IronMountainIssues.org

June 2008 Postings

6-30-2008-02

6-30-2008-01

Please pass these on.

Recall News (previous site, renamed)  http://www.ironmountainmichigan.org/recall/

Iron Mountain Recall (new site)  http://www.ironmountainrecall.com/

Committee for an Honest and Open Government in Iron Mountain

6-29-2008-03

To 6-25-2008-01, from your ongoing correspondent,

This is the last energy I will waste on the trail, pit, hydrant drama. I was right, my intent was obvious to anyone not trying to read more into it, and it's silly to continue responding about it anymore. I will answer your last question, even though the answer to it was in the very first post - AND YOU KNOW IT - and that will be the end of it.

Answer: I am not against trails. I am against the city gushing and cooing and spending money on things like that, when at the same time they are ignoring what they are doing to our essential services by robbing money from them to chase a pipe dream.

That's it, in a nutshell. Stop trying to twist my spot-on assessment of that hydrant picture. Because it was spot-on. Here's a tip: Why don't you ask the city manager or one of your favorite councilmen if there were any city infrastructure problems - serious ones - last week? Things that SHOULD have been getting the attention of the council all along, but are shoved aside in favor of things like vibrant trails and moving forward? Or maybe you can wonder why Fed-Ex moved to Escanaba in the midst of all this miraculous "growth" we are experiencing? Or why Cummins closed its doors on Tuesday? Or why Tina Peterson was ignored with her energy ideas, and then we hear about a 250 million dollar energy plant going in 200 miles away while we are gushing and feinting and oohing and aahing and throwing the people's money at Steve Mariucci because he might create some minimum wage jobs with OUR money? Do you begin to see why I don't give a damn about that stupid trail right now?

On a lighter note, I thought I had seen everything until I saw the end of post #6-25-2008-02. It's the one that talks about a person threatening to throw herself in front of one tree, while being the same person in charge of the project that cut down the trees by Chapin pit. Who would have thought there was such a thing as a "racist" tree-hugger? Ha ha ha.

6-29-2008-02

In reference to 6-27-08

In regards to the selection of Sault St. Marie for the Mascoma cellulosic ethonal development, further research this and put the pieces together.  It makes sense when you read the whole story.  Go to the site you referenced and do further research.  Listen to Governor Grandhholm's audio.  The main economic impact of this project will be felt most definitely in Chippewa County but don't think for one minute that this enterprise won't have a trickle effect throughout the entire Upper Peninsula. 

It was just one year ago that Mascoma was persuaded to come to Michigan.  What were we doing one year ago today?  

I know that you dislike the "acorn" reference but be realistic, everything conceived in this life begins with a small seed.  Even you.

I have said it before and will say it again, "I am all for Mrs. Peterson's efforts on behalf of our community."  She has "BIG" ideas and I hope we can all get on board with these and the efforts for economic development that are on our door step. Let us drop all the negativity and come together as a community that wants to prosper for the good of the community.  I believe that the agreement that was reached between the Landlords Association and the city is a good example to follow.  Was it good in the beginning?  I think not.  Being open with communication and the understanding of what was best for the community and the landlords made this possible.

6-29-2008-01

6-27-2008-05

To 6-25-2008-01

Thank you for acknowledging that I did not speculate. It is a fault of mine that I am just a little too cynical with the facts sometimes, I guess, which obviously sparked your response. It is a fault of mine. And, no, I did not in any way mean to insinuate that the skid marks were the trail - in fact, I didn't even see the skid marks, but, only to highlight that the trail project in the background seems to be much more important than operating fire hydrants. I stand 100% by my intent, which you either misunderstood or tried very hard to undermine. Your latest post is nothing but a clever attempt to tell me I was right without seeming to do so. Thank you for putting the comments all together in your last post so others can see that, too.

6-27-2008-04

I just read the article in the Daily News Friday June 27^th regarding the 250 million dollar Biofuel plant that will turn wood chips into cellulosic ethanol. The plant will be built in Sault Ste. Marie and raises awareness of another missed opportunity for this community. Tina Peterson has been trying to push for this type of development, only to receive nasty comments from Cauldell, Tchokreff and Burke. While the three of them continue to push to spend millions of tax dollars to get minimum wage “event center” jobs, critical funding is slipping away and location-seeking companies are passing us by.

The State is spending 15 million to support the creation of these jobs, the 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion initiative conceived by Governor Granholm, approved by the Michigan Legislature, and administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to accelerate the diversification of Michigan's economy.  For more information, see the MEDC Web site at www.michigan.org.

The problem is clear, Marquart and company like to hear themselves say they think big, that’s what is wrong in Iron Mountain, nothing but talk. It is time to think BIGGER, as Ms.Peterson has said and is doing. She took the time to meet Governor Granholm and discuss the State’s plan to rebuild Michigan’s motor. This is Michigan’s real direction, an effort that can create the quality jobs that support families.

Caudell, Tchokreff and Burke are minimum scale thinkers with empty rhetoric and minimum wage ideas, RECALL them and move Iron Mountain into the real 21^st century.

The future is here; they have done nothing but tax and spend, then talk of how great they are. It’s time for change, before it is too late.

6-27-2008-03

6-27-2008-02

The June 27, 2008 letter to the editor of The Daily News from Catherine M. Lundy of Beaverton, Colorado entitled “Events center much needed” brings to mind the adage that “there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.”

Ms. Lundy’s claims to be “… unsure as to why this proposal is generating so much ill will and dissent among some community members.” This statement is disingenuous at best and certainly makes me wonder if she was asked to write in support of this project and then was spoon-fed information as to what to say in her letter.

