Disclaimer: everything contained in this blog is MY OPINION. Every attempt is made to present the truth through actual facts or to identify statements which are in doubt; otherwise there will be no deliberate presentation of gossip, rumor, or innuendo which can't be proven as factual.
Like everyone else, I've seen the almost unreadable 'plan' for the city park in the newspaper. The question is: why wasn't that made public and printed BEFORE the school bond vote so people could actually know what was planned?
The other question is: with the often-reiterated gleeful statement that in three years, 'we' will get a sports complex, the implication is that the rest of the park will get signed over for that. So why are 'we' spending who knows what kind of money to do something that appears to be scheduled for destruction in three years?
The whole thing is like a runaway freight train. School authorities absolutely refused to consider any other site for the school except the western half of the park. They managed to get a flunky to push for a hurried vote to turn the park over to the school district probably so no one would have time to protest; once again, all pretty obviously agreed to beforehand and in secret.
The thing of it is the city commission was aware that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission must review and approve any proposal to transfer park land BEFORE they voted to do it. Once again, this probably occurred because they've ignored the law so often in the last year and gotten by with it.
Additionally it appears that a city official addressed the lunchtime audience at the tax-supported senior citizens center and told them he wouldn't vote to give away the park; he then went to a city meeting and voted to do exactly that.
Also reprehensible is the idea of "not renewing the contract" of those employees who disagree with what's happening or even have relatives who are opposed to these unethical actions.
None of this is right, but that doesn't seem to matter to the people who are taking part in these actions.
I can only hope these pigeons come home to roost before the town is destroyed. And I hope I'm around to witness it first hand and say "Nyah, nyah, nyah-nyah nyaaaah-nyah."
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
Friday, July 25, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Say What?
Disclaimer: everything contained in this blog is MY OPINION. Every attempt is made to present the truth through actual facts or to identify statements which are in doubt; otherwise there will be no deliberate presentation of gossip, rumor, or innuendo which can't be proven to be factual.
I grew up with guns: rifles, shotguns, pistols. I'm not afraid of them. I'm not some Nazi nutcase about them, but neither am I a fan of Rosie O'Donnell. If there's a rattlesnake in my yard, I'm not going to call animal control and wait for the snake to hide and bite one of my pets-or me, until the AC person gets here: I'm going to go shoot the snake.
Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I find it somewhat horrifying that a city commissioner places more value on where a prospective police chief lives than on the fact that he carries a gun and is responsible for enforcing the law.
Apparently none of these things are of prime importance, if they matter at all, to this commissioner. We should be used to this kind of off-the-wall logic from him, as he's employed this sort of reasoning before; but never before (that I know of) when it comes to putting a person who may decide life and death in a position of absolute authority.
If this person is well-trained, experienced, calm, fair, knowledgeable of the law, psychologically healthy and physically fit, then it shouldn't matter if he lives in a toad hole in my back yard or an igloo in Alaska.
If he's not, then it's irresponsible nonsense to consider putting him in that position.
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
I grew up with guns: rifles, shotguns, pistols. I'm not afraid of them. I'm not some Nazi nutcase about them, but neither am I a fan of Rosie O'Donnell. If there's a rattlesnake in my yard, I'm not going to call animal control and wait for the snake to hide and bite one of my pets-or me, until the AC person gets here: I'm going to go shoot the snake.
Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I find it somewhat horrifying that a city commissioner places more value on where a prospective police chief lives than on the fact that he carries a gun and is responsible for enforcing the law.
Apparently none of these things are of prime importance, if they matter at all, to this commissioner. We should be used to this kind of off-the-wall logic from him, as he's employed this sort of reasoning before; but never before (that I know of) when it comes to putting a person who may decide life and death in a position of absolute authority.
If this person is well-trained, experienced, calm, fair, knowledgeable of the law, psychologically healthy and physically fit, then it shouldn't matter if he lives in a toad hole in my back yard or an igloo in Alaska.
If he's not, then it's irresponsible nonsense to consider putting him in that position.
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
Ka-Ching!
Disclaimer: everything contained in this blog is MY OPINION. Every attempt is made to present the truth through actual facts or to identify statements which are in doubt; otherwise there will be no deliberate presentation of gossip, rumor, or innuendo which can't be proven as factual.
Well, well, well. Estimating from current figures and information it seems that the Sheriff's Office's approximate bill from September 2013 through July 2014 will be about $470,205.
That's near as dammit to half a million dollars. The last year's total budget under Morris was approximately $585,000; that included EVERYTHING for 12 months, with between $40,000-$75,000 customarily returned to the city each year.
Shall I forego saying I told you so? Nah. I told you so.
So what difference does it make when it's billed? Assuming claimed financial expertise, surely someone at city hall is capable of using the December-February amount to crunch the numbers? You know, like $131,619 for 10 weeks is around $13,163 per week, and if that's multiplied by the 22 weeks which haven't been billed, don't we get a ballpark estimate?
