Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Mike Chapman: The Buck Stops Here! (Before We Give It Away Willy-Nilly)

Arrogance is never attractive in a person.
 
It's even less attractive in an elected official, being that they're supposed to be "public servants" and all that.
 
So the latest spat over the Clallam County Commissioners sudden deep desire to give money away and make their once proud surplus a thing of the past is very interesting. Let's look at what has been reported, and some of the quotes from a couple of key players...
 
Clallam County commissioners today are expected to award nearly $1.3 million in infrastructure grants despite objections from the elected treasurer. The three commissioners agreed May 4th to give $1 million dollars to the Port of Port Angeles for the development of a proposed composites recycling center, and $285,952 to the City of Port Angeles for the second phase of the ongoing waterfront improvement project.
 
Commissioners plan to use Opportunity Fund money that was originally budgeted for the delayed Carlsborg sewer project to fund the grants.
 
County Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis said county policy and state law requires a public hearing to appropriate the funds for the grants. In addition, the county should have written contacts with the Port and the City to ensure that the money is spent appropriately, she added.
 
In a Thursday email to Board Chairman Jim McEntire, Barkhuis said there is “nothing in the adopted budget for the Opportunity Fund that anticipated making any grants to outside entities. This is why the budget needs to be amended, subject to a public hearing, as reflected in the county’s policies, before these grants can be funded,” Barkhuis wrote.
 
“I’m not willing to modify a process and overturn years, if not decades, of history in how we approach modifying the budget as opposed to newly authorized appropriations that are the result of an unanticipated emergency,” King Jim McEntire said.
 
Commissioner Mike Chapman, the dean of the board, took umbrage with the notion that the county has violated its own policy and state law in making budget modifications. “We have to be really careful when we start interjecting that the board’s not allowed to do things that have been done for 15 years,” Chapman said. That would mean former board members and former prosecutors and former administrators have violated the law. That just strains the bounds of logic that the board would have been allowed to do things illegally all these years. Now all of a sudden, somebody wiser, smarter who’s better than everybody else who’s worked here says, ‘No, it’s illegal to do this?’”
 
 
“The advisory committee made a recommendation. The board is going to vote in public tomorrow. It’s a done deal.”
 
So what do YOU think? Is it possible, even probable, that "former board members and former prosecutors and former administrators" have violated the law? Did you notice how Chapman used a semantic dodge by saying "former," as opposed to "current"? Do you think it "strains the bounds of logic" that there might have been things done illegally in the County Courthouse "all these years"? Oh, and how about the crazy, crazy notion of having contracts with the City and Port to ensure the money is spent properly? Ya think?

And how about that big finish from Mike Chapman, that sit down and shut up to another elected official, and a finger to the face of the tax-paying public: "It's a done deal." Yes, Mike, we know it is. Just like so many, many other deals have been "done" for "all these years." You know, if you're feeling a little defensive, Mike, maybe it's because, deep down, you know you've done wrong, and are doing wrong, but apparently you just can't control yourself.
 
 

25 comments:

  1. Beware the public official who is afraid of a public hearing. They are telegraphing to you that they are up to no good.

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  2. The County wants to spend money on infrastructure? How about spending money to ensure area residents have WATER by the end of this summer, and in future years?

    Do they really think there is going to be ANY economic development in a community with "seasonal water supply"?

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  3. I really don't like Selinda, personally, but she does seem to at least try to keep the public interest front and center in her job as an elected official. Would that our other electeds would do the same.

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  4. Sexist pig off his meds.

    Just another great day in Clallam County government!

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  5. Only slightly off topic, and I hope not seen as repetitive.

    I just got a copy of a hand-out the Port Angeles Director of Public Works, Craig Fulton, provided the City Council last week for their special meeting titled "Seasonal Water Usage Program". OMG!!

    Apparently this handout was the Power Point shown the Council members, all of whom were present, according to the audio record.

    Director Fulton is heard saying that when water levels in the Elwha River drop below 300 cubic feet per second flow rate, the viability of fish in the river is of concern. His words.

    Page 5 of this hand out has a graph showing 15 years of Elwha River flows, starting January 2001.

    Nine of those years had late season low flows at or below 300 cfs! These include 2002, 2003 and 2004. And 2006, and 2007.

    All of the years prior to this one had a snow pack to keep water flowing late into the summer. And still, almost every other year, the river flows got down so low as to threaten fish.

    The City, County, and other levels of government have known a serious water issue has existed here, for over 15 years. (It would be interesting to see statistics going back further than this handout's 2001).

    Now, the situation has devolved into NO snow pack, and from the information they provided, it is likely the Elwha River will go far lower than 300 cfs. Maybe even go dry in places.

    What about water for residents? Fire protection?

    Obviously, the fish are toast.

    All these years, and no action.

