Pot stirring, the Five Hills Pageant, and the BAM club

Curmudgeon brought up pot-stirring in the previous post on Saturday. 

What, pray tell, is pot-stirring?

According to the urban dictionary (not Webster), it is:

“one who causes unrest; one who stirs the pot.”

A pot-stirrer is “Someone who loves to proliferate the tension and drama between two or more feuding people/groups in public to get a raise of people in hopes of starting a ****storm of drama and uncomfortable conflict, sometimes for personal gain but oftentimes just for the thrill of confrontation.”

Curmudgeon noted a recent news article, which in Curmudgeon’s opinion, serves no other point than to stir the proverbial pot.

Curmudgeon refers the reader to this article which appeared in print and online:

As Five Hills royalty represent Cove, taxpayers cover some expenses

The article basically calls into question the $20,000 expense of the Five Hills pageant float and goes into the years’ long saga to make the float a reality for the pageant, which ended up “under” the Parks & Recreation Department after the pageant essentially got the boot from the chamber right before the 2017 pageant.

According to the article, the rub ‘n chafe is:

The City of Copperas Cove paid for the pageant float - $20,000.

The City of Copperas Cove pays for the annual insurance for the float - $276.

The City of Copperas Cove didn’t charge the pageant to use the Civic Center this year - $1,000 savings for the pageant.

After hashing over the pageant’s history and what the winners do in the community, the article goes for the jugular with:

“The city, however, is facing the need to issue nearly $10 million in certificates of obligation for capital outlay and capital improvement projects, and citizens often complain during City Council meetings about the state of city streets, asking that taxpayer funds to be made available to pay for vital infrastructure concerns.”

Therefore, the article's point is, ergo:

Because the City of Copperas Cove, via the council’s authorization, paid $20,000 for the float, and because Joe Brown of Parks & Recreation both authorized the paying of insurance for the float along with the waiving of the fee for the civic center, the city can’t fix its streets.

Um…

This is only pot-stirring at its very finest.

Curmudgeon believes the thinking reader and discerning citizen will not accept this silliness at face value and take a look at MORE history and FACTS that would change a pot stirrer’s opinion on "spending on the pageant."

Such as:

Curmudgeon would remind the reader of what happened at the May 16, 2017 meeting, when the council and city administration were discussing the new IT building, which was paid for by BONDS (see above quote) , the same kind of BONDS as the $10 million above, mentioned in the news article.

Here is something from the minutes of that very meeting:

“Ms. Andrea Gardner, City Manager, presented to City Council two drawing options for a new dais and quotes that include laminate and granite surface tops.  A new dais with a winged design and a laminate counter top was quoted at $19,511.50; the same design with a solid granite counter top would cost an additional $3,088.50.  A new dais with a curved design was quoted at $24,479.63 with a laminate counter top.  The cost to have a solid granite counter top would also increase (bold from Curmudgeon) the cost an additional $3,088.50.  After discussions, Council Member Yancey made a motion to accept the bid for the drawing representing the winged design (first drawing in packet) with the additional cost of $3,088.50 for a solid granite counter top.  Council Member Lack seconded the motion and with a unanimous vote, motion carried.”

Guess which dais the council approved?????

Yeppers! Ding-ding-ding – winner, winner, chicken-dinner! You, dear reader, read it correctly.  

The Copperas Cove city council spent $3,088.50 for the solid granite countertop, with Councilman (Dapper) Dan making the motion. Almost $3,100 EXTRA FOR A TAXPAYER-BOND-FUNDED PROJECT.

Go granite, or go home, Curmudgeon always says! (Oops, sorry, snark leak.)

So, why was it OKAY in 2017 for the council to spend $3,088.50 MORE for a BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW granite dais instead of a less expensive, laminate dais? – again, paid for by TAXPAYER BONDS?

Taxpayers paid for granite instead of laminate, y'all!

Does this bother the reader to the extent that it has bothered some in the community about paying for the pageant float?

Should it bother the reader?

I am SURE there are OTHER TAXPAYER-BOND-FUNDED GENERAL FUND EXPENSES approved by the council that add up to WAY more than $20,000, approved by the council. 

If you don’t believe me about the added-on, UPGRADED GRANITE DAIS the council approved, go check the city of Copperas Cove’s meeting minutes and watch the video for that date. 

It is there, plain as day.

I remind the reader of this, in the event that some pot-stirrer approaches the Copperas Cove city council with this tidbit of information regarding the above news pot-stirring article about the pageant float and expenses.
 

Since it worked for the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce, the Five Hills Scholarship pageant director might do well to REMIND THE CITY COUNCIL of the FINANCIAL BENEFITS and MORE that the pageant has brought into the city.

Curmudgeon has seen the pageant people on Facebook, here, there, and everywhere over the past more than four years. Turn around, and there's a crown! 

