical light division, tools and equipment, being used for to financially support, these uniquely separate enterprise businesses, of which that lost depreciation value is factored into our electrical light rates.
Then we also have electrical light workers, who at a higher rate of pay, are doing work for, these uniquely separate enterprise businesses and those financial charges, are factored into our electrical light rates.
To top that off these uniquely different enterprise businesses are not meeting the debt to net income ratio. meaning those financial losses are factored into our electrical light rates.
In looking at the monthly bills, I see the general fund paying to financially support, the electrical uses of all these enterprise businesses.
Even little oversights like that, do add up over time.
When what should have happened is our forefathers should have contracted an internal department agreement, whereas, the cable TV and internet divisions, would have paid to the electrical light division, tool and equipment depreciation costs as well as the hourly rate of pay for the electrical light divisions workers when needed.
But the icing on the cake over the years, has been, how when the city just uses these funds, to support any other municipal purpose that it wants to, weather it violates the law or not.
This city even goes so far as to, inflate the rates deliberately, to use for other municipal uses.
Well let's take our cable TV system.
Just like our electrical light enterprise, in its time it served this city with well.
Yet the revenue was inflated and funds used for other purposes.
Then in the eighties it should have been upgraded.
The mentality was let it just keep making us money so we can spend it.
Then the nineties. It is still making us money, lets just keep spending it.
Now look at it.
There is nothing left to take and it requires a major investment to attempt to build a customer base.
So what happened to cause this.
Our forefathers left the door open for abuse.
They hired administrators to manage, what they did not know how to manage.
These administrators used those open doors, to give council's over the years options, in the form of their so called advice, to abuse these enterprise businesses, to support other municiple purposes.
Here are a few examples.
An OEO vehicle paid for by the electrical light.
And I will start and end an argument here.
$50,000.00 dollars a year plus expenses, to pay for a lobbyist, to lobby for the casino.
A casino which if it was a private business would generate a substantial amount in the property taxes alone. But it is an indian casino which is tax exempt.
The port owns the land, so they will profit on the sale and the addition lease for parking.
Sure we get a police force, to protect the casino.
The school gets money but that is another governmental department.
But we did get a grant through these lobbyists for our electrical light department.
Opps, that just fortunately happened, as the intent and purpose of hiring that lobbyist, was to lobby for the casino.
Now I wonder just how many wages, are being paid by the electrical light fund.
Considering the city takes 5% gross of all utility revenues, to spend for other municipal purposes. in violation of many laws.
Cody
They have a great enterprise though if you look at it from the owners perspective, everything under one roof! Only problem with that is all the funds are split under that same roof. Never works out equally. I still have not figured out why the city does not rival corporations like comcast and verizon in quality of what they can offer. They are willing to charge the money for it, but not put the money back into infrastructure to sustain the growth they projected us to have. Really, 30 channels for 25 dollars? dish network (the cities cable provider) will give you your own dish for 25.99 a month with 170 more channels. How is it this city just does not care to compete with that?
Internet is another thing all in itself, yes it can be run in the same division as cable, I used to be a cable and telephony installer for Comcast and once it became broadband; telephone, internet, and cable were all just a plug away. As to why Cascade Locks did not follow everyone like they do in every other way shape or finance. Not a clue. I'd sure love some of the speeds offered by those other companies though.
Jeremy E.
Cody... really important to get the facts right: his name was Sigmund Freud, not Fraud... LOL ;-)
I want to just say I was told about this and had my doubts on what I heard.
But after spending most of the day and into the next one now reading and watching all of this all I can say is I am sick.
I think I understand it but the more I think about it I begin feeling violated.
What I cannot figure out is are we broke?
The older man in the video said that other citys are having the same problems.
But he never said any thing about the loans I just read about.
He also did not say anything about that fund that owed all that money.
Is that part on the movie you are putting on the internet?
I also want to know is everyone in the movie mad at Jeff for the money problems?
He seems like such a nice young man.
