Scottville City Clowncil Meeting, June 21, 2021: The Devil's Playground

[XLFD]

When you look at the agenda packet for the 6-21-2021 meeting of the Scottville City Commission (aka the clowncil due to their ineptitude) you may overlook amendments to the budget year that just ended.  While there is no change in the general fund revenues, you find that the corrupted staff and clowncil gained a lot of extra money than what was originally budgeted for them (see p. 9-13).

City Commission salary & wages:  + $1344 (+ 14%)

City Attorney                           :   + $12,865 (+ 94%)

City Manager                            :   + $28,753 (+ 43%)

City Clerk (missing info)            :   benefits up 76%

City Treasurer                          :   + $3594     (+ 8%)

As typical for the criminal syndication that Scottville City Hall has become since late last year, these amended rates never get explained at this meeting, just passed without comment.  Nor is it explained how they will handle this or the many other unseen payments in the amended budget that amount to $70,000 (about $50,000 of that bestowed upon office staff and the clowncil).  

Section 5.2 of the Scottville City Charter says that city commissioners compensation "shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars in any fiscal year. The Mayor shall, in addition, receive the sum of one hundred dollars per year."  If six commissioners max out at $150 and the mayor receives $250, the salaries and wages of these officials would total $1150.  The budget for last year gives them $9900 in salary and wages. 

It's no wonder these crooks are not moved to act on proven embezzlement of city funds by City Treasurer Kathy Shafer, former Acting City Manager Matt Murphy, and City Clerk Kelse Lester, they annually are taking nearly nine times their rate proscribed by a charter provision operating in full force.  At the expense of the people that elected them to office; how disgraceful.

There wasn't a lot of business planned at the meeting.  Another reading of the 'chicken ordinance' was scheduled, but any action on it was tabled.  Officials at the meeting had said some changes were made in the wording of the ordinance (without explanation and without including it in the packet), so that this would be tabled.  One hopes their parliamentarian tells them that the ordinance process must begin anew with an amended proposed ordinance.

Some news was released through department and committee reports.  The city manager reported he expects 2-3 new businesses downtown by the end of the year, is negotiating a McPhail Field maintenance plan with Scottville schools (MCC), and figuring out how they might be able to spend the city's stimulus funds amounting to a little over $100,000 (the last budget shortfalls shows where it will likely wind up). 

Chief Matt Murphy reported he was stepping up speed enforcement in the Riverside Park area-- what a joke.  A 2015 speed study showed that 85 percent of all traffic travelled at least 41 mph going down the river hill, 44 mph going up the river hill.  The commission at the time unwisely voted to keep the speed limit at 30 mph in that area rather than raise it in accordance with usual procedures, so Chief Murphy is out raising funds since 5 in 6 people naturally go over 10 mph over the speed limit in this area.  This isn't for safety, it's for revenue and the chief knows that.

Committees reported that the rental inspection contract with Ludington is awaiting the reorganization of that city's community development department.  Vending agreements were being worked out at Riverside Park, and they were busy figuring out what to do with the gifted $5000 from Arch Staffing for playground equipment, looking at bike racks and swing sets for city parks.  Then came the public's time to comment, only two people spoke at the sparsely attended meeting.

XLFD:  "At the last meeting, Commissioner Yeomans indicated there was some negativity being brought to city council meetings, I agree.  When a city clowncil regularly breaks the city charter, whether it is by ignoring election protocols, introducing and passing a budget later than the charter allows, or not following meeting procedures which mandates a public comment at the beginning of the meeting, that clowncil is doing negative activities.  

All city officials sit by quietly while they see the Freedom of Information Act regularly subverted while the police chief destroys public records and the new city manager invents his own exemptions.  Definitely negative.

All city officials sit quietly while the Open Meetings Act is broken repeatedly.  Holding meetings without proper notice, not keeping minutes of a clowncil-created investigative committee, not allowing people to comment at virtual meetings, or throwing a person out of a clowncil meeting without any breech of the peace, except by city officials.

All of this, and more, is negative, which includes this clowncil's imposition of a chicken tax of $35 each year without hearing the public first, due to your violation of the city charter.  That is totally negative conduct and should I even touch on the criminal conduct of your office staff?  Negative indeed when you consider the embezzled funds, the maliciously broken windows, and destruction of evidence.

I sent the clowncil and other city officials an email to determine whether any of the crimes against the charter and the State of Michigan that I regularly list at these meetings were up for debate.  To me, it's clear you people are operating illegally, it's effectively proven by records and actions.  

I received no defense or refutation, so clearly you know that you are acting corruptly, apathetically, and criminally.  That's an incredibly big negative for Scottville at this critical time.  If you can't lead Scottville in a positive direction, step aside and allow untainted people to assume your position. [END comment]"

Rather than having to wait until the clowncil to react, former City Commissioner Sue Petipren rose to defend some of her former peers.  Petipren served during a time when the commission was acting fairly, accountably and openly, so one may believe that she is not fully aware of how the current clowncil has fallen from her own ideals at the time, which were perhaps the highest among her peers.  She offered that every time she went into city hall to conduct business she was treated well, thanking the staff for what they do.

Mayhaps Sue Petipren can explain why the only time I went into the Scottville City Hall during business hours (since late last year when city hall imploded), I was handed a bill trying to extort $16.50 from me, when others received the same info earlier for free (and I was earlier told it was free).  Staff was unhelpful with explaining the charge to me, they were rude at times, before I finally was handed the records in exchange for giving them the bogus billing record back.  Chief Murphy would not give me back the record they prepared for me, not even a copy; and when I made a FOIA request for it, as he suggested I do, I was told the record did not exist.  

Sorry Sue, but that experience and your experiences only shows that the city staff does not treat everybody the same-- and I could relate other anecdotes told to me by others that could make your ears burn.  Idle hands, and a full-time clerk and treasurer for a small town of 1200 people have plenty of idleness during their 40+ hour stints each week, are the devil's playground-- and such is Scottville City Hall.  As the amended budget shows, city hall staff will get much more than $5000 to get equipment they need for their fun.