Morally Challenged Officials for Increasing Term Limits: Kaye and Kathy

[XLFD]

Last week, WMOM Radio (102.7 FM) interviewed four people, two pairs with different views on the question of increasing term limits from three to five for the Ludington Mayor.  The two people who were against it, City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews) columnist George Dila and former Ludington City Councilor August "Pete" Engblade laid out a basis for why it would be best to vote no, a view I totally agree with, I must fully disclose.  I respect these two people and their integrity is proven by their record, even though George is an unabashed liberal and Pete voted for the unlawful Workplace Safety Policy in his stint as councilor.  

But the two city officials who came out for the City Proposal, City Councilor Kaye Holman and President of the Ludington/Scottville Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of the Downtown Ludington Board (DDA) Kathy McLean, are far from having good integrity.  But I don't make any such claim out of spite, or lack of proof, so here we go.

Kaye Holman, the Dirty Dozen

                                             " Mr. Rotta, are these the laws you've said I broke?"

1)  Kaye was on the  Marina Board  during the time when Mayor Henderson's daughters were allowed to work, along with a variety of city official kids in a clique  that did not allow equal employment  opportunity for the community.

2)  After  voting against rehiring John Shay in 2010  and saying she would definitely vote against him again in a WMOM radio debate, then the next month after she was elected not only voted for John Shay but did so with equal emphaticism, endorsing him with a glowing testimonial.

3)  Kaye said creating and placing the means to ban a citizen who engages in protected free speech on a web site from entering the police station was necessary and appropriate.  This may cost the city and its taxpayers plenty in the federal lawsuit that has been filed, as it was neither necessary or appropriate.

4)  Kaye got up at a council meeting and derided two indigent citizens for participating in the democratic process by asking to inspect public records, with personal attacks and lack of facts  (unintended rhyme)

5)  In our  second radio debate , Kaye, without a blush, said that truth in taxation hearings are mandated by state law each year (they're not), continued to state mistruths about the water tower (disproved by the contract), and her public availability (with 30 contacts unanswered to me or my ally disproving that).

6)  Kaye, in an unsportsmanlike move which may have violated election law, failed to respond to an appeal from her opponent  to allow him to come to a debate hosted at a place he was not able to go legally (without written approval, which was denied by Shay) because of a law passed by her.

7)  Kaye continues, like all other City Councilors, continues to  accept $3600 per year instead of the $50  that the City Charter confers as salary, without any legitimate ordinance passed.

8)  Kaye continues to participate in activities clearly in violation of the Open Meetings Act (more on this later), beyond the passing of the unlawful Workplace Safety Policy.

9)  Kaye's place of legal residence has still not complied with the City's sidewalk policy, a policy she has helped enforce on other people.

10)  In her capacity as Finance Chairman, she has allowed the misuse of the competitive bidding process during her tenure (2007-2011) over and over again.

11)  Kaye sent this E-mail which is self-contradictory, where she sends an E-mail to her fellow councilors.  Is she aware of what she is saying?  (there are at least five councilors being sent this memo) :

12)   Kaye had a 100% voting record for raising your taxes and fees over the last 5 years, and has always voted for ordinances that constrain the rights or property of Ludington citizens during that period, creating a "stronger" City Hall in the process.  She has voted for all tax abatements for favored local companies, however, which justifies the raising of your taxes, fees, and the poor upkeep of the area infrastructure.

Kathy Maclean, A Handful of Unclean Hands

1)  Kathy Maclean has served as the Treasurer of the Downtown Ludington Board/Downtown Development Authority without bothering to take an Oath of Office, as per law MCL 125.1654.  This was confirmed by a FOIA request for all DDA members.

2)  Kathy hired fellow DDA member John Henderson's daughter Brandy Henderson, as a Marketing/Events Coordinator right after she finished working at the marina full time, then temporarily for Heather Venzke, fellow DDA member, in a contracted position.  Brandy is still listed as the M/E Coordinator for the Chamber  on their website, still collects money indirectly from the DDA, even after accepting the similar position under fellow DDA member, Barry Neal, at the Convention and Vistor's Bureau.  

