Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Wacky Election Year

This year might possibly go down as one of the wackiest ones in recent history. We have a congressman, Walt Minnick, democrat, dissing Obama. OK, not so unusual in this the avoid Obama year for dems.

Then we have two write-in campaigns in local races, both which actually have a chance to succeed. Jai Nelson, Darling of the Libertarian right polled just barely more than Curry and Filios in a three way primary race, causing Filios and Currie to team up in a write-in for Currie. None of the candidates polled more than 37%.

Then the bizarre candidacy of Phil Hart, late of the Constitution Party. Serving on the taxation committee in the state legislature. He owes a bunch to the federal government, and his own state, for which he legislates tax laws... AND, he passes the litmus test in the investigation of his conflict of interest. Plus, it is discovered that he allegedly stole enough logs from state lands to build his rustic mansion in Athol. Howard Griffiths, a man that we here in Bayview know and respect, couldn't stomach this travesty, as a republican himself, and starts a write-in, too.

Kootenai county clerk, Dan English, a thoroughly respected administrator, suddenly becomes a cause celeb from the same libertarian right that Jai Nelson springs from. As if the 15 year veteran wasn't there all along, the wackos eventually became enraged at the heresy of an admitted democrat that could actually hold office in this county. Of course many of his detractors don't even live in Kootenai county, but then that is why the term Carpet Baggers was coined, wasn't it.

For those of us in northern Kootenai County, the recall election in the Timberlake Fire Protection District. Two commissioners, most recent electees, Rudebaugh and Fish, enraged many in the district for firing a popular chief, then contracting for management with an adjoining district, ignoring that folks around here like to manage there own affairs. Local control is the foundation of conservative politics and the transfer of responsibility to Northern Lakes appears to have engendered widespread resentment.

Even local volunteer organizations are not exempt from the craziness that pervades our region. Here in Bayview, the so called Chamber of Commerce disses local businesses and caters to a special interest group that is anti-expansionist. This roiled up group appears to be spinning out of control. We hear that the coming election of officers in November,is in trouble. they can't find anyone that wants to hold these offices and many of the current board members can't wait to escape.

All in all, if in the firing line, duck, then go vote. Staying at home this year not only would be a travesty of monumental proportions, it would suggest that you just don't give a damn. That of course won't stop the non-voters from bitching, once the dust settles.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Herb, in fairness to the readers of your blog; lets clarify some facts that may differ from yours;

1.The choices made have made us better and stronger and as for the engendered widespread resentment you claim, I would encourage you and your readers to go talk with the paid and volunteer firefighters. Go out and talk with people outside of your normal circles of influence that are not part of the recall effort. You just might be surprised what the word on the street is.

2.We are managing our own affairs and doing so with fiscal responsibility to all the taxpayers and citizens alike. Are firefighters are safer, better trained and overall happier, which as a result can professionally serve us all better.

3.The key players behind the recall are the same group that has ruined the Bayview community’s ability to function as a whole and now have spread out within the entire fire district.

“The so called Chamber of Commerce disses local businesses and caters to a special interest group that is anti-expansionist” “This roiled up group appears to be spinning out of control.” “We hear that the coming election of officers in November is in trouble. They can't find anyone that wants to hold these offices and many of the current board members can't wait to escape”

That is no secret to anyone. Herb, tell us honestly can’t you see this same involvement In the recall as well?

I do believe that there are a lot of good hard working people not only from Bayview but the entire Fire District that appreciate what we ( 3 commissioners –in properly conducted meetings) did for their benefit.

I would ask every registered voter of our District to become educated on the facts (not opinions, thoughts, assumptions, hearsay and likewise) and vote based on that and that alone.

Rudy Rudebaugh

Bay Views said...

Rudy, I published your long comment, but you too have drawn conclusions that are not true. For instance, I have not taken a position on the recall, only pointed out the issues. Secondly, I have not spoken to even one of the signers of the recall and resent that you would assume that I can so easily be mislead by others. My conclusions are my own.

Anonymous said...

Herb, Thank you for clarifying and I apologize for my misunderstanding about you.
Next time I will call you first and seek clarification on your position.
Thank you for posting my response and the diverseness your blog brings to our community
Rudy

Anonymous said...