    The last page lists the 5 stages outlined in the Water Shortage Response Ordinance. Stage 1: "Anticipated". Action? "Internal Preparations". Stage 2: " Serious" Action? " Voluntary Conservation". Stage 3: "Critical" Action? "Limited Outdoor Restrictions". Stage 4: " Emergency" Action? " Mandatory Outdoor Restrictions".

    Then we get to the last, most severe stage and condition. Stage 5: "Regional Disaster or Infrastructure Failure". The action to be taken to address this situation? "Rationing".

    What if there is no water to ration, because the River has run dry?

    And, from looking at the pattern over the last 15 years, and the future effects of climate change as we see them now, that is very probable.

    No discussions. Just spending millions on cementing the waterfront, and building speculative composites garbage reprocessing facilities.

    THAT's leadership?

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    Replies
    1. Cherie Kidd has filed for re-election. So has Sissi Bruch.

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    2. I hate the thought of Cherie Kidd running unopposed. I hate the thought of having four more years of Cherie Kidd destroying our economy and embarrassing our town. I dread having to hear her cracked, screechy voice for four more years. Cherie Kidd is dog whistle stupid, and totally unaware of her own tremendous shortcomings. The only thing she excels at is failure.

      I will vote for anyone - ANYONE - instead of Cherie Kidd. Peter Ripley, Cody Blevins, anyone.

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    3. It'll be interesting to see if Sissi draws any challengers, especially after her unsuccessful run for county commissioner. Frankly, given the incredibly low IQs of the rest of the current city council, I don't know why she's even bothering, other than her naively cheery personality.

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    4. does it even make sense to run against either of those women? Doesn't this town only vote for names they know?

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    5. I wonder how either of them can justify running for re-election. Kidd is an utter nitwit and Bruch was long ago co-opted into the "go along to get along" crowd.

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  6. But Mike took so much responsibility today for everything that has happened over the 15 years he has been collecting paychecks. He said he realized that he was among the "1%" with his income level, and that in 18 months, he was going "to be walking alongside the common man".

    Yeah.

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    Replies
    1. O, brother ... where art thou?

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    2. I'm getting a bit wary of Chapman's crying horse-turd tears about the shape of things which he put into the shape he's crying about.

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  7. File this under "You've got to be shitting me": PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire today filed for re-election for a second four-year term representing the East End district.

    McEntire cited his "excellent record" at promoting economic advancement in Clallam County as he filed his candidacy.

    http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150512/NEWS/150519992/mcentire-to-seek-re-election-as-clallam-county-commissioner

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    1. Said dim King Jim:

      Calling himself a “common-sense conservative,” he said he has operated with openness, good humor and dedication to good governance.

      “That is what Clallam County voters can expect for the next four years,” McEntire said.

      You mean you'll rob the store EVERY YEAR? You mean you'll spend down the surplus EVERY YEAR? Is this what you mean dim King Jim?

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    2. From what I've seen, the "common sense conservatives" are the ones who spend like drunken sailors while complaining about how much everyone else spends. All he needs to do is go off on a few homophobic and misogynist rants and he'll be there!

      PS: Please someone decent run against him, please someone decent run against him, please someone decent run against him....

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  8. Soooo...since the Carlborg Sewer is still moving forward, and the County has a loan for that that will have to be paid back, why are they dipping into the Opportunity Fund, which was earmarked in part for this project? Will that mean even higher hookup and monthly costs for residents required to hookup to the sewer?

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    Replies
    1. No, it will not.

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    2. Well that was an informative and well-articulated reply.

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    3. Actually, if you don't hook up right away the fee will escalate to $8,000 which will be tacked on to the cost of any home sold because anytime a property changes hands, according to the ordinance adopted last week, you must hook up to the sewer--like it or not. thank Jim McEntire for killing the sale of homes in Carlsborg.

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  9. So if the election goes badly with more of the same old crooks and idiots, uncontested races and joke candidates... can anyone suggest places to move? Similar climate and population, say 20-100k people, actual culture and community, good local leadership, etc?

    I grew up here, went to school and came back to work.Young, employed, educated and community-minded. I'm the kind of people this area needs and I just see no chance of a happy future here, no matter how much I love the nature all around us.

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    Replies
    1. Poulsbo is nice.

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    2. Find out what made the difference for NOAA, and check out Newport, Oregon. You'd still be on the coast, take a step up in restaurants and culture, have a real, live movie theater, etc. Plus, hey, you might get a job working for NOAA. Or someone, because there's more of a year-round economy there, plus easy access to all sorts of natural spots, as well as being fairly close to Portland.

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  10. Not that I wish to sound conspiratorial, but...I find it interesting that I can access pretty much every page and every department I tried on the Clallam County website, EXCEPT for the Auditor's Office, and any candidate/election information. Hmmm...

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