In the October 5th Reader's Forum of the City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews) they printed the two statements Diane Seelhoff delivered at the Ludington City Council meeting on September 25th.  We have already looked at the second part in "I Guess That's Why They Call It COLDNews", ironically the slight of their city hall reporter inspired Ms. Seelhoff to submit the comments to the paper.  If you think about it, the COLDNews editor is kind of illustrating to the public that their reporter was lax in his coverage.  

Diane Seelhoff, a recent member of our on-line community here at the Ludington Torch, brings up valid points about the proposed splash pad.  I would add that she had a bit longer list of questions that were never addressed before the city council gave the go ahead to set a portion of Cartier Park aside.  At this last meeting, there were still a lot of specifics about the splash pad that have still not been decided, even the three splash pad committee members that showed up were not answering Fourth Ward citizen Chuck Sobanski's query about the source of water for the splash pad; I would add that they still haven't indicated where the water would go afterwards.  Would it be pumped up the big hill to the WWTP or just drain into the nearby Pere Marquette Lake?  

Had this been an issue that went in front of the voters last fall, one would think that those specifics and more would have been investigated and presented to the public.  Instead it came before the city council, and with few questions and even fewer answers, the council approved the site and effectively committed to the maintenance and water/sewer costs once it would be built.  The public was given an even vaguer picture, being introduced to the proposal the weekend before the Monday it was rammed through.  Since the last meeting, we are committed to the larger splash pad without knowing specifics of where it will be placed or the difference in maintenance costs it will incur over the smaller pad.

Now neither I nor Diane would think of depriving our area's kids from a 'free' miniature water park in our town, but our children and their future children deserve all of our communities adults making an informed decision about the particulars, so as to sensibly consider all of the variables that need to be decided for this to be the best 'community' splash pad anywhere.  With the additional bonus that everything was thoroughly thought through and democratically approved.  

What do you think?  Are there any other concerns that Diane, Chuck, I, or others have left out?  Do you think this project could have been done better?  Does it make you believe even more so that the loss of the Copeyon Park fishing dock and wholesale destruction of 16 mature trees (many not diseased) where the splash pad is going was planned by city management, even though city officials have tried to deny it?

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For the production of calcium chloride, neighbor Occidental Chemical Company has quite a surplus of hot water and steam available to potentially make the splash pad year a bit longer when you build an extra pipeline under their common fence.  

Pipe in some calchlor too and you don't have to worry about ice or dust accumulations on the splash pad either, just a few rashes on kids with sensitive skin, and nasty esophageal burns on those dumber kids that eat the little white chips.

It's shady, but unless you can show these subcommittee meetings had four councilors in attendance discussing the issues, then it's likely not a violation of the OMA.  Likewise, the Splash Pad Committee has some officials making it up, but does not have councilors in their ranks.  They are not a "public body", so they do not fall within the OMA rules.  

As noted by Shinblind, putting a water park next to a chemical plant is not the ideal location especially for the pleasing view if not for the potential safety concerns. What about the electrical sub station located at the east side of the parking lot. That's a nice view for tourists to see. Something is not adding up here. To appeal to the tourist trade this is not the location to have this. It's location is not easy to find, there are no amenities for the users such as concessions unless that's going to be another addition, access to the park is not conducive to a large number of vehicles especially tourists who are towing campers and just a negative location for a tourist attraction.  My opinion is that some on the Council and their cronies are going to benefit financially from this boondoggle.

dianne, have you accessed X's articles dealing with the low income housing to be built downtown, the new fire station and the land located near it. Interesting reading which shows clearly the underhanded dealings of the money grabbers in Ludington. I can't locate the articles but X might be able to find them. 

Willy, Diane and Shinblind are very adequately illustrating the 'thinking outside of the box' that we encourage and hope to foster here at the Ludington Torch Academy.  If all of the city's publicly stated objectives and goals do not add up to the big picture, the real objectives and goals are likely to not have been stated publicly and quite likely much different than those stated.  

The Copeyon Park location has challenges that cannot easily be fixed by cutting down the 'infested' forest without replacing the trees, so as to be conducive to a big splash pad and perhaps other facilities unspoken of as of yet.  A city manager that balks at the expensive cost of moving the outflow pipe of the WWTP a few hundred yards to the west for the benefits to the environment, seems to welcome a project that may pose even more complex and costly water supply and wastewater removal issues, with seemingly nominal benefits to the community at large.

