Let's start with the citys' notification of the public for the Open Meeting laws. All meetings have to be posted 72 hours in advance of a meeting. Now I happen to have been up on the city website last weekend. I don't recall seeing any posting for this special meeting anywhere.
Per the city secretary: "I further certify that the following News Media were properly notified of the above stated meeting: KCTI Radio Station, Gonzales Inquirer, Gonzales Cannon. This is what is on the agenda posted for council meetings.
Now let's look at this little issue. If both papers were notified Friday, and the GI prints on Tuesday, the Cannon prints on the following Friday, and let's be honest, while most of us might know where 1450 is on our radio dial, it's not something we keep on everyday. I love some of their programs, and especially special events, but I'm not getting my news there. But my point is that NO ONE is going to find out about the meeting till after the meeting is over. Do you think this was the mayor and/or city manager trying to get only those hand picked to be at the meeting that Monday night? You don't think they would be that underhanded, low-down and just that dishonest do you?So the question starts with, why isn't the city website updated? Wouldn't that be the most logical place to start the notification process? In todays world there should be a RSS feed that will update to anyone that would like to follow straight from the website. It's built into all windows machines to follow RSS. Even basic blogger pages like this one has it. If I update this blog and you have the RSS set up then you see it in your drop down shortly after I've posted. The city can't even handle something that simple? Heck they can't even be bothered to post it on their own website! Anyone else see a problem with this lack of process to inform the public of an upcoming special meeting? Maybe by the letter of the law they did what they needed to, but not by the spirit of the law.
So let's talk about the notification that the mayor and city manager gave the 3 councilmen that did not second the motion. Friday afternoon they were given their packages with the $5,000,000 project. Now this leads someone to believe one of 2 things. Either the council had worked closely with this committee to get this program finalized....oh wait that didn't happen, so that leaves the second option, they wanted to slip this right past without many questions.
When you present this size project to someone it takes time to digest and get their questions in line, so that they can get reasonable answers before expected to vote on the issue. How could you expect anyone to vote on ANY $5,000,000 project without time to digest it and get reasonable answers before voting for it?
My second problem is we don't even have control of the arena in it's present condition. Did you know that we lost over $200,000 last year on the arena. Now how can you tell me on one hand how much more money we're going to make if we expand, when we're not making money now? Does that mean we'll LOSE that much more money?
Now in all fairness I have 2 comments on the lose. First is that the city is always going to provide some services to the community at a lose. Not everything is going to make a profit, but the loses should be kept to a minimum. Second, I'm not sure if the arena was properly run that our loses would be anywhere near that great. Ask someone at the city how often we inventory out at the arena, if they tell you more than once a year they aren't being truthful with you. Ok, I'll say it straight up, they'd be lying to you. What business, that stays in business inventories just once a year? This is bad business practices and should be corrected by our city manager immediately.
Now I know the Doc Graham is burning up the phone lines trying to get this project passed. He's got the mayor asking for private meetings with councilmen to try to get pass all this. Between the 2 of them they just don't understand, this town doesn't want to spend $5,000,000 for the benefit of an elite few. So now it's your turn to make a difference. Write you councilman and let them know to hold the course and let this project die. Call them and let them know how much you support Tommy, Gary and Lorenzo and their decision to use good fiscal sense for our town. You can respond here, even anonymously, and let them know you are in support of what they are doing. I will personally make sure they get the responses. If you don't let them know then they will have to guess. Don't leave any doubt in their mind that they are doing the right thing.
Now I also want to point out that this 'committee' was NEVER appointed by the city council! Our charter specifically states all committees have to be appointed by the city council. No committee put together by the city manager or any other group has any more influence as a committee then you or I going up and talking to the city council. Mind you they can listen, but they have no obligation to act on it.
So now it's your time, let's hear from you Gonzales, let the city manager, the mayor, and all of the city councilmen know where you stand!
God Bless
Dennis Nesser
Go Dennis! Thank you so much for setting out the facts of this situation. Honesty is the best policy! Where are our newspapers when the public needs to be told? I thought the Cannon was going to be the way to find out what is going on downtown. You need to start your own paper. Maybe you have the courage to get the truth out if the others don't!
