Rotta vs. Holman on WMOM, Round Two

[XLFD]

Earlier today an old-style debate was held between the Ludington City Councilor at large candidates, Kaye Holman and Tom Rotta and that audio is recorded here:  11-7-11 Debate, Holman-Rotta.

 

Some comments from the latter candidate on the incumbents statements. 

 

1)  She states over and over that Truth in Taxation hearings are mandated by State law each year, irregardless of whether the taxing body (in this case the City of Ludington) wants to raise tax rates or not.  That is not true, as illustrated by this Michigan treasury document and this law that the previous document points to MCL 211.24e (note sec 3). 

Most every municipality throughout Michigan allows the millage rates to get rolled back via Headlee without ever resorting to Truth in Taxation hearings.  Kaye Holman is the chairperson of the City's Finance Committee.  For her to not have the understanding that she is not forced each year to raise taxes is a sign of why the Ludington citizens are overtaxed and will continue to be so with four more years of her annual summertime gorging on your savings.  

Personally, I think its an obscene practice, and if they want to find whether the citizens want more government revenue at their expense, put such requests before the electorate in the November elections.

 

2)  As regards the water tower and its painting, there was never any case made in the public utility committee's minutes, the pre-contract paperwork, or the contract itself that said that either water tower needed painting in 2010.  From the FOIA information I got, it would have to be presumed that a salesman from the Utility Services Company contacted the city and sold them on the concept of spreading out payments over time, so as not to have a blip in the budget when the towers needed painting.  So instead of getting them both painted for $300,000 in one year, they decided to spend nearly $1.2 million over ten years as a way to get the job done.  That just sounds dumb to me. 

The maintenance plan is a joke-- our water guys have to drain the tower, they (USC) come in and inspect it, maybe rinse it out, and go back to their far away place.  I much rather would have our own water guys do the inspecting, after all they and their families and friends have to drink and bathe in it.  They have a vested interest in it being hygienical and up to the health code.

 

3)  Kaye Holman boasts about how well she does her job, and how she is so available to her constituents.  I disagreed today.  She votes over and over again to impinge on the citizen's rights, over and over she votes to raise fees and taxes.  Over and over, that extra cash is thrown to corporate welfare (tax abatements, 'economic development'), ill-thought projects (water tower painting, marina 'improvements'), and keeping the municipal employees salaries high and their fringe benefits exceptionally high. 

But she was shown to be little more than a fraud when she was reminded that I had sent two letters via the mail, ten E-mails and had no response from her at all.  And that 'Eve Alone' had sent eighteen E-mails to her inbox as well, without any response at all.  Not even a "Call me." response.  No reply at all.

I was told that I always used half truths in my communications.  I know that when someone sends me half truths, I try to correct them, but maybe that's the teacher in me.  My last E-mail to her described the basis of a FOIA appeal in involved terms.  Previous E-mails this year asked about marina hiring practices, and city councilor salaries in a respective manner, hoping for an answer.  Yet, contrary to her insistence that she will find answers for you if you contact her, she doesn't even reply, just to say "You're wrong" or "You deal in half-truths."  Pay no attention to the gentle woman behind the curtain.  What a humbug.

  

I only want to get the full truth, and that is why Kaye has been doing one terrible job, and needs to be replaced.  Don't forget to vote tomorrow if you are a resident of Ludington.  Send a message to Kaye that she will get loud and clear, and definitely respond to.

[XLFD]

I hope to see Pete recoup some of his original vigor if he is to make a run for Mayor in two years.  Getting away from City Hall is bound to be good for him, and maybe we can ally together at some point once he recovers from his twelve years.