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April 2008 Postings 4-30-2008-05 Enough of this Sol Blu
nonsense. Who gives a damn about Sol Blu, anyway. We're not here
to analyze local bars. We're trying to figure out the millions that
Marquart and Van Laanen and the three go-alongs have squandered and
further millions they're planning on blowing given half a chance. 4-30-2008-03
Nice try, #4-30-2008-02. Yes, Dale
tells us how things should be run. The funny thing is, I agree
with Dale. When he calls John Marquart a liar, I agree with him
that the city manager should not lie. When he says the city
council broke laws and that they should operate within the law,
I agree with him. When he says the manager should be fired
for cause, I agree with him. Why? Because Dale backs up what
he says with documentation. So, if you don’t agree with Dale,
are you saying you condone all the misinformation and illegal
crap this council has pulled in the last four years? Why don’t
you put your money where your mouth is? Sue Dale over his
comments. He’d kick your sorry a** in court if you did.
Groundless character assassination doesn’t hold much water when
it’s up against documentation.
Speaking of documentation,you
probably didn’t hear about the latest thing Marquart pulled that
directly affected Dale in a negative way. Dale, if you read
this, PLEASE don’t let the scheming snake off the hook on this
one. It was blatant abuse of power and retaliation and
Marquart should be sued over it. If you don’t, he’ll just find a
way to twist it around to make you look bad, and some morons
will believe him.
And, keep pluggin’ away at the
meetings, Dale. There are more people that agree with you than
ones who don’t. For the record, Dale beat Ken Tousignant, Doug
Rigoni, and Sally Jacobs in the last election. I wonder why you
are not telling Dougie and Kenny to sit down and shut up?
4-30-2008-02 Just a small note to previous writers - I think the last place finisher in quite a few contests was actually the ever-amazing Dale Alessandrini. In fact, I think he was only on the city council as an appointed member. Never won an election - never finished his jobs. So why don't you write about how awful he is for showing up at every council meeting and boring the world with his lengthy, shaky presentations of how he thinks things should run - or how someone tells him what to think. The voters have spoken - over and over - Daley should sit down and shut up until he can win over the will of the electorate. Please, Daley, take this advice and give everyone a break. 4-30-2008-01 To Therese Bujold of Sol
Blu 4-29-2008-04
To 4-29-2008-02
Wow. Saying "your buddy Ken" is
your own conjured idea. Is he an
obsession for you? I just looked at how long my
letter was, around twenty "unsmall" paragraphs about
different subjects and you are focusing on him and
one single paragraph way down the line in the
letter, right off the bat. I didn't even mention
his name?! What does that have to do
with this/me? Here we go with associating phobias
for a need for some sort of control over them
perhaps?
I've laughed many times about it with friends
including Cind that "Ken doesn't like
me," generally tongue in cheek as it isn't
something he or I would likely lose sleep
over. They'll tell you it's been a running
joke. I'd list their names, but then they'll be
involved without a choice, by association once
again. His sister is a friend, his mom Maddy is
always been sweet to me and is kindhearted. He
and I have never had any sort of
real rapport. Some people "click," some don't. For
he and I It's basically, 'hi, how ya
doing? Good, you?" He gave me a great
compliment when Sol Blu first opened about how
well it turned out, and I appreciated that as I
could tell when he looked me in the eye that he
meant it.
Re: "he has been vindictive and intolerant of
anyone who does not embrace homosexuality."
an "He spreads lies that you are hate-filled, if
you weren't marching in the streets and wearing
T-shirts proclaiming gay rights." Are you sure
you aren't exaggerating? Firstly, this is heresay
(once again) because you are posting anonymously.
Who are you, by the way? He isn't on the council,
isn't the mayor. Why you still follow him and
mention him by name leads me to thinking you must
think he's a pretty powerful, influential guy.
My only advice to you, is "until you've walked in
the shoes."
Re: "If you think
that your business is any more important or special
than any other in town, then you are an ego-maniac.
" Do you own your own business or work for one?
Isn't that what it's is all about? That you truley
believe you have a better product/can do better for
a customer than others? I don't know too many
business people who walk around telling others why
the competetion is better and they should spend
their money elsewhere. Think about what you just
said, and reflect on whether that was an intelligent
thing to say. I read it twice before I could
believe I was really reading what it said. Wow,
there would be no such thing as advertising if what
you say is true. Advertising? How
ego-maniacal?!? No advertising leads to no
newsprint, internet news, t.v. news. I could carry
on with each step that leads to but.....
Where the money goes is my job
as owner-manager, so your largest paragraph,
mostly in bold type also is not relavant to ask of
me. Please ask someone who delegates decisions of
where to spend their money to others and they might
answer your question from experience. Probably
someone with something larger scale. Who would let
anyone other than themselves decide where money goes
in their small business? I don't think that would
be the smartest way to go.
