BaldwinCity.com

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

I feel your frustration, rateraiser, but do not see how this is Gary Walbridge's or the council's fault. Lawrence raised our rates. What happens if Baldwin doesn't pass that extra charge along to consumers? If the city swallows the cost, they'll inevitably have to recoup the money elsewhere. Should they raise our taxes across the board?

Personally, I'd rather pay for our household's extra consumption, as we can probably do a better job of conserving water. I agree that our rates are higher than they should be and that it bites that Lawrence is raising them again. But I'm unclear as to how you think our city officials could've handled this better.

Do you have a way to meet the extra charge that does not involve each household paying more? I'm sure we'd all like to hear it. If it's feasible, maybe the city will implement your plan. The officials would probably be delighted with an idea that would solve the problem of the higher rates while making them look good at the same time.

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

Shoot, SP, if I'd known it was you stealing the signs, I would've just bought you a few for yourself. I won't report you to Baldwin's Finest, if you promise to invite me to your next rumpus-room party.

I agree 100% on your assessment of the economic mess.. As you say, we all share in the blame for that. (Hanging head, surreptitiously glancing up at home-theatre HD jumbotron..)

I was referring to the Shrub's general anti-Midas touch—by which everything he's ever touched, from baseball teams to bicycles & Segways to the hunt-down-the-architects-of-9/11 assignment to delicious salty pretzels, has turned to wreckage and abomination in his hands (or mouth). Everything!

Aren't you euphoric that after January the only thing he'll be able to screw up is post-hole digging, dogie branding, and the stray load of laundry Laura allows him to start? (“George!!! How many times have I told you to put down the bleach?! Just look at my pink and orange capris! And—oh, no—you shrunk my cashmere sweater!”)

Oh, hey—I'll trade you 2 Greenie signs (never mind where they came from) for a vintage yellow dog Democrat poster! We're redoing the 4th bay of the garage (where we keep the jet skis in the winter) in a fun political theme. The yellow dog poster would look really sharp next to the “I am not a crook” Nixon collage.

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

Sandy~ I feel your pain. It was possibly the same cowardly, unimaginative pond scum (a term too nice for them, IMO) who stole my name and a few others.

Anyway… look at all the chicken littles coming out to squawk about how terrible it is to invest in our children. Such dire predictions! Baldwinfan (the name must be his/her idea of a joke) even suspects that money will be squandered on golden doorknobs instead of efficiency—or “nobs” and “effeciency,” as s/he seems to think. Obviously, here is a person for whom education has been a high priority. Or not.

To name just one factor (that hasn't already been beaten to death) that will have impact on Baldwin's near-future educational needs:

Anyone who thinks the Gardner-area BNSF intermodal facility is not going to raise the housing demand and enrollment levels in Baldwin, while providing a high number of job opportunities, has not been paying attention.

Because of proximity and the straight shot down Hwy 56 to the new warehouse acreage, Baldwin is uniquely positioned to gain many new working-age residents—many of whom will have kids who must be absorbed into USD 348. Despite the passing of this bond issue, we may still find ourselves bursting at the seams within the next 5 to 10 years.

Anyone need a refresher on what this project entails?

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/nov…

A few highlights from that article:

—1000-acre facility shipping hub
—13,000 jobs created
—largest economic development program in KS in 45 yrs
—1.7 billion pumped into KS economy over the next 20 yrs

If not for this behemoth heading our way, I might agree with some of curbmanundaunted's points, although I still would've voted “yes” for the kids who are already in Baldwin. They deserve the best facilities and opportunities we can give them.

The intermodal just gives one more big reason to look ahead instead of sticking our heads in the sand and pretending this is going to remain a sleepy little podunk town. We are poised to see things turn around in a big way when the intermodal starts hiring—and we need to be ready for its impact.

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

Good posts, Cranky, SP, & BC! Don't worry about Torch. If Torch didn't have something to whine and cry about, his life wouldn't be worth living.

I'm glad the sensible people won out—on the bond issue here in Baldwin in the presidential election, and in so many other races around this country in which Republicans were thrown out on their ears. Finally, after 8 long, miserable years, the silent majority stirred and their voices rang out.

Obama is inheriting a festering stinking mess from that abject failure, Bush—who has already faded into “nonentity” status. He is already going down in history as one of the worst—if not THE worst—

It will take a lot of work to get our country back on track but Obama has the intelligence, ability, and character to do it. And—thanks to the American people—the support of a largely Democratic Congress that will help rather than hinder Obama's efforts to forge accomplishments.

Raise your hand if it gave you a warm fuzzy feeling to see the half-baked Alaskan lose her smug smirk!

