I remember as a young driver always enjoying the smooth driving surface when a road was freshly asphalted. That doesn't seem to be the case any longer. I noticed when downtown was repaved that the road surface was as rough or rougher than before. The same is true now with the new blacktop on South Summit. With the exception of the transition to and from the bridge, the driving surface is as rough or rougher than it was before. It makes me feel that the city isn't getting it's money's worth. Last week I was riding on South Summit with a friend in their vehicle and they had the same observation. Does anyone else feel the same way or is it just us?
At tonights commish meeting they are "juggling" money into the 2008 budget, $994,669, to be exact for sewer. The problems at the waste water treatment plant, have been kept very quite. Want to bet Kuhn Mechanical will be on site first thing Wednesday morning? Grape vine says they "requested" some bids this time. Didn't see any legal notice for bids did you.
At tonights commish meeting they are "juggling" money into the 2008 budget, $994,669, to be exact for sewer. The problems at the waste water treatment plant, have been kept very quite. Want to bet Kuhn Mechanical will be on site first thing Wednesday morning? Grape vine says they "requested" some bids this time. Didn't see any legal notice for bids did you.
I'm not sure what you mean by having been kept quiet. It was on the front page of the newspaper at least twice. Once with a picture of a large crane while it was lifting the concrete lid.
At the time to simplify bookkeeping the repairs were paid for out of "construction" funds which is often used for construction projects until all of the work is completed. The sewer department, like the water department, pays for itself and uses no tax money, so once everything was complete and finalized funds were transfered to replace the "construction" funds.
I would also note that a small portion of the $994,669 (I want to say $15,000 but I'm not sure) was transferred to the General Fund to make up for a tax shortfall. The state eliminated the industrial machine tax and was to help cities by putting us on a sliding scale (I think we were to get 60% this year, but can't remember the exact figure) which they have not provided yet. That money was figured into our budget of regular operating costs, and helped us to keep from raising property taxes to cover the loss. This money will not be transferred unless absolutely necessary, but now it is available if the city needs it. Hopefully the state will come through as they promised.
As a side note, Kuhn did not get the contract for the sewer plant repairs. I've forgotten the name of the company, but it was on the side of the truck in the picture that was on the front page of the Traveler.
Mr. McDonald. We have disagreed in the past and no doubt will continue to do so. Yes there was mention in the Traveler, but certainly no mention of the seriousness of the problem. Does the practice of only informing the public to the extent that gets the city by, constitute transparent government. As always you are quick to find the answers on your computer. You might put that to better use by reviewing the appropriations ordinance before you vote to approve it. [Mr. Kuhn has been paid for work at the waste water plant on several occasions as has the Ponca City waste specialists to haul off waste]. While it's nickles and dimes, which add up at the end of the year, you might look at the money spent by various departments at WalMart each month. The number of out of town junkets and first class expenses by a few of the city staffers are expenses that citizens cannot afford. Apparently the city does not know that folks have to watch their pennies. On another note, glad you are back, assume you are feeling better.
I'm not sure what you mean by having been kept quiet. It was on the front page of the newspaper at least twice. Once with a picture of a large crane while it was lifting the concrete lid.
At the time to simplify bookkeeping the repairs were paid for out of "construction" funds which is often used for construction projects until all of the work is completed. The sewer department, like the water department, pays for itself and uses no tax money, so once everything was complete and finalized funds were transfered to replace the "construction" funds.
Once again Pat, I think you are not understanding what the poeple are trying to say about how our local goverment is or not doing for the people. Regardlessw of were the money comes from state or local it still comes ouT of the pocket of of the tax payers and as there elcected represenative not only are the local governing body to set the project budget but the are also suppose to make sure that when you decide to spend the money make sure the project is done correctly (ie eigth street radio lane to skyline road) the contracter or whoever put the road in did not do it correcetly and ran off with our tax dollars with a half done job, now we have to raise taxes as per a deptment head to fix it because it now is starting to slope and why did the city recongnize that along with the new sports complex that 15th from KS Ave toRadio Ln would have increased traffic and not have the USD470 include part of the cost to widen as part of their budget in stead of double taxing us for it. And why does the city have to make repairs to Ks Ave or better yet US166 from Summit to 15th
