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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.
Another question was about the $1,620,000 for Land Acquisition/Public Improvements. You will have to be sitting down for this one. Half of the money, around $800,000, is earmarked for building a huge parking lot for the proposed Conference Center, complete with lighting and drainage. The TIFA Board had never been informed of any of this, and neither had anyone else. This was a closely guarded secret between the Varda-Mariucci Group and Marquart. The group would deed land to the city and the city would spend this vast sum for a private business operation. Does this make you wonder why Marquart would negotiate such a bad deal for the city and try to hide it from the people’s representatives? It should.
The other $820,000 is earmarked for the possible purchase of the contaminated railroad acreage. This is the same 17 acres Marquart mentioned at a budget workshop that he would propose selling to the Varda-Mariucci Group for $220,000, or a loss of $600,000 of TIFA (taxpayers’) money.
So far, he is proposing $400,000 for Hydraulic Falls Road for the benefit of Bacco, $800,000 for a parking lot for the Conference Center, and $800,000 for contaminated railroad property. That’s $2,000,000 of TIFA money.
For the next fiscal year, 7/1/09 to 6/30/10, Marquart is proposing spending another $1,000,000 of TIFA money for road construction and public improvements. This would be for the road through the Khoury and the railroad land. This would again be for the benefit of the Varda-Mariucci Group. That brings the total to $3,000,000. TIFA would be left with less than $8,000 after all this spending.
Who would naturally have a chance to bid on the Hydraulic Falls Road project and the road through the Khoury/Railroad property with the advantage of being a local firm and having a far lower mobilization cost than a more-distant contractor? Yes, Bacco.
By now, you should be able to see this picture forming clearly. The desperation in trying to stop the recall effort by “big money” legal maneuvering is not an accident. Burke, Tchokreff and very possibly Caudell could not afford the cost of a high-powered Detroit law firm, and if they could, why would they do it to protect a $500-a-year job as council members? More will unfold on this BIG story, you can be sure of that.
The TIFA Board has tuned itself in now, so maybe the huge rip-off has a good chance of being stymied.
In the meantime, let’s listen to the city manager tell us we have to live with our terrible roads, practically non-existent alleys, pay huge water bills and drink highly chlorinated water because “money is tight.” He still has four council members who think he deserved his bonus. Do you agree with them? 4-17-2008-01
Next FY 2008-09 Budget Workshop:
Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:00
City Council Chambers
Still working from a $170,000+
deficit
Still looking at a budget with
little-to-no funds for paving local streets, if money is set
aside for snowplowing
Please show up and voice your
opinions about what is most important to you,
as the taxpayers.
4-16-2008-01 Please see below
comments from :4-13-2008-04 4-15-2008-03 That was great post
4-15-2008-01 explaining the deal that was being cooked up re: the
convention center and the land deal. You did make one mistake, and
it makes the cost to the taxpayers worse than you calculated. 4-15-2008-02
That’s a pretty
expensive piece of railroad property,
Considering that the railroad was
set to practically GIVE that property to the City for next to
nothing right before Marquart came to town. I seem to remember
something about a hundred year lease for a dollar a year, or
something like that. What ever happened to that deal after
Marquart got his hands on it? I would think that former city
assessor and acting manager Joe Rogina should remember something
about this. Robin Tchokreff should remember something, too.
between 0000-00-00 and 9999-99-99 4-15-2008-01 If the
Varda-Mariucci LLC deal is off, the greatest scam ever proposed
against Iron Mountain taxpayers was avoided. 4-13-2008-06 I am a little upset about the stories that I am hearing about the Koury's property and the Varda-Mariucci Ventures LLC. What I have heard is that the project is dead. The numbers just did not add up. The City Manager even offered to sell the property for $500,000. A $375,000 loss to the tax payers of Iron Mountain. But even at that price the number don't support the debt. Maybe that's why they are looking at Pine Mountain. I wonder if the Tax Payers of this city will get the commission refunded on the transaction of this property? Sorry I cannot forget the past and move on. The past has cost me too much money and I cannot afford the future. 4-13-2008-05
Lets be a little careful with
the ex mayors recent problems since a few of our own have
had the same issue. If we go to far with this they will come
back with what they know and that could hurt us even more.
Be smart! 4-13-2008-04 Yeah, the three new
members really needed to attend MML indoctrination sessions.
Remember, the MML was hired to do a search for a new city manager -
the best they could come up with was John Marquart.
4-13-2008-03
I was just wondering . . . are
police dash-cam videos subject to the Freedom of Information
Act? You see them on TV and on line all the time.
4-13-2008-02
I agree with a previous poster. The
last thing I want to see is the new council members attending an
MML indoctrination session. If the other four council members
are any indication of what that accomplishes, it’s that last
thing that needs to happen.