A reasonable person (one would think) would also look at the opposition to this project and discern why there is so much dissention and address those concerns; none of which Ms. Lundy did.  All we see in her letter are ad nauseam references to Mr. Mariucci and company for hosting the charity golf tournament in Iron Mountain and all the good it has achieved.  For raising money for charity, indeed, they are certainly to be commended. 

However, doing that event should not be a reason to open the flood gates of TIFA money, under priced land, and $800,000 parking lots paid for by the taxpayers.  Ms. Lundy’s letter now makes me wonder if there is not a quid pro quo expectation that exists in all of this.  I would hope my impressions are wrong but if you are giving of yourself and your celebrity on the one hand, and holding the other hand out waiting for it to fill with tax dollars, what else am I to believe?

An author of an earlier post to this forum used the duck theory to evaluate the issues stating that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, by golly, it’s probably a duck!  I sense a lot of quacking going on. 

6-27-2008-01

FedEx moves in to Escanaba

Facility has room for future expansion.

Posted: Friday, June 27, 2008 at 8:52 a.m.

ESCANABA -- The new 29,000 square foot FedEx ground facility in Escanaba is finally up and running, after a move from Iron Mountain.

FedEx outgrew their facility in Iron Mountain and they needed to build a new center that had room for expansion, so they moved to Escanaba.  The $2.2 million facility opened its doors last week, with 15 new part-time jobs.  Contractors began construction last August.

"Coming to Escanaba centrally locates us and gives our customers in the nine counties that we serve, many more opportunities as far as delivery times and pick-up times, and it will help out all the FedEx customers," said Senior Manager, Gerald Schuster.

The manager estimates they sort over 2,400 packages a day.

6-25-2008-02

6-25-2008-01

6-24-2008-05

Recent discussions on the public forum have been at once interesting and frustrating, because the two sides are talking past each other.  The opponents of the current city administration believe that the way to improve Iron Mountain is, first of all, to make life better for the people who currently live here by 1) attracting businesses well-suited to the community's principally blue-collar labor force (such as alternative-energy manufacturers) and 2) improving the degraded state of city services (principally water quality, residential street and alley maintenance, and fire protection).

The supporters of the current administration believe that the way to improve Iron Mountain is to make it attractive to people who do not currently live here and are in a different--i.e. higher--socioeconomic class than most of the current residents, principally by improving cultural and recreational amenities.

While it is not self-evident which approach is superior from the standpoint of commercial and industrial development, it should be obvious that the administration's approach cannot work and is not intended to work from a residential standpoint.  It is at least theoretically possible that a smart economic-development plan could bring many of the young, sophisticated, highly educated professionals that Mayor Van Laanen explicitly covets to Iron Mountain to work.  But they will live in Breitung Township.  People with money and expensive tastes will not live in 80-year-old houses on 50-foot lots with either no garages or one-car garages that open onto impassable alleys, because they don't have to.  The reason that so many houses became rentals in the first place was that, at least prior to the current credit crunch, an increasing percentage of families who could afford to purchase a home wanted and could finance something bigger and newer than what most of Iron Mountain's housing stock offers.  This is the fundamental flaw in the administration's approach: the housing stock predetermines the socioeconomic class of most residents, although not necessarily of most businesses, and it's not suited to the class they're trying to attract.  For the administration's program to succeed, they would have to bulldoze and re-plat most neighborhoods.  Readers who live in houses like those I have described should understand that I am not disparaging your homes.  I'm merely suggesting that you won't sell them to someone making a quarter of a million a year.

This disparity in focus--on the people who live here now vs. the people who the mayor wishes would live here--explains the administration's neglect of residential infrastructure and endorsement of regressive financing schemes like the cable fee and the much-larger water and sewer-rate increases.  The fact that it disproportionately burdens moderate-income families and senior citizens living on fixed incomes is an advantage in their minds.  They want those people to move out of town anyway.

The real tragedy of the Marquart era is that it has poisoned the community with class hatred that was never evident before and that will persist long after he is gone.  And he will be gone.  Even if the recall fails, you can be certain that he will resign before the money runs out in three years or so.  The sooner he leaves, the sooner we can at least begin to think about treating each other like neighbors again.

6-24-2008-04

6-24-2008-03

6-24-2008-02

6-24-2008-01

No comparison to Chicago was made.

6-23-2008-08

Post 6-23-2008-04 is a little confused between tax abatement and TIFA spending for private sector investments.
 
Tax abatements forgive the city taxes for a number of years to businesses that agree to build in a given city.  They are not an out-of-pocket cost to the city. It is the postponing of taxes for a given number of years.
 
Those industries mentioned have built, or are planning to build facilities with their own money, and are not asking the respective cities to (a) sell them land at far less than the cities paid for it, (b) they are not asking the cities to build them roads with water and sewer lines so they can sell much of the land at a handsome profit, (c) they are not asking the city to build them an $800,000 parking facility for free.
 
If the Mariucci-Varda group are willing to pay for everything as the industries mentioned in the post, I would be happy to agree to an eight or ten year city tax abatement.  If they did actually build an Events Center for $6,000,000, the SEV would be half, or $3,000,000 and the total city tax would be  under $60,000 per year.  Over ten years, that would be $600,000 and then the taxes would kick in.
 
Marquart has proposed actually expending $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 of actually city money.  A return of $60,000 per year would be a return of barely over 1% a year, or less than the rate of inflation or the true cost of borrowing. 
 