Maybe I don't have a business mind? I reacted to a
slanderous statement of giving drinks free to John
Marquart at Sol Blu, of all things. Those
statements and false association online lead to
misconceptions about people and businesses. It
happens everywhere, not just here. Self defense to
online slander can't be all bad.
Did not flourish? I think you are making
assumptions. .You do not know what I consider
acceptable return on an investment after three years
new. Why am I defending myself to an anonymous.
hmmm Maybe this is a hobby for you, wanting
to entice people in to bicker with by provocation.
Therese Bujold
4-29-2008-03
I really doubt that anyone cares
if the Manager goes out for dinner with whoever, but not on City
business unless approved by the Council. Lets remember all the
current problems can be traced back to meetings and decisions
made without Council approval.
I also have a problem with the Mayor
attending. Our City is not a Strong Mayor Council. He was not
voted into that position by the voters. His duties are to run
meetings, set up committees etc. His power as a council member
is no different than the rest. If he is allowed to make
decisions for all members we are right back where we started
prior to the election. It was very obvious, even to those who
refuse to admit it, the residents of Iron Mountain wanted to see
some change. When it comes to issues that effect the City,
meetings should be held in appropriate places where all can
attend including the public. If there is nothing to hide this
shouldn't be a problem!!
4-29-2008-02
To Therese, owner of Sol Blu:
You sure can get your shots in,
under the pretense of trying to be friendly or informative. You
could say you have a talent for it, as I have experienced in
prior emails from you during the election.
If you want to attack and label a
whole City, because a few may not have the same
beliefs about sexuality...well, that just doesn't seem right.
There is a different kind of
intolerance, Therese, that you have forgotten to mention, that
has come from your buddy Ken and quite a few others. He has
been vindictive and intolerant
of anyone who does not embrace homosexuality. If a
person is neutral, that's not good enough for Ken. He spreads
lies that you are hate-filled, if you weren't marching in the
streets and wearing T-shirts proclaiming gay rights. Is that
fair?
I've never said a derogatory word
about him being gay in my life, have actually stood up for it,
and it has come back to me over and over that he claims I have
cut him down for it. He just flat out lies, to get people to
feel sympathy and do what he wants.
You want to talk about slander,
Therese? Go to the "Truth" website, which has been run by Ken
and Scotty, and you will find hundreds of examples of the most
yellow-bellied slander possible.
If you think controversy is what is
hurting your business or any other business, then you don't
truly have a business mind. The "controversy" is the truthful
situations that are trying to be squashed by Marquart, Ken, and
others. They are the ones that started calling it "controversy"
for political reasons, in defense, because they did not have any
answers for their illegal moves. But I can see that it would be
very convenient for you to blame the so-called
controversy, instead of the fact that your business just did not
flourish as you would have liked.
Example: Would you let your
Bar Manager spend $200,000 on a product that didn't even exist?
Would you fire your bar manager if they did that? If you just
said, "Aw, shucks", would that make you a good business woman?
If a State licensing bureau
tried to come in for over a year to inspect, and your Bar
Manager wouldn't let them in; would you just pat your manager on
the back and give them a bonus?
Tell the truth, Therese.
If you think that your business is
any more important or special than any other in town,
then you are an ego-maniac.
To 4-28-2008-04: You know darn well
that it was not just a dinner and the other council
members had no idea...well, not the three new ones, anyway. Can
anyone say "425, $300,000 buy-in" instead of paying the water
and sewer rates? That's a quick way to raise revenue. And a
quick way to lose future revenue, for a quick fix
that the past council created the need for.
Get a grip on reality, for a change.
4-29-2008-01
To 4-28-04 - Are you missing the
point or just ignoring it? The point of the post involving
Breitung Township is that, unlike Iron Mountain, Breitung
consistently chooses to be open and honest about things. I find
that to be a very valid point. On the other hand, I agree with
you that Ms Bujold wrote a very nice post. It’s too bad that
such a nice and unique place got a bad rap just because of the
clientele.
4-28-2008-04 Nice letter Therese, I agree. What is wrong with you people writeing to this site ? The city manager and the Mayor are going to have dinner with a couple of reps from Breitinug !! So what? , They have to tell the whole city via the media or at a council meeting that there having a dinner together? It happens all the time, Tell me what is legally, ethically or morally wrong with that? 4-28-2008-03
You know, as an isolated
incident, the situation brought forth in post 4-28-2008-02 isn’t
so bad. But, criminy, can’t they ever do ANYTHING openly and
honestly? If it involves Marquart, past experience says you can
bet it’s not come innocent little dinner date. I am so tired of
having to watch every single thing the manager does.
Even harder when he's (and Vanlaanen) not telling anyone what
he's doing on our behalf. It shouldn’t have to be that way.
