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
AMEN!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the meeting last night presents our future with hope. Please support Mr. Windwehen in his endeavors to turn our city business back to professional. Take time out of your day to pat him on the back and shake his hand or send him an e-mail of thankfulness and encouragement. He has worked very hard in a very short amount of time to provide a budget and identify areas of weakness, and his official first working day was just yesterday! This is truly a blessing. Amen and Amen!
ReplyDeleteDo you think the two good-ole-boys even understood what he said? I don’t. Basically it sounded like they have been running the city carefree and without responsible oversight, with all due respect of course. What professionalism! Welcome!
ReplyDeleteWith two resignations our city can get back to positive growth and real leadership.
Thank you, to our three great council members, for standing your ground and doing what was right even though the blind cannot see past the spin and cover-ups. Thank you for your leadership and steadfastness for Gonzales.
Sunshine is the best disinfectant!
God Bless Gonzales!
Rose B.
One reason the "Cat House" is over spending their budget is they are "fixing" cats from other towns for connected friends. "Fixing" and all the shots for free.
ReplyDelete