I posted the following rebuttal to Mr. Mundys editoral:
While I agree we need change, and have supported issues like liquor by the drink to help bring an economy to this town I have several issues with this agreement that has been made with the rodeo.
1) We do not have the spaces needed to properly host this event. So now Mr Huseman and his hence men are trying to make this happen with sweet deals to GEDC if they will approve the money. The last time we added spaces to the arena it was estimated by Mr. Huseman to cost $1000 each, wound up costing approximately $2500 each, and now they want 300 more? Tally that on your fingers and toes.
2) Not even our elected city government (or at least 3 of the councilmen) we even aware of this contract, a significant liability to the city, until the papers ran the story. Why even have officials if there is no say? This contract was signed in October, see an issue here?
3) The city council told the city manager NO to expanding JB Wells, and yet he has ignored them.
4) We, as a city were promised an area for all of Gonzales out in JB Wells. I have copies of the plans that were originally brought to the people of Gonzales and to the Texas Parks and Wildlife, for funding, and it is NOT a huge rodeo area, but a common park for all of Gonzales. Why are we changing plans instead of completing the plans we have already in place?
5) Why are we again putting the horse before the cart? Even you said it, we have NO PLACE for these people to come spend money in Gonzales. The business base is not set up for it, and so we are NOT going to prosper from it. We need to be working on getting our 2 town squares filled with businesses as a #1 priority so that we CAN deal with visitors like these.
6) Even with JUST the $25 per head for 550, these rodeo visitors would have to spend $687,500 to break even on sales tax (2% sales tax rate, 550, $13,750 we are paying out, simple math), and that's not counting all the other concessions and items we are responsible for in the contract. Please someone lie to me and tell me we'll get real close to that number, but I don't think so.
7) We STILL haven't gotten a handle on the way we run our arena and the accounting over there! So lets make the problem bigger, because bigger will only make our losses greater....oh wait, something isn't right with that statement is it?
8) I spoke at the last city council meeting about secrecy in our city government. I understand contracts and negotiations, but this is once again a case of our city manager (and who ever else is involved) ignoring the will of the people of this town, the city council and going behind our backs to do something they were told we don't want. So in secrecy they've gone and done it and are taking the approach it's better to ask for forgiveness that permission. I for one and tired of this attitude from SOME of our city employees that think we work for them. This is our city, our taxes, our budget, and our livelihoods that are affected here, and we are suppose to have a say that counts!
And for the record I didn't read in the paper where the arena and all of it's facilities are at NO COST to the association putting on the event. That we will be providing most of the items used during this rodeo at our cost with their emblem and the year put on everything.
I wish I could run a business where I didn't have to pay for my building, my equipment, and oh the city is going to be providing a good bit of the labor for it, so the association isn't paying for that either, I AM as a taxpayer here in Gonzales.
I'm surprised that every business doesn't move to Gonzales with incentives like that, oh but wait, I'm not a rodeo, so my business doesn't count to the city does it?
Dennis Nesser
So my question is why are we allowing anything to happen without ramifications to those ignoring the elected officials and the taxpayers of this town? Why can't we take care of long standing problems before we move forward? Why is it our city continues to run in secrecy thinking we as citizens, "aren't smart enough to handle the truth"?
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
Mr Munday's "opinion" must have been written in a big hurry, as it is very rambling. Firts knocking folks for grumbling, advocating expansion of JB Wells, then talking about lack of support business, then talking about ANNUAL sales of the two big benefactors of any expansion of JB Wells, And if you do the math as he suggests, at best there is an increase of a few thousand dollars that can be attribited to the rodeos. And he compares Gonzales to much larger cities. Farmington, approx 45,000 population, and also host other events such as baseball playoffs. Gallop, population approx 25,000, and a TV and movie host city. Gillette, population of approx 25,000. And to top it off, Springfield, Il with a population of over 117,000! I know everything is big in Texas, but come on don't compare our 8,000 to these cities that have a much larger tax base.
ReplyDeleteAnd to answer your question, this is just the Gonzales way, with influence from Dr. Graham.
If you don't like Gonzales, why don't you move, you have as many secrets as anyone in Gongales, including the Mayor etc. If folks only knew.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has secrets, but when you are in a public position (mayor, city manager, councilman, etc)you must do things openly. No one is talking about personal secrets. I believe Mr Nesser is speaking about transperancy in the local government decision making. No one is attacking them personally, like you have done to Mr. Nesser. Grow up!
ReplyDeleteMr Nesser is in the public he is the Scoutmaster in Gonzales
ReplyDeleteYou can spin this however you would like but the fact remains, we are speaking about public transparency or the lack thereof, in the City of Gonzales. Again, no one is speaking about personal secrets/skeletons because we ALL have them. No one is attacking the mayor, city manager or councilmen personnally. You, however, in your first sentence, attacked Mr Nesser personnally.
ReplyDeleteThe last expansion of the RV hook ups will probly take care of themselve. Due to the fact that there is alot of people that have there RVs in those spots. This is another way thay can help pay for the instalation of them. If I am not mistaken the people that are useing them have to move if there is a rodeo there that will take up that area.
ReplyDeleteIn my mind you have to have it to sell before you can sell it.
I agree if you dont like the way things are working then I guess ease down the road a bit. IMO
I am not a publicly elected official who is responsible to any taxpayers. My appointment to scoutmaster was one to by the Knights of Columbus, and at any moment they may relieve me of my duties. I am responsible to them, and the parents I serve.
ReplyDeleteDo I have as many secrets as the next guy? You bet. But I'm not asking about Mr. Husemans personal life. I don't know squat about his personal life, and honestly don't care to. I do care that he operates our city in a manner which is transparent to the citizens of this town, and to the city council who he works directly for. Neither is happening.
As for the RV hook ups making money, I sure hope they pay for themselves at 40k a month. As for the oil workers having to leave for a rodeo, how can first come first serve parking spaces be told to leave, the oil workers were their first! We should be making more money right now then we ever did at a rodeo!!!
Wake up.
As for leaving this town, ohhh no, not going to happen. You see I look at it this way, I could sit around and complain and do nothing, or I can be part of the solution and make this a better place for me and my family. I'm choosing to make a difference. Even if you don't agree with me, you're talking about the things that need to be spoken about in this town. And all that is IMO. :-)
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser