Who else remembers the old Flintstone episode when Wilma and Betty are going shopping and yelling "Charge it! Charge it!" over and over again, working themselves into a frenzy at the thought of their shiny new purchases? Well, today City Manager Greg Burris offered his draft of the "charge" of the pension task force (okay, okay, different types of charges but I have to get your attention somehow).
The Council was requested to offer their individual top 12 choices from the City Manager's recommended task force members and applicant list, and any changes or suggestions they might have for his recommended "charge" of the task force by 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
Burris' top picks for the task force were:
> Brian Allen, owner and CEO of Pension Consulting, Inc
> Mary Beth Daniels, owner of Hunter Chase & Associates Concrete Construction
> Jerry Harmison, Attorney
> Carl Herd, Retired teacher
> Kenneth Homan, current member of the Police-Fire Pension Board
> James Jeffries, Attorney
> Robert L. Jones, retired lawyer, judge, and arbitrator
> Peggy Kubicek, retired financial advisor, retired teacher
> Carol Mihalevich, Vice President, Bank of Missouri
> Matt Morrow, CEO, Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield
> Charles Munsey, Health benefits consultant
> Jeff Rice, Financial advisor
> Craig Wagoner, real estate investments; CPA
> Lloyd Young, retired professor
Two of the recommendations do not live in Springfield's City limits.
Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky offered the harshest comments about the list from which the Council was asked to choose. She first wanted to know why Burris included people who were not Springfield residents. Burris explained, people who do not live within Springfield will be paying 50 percent of any sales tax the task force might eventually recommend.
Rushefsky appeared to be generally unhappy with the selection, though she recognized people who were not represented had excluded themselves by not applying to be on the task force, "It is not a diverse group. I think it is a very select group," Rushefsky said. She complained there were no blue collar, no labor representatives, "We're not seeing the general public and that's the problem, I'm really concerned that the folks out there who have concerns are not on here."
Councilman Ralph Manley suggested that each of the Council members choose 12 of the applicants for submission to the City Manager's Office, where they could be tallied and the 12 which scored the highest would make up the task force. None of the other Council members seemed opposed to that idea and so, it appeared that is the plan.
While a time line has been suggested for the task force to produce a recommendation, Mr. Burris made it clear it was suggested as a guideline to give the applicants an idea about how long they might be involved in the process. He said the Council could extend the deadline. Mayor Tom Carlson did not want the process to be rushed and didn't want the task force to feel pressured, "I'd rather have it (the task force) do a thorough job than feel rushed because the public will be more likely to support it," Carlson said.
The Council seemed to be in agreement that the new Council should choose three members for the task force. Burris suggested the membership be kept between 12-14, there might be more conflicts in scheduling, the more members the task force included, he said.
Councilman Wylie suggested the final decision should be up to the City Manager, however, Mayor Carlson explained that was not the case and Burris suggested the Council would need to approve the task force by ordinance.
The meetings of the police and firefighters pension fund task force will be open to the public.
The date of the new City Council's swearing in was also discussed. Because the new Council will not be able to be sworn in until after the County certifies the election results, Burris and City staff members felt that April 14 might be the earliest date possible to do that. Burris said they might be able to swear them in a day or two earlier but, the Council seemed settled on April 14 for the swearing in, in....
The End.
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Showing posts with label Mayor Tom Carlson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mayor Tom Carlson. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Transcript: Final Episode of Mayor's Roundtable, with Mayor Tom Carlson
Marks his Final State of the City address; an Historic Moment
The 101st, and final episode of Mayor Tom Carlson's, "Mayor's Roundtable," as aired on "TV23," was taped for broadcast on March 5, 2009. The program also served as a bit of a different venue for the Mayor's 6th and final State of the City address.
Carlson, who will have served the City for 25 years, has set a record as the longest serving elected official in the history of the City.
This transcript is intended to mark an historic moment in Springfield's history and serve as an expression of appreciation, to Mayor Carlson, for his willingness to serve on Springfield's City Council and as Springfield's Mayor for a total of 25 years of voluntary service.
Carlson described one of the tough lessons he had learned in his 25 years of service: "Well, if you make a mistake, it's in public and remains in (public) and will get repeated. You'll wear it for a long time."
Jim Anderson, of the Chamber of Commerce, switched the table with the Mayor and hosted the last episode of "Mayor's Roundtable," interviewing Mayor Carlson. This transcript picks up after introductions, at the time the Mayor and Mr. Anderson began their discussion.
Mayor Tom Carlson's Final State of the City Address
Jim Anderson (JA): Well, Mayor, Good morning.
Mayor Tom Carlson (TC): Good morning, Jim.
JA: ...and welcome to the Mayor's Roundtable.
TC: Final edition.
JA: The final edition, and we're going to do this a little different, if you don't mind, because you're not going to be the interviewer, you're going to be the interviewee. I'm going to play Mayor and you're going to play guest. How's that? (Anderson turns to guests) Let's switch the tables on him this morning. He's, for many shows, done the asking of questions and had someone else on the hot seat so, (speaking to Mayor again) I'm going to turn the table, it's a round table but, I'm going to turn the table on you, this morning, for this, final edition of the "Mayor's Roundtable," and obviously, Mayor, in your honor, I had to dig this out of the closet (Anderson pulls at his bow tie).
TC: Is that a clip on?
JA: It is not a clip on....
TC: Okay. (Laughing)
JA: ...but, it's not a tie either, it's sort of, it's sort of in between, it's sort of in between. I thought about trying a tie, a bow tie, and I knew I'd get that done about a day later so, I decided not to do that because that is an art and a science. I'm not sure which.
We welcome you, this morning, for this 6th and final edition of State of the City, in terms of your role as Mayor. I think the previous State of the City's have been extremely informative, in terms of what is happening in our community, and, again, we thought we'd do a little bit different twist this morning. Instead of the "State of the City," as we've known it before, we would do this "Mayor's Roundtable" program, and, I think, cover in that time period some of the information that you'd want to share.
Mayor, let's start, and I'm not starting in terms of being negative, but, let's start with the big 800 pound gorilla in the room, the big elephant. Obviously, just last month, I know Springfield voters turned down a very important proposition, and I know you were very disappointed regarding that so, the obvious question is, what happens next, as it relates to the police and fire issue?
TC: Well, I think it is on everybody's mind and, Jim, I think the big message that I want to convey about that is that, the problem is solvable. We came really close, getting 48 percent of the vote in a time when our economy is in the worse condition since the great depression. The fact that we got that close tells me that whatever solution, whether it's the same one or some hybrid, that comes back, that, eventually, we're going to deal with that.
Right now we're soliciting names of people, I encourage anybody in this room who is willing to commit some time over the next few months to review different approaches to solving the problem, and come up with a recommendation that we can get the community behind.
We're going to model it (police/fire pension task force) after what we did with the citizens committee with the power supply task force, after the first failed vote, as it relates to the power plant. We went back and tweaked it, and made sure that the concerns that the people had were addressed, and we came up with an ultimate solution. We're going to follow that same model, and, I'm sure, that the input of the new City Council, that's an issue that we'll get behind us.
I would like to tell you some good news, if I may, in connection with that.
You know, we got a lot of criticism in the last couple of years because there was, for a couple of years, there, we did not put in all the money that the actuary said that we should put in on the pension fund.
Real quickly, we made some changes, and we thought the changes in how the portfolio mix was done made that unnecessary, and, then, secondly, we had an ice storm that cost us $35 million, and it just wasn't sensible, in our mind, at least, to put the money in there when we had people that were freezing in their homes but, the amount of money that the City did not pay for that 4 year period, in there, with interest, should be paid here in the next couple of weeks, now, because, we have settled one of the law suits with the phone company this past week.
There's still two more out there, (referring to continuing litigation with the landline company previously known as SBC, and Alltel) so, that's going to take that issue off the table, and if you'll permit me a little gloating, our critics on that a couple years ago, at the state legislature, they tried to force something down our throat to take about 1/5th of the amount that we ended up settling for. The newspaper put a lot of pressure on us through the editorial board but, your Council stuck to its guns (and) as a consequence of that, we are going to get enough money in here to make the full payment that we owe, with interest.
JA: That is tremendous news this morning.
(Applause)
Mayor, congratulations.
TC: I'm real proud of that because, we stuck to our guns. It was a principal-driven process, Jim, because the Council felt that big companies should have to pay their taxes just like the little guy.
JA: Well, that is tremendous news, and, as you suggest, Mayor, it was an issue, certainly, during the campaign. It's been an issue that's out there. That does take it off the table, and the good news is, that's several million dollars, obviously....
TC: That number is $10.2 million that'll be recovered, and the phone company had to pay the attorneys' fees.
JA: That is tremendous. I think that, another round of applause on $10.2 million.
(Applause)
Congratulations.
TC: Thank you.
JA: That's a tremendous shot in the arm.
TC: Well, I'm pleased about that.
JA: Mayor, not withstanding that, and that is tremendous news for you to share with the group, this morning but, I know there are other budget challenges. It's not just the pension fund.
Obviously, sales tax revenue is off everywhere, including our community, so, how are you dealing with those budget challenges that we have because of declining sales tax revenue, primarily?
TC: Well, one thing we're not doing, Jim, is kicking the can down the road. Just like everybody in this room, whether it's your household budget or your company and its enterprise, we're living within our means. We're not borrowing. We're not filling jobs right now, as they come open. We're not giving pay raises, and (we're) doing what we have to do to live within our means until the economy turns around.
Last time I checked our sales tax collections, which is what we live and die on, were about 2 percent under previous year, and normally, you hope for a growth rate of 3 percent or better so, our city manager Greg Burris, who, I must say, has done a fabulous job, has exceeded the Council's expectations, is on top of it, and we're going to come out the other end of the tunnel in good shape. We're going to be better and stronger for the experience, and we'll do well because of the things we've put in place over the years.
JA: The President signed, just a few weeks ago, the Economic Recovery Act. How is our community poised to respond and take advantage of that, quite frankly?
TC: Well, we're trying to find out.
I was in Washington about 3 weeks ago on that very issue, and they're not sure how they're going to distribute the money. Money is going to be funneled to the states in two ways, either through government agencies or directly through the state, and so, they're trying to figure out just exactly how they're going to do that.
We have learned in the last week, we get, I think it's $550,000 that can be used for summer youth programs so, that'll help some kids having some work this summer, and, then, we got about another $400,000, I think it was, for some housing things but, there'll be bigger numbers coming down there.