That's far more expensive to the city than giving them a 10 year tax abatement, because under no circumstances could the city ever recoup its capital. The proposed deal is far too slanted in favor of the Mariucci-Varda Group.  A tax abatement, maybe.  That's are far as the others cities went in the examples shown in post 6-23-2008-04. We should go no further.

6-23-2008-07

But - 2 points need to be remembered:

1.  The City of Iron Mountain should not BREAK THE LAW in supporting new business and "vibrance".

2.  John Marquart is a thorn in the side of MANY people.  Take the example of the web presence services and wireless umbrella that the WHOLE CITY would have had, for FREE, if Marquart and Tousignant had just done their jobs, instead of blowing off the company that wanted to invest here.  The City will not improve until he's gone.  We will be better for having lost him.

6-23-2008-06

To the writer of 6-23-2008-03, from 6-22-2008-04

Your point is well made, but I must respectfully disagree with you for reasons beyond what you mention. Using our limited resources to fund a private convention center idea is not the best way to use our very limited money.. If, on the other hand, we were using that TIFA money, or other city funds to help establish a business like those mentioned in post 6-23-2008-04, I would be all for it. The difference is the quality of the jobs created, which is what this area truly and desperately needs.

I would even concede your point that having the parks, trails, restaurants, etc., does help, but it is still not the best way to spend our tax money. Your way will have the new business owners patronizing all of the establishments mentioned, but the workers will just be struggling to survive.. Just like what is happening right now.

Now, on to other reasons you fail to acknowledge.  I will continue to believe "common" sense is the best sense. Your "extraordinary" sense is what got this city in the mess it is in now. I don't believe we should be gambling with our tax money, hoping for the big payoff. It's just plain irresponsible. That is how I see the last four years of city government. Irresponsible, wasteful, neglectful of basic needs, law-breaking, and yes, even bullying to get their way. This is not good government in any sense of the word, common or extraordinary.

I also don't see how it is helpful to attract anyone to our area by practically destroying the effectiveness of our city services by cutting their budgets to have more money available for things like trails, or helping millionaires fund their private businesses. Who in their right mind would come here if they knew how irresponsible the city has been about its own services to its citizens?  The extraordinary sense, "outside-the-box" thinking shunted aside warnings and expert advice on what they were doing to our services. 

When you make your point, you fail to mention these things.  They happened.  They are still happening.  The city is falling apart and the council has ignored both employee and citizen warnings about it.  That is the other half of what is going on, aside from the fluffy rhetoric and "moving forward", and BIG IDEAS, and acorns and the like.  That other half is what makes this city tick, and it has been ignored to the point where we are about to break.  What good are the parks and restaurants, motels and convention centers, etc., if we don't have properly paved streets, people to maintain the water and sewer systems, effective police and fire protection?  Your point is nearly moot because of this other side of the coin that is very real, and very grim after four years of "moving forward."

6-23-2008-05

6-23-2008-04

New Wind Industry Supplier for Alpena

6-23-2008-03

6-23-2008-02

6-23-2008-01

6-22-2008-05

I don't know who to thank for the site:  www.michigan.com but thank you to whoever.  It is a great site and has peaked my interest.  It has a great deal of information about cities in Michigan regarding travel and events. 
 

www.michigan.com

6-22-2008-04

I have news for writers of the mindset shown in post 6-22-2008-01. If you want this City to grow, as I'm sure you do as much as I do, the parks, restaurants, motels, and retail stores come AFTER manufacturing and industry are again firmly established. It is common sense.

Over the years, our area has suffered the loss of the mines, huge lumber industry, the Ford manufacturing plant, and now the paper mill, to mention the most noteworthy I can think of off the top of my head.

When our area was first established, a group of people did not show up here and say, "Gee, this is a nice area. I'll bet if we built some parks, trails, restaurants, and opened some motels and stores, people would move here." We are in a manufacturing and industrial slump. That's what we truly need if you want this area to grow.

We have very limited resources to attract and hold companies that will provide the good paying jobs necessary for anyone to actually move here.  That's what is needed more than anything.  So it just does not make sense to blow our whole wad on this convention center.  It's not that I'm against the center, I think it's great.  It's that we NEED that money to attract good paying jobs to the area.  It is taxpayer money, after all.  We are taking the risk for that venture and will have nothing to show for it even if it is a resounding success.

HOW CAN YOU MARQUART, VANLAANEN, CAUDELL, BURKE, AND TCHOKREFF SUPPORTERS NOT UNDERSTAND THIS MOST BASIC OF CONCEPTS?

6-22-2008-03

Yes, grants are generated from taxes paid by all the citizen of the state.  If we don't go after them, then someone else in the state will and they will get tax money back that was paid in.  We always complain up here that all of our tax money goes downstate.  Well, then go and get it back in the form of a grant. 

6-22-2008-02

If Mr. Mariucci and Mr. Varda want to build an event center let them.  Let that Acorn grow.

Let them dream big as they want.

Just use their own money to do it, not tax payer money!!!!  Use your own Acorn!!!!!

I found it interesting what TIFA money can't be used for:

Projects that would not be eligible would be those that are not public facilities, would not serve the public in general, or would occur outside the boundaries of the TIFA district.

I have a hard time using TIFA money or Grant money, (yes Mrs. Cuadell grant money comes from taxpayers) to fund a private venture.

6-22-2008-01

6-21-2008-04

Where a TIFA exists, the board of the TIFA may prepare a development plan and a tax increment finance plan to present to, and to be approved by, the governing body of the municipality.  Once the municipal governing body has adopted the plans, the TIFA will begin realizing the revenues from improvements to property within the area covered by the development plan.  This revenue must be expended only within the development area of the plan and only for the improvements and public facilities described in the plan.

The TIFA, or the municipality on behalf of the TIFA, is obligated to file an annual report with the State Tax Commission regarding the receipt and expenditure of TIFA revenue and the school tax revenues captured and retained by the TIFA.

The projects in a development plan must be public facilities and include streets, plazas, pedestrian malls and/or any improvements to public facilities including: furniture, beautification, parks, parking facilities, schools, libraries and other public institutions.  Bridges, lakes, canals, utility lines, pipelines and other similar facilities are also included.  Projects that would not be eligible would be those that are not public facilities, would not serve the public in general, or would occur outside the boundaries of the TIFA district.

This information can me found on the State of Michigan's website.  Search TIFA.

www.michigan.gov

6-21-2008-03

Please enlighten me and relieve me of my naivete.  Who is the TIFA?  My dad was a member of that board at one time gut unfortunately I failed to pick his brain about the facts.  Where did it begin, who  developed it and what were the goals set forth upon its inception? Has it realized these goals?   Some of us do want the facts. 

6-21-2008-02

Hmm . . . on that broken hydrant picture, the running score is:

City services and infrastructure - 3

Trails, wasting taxpayer money, nifty catch phrases, etc. - 4

. . . and not changing anytime soon unless the recall effort is effective.

6-21-2008-01

To 6-17-2008-02, from 6-14-2008-05

My "speculation" was irresponsible? Not hardly. The area in the background behind the fire hydrant picture is, in fact, the north edge of the pit, just off of Third Street.  And yes, there has been real talk that this is where the trail will begin. So, NO, my post was not wrong, misleading, or giving false information, all three of which you accused me of doing. It was right on the money.  You should not be accusing people of false information just because you have not heard the information yourself, until you saw it in my post.

Speaking of trails, I suppose you will also accuse me of lying if I repeat what Mrs. Caudell said at the last council meeting, on not having our city fireworks launched off of Millie Hill anymore because of the trail system they want to put in. Sorry, I'd rather keep a LITTLE tradition around here!

6-20-2008-02

I heard something disturbing at the end of the last council meeting. Dave Farragh had been working on the reassessment investigation and felt he was at a point where an attorney should become involved. Fair enough. He looked into it in our best interests, and he must have found something very disturbing. Gee, no surprise there.

Now, the more disturbing part. Eden Caudell then piped in with her opinion that the whole council should look into it first. Really, I say? Then why didn't you look at it before, when there was a huge uproar about it - when it was happening, Mrs. Caudell? Maybe all those ticked off residents at past council meeting had a real issue there that you consistently blew off?  And, then gave Marquart a bonus last year right after that, if I recall correctly?

Then the mayor spoke up and said something about maybe getting the city attorney involved in Caudell's suggested meeting, and then something vague about John Marquart coming up with some kind of report for the council to view.

You gotta be kidding! Marquart, Vanlaanen, and Caudell, who all spoke up with suggestions that will do nothing but delay this getting out of their control ALL were sitting there controlling things when this reassessment thing blew up. Having them make suggestions now, or even be involved in the investigation at this point, is like having Bill Clinton investigate the Monica Lewinski affair and then give his recommendation on whether of not there were any discrepancies in his behavior. My prediction is that if they have this supposed meeting they will vote 4 to 3 to end the investigation. Wouldn't that be a peach?  What happens then?  Witch hunt my a**!

6-20-2008-01

As long as we're in the mode of tossing quotes around, including the "thinking big" ones, let me toss in one of my own.
 
 "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
 
The naive tend to take things at face value, seldom questioning underlying motives.  Those who have paraded to the speaker's stand at city council meetings and in letters to the editor praising Varda-Mariucci for have big vision and are out to do good for the commnity are examples of this naivete.
 
It has nothing to do about doing good for the community and everything to do about cashing in on fame at taxpayer's expense.
 
So far, we have no definitive plan, just vague promises and a few sketches about possible buildings far into the future.  In the meantime, Varda-Mariucci with the total cooperation of John Marquart are preparing to fleece TIFA out of millions of dollars by accumulating land at far less than TIFA paid for it.  They plan to get a road through this property at no expense to them, water and sewer infrastructure included.  Marquart has also promised them a free $800,000 parking lot.
 
The total giveaway has been estimated at between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000. Varda-Mariucci would own all the land (around 28 acres) and sell it off at a huge profit - all because Marquart decided (not the TIFA Board) that this is just a great use of city (TIFA) money.  Varda-Mariucci would have less than one million dollars invested in the land.
 
Varda-Mariucci are looking for investors for the convention center, that is, suckers who could never hope to recoup their money.  They would have very little of their own money in it.  So for less than a million dollars they would own the remaining 27 acres of land that TIFA bought, have a new road running through it with water and sewer, that TIFA would pay for, and simply sell it off in parcels at a huge profit. 
 
Yes, Horatio, there are more things than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

6-18-2008-01

6-17-2008-03

Thanks to Bruce Rosen for his excellent post -6-17-2008-01.  He did a fine job of explaining in clear concise language a number of the many serious problems facing the city and proposed solutions for them.  Bruce has repeatedly show by word and by deed that he will be a truth breath of fresh air with new ideas, practical ideas, that will serve the city well.
 
Mrs. Joan Game, on the other hand, suffers from a malady I would describe as "The Instant Expert Syndrome." It is a common malady affecting people who begin attending a few council meetings and quickly conclude they have all of the answers to every problem imaginable.
 