ReplyDeleteDennis:
ReplyDeleteYou are so awesome and I love the honesty and truthfulness! You really need to forward your most recent postings and comments to the CEO of Granite Publishing. It is difficult for one man (CEO of Granite) to know what is going on in all of the communities he is doing business. There is NO NEED to inform Greg Little as his agenda is clear to be the agenda of O'Neal, Doc, Mary Ann, David Huseman and others in the "camp". It is time that God shed light on the lies. Our city is suffering along with all of the citizens and tax payers within. I am firm in the belief that God is in control and He will prevail. It is difficult to remember that our war is about principalities and that we must not feel defeated but that the evil works and the secret ways of the wicked will all be revealed. We must be reiminded to seek the Good the Pure. Those that seek their ways to glorify them will not be rewarded in the big picture. I think we are beginning to see the works of God in the very first called City Council Mtg. No second, REALLY, and then to have a media source print that a second should have been called just for discussion, REALLY. Call for a second for discussion, why don't we discuss things in public first why do some work in secret and then work with one media source to print lies on others that they work in secret. I have the brain that God gave me and I can not believe the less than ethical behavior of those that call themselves leaders of the city. I personally do not go one day without complaints from city personnel of the secrets being held within in City Hall. My heart breaks for each of them and for the confusion that the evil one is giving this town. We (the local citizens) must come into agreement for light to shine on the darkness and we (the city) will rise above the wicked of those who are leading us at present.
Dennis, please forward your post and comments to the CEO be the voice of this suffering city.
I have called, emailed and talked face to face with the 3 councilmen that refused to be undermined by the elite (as you call them, Dennis). I am VERY proud to have one of them as my district councilman. And they did the right thing in letting it die. If they (Bobby Bobby, Huseman & Little) want discussion, what about a town hall meeting so everyone can speak and discuss with out the parlimentary procedures lurking. Just talking....that way the great 3 will know what a great decision they made and that we are all behind them!!!
ReplyDeleteOk I see your point on the meetings. However there is a lot of people that do not have the INTERNET in there homes. There should be some other way to broadcast the meetings and I have no idea how to do that. The second thing that botherd me with this post is you stated that the area would only effect an "elite few". I feel that if the area brings people to the town they spend some kind of money (in most cases). I am not infavor of the quick announcement of the arena enlargement. However, I do see the plus side to it.
ReplyDeleteBut that's part of the issue....the visitors are really spending money IN TOWN. They bring their own campers, food and all other necessities. And what they do buy, they buy at Circle G, which happens to be owned by Doc Graham aka the Elite.
ReplyDeleteI meant they are NOT spending money in town....sorry! OOPS!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how to announce to those without Internet other than word of mouth, and of course KCTI. The problem in my eyes is that more people have internet than listen to KCTI on a daily basis. But the office has an obligation, even if it's not a legally binding one, to make sure the public knows of impending meetings.
ReplyDeleteI agree, a town hall meeting would work for me. Heck in most cases when we're talking this kind of expansion I think there should be a town hall meeting! We should have a clear say in the matter.
Again, if these visitors came to town to shop, if this was a convention for antiques, then our downtown would benefit. That's half the reason for things like Trade Days. These people actually come in town to spend money. But the rodeo people come all inclusive. It's not that we don't want them, they just don't visit. It's a proven fact.
Thanks again for all the support!
God Bless
Dennis
I feel there are other stores than just the downtown area. What about the agriculture stores that sell clothes and products that they could use ( i.e. Feed Stores, Clothing, stall bedding). I would like to think that not everybody is able to have a trailer that has living quaters in in, but I might be wrong.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the JB Wells....everyone down there has a trailer w/living quarters or a travel trailer or full blown tour bus that they live in for the week. Its all inclusive with a kitchen. They may buy some feed from the feed store downtown but I doubt they do much else. Lets name the clothing stores here in town...
ReplyDelete1. Shear Designs boutique
2. Bealls
3. So Tx trailer sales
Thats all i can think of...now lets analyze. #1 store - probably doesnt sell the kind of clothing that i believe will appeal to the youth rodeo contestants
#2 store - may have an increase in sales but I doubt it.