On other matters: Where is Rich
Brook? From what I’ve heard, the new budget is in the red for
less than the amount that Mr. Brook and his underlings were paid
in one year - for nothing of value to the City. The deficit is
hundreds of thousands less than what STS was paid in one year.
We have new management positions in the City that we got along
fine without for many years. Why aren’t they looking at cutting
the unnecessary fluff at the top of the chain? Why did they
approve an early retirement that cost the City over $87,000.00,
when they had to know this was coming? How could they
vote to give Marquart a bonus after all the financial problems
he created for the City? On top of all that, Burke, Caudell, and
Tchokreff are, in effect, suing the citizens over their right to
a recall. That’s what it boils down to, and it’s the citizens
who will pay for it in the end. They are wasting county tax
dollars to stifle the rights of the people.
By the way, a citizen said at the
last council meeting that if the three are recalled the City
will be stalled out, because four votes are needed to appoint
replacements. Jeff Vanlaanen confirmed that. Mr. Mayor, how is
that you already know you will not vote for replacements if that
is necessary? You don’t even know who will indicate interest
in the positions yet!! That is an outrageous and
unconscionable position for you to have at this point. You have
no right to say something like that, and still be considered
relevant and willing to work with what the people of this City
say they want. You know, like what the people said with the
last election?
It’s incompetence all around for
Burke, Caudell, Tchokreff, AND Vanlaanen and Marquart. We need
to get these bums out of office if this City is going to
survive. It’s critical.
4-13-2008-01 Why does the City Council continue to approve the TIFA expenses? If Traders Mine Road is not in the TIF District, and Champion Inc. was not even in the City when the water line was run through their property to the highway, why pay these bills? STS requires tens of thousands of dollars in added engineering fees, and Bacco requires tens of thousands of dollars in construction costs. Who's minding the mint around here? I see in the 2007-2008 budget (posted on this site), TIFA spent $334,981 more than it received in revenues for 05-06 and in 06-07 it spent $269,341 more than it received in revenue. Of course purchasing the Khoury property in 07-08 must have put expenditures well above revenues for this fiscal year also. If at the October 16,2007 TIFA meeting, member Brule II had "major concerns about the project" and "concerns with the feasibility and business plan for the Mariucci Ventures LLC development of the Khoury property", why did the City go forward with this project without presenting it to the citizens as required by law? If TIFA is receiving less revenue each year, and it expires with the winter taxes of 2010 not in 2011, and it still falls about half a million short in bond debt revenues, shouldn't the City Council be looking at stopping all TIFA expenditures from this point forward? Better yet, why not pay all the outstanding TIFA debt then eliminate TIFA all together. I know I'm tired of paying higher taxes to make-up for the taxes TIFA is capturing! If the City starts to put this 1.5 to 2 million dollars of captured taxes back into the general fund, those of us that live outside the TIF District might actually get a new street, alley resurfacing or water/sewer lines. Don't buy into all this "look what we've done for you inside the TIF District" crap. As a tax-payer outside the TIF District ask yourself "what has been done in the last four years for me". Nothing in our Ward!! This TIFA thing has to go. 4-12-2008-03
4-12-2008-02 I just listened to the audio of the last city council meeting, and I can't believe what I heard coming from Doug Rigoni's mouth. He actually said that he had a lot of personal dirt on the new council members that he chose not to use in last fall's election, because he's such a stand-up guy, I guess.......and then he went on to say that he would expose it if they continued with the recall! Mr. Rigoni, you just used threats and intimidation to influence the outcome of a public vote. Did you know that's illegal? Regardless, it's low. 4-12-2008-01 Has anyone noticed that many of the people voicing opinions against the three new council members and the recalls at the most recent council meetings have so much to gain if things would just stay business as usual. Barbara Kramer of 135 Bradley St., wants the old water tank property after the city tears it down. Mark Blomquist of 301 Grant St., sells real estate for none than Ken Tousignant office. Bruce Varda isn’t he looking for free and or interest free money? Monies out of our pockets by the way. Terese Fortier of 721 Hillcrest happens to live at the same address as John Fortier. Who is the top man for Bocco? How dare you squash an unnecessary 1.2 million dollar project in his back yard, shame on you. And the comity for continued progress talks about agendas they should know they got a million of em 4-11-2008-03
4-11-2008-02
4-11-2008-01
4-10-2008-07
To 4-9-2008-04:
You mention patience...ironic.
Three new council members cannot fix streets and alleys that
were ignored for 4 years, in their first three months in
office. Yet they are now being held accountable for all that
was/wasn't done in the last 4 years? In other words, if our City
is falling apart...where and how did that happen?
Pointing out shortcomings? I
suppose that when you want to fix things, you usually need to
identify them first before you can get on track...make sure
mistakes are not repeated.