Having been involved in the meetings for the Fire District I still cannot understand the concept that the commissioners acted without the consent of the voters. When I first started attending the meetings and granted I have missed a few, the meetings were held at the Fire station. As the numbers grew the meetings were eventually moved to accomadate larger audiences. We as part of the audience were made aware of the budget issues, last year. The voters did not become actively involved until after the Chiefs contract was not renewed. Many of those who signed the petition for recall were not at commissioner meetings. I personally believe that the commissioners acted with responsibility. The equipment for the fire district has been lacking for many years. The two new commissioners walked into a storm that quickly turned into a hurricane. They made the best decisions they could.

NJ

Anonymous said...

Rudy again spins his reality, and calls it Clarification.

1. Yes, go talk to FF's and volunteers, They are lining up at the door to leave. 2 paid have taken jobs at different districts and are leaving in the next month. 3 volunteers have already resigned, and 4 more are awaiting the results of the recall to decide to resign.

2. 2 different FF's are on now on workman comp for new injuries, 1 will be out for a couple months, the other indefinite. At mondays meeting it was announced that $9000 will be carried forward to the new year, not the $79,000 that rudy keeps saying he has saved. Oh, lawyer costs for july, aug, sep, and oct are not taken out of that $9000 yet.

3. I know nothing about the bayveiw slap downs from Commissioner Rudy, who really seems to be working hard to incite some of his constitutes.

I call for you also to get educated, Don't take my word or rudy's for truth. Do your research and vote for the safety our district deserves.

Jeffrey Wherley

Anonymous said...

Jeffrey,
Do your research before you speak
1 firefighter is leaving for another fire department job. Thats because he will be making double what timberlake can pay. You wanna fix the issue of paid guys leaving then figure out a way to pay these guys a livable wage. from what i understand 9 bucks an hour is an insult.
Number 2, 1 firefighter is out on injury for around 3 months while the other is back to full duty as of last week. What northern lakes is doing for these firefighters is very positive and it takes a fool not to see that. Stop in and talk to the underpaid brave people and you will quickly find out how dedicated they are and finally happy with the current changes. Now its our duty as citizens to come together and pay them what they are worth before we loose all of them to other departments.

Anonymous said...

- Timberlake FF makes $30-33K, KCFR FF makes $38-50K (not twice as much as they stated, more like 25%), really only $8K diff for a first year FF

- Timberlake FF make $9.76 to $12.06 per hour, which is for the first 212 hours in a 28 day period, the rest is OT.

-For a Low income and tax base District this is a very respectable pay structure and since none are paid under your number of $9/hr is a living wage for our area.

-Since my information on the 2nd FF was 2 weeks old, I am glad to here his injury wasn't as bad as originally reported.

- Ok 1 FF already left now, and they other is leaving next month. or did one job fall through, I have been gone for a while so things change quickly in a low moral Job situation.

- This district is suppose to pull in the eager to learn FF's starting careers so they can gain Experience & Training then move on. If you want to pay and equip at a level to have full retention rates, then this district will have to raise taxes even higher than I am willing to change my budget for. So unless Athol or Bay View grow to the size of Seattle, we will always be a training district.

Jeffrey Wherley

Anonymous said...

So we are allowing our experienced career firefighter to accept better paying jobs at other departments and start all over again. shouldnt we be trying to find ways to keep the experience within our own district. why are we allowing our department to be a stepping stone. These firefighters obviously have a great deal to offer otherwise these larger better paying departments would not want them. Departments can only pay what their budget allows and without citizens coming together to increase that budget we will continue to allow this horrible thing to happen. Fire departments poor a ton of money into the training and progression of these firefighters only to see them leave because the top pay is 12.06? How in the world does anyone in this community expect to get the best when they themselves are allowing this to go on. 12.06 an hour? You have got to be kidding me.... These men and women are there when we need them the most and we compensate these people with 12 bucks an hour.. WHAT A JOKE. Its know wonder they continue to leave when the community is obviously not taking care of them. I would be honored to pay higher taxes as long as i knew these amazing people were being paid what they should be for risking their lives for strangers.

Bay Views said...

OK, everyone has had a chance to comment on this or I should say, these issues. As we stray into the final week of this election cycle, Only those that sign their names will have a comment posted. I know that some have to protect their jobs, but others shoot from behind a rock without anyone knowing who they are. If you post anonymously, I will delete the comment.

Jeffrey Wherley said...

Thanks Herb, you are a fair monitor.

To keep from having high turn over of the paid staff, We would have to have good supervision, and a pay structure and call volume that is competitive with districts like Spokane. We would have to have top equipment that was never in doubt of a safety issue, and Personal Protection Equipment that was at a level that was compatible with the surrounding districts.

