There is a question on this June's City election to eliminate the position of City Administrator, how will you vote and why?
Letter to CCI,
6-05-08
I'm going to vote "Yes" to eliminate the position of City Administrator. I'm also going to write in Robert Drake for City Commission. I can't wait to see Mr. Drake on the Commission. I know he can make a difference.
Letter to CCI,
5-23-08
My vote on the City Administrator, or "Adminis Traitor" is NO!!!! With all the $$$$$$$$ this "fair?????" city gives away, how can we afford to pay someone to do a "job" everyone else should be doing withour being told to anyway. Do these "heads" of the departments need a babysitter, I think NOT. They all seem to be very intelligent and capable people, so why PAY someone to ALIENATE them.
Letter to CCI,
5-23-08
I read with great interest the article that Mayor Nielson wrote explaining the city commission's reasoning for hiring a new city administrator.
I have a problem with a statement she had made, unless I totally interpreted it wrong. She said he is good at administration? I think there is more than enough "administration" in the city hiarchy as is evident now. I would think one would want a city administrator who is more into technical aspects of his job, than in administering or supervising the positions that already have people to do such. I actually would like to see a city administrator with the PROPER qualifications in making decisions (technical) and then informing the city commission (the REAL administrators of the city) what needs are necessary to implement in the city. Does this gentleman have a degree in engineering, or is his experience in administration of a health care institution his main qualification? I refer to THIS experience as it appears that the hospital is constantly in need of a CEO, for whatever reason. Maybe his expertise would be more appropriate there?
I just hope that Mayor Nielson and her commission are making an informed and proper decision here. I do not have alot of faith, from past history, of them doing this. I'll vote to eliminate position.
Letter to CCI,
5-11-08
I would cast my vote to eliminate the city administrator position. After the past administrator history, I would wonder if public concerns would actually be construed accurately to the commissioners, or would those concerns be tainted by the personal feelings or ideas of the administrator as they are relayed to the commissioners. I would like the opportunity to talk DIRECTLY to one or all of the commissioners about my concerns, ideas, etc. I suppose one should not believe that ALL city administrators would be like our last one was, but after THAT experience, one becomes very skeptical and cautious!! Give the new one a chance? Well, we gave the last one lots of chances, and it was a major mistake.
Larence
Letter to CCI
5-11-08
I will definitly vote no! If the commissioners can't take the heat they should get out of the kitchen. And, if they are too busy with their regular jobs to take care of city business then they should resign and let someone else take the reins that cares. This group is very inept. I believe, when we elect our public officials, that we should expect them to act for the people that they represent and that we should trust them and have complete confidence in them. This is not the case now. What we have now is a watchdog group watching the watch dogs. And it seems like the commissioners, instead of watching out for all citizens, are mostly watching out for themselves.
Aaron
Letter to CCI,
5-2-08
I will definitely vote to eliminate the City Adminstrator's position, thanks for your efforts. |
Do you think that there should be a fair bidding process for purchasing new police vehicles?
I realize that there are certain specifications needed for a police vehicle (patrol car, anyway), so I would think those specs should be considered in any bid. BUT, I also believe that other dealers, besides FORD, could meet these options. Maybe the reason you see so many Ford police vehicles in Valley City is, well, I ain't gonna go there!!!
Ya, like that is going to happen when your brother owns the Ford dealership. I see the Sheriff's department drive chevys, I guess they like the much better gas milage and the front wheel drive superiority on ice and snow over the Fords.
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$36,000.00 Paper Weight. Your comments.
Very, VERY good article on snow truck. How true! Keep up the good work.
Johnson and the city "leaders (?)" paid THAT much for that truck?????? What were they THINKING????? I did notice it was being used one day last winter, but it appeared to be either stuck in a snowbank, or broke down, one or the other. I was curious about what had happened that day, but nobody had an answer. At least, so they said. How can anyone in their right mind spend that much money without exploring it more, and how come our commissioners go along with a fiasco like that? What powers did Johnson have to be allowed to do something so stupid, and with the blessings of the rest of those commission characters? I wonder if the truth will ever be told, or is this something else that we taxpayers are too STUPID to comprehend. At least, that appears to be the consensus of the city commissioners of Valley City. Oy Vay, what a town!!! I just hope Johnson does not forget to pack his private "investment" and take it along with him, but then, it probably won't start anyway!!!!!
Hmmmm, just a thought after reading Bob's article. WHAT reasoning did Johnson give for kicking Bob off city property and threatening to arrest him on WHAT charges?? Doesn't the city property actually belong to the CITY of Valley City, including it's taxpayers? I suppose he thought Bob was going to sabatoge the truck so it wouldn't work anymore? Did it EVER work? Another prime example of poetry in motion, and governmental screw-ups. I would certainly enjoy hearing the REST of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. Keep up the good work, Bob!!!