4-28-2008-02
It seems that the Breitung Township
Board was approached by Perry Franzoi with a request that Perry
Franzoi and Denny Olson meet with Marquart and Vanlaanen for
dinner. This was to have, in effect, secret discussions that
affect both government entities. A motion was made at the March
10, 2008 meeting, but died for lack of support. Another motion
was then made at the same meeting which drove the point home.
See the Superintendent’s report section of the minutes.
Then, at the March 24, 2008 Breitung
board meeting, the subject came up again! Again, see the
Superintendent’s report.
I must give Mr. Franzoi great credit
for bringing this up at a public meeting, as it should be. But,
why bring it up at two consecutive meetings when it was so
thoroughly shot down the first time? And, I have to ask, why was
this never brought up at an Iron Mountain Council
meeting? Were Marquart and Vanlaanen just going to attend these
"dinners" without telling anyone? What gives them the right to
discuss (decide?) public affairs at a private dinner setting
like that? Do the other Iron Mountain Council members know
about this? Remember when one of them tried to chastise Tina
Peterson for "speaking for the council?" What utter hypocrisy.
THANK YOU, BREITUNG TOWNSHIP. Your
great integrity in this matter shows the complete lack of it
from Marquart and his puppets that we are all so fed up with.
4-28-2008-01
Hello,
My name is Therese (Swenski) Bujold,
and I Own City Hall. Well, at least what was City Hall for many
years until I believe 1994 when the new location became where it
is today. As a bar owner, Sol Blu Lounge, located in the old
City Hall, that gives me a "joke" pass for the first sentence,
correct? This website is so heavy it needs a little
lightening.
What has motivated me to speak
here is the anonymous, off the cuff remark by someone implying
that John Marquart drinks for free at Sol Blu. Surely you
are kidding. First of all, it is illegal in this State to give
drinks for free, - check the tough laws of MI - and secondly, I
only wish it was affordable for me to pay for
people's drinks. (laugh) That will become apparent below.
It has been nearly 5 years since my
idea of building a "really nice bar" in the area as an
entreprenural endeavor came to me. This month is Sol Blu's Three
Year Anniversary. Time flies and it has surpassed the time of
upstart business failing. Bar business are even a
higher percentage of failure in the 2 years than the statistics
for other types of new business. Like so many people who
pondered "being their own boss" but not being able to figure out
just what to take on, I thought to myself, "what does this area
need, what would succeed due to the business' uniqueness
to the area, and very importantly, with a general population
large enough to support it?" Then time to mull over where to
put it. The first idea was to purchase the now non-existant
bar in Spread Eagle that had so many names over the years. Alot of
you remember it as the Mark IV, then Pugzy's. Make it geared to
the Menominee River residential community that has grown so fast
was the idea for the niche there. Have a bar AND restaurant for
a boating destination. After looking at it twice, doing my
homework with the WI DNR and finding out the included 59' of
river frontage only will allow one dock in Wisconsin (commercial
or residential) that was scrapped. That along with the state of
the structure itself made it obvious that wouldn't do.
Next building up was that was the
O'Callahan/Payant's house, now Leeds Real Estate. That house
has a great storied history and certainly was likely several
more than only those two families homes. Moving here with my
family in 1973 was the Payant era. What Linda Plumley has done
there is magnificent. For a bar, it would not have been feasable. Unique? Yes!
But there also the parking issues.
There were no allegiances
to where my business would be located. Wisconsin was first!?
Where it is now was the 3rd place looked at, and when I looked
at it it made perfect sense. The City Council members
and City Manager with were tickled that I chose Downtown Iron
Mountain, and they have been great supporters ever since.
Several individuals allowed me to
see that one can build and start a community enhancing business
from a 100% gutted location state. Mary Ninomiya (Bakery Shoppe
& high school friend) inspired me by doing it. My sister Camille
Butsic (Vintage Sundries) inspired me. It's been a great
chapter in my life to have taken an idea and brought it where it
is today. No regrets whatsoever.
Now, I have listed Sol Blu for sale;
signed the paperwork last week for a year listing. It is a
profitable business, but in my eyes, as the general manager who
works behind the scenes, literally putting my life's equity into
it is not providing enough return, to my surprise. Truley, in
my eyes, this business was a no brainer, a sudden "build it and
they will come" type of epiphany. Worked with people I grew up
with and were raised here in architecture, and legal counsel;
living in Minneapolis and Lansing respectively. Both are highly
successful in their fields in "big ponds" -Tom Betti and Steve
Dulan, high school friends. Good Gawd we actually all three
went to Amidon grade school when I think about it so I've known
them since 2nd grade. They left the area for college and never
returned. Of course that is an entirely different but relevant
fact in itself.