Anybody remember the Fourth Ward skate park established in 1999?  I see this as potentially having a similar future, including being rebuilt elsewhere at a much greater cost when the problems arise.

See the following and their sublinks for additional reading of the BAB development:

Castles for Cast Offs

Cronyism Over Capitalism

Citizens for a Better Ludington

Just fyi readers, I've noticed over several years now that the best way anyone can get off the hook of being irresponsible and unethical, is to call XLFD in this case, not credible. Well, the real truth of the matter as I see it nowadays, is that the one whom really isn't credible, or whatever the guilty one calls another, is that it really is a direct and accurate description of themselves. The LDN's Begnoche, now Klevorn, and also Miller at WMOM also told me the exact same words about X. When they told me that, I was stunned and amazed at their beliefs. X has shown, thru numerous documents, files, proofs before making judgments on Shyster Shay, that HE was the one guilty of non-credible actions and words. If the public would only delve into the true facts, they would easily come to the same conclusions.

Thanks for noticing.  BTW, Dianne, you will note that I may use terminology to refer to 'bad-acting' officials at times as a way to humor or minimalize them as they normally try to do with us.  It is not malicious on my part to do so, even though some readers may take it that way.  It's a form of healthy passive aggressive behavior that has been used by peaceful and successful protesters against infamy or corruption, as noted in a clinical book on PA behaviours:

Making fun or making light of those using their power inappropriately is one of many ways to deal with the issue, and crack their veneer of authority seen by most.  It was used effectively by Trump to the consternation of many of his presidential opponents.  When done in moderation, which is harder to do when they attack your friends, it can be an effective way to portray them.  

I use little Mikey to refer to him because he is kind of like that kid on the old Life Cereals commercials.  If you recall in that commercial, Little Mikey's two older brothers are debating on eating the healthy looking cereal until Mikey tries it and starts going to town.  In this case, it might go like this:

Shay:  What's this stuff?

Wilson:  Some citizen criticism, it's supposed to be good to cover up our graft.

Shay:  I'm not going to try it...

Wilson:  Let's get Mikey.

Shay:  Yeah.  He won't chew them out, he hates everyone.

(Mikey vigorously chews)

Wilson:  He likes it, hey Mikey, do this at every meeting we get upstaged.

Let  us not forget that the LDN and local radio make there living off the businesses that rely on favors from those in power at City Hall. This unholy trilogy is what really controls Ludington. Each relies on the other to maintain a balance of the control they have over their interests which in most cases does not include the average citizen. City hall needs the cover that the LDN and WMOM gives them so they can stay beneath the radar and are not exposed for their deceitful behavior. LDN and WMOM need businesses to advertise with them to keep the money flowing. The businesses needs City Hall to grant them favors and other considerations so they can operate illegitimately in areas they would not normally be able to do so without City Hall greasing the wheels for them.

Enter XLFD. The wrench in the trilogy's gears. Of course they do not want anyone snooping around their corrupt playground, so, they try their damnedest to destroy him. Unbeknown to them X is not a country bumpkin who does not wilt at their attacks. They finally also realize that X is smart, is not easily dissuaded and is steadfast in his resolve and has the truth and facts on his side. A combination hard to beat but that didn't stop them from trying. My hat's off to X for putting up with the evil that permeates City Hall.

So true Willy.  Spot on.

Pretty representation Willy, but I would not put 'business' in the third prong unless prefaced with the word 'crony'.  The vast majority of small businesses in our area have to deal with the same lame system as the rest of us individuals along with the unfairness of the local government showing favoritism toward certain companies-- many not even in our area.

I thought of that after I posted it. Crony should have been stated. My mistake.

Yep... Good evaluation. 

I can't take credit for the graphics, only the lettering inside the half circles. And yes this could describe anywhere USA or most of the World. That's why I kept it generic and did not use specific names which I was tempted to do. It's a strange thing that happens to ordinary people when they obtain power and influence. The allure of having control over others can turn the common person into a tyrant.

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