Your letters, Oct. 12, 2008
‘Hopeful’
I completely agree with the city manager. Any auditing effort that could or would put the taxpaying public’s mind at ease on how the city or the county is spending their money makes good sense.
Hopeful No. 1: The city manager’s turnaround is not another revengeful slap at our co-governing allies. His recent decision, without council awareness, to transfer $1 million of bond money intended for the county to the nature center (for the record, the county committed to and owes the money to the nature center) went beyond the bounds of common sense, respect and maybe authority.
Hopeful No. 2a: This welcome change of the city manager’s mind-set should clearly indicate the results from the state auditor’s report — currently being conducted on the city — do mean something.
Hopeful No. 2b: It indicates the city manager will abide by and correct any reported concerns without an egotistical challenge or spew out overly defensive trust-assaulting rhetoric to the council.
Hopeful No. 3: This mental awakening should clearly indicate the need for and support for a part-time, internal auditor, reporting directly to the council. This newfound appreciation for an auditor’s role confirms a check-and-balance safety net is more needed than adding another animal control officer or another city staff person for the same amount of taxpayer money.
Hopeful No. 4: Common sense and togetherness will regain status between the council and the commissioners, with or without the city manager. It started. It worked. Then the “not everyone involved” insecure assault resulted in the demise of the cordial and informative sessions between the county and a rotating quorum of council members.
In conclusion, I’d like to personally thank the county auditor for her work that has resulted in an assessment of elected officials or paid staff members’ responsibility to the taxpaying public.
Ken Shearin,
mayor of St. Joseph
Wait a minute
One gathers from the writings of the political writers/columnists and contributors to the op-ed section, including the “Clips & Quips” section, that Rep. Sam Graves should be returned to Congress because he is “humble,” raises his family in the district, “supported the troops” and was an Eagle Scout.
Graves voted against a measure by Sens. Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel that would increase the “dwell time” for returning troops serving in Iraq/Afghanistan. He never questioned the “stop loss” policy or calling up inactive reservists who had already served their country and fulfilled their obligation.
Jerry Ashlock,
St. Joseph
This story has 5 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Youths fuel interest in local history exhibits
Welfare Board finds big savings
Professor digs deep to uncover Missouri’s past
Teacher, student among magazine's 'heroes'
Helping the needy
- More Headlines
- Recently Discussed
Perplexed to the intent of Ken's opinion. In my view, it is a subtle critical shot at the city manager and it brings to the forefront the continuing tension between council and city staff on many issues. Guys, we need to fix this and start working together. Find common ground and begin to work for the public interests. Everyday there is tension within City Hall, an opportunity to do something positive for St. Joseph passes by. This audit seems to be occuring because there is some mistrust out there and disagreement on how past funds were utilized. The internal checks and balances that are in place to prevent these things should have been working and if they were not, than they need to be fixed as well. Council and staff and the county officials should begin to work together and start seriously addressing the real issues out there, sidewalks, sewers, downtown, abandoned properties, etc, and lets get them resolved and fixed. Stop the "in house" dissention guys and problem solve to come up with solutions. It still goes on and is evident by the recent lighting decision when several comments were directed at the judgement of city staff. Set a goal that every workday a problem is worked on to a solution. Just a thought. Stop the gunslinging:).
Posted by apmastrangelo on October 12, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)I disagree with the City Manager asking for an independent audit over the LEC matter and also with Mayor Shearin agreeing with the request.
Posted by wildwest on October 12, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)This matter now needs to be addressed with a much greater intensity.
1. What oversight was the LEC Commission providing since this occurred in 2006? Whether direct financial responsibility existed or not, it was within the realm of the commission to be watching over the store. Something that clearly was not happening or this issue would have been discovered much sooner.
2. The internal county audit has identified what transpired in the accounts involved and what documentation and statements exist.
3. The dollar values involved do not appear to be in question including the county accepting liability of the moneys requiring repayment.
At this juncture what is most critical and the question demanding response is whether malfeasance has taken place. There is only one definitive way to determine this and a further audit can not provide the answer.
For the public to have absolute knowledge and resolution to what transpired it is necessary to have a full investigation conducted by the Missouri Attorney General.
When individuals are sworn-in and faced with the choice of telling the truth or perjuring themselves it is amazing how quickly ones memory is restored. The same applies to the paper trail and documents subjected to the same scrutinies. No independent audit can assure the degree of accuracy accomplished from such action.
Whoa!!!! Apmastrangelo I love the attorney general investigation thing. That would certainly challenge that "memory lapse" explanation that seems to be used quite a bit by all of them. And I agree about the LEC oversight. There were apparently processes already in place for checks and balances that were not utilized. If they were, these issues would have never came up. Of course, effectiveness is only as good as the people who are in public office willingness to use those processes or conveniently ignore them. Obviously it looks like the latter was chosed. Goes to the core as to why things are the way they are throughout the city that affects public policy and interest.
Posted by apmastrangelo on October 12, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)wildwest - Thanks, and you are right on target with the remainder of your thoughts.
Posted by thetruth on October 13, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)Requesting at audit at this time is a politically convenient time and way to take cover from the deeper issues that exist.
At the very least a number of individuals from both the county and LEC Commission should be held accountable for their inept management of public funds.
If the entire matter was nothing more than poor management there should be little concern in seeing the A/G investigate.
I came here, intending to comment on Shearin's letter. After reading the comments of wildwest and apmastrangelo, I realize nothing I could say would enhance the dialog. Bravo! I've enjoyed you both.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
Rules: We don't allow comments that degrade others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Epithets, abusive language and obscene comments will not be tolerated... nor will defamation. Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatent cutting and pasting is not acceptable.Robust, even heated debate we like. Straying off-topic or flaming, we don't. Please read our user agreement.
Requires free stjoenews.net registration.