In a town, a county divided I have
found it keeps otherwise sensible people needing to label or
categorize a bar by heresay, then latch on to it. 1)"The
Martini Bar." Yes, we have a martini menu and I've advertised
that, but Fontana's, our neighbor, had a martini menu on each
table years before I put a martini menu on our tables. Yikes,
Sol Blu's cost 50 cents more, despite the reputation of "being
way to expensive to go there." Slightly more overhead being
a Commercial Condominium, individually owned Suite type of
building where annual association fees exist. Then again,
employee indoor parking is a great plus in our climate. "Sol
Blu is expensive." I did not know $3.00 for a standard domestic
beer was expensive? When I opened it was 25 cents more than the
only other area popular area bar I took the time to check with,
with very little effort put in to make it a bar that had
anything different or better quality that every other cookie
cutter tavern in the area and northern Wi. House wine is
a better quality wine (but priced the same ) than what all the
area bars and restaraunts serve as house wine. Variety of good
'ol Beer is far more than local taverns and as much, usually
much more liquor selection than any bar or country club in the
area that I am aware of. But the "1)" name somehow sticks.
Another label (that I am aware is
not to be discussed or THE WORD used on this site) is one
that I have personally heard many times from complete strangers
when they learn that I am the owner of Sol Blu in conversataion.
"That's what I've heard" is always the quote. Always heresay.
I've also found that as individuals, people speaking "have no
problem" with diversity. But 2 or more people, you get the hyuk-hyuk
jokes and the Pack Mentality that changes from what they may say
straight to myself or others as an individual opinion. Sol Blu
and it's employees are mature and kind enough to accept
diversity, which I guess much be unique to a small town
mentality if the "unspoken" label flys around. That is quite
sad, in my opinion, you shouldn't even have to think about
it as BEING an issue in 2008. I have another sister, whom I
love dearly who could not feel comfortable living here and being
accepted for who she is. She loves visiting her family here at
least once a year, sometimes twice. Flagstaff, AZ has been her
home for 17 years. Left for college, never returned. God Bless
those who don't hate. So many of those people faithfully attend
Church on Sunday thinking that they are nullifying what they
know to be true about their inner feelings of "diversity" or
their own wrongdoings. Don't they call that hypocracy?
In my eyes, my business would be an
entertainment type of casual place like The Hard Rock
Cafe, or The House of Blues. 100% unique with 21 somethings to
"old" somethings, :) all appreciating the place. T-shirts
and jeans, fine! Dress up or come after a formal event, no one
should care! Nothing being an issue in whether you are
comfortable there or not. It is not a formal atmosphere in the
traditional sense! It is modern decor, with historic brick
walls, gritty original iron vault, heavy iron chairs and table
legs custom welded locally. Hardly the Grand Hotel. Again, a
Label of 'no sweatshirts or hats are welcome' was started by
someone (competition perhaps?) and people latch onto it.
It doesn't look like I'll be
franchising, ala House of Blues or Hard Rock Cafe, :-) but I've
heard from more than one in and out of
towner that I should consider it. Many out of towners visiting
realatives or here on business are agog that such a place
exists here. "Wow, this reminds of this place in New Orleans I
go to," "This reminds me of a place I went to in England."
But our town is a Town Divided and many times wrought with
controversy (previous to the current city council and
manager, actually) that hinders any sort of new
economic growth, support from the community whether Downtown,
Southside, Northside, wherever. Just two weeks ago a small
restaurant owner from Escanaba was astounded-- there's
nothing like Sol Blu in Esky there and he couldn't believe the
place wasn't wall to wall. I wish I could airlift my business.
Look at Bay West College. People
fought it tooth and nail and I smile everytime I ride by that
full parking lot.
After a year's listing, If I do not
find an acceptable offer, I am seriously will think of changing
the entire interior style, business name, everything. Something
that suits the masses. Of course I won't reveal that, as
someone might beat me to it. ;-)
Back to another issue in addressing
this site. I grew up and went to high school with Cindy
Tousignant also. She's a great freind; a great person. After
college she moved to Portland, OR, then Austin,TX and landed
"back home" because she loves her waterfront living. It's where
her ancestors literally walked and that means alot to her. I've
listed my business with Maddy (Cindy's leaving for greener more
peaceful locales soon.) I sincerely hope that small town "since
childhood" freindship, association, doesn't raise absurd
specualation, such as I've read here about others. Growing up
in a small town, you can't NOT have associations with each
other. We are individuals and should act and be treated as
such.
Never would I toot my own horn about
the warmth of Sol Blu (which exists in large part simply due to
the building/space itself) but now when selling, why not voice
an Iron Mountain Downtown Business Owner's opinions at a site in
response to a slanderous statement made by someone who's
angry and may want to drag anyone such as myself into the fray.
My bar and the rest of the space
westward in the building is all vacant. Good 'ol Gleason's that
everyone loved and shakes their head as to wonder why it sits
empty. What a shame it has not been sold and reopened. An
empty gutted Suite the same size as Sol Blu sits between. It
all can be interconnected easily. I'd be open to a joint
venture type facility that would preserve the town's history
should I not sell for my price after the year listing. Wedding
receptions, banquets ect., ala the now lost Premeire Center.