Marc Thornsberry is working with our city manager to tee up so that we'll be ready when they tell us exactly what's there but, they're trying to figure it out, themselves, right now.
JA: Oh, they are, and transportation, certainly, is a major part of that, and, as you're well aware, the day the President signed the bill, the Highway Commission awarded four projects. One of those four was Highway 60 from Republic to Monett, a shared four lane, and, literally, just yesterday, the Highway Commission awarded 65 & 60, which is a huge project for all of us, a $58 million project. That work will take about 2 1/2, 3 years but, 2 new fly over ramps, and, obviously, improving the intersection, which is a major regional priority, and, I believe, thanks to the Economic Recovery Act, in about 2 weeks, we'll be able to announce we're going to let bids on 6 laning 65 from 44 to 60 so, all of that is happening because of the Economic Recovery Act.
TC: Well, and another factor that doesn't get significant recognition, Jim, is your service on the Highway Commission, what it's meant to Springfield and Greene County, and this part of the state, and I know how hard you work, and it's appreciated, and it makes a difference.
TA: Thank you, it's been a privilege, I guarantee you.
(Applause)
Mayor, let's shift to some personal issues.
What drives your commitment to do public service, and for 25 years, and to, literally, go on the history books as the longest serving elected official in our community's history? What makes that happen?
TC: Insomnia.
(Laughter)
JA: Insomnia, okay, that would do it, that would do it. That, or insanity, and, whatever. Okay.
TC: It's the same thing that I share with all the people in this room. I think a lot of us are kind of type A personalities, that's part of it, I suppose but, you like it, and you feel that, if you've been blessed, you're supposed to put something back, and the opportunity to work with people that are trying to do that sort of thing, like Dave Coonrod, like a Jim O'Neal, the Council people that we've worked with, people like you, to make your community better, hey, that's about as good as it gets.
JA: Well, we appreciate that, certainly.
How do you think you're leaving Springfield a different place from having served as Mayor, and again, I'm not asking you, necessarily, to brag but, I'm asking the questions so, I want to hear your response. How's this community different from when you first started serving as Mayor?
TC: Well, I think we need to be careful that, it's different because of what a whole lot of people have done, and I've just been lucky to have been around during that time but, you know, I think one of the main things that has changed is sort of a seismic shift in how we view ourselves, and how we view the way in which we engage dealing with problems that face this community.
Twenty five years ago we looked at it in sort of a much more traditional, laissez faire sort of approach. There was the public sector (and) the private sector. The public sector provided police protection, and tried to keep the roads patched, and the private sector did economic development, and that model has changed a lot.
There's a spirit of collaboration in our community that is so much stronger than it was 25 years ago. You know, I like the definition of collaboration, it goes, "Collaboration is what we're able to do together that we couldn't do on our own," and if you look at some of the challenges that this community has successfully addressed, it's only through that sort of partnership, the private sector has been such a big part of it but, it's how we work together.
When Zenith closed back in the early '90s, there were 1,200 people put out for work, and the chamber, the utility, and the city government came together to develop the Partnership Industrial Park that resulted in over $200 million in development, 2,200 jobs, I think it is, and doubled the economic impact, and gave long-term, permanent jobs, and, then, that model, of course, was carried over to Partnership Industrial Center East. It was carried over and we're looking at how to do another industrial park, that's on the planning board.
You can look at the way the University and the City, Missouri State, have engaged downtown development. We've worked together on that, and that's been a big driver in why the downtown area has done so well. Interestingly enough, if you drew a circle around the downtown, the sales tax that's being generated, there, is up, where, in the rest of the community, it's down. It shows you what focused development can do.
I imagine, if you were going to add it all up, there's been $250 million, or more, in development in the downtown area, and then, a big thing, too, Jim, is of the initiatives we've been able to put together to improve the community over the last 20 years, with the 1/4-cent capital improvements program, the level property tax that funds fire stations and so forth, the 1/8-cent transportation tax, the parks program, that, too, has been a big driver for economic development in our community.
You're famous for saying the two things you need to emphasize are education and transportation, this community has done that very successfully in the last 25 years and I think a whole lot of that is because you are principal-driven in how you approach things.
JA: Right.
TC: You know, the approach has to be inclusive. You have to prove that you're going to do what you say you're going to do. You have to keep your promises, and you keep reinforcing that, and when we first passed those things (tax initiatives) a few years ago, or initially, (they were) barely getting passed, and, now, they get up around 80 percent and, as an aside, you know, there was a little flurry lately about the thing about wayfaring signs, and George Santayana, a philosopher, is credited with a saying that, "Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it," and how many hits do politicians get because they don't keep their word? And, so, interestingly enough, in this circumstance, because we wanted to keep our word, we got a lot of criticism. Now, maybe we're not explaining things that well but, I mean, that's the bed rock. Do what you say you're going to do, and I think those are the kind of things that have changed, and, then, the last thing that I'm very, very excited about, and I hope it'll take off, is this whole emphasis on young people, and, particularly, children, and the importance of getting kids off on the right track in the 0-5 age group, early childhood development. We've had Nobel prize economists tell us that, if you want to make your city a better place, there is no place better than to emphasize in that area, in terms of economic development, and, so, I think, we're ahead of the curve in a lot of communities like that.
JA: Focus is, certainly, there.
TC: Yeah, it is.
JA: Tom, I'm sure there have been some disappointments. What are some tough lessons you've learned in that 25 years of service?
TC: Well, if you make a mistake it's in public, (laughed).
(Laughter)
JA: It is in public, it is in public and remains in public.
TC: And remains in (public) and will get repeated. You'll wear it for a long time.
I think some of the things I've learned is, if you do make a mistake, own up to it, and people, if you're honest about your failings and mistakes, you own up to them, people are willing to, if you're sincere, forgive and let you go forward.
It's interesting, as you deal with people, the surprises you get, both good and bad. Some people that you thought wouldn't be in your corner, or you just looked at them a certain way, and they come out that, in fact, you have a lot to learn from those people, and that they really come through in a pinch, and you never would have expected it, and the same thing's true with other folks that you thought would be there, aren't, and, of course, we all learn those life lessons.
JA: You see the best and the worst.
TC: You do. The thing is, too, you know, I think there's probably not a limit, there's no limit to what you can really accomplish if you can really encourage people to bring out the best in people, you know, appeal to their most noble instincts. People want to be challenged in that way, and, you know, I said last year, and I'll say it this year, we've got that element really strong in our community, and don't bet against Springfield.
JA: Amen to that.
Mayor, Obviously, we're doing a different format this year on the State of the City but, how would you summarize, how would you characterize the state of the city in 2009?
TC: Well, it's no news to anybody here, it's tough times but, I think that the main thing is that, if we just stay the course, we're going to come out of this okay, and much better than other communities that haven't done all the hard work that we've done to put in the safety nets and keep the lines of communication open. I think we are blessed, because, we have a community that has a lot of empathy for other folks, and, I think we, as John Kennedy said, you know, "A rising tide raises all ships," and what they mean by that is, we're all in it together. We have that shared sense of purpose here, and so, we're going to be okay, and we're, certainly, better off than a lot of places in the community. I think, if we don't panic, just realize that this will be over, too, which it will, we'll be just fine, and we'll be stronger, we'll learn some lessons from it, and, hopefully, we'll remember them.
JA: (The) Story goes that President Bush wrote a personal note to President Obama and put it in the top desk drawer of the oval office as he left the presidency in January. If you were going to write such a note for Springfield's next Mayor, what would your advice be to Springfield's next Mayor, and, hopefully, he's listening.
TC: (Laughs) It's interesting, my predecessor, Lee Gannaway, did the same thing...
JA: Oh, really?
TC: ...and when I opened my empty desk drawer there was a letter from Lee, and it had some good advice.
You know, I think, if you are lucky enough to be elected Mayor, you've, obviously, got some great personal qualities, and don't forget who you are, what got you where you are, and humility's a good thing, if you don't have it, you'll get it.
(Laughter)
So, develop your positive qualities and be aware of your frailties and call upon the people to help you out because, everybody wants to have you succeed.
The thing too, about being Mayor, is you have to remember that you speak for the whole community. If you're a Council person, you can have the luxury of having your particular, secular focus but, as Mayor, you have to represent the whole community, and your job is to pull everybody together, and develop solutions. We've been pretty lucky, and some people will say, "Well, gee, you're a rubber stamp," I don't look at it that way. We've been pretty lucky to, on the major issues, to have major consensus, and that's a consequence, in my opinion, of people understanding the issues, study them well enough that.... If you understand an issue, really, really well, the options tend to narrow quite a bit, and some people like to see 5/4 votes, and I don't... that's fine on some things but, on major issues that really effect the long-term direction of this community, if you're having a 5 to 4 vote, tells me somebody hasn't done his work, hasn't done his or her homework, and the job of the Mayor, I think, is to bring people together until you do that, and I like to say that process determines outcome, Jim, and if your process is faulty, it'll show that. You know, I've served on many boards over the years, and if we have a split vote on something, that's not something to celebrate, that's, almost, suggests there's a lack of leadership.
JA: I see.
Mayor, it strikes me that the down side of a bowtie, and the plus of a necktie, is a necktie can hide the gut so, I'm not sure I'm going to wear bowties on a regular basis.
TC: Laughs
(Laughter)
Yeah, you're just making me look good.
(more laughter)
JA: What are your plans after April the 7th, and I teased the Mayor this morning, I told him the media was going to be here in force about 8:30 because, the Mayor would be announcing this morning, he, like so many other people, is going to run for Congress.
(Laughter)
But, is that what your going to do, Mayor?
TC: I hear Doug Pitt's going to run.
JA: Well, that's a ....(undiscernable).
TC: I couldn't beat him on my best day but, I'm probably going to retire from public life. I don't have any plans along those lines.
I'll take some time. I've got some ideas out there. I want to spend a little time down in Mexico, my wife and I have found a place we like to be, and, you know, I think you, for me, you've always got to be doing something or you're not relevant so, for me, I've got to feel like I'm relevant. I've got to feel like I'm doing something that makes a difference so, I don't know how that'll translate but, I'll be engaged in something.
JA: There'll be something, there'll be something.
Any parting comments? We're winding down this morning, on this special edition of the "Mayor's Roundtable." Any parting comments that you'd like to say to the audience in this room, as well as the extended audience who's listening?
TC: Well, I hadn't thought about that but, I guess what I would say is, the people in this room really do determine what kind of community we have.
Margaret Mead once said that, "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world because, indeed, that's the only thing that ever has," and you folks are engaged, and you can make a difference, and it's probably been the greatest feeling I've ever had, is to be able to be associated with people like you that try to make our town a better place to be. Thank you.
(Applause)
JA: Thank you, Mayor.
(Continuing applause)
The extended applause speaks for itself but, I know, on behalf of everyone here, as well as who's listening, we thank you for your dedication, and your commitment, and your service, and your leadership to this community.
You are our community's longest serving elected official and it's not just tenure or seniority, it's made a difference. It's leadership that's made a difference, as well.
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we need one more round of applause for his honor, Mayor Tom Carlson.
(Applause)
Tom, thank you very much.
Mayor Carlson, Mayor Tom Carlson.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 101st, and final episode of Mayor Tom Carlson's, "Mayor's Roundtable," as aired on "TV23," was taped for broadcast on March 5, 2009. The program also served as a bit of a different venue for the Mayor's 6th and final State of the City address.
Carlson, who will have served the City for 25 years, has set a record as the longest serving elected official in the history of the City.
This transcript is intended to mark an historic moment in Springfield's history and serve as an expression of appreciation, to Mayor Carlson, for his willingness to serve on Springfield's City Council and as Springfield's Mayor for a total of 25 years of voluntary service.
Carlson described one of the tough lessons he had learned in his 25 years of service: "Well, if you make a mistake, it's in public and remains in (public) and will get repeated. You'll wear it for a long time."
Jim Anderson, of the Chamber of Commerce, switched the table with the Mayor and hosted the last episode of "Mayor's Roundtable," interviewing Mayor Carlson. This transcript picks up after introductions, at the time the Mayor and Mr. Anderson began their discussion.
Mayor Tom Carlson's Final State of the City Address
Jim Anderson (JA): Well, Mayor, Good morning.
Mayor Tom Carlson (TC): Good morning, Jim.
JA: ...and welcome to the Mayor's Roundtable.
TC: Final edition.
JA: The final edition, and we're going to do this a little different, if you don't mind, because you're not going to be the interviewer, you're going to be the interviewee. I'm going to play Mayor and you're going to play guest. How's that? (Anderson turns to guests) Let's switch the tables on him this morning. He's, for many shows, done the asking of questions and had someone else on the hot seat so, (speaking to Mayor again) I'm going to turn the table, it's a round table but, I'm going to turn the table on you, this morning, for this, final edition of the "Mayor's Roundtable," and obviously, Mayor, in your honor, I had to dig this out of the closet (Anderson pulls at his bow tie).
TC: Is that a clip on?
JA: It is not a clip on....
TC: Okay. (Laughing)
JA: ...but, it's not a tie either, it's sort of, it's sort of in between, it's sort of in between. I thought about trying a tie, a bow tie, and I knew I'd get that done about a day later so, I decided not to do that because that is an art and a science. I'm not sure which.
We welcome you, this morning, for this 6th and final edition of State of the City, in terms of your role as Mayor. I think the previous State of the City's have been extremely informative, in terms of what is happening in our community, and, again, we thought we'd do a little bit different twist this morning. Instead of the "State of the City," as we've known it before, we would do this "Mayor's Roundtable" program, and, I think, cover in that time period some of the information that you'd want to share.
Mayor, let's start, and I'm not starting in terms of being negative, but, let's start with the big 800 pound gorilla in the room, the big elephant. Obviously, just last month, I know Springfield voters turned down a very important proposition, and I know you were very disappointed regarding that so, the obvious question is, what happens next, as it relates to the police and fire issue?
TC: Well, I think it is on everybody's mind and, Jim, I think the big message that I want to convey about that is that, the problem is solvable. We came really close, getting 48 percent of the vote in a time when our economy is in the worse condition since the great depression. The fact that we got that close tells me that whatever solution, whether it's the same one or some hybrid, that comes back, that, eventually, we're going to deal with that.
Right now we're soliciting names of people, I encourage anybody in this room who is willing to commit some time over the next few months to review different approaches to solving the problem, and come up with a recommendation that we can get the community behind.
We're going to model it (police/fire pension task force) after what we did with the citizens committee with the power supply task force, after the first failed vote, as it relates to the power plant. We went back and tweaked it, and made sure that the concerns that the people had were addressed, and we came up with an ultimate solution. We're going to follow that same model, and, I'm sure, that the input of the new City Council, that's an issue that we'll get behind us.
I would like to tell you some good news, if I may, in connection with that.
You know, we got a lot of criticism in the last couple of years because there was, for a couple of years, there, we did not put in all the money that the actuary said that we should put in on the pension fund.
Real quickly, we made some changes, and we thought the changes in how the portfolio mix was done made that unnecessary, and, then, secondly, we had an ice storm that cost us $35 million, and it just wasn't sensible, in our mind, at least, to put the money in there when we had people that were freezing in their homes but, the amount of money that the City did not pay for that 4 year period, in there, with interest, should be paid here in the next couple of weeks, now, because, we have settled one of the law suits with the phone company this past week.
There's still two more out there, (referring to continuing litigation with the landline company previously known as SBC, and Alltel) so, that's going to take that issue off the table, and if you'll permit me a little gloating, our critics on that a couple years ago, at the state legislature, they tried to force something down our throat to take about 1/5th of the amount that we ended up settling for. The newspaper put a lot of pressure on us through the editorial board but, your Council stuck to its guns (and) as a consequence of that, we are going to get enough money in here to make the full payment that we owe, with interest.
JA: That is tremendous news this morning.
(Applause)
Mayor, congratulations.
TC: I'm real proud of that because, we stuck to our guns. It was a principal-driven process, Jim, because the Council felt that big companies should have to pay their taxes just like the little guy.
JA: Well, that is tremendous news, and, as you suggest, Mayor, it was an issue, certainly, during the campaign. It's been an issue that's out there. That does take it off the table, and the good news is, that's several million dollars, obviously....
TC: That number is $10.2 million that'll be recovered, and the phone company had to pay the attorneys' fees.
JA: That is tremendous. I think that, another round of applause on $10.2 million.
(Applause)
Congratulations.
TC: Thank you.
JA: That's a tremendous shot in the arm.
TC: Well, I'm pleased about that.
JA: Mayor, not withstanding that, and that is tremendous news for you to share with the group, this morning but, I know there are other budget challenges. It's not just the pension fund.
Obviously, sales tax revenue is off everywhere, including our community, so, how are you dealing with those budget challenges that we have because of declining sales tax revenue, primarily?
TC: Well, one thing we're not doing, Jim, is kicking the can down the road. Just like everybody in this room, whether it's your household budget or your company and its enterprise, we're living within our means. We're not borrowing. We're not filling jobs right now, as they come open. We're not giving pay raises, and (we're) doing what we have to do to live within our means until the economy turns around.
Last time I checked our sales tax collections, which is what we live and die on, were about 2 percent under previous year, and normally, you hope for a growth rate of 3 percent or better so, our city manager Greg Burris, who, I must say, has done a fabulous job, has exceeded the Council's expectations, is on top of it, and we're going to come out the other end of the tunnel in good shape. We're going to be better and stronger for the experience, and we'll do well because of the things we've put in place over the years.
JA: The President signed, just a few weeks ago, the Economic Recovery Act. How is our community poised to respond and take advantage of that, quite frankly?
TC: Well, we're trying to find out.
I was in Washington about 3 weeks ago on that very issue, and they're not sure how they're going to distribute the money. Money is going to be funneled to the states in two ways, either through government agencies or directly through the state, and so, they're trying to figure out just exactly how they're going to do that.
We have learned in the last week, we get, I think it's $550,000 that can be used for summer youth programs so, that'll help some kids having some work this summer, and, then, we got about another $400,000, I think it was, for some housing things but, there'll be bigger numbers coming down there.
Marc Thornsberry is working with our city manager to tee up so that we'll be ready when they tell us exactly what's there but, they're trying to figure it out, themselves, right now.
JA: Oh, they are, and transportation, certainly, is a major part of that, and, as you're well aware, the day the President signed the bill, the Highway Commission awarded four projects. One of those four was Highway 60 from Republic to Monett, a shared four lane, and, literally, just yesterday, the Highway Commission awarded 65 & 60, which is a huge project for all of us, a $58 million project. That work will take about 2 1/2, 3 years but, 2 new fly over ramps, and, obviously, improving the intersection, which is a major regional priority, and, I believe, thanks to the Economic Recovery Act, in about 2 weeks, we'll be able to announce we're going to let bids on 6 laning 65 from 44 to 60 so, all of that is happening because of the Economic Recovery Act.
TC: Well, and another factor that doesn't get significant recognition, Jim, is your service on the Highway Commission, what it's meant to Springfield and Greene County, and this part of the state, and I know how hard you work, and it's appreciated, and it makes a difference.
TA: Thank you, it's been a privilege, I guarantee you.
(Applause)
Mayor, let's shift to some personal issues.
What drives your commitment to do public service, and for 25 years, and to, literally, go on the history books as the longest serving elected official in our community's history? What makes that happen?
TC: Insomnia.
(Laughter)
JA: Insomnia, okay, that would do it, that would do it. That, or insanity, and, whatever. Okay.
TC: It's the same thing that I share with all the people in this room. I think a lot of us are kind of type A personalities, that's part of it, I suppose but, you like it, and you feel that, if you've been blessed, you're supposed to put something back, and the opportunity to work with people that are trying to do that sort of thing, like Dave Coonrod, like a Jim O'Neal, the Council people that we've worked with, people like you, to make your community better, hey, that's about as good as it gets.
JA: Well, we appreciate that, certainly.
How do you think you're leaving Springfield a different place from having served as Mayor, and again, I'm not asking you, necessarily, to brag but, I'm asking the questions so, I want to hear your response. How's this community different from when you first started serving as Mayor?
TC: Well, I think we need to be careful that, it's different because of what a whole lot of people have done, and I've just been lucky to have been around during that time but, you know, I think one of the main things that has changed is sort of a seismic shift in how we view ourselves, and how we view the way in which we engage dealing with problems that face this community.
Twenty five years ago we looked at it in sort of a much more traditional, laissez faire sort of approach. There was the public sector (and) the private sector. The public sector provided police protection, and tried to keep the roads patched, and the private sector did economic development, and that model has changed a lot.
There's a spirit of collaboration in our community that is so much stronger than it was 25 years ago. You know, I like the definition of collaboration, it goes, "Collaboration is what we're able to do together that we couldn't do on our own," and if you look at some of the challenges that this community has successfully addressed, it's only through that sort of partnership, the private sector has been such a big part of it but, it's how we work together.
When Zenith closed back in the early '90s, there were 1,200 people put out for work, and the chamber, the utility, and the city government came together to develop the Partnership Industrial Park that resulted in over $200 million in development, 2,200 jobs, I think it is, and doubled the economic impact, and gave long-term, permanent jobs, and, then, that model, of course, was carried over to Partnership Industrial Center East. It was carried over and we're looking at how to do another industrial park, that's on the planning board.
You can look at the way the University and the City, Missouri State, have engaged downtown development. We've worked together on that, and that's been a big driver in why the downtown area has done so well. Interestingly enough, if you drew a circle around the downtown, the sales tax that's being generated, there, is up, where, in the rest of the community, it's down. It shows you what focused development can do.
I imagine, if you were going to add it all up, there's been $250 million, or more, in development in the downtown area, and then, a big thing, too, Jim, is of the initiatives we've been able to put together to improve the community over the last 20 years, with the 1/4-cent capital improvements program, the level property tax that funds fire stations and so forth, the 1/8-cent transportation tax, the parks program, that, too, has been a big driver for economic development in our community.
You're famous for saying the two things you need to emphasize are education and transportation, this community has done that very successfully in the last 25 years and I think a whole lot of that is because you are principal-driven in how you approach things.
JA: Right.
TC: You know, the approach has to be inclusive. You have to prove that you're going to do what you say you're going to do. You have to keep your promises, and you keep reinforcing that, and when we first passed those things (tax initiatives) a few years ago, or initially, (they were) barely getting passed, and, now, they get up around 80 percent and, as an aside, you know, there was a little flurry lately about the thing about wayfaring signs, and George Santayana, a philosopher, is credited with a saying that, "Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it," and how many hits do politicians get because they don't keep their word? And, so, interestingly enough, in this circumstance, because we wanted to keep our word, we got a lot of criticism. Now, maybe we're not explaining things that well but, I mean, that's the bed rock. Do what you say you're going to do, and I think those are the kind of things that have changed, and, then, the last thing that I'm very, very excited about, and I hope it'll take off, is this whole emphasis on young people, and, particularly, children, and the importance of getting kids off on the right track in the 0-5 age group, early childhood development. We've had Nobel prize economists tell us that, if you want to make your city a better place, there is no place better than to emphasize in that area, in terms of economic development, and, so, I think, we're ahead of the curve in a lot of communities like that.
JA: Focus is, certainly, there.
TC: Yeah, it is.
JA: Tom, I'm sure there have been some disappointments. What are some tough lessons you've learned in that 25 years of service?
TC: Well, if you make a mistake it's in public, (laughed).
(Laughter)
JA: It is in public, it is in public and remains in public.
TC: And remains in (public) and will get repeated. You'll wear it for a long time.
I think some of the things I've learned is, if you do make a mistake, own up to it, and people, if you're honest about your failings and mistakes, you own up to them, people are willing to, if you're sincere, forgive and let you go forward.
It's interesting, as you deal with people, the surprises you get, both good and bad. Some people that you thought wouldn't be in your corner, or you just looked at them a certain way, and they come out that, in fact, you have a lot to learn from those people, and that they really come through in a pinch, and you never would have expected it, and the same thing's true with other folks that you thought would be there, aren't, and, of course, we all learn those life lessons.
JA: You see the best and the worst.
TC: You do. The thing is, too, you know, I think there's probably not a limit, there's no limit to what you can really accomplish if you can really encourage people to bring out the best in people, you know, appeal to their most noble instincts. People want to be challenged in that way, and, you know, I said last year, and I'll say it this year, we've got that element really strong in our community, and don't bet against Springfield.
JA: Amen to that.
Mayor, Obviously, we're doing a different format this year on the State of the City but, how would you summarize, how would you characterize the state of the city in 2009?
TC: Well, it's no news to anybody here, it's tough times but, I think that the main thing is that, if we just stay the course, we're going to come out of this okay, and much better than other communities that haven't done all the hard work that we've done to put in the safety nets and keep the lines of communication open. I think we are blessed, because, we have a community that has a lot of empathy for other folks, and, I think we, as John Kennedy said, you know, "A rising tide raises all ships," and what they mean by that is, we're all in it together. We have that shared sense of purpose here, and so, we're going to be okay, and we're, certainly, better off than a lot of places in the community. I think, if we don't panic, just realize that this will be over, too, which it will, we'll be just fine, and we'll be stronger, we'll learn some lessons from it, and, hopefully, we'll remember them.
JA: (The) Story goes that President Bush wrote a personal note to President Obama and put it in the top desk drawer of the oval office as he left the presidency in January. If you were going to write such a note for Springfield's next Mayor, what would your advice be to Springfield's next Mayor, and, hopefully, he's listening.
TC: (Laughs) It's interesting, my predecessor, Lee Gannaway, did the same thing...
JA: Oh, really?
TC: ...and when I opened my empty desk drawer there was a letter from Lee, and it had some good advice.
You know, I think, if you are lucky enough to be elected Mayor, you've, obviously, got some great personal qualities, and don't forget who you are, what got you where you are, and humility's a good thing, if you don't have it, you'll get it.
(Laughter)
So, develop your positive qualities and be aware of your frailties and call upon the people to help you out because, everybody wants to have you succeed.
The thing too, about being Mayor, is you have to remember that you speak for the whole community. If you're a Council person, you can have the luxury of having your particular, secular focus but, as Mayor, you have to represent the whole community, and your job is to pull everybody together, and develop solutions. We've been pretty lucky, and some people will say, "Well, gee, you're a rubber stamp," I don't look at it that way. We've been pretty lucky to, on the major issues, to have major consensus, and that's a consequence, in my opinion, of people understanding the issues, study them well enough that.... If you understand an issue, really, really well, the options tend to narrow quite a bit, and some people like to see 5/4 votes, and I don't... that's fine on some things but, on major issues that really effect the long-term direction of this community, if you're having a 5 to 4 vote, tells me somebody hasn't done his work, hasn't done his or her homework, and the job of the Mayor, I think, is to bring people together until you do that, and I like to say that process determines outcome, Jim, and if your process is faulty, it'll show that. You know, I've served on many boards over the years, and if we have a split vote on something, that's not something to celebrate, that's, almost, suggests there's a lack of leadership.
JA: I see.
Mayor, it strikes me that the down side of a bowtie, and the plus of a necktie, is a necktie can hide the gut so, I'm not sure I'm going to wear bowties on a regular basis.
TC: Laughs
(Laughter)
Yeah, you're just making me look good.
(more laughter)
JA: What are your plans after April the 7th, and I teased the Mayor this morning, I told him the media was going to be here in force about 8:30 because, the Mayor would be announcing this morning, he, like so many other people, is going to run for Congress.
(Laughter)
But, is that what your going to do, Mayor?
TC: I hear Doug Pitt's going to run.
JA: Well, that's a ....(undiscernable).
TC: I couldn't beat him on my best day but, I'm probably going to retire from public life. I don't have any plans along those lines.
I'll take some time. I've got some ideas out there. I want to spend a little time down in Mexico, my wife and I have found a place we like to be, and, you know, I think you, for me, you've always got to be doing something or you're not relevant so, for me, I've got to feel like I'm relevant. I've got to feel like I'm doing something that makes a difference so, I don't know how that'll translate but, I'll be engaged in something.
JA: There'll be something, there'll be something.
Any parting comments? We're winding down this morning, on this special edition of the "Mayor's Roundtable." Any parting comments that you'd like to say to the audience in this room, as well as the extended audience who's listening?
TC: Well, I hadn't thought about that but, I guess what I would say is, the people in this room really do determine what kind of community we have.
Margaret Mead once said that, "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world because, indeed, that's the only thing that ever has," and you folks are engaged, and you can make a difference, and it's probably been the greatest feeling I've ever had, is to be able to be associated with people like you that try to make our town a better place to be. Thank you.
(Applause)
JA: Thank you, Mayor.
(Continuing applause)
The extended applause speaks for itself but, I know, on behalf of everyone here, as well as who's listening, we thank you for your dedication, and your commitment, and your service, and your leadership to this community.
You are our community's longest serving elected official and it's not just tenure or seniority, it's made a difference. It's leadership that's made a difference, as well.
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we need one more round of applause for his honor, Mayor Tom Carlson.
(Applause)
Tom, thank you very much.
Mayor Carlson, Mayor Tom Carlson.
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Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Good Morning Springfield Program to Include State of the City Address
The Public Information Office of the City of Springfield has announced that Mayor Tom Carlson will make his annual State of the City Address as a part of the Chamber of Commerce hosted Good Morning Springfield Program on Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
From the News Release:
Last year's State of the City Address brought quite a bit of media attention due to comments Carlson made regarding the media's coverage of City affairs at that time.
Here is a part of last year's address that brought some of that attention and you can see more excerpts of last years address here:
I entered a couple of other posts on the topic, in the order of their entry, see:
"Mayor Carlson: No medium to get a message out to the public"
"Tight-fisted City (and Councilman?) make it Difficult"
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From the News Release:
"The program, sponsored by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place at the Springfield Art Museum, 1111 Brookside Drive.
Mayor Tom Carlson will talk with Chamber President Jim Anderson about current topics in Springfield as well as his 25-year career in public service for the City of Springfield. This will be Mayor Carlson's sixth and final State of the City program before he leaves office after the April 7 election."
Last year's State of the City Address brought quite a bit of media attention due to comments Carlson made regarding the media's coverage of City affairs at that time.
Here is a part of last year's address that brought some of that attention and you can see more excerpts of last years address here:
"The challenges that this community is facing in trying to get the community to support things have increased many fold.
I (will) probably not make any friends right here, but I'll tell you that our friends in the media don't support the community like they used to. I think I am qualified to say that, not only as a person that's worked as a journalist and as an editor, but also as a person that's worked in public life.
It's not like it used to be, there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering. On top of that, we have this internet thing that's going on now, with this blogging stuff, where people used to, if you wanted to say something, you had to put your name to it, now, there's this anonymous character assassination that is encouraged in order to sell newspapers or other media outlets. It makes it very difficult to get your message out." -Mayor Tom Carlson, from his state of the city report, June 5, 2008.
I entered a couple of other posts on the topic, in the order of their entry, see:
"Mayor Carlson: No medium to get a message out to the public"
"Tight-fisted City (and Councilman?) make it Difficult"
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Update on Springfield City Officials' Lobbying Trip
Just an update on my last entry, "City Manager Burris' Trip to Washington D.C.".
According to the Director of Public Information Louise Whall, the City Manager and Economic Development Director spent two days and one night in Washington D.C.
"The Mayor was on a different travel schedule and only flew one way, staying that same night," Whall wrote in an email response.
Regarding Mr. Marrs, he is a contract employee. Whall indicated his primary responsibility is in Jefferson City. She noted he works with a firm in D.C. to represent the City there.
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According to the Director of Public Information Louise Whall, the City Manager and Economic Development Director spent two days and one night in Washington D.C.
"The Mayor was on a different travel schedule and only flew one way, staying that same night," Whall wrote in an email response.
Regarding Mr. Marrs, he is a contract employee. Whall indicated his primary responsibility is in Jefferson City. She noted he works with a firm in D.C. to represent the City there.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
City Manager Burris' Trip to Washington D.C.
A' lobbying we will go
Many members of the public were curious when a recent news article mentioned that Springfield City Manager Greg Burris was unavailable to comment on Wayfinding signs because he was in Washington D.C.
Mayor Tom Carlson gave us the reason at the City Council luncheon on February 17.
Burris wasn't traveling alone. Carlson was absent from the last luncheon meeting because he, Economic Development Director Mary Smith and Scott Marrs accompanied Burris to Washington.
Carlson said, before the City started aggressively lobbying for money at the federal level, they were only receiving about $1 million a year. Since they began lobbying more aggressively the City has been the recipient of about $75 million.
Burris said the timing was good for the trip due to the ongoing deliberations about potential uses of the federal stimulus package funding. The stimulus bill did not pass the House and Senate until after the foursome returned from their trip.
"The timing was good. The staffers had been meeting all night and were exhausted but, they didn't know the specifics of anything just yet," Burris said.
The team of four had an opportunity to lobby Senator Claire McCaskill regarding projects for which the City would like to receive funding.
Mayor Carlson identified some of the projects as:
"You look at what's out there and what we can qualify for as you go through," Carlson said. He said funding will be available, "for doing green things."
Public Information Director Louise Whall said the costs of the four City officials' trip to Washington would not be known for weeks but, Mayor Carlson felt the plane fare was well worth the trip considering the potential for the city to receive funding from the stimulus package, "So, probably worth the plane ticket," Carlson said, "You have to develop relationships."
The money will come either through the State or through existing federal agencies, "not like an earmarking deal," Carlson added.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many members of the public were curious when a recent news article mentioned that Springfield City Manager Greg Burris was unavailable to comment on Wayfinding signs because he was in Washington D.C.
Mayor Tom Carlson gave us the reason at the City Council luncheon on February 17.
Burris wasn't traveling alone. Carlson was absent from the last luncheon meeting because he, Economic Development Director Mary Smith and Scott Marrs accompanied Burris to Washington.
Carlson said, before the City started aggressively lobbying for money at the federal level, they were only receiving about $1 million a year. Since they began lobbying more aggressively the City has been the recipient of about $75 million.
Burris said the timing was good for the trip due to the ongoing deliberations about potential uses of the federal stimulus package funding. The stimulus bill did not pass the House and Senate until after the foursome returned from their trip.
"The timing was good. The staffers had been meeting all night and were exhausted but, they didn't know the specifics of anything just yet," Burris said.
The team of four had an opportunity to lobby Senator Claire McCaskill regarding projects for which the City would like to receive funding.
Mayor Carlson identified some of the projects as:
> A records management system for the police department
> A West wye
> Downtown water and sewer pipe infrastructure
> A County, City and MoDot collaborative to convert government vehicles to natural gas and a compressed natural gas station to accommodate them
"You look at what's out there and what we can qualify for as you go through," Carlson said. He said funding will be available, "for doing green things."
Public Information Director Louise Whall said the costs of the four City officials' trip to Washington would not be known for weeks but, Mayor Carlson felt the plane fare was well worth the trip considering the potential for the city to receive funding from the stimulus package, "So, probably worth the plane ticket," Carlson said, "You have to develop relationships."
The money will come either through the State or through existing federal agencies, "not like an earmarking deal," Carlson added.
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Friday, January 30, 2009
A "Carlsonism" on the City's Legislative Priority Policy
After Councilwoman Mary Collette compared the City's legislative priority list to a "play book," Mayor Carlson made the following comment:
The resolution passed: Carlson, Whayne, Rushefsky, Deaver, Collette, Chiles, Wylie and Manley supported; Burlison opposed due to his reservations concerning red light camera provisions.
"You (Collette) talk about a play book but, think of the comment attributed to Mike Tyson, which was, 'Everybody has a plan till he gets hit.'" - January 26, City Council meeting
The resolution passed: Carlson, Whayne, Rushefsky, Deaver, Collette, Chiles, Wylie and Manley supported; Burlison opposed due to his reservations concerning red light camera provisions.
A "Carlsonism" on the Police/Fire Pension Plan
"I can think of few things in my tenure that is as complicated as the pension plan is. I mean, it's like there's three faucets going into the bathtub and five drains and you're trying to figure out if you're gaining or you're losing because of all the different components to it, and there's so many calculations and assumptions that go into it that it really is a moving target, and it's been a real bear to stay on top of all the different aspects of it." - Mayor Tom Carlson, January 26, City Council meeting.
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Friday, November 07, 2008
Urban Districts Alliance: Valuable Partner and Ally of City of Springfield
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
As I begin my final term as Mayor of Springfield and reflect on my years on City Council, one of my proudest accomplishments has been the remarkable change we’ve seen in the heart and core of center city Springfield.
One of the City’s most valuable partners and allies* in that effort is the Urban Districts Alliance. The volunteer board and hard-working staff representing the four districts that comprise our Center City are to be commended for the perseverance and vision it has taken to bring downtown back – and look ahead to its equally exciting future.
The year ahead will again be filled with the sights and sounds of construction equipment on a number of major projects. West of the Square will buzz with construction of two parking decks and the College Station theater, restaurant and retail complex.
In the midst of Jordan Valley, renovation will begin on the Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab that will complement the nearby Roy D. Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center opening this spring.
Selection of developers for the Heer’s Tower and the former arena site next to the Springfield Exposition Center will further those important sites this year.
New city-supported Streetscapes will enhance the section of Boonville near the Innovation Center and the College Station area. A Streetscape project completed in 2006 complements the dynamic Monarch Art Factory that opened to house a number of creative business ventures and draw patrons west of downtown for concerts, exhibitions and the popular First Friday Artwalks.
As we had hoped and anticipated, the major public investment continues to spur this type of private investment throughout the area. New lofts, retail and commercial properties are being redeveloped throughout center city, particularly near major projects such as the Innovation Center and College Station.
The City and the UDA will continue to work hard to support both the public and private investments that will drive Center City’s evolution. We are most appreciative for the support shown by residents, businesses and property owners downtown to continue the self-imposed Community Improvement District assessment to provide key services such as maintenance and beautification efforts downtown.
The year ahead is full of promise and we look forward to working with Urban Districts Alliance to realize the full potential of our common goals for Springfield’s Center City.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Carlson
Mayor of Springfield
Source: Urban Districts Alliance (UDA) 2007 Progress Report
Google Search:
[PDF] 07 UDA Booklet
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Urban Districts Alliance. For more information:. Louise Whall. City of Springfield Public Information Director. P.O. Box 8368. Springfield, MO, 65801...www.itsalldowntown.com/resources/7/documents/110;download
*All emphasis mine
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Friday, August 15, 2008
Two City Leaders Squared Off this Morning
Councilman Doug Burlison Defended City Council's Choice of New City Manager Greg Burris; Vincent David Jericho Defended the Legitimate Arguments of the City Council's Critics; Real Discussion Ensued
Hey, I'm a fan of both of these guys and I recognize good, healthy discussion when I hear it. Good, healthy discussion is what I heard on the Vincent David Jericho Program, on KSGF this morning. The podcast is listed as a "must listen," and for good reason.
I've suffered a few snide remarks from different quarters just like Jericho has because I expose information that sometimes, I think, the executive branch of the City of Springfield might not like exposed or discussed. It takes a strong stomach to take that sort of comment and remain focused on the main thing, the important thing. That important, main thing is what we got this morning on the Jericho program. We got what started out as a contentious argument but in the end became a real discussion.
We got two men defending their positions and, while they continued to disagree, the listeners of the Vincent David Jericho Program were treated to both sides of the argument and got insight into a government process that they might not have gotten otherwise. That, my friends, whether you agree with Jericho or you agree with Burlison, is valuable to the community.
So, my thanks to Vince for offering the platform and my thanks to Councilman Burlison for knocking on his door and giving voice to his reasons for voting for Burris. Listeners can make their own decisions about whether they liked, agreed with, or felt Burlison's argument was valid, I'm just impressed he stood up and made it.
The critics of the Council's choice for City Manager deserve to have legitimate complaints and questions addressed, and they should not be put down as if the word "critic" was a derogatory term.
When did being a critic, or a government "watch dog" group, or a questioning journalist become something of which to be ashamed? Too often people who have legitimate complaints in this community are written off instead of responded to and are treated as though they are an enemy of progress and an enemy of what is good for the community in which they all live and are invested.
To quote Mayor Tom Carlson:
Where I differ from Carlson is the distinction between "people that have got real money at risk," and "the people from the peanut gallery."
There should be no distinction.
Every single citizen of this city has real money at risk here, every single one of us. We all pay taxes into the city coffers and that tax money pays for core city services, economic development and the salaries of city employees and whether it comes from our money in the form of property taxes, sales taxes, federal taxes or state taxes it comes from the taxpayers, and the taxpayers ARE the people with the real money at risk.
Listen to the podcast, truly a "must listen." Get involved in your city and hold your elected officials accountable, however you feel directed. Sometimes that means holding them accountable for the good they do for your city, sometimes that means holding them accountable for the bad decisions they make and we all have an opinion about whether choices were, or are, good or bad. Without the sort of contentious dialog we heard this morning on the radio, forming those opinions about whether choices made on your behalf, by your elected officials were good choices or bad choices would be more difficult.
Mayor Carlson recently complained, ""It's not like it used to be, there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering." That understanding on the part of the media comes with discussion and that is what Vincent David Jericho offers to this community. Often, he can only offer one side of any given issue because there is no one from the city who will give their side of the issue. Today that was not the case. Councilman Doug Burlison knocked on the door and talked to the people who have real money at risk in this city, the taxpayers.
Thank you, Vince. Thank you Doug.
Note to Mayor Carlson: If you want understanding on the part of the media and therefore the citizens of Springfield, it takes hard work, it takes discussion, it takes real dialog, it takes Council members like Doug Burlison and, yes, it can sometimes get heated and be a bit unpleasant along the way.
If you are looking for sanitized, one-sided public information releases, you have an entire public information office working for you, isn't that enough?
The taxpayers want more than sanitized, one-sided public information releases and in the end, isn't that what is required for depth, scope and understanding? They get that other side from the media, the radio, the print media, other sources besides the city and City Utilities printing presses.
This morning the taxpayers got a chance for more depth, scope and understanding but it took some effort and discomfort on the part of a City Councilman who was willing to walk into an unfriendly atmosphere. The Council might not get paid for that but if the Council and Mayor want more understanding that is what it will take.
Great radio. A real public service!
Hey, I'm a fan of both of these guys and I recognize good, healthy discussion when I hear it. Good, healthy discussion is what I heard on the Vincent David Jericho Program, on KSGF this morning. The podcast is listed as a "must listen," and for good reason.
I've suffered a few snide remarks from different quarters just like Jericho has because I expose information that sometimes, I think, the executive branch of the City of Springfield might not like exposed or discussed. It takes a strong stomach to take that sort of comment and remain focused on the main thing, the important thing. That important, main thing is what we got this morning on the Jericho program. We got what started out as a contentious argument but in the end became a real discussion.
We got two men defending their positions and, while they continued to disagree, the listeners of the Vincent David Jericho Program were treated to both sides of the argument and got insight into a government process that they might not have gotten otherwise. That, my friends, whether you agree with Jericho or you agree with Burlison, is valuable to the community.
So, my thanks to Vince for offering the platform and my thanks to Councilman Burlison for knocking on his door and giving voice to his reasons for voting for Burris. Listeners can make their own decisions about whether they liked, agreed with, or felt Burlison's argument was valid, I'm just impressed he stood up and made it.
The critics of the Council's choice for City Manager deserve to have legitimate complaints and questions addressed, and they should not be put down as if the word "critic" was a derogatory term.
When did being a critic, or a government "watch dog" group, or a questioning journalist become something of which to be ashamed? Too often people who have legitimate complaints in this community are written off instead of responded to and are treated as though they are an enemy of progress and an enemy of what is good for the community in which they all live and are invested.
To quote Mayor Tom Carlson:
"Any day of the week, I'll bet on people that have got real money at risk, time, money and effort to spend as opposed to the people from the peanut gallery" ~ Mayor Tom Carlson, October 16, 2007
Where I differ from Carlson is the distinction between "people that have got real money at risk," and "the people from the peanut gallery."
There should be no distinction.
Every single citizen of this city has real money at risk here, every single one of us. We all pay taxes into the city coffers and that tax money pays for core city services, economic development and the salaries of city employees and whether it comes from our money in the form of property taxes, sales taxes, federal taxes or state taxes it comes from the taxpayers, and the taxpayers ARE the people with the real money at risk.
Listen to the podcast, truly a "must listen." Get involved in your city and hold your elected officials accountable, however you feel directed. Sometimes that means holding them accountable for the good they do for your city, sometimes that means holding them accountable for the bad decisions they make and we all have an opinion about whether choices were, or are, good or bad. Without the sort of contentious dialog we heard this morning on the radio, forming those opinions about whether choices made on your behalf, by your elected officials were good choices or bad choices would be more difficult.
Mayor Carlson recently complained, ""It's not like it used to be, there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering." That understanding on the part of the media comes with discussion and that is what Vincent David Jericho offers to this community. Often, he can only offer one side of any given issue because there is no one from the city who will give their side of the issue. Today that was not the case. Councilman Doug Burlison knocked on the door and talked to the people who have real money at risk in this city, the taxpayers.
Thank you, Vince. Thank you Doug.
Note to Mayor Carlson: If you want understanding on the part of the media and therefore the citizens of Springfield, it takes hard work, it takes discussion, it takes real dialog, it takes Council members like Doug Burlison and, yes, it can sometimes get heated and be a bit unpleasant along the way.
If you are looking for sanitized, one-sided public information releases, you have an entire public information office working for you, isn't that enough?
The taxpayers want more than sanitized, one-sided public information releases and in the end, isn't that what is required for depth, scope and understanding? They get that other side from the media, the radio, the print media, other sources besides the city and City Utilities printing presses.
This morning the taxpayers got a chance for more depth, scope and understanding but it took some effort and discomfort on the part of a City Councilman who was willing to walk into an unfriendly atmosphere. The Council might not get paid for that but if the Council and Mayor want more understanding that is what it will take.
Great radio. A real public service!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Force Majeure in the Heer's agreement: Who knew?
"...
"SHPO's ruling last month that the square was eligible for historic listing could fall under the Force Majeure provision, said City Attorney Dan Wichmer....
"...if it went to court, it's possible that we would invoke Force Majeure. If he tried to give it back to us, we'd say 'No, Kevin, we don't think the agreement's been breached.'"Wichmer said he considered SHPO's ruling "an act of government beyond our control.""* - Springfield News-Leader
Well, my duck! (the duck thing's for Pastor Charles, now he knows I'm listening :) City Attorney Dan Wichmer was at the same City Council luncheon at Fire Station 12 on June 3 that I attended (and excuse me, but Wes Johnson of the News-Leader attended it, too) when Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith referred to the August 1, 2008 deadline and the City Council was assured that the City ought to be able to meet that deadline:
"We will also engage Butler Rosenbury to prepare the construction documents for it (Phase II, perimeter of square) so that we could be in a position to bid and we would be, I don't have a date for bidding yet, but we feel like we have just enough time to get everything underway so that we could start construction by August 1st." - Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith, June 3, 2008
Either the City Attorney and the Economic Development Director didn't know what was in that Agreement between city and Heer's Building LLC (thanks, News-Leader) or they didn't think it was important to inform the Council about Article VI. Either way, one has to ask why.
Why didn't the City Attorney and/or the Economic Development Director know of the "Force Majeure" clause?
OR
Why didn't the City Attorney and/or the Economic Development Director think it was important to share that information with the Council, as a whole, during the course of that discussion or within earshot of the press?
It's no wonder Mayor Carlson recently complained:
"It's not like it used to be, there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering."
...and he thinks bloggers and anonymous commentators make it very difficult to get the city's message out?
Maybe, next time, while city staff is recommending approval of this Council Bill or that Council Bill, and the City Attorney and Economic Development Director who are, one assumes, aware of contractual details, could share those pertinent in depth, within the scope of the topic, details with the media and the rest of the community so that people could gain a better understanding?
Or was that little "Force Majeure" detail just not important enough to note?
Wichmer was there June 3, when Mary Lilly Smith was discussing the issue, when Councilwoman Mary Collette asked about the timeline on Phase II construction of the square. Neither Wichmer nor Smith bothered to mention Force Majeure that day.
I attended the City Council Committee of the Whole and a Finance and Administration meeting at the Busch Municipal building today, after I dashed off the above rantings and emailed them to myself to ponder upon.
Councilwoman Collette and I met, she on her way up the stairs and I punching the elevator button and then arrived on the 4th floor at the same time. I asked her if she was told about the "Force Majeure" clause, she said, "No, not specifically," but she was also quick to point out that she, and one could assume, all of the Council, had a copy of the contract herself. In other words, it was somewhat the responsibility of Council to be aware of Force Majeure.
The media wasn't given a copy of the final approved agreement between the City and Heer's Building LLC. I could have requested it before today and should have, but I didn't. So, we can go back to Carlson's charge, which I took seriously, by the way, that:
"... there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering."
Again, I will reiterate, reporters and the media can certainly take their share of the blame but the city can take a bit of the share, as well. Somewhere along the way it looks like someone could have mentioned Force Majeure, and when it wasn't mentioned people like me want to know why it wasn't mentioned.
For weeks, if not months, it seems like the city (and some members of the press) have been unnecessarily causing fear on the part of the public that the city may have to buy back the Heer's Tower, for what? Why?
I'm to blame, you're to blame, and yes, the staff of the city of Springfield, who has the most credibility to lose, is to blame. We can all take our share. That includes the Mayor, who has trouble getting the city's message out, he had the agreement too. We all need to be asking, are we going to expect our, yes, ALL-VOLUNTEER Council to actually read the materials they are voting on? How can we expect that? How can we hold those selfless, unpaid volunteers accountable? Do we look to them? And, if we look to them, should we be looking to them to make our City Manager's office accountable for not sharing this vitally important, pertinent information with them or do we expect them to read every 50 page agreement that the City places in their Council folder?
Internal Auditor, we're ready and we hope you are, too. There is more to this city that needs looking into than the Council can do alone and the communication aspect between city staff, the City Manager's Office and the City Council leaves a lot to be desired. For the rest of us superficial press and media types, who do not have the lack of an internal auditor to blame, good luck, brothers and sisters, it appears we've got our work cut out for us.
*emphasis mine
Friday, June 06, 2008
Mayor Carlson: No medium to get a message out to the public
Hey, we're here! ...And just like the government, we like to think we're here to help the community
We're making phone calls, we're sending email requests for information, we're searching the internet and the libraries for background information so that we can understand an issue and not look like idiots when we report on it, or at least some of us are, and many of us are doing it every day.
Juxtapose this:
With this:
I struggle daily with wondering if I am wrong to point these things out, but, you know, if city officials wouldn't say things like the above, I wouldn't have anything like that TO report.
I'll tell you something, readers, when I reported on what Greene County Commissioner Roseann Bentley said in an interview I did while writing an article for Community Free Press, February 27 issue:
I didn't include it in the first, second, third...numerous first drafts, and I languished over the decision to publish it because I knew the detrimental effect it could have on an upcoming election. I literally lost sleep over whether to include it or not, asking my husband, over and over, "why did she say THAT!?" In the end, how could I not report it? Don't voters have the right to know? Don't I have the responsibility to inform them? Yet, I struggle and I stress every day and continue to weigh information and try to give readers the best work I can give them.
Mayor Carlson said yesterday:
Sure, the media can take a part of the blame for that, but most of the time, I'd wager, the media is doing all they can to get information on any given topic so they can cover something fairly and it's like pulling teeth to get the information sought, then, add the timing issue. Reporters are on a dead line.
I think reporters should take some of the blame, but just as in the case of the police/fire pension plan's underfunding, there's enough blame to go around.
I was hoping I wouldn't have anything to post at JackeHammer today...looks like it just didn't work out. - Jackie Melton
We're making phone calls, we're sending email requests for information, we're searching the internet and the libraries for background information so that we can understand an issue and not look like idiots when we report on it, or at least some of us are, and many of us are doing it every day.
Juxtapose this:
"How do you get a message out to the public, to the people that you're elected to represent if you no longer have a medium to do it with?" - Mayor Tom Carlson from his State of the City Report June 5, 2008
With this:
"I’m no longer interested in relaying any corrections beyond something simple and obvious like a Council name misspelling. However, I will also point out...." Public Information Director Louise Whall, as quoted from an email sent to a contributor of this blog. View it in the comment section under: More on 1/8-cent Transportation Tax)
I struggle daily with wondering if I am wrong to point these things out, but, you know, if city officials wouldn't say things like the above, I wouldn't have anything like that TO report.
I'll tell you something, readers, when I reported on what Greene County Commissioner Roseann Bentley said in an interview I did while writing an article for Community Free Press, February 27 issue:
"To be honest with you, when I became county commissioner, I was startled to find that it is, very often three out of the five days a week, a 7:30 or 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. job." - Greene County Commissioner Roseann Bentley, February 27 issue, CFP.
I didn't include it in the first, second, third...numerous first drafts, and I languished over the decision to publish it because I knew the detrimental effect it could have on an upcoming election. I literally lost sleep over whether to include it or not, asking my husband, over and over, "why did she say THAT!?" In the end, how could I not report it? Don't voters have the right to know? Don't I have the responsibility to inform them? Yet, I struggle and I stress every day and continue to weigh information and try to give readers the best work I can give them.
Mayor Carlson said yesterday:
"It's not like it used to be, there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering."
Sure, the media can take a part of the blame for that, but most of the time, I'd wager, the media is doing all they can to get information on any given topic so they can cover something fairly and it's like pulling teeth to get the information sought, then, add the timing issue. Reporters are on a dead line.
I think reporters should take some of the blame, but just as in the case of the police/fire pension plan's underfunding, there's enough blame to go around.
I was hoping I wouldn't have anything to post at JackeHammer today...looks like it just didn't work out. - Jackie Melton
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Mayor Carlson: Excerpt from the State of the City Report:
June 5, 2008
Listen to the entire podcast here or here.
"The challenges that this community is facing in trying to get the community to support things have increased many fold.
I (will) probably not make any friends right here, but I'll tell you that our friends in the media don't support the community like they used to. I think I am qualified to say that, not only as a person that's worked as a journalist and as an editor, but also as a person that's worked in public life.
It's not like it used to be, there's not the depth, there's not the scope, there's not the understanding on the part of the media, on the topics that they're covering. On top of that, we have this internet thing that's going on now, with this blogging stuff, where people used to, if you wanted to say something, you had to put your name to it, now, there's this anonymous character assassination that is encouraged in order to sell newspapers or other media outlets. It makes it very difficult to get your message out.
People in this room can tell you questions that a person from the media will ask you about some person in this town that everybody here has known of for years and the person who's charged with covering that has never heard of them.
How do you get a message out to the public, to the people that you're elected to represent if you no longer have a medium to do it with? It's a big challenge, and how do you get, with the amount of time and effort that it takes these days to deal with these issues, to get qualified people to step up to serve? You know, the only thing I'm banking on, and I'm betting on Springfield because this town has always been a town that when you presented a challenge, rose to it...." - Mayor Carlson, from his state of the city report, June 5, 2008.
Listen to the entire podcast here or here.
Monday, April 21, 2008
C.U. rate hike foiled
Carlson made a motion that the C.U. natural gas rate hike be tabled and sent back to the utility for consideration, Wiley seconded the motion.
Interesting.
Only Burlison voted against the measure.
Interesting.
Only Burlison voted against the measure.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson opens mouth, inserts foot
Displays further contempt for "the peanut gallery."
I have been observing and covering City Council meetings in City Council Chambers since April, 2007. Several times I have seen the Chambers erupt in applause. Mostly, it has happened when a City employee has been honored for years of service or some other exciting event has been called to the attention of the public at a meeting.
Such was the case on January 14 when the respective Mayors of Springfield and Willard signed an agreement regarding future land annexations near the Springfield-Branson National Airport. Council initiated applause and the room full of citizens accommodated them.
December 17, 2007 that applause, accompanied by whistling filled the Chambers as Tamara Finochiarro ended her appeal to the Council for assistance in the matter of dealing with the City to resolve zoning and fire and safety issues that have shut down business operations at Pythian Castle and labeled the castle a dangerous building.
That public initiated applause was met by the stern pounding of a gavel by our fair city's Mayor, "Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, we would request that you not applause anything. We require decorum in the Council Chambers, appreciate your observing that." Mayor Carlson said.
So, excuse me for nitpicking the fact that the public should observe the Mayor's interpretation of "decorum" as it applies to general public initiated applause versus City Council initiated applause. It feeds into a perception that public comment and public support or opposition for measures taken by our City leaders isn't a matter of interest or concern for some of those leaders, a perception which is further strengthened and legitimized when the Mayor, who has called on the public to "observe that" decorum makes exceptions to the rule when there is broad support "for" an agreement he approves. It also proves that peanut gallerians are not limited to those who don't have money to invest on projects in Springfield, clearly Finocchiaro has invested considerable money and taken considerable risk in restoring the Pythian Castle, yet she is not immune to being delegated to the status of a "peanut gallerian," in regards to how welcome her comments, criticism and concerns are by our fair Mayor.
January 14, Mayor Carlson gave us more reason to believe that such a perception is not unwarranted.
Our City code allows citizens to address City Council at Council meetings and there is a procedure in place, or rules, if you will, that govern that occurrence. A visit to the City's website explains How to Address City Council:
This is exactly the procedure that Tamara Finocchiaro and her supporters followed and they were limited to five minutes speaking time each. (There have been more than a few times I have rolled my own eyes and counted cobwebs on the ceiling wishing that Carlson was limited to 5 minutes speaking time, see this weeks City Council Roundup in CFP, such a moment occurred when after the vote had been taken on the sale of a portion of the Cox building, Carlson went on and on about how well the City did in making a profit on the sale, but that's neither here nor there.)
Apparently, five minutes on a topic unrelated to items on the agenda for any given Council meeting may be too much according to Mayor Carlson:
Carlson said he has:
The rules are clear, perhaps the Mayor needs to read them before opening mouth, inserting foot.
I have been observing and covering City Council meetings in City Council Chambers since April, 2007. Several times I have seen the Chambers erupt in applause. Mostly, it has happened when a City employee has been honored for years of service or some other exciting event has been called to the attention of the public at a meeting.
Such was the case on January 14 when the respective Mayors of Springfield and Willard signed an agreement regarding future land annexations near the Springfield-Branson National Airport. Council initiated applause and the room full of citizens accommodated them.
December 17, 2007 that applause, accompanied by whistling filled the Chambers as Tamara Finochiarro ended her appeal to the Council for assistance in the matter of dealing with the City to resolve zoning and fire and safety issues that have shut down business operations at Pythian Castle and labeled the castle a dangerous building.
That public initiated applause was met by the stern pounding of a gavel by our fair city's Mayor, "Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, we would request that you not applause anything. We require decorum in the Council Chambers, appreciate your observing that." Mayor Carlson said.
So, excuse me for nitpicking the fact that the public should observe the Mayor's interpretation of "decorum" as it applies to general public initiated applause versus City Council initiated applause. It feeds into a perception that public comment and public support or opposition for measures taken by our City leaders isn't a matter of interest or concern for some of those leaders, a perception which is further strengthened and legitimized when the Mayor, who has called on the public to "observe that" decorum makes exceptions to the rule when there is broad support "for" an agreement he approves. It also proves that peanut gallerians are not limited to those who don't have money to invest on projects in Springfield, clearly Finocchiaro has invested considerable money and taken considerable risk in restoring the Pythian Castle, yet she is not immune to being delegated to the status of a "peanut gallerian," in regards to how welcome her comments, criticism and concerns are by our fair Mayor.
January 14, Mayor Carlson gave us more reason to believe that such a perception is not unwarranted.
Our City code allows citizens to address City Council at Council meetings and there is a procedure in place, or rules, if you will, that govern that occurrence. A visit to the City's website explains How to Address City Council:
To speak on issues not on that week's Agenda Citizens wishing to address the Council regarding an issue not on the Agenda, may speak under "Petitions, Remonstrances, and Communications." To register to speak under this provision, the citizen must register with the City Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, prior to the meeting. At the appropriate time in the meeting, the Mayor will call your name. Please step to the podium; state your name and address for the record, and your comments. Again, the comments are to be limited to five minutes.
This is exactly the procedure that Tamara Finocchiaro and her supporters followed and they were limited to five minutes speaking time each. (There have been more than a few times I have rolled my own eyes and counted cobwebs on the ceiling wishing that Carlson was limited to 5 minutes speaking time, see this weeks City Council Roundup in CFP, such a moment occurred when after the vote had been taken on the sale of a portion of the Cox building, Carlson went on and on about how well the City did in making a profit on the sale, but that's neither here nor there.)
Apparently, five minutes on a topic unrelated to items on the agenda for any given Council meeting may be too much according to Mayor Carlson:
"I don't want to be arbitrary in enforcing the rules but at the same time, I think we need to know what they are and maybe have a Council committee look at, as we come forward, because it seems like we're getting more and more of these things and that may be fine, and we may decide that we wanna be here a lot later for everybody to come talk about whatever they do. Frequently, we have people come and talk about things that have nothing to do with city government, for example."
Carlson said he has:
"different Council people telling me different things. Some Council people say, uh, "you ought to be able to talk about anything," other people say, "there oughta be some rules around here," and if we wanna have rules, fine, if we don't wanna have rules, fine, I just think we need to get on the same page."
The rules are clear, perhaps the Mayor needs to read them before opening mouth, inserting foot.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Thoughts on Jason's interview with the Mayor and the City Audit Report
I started this posting a few days ago and was just too dang busy to go back and finish it. It's kind of a mixed up mess but I'm going to try to make some sense out of it and post it because I'm taking a break for a bit.
The Peanut Gallery
I've been meaning to comment on this:
From The Life of Jason Interview: Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson, when Jason said:
Mayor Carlson responded, in part:
Well, yeah, sorta. Here's the timeline of Richard Baier of BC Development's statements. There was a bit of inconsistency there:
The Audit Report Fall-out
I don't necessarily disagree with Doug Burlison that it would be counter productive to go on a witch hunt after hearing the audit report and reading what has been written after the report in the News-Leader and on certain blogs but I'm thinking that Councilman Burlison arrived at that position after being privy to the results of the audit for some time (like at least a YEAR). Burlison has had time to process the information from that audit and his end conclusion is that it is better to look ahead and fix the problems rather than look backward and try to place the blame. Burlison might be correct in his decision but, citizens of this city should be allowed that same span of time to process the information contained in the audit report and come to that conclusion after grappling with the facts of the audit report for a while. Citizens of Springfield deserve the same amount of time to fuss, complain and discuss the details of the audit report as, rest assured, the City Council has had and in more than one closed meeting prior to the hearing of the report December 6.
I suspect that these warnings against "witch hunts" and this promise to do better in the future is meant in some small way to placate the citizens, to calm the "Peanut Gallery," if you will. I don't resent the public's anger and frustration over the results of the audit on the City of Springfield. Just as the City and Council have had a good amount of time to come to grips with the state of this City, the citizens of this city deserve at least the same amount of time to process it. AND we deserve to be allowed to process it without being smeared and condemned for it or treated as though we are some second class, low-life "Peanut Gallerians" in the process.
Nationally, there has been an outcry from the American public for government accountability that will extend to local government and no amount of city officials patting citizens on the head will make it all go away.
So, to those citizens who take an interest in their local city government and criticize the way it has been run in past years, there's nothing wrong with that. Don't let anyone suggest you are being counter productive when you need the same amount of time to mentally process the results of the audit report that the city has had in dealing with and responding to the report. It is a natural process and will run it's natural course and citizens deserve to be allowed that process without being told they are "going on a witch hunt" or being counter productive. Don't believe it when you want to have your say in your local government and hold them accountable, it's your job.
The next shoe is going to drop on December 18 when the State Auditor releases and reports on the City Utilities audit. Poor timing for the City, they'll likely still be hearing from the public about the results of the City audit when they are faced with the new report on City Utilities and I suspect it's going to be a really big shoe.
The Peanut Gallery
I've been meaning to comment on this:
From The Life of Jason Interview: Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson, when Jason said:
"During the announcement of Mr. Hammons landing the deal for the arena site, you made the statement “I’ll bet any day of the week, I’ll bet on people that have got real money at risk, time, money and effort to spend as opposed to the people from the peanut gallery.” Several of your critics have taken this statement and said this proves you are not betting on the average Springfield resident but only those with money. I wanted to give you the chance to explain that statement and to explain what you meant by the term “peanut gallery.”
Mayor Carlson responded, in part:
"What I was responding to was this: there were people who had real money at risk who had entered into the competitive process to see who would get to build on that land. There were other people who were critics of the city government who said the process was rigged. What I was trying to say was this: Those people who were saying the process was rigged were not trying to acquire the land. The people that had their money at risk and had to decide whether to spend their money here and their resources really do drill down and figure out whether they think the rules are fair. Those people said it was fair..."
Well, yeah, sorta. Here's the timeline of Richard Baier of BC Development's statements. There was a bit of inconsistency there:
October 3 letter to Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith
“There does not seem to be a desire by the TIF Commission or the City to enter into open and fair competition for the development of these projects.”
October 5 interview with Vincent David Jericho on KSGF radio
Baier: “My only reluctance to do business in Springfield would be, if there’s a public bid type process. Maybe I don’t understand all the politics in that type of thing, and I would push away from doing that. But as far as private development, where I go down and look for a site to build a medical project or retail or whatever the case might be or another hotel, I’m all for that because I like Springfield.”
Vince: “So, private development, love to do; dealing with the City of Springfield, you’d have to think twice?”
Baier: “Yeah, I’d have to think a couple of times, there.”
October 22 City Council meeting
“We don’t feel that we’ve been mistreated in any way, shape or fashion on this process. We’re definitely interested in working with the city.”
The Audit Report Fall-out
I don't necessarily disagree with Doug Burlison that it would be counter productive to go on a witch hunt after hearing the audit report and reading what has been written after the report in the News-Leader and on certain blogs but I'm thinking that Councilman Burlison arrived at that position after being privy to the results of the audit for some time (like at least a YEAR). Burlison has had time to process the information from that audit and his end conclusion is that it is better to look ahead and fix the problems rather than look backward and try to place the blame. Burlison might be correct in his decision but, citizens of this city should be allowed that same span of time to process the information contained in the audit report and come to that conclusion after grappling with the facts of the audit report for a while. Citizens of Springfield deserve the same amount of time to fuss, complain and discuss the details of the audit report as, rest assured, the City Council has had and in more than one closed meeting prior to the hearing of the report December 6.
I suspect that these warnings against "witch hunts" and this promise to do better in the future is meant in some small way to placate the citizens, to calm the "Peanut Gallery," if you will. I don't resent the public's anger and frustration over the results of the audit on the City of Springfield. Just as the City and Council have had a good amount of time to come to grips with the state of this City, the citizens of this city deserve at least the same amount of time to process it. AND we deserve to be allowed to process it without being smeared and condemned for it or treated as though we are some second class, low-life "Peanut Gallerians" in the process.
Nationally, there has been an outcry from the American public for government accountability that will extend to local government and no amount of city officials patting citizens on the head will make it all go away.
So, to those citizens who take an interest in their local city government and criticize the way it has been run in past years, there's nothing wrong with that. Don't let anyone suggest you are being counter productive when you need the same amount of time to mentally process the results of the audit report that the city has had in dealing with and responding to the report. It is a natural process and will run it's natural course and citizens deserve to be allowed that process without being told they are "going on a witch hunt" or being counter productive. Don't believe it when you want to have your say in your local government and hold them accountable, it's your job.
The next shoe is going to drop on December 18 when the State Auditor releases and reports on the City Utilities audit. Poor timing for the City, they'll likely still be hearing from the public about the results of the City audit when they are faced with the new report on City Utilities and I suspect it's going to be a really big shoe.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Mayor Carlson's victory dance...
...or the "peanut gallery" speech, uncut.
~Mayor Tom Carlson, October 16, 2007 at the City Council luncheon where the term sheet for J.Q. Hammons purchase of the former arena site and Jordan Valley car park was revealed.
"There have been allegations made from some quarters in the community that somehow the process was rigged or fixed. Well, lemme tell you something, people that are well heeled, that have the money got involved in this and these are very sophisticated people and if they, believe me, they go through business all across the country, they've got places they can spend their money and do things and people that know the real skinny on stuff invested in this community and hung it out and do you think that HCW, that does business all across the United States, that Opus, that is considered one of the best developers in the United States, Mr. Hammons is in 48 states across the country, would have stuck through this if they thought the outcome was predetermined? Ask yourself, do these people that manage millions of dollars would they have bought into this process and hung with it if they thought the outcome was....(Note from Jacke: he either didn't finish this sentence or the last word was unintelligible on my tape)
Now, there are apparently some people in our community that know more about it than these major United States developers? Or at least they proposed it, they purport to, but the people that were spendin' their money stuck into this because they always thought they had a shot at winnin' and because of that and because this community, this city, the city government, gave specific instructions to keep the process fair and to follow the law, the people that have the wherewithall to know and understand that believed it and stuck with it and that's why this community is now looking at getting $7 million for something that they could have gotten a heck of a lot less for. That's why this community is now in the process of getting a first class hotel on a piece of land that was just raw grass and that's why this community now is looking at a potential to have a first class United States firm having its major office downtown and opening up more office space, because the process did have integrity to it and because the people that were betting their money stuck with it and I'll bet, any day of the week I'll bet on people that have got real money at risk, time, money, and effort to spend as opposed to the people from the peanut gallery and that's why, because those people knew and because we stuck to plan the rules and play in the game in a fair way that this community is going to end up with a win, win, win situation."
~Mayor Tom Carlson, October 16, 2007 at the City Council luncheon where the term sheet for J.Q. Hammons purchase of the former arena site and Jordan Valley car park was revealed.
Mayor Tom Carlson: King of the Peanut Gallery
If Mayor Carlson wonders why it seems like some people in the community don't have a lot of respect for him, I think I can give him a little hint.
Here's a short quote from the City Council luncheon meeting October 16 regarding the arena site:
I have no problem with Carlson betting "on people that have got real money at risk," they're very fortunate that they have "real money" (or government awarded, tax payer funded incentives) TO risk, seems like that's what it takes to get taken seriously by Carlson.
Not very many VOTERS in Springfield have got the kind of money it takes to compete with John Q. Hammons, HCW Evergreen, Opus or BC Development for the honor to spend millions of dollars on a piece of dried up grass with a garage, but I'd wager more than a few of those peanut gallery patrons cast a vote for the Mayor. It's nice to know that he wouldn't bet on any of those peons in the peanut gallery who don't have "real money." It's nice to know that he's so interested in input from the community he represents.
Apparently, since he doesn't plan to run for another term as Mayor he doesn't need to impress the "peanut gallery." If he ever did.
Here's a short quote from the City Council luncheon meeting October 16 regarding the arena site:
"Any day of the week, I'll bet on people that have got real money at risk, time, money and effort to spend as opposed to the people from the peanut gallery." ~ Mayor Tom Carlson, October 16, 2007
I have no problem with Carlson betting "on people that have got real money at risk," they're very fortunate that they have "real money" (or government awarded, tax payer funded incentives) TO risk, seems like that's what it takes to get taken seriously by Carlson.
Not very many VOTERS in Springfield have got the kind of money it takes to compete with John Q. Hammons, HCW Evergreen, Opus or BC Development for the honor to spend millions of dollars on a piece of dried up grass with a garage, but I'd wager more than a few of those peanut gallery patrons cast a vote for the Mayor. It's nice to know that he wouldn't bet on any of those peons in the peanut gallery who don't have "real money." It's nice to know that he's so interested in input from the community he represents.
Apparently, since he doesn't plan to run for another term as Mayor he doesn't need to impress the "peanut gallery." If he ever did.
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