Mrs. Game gave not a single financial figure in her presentation.  It was obvious she did not begin to understand the financial condition of the city or how the budgetary process works, but "Instant Experts" invariably can't be bothered with such trivia.  They cannot distinguish between careful long term vision and pipe dreams, so they choose the latter.  It's the easy way out.  Present a pipe dream then expect the council to fall for it immediately. 
 
Ken Tousignant, Jeff Van Laanen, Doug Rigoni and John Marquart are cut from the same cloth.  This line of thinking causes wild and unproductive spending, and the city government of Iron Mountain has seen millions of dollars evaporate by their very fuzzy logic.  Bruce Rosen is by far the clearest financial thinker the city council has seen in many years.
 
I should also point out that Mrs. Game also took a shot at Tina Peterson.  Tina is interest in bringing good manufacturers in the area, whether in Iron Mountain or in neighboring communities.  She suggested looking into wind power manufacturing, which is being pushed heavily on the state level and urging local units to pursue it.  Mrs. Game dismissed it because Tina Peterson had not already lined up a prospect.  Mrs. Game only showed she has no idea what so ever how this process works. 
 
The Instant Expert Syndrome is habit forming.  Council Member Eden Caudell is equally addicted.  She can ramble on for fifteen minutes, and when she's done you wonder what she said.  Thinking it through, you get the answer - NOTHING.  She spent fifteen minutes at the last minute discussing the crime it would be if ONE tree is cut down.  Yawns and quiet groans were evident throughout the audience. 
 
Bruce Rosen generated a good laugh when he asked if we needed a death certificate to cut down a dead tree.
 
Council meetings are getting interesting these days.

6-17-2008-02

6-17-2008-01

Knowledge is the key!

During the June 2, 2008 city council meeting, and then in a letter to the editor in the Daily News, Joan Game leveled numerous charges against me. I will address each as they were presented.

Mrs. Game stated.  ”As an observer at that budget meeting, I realized that 3/7 of the council does not seem to understand what a budget is. A budget is a tool to help guide one in making decisions, it is a guide. It is not set in stone.”

My response.  Our city council is mandated by our city charter, Sec. 8.6 Budget Control, to provide for any and all unanticipated appropriations during our fiscal year. With the recently passed budget, our city has just over $10,000.00 for this contingency fund. Our city charter prohibits any appropriations that exceed this contingency fund. I have stated many times during our budget meetings and council meetings that this contingency fund is grossly under funded. Fairly stated, we can and have amended our budget many times throughout our history, however I disagree with the direction we are headed.

Our general fund balance has been declining at an alarming rate. In fiscal year ending 06-07 we had $917,210.00. In the projected budget at the end of our fiscal year 09-10 we will have $232,079.00 left in our general fund. We can spend millions of dollars in an attempt to enhance our tax base and with hope of creating economic development, however, if we go bankrupt prior to that, what has been accomplished? We must have a sound financial structure as a city, this is what I am attempting to gain.

Our city budget sets forth a numerical picture of our financial future. Our city budget is one of the most important tools we as a city council utilize. Mrs. Game it appears that you do not possess either the pertinent numbers or facts to understand the financial jeopardy our city faces. To take our city budget lightly, which you apparently do, is a big mistake. It will continue the downward spiral until there is no remedy possible.

Mrs. Game stated.  “Bruce Rosen used the words, “logic must remain intact here as a council” in talking about his idea of a TIFA pass through. He spent quite a bit of the time going on about the TIFA budget until city attorney, Jerry Pirkola pointed out the TIFA Board is autonomous. Council member Rosen, who is also the council liaison to the TIFA board, did not know this.”

My response.  The TIFA board is not autonomous. The city council can at any time disengage TIFA. When the TIFA was created, the council at that time along with the TIFA board had to approve a TIFA Plan, which they did. Anytime there is a project or land acquisition not provided for in the original TIFA Plan, the TIFA board must request an amendment be approved by the city council and hold a public hearing with regard to that amendment.

Mrs. Game stated. “Bruce Rosen’s idea of having the TIFA Board give the city a $1 million dollar pass through seems very fiscally irresponsible.”

“If we were to follow his line of thought, one half of that one million dollars, which is $500,000, the city would not see, that half would be passed on to the county and the state, no longer available for economic growth here in Iron Mountain.”

Where is the logic? He recommended for the amount leftover, $400,000 for street repair and $100,000 to have as a reserve.

My response.  I feel not passing through funds to begin street repair and bolster our general fund is ignoring our financial responsibility as a council. TIFA has budgeted for all the projects that have been conceived and are currently at some stage of development. At the end of FY10-11, TIFA will end with a balance of $1,503,911. With the condition of our streets and our general fund decline, a $1,000,000.00 pass through only makes sense. Nothing has been done regarding a formal plan for street repairs for many years. In my opinion, our streets are an embarrassment to our city.

It is true that when we pass through TIFA funds our net affect is 50%. The more important issue here is the current and future financial needs of our city. Keeping our city financially viable with a pass through is more important than not passing TIFA funds though. Let me provide an example that we can all relate to; if your family had $1,000.00 left in your savings account, and a mortgage payment of $350.00 per month, would you invest your savings account in the stock market with aspirations of paying your future mortgage with your investment?

Mrs. Game stated. “Doing so would have been a very short term Band-Aid for the city when looking at the bigger picture and completely defeats the intent of TIFA. His concept of bringing business in is to help them with the permit process and to “loosen our ordinances,” meanwhile he proudly states he will scrutinize every step of the Mariucci project. Where is the logic?”