Iron Mountain is one Venue down now for these occasions. Lost
revenue, lost tax base. Maybe I'll call another old
classmate and 8th grade boyfreind :-) with connections, Bobby
Mariucci. Steve's been in recently. What the heck. Revive the
best darn building in town!
Hopefully this will be my only
posting as I gets long winded. Surely I'll think of something I
forgot to mention after sending. You don't want someone here
who writes and thinks consecutively without alot of
prescreening before sending. I think that's called a straight
shooter? Also I don't activate spel-czech.
Thanks for listening! :-)
Therese
4-27-2008-01 To
4-24-2008-02, 4-23-2008-02 and others: 4-26-2008-01 When is
lying O.K.? (see post 4-18-2008-4)
was a great one. There is no justification for the long list of
lies. None. It happens when you have a man in charge who is a
compulsive liar, dedicated to deception at every turn, and who is
mentally ill. It happened in job after job he has held for over
thirty years. 4-25-2008-01 You get some really good stuff on this site sometimes. That picture at 4-19-2008-05? Who's the genius that put that together? Very effective. And I ain't talking about the tech artwork. The content. It speaks volumes. It's much more than a quick, cheap laugh. What's really scary is how naturally Marquart fits in there among the others. Very matter-of-factly. Yikes! It's just plain spooky. And it's got nothing to do with the mustache or how he looks. We forget that most evil isn't loud and spectacular and sensational. Evil is really mundane. It's always there, part of the routine, boringly chipping away. It simply insinuates itself into our lives. It just plods along, jading and lulling us, everywhere, right under our noses, day in and day out. Having its way with us while we stare past it, unseeing and unwitting, which of course it counts on. Boy, that really is frightening. Nice pic, pal. Marquart is indeed all those other guys writ small town off the beaten path. I'm not a morose person but your photo collection sure spoke to me. Got me shivering and the little hairs are still standing up. Right on. The devil, however you define him, does work through human beings, and they show up everywhere, even in the remote small towns of America. 4-24-2008-02
Could the Author of 4-18-2008-04
please consider submitting that to the Daily News? If not,
would he/she at least consider giving permission to someone else
to submit it for the Speak Out?
That post puts things in
perspective, takes us back to the "real world".....while some
City officials/management would have us believe that doing what
is right, fiscal responsibility, morals, ethics, open
government, common sense, and caring for ALL of the residents of
this City is somehow old fashioned and passe`.
If this was in the Daily News, it
would reach a larger audience and remind people of what this is
really all about. I, for one, am getting darn tired of
being accused by Eden, Dan, Robyn, Jeff, and Marquart that we
all "just can't accept change", we all are "looking in a
rear-view mirror", we all are "against progress", and that we
"get upset if we don't get things our way."
I have yet to hear them actually
address the issues. I have yet to hear them come up with
solutions.
To other Cities, "normal" is being
responsible and legally pursuing their goals.
To other Cities, "normal" is distributing decision-making among
elected officials and not having one solitary man be in complete
power. A former council person from Dormont said that is one of
the reasons Marquart was fired, besides the underhandedness; he
was constantly trying to rule over them. Remember Sally Jacobs
saying it was nice to work for John Marquart when they
voted him his previous bonus?
How did this all happen, and when
will this bizarre, abnormal world in Iron Mountain finally stop?
4-24-2008-01 Let's cooperate. Let's
cooperate. Let's cooperate. How many times have we heard that tired
notion. 4-23-2008-02 Read 4-18-2008-04. That article is the best ever submitted to this site. No doubt the longest also. But it's great. Truly great. Gets to the heart of things and expresses what so many of us have felt and couldn't find the words for. Hits the nail right on the head. All the more so when you go visit all the physical proof and witnesses and victims that support all of the items. Wrongdoing. Its volume, its constancy in Iron Mountain. That the mess afflicting us is not political disagreement. It's outright immorality among our city's leaders -- and we're complacently, apathetically, expediently letting them get away with it. Ouch. Wanna be a good person, good Christian (or Jew or Muslim or Buddhist etc.), a good citizen, a good example to your kids? Take the time to go read that article. Startles you, wakes you up, makes you take a hard look. It looks long but it's quick, riveting, well-written, and worthwhile. Take the time. To its writer: thank you. 4-23-2008-01 Dear
4-22-2008-01: They
should've known better than to screw their friends. Did they think
this wouldn't come around? Did they think they were invulnerable;
that no one else had money, connections, and influence; that the
world and its workings were no larger than Iron Mountain, Michigan? 4-22-2008-02 Reference Post 4-21-2008-02 It all starts with you! 4-22-2008-01 Three recent posts have
started a wave of public rage like seen nothing for years around
here. I've never seen people so outraged - and it hasn't made The
Daily News yet. They don't have a full time investigative reporter.