Going to pay by the week? Um hm, since we're already over our heads in debt, just how are we going to do that?
Look out for constant nit-picky traffic violations and such.
Sure, wait for it: I'm going to say I told you so.
But of course, the S.O. bill doesn't include dispatchers, animal control, and other expenses associated with law enforcement in Electra, or attorney's fees, court costs, and the various incidentals which will be incurred by a few lawsuits from former police department employees. Or the costs of establishing, equipping, and training an entire new police department.
Watch while the people who caused all this tap-dance and make excuses and try to blame someone else-anyone else-for the whole debacle. Like the former city attorney and the former police chief, or incredibly enough, the Sheriff's Office?
I'm not buying that; I know exactly who to blame, and they're all at city hall two Tuesdays of every month.
Think they're worth it?
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
Well, well, well. Estimating from current figures and information it seems that the Sheriff's Office's approximate bill from September 2013 through July 2014 will be about $470,205.
That's near as dammit to half a million dollars. The last year's total budget under Morris was approximately $585,000; that included EVERYTHING for 12 months, with between $40,000-$75,000 customarily returned to the city each year.
Shall I forego saying I told you so? Nah. I told you so.
So what difference does it make when it's billed? Assuming claimed financial expertise, surely someone at city hall is capable of using the December-February amount to crunch the numbers? You know, like $131,619 for 10 weeks is around $13,163 per week, and if that's multiplied by the 22 weeks which haven't been billed, don't we get a ballpark estimate?
Going to pay by the week? Um hm, since we're already over our heads in debt, just how are we going to do that?
Look out for constant nit-picky traffic violations and such.
Sure, wait for it: I'm going to say I told you so.
But of course, the S.O. bill doesn't include dispatchers, animal control, and other expenses associated with law enforcement in Electra, or attorney's fees, court costs, and the various incidentals which will be incurred by a few lawsuits from former police department employees. Or the costs of establishing, equipping, and training an entire new police department.
Watch while the people who caused all this tap-dance and make excuses and try to blame someone else-anyone else-for the whole debacle. Like the former city attorney and the former police chief, or incredibly enough, the Sheriff's Office?
I'm not buying that; I know exactly who to blame, and they're all at city hall two Tuesdays of every month.
Think they're worth it?
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
Friday, July 11, 2014
I've Learned Something New
Disclaimer: everything contained in this blog is MY OPINION. Every attempt is made to present the truth through actual facts or to identify statements which are in doubt; otherwise there will be no deliberate presentation of gossip, rumor, or innuendo which can't be proven as factual.
Yes, I have. And it's so simple.
And, being taught by what appears to be a long-standing custom of city hall, I know it must be right.
If a lot of money is owed to a person or organization, like for water or security, I don't have to pay!
I can stonewall until they give up.....
Or I can just cancel their contracts or fire them!
See? Isn't that an easy way to welsh on a debt?
As for being sensible and accepting the SO suggestion that Electra hire retired DPS troopers and Wichita Falls police officers, pay them hourly, and work them less than 32 hours per week so city benefits wouldn't be required, no way! We can't have fair and neutral law enforcement. These people might not be vulnerable to intimidation and favoritism!
As for saving money, perish the thought!
Besides, anyone knows any suggestion coming from outside the powers-that-be represents a threat to the throne, so it must be instantly rejected.
Ain't this a great place to live?
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
Friday, July 4, 2014
How About a Little Stand-Up?
Disclaimer: everything contained in this blog is MY OPINION. Every attempt is made to present the truth through actual facts or to identify statements which are in doubt; otherwise there will be no deliberate presentation of gossip, rumor, or innuendo which can't be proven as factual.
I have been told that the two commissioners we all thought were going to represent us with some semblance of courage and determination only voted in favor of turning the city park over to the school district because they "weren't going to win the vote anyway."
What sort of specious reasoning is that?
For one thing, it makes the people who supported them think their trust was totally mistaken and that they've simply voted in more of the same.
For another, it makes people feel like these commissioners are cowards and that now they're actually in the stew we call a commission, all the big talk before the election was just that: big talk.
AND, possibly worse still, if any of this ever comes before a State commission for a decision, they will look at the voting record, see no opposition, laugh and say, "What are we doing here?"
If you people aren't going to stand up and be counted, what are you doing here?
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
I have been told that the two commissioners we all thought were going to represent us with some semblance of courage and determination only voted in favor of turning the city park over to the school district because they "weren't going to win the vote anyway."
What sort of specious reasoning is that?
For one thing, it makes the people who supported them think their trust was totally mistaken and that they've simply voted in more of the same.
For another, it makes people feel like these commissioners are cowards and that now they're actually in the stew we call a commission, all the big talk before the election was just that: big talk.
AND, possibly worse still, if any of this ever comes before a State commission for a decision, they will look at the voting record, see no opposition, laugh and say, "What are we doing here?"
If you people aren't going to stand up and be counted, what are you doing here?
Anita Huguelet McMurtrie
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