My response. I don’t see where bolstering our declining general fund and finally starting a street repair program could be termed a “Band-Aid” for our city.

During a council meeting I presented five letters from various business owners who outlined their problems when attempting to build or expand their businesses in Iron Mountain. This has been a serious problem and is being addressed. Yes, I do want to streamline this process but not at the expense of infringing upon our ordinances. The planning board has taken this situation very seriously and in my opinion is doing an outstanding job.

Regarding the Varda – Mariucci project, which like any commercial development in our city, must be financially viable for all concerned parties, including the City of Iron Mountain. We must treat all commercial development in our city the same. I guarantee, I will argue strongly against our city spending millions for any project that does not produce a tax base with positive cash flow, or creates a financial burden.

Simply put, this is the logic.

Bruce Rosen

Iron Mountain City Council Member

6-14-2008-06

6-14-2008-05

If I'm not mistaken, that picture in post 6-12-2008-01 was taken at the north end of the east side Chapin pit.  It looks like that "vibrant", forward-moving new trail is in the background. Beautiful.  Our city in microcosm.  I agree. That picture is a perfect example of why this recall is needed. We have neglected city infrastructure and services shoved aside for feel-good fluff all in one easy to see snapshot.

PS - what's the deal with people writing in and picking on our policemen and firemen? Grow up. Sounds like you are either jealous or envious of them, or both.  Just another example of someone trying to divert attention from the real problems in this city.

6-14-2008-04

I am the writer of post number 6-7-2008-02

In that post, I made reference to my personal opinion that the Games are wonderful people. After reading Joan Games' letter in the newspaper, it is with much regret that I must now retract that statement in relation to Joan Game.

She has had every opportunity to research any claims made by anyone in support of the recall. The documentation is there, otherwise NO ONE would be supporting the recall. Instead, she has apparently chosen to believe what she is told, rather than finding the facts for herself, like responsible people should before they write in to the paper with their opinion. Sorry, Mrs. Game, but you just lost all of my respect.  All of it.

I'm trying very hard to reserve that type of judgment toward Mr. Game, but with this caveat: It is obvious that the current power-holders in Iron Mountain government are undesirable, with many undesirable traits, attitudes, and actions. I will end any business relations with anyone who continues to support Marquart, Vanlaanen, Tchokreff, Burke, and Caudell without checking and giving credit to the facts of why this recall is happening. It's not good business to deal with this type of people; it's that simple.

"Birds of a feather flock together" did not become a cliche for nothing, you know.

 I would feel differently if the facts were not so readily available, and for as long as they have been.  I've had enough of this crap. You people need to wake up and see what is really happening. I have no sympathy for anyone who, at this stage in the game, has yet to check facts instead of blindly supporting they know not what.  And, I refuse to support them by doing business with them.  Thank you.

6-14-2008-03

6-14-2008-02

I haven't heard anything about the reassessment investigation that the city council ordered almost two months ago. 
 
This inquiry should be out in the open.  I hope Marquart hasn't maneuvered it somehow to save his hide.  He has plenty to answer for in this $200,000 blowout of city money.

6-14-2008-01

Who paid for that water line through Champion, Inc. property from near their new office building off the Traders Mine Road straight to US-2, all of it on their property?
 
I don't remember any bids being let out on this by the city, but Champion, Inc. would have no immediate need for this line, either, so I doubt they paid for it.
 
Anybody out there know anything about this?

6-13-2008-01

6-12-2008-02

6-12-2008-01

6-11-2008-03

6-11-2008-02

6-11-2008-01

6-10-2008-06

6-10-2008-05

Joan Game’s allegations at the council meeting – The Spin Machine at work.

At the June 2, 2008 city council meeting, Joan Game leveled numerous charges against Bruce Rosen, Dave Farragh and Tina Peterson. This is nothing more than attempting to put forth a defense by mounting an offensive. Mrs. Game, if you are so enlightened, please explain all the charges brought forth against your local hero Mr. Marquart, during his review.

Mrs. Game stated that the three new council members didn’t understand what a budget is. She stated it is a guide and not set in stone. Mrs. Game charged Dave Farragh with not accepting a budget with money we have no assurances of gaining.

 If a city budget is only a guide and not set in stone then why would our city charter mandate that the city council adhere to an adopted budget. Why would the budget have to be amended each of the last four years if it were “just a guide”.  Our city budget is one of the most critical issues that that our city faces each year. It lays the financial foundation for where we are going as a city. Our financial map (our budget) sets forth all capital improvements, year over year comparative figures for various segments of our city operations, expenses, and revenues. Our budget is our pulse, our heartbeat, and our future. Therefore it is imperative that we consider our budget very seriously. It seems that you are taking our budget as lightly as the rest of the council. This is why we are in trouble now.

This year our budget was adopted by a 4 – 3 vote. We have just over $10,000.00 to cover any unforeseen or under budgeted items within our budget. This equates to 2/1000 of a percent as our contingency fund. Consider the rental housing ordinance and the budgeted revenue of $40,000.00. This may or may not happen, however, the last two budgets that were adopted did contain this revenue stream that was not gained. In the preceding two years, $100,000 was budgeted for that help create a tremendous budget shortfall. Consider the tower rental fees that were budgeted for $25,000 that we have no idea if this can be realized as income. Mr. Farragh couldn’t be more correct and fiscally responsible.

Mrs. Game, you chastised Bruce Rosen for attempting to pass through $1,000,000.00 from the TIFA fund to start repairing our streets and create a contingency fund. (The contingency fund was addressed above.)

