Wow!!! Who turns down free money??? I will remember this come election day, that our city council members don't want free money to come into a struggling economy.

this appears to be a poor decision at this time when our roads need fixed, our schools are begging for funding (although 32 million surplus is hardly strugling), police need raises, city buildings need maintained. by the way here is almost half a million. oh you say you don't need it, don't bother asking again when you do. granted that money won't buy a lot in the larger perspective, but i am sure it could have helped somewhere. foolish.

What were they thinking? Are they opposed to stimulus spending? Don't they know that if St. Joe doesn't get the funds, another city will? Are they opposed to anything related to downtown? Are they intimidated by that Henderson (Kenny Reeder wannabe) dude?

LaBass/Bozarth/Falkner had better find a way to revisit the issue and soon.

i really respect councilmember labass, but she does not have any belief in downtown st joseph. i find it remarkable that bill falkner voted against this. there may be something in the strings which are generally attached to the obama money , even though mr. cappel stated otherwise.

perhaps the council made the same mistake they make repeatedly. the council is often completely clueless in matters of process. frequently they have voted for one item and then realized they had no intention of the vote they made. the mayor is still using a "script" to conduct the meetings.......the clerk has to show him often where they are on the agenda ( doesn't help that her diction is unintelligible ). this could have been a case of simply not realizing the process was being proposed in emergency "mode", especially if the vote for the ywca elevator came after.......in that case members often enter a no vote in protest with the thought that they can make a statement while still seeing the bill pass.

where were councilmembers boyer and baker?

Remember: There is no such thing as free money

Turning down free money?

Only here in St. Joe.

Hey I got an idea, lets also send all of our jobs to KC. I am sure Heartland will create a partnership with you on that.

Sigh.

You are probably right Michael.

I just wonder though, if we dont take it, someone else will, and we will probably pay regardless?

This just makes me so sad. St. Joe's future looks so dim to me now. My optimism is fading really fast.

I cannot afford to move away as salaries and real estate prices didn't rise here like they did in other places.

MichaelH - have you tried FrontLine, you dog you?

they must've forgotten the clause that shows how to funnel money into your own pocket..then it would have been a resounding yes vote!

i thought the adults were talking here? michaelh! i have read , (and we all are forsed to, if we want to gather here)of pure rederick from your lips. trixie , you just keep on keeping on, his poor excuse of a writer doesent count. money is money, dirty or clean, by the way, all money is dirty. unless you wash it . never heard of clean money.

Example after example of how the affairs of the city are not managed in a manner consistent with helping to move the community forward.
There is no logic or acceptable reasoning by those that opposed this ordinance. The issue raised by council member LaBass over funding for industrial parks street repair and the post session question asked of the city clerk indicate a lack of preparation and procedural understanding.
The city deserves representation capable of providing decisions that can help advance the area during these difficult economic times and the no vote by the three council members on this matter did not serve the best interests of the community.

come on michealh, are you still typing?

oh well , the child went to take his nap!

ex-marine , veitnam vet ameri-cant? oh well, ignorance is no excuse for an ameri-cant.

your on dude! meet me in oroville,ca. at 12:00 high today at the wal-mart. dude!

Micheal - In certain environments I might agree with you but not on this particular issue.
At present the downtown area of the city is trying to recover from what can not be described any better than the perfect storm; much of which a direct result of decisions made by civic leadership.
There are many putting money into downtown and attempting to revitalize the location but given the current economic situation these efforts will remain anemic much longer than necessary without the support of such funds.

anger contol problems? ex- means no longer in service. and for the sick agent orange comment, shame on you. some of us werent afflicted with it. next thing out of your mouth will be babby killers. i was greeted by people like you when i returned, im no hero. unlike you , i did what i was told , all good marines did. by the way, i am employed, day off hugh? back to free money, i would have voted yes!

note to commenters:

this story IS about the council voting down stimulus money.