Bruce Rosen doesn't need to
apologize to the City for not attending an MML training
session. They are not required and he works his behind off for
this City. And if attending one means turning out like the
other 4, maybe it's better if he stayed far away from the
session, thank you.
Tina Peterson can stand up for
herself anytime she pleases...if the 4 + 1 didn't pull so many
stunts, the "long winded editorials" would be much shorter, I
suppose.
"Grandstanding?" Now, there's a
word we all haven't heard in a long time....
If you don't support the incumbents,
and this is how you do support the three newbies....well,
you're just not very supportive, are you?
Don't hold your breath on the
streets and alleys...I heard the budget doesn't have enough
money to fix them. I also heard that the newbies are fighting
hard to get that money earmarked for the streets and alleys, and
are trying to trim other areas that aren't as necessary. But
it's tough when there isn't any money to work with.
You should go to a budget meeting.
4-10-2008-06
I think someone should ask Mr. Burke
what the circumstances were surrounding his termination at
Wal-Mart, we all may have a different opinion of who is
representing us in the 3rd ward!
4-10-2008-05
4-10-2008-04 No diplomatic immunity
in Kingsford for ex Iron Mountain mayors. Good work, KPFD. 4-10-2008-03 From the Frog Country Radio 101.5 website. Thanks, Aaron. I don't know if The Daily News will have an article on this, so this is an effort to give it as wide coverage as possible.4/10/08 - Prosecutor Ninomiya: No Charges Will Be Filed Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney, Christopher Ninomiya, will NOT file criminal charges against Iron Mountain Council Member, Tina Peterson. The initial charge was requested by council member Dan Burke and stemmed from a Parks and Recreation Committee meeting where it was alleged, Peterson threw a pen which struck the table and came in contact with Burke. He asked at that time, charges be filed against Peterson. Ninomiya, in his response said, after review of the police department investigation, "Engaging in inappropriate and unprofessional conduct at a public meeting does not necessarily equate criminal conduct under the laws of the State of Michigan, and council member Burke is no longer seeking to have Peterson charged with a crime." The Prosecutor also noted requests from both sides of the ongoing disputes in the city prompted him to state, "I will not allocate precious taxpayer dollars pursuing complaints or by individuals or groups that may be motivated by factors other than justice, so, as a result, the case is closed." (Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO) aaronharper22@gmail.com 4-10-2008-02 Nice example former Iron
Mountain mayor Ken Tousignant set for the youth of the area last
night. 4-10-2008-01 It looks like our favorite ex-mayor and chief mud-slinger has another legal item to address. Stay tuned . . 4-9-2008-09
Adult video and/or porno
store?
In basement of a council members
business?
Were there taxes paid on the
profits and reported to the IRS?
Were sales taxes paid to the
state of Michigan on each item sold?
Were sales taxes charged, but then
kept as an additional 6% profit?
Were inventory and fixture
business taxes paid to the city of Iron mountain like myself
and all other businesses are required to do?
Were there illegal sales to
underage children?
Did other city officials know
about this and didn’t say anything?
Were boo’s at the council meeting
just because it was exposed or that it was wrong and
offensive?
For those incumbents
who were voted out as a result of the past election,
---should this also be ignored and just "go
forward" for progress?
Citizens who are concerned about
your children, are you infuriated?
We all should be watching the
outcome of this very carefully and not remain silent if it
is true!
Is this the kind of person we
want for a representative of city government?
Call and
sign the recall petition
as soon as
possible if this info proves to be true!
What has
happened to this city?
4-9-2008-08 I'm very puzzled about the filing of the recall appeal. One of the challenges is on the constitutionality of recalls, an issue that I'm told has previously been litigated elsewhere. I'm puzzled because the person who filed the papers at the courthouse on Monday is the same person who tried to head up a recall (it failed) for some councilmen five years ago. If he thinks it is unconstitutional, why was he leading the charge in 2003? 4-9-2008-07 I have to take exception to a comment made by Mr. Moraska at Monday’s council meeting. He said that Mr. Burke is the biggest liar he has ever seen. How could you say that, Mr. Moraska, when John Marquart was sitting right there in front of you? 4-9-2008-06 I wonder if Doug Rigoni realizes that he stuck his foot in his mouth during his public comment on Monday night. It is painfully obvious that there is a great divide in the city right now. The last four years of government have done that. But, in an attempt to demean Mr. Ted Corombos, Mr. Rigoni pointed out that Corombos was able to unite many factions of residents to a common cause during the last election cycle. He even went so far as to say these were factions that would not normally work together. And he implied that was a bad thing by his tone! I have to laugh a that one. Mr. Rigoni tries to score points by saying that uniting the community is a bad thing. That is all the more reason to continue with this recall. Mr. Corombos, way to go, sir. You have even more of my respect if the opposition is inadvertently citing your merits and character 4-9-2008-05 I certainly hope that
there is an investigation into the "adult toy store" accusation that
has been made. This bothers me on several levels. First of all, I do
not believe that this is the type of business that we need in our
town. The residents of Kingsford were smart enough to fight a
business of this sort! Also, we do not or should not have any
secret businesses that are being run in our city. If it does exist,
the fact that it is hidden in a basement says it all! Third, who
knew about this, and why did they allow it. 4-9-2008-04 First off, I want to say
that I do not support the 4 incumbents. I do support the recall.
There are valid and quantifiable issues that support the recall. 4-9-2008-03 Tina Peterson will not face assault charges. Imagine that. The prosecuting attorney made a distinction between a ball point pen and a cruise missile. Wanna try for three, Burke. 4-9-2008-02 Robin Tchokreff's porno
shop was no big secret among downtown merchants. Not that they all
or even a few went there, but most knew about it. 4-9-2008-01
I wanted to share three things:
1. There will not be charges filed
against me for the pen making contact with Dan Burke's jaw. I
found out today, Tuesday, that the warrant was denied. I am
relieved the agony of that situation is over...it has been
horrible.
2. The City Council meeting on
Monday was, hopefully, an opportunity for all of those who had
piercing questions for the three new council members to realize
we are indeed doing a good job. If those residents truly
listened, they would have heard that we have done nothing but be
responsible for the needs of the City. Hopefully, they will
also have realized that there is a whole other side to the story
than what they have been hearing. I also hope they recognized
that they were given the respect they deserve in being heard and
receiving honest answers....something that we and other
residents could not get in the past.
3. Linda Lobeck does an exceptional
job in covering the Council meetings. If she were to include
everything that occured, it would take up the entire newspaper;
so I'd like to add something here: A resident attended the
first 15 minutes of the Parks and Rec meeting, representing the
VFW. They offered to take on the immense project of
replacing/refurbishing the grills and tables at the Goulette
Park at Lake Antoine. They will also be doing brush and tree
clean up. All that they asked of the City was to cut the grass
regularly and for garbage collection, which was agreed to. The
City is lucky to have an organization willing to do something
like this...we all benefit from their generosity.
Sincerely,
Tina Peterson
4-8-2008-05 For those interested, a
budget workshop is going to be held on Wednesday, April 9 at 6:00 PM 4-8-2008-04
To add to the 4-8-2008-01 post: I
realized just how far this city has sunk in character when the
comment was made at Monday's City Council meeting about the porn
shop in the basement of Councilman Tchokreff's business on
Stephenson Ave. Much of the audience was more upset that this
was mentioned than they were appalled at the thought that such a
depraved, disgusting business should be present in our city,
violating all decent people's morals and city zoning laws.
4-8-2008-03 A friend told me that
Robin Tchokreff did not even know that a lawsuit was filed in his
name regarding the recall language. He heard Robin say it on the
Aaron Harper's show. This is really amazing. 4-8-2008-02
I just want to say that, after
hearing public comment at Monday’s meeting, I think it’s very
hollow for someone to accuse the three new council members of
having their own agenda. HELLO!! Of course they have an agenda!
They were very open and very vocal on exactly what their agenda
was during their election campaign. They spelled it out plainly
and repeatedly, and have stuck to it while in office. They hid
nothing about what their intentions were, which is more
than can be said for others. WAKE UP!! That agenda is what
got the three new members elected. I suppose we are supposed
to believe that the other four members don’t have an agenda?
Please.
Also, speaking of personal agendas,
everyone knows that Ken Tousignant and his agenda were the
biggest losers in the election, yet he is the one still stirring
things up in the background and using other people to do his
dirty work. His agenda lost biggest of all, yet he is involved
with this foolish appeal of the recall language. Call the County
offices and ask who delivered it. Get over it, Kenny.
One more thing. I’d love to see Mr.
Burke take up the challenge delivered by Mr. Corombos to debate
him in the high school auditorium. Mr. Burke, if you accept,
please do your children a favor and leave them home this time.
For their sake, you know? Iron Mountain politics are very
ugly right now, so I just don’t understand why you continue to
subject them to it.
4-8-2008-01 The cat is finally out of the bag and Mr. Tchokreff's adult toy store has been made public ,while the police have known about it for some time and have chosen to not put a stop to it. I wonder how the big money feels (Rigoni,Santini,Leonard, and Fortier ) supporting that kind business progress. I also bet the downtown merchants also welcome another popular downtown merchant. Keep the progress going. 4-7-2008-03
Now they are appealing the approved language
for the recall. (Breaking news on Daily News website)
A stall tactic, I'm sure, to try to keep this
from making the August election date. So who is trying to make
this end up costing the tax-payer extra money?
But here's my question to those three: If you
are so sure it's just a few that are dissatisfied and causing
this turmoil; and if you really believe that the majority of the
citizens are in favor of your actions as council-people, why
aren't you just letting this go thru. Let the voters prove who
is truly right. Fighting this shows once again the hypocrisy.