I understand the Web site is also going to Wabasha with Johnson. How wonderful. They should have a heads up on what this excuse for a human being is capable of. If for no other reason than to protect the next unfortunate person from being labeled.
How about the Commission having some backbone and selling the truck to Wabasha County? I would hate to have Johnson not have his pet vehicle with him!
WHAT!!! They bought this truck for $36,000.00!! Now it sits doing nothing. The other part of the story that really burns me is Johnson called the cops on Drake for taking pictures of truck, right there it showed Johnson knew they got scammed on buying truck other wise why would taking pictures of a snow truck bother him? Now he leaves town and leave this mess behind, maybe a small price to pay?
Makes one wonder if Wagar will be following him out of town after spending all that money on a new jail that isn't being built and alienating border counties, you know telling them how wonderful this new jail was going to be and they just had to get on board, after all it won't cost anyone barely anything, remember? That's right, Johnson was also involved up to his elbows in the jail too. I wonder how long it will take to earn the trust back from our border counties?
EXCELLENT article. Bob Drake is right again. Please don't think you are negative, because everything you have reported over the years is the truth.
We not only got "ripped off" on the truck - The City Commission has been ripping us off for years. Will the citizens ever come to their senses and clean house?
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Concerning the jail, what should Barnes County do?
1) Don't build a new facility at all.
2) Find another facility that would be willing to house inmates from the seven counties either individually or collectively.
3) Scale the project back to less than what was envisioned in 2004.
4) Put some money into the current jail and forget about a new jail.
5) Other
I vote for 4
4. Remodel the old jail, (IF REALLY NECESSARY!).
Even though Jon Wagar never offered a "number 4" as an option for the jail HE wants so badly to build, I would be in favor of number 4. I was informed some while back that the old jail has passed all state inspections. If we are only going to be housing 25-35 prisoners, and the old jail houses that many now, why spend around $5 million just to hold the same amount of prisoners? I would imagine it would cost alot less to remodel, re-vamp, re-fix, and re-USE the old jail. Also, I have noticed that alot of what Wagar has initially told us to sell us on the new jail project now seems to not hold water anymore. What gives there? I thought he did his homework, as he so stated.
I vote for # 4 The story on the new jail really burns me. After they have spent a lot of money and assured everyone that they did their homework and it wasn't going to cost us any money and in fact would be a cash cow, now they tell us it's not going to work. Waqar give us three options conveniently leaving out the most obvious one, keep the current jail.
The heating system for the courthouse is in the basement of the jail and probably needs to be replaced anyway even if there would have been a new jail built so do that and tweak what ever else needs to be tweaked and continue to use present jail. It has passed every inspection the state has done on it so let's go with it.
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Is the Renaissance Zone Working for the Citizens of Valley City?
The Rennaisance program is WONDERFUL – if you are on of the "IN" people who the city officials want to be tax exempt.
For the rest of us who have to make up for the taxes they are not paying – IT’S CORRUPTION AT THE FINEST!
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Do you believe global warming is caused by man? Why?
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No, I don't think man is responsible for global warming. The sun is getting hotter.
- Current Science & Technology Center: Global Warming on Mars?
A study of the ice caps on Mars may show that the red planet is experiencing a warming trend. If both Mars and Earth are experiencing global warming, then perhaps there is a larger phenomenon going on in the Solar System that is causing their global climates to change.
- Space.com: Global Warming on Pluto Puzzles Scientists
Pluto is undergoing global warming in its thin atmosphere even as it moves farther from the Sun on its long, odd-shaped orbit.
- Associated Press: Study says sun getting hotter
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I believe that it is just a phase that the earth is going through. In a couple hundred years from now it'll probably be turning colder. I do however believe that there are things we can do to help the problem, even if you do not believe there is a problem, such as being more cautious about our waste. If nothing else man could at least care more for the future of our children and grandchildren instead of being so greedy and self-centered. Care about the land God give you and take care of it.
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NO - I believe the position of the earth in relation to the Sun has changed slightly causing the warming. The earth will again move away and then the people can worry about freezing to death! Let's let nature take its course - we have interfered enough!!!
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What newspaper is your favorite? Why? |
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My vote is for the Fargo Forum because the TR seems to print only what they want or what they are told to by the city or Chief of Police. They (the TR) seem to be a private paper instead of for public information. They do not print the way the news happens, but edit it to the way they believe, or the way they are told it should be.
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I don't know if your CCI CityWatch is considered a newspaper but it is my favorite, can't wait till next one! If I have to pick from T-R or Forum I guess I'd go with the Forum. I talked to a person who works for the T-R a while back and this person said that they will only print what the police chief let's them print as far as crime and related items. I said that's not right and whatever happend to freedom of the press and this persons said well that's the way it is!