it IS NOT about MichaelH and donaldo.

let's keep it that way

- your friendly neighborhood administrator.

a few telephone calls to several council members, a call to the office of clint thompson and conversation with the CM confirm that this was a situation where wires were crossed. the money became available on Very short notice, and the proposal arrived on the desks of council thursday. some council members were out of town on vacations, and did not have time to fully read the emergency application, a completely understandable problem..... the matter is being re-addressed and will likely pass on thursday in a special session. the deadline is friday.

this is not a program which is going to create a new administrative situation which requires that the city continue the program after the federal funds are gone, and it has remarkably few stipulations, as the stimulus funds are often containing.

OfCourseWeCan... Real Estate prices haven't risen anywhere! And salaries? Are you kidding? It's called a recession for a reason... no one's getting raises, and actually, St. Joe's real estate market is doing great compared to some... kc for example. KC's real estate values have plunged, while st. joe's have remained stable, putting us more on equal footing in that regard than we've ever been.

heritge - Good research job.
The short notice is no excuse and any time necessary in getting this right the first time should have been a priority. Business of city affairs does not always work on a timetable of convenience for the council members.

apm, i would agree with you, were it not for the outrageous amount of work required of the council with such an inadequate reimbursement!!!!!!! neither city hall nor the council had much warning as to this particular situation, so i am cutting them some slack ( instead of my usual noose, LOL).

this is a very ( for lack of a better word) "crazy" time for all city/local government. the "obama money" is raining down in torrents in no discernable pattern and we are scrambling around trying to catch a downpour with a dixie cup. i think every aspect of our city government is doing its best to cope, and it seems that this particular eventuality was simply a mistake.

i do congratulate this city on her unprecedented access to officials. i am always quite surprised to be able to pick up the phone and have a conversation with every one i contact. this is one of the things i feel so blessed to have here. i may not always like the answer, but the council and city administration are willing to provide information. i, in turn, am trying not to have pre-conceived notions and suspicions of their responses. i guess we Big City Folks have a chip on our shoulders on this front.........

What a joke michaelh is, obviously so blinded by partisenship. You have t fell sorry for the guy, probably needs step by step directions from rush on how to tie his shoes, and coaching from beck on how to cry about it, get a life.

I am pleased tha Saint Joseph has made steps to improve teir malls and add shopping and eating establishments in the community. In that they have done well. But I honestly have to call into question the competence of our leaders when they decline free money. What were these people thinking? Is there a knuclehead clause in the councils contract that voids the vote for people who make such bone head decisions?

Free money......meaning it is ours, take it, we never have to even think about paying it back. And our fearless leaders say no. What future can we expect with people like this running the show? I won't forget this come voting day. Because now, those renovations are going to have to take place, only you and I will be footing the bill, paying for the lack of sense on behalf of our city council.

the minutes here..... http://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/clerk/agenda_1June09.cfm
are available on the city website and on item 4) you will see the notice of the emergency bill. read down farther to item 24) titled emergency bill # 1253-06 for the full content.

as i said, the issue will be addressed with the full council present on thursday, and should meet the deadline.

i abhor unfunded federal mandates. i am not at all comfortable with the bailouts which are falling on the shoulders of our future generations. that said, this is also our tax revenue, and i do not believe that simply opting out of ALL programs in protest is the most productive approach. i did agree with the state representatives rejecting the monies which would have created new mandates and levels of positions without funding them beyond an 18 month period. this does not seem to be the case here. i think that the city is being judicious in not accepting money with those kinds of strings attached.

it sounds like you know all about floors and toilets but are dunce about being real.fighting for rights? no thank you, if you had an american thought you would cut your own throat. take the money and dont listen to stupity such as michealh,s. after all, now he is worried about some other city getting it instead of our,s.