Oh— whoever kept stealing the Obama signs from my yard: be proud of how you aided the Obama campaign.

It's good to know that the extra money I kept donating to get new signs helped them get the word out and ensure the election results we are now enjoying. Thanks, hon!

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

Read it and weep, Torch. Hope you don't get carpal tunnel syndrome writing withering and impotent letters to all the papers that endorse Obama.

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

Here's a follow-up editorial from the Topeka Capital-Journal: http://www.cjonline.com/stories/10150…

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

For anyone who missed it…

This is unbelievable: http://cjonline.com/stories/101108/lo…

…but apparently, every word in it is true—otherwise, why hasn't Pine repudiated any of it? When contacted by the reporter about these allegations, Pine abruptly resigned from the Douglas County Kaw Drainage District board but did not argue or dispute any of the reporter's information.

I'm waiting to hear his explanations for the actions detailed in the Capital-Journal article.

Sen. Pine? Any excuse for yourself for pushing for the no-bid policy, then awarding those non-bid jobs to your own business and to those of your cronies?

Any explanation for transfering funds (over which, as board treasurer, you had sole control) from the Dg Co Treasurer to a private bank?

Any explanation for your trumpeting the need for oversight and fiscal accountability as a keystone of your Senate race while making every effort to obfuscate and maintain secrecy on the water district board—while financially benefiting yourself with cash from the board's funds?! Can you say “hypocrisy”?

At this point, Pine's residency (in Linwood, Leavenworth Co), which, as it turns out, would've rendered him inelegible to be on the board (dipping into the till) if he had been HONEST about it, is of less importance than the other very disturbing things he has done on that board.

How about awarding himself and his two fellow board members $900 for “consulting fees” every December out of the water district coffers, when all the other water district board members serve without compensation?

Nice little Christmas presents, don't you think? No doubt he included his fellow board members in the cut so they'd keep their mouths shut. Very cagey. Guess it worked for awhile.

Do clear this up for us, Sen. Pine—and preferably before Nov. 6. Voters have a right to know whether they're voting for a self-serving crook.

As for the legality of the no-bid practice, what's legal and what's ethical are two different things. And maybe after this, what's legal will need to be scrutinized and the law changed to avoid exactly this kind of self-serving, unethical opportunity that Sen. Pine seems to have used to so flagrantly and shamelessly line his own pockets.

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

Here's a follow-up editorial from the Topeka Capital-Journal: http://www.cjonline.com/stories/10150…

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

This is unbelievable: http://cjonline.com/stories/101108/lo…

…but apparently, every word in it is true—otherwise, why hasn't Pine repudiated any of it? When contacted by the reporter about these allegations, Pine abruptly resigned from the Douglas County Kaw Drainage District board but did not argue or dispute any of the reporter's information.

I'm waiting to hear his explanations for the actions detailed in the Capital-Journal article.

Sen. Pine? Any excuse for yourself for pushing for the no-bid policy, then awarding those non-bid jobs to your own business and to those of your cronies?

Any explanation for transfering funds (over which, as board treasurer, you had sole control) from the Dg Co Treasurer to a private bank?

Any explanation for your trumpeting the need for oversight and fiscal accountability as a keystone of your Senate race while making every effort to obfuscate and maintain secrecy on the water district board—while financially benefiting yourself with cash from the board's funds?! Can you say “hypocrisy”?

At this point, Pine's residency (in Linwood, Leavenworth Co), which, as it turns out, would've rendered him inelegible to be on the board (dipping into the till) if he had been HONEST about it, is of less importance than the other very disturbing things he has done on that board.

How about awarding himself and his two fellow board members $900 for “consulting fees” every December out of the water district coffers, when all the other water district board members serve without compensation?

Nice little Christmas presents, don't you think? No doubt he included his fellow board members in the cut so they'd keep their mouths shut. Very cagey. Guess it worked for awhile.

Do clear this up for us, Sen. Pine—and preferably before Nov. 6. Voters have a right to know whether they're voting for a self-serving crook.

As for the legality of the no-bid practice, what's legal and what's ethical are two different things. And maybe after this, what's legal will need to be scrutinized and the law changed to avoid exactly this kind of self-serving, unethical opportunity that Sen. Pine seems to have used to so flagrantly and shamelessly line his own pockets.

TheOnlyGreyghost (Anonymous) says…

Wait—I thought Coen was from Ottawa. Also, has Roger Pine finally figured out where he lives? (Hint: it's not in Lawrence. Linwood? Maybe…)

What's with the Republicans this year? Are they all so feeble-minded that they really don't have a clue where they live or are they trying to pull a fast one?