Our infrastructure is the foundation of our city. If our foundation is weak how can we build anything on top of that.  We have not addressed the condition of our streets for many years now. As pointed out, according to the TIFA budget, when TIFA sunsets in 2011 we will have a balance of $1,500,000.00. This budget has within it all the projected funds to assist the Varda – Mariucci project to become a reality. If we start our street repair program this year, we will do so with $740,000.00, if the pass through would occur. Eden Caudell stated in the council meeting the she didn’t want to set the precedent. With her thought process we’ll be assured dirt paths for streets in the future. But we will have a very nice convention center, although we will need an ATV to get there.

Please tell us, Mrs. Game, what would you do with the $1,500,000.00 of TIFA funds to expand our commercial base?

Mrs. Game stated the city attorney corrected Bruce Rosen by stating that the TIFA board is autonomous. She also commented on the philosophical differences between council members, regarding the city’s direction.

We are suffering financially as a city, keep in mind that the council has the ability to shut TIFA down to experience the positive revenue stream. The TIFA Board has not acted in accordance with the TIFA plan. They have acquired property that is not in the plan and “invested funds” outside the TIFA district. They needed both council approval and a public hearing on these issues. THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN – THIS IS ILLEGAL!!!!

In reference to the philosophical differences, everyone who attends the council meetings can see they are very different. Should we be in the business of land speculation and commercial development – no we are a city not a corporation in that business. We should do everything reasonable to enable commercial development by commercial developers. The Varda-Mariucci project should be put to the test of financial viability. Thankfully, this is the way it should be. Why is there such a hidden agenda regarding this development. If everything is just and appropriate the public would embrace and applaud this project. Something smells fishy here – just can’t wait for full disclosure on this one.

Mrs. Game stated that the new council member’s concept of helping business grow in our community is to loosen our ordinances and help them through the permit process.

It is no secret that it takes often times THREE to FOUR MONTHS to gain appropriates permits by businesses building or expanding into Iron Mountain. 5 letters were presented at a council meeting, from various business owners who experienced just that. I have never heard the new council members state they wanted to “loosen our ordinances”. Our ordinances are written very poorly. Our permitting process is very inconsistent and often times unequal in the issuance. This whole process needs to be reviewed and adjusted dramatically. We have shown that our city is not a business friendly environment, unless you have national recognition, then we’ll give you millions to support any idea you have. By the way Kingsford will issue a permit in a few days not months.

Mrs. Game harangued Tina Peterson for addressing the idea of alternative energy ideas for our city, compared to the Varda – Mariucci convention center.

Tina is thinking outside the box, which is a refreshing change. If she can pull this off, we will have an employer who will pay an actual living wage. Unlike the convention center that will employee 95% minimum wage people. 35 minimum wage people is not really adding to our tax base, they can’t afford rent much less a home.

Thank goodness we now have three new council members who do understand fiscal responsibility. Without the recall being successful, I am very concerned for the future of our city.

THE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ADOPTED THIS BUDGET THAT WILL HAVE TO BE AMENDED AGAIN THIS YEAR WERE PRAISED BY YOU. Please do not consider running for the city council. The comments you made at the council meeting will haunt you. Besides, we don’t need a fifth person saying, “forget the past and move forward”.  Forward to what, a ghost town with a convention center.

What say you?

6-10-2008-04

6-10-2008-03

6-10-2008-02

Post 6-6-2008-01 on TIFA was a great post.  Also go into the link offered by that writer and read about TIFA's all over the state and beyond and see signs of the corruption that has taken place in some of them.
 
Iron Mountain has avoided these kinds of scandals for 22 years, but now with John Marquart and certain financial interests working with him, we are in danger of falling into the same kind of corruption. 
 
Let's keep TIFA clean, please.

6-10-2008-01

Let me bud in to the conversations post 6-9-2008-02 has been carrying on.  If TIFA could spend the money wisely until it expires on June 30, 2011, I would be all for it.
 
However, making a huge and totally unjustifiable "gift" to Varda and Mariucci of over $5,000,000 on flimsy promises and no dollar commitment from either of them in the last two years raises red flags all over the place. This money grab, with promises (no cash) for far for projects in the pie-in-the- sky phase is ludicrous.  Economic development with fairness and equity is one thing.  A multi-million dollar give-away when the city faces dire financial problems and needs millions for streets smacks of behind the scenes deals with Marquart at the center of them.  He is the one who has proposed these giveaways to the TIFA Board.
 
Unless you are part of the deal somehow poster 6-9-2008-02, your remarks make no economic sense.  In that case, you are indeed in a juvenile adult thinking mode. We have four people on the city council now who think that way now.  And anyone who disagrees with this absurd thinking is immediately painted as anti-progress.  The new members are not anti-progress, but they definitely are against bankrupting the city.  By your yardstick, this is bad thinking.

6-9-2008-02

6-9-2008-01

There have been at least two deaths caused by the Chapin Pits.  A youngster, about twelve years old whose last name was Goodchild fell in the east Chapin pit and drowned.  An elderly gentleman named Sandona fell in the west Chapin pit and died.
 
The Sandona family successfully sued the city of Iron Mountain for not having the pit properly secured.
 
Some city council many years ago agreed to take over the Chapin pit as a "gift" from the iron mine that owned it in the end - I believe it was the Oliver Mining Company, a subsidiary of U S Steel. All we got was a liability and maintenance costs that will continue forever.
 
The land where the caved pits now stand were originally the property of the Chapin family.  They never lived here.  They extracted millions of dollars from Iron Mountain.
 