These FINANCIAL BENEFITS from the pageant titleholders have helped the Copperas Cove Animal Shelter in the form of cash donations and supplies for more than two years.

CURMUDGEON WOULD VENTURE A REALLY GOOD GUESS THAT THE DIRECT FINANCIAL BENEFIT FROM THE PAGEANT TO THE CITY IS MORE THAN $20,000. 

So, instead of getting yer knickers in a twist over the $20,000, take a deep breath.

So, maybe the dear reader and some of the dear city council do not like the pageant and what it does. 

Curmudgeon reminds the dear readers and you, dear city council, that the pageant volunteers have helped raise these donations which have SAVED THE CITY MONEY in probably more than a few areas.

For example:

One of the young misses, according to a news article published by the same news outlet that also published the bit of pot-stirring verbiage in the link above, received $3,000 from the Fort Hood Thrift Store for Copperas Cove Animal Control.

OH! And this same young lady wants to raise funds to BUILD A DOG PARK FOR COPPERAS COVE. Something the council said two years ago the city can't afford to do on its own.

OH! this is the same Animal Shelter with the potential $7 million bond issue that is worrying property owners right now.

OH! One royalty lady raised funds for SENSORY PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT for special needs children to enjoy at COPPERAS COVE CITY PARK like other children can. How many thousands of dollars is that equipment costing, and how much did the pageant winner raise so the CITY’S parks and recreation department doesn’t have to? OH, she, too received $1,000 from the same thrift store.

I'm thinking just with the Animal Shelter fundraising and supplies, adding on the $4,000 in monetary donations from the thrift store given to the pageant winners FOR the city, and adding on some other things, we're well over $10,000 and Curmudgeon hasn't done the research for the rest of the money.  

I'd say the pageant has more than EARNED the float they ride on and will represent Copperas Cove on all over Texas. About time we get some good news ambassadors instead of being a laughingstock over our EDC mish-mosh and chamber drama, etc.

It sounds to me like this bit of pot-stirring wants to stir up the B.A.M. (*ITCH AND MOAN) Club to start trouble and play on people’s outrage and worry.

Yes, people should be worried about tax increases. Curmudgeon pays property taxes too.

But, y’all don’t unfairly single out something to cause controversy – such as the float and other expenses and IGNORE the other things the council has approved for taxpayer-paid bond funding, etc.

Since we’re keeping track of the $$, again, Mrs. Sledd the pageant director would do well to add up the DIRECT FINANCIAL BENEFIT the city has derived from the pageant and present her records to the council, one meeting, during open forum. Curmudgeon has already given her a head start.

HEY! AGAIN, IT WORKED FOR THE COPPERAS COVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE!! They get to use all of City Park for FREE during Rabbit Fest because they bring so much to the city, allegedly. Gobs and gobs of money y’all.

I bet Mrs. Sledd has plenty of records for what her band of tiara’ed volunteers have done since 2014, plenty of records to show the council what the pageant has done for the city. 

FINANCIALLY, AND OTHERWISE.

Keep calm and wear that crown!

Whether the council needs to author a special resolution or ordinance or SOMETHING to permit said waiver of fees and payment of insurance, or whatever, for the pageant as it does for the chamber, this is not a solution-less issue, especially if, like the COPPERAS COVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, the FIVE HILLS SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT shows the Copperas Cove city council AND the city itself the FINANCES of what it brings to the city. 

I'd like to say to some of the naysayers -
How have YOU helped your city other than being a member of the BAM CLUB? 

Peace, love, bunnies and tiaras, y’all!

Curmudgeon out.

Ain’t got no time to sing Kumbaya on Business 190

Curmudgeon has had heartburn this week, since Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Sometimes, you just want to say:

How what works?

Well, some residents are all up in arms and rage and ready to bring out the pitchforks and torches about the Business 190 project.

Should the council say yes to the city spending $1 million on the design?

Um.

Yah, they kinda already did.

This was discussed and talked about at the August 1, 2017 city council meeting, during which they said “YES” to professional services agreements with BSP Engineering doing the design work, environmental report and contract bidding for the Business 190 median and other projects.

Back then, it was expressed to the council that the method to pay for this $1 million in design for the Business 190 project, would be via the 2018 certificate of obligation bonds. 

I fail to understand why councilman James Pierce Jr. wanted to remove something he had already basically agreed to back in August? 

This is not a cut-and-dried decision, just to put to the voters. That was a horrible idea! Sorry, dude.

WHY SHOULD THIS HAVE COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE ELSE, IF THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS CITY, INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE POT-STIRRING ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

This should be old news IF anyone has been following this saga, instead of the, again, pot-stirring via social media that shows VIDEOS of a MEDIAN with TREES.

Sooooo…the big question Tuesday night – should this $1 million in funding decision go to the voters to decide?

Ummmmm. So it would be at least six months until November, when this could be voted on. And, of course, people are HORRIBLY misinformed on this project to begin with. 

