Trending
Stephen Poorman
Lock Haven
Your City announced staff has been working with Buckhart Horn, a big architectural firm with a dozen offices in the US and Europe, to build you a new Police Department.
What the Elf? It could be $3.2 million bucks. Your elected officials retained this firm and decided we need a new 6,700 square foot police station, we should eliminate a paved and metered parking lot that was constructed to serve the downtown and the few residents that remain.
They may want you to pay a half million bucks and they'll squeeze the rest of the tax dollars out of other sources. Here are some new lyrics for "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town:"
You better watch out...you better not cry...you better not pout...I’m telling you why...Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
He’s made you a list...they’re checking it twice, they’re gonna find out if you’ll roll the dice.
Santa Clause is coming to town.
CHORUS
He thinks that you are stupid. He knows that you are flush.
He’ll hike your tax and take your dough...before you even know.
So... you better watch out...better say NO
Better say STOP...or the City will GO.
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
After auditing three Boards, I've concluded one simply can't trust what they're told.
First was the County jail: Elected officials told you it was profitable, but that was not true.
Second was the City: You were told parking meters and fines generated a profit for the City but that, too, was untrue. Instead, line-item transfers only made it appear to be profitable by sliding money from one account to another.
Finally, I audited a Florida Board of Directors to conclude it over-charged the owners a quarter-million dollars! So sadly, with these outcomes, I don't believe a damn thing released to the press.
And this one takes the cake: Some Council Members say they're concerned over waste so you re-elect them, others want to spend your money and the roomful of cacklers spew out garbage. It's almost as immoral as their previous hair-brained idea to build a $6 million dollar City Hall so the City Manager could have a 567 square foot office, almost the size of the Oval Office.
Or, do you recall their idea to purchase and convert the Masonic Temple money pit into a Community Center? I was certain they were smoking pot when I read about that now-abandoned plan. But this can occur when elected officials have no business or common sense.
Some decided the smaller police force needs upgraded showers and locker rooms. But if that is the case, they have plenty of vacant space to expand and retrofit our existing building that is paid for, and on which they installed a new roof, handicapped ramp, elevator and entrance.
Yet, your City Council's goal is to start construction in April or May of next year if the USDA comes in with some cash. It will have an elevator and be two stories in case we have another flood.
Now that $86M was invested in flood protection, we’ll need to call Noah if that lot floods.
A businessperson would have axed Buchart Horn after its last dumb conclusion. They are so stupid they didn't recommend the Police Department remain in City Hall with no disruption in service as it provided entry security for city staff.
Or, maybe they should recommend a Fitness Room like the Landfill Authority did?
Please, dear Santa, do you have any brains in your sack? The population here has been stagnant for a half century, we're the second poorest city in the Commonwealth and our taxes have already been hiked to the point that 25% of the population lives under the poverty level.
Now they're gonna play with the numbers again and change the millage between vacant land and buildings. They’re not truthful, Santa. They came up with that high vacant land rate years ago and now they know it was "dumb and dumber." Is there any way to stop them from doing stupid things?
In their wisdom, they outsourced codes to a Montoursville firm that resulted in a construction cost increase, which means no one wants to make property improvements which, in turn, raise taxes.
Instead, taxes have risen here without an corresponding increase in value.
Worse, while they're naughty, they're not even nice! They gained a reputation for hassling anyone who attempts to improve their business which, long-term, pushes the tax burden to homeowners and seniors who don't have enough cash to leave you, Santa, some cookies and milk!
In the past, I would have invested hours before concluding the City currently forks-out nearly two million dollars each year for 14 cops? But each time I audit, I realize Ebenezer will only lie again.
There was a lot of council chamber chatter about police station costs. But Santa, it's all reindeer dung. They'll tell taxpayers anything to avoid an admission of waste or justify the need to blow another half million. Actually, nothing that flows from their mouth is reality and the biggest fibber in the building is a guy you don't even elect -- your City Manager. If ever there was a staff person out of control, it's this one.
Lock Haven is a great place to live, but much of the positive environment has been created by the private sector and caring residents...not the City.
So, please Santa, stuff some brains in your sack and spare us from yet another bungled-up debacle. The numbers and idiotic ramblings only confirm they're full of magical pretending.
Stephen Poorman is a longtime area resident and business consultant.