They'll need one soon enough. Refer to: Post 4-18-2008-04 - When did lying become OK Post
4-20-2008-01 - THE GRAND SCHEME FALLING APART. 4-21-2008-02 With all of the bickering and words exchanges on all of the "TOPICS" of the day everyone appears to have the attitude that the city or any city owes them more than they actually do and that they themselves are not responsible for anything or any work. This quote, albeit altered for the circumstances, is the most important thing we can say "Ask not what your city can do for you, ask what YOU can do for your city" Put down your poison words and roll up your sleeves and actually do something to help your city, your neighbors and yourselves. This site and its opposing one do nothing to actually help, just complaining about things is not really action. Recalls, poison letters are really not action, cleaning a sidewalk...for your neighbor, raking a yard for the elderly person down the street, helping a neighbor paint their house because they can't afford to hire someone, hauling someones rubbish who doesnt have a vehicle, raking a baseball field THESE are actions that actually make the city a better place to live. Lets all start making the city better by changing what each of us does, not trying to change others. 4-21-2008-01 Distance yourselves from John Marquart and his closest cronies and working associates, inside City Hall and out. Time is short. Do it now. This includes you, pardon me, the gullible and duped city officials, elected and unelected, past and present, and other unwitting supporters and collaborators who Mr. Marquart has been cultivating, using, and leading on for years, and to whom he has been less than forthright -- yes, even to you -- about what is actually going on and the gamut of investigations he and his closest handful of local associates are facing. Perhaps even not all of those associates are fully aware of the city manager's web of complexities, intrigues, and divisive small alliances to which he can resort even among and against his cronies -- individually, Mr. Marquart plays it close to the vest with everyone. For years and to this day, he attempts to set up everything he does to deflect blame from himself in the end and onto you should his house of cards collapse. You do not want to be around when the federal prosecutor, on behalf of the Justice Department and a collection of other federal departments and agencies, and in conjunction with similar departments and agencies of other states and municipalities, drops the hammer on this man and his small Iron Mountain bunch at the heart of the city's finance and control. Simply, it has always been a matter of following the money and watching the city government leverage its treasury to create windfall profits and other expensive benefits for select private businesses and individuals. Everything else has been ego, pride, and camouflage. Mr. Marquart, apparently, was not the person to put in charge of such an operation if success was its goal. His reach has always exceeded his grasp. Which we will all soon learn in great detail. And which reflects on the person(s) who chose him and on whom the hammer will also drop soundly and justly. The charges will be much more serious than you can imagine and have been led to believe, and, slow-moving as the law can be, its representatives are so close that you can smell the ink on their warrants and the detergent in their orange prison jumpsuits. Jump ship A.S.A.P. Distance yourselves now. And persuade your pals in a similar position to do likewise. Delay and -- bang! -- you're in front of an unhappy and unforgiving judge and jury before you know what hit you. Therefore, pooh-pooh and dismiss this warning at your own peril. 4-20-2008-02 All the stuff that is happening in this city I am surprised the state has gotten wind of it and start its own investigation. Sounds like misappropriation of funds among some of the city officials. 4-20-2008-01 THE GRAND SCHEME FALLING APART The Grand Scheme is finally unraveling. The multi-million dollar heist of the City of Iron Mountain is falling apart right before the eyes of the perpetrators. A lengthening list of scheming participants is falling into place. So big was the scheme that it could have sent the City of Iron Mountain into bankruptcy. In on this attempted theft are many so-called prominent and some not so prominent local people. Millions of taxpayer dollars were riding on the outcome. What started out as a highly-touted Convention Center with a large attached motel, a restaurant, a mini-mall, possible condominium housing and more has turned into a scheme to steal millions of dollars from TIFA and the taxpayers of Iron Mountain. A 1,200 capacity Convention Center was never a viable business model. It could never be a profitable business. Steve Mariucci and Bruce Varda should have figured this out very early in their analysis. The market is not there no matter how large a circle you draw from Iron Mountain, 100 miles or 1000 miles. Sure, you will get some groups. Some may quite large. There are 365 days in every year. Even a dozen or more large conventions a year could never make the operation profitable. Then the scheming starts. What if they can buy the land at far less than anybody else. How is this possible. Enter JOHN MARQUART. He will convince the TIFA Board to sell the Khoury property to them for $300,000 less than they paid for it. He will also convince TIFA to buy the railroad property for $800,000 and sell it to them for $200,000. TIFA takes $900,000 LOSS. It gets worse. TIFA will be talked into building a $2,000,000 road with water and sewer lines through the property. The land for the road will be generously donated for