Term Limit Inititive

The following was sent out as a press release this morning.  I will be blogging more on this issue in the coming weeks.  

     Gonzales has successfully spoken once in a ground root effort on how they want to operate, and now a second ground root initiative is started up for Term Limits on elected office in the city government.  The initiative is for an 8 year limit on any one position within the city government and 12 years total elected service and reads as follows:

     No person shall be eligible to hold the office of mayor or city council for more than four full terms, nor hold a total of more than of six terms in combined elected office, and shall not be placed on the ballot for election to any term if service for the full term would constitute a violation hereof.

     We want to stress that currently elected officials term time would not start until this initiative was passed by the voters, so the current mayor and councilmen would be eligible to continue to serve for 8 more years in their current position. 

     Currently there is no time limit on council members or mayor.  The supporters of this initiative believe that the 8 years is more than enough time to get things accomplished on city council.  We know it takes a year or so to learn the ropes, and then things start getting accomplished by the council.  After that it gives the council member plenty of time to get their agenda accomplished.  It’s our belief that after to much time on the council that people have a tendency to get a bit complacent and it shows by our current condition of downtown and the infrastructure. 

     We need approximately 250 signatures, and are shooting to get them into the city secretary by April 15^th so they can go on the current ballot, and no special election is needed.  Once the signatures are verified by the city secretary the council has the right to approve the amendment without it going to voters, or sending it to be voted on by the voters. 

     Petitions will be available throughout town in businesses and several individuals will be going door to door with the petition.

     Remember that your signature just puts the measure on the ballot.  It does not mean that it will pass, and your support at the ballot box will be needed too if you are in support of it. 

     If you are interested in helping get petitions signed or for more information on this initiative please contact Dennis Nesser at 672-6869 or info@90asign.com.  

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

Rumor Mill

I wish to kill some rumors. These are from some of the phone calls and visits I've had over the last week.

1) I'm not suing the city or David Huseman
2) I have not had a meeting with the chief of police, Jackie Williamson, and Charles Windwehem.  Hasn't happened.

I have spoken with Mr. Windwehem after a city council meeting, at the council chambers, thanking him for taking on this role in our time of need, and for doing such a great job of bringing things out in the open.

I have spoken with Ms Williamson, again at the council chambers, directly after a council meeting, the first time, a week after Mr. Huseman was fired,  over the $66,766 check and in my words reminding her that she worked for the people of Gonzales, and the second time, after the last council meeting,  to make arrangements for her to look at a term limit document (yes, remember term limits) to be presented to the public so we can get it on the ballet.  No other issues have been discussed.

I have purposely been absent on certain issues and it's been for a reason.  Not to let them fall by the way side, nor let individuals slip through the cracks, but to make sure that loop holes are all filled, and ducks all line up. 

If you have a question about my activities, I'm pretty easy to find.  Most know I eat breakfast every Friday morning about 8 at the Rodeo Restaurant.  I'm listed in the phone book.  I have the only chalkboard I know of posted on the back of a fence, my fence, and will answer the door if you come knocking.  And if you'd like you can email me at txbigden1 at yahoo.com (putting it this way keeps bots from picking up your email address on websites). 

For those of you who disagree with my politics, I'm okay with that.  As I've posted on my blog main page, as long as we can do it respectfully I'm appreciative of the challenge. I don't mind being questioned on the facts.  Keeps me honest.  Maybe when you see some of the facts you'll change your mind.  Maybe I haven't looked at it from another angle, and you'll give me that view point.  It's how we learn and grow. 

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

We have to pay the piper...

So we're done with the budget....at least for the moment.  I'm thinking there still could be a few adjustments to the budget before the year is up. 

But I wanted to let you know where we stand.  Mind you for a year I've been saying we're spending to much!  It's simple math.  More goes out then comes in and we are operating in the red.  Well for fiscal year 2011 we are BUDGETING $400,000 in the hole.  We're already over $2,000,000 in the hole from the last 2 years, and we're still paying for the promises made by the previous city manager.  So why are we having to budget $400,000 in the hole?

Of that $225,000 is going to the expansion of JB Wells to build 90+ slots.  Additionally the 2 projects, St. George and a sewer project in district 4 (that is needed) is several hundred thousand..

Now St. George has been mismanaged since day one.  It was inappropriately brought up to the council, and what the council was presented with was not what they got.  Another words they thought they were getting a turn key project, start to finish, not part one of a multi-part project.  The project is needed, but now the cost has gone many times over the initial amount the council voted for.  The compromise between business owners and the city saving the city $200,000 will make the street look nice and get it finished finally.

I personally am interested in seeing how the JB Wells expansion is going to work.  For the first time since we've started JB Wells (or at least this is my understanding) we are being billed for the primary lines coming in.  The cost to us for these primaries?  $150,000 + $10,000 for engineering.  I'm EXTREMELY excited to think that our city is going to pull off putting the rest of the slots together for a mere $677 each.  Because ALL that was budgeted for the entire project was $225,000.  We're watching this one closely. 