You state one thing, but your actions prove opposite!
4-7-2008-02 A lawsuit to appeal to
the recall language was filed around noon today on behalf of Caudell,
Tchokreff and Burke. It was dropped on County Clerk Dolly Cook by
Ken Tousignant. Today was the last day to file. 4-7-2008-01
Since this recall effort began, I’ve
noticed something that has me convinced the recall is the right
thing to do. The three council members targeted for recall are
doing absolutely nothing to defend themselves against the listed
reasons for the recall. They are not denying the charges.
Instead, they are talking about everything BUT the real reasons
for the campaign. They're talking about alleged accomplishments,
mistakes made (as if that makes them go away), moving forward,
forgiving and forgetting, witch hunts, etc.
Sorry. If they could deny all of the
many things that have been royally screwed up, they might have a
chance with me. They’re not even trying! I’m not buying it when
they attempt to minimize everything they’ve been charged with,
especially after all of the tax money they have absolutely
wasted. It will take years to repair the damage they have
caused.
Giving the manager a bonus (twice)
after it was shown how dishonest and underhanded he is was the
last straw for me. The
simple act of voting to terminate the manager would have kept my
name off of a recall petition. It would have been a start in the
right direction.
Thank God we still have people in
this town who care enough to try and make things right. Thank
you to all who are giving of themselves to make this recall
happen. I sincerely hope your efforts bear fruit.
4-6-2008-02
"The Iron Mountain Ricochet," a
publication dedicated to a little fun to help get through
the doo-doo.
That’s quite a team our "Pied
Piper"(city manager) has assemble. Let’s see if you can spot
them. Mrs. "My Heart Is In The Right Place" but I’m way to
busy making "Great Strides" to be bothered with the details.
Mr. "I’m In Love With The Ceiling" that’s why I spend the
entire council meeting looking at it. Mr. "Paranoia," my
constituents and pens and pencils in general are out to get
me. And last but definitely not least Mr. "Arrogant," when
will you all learn that what you say really doesn’t matter.
If you would like to opt-out of
this publication at anytime just add a nasty comment to this
email and hit reply. I may get the point but no guarantees,
I could also think your just kidding.
4-6-2008-01 Bruce Rosen's Letter about the recall 4-5-2008-05
If you oppose Iron Mountain's
current city administration but are reluctant to sign a recall
petition, or if you know someone who is, you (or they) may wish
to consider that, by signing a recall petition, you are not
firing anybody. The petitions, if successful, merely put the
question on the ballot, giving all the voters in our
community the opportunity to decide whether the claims of recall
supporters are credible and sufficiently serious to warrant the
Council member's removal from office. Just last year in Felch
Township, a recall effort gathered enough signatures to force an
election, but the official targeted by the recall won that
election and kept his office. The Council members targeted by
this recall effort will have the same opportunity if the
signature-gathering effort is successful. Recall supporters are
merely asking that voters be permitted to reach their own
conclusions this summer about information that has come to light
in the two years and five months since the targeted members were
elected.
4-5-2008-04
Hey Dan Burke tell us the story
about the time you went to one of your neighbors about the
neighborhood watch. He told you that the only one they had to
watch in this neighborhood was you. There are many children in
your area and when delivering the Daily News to the paper boys
you would drive 50 mph down the streets throwing paper bundles
out. Then he told you to get the hell out of his yard.
How about the one you told when you first moved up here from down state. "I was a Michigan State Police trooper when i lived in lower Michigan". How many jobs have you had in the last ten years Dan. IMHO you are a sorry excuse man. 4-5-2008-03 Y'all have read
the posted comments on TV 6 about the infamous pen throwing
incident. They are absolutely hilarious. 4-5-2008-02
Response to 4-4-08-01,02,
and 03:
All that is needed to fullful the
obligation to notify the public is 18 hours notice, posted
outside City Hall.
I have been shot down 3 times at
council meetings to change this for committee meetings. I have
been told it was too expensive to let the residents know via the
newspaper, and that we could not have regular meetings so
that the residents would always know when they were.
I find the "too expensive" excuse to
be ridiculous coming from a management who has dropped tens of
thousands of dollars on frivolous and unauthorized
expenditures. I have in my hands right now a drawing of City
Park that eliminates the deer pen....for an amphitheatre. The
drawing cost $2,700.00. It did not have public input. It did
NOT add any football field. There are a few good ideas
on this drawing, but the residents need to get to see the darn
thing and be able to help shape their own Park.
So, according to Management and the
other 4 council members: Letting the public know when the
"workhorse" meetings will occur is not worth the money? The
"workhorse" meetings, as they proclaimed them
to be, are the place where the public can actually be
allowed to have open dialogue....but the public can never
know when they are?
