Ludington City Council Meeting 5-5-2014: Proud to Serve

[XLFD]

The meeting on Cinquo De Mayo of the Ludington City Council proved short at just a little over 25 minutes, mainly because the council had met just one week before.  The main decision of the meeting was to vote on whether to extend each of the elected officials terms by one more year by moving the city elections from odd years to even years. 

The council decided on this issue with minimal citizen involvement.  Each of the three councilors who had heard feedback from the people had heard only from two-- it may have been the same two for each of them.  All seven councilors voted yes, after a discussion of the minimal involvement, even after two readings at previous meetings.  No big surprise.

The most time went to independent auditor Ken Berthiaume who gave a reading of his most recent audit of the city's finances.  It's nice to have audits and it gives a nice check on possible mishandling of the public's funds, but audits in and of themselves are not failsafe in finding problems.  Witness recent embezzlements that have occurred in the area at a school, a bank, a jeweler's, and a tulip committee.  Even with backups, it took a while in each case to determine the books were wrong.

They passed an ordinance to accept a two year contract with Mason County to supervise the assessment roll, and had a first reading of effectively renewing a contract between the City's Recreation Department and the Ludington schools for pool and other facility use.

Monday also marked the beginning of Public Service Recognition Week (May 4-10, 2014), where many public officials and members of the public, publicly acknowledge the fine work of their public servants.  It would have been an excellent opportunity for the councilors to give a pat on the back of deserving city employees, but on this night, there was only one person who acknowledged the week and some of our public servants who deserved recognition.  He was proud to serve a rather short public comment on the city council starting at 2:25 into the video below.  Kaye Holman was not turned around this time.

And if you watch the video through to the end, you will see that citizen proudly wearing his Ludington Fire Department shirt (having served the community for 8 years in that position) once again being proud to serve the City Attorney a copy of the Claim of Appeal I sent to Grand Rapids early on Tuesday.  This appeal, which I will talk of later, is an appeal of the orders I received from Judge Mark Wickens of the 51st Circuit Court dealing with the FOIA appeal I launched with Judge Richard Cooper back in 2011. 

The same case where City Manager John Shay deliberately lied in a sworn affidavit, and the Judge's son, and current 51st Circuit Court judicial candidate (to take over his father's spot) was proud to serve on the defense team  for over four months before his father admitted that fact to plaintiffs.  The 51st Circuit Court has only got more corrupt and less proud to serve the people in the remanded decision to them by the Appeals Court, which determined plaintiffs were entitled to their costs and disbursements, which were denied them by Judge Wickens in the original judgment.  More on this to come.

"Celebrated the first week of May since 1985, this week, Public Service Recognition Week is time set aside to honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees and ensure that our government is the best in the world. 

Throughout the country, mayors, governors, agency leaders, communities and public service organizations participate in this week by issuing proclamations; hosting award ceremonies and special tribute events; and delivering messages about the value of public service.

The theme for this year 2014 is Proud to Serve, where government employees and leaders alike take the opportunity to communicate the benefits and value of the work they do.

I have seen no proclamations, ceremonies or events created by this unit of government for this week to celebrate the 300 people who work either part-time or full-time in service to the City of Ludington.  Nor have I seen any of our government here tell me they are proud to serve the people of this City.

 

Councilor Castonia last week admitted he was proud to serve the people of the United States in protecting, defending and preserving the Constitution as a member of the US Army; that is incredibly honorable to do so with distinction.  But he failed to mention his service to the public and the Constitution here in Ludington in his many years of public service as a policeman and a city councilor.  That non-admission speaks volumes about the duties he has often neglected as a member of both local agencies.

 

As a public servant, unless you unlawfully claim yourself exempt from swearing an oath to our Constitution (such as our City Manager and others have failed to do with permission by this public body) you are duty-bound to protect, defend and preserve the ideals of that Constitution.  Councilor Castonia did that as a soldier, but apparently it became less important when he was actively dealing with constitutional issues as a policeman and councilor, sworn into office.

Tonight the council will vote to decide as to whether they get another year in office, justifying it by saying it will save over $15,000 per year.  I have looked at the budget, and have found that number to be severely overestimated by nearly a factor of two.  However, it still saves thousands, it gives the people a break from all the lawn signs and politicking every other year, and so how can you be against it?  Enjoy your extra year of public service, be proud to serve and not just proud and unde-serving; I will keep recognizing it whether it be good or bad. 

I will give a positive shout out to the City's water utility maintenance section.  I have dealt with several members of this department over the years and they have been responsible, customer-oriented, and professional in those encounters.  Thank you all for your service."

[AQUAMAN]

So Jamie the newbie, first you tell me how to talk and act, then you continue on to tell streeter how to post and act? Aren't you over-stepping your self-appointed authority just a bit there dear? Let's hear about you now. Like to start, where are you from? And don't use that condescending locale of the USA like your member page states. And what's your drug of choice?

[AQUAMAN]

My post exchanges with streeter dear Jamie, is also my business, not yours. For a newbie, you sure are obviously a person with issues and poor attitude towards your fellow posters. What exactly do you have to contribute regarding the thread content of the City Council meeting of 5/5/14? Or are you just here for trouble? Like a bull in a china shop, I don't see any substance nor any germane posts so far, just another troll out for some cheap jollies. Prove me wrong, treat your new fellow posters on this forum with some decorum and respect, try to be polite and act like an adult, debate with gusto and use no profanity in the process. Get to know the forum members with time and patience. Make some friends in the process. In other words, you reap what you sow sometimes, and if you pick quarrels right out of the gate, you are showing your hand too quickly, and i.e., really can find other forums where constant bickering is fun and enjoyable. Now, I have to attend to some work, see ya.

[XLFD]

Ease off, people.  Aquaman has a tendency to want the first dance with new members, even if they want to sit it out for the most part.  He is hyper-sensitive to trolls, and so he sometimes comes off as overly aggressive to newer posters.  Please, do not let it detract from your enjoyment of the site; he is expected to follow the terms of service (bottom right corner) as are all members.

[XLFD]

It's more a democratic inmate-ran asylum with loose moderation by site administrators.  If anybody gets on your nerves by their posts send me a message and I'll decide whether they merit a green, yellow, or red card.  Or just practice the Golden Rule, and ignore chatter for what it is.

[XLFD]

Streeter, de-escalate the situation.  You threatened to whip another member's a$$ and take hard jail time for doing it, then called him a name, grossly exaggerated the character of his past posts.  All are violations of the terms of service.  Live within the rules, or you'll live outside the Torch.  Thank you for understanding.