We still have the operations of JB Wells that will make a profit this year, but I'm betting without the trailers we would not.  We CAN NOT keep doing business this way, and must learn to get this under control while we can.   I have recommended to several of the council members that a non-binding committee needs to be formed that looks at the processes of JB Wells and come back to the council in 3 months with recommendations for them to implement if they feel like they would help. I believe that you take 4-5 business men to look at the operations down there and you'll turn that place around in no time. 

Our pet control is $150,000.  PET CONTROL!!!  No other city of our size spend more than $40-50k.  Victoria spends $150,000 for their zoo.  Not us, we spend it for cat control.  Lots of rumors, and I don't know if they are true or not, but bottom line is this budget item is way out of proportion for our size town and budget. 

Now a couple of other things have happened.  No more will a handshake be a contract with the city.  To many promises were being made that there are no records of, yet we have bills for.  Museum work, work in the square, etc etc etc all was promised payment and yet we don't have even a Purchase Order for them. It's NOT the proper way to do business.  So I'm thrilled to hear we are changing this in our city procedures. 

Did you know that prior to last night the city manager had NO authority to enter into ANY contract for the city?  WOW!  And yet...oh this is to easy...you know who did it time and time again.  Last night the city council authorize the city manager to enter into contracts for budgeted items up to $25,000.  Anything over that had to have specific city council approval. 

So we're still paying for the sins of the past.  And we have best get a few of these items under control or next year we will be looking at serious tax increases and or serious reduction in services.  I think we are on the right track, but there is still plenty of work to do.  It's not over yet. 

I do want to give kudos to the city works department. I've seen more work accomplished in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last year.  I'm not blaming the department, I'm blaming the manager that wasn't directing them properly.  But it's nice to see things working AND GETTING DONE! Nice job guys!!!

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

New Way of Business

Wow, what a city council meeting!!! For the first time in years I saw an open and honest meeting happen in our city council.  I saw the city manager come forward and say, "we have some issues that need to be addressed, and I believe these are decisions you need to make, not me as the city manager." WOW!!! What a change in the way business is done.

I heard about $28,000 in funds for Friends of Gonzales overspent in their contract.  I heard where we needed to make adjustments of $125,000 for the weather station to be place at the airport.  I heard that the museum work done for phase one wasn't paid for, even though the work was authorized and completed.  I heard what was going on in the city from code enforcement, and the city engineer.  WOW!!!

I also heard from Mr. Windwehen that our credit card usage procedure needs to be reviewed and changed.  That no more business is done with a handshake, but through a contract that has been approved by the city lawyer and properly signed by all parties.  That all financial transactions and money handling have checks and balances, receipts, etc to prevent potential fraud.  That the city council will start receiving a monthly report of actual vs budgeted for all departments.  WOW!!!

WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! We have a man in the position right now that understands (and he even said this), that this needs to be run like a business and appropriately.  WOW!!!

I walked out of this city council meeting not happy that FOG has no repercussions for over spending, especially in tight times like this for the animal shelter, and I wish the council had allowed the money to come out of their 2011 budget, but honestly this was a meeting I felt like will put this city back on track with open and honesty. 

I spoke to one city employee after the meeting who told me he can't express how relieved he is to work for someone who is doing things correctly, and he can be proud of his work again.  We have a leader to be proud of who is leading this city in a professional, honest and open manner.  I see our department managers that are answering questions to the council, and honestly I think they are stepping up and are looking like department managers instead of a figure head.  WOW!!!

Gonzales, if ever there was hope, it's right now!  I heard a song the other day at church "Greater things are yet to come, greater things are yet to be done in this city"...AMEN!  AMEN! AMEN! (Chris Tomlins - God of this City)


Thank you Mr. Windwehen for coming to Gonzales in these dark times and be a shining light. 

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

Budgets and Council Meeting

This will be short.  I'm working on a couple of things, but do not have everything to back them up yet. 

But I did want to remind everyone today is the Public Meeting for the Budget.  If you have any input NOW is the time to say something or you just better hold your peace.  It's kind of like voting, you don't vote, don't bitch.  You don't get involved then you can't expect to do anything but pay higher taxes.  Pretty simple. 

It is also the monthly city council meeting.  It starts at 6 and I would expect it would be over by 7:30.  Let's not only fill up the chambers, but feel free to speak for or against anything you feel passionate about. 

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

PS - Saturday (8 - 11) the Boy Scouts will have a pancake breakfast at St. James church.  Cost is $4 for all you can eat pancakes and a scoop of eggs.  $2.50 of each ticket goes to helping a boy make it to camp.  Because of the generosity of so many, most of the kids have paid at least 1/2 of their way to camp, some have paid it all.  We thank those who have already purchased tickets.  We will have to-go plates, and yes, you can purchase tickets at the door. - God Bless