As far as the meetings being
recorded? I asked for that months ago and also that minutes be
recorded, for obvious reasons. I asked again. To date, not one
single meeting has been recorded, or have minutes been recorded
for the "workhorse" meetings.
I had also requested that these
meetings at least be listed on the website, clearly, for
residents to see.
To 03: I surely
would never have wanted to become part of that
laughingstock. But now I just can't sit by silently. Truth be
told, the day Pooja called me for the interview, my arthritis
was flared too bad to get down there. I agonized over revealing
that because I was sure that they would start using that against
me. I had received an exceptional amount of rude and hurtful
comments from them when I had to miss a meeting due to my
arthritis. I was afraid that they would now twist my health
issues and say that I was incapable of doing my job as a council
person. Let me say, for the record, arthritis does not
stop me from being a council person. Please have faith
in that. If anything, it makes me work harder at it.
You have no idea what it was like to watch that TV6 newscast
while my son was sitting there watching it also. I know he
knows the truth, but this still must be stressful for him.
Dan Burke went to the Radio, Newspaper, and TV6. The police
came last Monday night and shined the house. My son watched
them pull up and when the officer came in, he high-tailed it
upstairs. The officer was very kind, polite, and
professional, but this whole situation is just
unbelievable. So far, my son has not received any trouble
at school for this and that is what is most important;
what were the most agonizing thoughts for me.
A Downtown business owner recently
opened my eyes to a disheartening, and true fact. The rhetorick
that Eden, Robin, and Dan put out to the media ends up getting
believed. The gossip ends up getting believed. Why? Because
we haven't been vocal to the media to stand up for ourselves.
That business owner patiently listened to "the other side of the
story" on City issues and was very
open-minded. He was amazingly kind.
I received an email with "Pen Throw"
as the subject line from an Edward Johnson last night. He is
from Aurora, Colorado. It stated, simply, "Childish little
b**ch!!!!!!!"
To be garnering so much hatred from
people you don't even know is definitely not an experience I've
had before this past year. My stomach and I could do without
it.
The morning that I found out there
were assault charges against me, I received my first check as a
council person for $64.64. I have not cashed it and will not.
There is no price tag for all that these months have been. But
you all need to know that choosing to continue is not about
money or having an"agenda"; it's simply about fighting for what
is right, and not letting intimidating bullies dictate me, or
any other resident of this city.
Response to 4-4-08-04:
Name the "progress." Really. Name it. Tell me that this
administration has somehow done more than any other in bringing
in business, or building infrastructure. List your
documentation and facts. Now list the business that have folded
or left. List the businesses that were turned down by this
current management and the jobs that we could have had.
Their "progress" list has been the same old, tired list of
borrowed accomplishments that these guys have been touting since
before the Election. They even took credit for Bay West when
Iron Mountain residents worked for over 10 years to
bring that to fruition. In fact, they have taken
credit for so many things they had nothing to do with, and
blamed everyone else for the things they were
responsible for. If you have fallen for that, it is because you
simply have not taken the time to look things up. Go look.
They took a political tactic of
saying that we were "against progress" and they never had a
piece of truth to go with it. It was a stategy. But
they repeated it often enough, had enough money to put it out
there continously, and were not truthful. If the public sees
something in print over and over, their natural reaction is to
believe it is true.
Wanting things to be legal,
proper, and cost-effective is the common sense way to address
City issues. It is most certainly not against
progress. "Moving forward" means not having to
look over your shoulder at the messes, illegal and
divisional, that you have left in your wake.
When I asked
those four in the first executive session if they thought
an honest man could come here and do the job of
City Manager, there was a resounding chorus of "No!" I was also
told that I had too much ideology about right and wrong, and
cared about "the rules" too much. One of them said to
me, "Frankly, I don't think you are capable of being on this
council and handling the big stuff like a $70 million dollar
budget." That same council member said he admired Marquart's
initiative to change that CRE Grant to what he
wanted it to be...they claimed it was the surrounding
communities' fault for the Grant to flounder....it, to them, had
nothing to do with the fact that the paperwork was never filed
by Marquart to receive the money, or that a City Manager ought
to know that a council member's Mother should not be on the City
payroll.
I was also
told that my "research did nothing good for the City", "Can't we
just forget about this thing with my Mother?", and to not worry
because Marquart had the three of us to keep an eye on him now.
The
three of us?
The most
inexcusable behavior possible was when City Departments,
City employees, and surrounding communities were being blamed
(and their character shredded) for the City Manager's
negligence. These "blame-ees" were not there to defend
themselves and it was supposed to be about his
evaluation. I will never forgive or forget the statement
by him asking for "council support to take action against the
Departments" that were being blamed, when clearly Management
had repeatedly done a poor job.