Just one quick thing to say MichaelH........Huh? You are giving me scenarios of speculation rather than giving me one bit of information to combat WHY you think what you think. Don't take money because someone else gets it......or beware of the bad government officials because free money is evil money! My god it is all a conspiracy! Have you lost what few marbles the good lord gave you son?

You guys have made your points and it seems obvious neither side is going to sway the other side's opinion. I'm just a reporter with no authority to block comments, so I'll offer some advice instead:

Lay off the name-calling, the references to throat-cutting, and the accusations of the other side being anti-American.

I can tell from the early posts on here that you're all intelligent people with legitimate opinions. Then the debate degenerated into the kind of argument that keeps other posters away. I have spoken to multiple readers who refuse to post here because of the rampant name-calling and personal attacks. Just agree to disagree and be done with it.

Clinton Thomas
City Government Reporter
St. Joseph News-Press

good for you, clinton. ( i just figured out what those little thumbs are and you get a second one from me. )

If we give Clinton enough up thumbs does he get a raise????

I don't want to be off subject here and i don't think I am but the statement from Vince Capell that it is free money simply explains why we have such a socialistic mind set in this country. In reality we all know it isn't free. It must be paid for by someone somewhere as long as it isn't me. This attitude is not what made this country great and has gone on far too long for us to recover.

clinton thomas , you are correct, in the future i will maintain my composure and not get into someone else,s mind thought. i am guilty as charged. i appologise. forgive me michealh. my humility is overflowing.

Of course it's not "free money", but it is OUR money, and if we do not use it some other city will. How ridiculous!

People, the council did not VOTE DOWN the stimulus money! It required 6 votes to get the bill for passage. Let's see, there are 8 council members and the mayor, which make 9 potential votes.

Two members were absent, so 7 voted. Again, the bill needed 6 votes to pass. 5 voted yes and 2 voted no.

So, the REAL issue is WHERE were the other two council members (Baker and Boyer)????????

Take your questions to them!

Apple, they still needed the 6 votes to pass. Last I knew 5 votes were "yes" and 2 were "no", again where were the other two council members?? So that's 5/2 for it.

Apparently you can't understand the facts (or the numbers), those council members who voted no may have their own agendas. Again, 5 is more than 2. Ask where your other city council members were. I was there.... Were you?

Boyer has missed two meetings in a row now..... Where was Baker? Prior to that Falkner was absent the meeting before. I think the majority of the council was for it, but there weren't enough votes to get to six (which was needed for a "pass", get your facts straight!

In any municipality meeting where public funding is at issue and a city council has the ulitimate vote on it, in my view all council members should be present. If there cannot be a committment to the position, then it should be time to allow those who will committ to it to give it a shot. The outcome affects the community good or bad, and with any funding issue or any vote on any ordinance that affects the general public, all should be present and all should have a say in it.

When additional federal money is available for services and programs, I can understand why a State would turn it down. Why start a program only to struggle to determine funding for it a year or two down the line.

This is generally an issue on the State level, not the local level. Money for hard costs associated with infrastructure that requires no local match is a no brainer. This is not "free" money, but part of "our share" that we paid in and sent off to DC. In mid-March, the City became aware that the entitlement communities could receive a larger amount, so we have to amend the Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan in order to accept/claim this money.

Refusing to accept this money means either the local government has to pay for the project(s) with local dollars instead of federal dollars, OR the community does without those particular improvements.

I would rather see my federal tax dollars that I paid in, return to MY community, rather than see my tax dollars pay for some other city's projects.

As far as questioning "why Downtown"...that should come up when the 2005 to 2010, five year plan was discussed, or when the annual plan is submitted. And the explaination to council said "first priority", does not exclude other projects. And if you want, ask city staff during the meeting what other options you have for the money, and make changes in direction then...but accept the money!

I recall a meeting where Roger Baker made a comment about council members doing their homework before meetings. I am not sure how this flew below the radar since mid-March, but several council members have demonstrated a pattern of coming to a council meeting and "not knowing anything about it"...