this purpose. At this point, TIFA would have invested $2,900,000 minus the $780,00 they received for the sale of the land, or a net investment of $2, 120,000 and own NOTHING. Marquart then budgets another $800,000 of TIFA money for a free parking lot for the Convention Center. Now, TIFA has $2,980,000 invested and owns NOTHING. At this point, TIFA is broke. The investment group including Mariucci, Varda and others would have close to 30 acres of land with valuable water and sewer installed road frontage and a free parking lot that would be owned by the city, all for an investment of $782,000. At this point, they would announce that the projected Convention Center is not viable and put up a smaller version at a far smaller investment. The big money would be made in selling the large tract of land. Who would they hire as the exclusive real estate agency? Hmmm!!! Who handed in the lawsuit filed to throw out the recall language? It's a known fact it was Ken Tousignant. Didn't Steve Mariucci call two local residents involved in the recall and implore them to stop the recall? Did Marquart convince him the TIFA Board was a slam dunk and he has, at least for now, a 4-3- guaranteed votes on the city council. Why have their been evening meetings after business hours at Moose-Jackson, operated by council member Eden Caudell with Ken Tousignant, Jeff Van Laanen, and, yes, former council member Doug Rigoni and John Fortier, principals at Bacco Construction. Who is really paying for the high-powered Detroit law firm at hundred of dollars per hour to stop the recall of Robin Tchokreff, Dan Burke and Eden Caudell. It certainly isn't the three being recalled. What is the real motive in preventing or stalling a recall? Marquart has proposed $400,000 in the TIFA budget for water and sewer lines along the proposed Hydraulic Falls Road to the railroad tracks. Then the sewer line is stubbed off and not used. Shortly beyond the railroad lines in a large chunk of property owned by Bacco, most of it in Breitung Township. Add that $400,000 to the $2,980,000 for the Mariucci-Varda project and you have $3,380,000 of TIFA money disappearing for TWO parties and nothing for anything else. And TIFA is then broke. Yes, there is a HUGE incentive to stop the recall and spend $10,000 or $50,000 if needed. It's penuts compared to the rewards for the TWO parties, and possible real estate commissions for a third party. Let's hope the public outrage snuffs these schemes quickly. Who knows exactly what incentive Marquart has in all this, but based on his past record, it is more than a free drink at Sol Blue. 4-19-2008-05 Here's a subtle dig. Do any of the local political sites take editorial photos? A la cartoons? Dry, deadpan humor? For the forums or elsewhere. Seems I saw some last fall before the election. I'll attach and embed the file to make sure a copy arrives. Everything is part of the one photo, text and pix.
4-19-2008-04
To the three council members
facing a recall:
Your defense strategy seems to be
nothing but getting the citizens to believe this is only about
bickering with the new council members. Nothing could be farther
from the truth. Tchokreff, Burke, and Caudell, you have let the
city manager spend money wildly and irresponsibly, and with no
oversight for the two and a half years you have been in office.
Many City funds are alarmingly depleted because of your complete
lack of oversight. One has only to look at the new proposed
budget to see how badly our City has been victimized in the last
four years. The City is close to financial ruin due to the past
four years of mismanagement.
The disturbing things is, there were
more than enough reasons for a recall before the new budget
proposal exposed just how badly you three have mis-managed our
tax dollars. This is not about bickering. This is about saving
our City from ruin. You three were confronted with loads of
documentation exposing how badly our City has been run into the
ground by city manager John Marquart. Instead of firing him, you
voted to give him a bonus. Why?
Why have you aligned yourselves with
Ken Tousignant, who was voted out by an embarrassing margin?
Everyone knows he dropped off your appeals at the court
house. Why, too, are you not
defending yourselves against the recall charges? Why are you
trying so hardly to make this into nothing more than a case of
infighting on the council? Are things so blatant that you cannot
even defend yourselves? Thankfully, it’s not working as well as
you had hoped. Nearly eight hundred citizens have signed on to
the recall petitions at this writing.
We have had enough. To Tchokreff,
Burke, and Caudell, I say stop wasting even more tax dollars in
your fight against the will of the people. Drop this ridiculous
appeal and let the people decide. We don’t believe that driving
the City into receivership it what is best for us, and that is
where you are taking us.
4-19-2008-03
The question of what happened in or
around the 1950's to the condition of Crystal Lake raised in the
April 17th Daily News article will likely be explained in the
Sundberg, Carlson & Associate study referenced in the previous
post. The condition of the Lake would have been impacted by the
construction of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford sewage treatment
facility in the early 1950's and the construction of a storm
water separation project in the late 1950's which discharged to
Crystal Lake. The construction of the sewage treatment facility
resulted in termination of the surface outflow from the Lake
known as "Sewer Creek". Leading up to these events, the
termination of pumping ground water from the Chapin Mine would
have been a significant event related to water quality.