The only thing I am ashamed
about in executive sessions is that I whined about my back
pain towards the end of the first one; and that they, plus
Marquart, really got to me during the second one. That's all.
Can they say the same about their disregard for the taxpayer's
money, decency, and disregard for "rules?"
I received the FY 2008-09
Prelim. Budget Plan and it is frightening. The first Budget
workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th at 6:00 and is
open to the public. Please come. This is your budget, your
money. Ask questions, demand answers. 2009-2010 is a projected
disaster. It's critical.
Sincerely,
Tina Peterson
4-5-2008-01
Isn't it interesting to see
an ad about being against the recall effort and have it written
from the WIFE of the man who needs to be recalled the most, Dan
Burke.
I guess love is blind and
law suits are in style
4-4-2008-08 Kudos to Bruce Rosen for an exceptionally well written and thought provoking letter to the editor in Friday's paper. You are an intelligent breath of fresh air. 4-4-2008-07
I’m kind of disappointed. I live in
ward 1, so I signed the recall against Eden Caudell. Boring!
It’s just not fair that I can’t be in ward 3, where I could sign
the recall against Dan Burke. He sure livened things up with
that silly assault charge. He’s so much more worthy of a recall
because of that.
Wanna see something REALLY
embarrassing for Iron Mountain? Google this issue with the
search words Dan Burke, assault, and pen. It’s nationwide,
folks! Fox News, CNN, CBS, AP, etc., etc., etc. We are now a
laughing stock across the entire country, not just to our local
neighbors.
I sure hope the prosecutor makes up
his mind soon. The entire world is waiting to see what
happens as a result of this frivolous charge. Thanks,
Dan. (you DO understand that it's only worldwide
because it's so ridiculous, right, Dan?) We look like
back woods yokels to the whole country. I suppose you’ll use
this to brag about putting us on the map now.
4-4-2008-06 Reference to Post 4-4-2008-05 and 4-4-2008-04. Your 2 emails were 2 minutes apart, 11:00 and 11:02. I have a job and kids and sometimes I get busy. Webmaster 4-4-2008-05 You must pick and choose whose words can be presented on your website. I sent a brief message recently and apparently it was ignored. I must not have thrown enough mud. 4-4-2008-04 I don’t know why that, on some occasions, I am drawn to this site, because it is totally frustrating. Having left this community in 1967 and returning in 1980 I didn’t see much change. Ok. From 1980-about 2000 I saw a great deal of change for the negative. Suddenly things are catching up with the times and a small piece of the population pie is getting all upset. Maybe because they liked controlling the former city manager so as to get their way, and when they could no longer do this, they took steps to get rid of him and any one else that follows. If you do not work toward and achieve progress you will go backwards because believe it or not there is more out there than Iron Mountain and those communities are moving forward and will receive the greatest rewards. 4-4-2008-03
I agree that all council-related
meetings should be recorded in some manner. At this point, as an
average citizen, I wouldn’t speak to anyone on that council or
at City Hall unless I had at least one credible witness with me
or knew it was somehow being captured. If they are honest and
up-standing they should have no objection to that. It’s sad to
have to fear your own city officials. I read the TV6 site. This
is no longer a local embarrassment, we’re a regional laughing
stock.
And to Mr. Burke:
How many people are going to be anxious to come here with a
sue-happy councilman on board? Talk about deterring people!!!
4-4-2008-02 Dear 4-4-2008-01,
4-4-2008-01
The thought occurs to me that the parks and recreation committee meeting where the "pen" incident took place was attended by four city council members. That is a quorum. Was this meeting properly advertised as an open meeting, which is required whenever a quorum of the council meets? I took a look at the event calendar on the city website, and the only events listed for the month of April are two council meetings. Does that mean there are no other meetings, including committee meetings attended by a quorum of the council, in the month of April?
4-3-2008-05
Hey folks. Don’t forget to read the articles about Iron Mountain on the TV6 news site. They come complete with viewer comments. 4-3-2008-04 First of all, fake-a-loo? Is that a word? Secondly, it would be hard to tally the posts on this site that have had a bullying name-calling nature to them. Anyone who disagrees with the views posted must be somehow coerced or tricked into agreeing with - oh, let's see, the GANG OF FOUR . It couldn't possibly be that these are thoughtful, serious people who just don't agree with your viewpoint. It happens. And talk about being led into your opinions. Watch the council people with their notes in front of them apparently written by Mr. Corombos. Even better, watch what happens when their notes get shuffled and they can't figure out an answer. If that's you're icon, you might want to read his last letter in the paper. Not to fall into name-calling but it's pretty paranoid and removed from reality. When he gets to the edge, be careful you don't fall over along with him. 4-3-2008-03 I think Tina should
insist that all future meetings, committee or council or otherwise,
should be videotaped, so the prosecutor will have video evidence of
the next time someone throws a pen, or spills some spot remover, or
hands out a sheet of paper in a 4-3-2008-02 When Dan Burke was campaigning for himself, going door-to-door, he told people that the problem with the City is the Unions, and that they had to get rid of them. This is the guy the council has put on the Labor Relations committee. What an insult to the employees! How can they expect to be dealt with fairly, when Dan Burke has already indicated that he has a problem with bargaining with unions?