#3 store - I really dont consider it downtown. I'm sure they may have some increase in sales but exactly how much hasnt been revealed.
Lets get the sales tax revenue reports from the State Comptrollers office and compare rodeo weeks vs. non rodeo weeks. Bet there isnt much difference!
Now if the city cant control the expenses of JB wells now enough to at least break even, how are they going to control a bigger park? I'm all for expansion if we can pay for it AND not lose money! The City of Gonzales can not afford to lose any more money!!!
If there would be another arena that would mean that there could be 2 differnt events. That would double the amount of people there. Ok i know we have a nice downtown. Howerver there is also other stores in the city of gonzles than the ones down town. Those should be talked about when talking abou the city. The downtown is not the only place to buy things. I do not know if the city puts together a list that could be passed out to the people that are at the arena. This could increase the amount of traffic through town. We as a community need to try and sell ourselves to the people that come to the arena. That is just a thought though.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion.
ReplyDelete1) Sadly the rodeo crowd really is different than most others that would come to town. They do come self contained. It's the only way they can afford the rounds they make. Trust me they spend a fortune making the circuits they make. While they may occasionally spend a bit on feed, they generally come complete. Just visit out there some weekend and see the money that is parked out there. I'm pretty impressed.
2) I'm not sure another arena would allow a second event, it would allow a bigger event to happen where you have multiple things at one time.
3) I agree, we need to do something better to let those out there know what they are missing by not coming into town. I'm not sure what their schedules are like, but I'm betting they could squeeze an hour in our quaint little town if they knew what/where things were here.
4) Importantly is we need to get our current processes under control so we're not looking $200,000+ a year. There is no reason for something that is as busy as our arena is to be loosing money. We've bought $80k in goods for the commissary, and sold only $60k. Someones hand is in the pot, and controls are the only way to fix that. The rest would have to be analyzed to figure out what else needs to be fixed.
5) Last and not least, WE DON'T HAVE $5,000,000 to put into this thing. Our city manager has already spent $2,300,000 of our $5,000,000 in savings, so we just flat out don't have the money. So how would we pay for it? OH YEAH, let's raise their taxes! NOT! Let Doc and his crew to come up with $5,000,000 in private funds and the city will be more than happy to let this project fly through.
Ok, I said that was last, but there is still the fact that Huseman was NOT authorized by the council to set up ANY board for this. This was Doc Graham pushing some buttons to get what he wants. Since when does 1 person in this town have that much authority? Why does an unelected, unappointed person have ANY authority in our city government?
Ok, reality is if your name is Doc Graham or Mary Ann for starters you have the city managers and mayors sac in your hands and can squeeze when you want, but that's NOT the way it's suppose to work.
Keep up the great discussion!!!!!
God Bless
Dennis
Doc owns the land next to JB Wells and there was a move by David Huesman to fill out a land contract with another property owner without the knowledge of the Economic Development group and then try to sell them on it during a meeting. See where I am going with this? Whats going on in the big picture here one has to question?
ReplyDeleteI am surprised private venture capital is not used to augment the arena on the adjoining land. There is tremendous potencial but should not be at tax payers expense. Don't use the city reserves! Go out and apply for GRANTS! I read the city hasn't petitioned for any grants. Is that really true? Who's responsibility in city government does this belong to? They are failing miserably if this is try and need to be thrown out on their ear.
If the Elite thinks the plan is so great...then put your money where your mouth is and pony up the dough! What? You don't have any money? Then sell the plan to someone who does or stop the shinanigans right now.
It doesn't make any sense to sell the city a 5 million dollar project when that equals or exceeds the city's funds. Thats a recipe for disaster. Where are the reserves for city needs if this went through? This action does not serve the people of Gonzales and only serves those involved in the development and their proxies involved in the development.
Private money and or grants is the way to go with this when there are millions already evaporated from the city budget. If they can't manage a city budget then they sure as heck shouldn't be playing with this proposed project. But so what if they do...if they lose money....its not THEIR money...its YOURS GONZALES!
Tell the Elite clique.. "PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS! IF YOU CAN"T PARTY WITH THE BIG BOYS THEN DON"T SHOW UP!!!"