I have also heard that Bernard quit and on that video it looked like he got fired.
Is he why we have money problems?
He did make me feel uneasy and I really dont know if I trusted him as something about his eyes and the way he talked kind of gave me the creeps.
I see why the one person got mad at the other but do you have to talk like that.
Its alright to get mad but just because he did does not mean you should.
You seem to smart for that.
You were right about that person until you did that and when you did that he made you look bad like him and I think that is what that person wanted to do.
The one man was right about what he was when I looked it up.
But he did not need to say anything else.
But I am not a man and men will be men and that I have never understood.
Now I must go to bed but I must say even if the videos were long this has been like one of those books you cannot put down.
I just hope it has a happy ending.
I want to put my name here but not right now.
I think the energy being spent looking for the "responsible party" for our current situation is a waste of time.
From your city charter:
Section 6. WHERE POWERS VESTED. Except as this charter provides
otherwise, all powers of the City shall be vested in the Council.
Authority(power) and responsibility go hand in hand. The city is in the mess it's in because of our council. Regardless of who advised them to do what, they had the power to prevent/require actions.
Get involved, develop a plan, pay attention. After all, it is your money at work.
Integrity Quotient, an IQ test that matters.
Anonymous, January 29, 2011 3:35 PM
I agree.
We can't turn the hands of time back, nor do we have a Genie in a bottle to change what was done.
History will deal with the wrongdoers, when she writes them on her scrolls of time
What we must ensure, is that from this point forward, is that part of history changes, or we will be written in the scrolls of time.
And what she will write, is they did not learn a thing.
Cody
Well written words of wisdom.
All I can add is I hope it happens soon.
I cannot afford to live here much longer with these $400.00 to $500.00 power bills I have been getting.
On top of daily trips to Hood River so my children can play school sports or to be a part of other activities.
I owe them that part of their childhoods but at what costs in the end?
P.W.D.
Cody? I do understand it is your blog.
Jeremy, I get it, I admire Cody a great deal, just like you, but both of you, please! 54 comments and you two are at least half of them. Normal, rude folks would say get a room. I am just going to say that you two don't have to answer every comment, you know. Let some other citizens in town respond and let the conversation take its course.
And enough with the Anonymous crap all ready. Use what little imagination you have and give a name - a made up one is fine - but stop making us guess which fricking anonymous we are responding to for clarity's sake.
Speaking of which:
Anon 3:58 am either get some sleep or stop smoking that crap. Your post sounds like Rob Brostoff letter to the editor.
To the loquacious recalled council member, drunk driving convicted, elect me for anything please, skin-head policing vigilante, don't bother me with the facts, old carp Mr. Brostoff.
Your OUT;
of touch with reality
of people who are interested in your "opinion"
of brain cell needed to form a thought
Please put a realistic price on your house so you can go "help" some other city. I'm sure Brad left that hole in the fence so you could get out!
Play nice,ladies... this isn't the janissary blog.
P.S. that should read you're.
You're right, and this blog should read Whose. :)
Snicker ;)
So I have posted 12 comments (including this one), and Cody has posted 16, for a total of 28, not at least half of 59, Anonymous authors posted 21 comments, 19 if you don't count P.W.D. as anonymous. I am pretty sure without any of us there would be no conversation, it would be great to get more people involved, unfortunately no one is willing to answer or to even ask the damn questions.
Jeremy E.
To Anonymous 01/28/11 @10:26am: Right On!!
To Grumpy Citizen 01/30/11: Right On!!
To Marachuanman and the other potty mouth: Are you kidding me?? Whats with all the foul language and put downs? I know, because you can. So much for trying to help make a bettr community.
I too am tired of commenting on one's own comments. If you didn't get the point across the first time, a 2nd time probably isn't going to work either.
I've lived here a long time, but we're going to have to be more creative with a positive attitude if we hope to see positive changes.
Good luck to us all.
"cranky but hopeful" -you hit the nail! :-)
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