We have total property values in our district that to have all this we would need triple or more (I don't have those numbers) the Levy rate we have now, just to match the revenue level of Northern lakes that has most of this. But they struggle with their revenue level.

I know some will want to say "our levy rate is near the same as theirs" but the revenue from property tax values is much higher.

To offset the turn over rate of paid staff, in a district like ours, it is estimated that we need at least 4 volunteers to equal 1 paid full schedule FF. This means to have an engine go out to a fire fully maned we would need 4 paid or 16 Volunteers or 2 paid and 8 Volunteers to cover each of the 3 shifts. We are sorely lacking in the Volunteer area because we lack the PPE's to supply the 24 to 42 volunteers (we have had this level of Vol. in the past) we need for this district. To have a all volunteer or 2 man shift station that will keep safety and Top Quality response we are severely under funded.

To go to a full time full service paid district we would need 12 paid FF's and a IC level Chief. Or we can go back to a Volunteer district with a IC level Chief, 2 40 hour FF's for daytime response and maintenance, with 24 to 42 volunteers. Volunteers go through the same level of training as Paid it just takes about 4 to equal the response of 1 Paid on-duty staff.

This is what the Rudy and Marty cannot or will not see, that the direction we are heading is more expensive and less effective on the Funding we have or can even attempt to educate the public to vote for with a 2/3 majority election for a permanent levy.

The scare tactics of a tax increase is Misinformation a 2/3 majority is almost impossible without a long education of the public to show the need.

Recalling Rudy and Marty is the only way we can start the long work to restore our district after 7 years of ignoring the reality of our Finance Inadequacy. Working within the current budget is a recipe for lower safety and reduced services.

Jeffrey Wherley

Jeffrey Wherley said...

Thanks Herb, you are a fair monitor.

To keep from having high turn over of the paid staff,
-IC level supervision
-Pay structure and call volume that is competitive with districts like Spokane
-Well Maintained Equipment
-Personal Protection Equipment for every volunteer and paid staff.

Our total property value are 3 time or more lower than NLFPD we need triple or more (I don't have these numbers) the Levy rate we have now, just to match the REVENUE level of Northern lakes. But they struggle with their revenue level.

I know some will want to say "our levy rate is the same as theirs" true but the revenue from property tax values is much higher.

It is estimated by ISO that we need at least 4 volunteers=1 paid FF. This means to fully man an engine for a fire we would need 4 pd or 16 Vol or 2 pd and 8 Vol to cover 3 shifts. We lack both, and the PPE's supply the 24 to 42 volunteers needed(we have had this level of Vol. in the past). To have a all volunteer or 2 man shift station that will keep safety and Top Quality response we are severely under funded and maned.

To go to a full time full service paid district we would need
12 paid FF's
IC level supervisor.
Or we can go back to a Volunteer district with
a IC level supervisor,
2 40 hour FF's for daytime response and maintenance
24 to 42 volunteers.
Volunteers go through the same level of training as Paid it just takes about 4 vol=1 Pd on-duty staff.

This is what the Rudy and Marty cannot or will not see, that the direction we are heading is more expensive and less effective.The Misinformation of a tax increase: it takes 2/3 majority for a permanent levy increase, almost impossible without a long education of the public to show the need.

Recalling Rudy and Marty is the only way we can start the long work to restore our district after 7 years of ignoring the reality of our Finance Inadequacy. Working within the current budget is a recipe for lower safety and reduced services.

Jeffrey Wherley

Anonymous said...

Removing Rudebaugh and Fish is NOT the way to fix the district. We are only spending more dollars that could be used to fix equipment or pay our firefighters. Rudebaugh and Fish did what they were voted in to do, spend money wisely. AND if the recall is successful, what then? Another election at what cost?
Fixing the equipment issues that have been around for years is going to take some time and the district probably could have afforded a levy if the economy was in the shape it was three years.

And I do not want to argue with you Jeff.

NJ

Bay Views said...

So far, I've been proud to host the opinions of the various commentors. As emotions rise, please remember to address only your opinion or topic. It is enough to state your position and is not acceptable to engage in a war of words among the interested parties. Each can state their opinions without it degenerating into an argument. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Herb,

Thank you once again for presenting other views of this election year. Hey you know I got a call from Sarah Palin today! Will be so glad when the election is over tomorrow.

NJ