4-19-2008-02
After reading the April 17, 2008
article in the Daily News I was wondering if the extensive hydrogeological
study conducted by Sundberg, Carlson & Associates in the early
1990's was utilized in conducting the current evaluation. The
earlier study was done in conjunction with the MDEQ permitting
process in advance of the storm water separation project
constructed in 1995 and included aerial photos and
mapping of Crystal Lake which illustrated the evolution of the
Lake over time. Soil boring data and water quality analysis were
also included. The parameters involved in this type of study are
similar and it would be interesting to compare the results of
the current and prior study in determining changes in the Lake,
if any, which may have occurred since the early 1990's. If the
earlier study has not been incorporated and there is an interest
in reviewing the data, STS Consultants which acquired Sundberg,
Carlson & Associates may be a useful resource. If the earlier
study has been incorporated, a comparative analysis would be
helpful in understanding the evolution of Crystal Lake.
4-19-2008-01
Just a note about all the trails
that we are hearing about being proposed for various parts of
the Iron Mountain area: I say if you are seriously going through
with them, then hurry! We’re going to need some good trails to
walk on. Before long the roads and alleys will be impossible to
drive on!
4-18-2008-05 Is there no limit to the
scheming John Marquart will go to in lining his friend's pockets -
and his own. 4-18-2008-04
When did lying become O.K.? 4-18-2008-03 The Americans with Disabilities Act requires a clear, unobstructed path at least three feet wide. That's the minimum. I've read ordinances in some cities that require much more. In downtown Iron Mountain, there are several businesses which place portable signs at their convenience. Perhaps they ought to get out there with a measuring device and check to see if they are allowing the required 36 inches for people with disabilities to pass.
A wheelchair requires a minimum of
three feet in width to pass by. I cannot even imagine a blind
person trying to motivate those sidewalks with a cane. Iron
Mountain's Café ordinance requires the three feet accessibility
clearance; so why aren't these other businesses required to
comply. It seems these signs are placed without regard for
pedestrians. Some days they might meet the requirement; while
other days, I doubt it. If I were to be walking arm-in-arm with
a blind friend, there are places where I'm afraid that I would
have to release her arm, or step into the street to get around a
sign in the middle of a sidewalk.
No, I haven't gotten out and
measured for myself. As a somewhat disabled person myself, with
several friends who are profoundly disabled, I just avoid
downtown. I have little doubt that many travelers will do the
same as they see the growing number of obstacles along our
downtown. Because we don't have street parking, visitors are
already aware that they will likely have to find a parking spot
and walk from store to store. Let's not make that look like a
further hindrance. Is this how downtown businesses want
travelers on the highway to view them? Is this how they show
concern for people with disabilities? Don't forget that we have
the only Veterans Hospital in the Upper Peninsula. Many of those
veterans are disabled. Is this how we want to show them, and
their families, that we appreciate their service… by making our
city inaccessible?
I implore every business person,
whether you have a sign out or not, to work at making Iron
Mountain a welcoming city to EVERYONE. And, to every council
person, whether old or new to the council, get out there and
make sure our city is in compliance with The Americans with
Disabilities Act. And while you're at it… check the measurements
on either side of those stone planters that the City placed on
the sidewalks of "A" Street, near City Hall.
4-18-2008-02 The $3,000,000 of TIFA
money that the City Manager proposed spending for the benefit of a
couple of privileged people should be published as widely as
possible, including The Daily News and all radio stations. 4-18-2008-01 After reading the Chief
Financial Officer's letter and the very informative post called
BREAKING NEWS, I have no doubt that the lawsuit being filed by the
three council members being recalled is being financed by those who
have their hands deep in the city pockets. 4-17-2008-04 Here is the letter Carol Bartolameolli included in the proposed budget warning the council of the true condition of the city. Note the highlighted words in the next to the last sentence. 4-17-2008-03 I personally don't feel the location is the best place for a convention center, but I did some checking around the state with various clubs and found the Am Legion, VFW, AmVets, Elks, the DAV would love to have a state convention up here, i.e., the crime rate is lower, the price of meals would be lower and the cost of a room would be one third or less. The crime situation at places like Milwaukee, Detroit, Flint, even Racine WI is bad. We might have some problems here but don't under estimate a state convention of a lot of different organizations would surely make it worth while. 4-17-2008-02 BREAKING NEWS
Be thankful that the TIFA Board has a lot common sense. Below is the budget the City Manager presented to the TIFA Board at the meeting of April 15, 2008. No commentary or further explanation was furnished.
Many questions followed. What is the $400,000 for the Hydraulic Falls Road all about? TIFA thought there was a grant for it. Marquart explained it was for water and sewer lines from the highway to the railroad tracks. The sewer would be stubbed off at the tracks. He did not explain the need for a water line. The stubbed line would be very close to acreage owned by Bacco, but almost all of it is in Breitung Township and is not part of any annexed 425 district. Bacco would be getting $400,000 of improvements very near their property that would be of no economic value to the City of Iron Mountain but would be of substantial economic value to Bacco if they got it and saved $400,000. What city manager would make such a suggestion and spend $400,000 of taxpayers’ money when the economic benefit is zero? Good question for John Marquart.
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