4-3-2008-01
What is with Dan Burke? First, he files criminal charges against a constituent who called him on the phone, saying in his police report that the citizen threatened to recall him. Now, he has filed criminal charges against Tina Peterson because he was hit with a pen. I saw the story on the news last night, then on Frog Country this morning. I think that, if Tina Peterson meant to throw the pen at him, it most probably would have missed him completely. No offense, Ms Peterson!
I have an idea. Let’s move
forward on this silly issue. Let’s put it in the past. It’s
causing embarrassment for the City. That’s the answer to
everything else for Burke, Caudell, and Tchokreff, why not
this? They want us to forget the boatloads of our tax money that
they squandered, so what’s an errant ball point pen in the grand
scheme of their vision? They want us to forget that they
rewarded the manager for his proven incompetence, but will treat
a poorly thrown ball point pen like it’s some kind of hostile
ballistic missile? Gimme a break!
Thanks, Dan, for yet again making
Iron Mountain a laughing stock by deciding to make an issue out
of this. Is that all you got? Why don’t you try actually
defending yourself against the recall charges, like the judge
had to so patiently explain to you? What? You can’t? That
explains a lot.
4-2-2008-03
After seeing the correction in the Daily News,
and seeing who is responsible for placing that very childish ad
last Tuesday, I am embarrassed. I am embarrassed to have
supported the Burke family. I was a little uncomfortable with
them using their child to stand up publicly to support Dan; but
was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. This ad,
however, is the last straw for me.
Now I must face my neighbors, who tried to tell
me that I’ve been a fool all along. I cannot even describe my
disgust that a councilman, and his family, would stoop to such
immature, despicable measures. Count me out as a Dan Burke
supporter. These are not the kinds of behaviors that I can tell
my children that I support. In my opinion, this is a black-eye,
not only to a councilman‘s reputation, but to his credibility as
a family man and member of our community.
Would anyone be open to this man heading a
neighborhood watch in their neighborhood? I no longer would!
4-2-2008-02 4-2-2008-01 A corrections by
the Daily News appeared in last night's paper. 4-1-2008-05 That was a far too tepid
apology in the Daily News in their correction of for the attrocious
ad of Tuesday, March 25. 4-1-2008-04 Notice the
"Corrections" ad on page 3, lower right hand corner of the Tuesday
Daily News? 4-1-2008-03 See the paper today? See who it was who put that childish, inflammatory, libelous ad in the paper last week? To the person who asked why the council can't work together - now you know why. The new 3 council people are up against more than you see. 4-1-2008-02 "April Fool's Day". Who are the real fools here in Iron Mountain? The ones that stand up to wrong doing or the ones that feel sorry for the leaders who cannot see beyond the spin of words, or this website for exposing the facts. This forum is the only opinionated section of this site. Grant money comes from taxpayer money. The city must use contributing or matching funds to qualifying for grants. Qualifying matching money comes from city of Iron Mountain Tax Payers. Grant money is not free money to spend on old office building to build a restaurant for a friend or to build a fancy downtown pavilion next to a council women's business. I sit here writing this post and I am trying hard to think of Jon Marquart's accomplishments. The only one that I can remember is the Champion Office Building on Traders Mine Road. Champion said if you add the city utilities to this area we will build a new office building and hire an additional 18 people. Funny thing is that after 6 months 18 people were laid off. The east side water main project was a mess and was slow going until some citizens started complaining to the council. Zoning mistake was made by allowing 2 huge suite style hotels to be build at the same time without looking at demand for such a business. The city of Iron Mountain buying $875,000 worth of property to be used as a convention center that will never be built. Rolling the repair funds for vehicles into the general fund to make it look like the City is in great financial shape. Funning thing is we cant maintain the fleet of City vehicles. I have talked to a lot of people and the concern is that if the recall goes through that the new council will beef up the Fire and Police Department and waste money. Please take into account that the so called "Public Safety" type system is starting to cost more money in training that is saves. Its not the long term solution. The fines Iron Mountain paid were because required training was not accomplished. This recall is not a pleasant thing to go through, but I am a citizen of Iron Mountain not a fool who lives in Iron Mountain. I have taken into account all the good and the bad that has gone on here and the bad outweigh the good at least 4 to 1. I write this post on April Fools Day because I think that I have been a fool in the past about the City of Iron Mountain's direction. I am not going to be a fool anymore. 4-1-2008-01 Iron Mountain has only
spent about $350,000 of your money on technology the past few
years. |
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