Recently, the city council renamed the north side ball field the Chapin Field, thereby honoring a family that did nothing for the city except take money and run.  That ball field was built with volunteers from the north side after World War II.  It was built by the descendants of the immigrant miners  of that area, mostly Italian, but also other nationalities. 
 
To honor the Chapin family is to do a disservice to the immigrants who slaved in those wet, cold and dangerous mines at pitiful wages and whose descendants built the original field.  The original name was fine, but if it was destined to be changed, Chapin is the last name that should have been picked.

6-7-2008-01

To 6/4/08
 
Sorry for my haste.  Please accept my apology. 
 
To the rest of the poster, May God give you peace.

6-6-2008-02

6-6-2008-01

6-5-2008-04

Virginia Feleppa's Letter to the Editor in the Tuesday, June edition of the Daily News criticizing Linda Lobeck was uncalled for.  I was at the meeting and heard Steve Mariucci's comments also.
 
In reality, he offered very little new information.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, is nailed down yet.
 
Mariucci praised Marquart, it is true.  I, too, would praise someone who is planning to build me an $800,000 free parking lot on the taxpayers nickel.  I'd also praise him if he offered to buy property for $825,000 (the railroad property) and sell it back to me for $214,000.  I'd also praise him if he was willing to sell the Khoury property for $582,00 to Mariucci when the city paid $875,000 and took it off the tax rolls.
 
I'd praise Marquart if he is willing to spend $2,500,000 to $4,000,000 to put a road through my property with water and sewer lines at no cost to me, and raise the value of the land dramatically -the same land that he sold me at a huge discount.
 
Yes, I can see why Mariucci would praise Marquart all right. Former hometown boy, now famous, coming back to help the city, eh?  Right. No rip-off has come close to this proposal ever around here.

6-5-2008-03

Post 6-3-2008-01 is saying, in so many words, that every council member has to vote for the budget at the Public Hearing because failing to do so would be a violation of the city charter.
 
While the city charter does state that a budget has to be completed before May 31, there is nothing in there that forces any member to go along with any mindless budget that a renegade city manager and mayor dreams up and three other known stooges agree to.
 
During the budget workshops, the three new members tried valiantly to put some sense into it.  They failed by the usual 4-3 vote.  Were they supposed to drop all of their fiduciary responsibilities, all the legitimate points they brought up during the workshops and suddenly cave in to the nonsense and manipulations that budget contained?  Would that make them better council members?
 
That is what 6-3-2008-01 is suggesting.  God save us from such juvenile thinking.

6-5-2008-01

6-4-2008-02

Can anyone tell me what is to become of the Out-To-Lunch program now that Margaret Johnson has stepped down? I looked on the City website and found nothing listed for this year's program. That program was a big plus for downtown. I hope someone is taking over.

6-4-2008-01

I see the City has decided to do work around the Chapin pit. I'm hearing that a walking path is being built. Is this true? Now I'm all for walking paths, but can't they find a safer place to do this? I was told years ago, the land around the Chapin pit was fenced-off  because of the potential for the grounds caving in. Who is going to take responsibility for the first person that magically disappears? Did the City do any type of geological survey or any "final analysis" to verify the safety of these lands? Why would someone remove all the vegetation that holds the soil in place from erosion? Is this going to be the start of the erosion that sends the highway tumbling into a sink-hole again? I'm sorry, but I think the City has put the " cart before the horse" on this one. Now that there are City approved holes in the fence, I'm glad I have no young children at home that are going to be enticed to check-out the pit. I guess I'm just an "old poop"! I should look at this like all kids should learn how to swim one day, or not. Maybe this fits into the " awash in change" theme. I can see the front page of the paper now. We can be just like the City of Marquette at Presque Isle, and have a drowning or falling victim every year that just happens to wonder a step or two off the trail. Good idea, wrong place.

6-3-2008-01

6-2-2008-01

6-1-2008-02

Yes, we do have a divided city council in Iron Mountain.  The reasons are many and obvious.
 
1.  The three new members want to follow the both state law and the city charter.  The four incumbents don't, and have violated both areas repeatedly.
 
2.   The three new members want to get going on the job of repaving miles of badly deteriorated roads and made a proposal to transfer funds from TIFA.  The four incumbents don't seem to give a damn about ever fixing the roads.
 
3.   The city manager proposed a budget that would have the city finances in near bankruptcy in two years, but that was fine with the incumbents. 
 
4.   The city manager has made unfathomable proposals regarding the Varda-Mariucci project, including selling them property for hundred of thousands of dollars less than the city paid for it, build them an $800,000 free parking lot, build a multi-million dollar road through it with TIFA funds.  This is the equivalent of giving Varda and Mariucci a check for $5,000,000, maybe more.

Do the taxpayers know this?

The three new members are insisting on a cost-benefit analysis, but none has been forthcoming.
 
5.   As a residential home owner, you have received nothing in the past four years, and there is nothing the three new members can do about it because they are one vote short.
 
I could go on and on.  Selfish, wealthy, self-interest groups are looking for free services totaling many millions of dollars.  They will be exposed as the recall elections comes up.  They have already financed the legal bills and  I understand they are prepared to spend vast sums on the recall election to keep their stooges and the city manager
in their pocket.
 
The only progress made under the worst administration in history and the worst imaginable city manager is to divide the community between the few wealthy players and their hangers-on and the rest of us. 
 
I'm getting pretty tired of all this crap and will support any recall committee as much as I can, both financially and  by volunteering my time as well.  I hope all of you sensible citizens out there feel the same way.  We can't let a tiny, but wealthy, few buy the election. 

6-1-2008-01