3)  Kathy, who is President of the local Chamber of Commerce, led the discussion at the February 2011 DDA meeting of hiring the Mayor's daughter, Brandy Henderson, who was then working for the Chamber, as a contracted position with the DDA, as an assistant to Heather Venzke at a cost to the DDA coffers of $12,000 a year.  Kathy, as Treasurer of the DDA, sends $1000 each month to the Chamber, where she's President, for this laxly defined position.

4)  Kathy, as President of the Chamber, and Treasurer of the DDA, has two loyalties to each group that cannot be easily balanced if  she follows the Oath of Office for both groups.

and most importantly:

5)  Kathy, while she was Treasurer of the DDA, with her husband, Dave Maclean (as partners of KDMAC LLC) applied for grants and tax relief from the State of Michigan, for a building they (and their LLC) didn't own in downtown Ludington, but claimed to own, committing fraud in qualifying for a lot of money in doing so.  Our Community Development Director Heather Venzke willingly assisted her in accomplishing this feat.  The grant money was administered through Ms. Venzke (Mrs. Tykoski nowadays, after she married fellow DDA member/current City Councilor Nick Tykoski, whose checks for about $50,000 of sign work without a contract were approved by her after he did $15,001 of work six months before bidding was considered.), probably with help from her Treasurer.

How's that for an October surprise?  Of course, I have proof of this very last assertion, but I will allow the parties to affirm or deny this serious allegation before presenting that. 

Both of these morally challenged people strongly endorse and have worked hard  to get Mayor Henderson the chance for a fourth and fifth term, enjoying his tolerance of morally-bankrupt behavior and the continued benefits he seeks for his family.  These gals will continue to use taxpayer money and keep the citizens ignorant for their own private gains.  You can stop the insanity, by voting NO on the City proposal, and guarantee at least a new mayor next year-- and be sure to vote for one that plans on cleaning up the rat's nest that City Hall has become, not one that wants to continue the momentum.

[AQUAMAN]

OMG!

[Willy]

Investigative reporting at it's best.

[XLFD]

Jim Scatena, President of Floracraft, was on WMOM radio earlier today telling us what a fine guy the Mayor was and how this proposal will help move Ludington forward.  He is not a public official in any respect, so I will only point out only that the public record shows that Floracraft regularly goes before the City Council to get industrial Facility Exemption Certificates or other tax abatements/breaks (on 10-13-2003, 4-11-2005, 4-9-2007, and 10-26-2009).  After City Hall elected him as the Ludington Business Leader of the Year back on 4-13-2009, six months later he came before the council once again and made his case for the tax break he was about to receive unanimously without this implied threat of leaving and taking his jobs with him:

Continuing the 'momentum, on 12-7-2009, the City expanded Floracraft's Industrial Development District.  On 8-23-2010, the City approved an encroachment easement for Floracraft, and on 6-27-2011, the  City gifted five lots plus to Floracraft  disposing of said property, free of charge, to the 'poor folks' of Floracraft.

Another pillar of our community in deed and action, is Jim Scatena.  Floracraft gets corporate welfare of the highest order during a time when regular Ludington citizens get their property taxes raised annually.  Lovely.

[Willy]

Damn X your getting very good at digging up the news. I'm surprised LDN hasn't hired you yet. Regarding  Florcraft, if he was "committed to the City of Ludington" as he stated he would not put pressure on the City in order to receive a handout at taxpayers expense. Although I can understand how the threat of a major company folding up shop and moving would initiate a response from City Hall to lower their heads, pucker up and kiss his as_.

[XLFD]

And if the City of Ludington was committed to him, they would lower taxes across the board, like the unnecessary 2 mills (reduced by Headlee) we give to the DDA each year to supplement other favored private businesses. 

A true businessman should want less government involvement, rather than more government largesse at the expense of their fellow citizens.  If City Hall allowed you to receive five city lots for free, you would more likely be behind them when the ol' club is about to be disbanded.  Quid pro quo, and all, you know.