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The VC Times Record is my FAVORITE of all newspapers!!! WHY, you ask???
Because it only prints news that they want to print, so I don't have to worry about what is actually happening in the real world. Who wants to hear any negative news anyway???? OR about happenings in and around VC that would be IMPORTANT for people to know???? Such as when some of our elite Gov. officials get a DUI, or other elite Gov. officials get a fine from the State for being improper. Good Grief, we must not hear about THOSE things.
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The Fargo Forum is our favorite newspaper because it covers ALL the news.
If we had to depend on the Times Record for our news, we still would NOT know about the Illegal Meeting held by the City Commission!
Mr. Ferguson who was previously employed by the TR told me he ,"only had to print the news he wanted to." I think they still adhere to that.
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Would you favor dividing Valley City into 4 wards (example: NW-SW-SE-NE sections of town) and there would be one commissioner elected from each ward with the Mayor being an at large position?
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ND Century Code requires Commissioners to be elected at large and not by wards.
Doesn't Grand Forks have wards? (Ed)
Grand Forks has a Mayor-Council Form of Government. Valley City has a Commission Form of Government. Valley City would need to change the form of government to have a representative from each quadrant of the city.
That is understood. (Ed)
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I’m not sure, I’d like to hear some more details on this. I sounds interesting. Might be worth looking into.
Yes, I think this would be a very good idea! It would be alot more fair than what there is now with too many from the "Big Shot" side of town. Thats not fair, but then cith hall is not run fair either so I guess thats "OK" ? This should also be adopted to the Home Rule Charter.
Yes, I like the idea of the division. I also wonder if the people living in the extra-territorial limits of VC, that are controlled by the city gov., should also have a say in the rules and regs laid out to them by the city commissioners. Taxation without representation is what it appears to be.
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Should the $489,000.00 (equity payment) that the VC School Board received from the state be used to reduce property taxes? |
Absolutely the money should be given back to the taxpayers. The school will just spend it - "Kids in a candy store".
Of COURSE I would like to see that money allocated to tax relief!! BUT, my question is, is there any of that money even left??? It appeared that the school board and Mr. Koppelman have it spent already.
Yes they should use the money to reduce property taxes. But I doubt they will. I remember when they spent 500,000.00 of slush funds a few years back on a building without a vote of the citizens because they could. To them I guess it's chump change.
Absolutely the money should be used to reduce property taxes.
Maybe it's time we take the bull by the horns and have a referendum to lower the school mill levy.
They are like children in a candy shop - no amount of money is enough!
It absolutely should go to tax relief. The way the school board acted the night of the special meeting was very irresponsible. Sharon Buhr, Val Moritz and Mike Callahan should be ashamed of themselves.
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Who do you think won the republican debates so far?
Ron Paul
Mike Huckabee
Tom Tancredo
Tommy Thompson
Mitt Romney
John McCain
Duncan Hunter
Rudy Giuliani
Sam Brownback
Jim Gilmore
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Ron Paul, by far!!!
I personally think Tom Tancredo won the debate. His ideas on this illegal immigration crap I kinda like. Unlike the other bleeding hearts who want them to all stay in the U.S. and continue collecting welfare and all the other crap they INSIST on receiving. What a world anymore!!!!!! I wonder when VC Gov. is going to start importing them to VC for "community development"!!!!!
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I watched both debates and there is definitly a clear cut front runner. RON PAUL It’s like watching children debate with him, he is so far ahead of the rest. He gives history, facts and isn’t afraid to tell the truth and let’s the chips fall where they may. He is a breath of fresh air. Go Ron Go.
I understand there is a movement to remove him from future debates. I hope that doesn’t happen. I’d love to see him get the nomination and see what he’d do to Hillary, Obama or who ever the dems nominate. |
Do you think North Dakota should follow Montana and outright deny the federal REAL ID Act implementation?
It most certainly should be voted down!! This is the kind of CRAP that our own city government and Dean Ross and his Krarodies want!! Don't get me wrong, we have some very very good law enforcement officers in this town, but then there is Dean Ross and his Krarodies. And as for our City government, which I know you will be reading this. This is a very beautiful town in which we live in. But, it is not all Roses like you think, open your eyes and take off your blinders once and look at more than just what you want to see!! You need to do a severe house cleaning!! Start by getting rid of Mr. David B. Johnson!!! The man is EVIL, Despicable, Arrogant, Disrespectful and NEEDS of GO!!! It is terrible that a person like this resides in our Wonderful City.
Yes
Yes, I do!
Yes I believe we should follow Montana and do the same, when it comes to National ID.
Hell yes, we should vote against it. Stupid idea in the 1st. place. Is again showing the stupidity of politicians and their "games".
Yes
Yes, makes me consider a move to Montana to live with people still in touch with what it means to live free! North Dakota and the rest of country need to follow their lead.
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