Curmudgeon DOES believe in the voice of the people.

But what do you do when you have a severe lack of understanding among voters, a lack of not wanting to know the facts because they have already made a misinformed judgment and don’t want to hear anything else?

There lies the conundrum.

Curmudgeon has hassled Councilman Jay Manning about having heartburn, so perhaps it is why Curmudgeon had heartburn this week after the meeting.

But Mr. Manning made an EXCELLENT point on Tuesday and I am not so curmudgeonly not to give credit where it is due.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, he basically said, why put the decision to the voters, to expect them to read up on the information when they are not informed and even some of the council members do not understand it, either? This is why they, the council, are elected, to make decisions like that.

Wow. Mark this date on the calendar. Curmudgeon agrees with Mr. Manning.

But residents are missing ONE IMPORTANT THING:

Who “owns” the road that is called Business 190?

The city? The voters?

No way. It belongs to the state of Texas and is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation.

They pay for improvements, paving, striping, etc., etc. Some of our city streets are part of that road system. Most, aren't. Most that aren't have only seen repairs over the past five years. 

Dear readers, if you want to get torches and pitchforks out, start petitioning the council to GET SOMETHING DONE about our streets. Put your energy toward that.

Over the past years, any road resurfacing that has taken place in this city has taken place on a STATE OWNED AND MAINTAINED ROAD.

The State of Texas is the State of Texas, and the State of Texas will ultimately DO WHAT IT WANTS TO DO with the road that we call Business 190.

No, they’re not trying to hassle us.They're trying to make what will be a very difficult change, a little easier, if that is possible. 

Although for every near miss on Business 190 I see or experience, I say, "PLEASE, put in that median!"

If the State was REALLY trying to be a hassle, the city would not have had meetings after meetings starting as far back as 2015 on this highway project.

The Business 190 project was not an evil plot by the council before Charlie Youngs who said "feelings have changed" with this "new council". I really don't think the state gives two hoots about anyone's feelings about the road.

(Um, since when did we govern by FEELINGS? But then, he's been axe-swinging since his swearing in. But, I digress.) Feelings of individuals themselves can change, especially over time.

The Business 190 project was not an evil plot by She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

The STATE is doing us a courtesy by letting the city have a hand in the design.  TxDOT has standards, and those standards will be followed, you can be sure.

This isn't a case where we all get warm fuzzies, because, doggone it, Business 190 is OUR ROAD, and how wonderful it is that we can CHOOSE what happens to it. Let's all sing Kumbaya together. Um, no.

Look at all the changes to F.M. 116 north between Cove and Gatesville. Not in city limits, but still a state road that affects a lot of drivers as we have all seen!

Anyhooo, Curmudgeon hears there is a public meeting on May 31 with TxDOT when reps will be in town to discuss the Business 190 project. 

I hope there is good security at that meeting as well as EMS staff on standby for those who faint and experience severe heartburn over the trees, the TREES—Dear Lord, the TREES—that were proposed for the median. No, no trees. 

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF CRAPE MYRTLES, THERE WILL BE NO TREES ON THE MEDIAN. 

I refer the reader to Curmudgeon’s most-read post thus far:

We’re turning into The Woodlands?!

Meanwhile, dear readers, Curmudgeon notices that there have been 10,772 page views of Copperas Cove Curmudgeon Speaks since January.

Wow. Love me, hate me, don’t ignore me.Thanks, gracias, merci, danke.

One more thing: After my Tuesday night snark leak, I notice that the issues with our councilmen and ethics….well, ah. Nothing, nada, after that executive session discussing Marky-E-Marc’s alleged shenanigans. Nada after Dapper Dan’s clear meddling in what was not his to meddle, with corroboration from a third party.But of course Dapper Dan wasn't the subject of discussion, either, although he should have been, shame on him! 

Peace, love, and bunnies, y’all! – It’s almost time for Rabbit Fest! All hail the bunny!

Curmudgeon out. Share with a friend.

Lookie what I can do!

WARNING: THIS IS A PURE SNARK LEAK FROM THE CURMUDGEON BECAUSE IT'S TUESDAY AND THERE'S A COUNCIL MEETING.

(You've been warned. )

Evidently, if one is on the Copperas Cove City Council and one's "spirit and intent" are good, one can do anything!

Next up, in addition to helping the human resources director do his job, councilman Dan Yancey will be driving a Copperas Cove fire truck, I'm sure.

As far as councilman Marky-E-Marc Payne goes, the allegations of his "interference" in employees' day-to-day operations of the City of Copperas Cove are a bit more obscure.

To give Marky-E-Marc some credit, Curmudgeon has seen that Mr. Marc Payne has served on many boards and volunteered of his time and talent extensively in our community. He does more than many complainers do.

To see Marky-E-Marc's "spirit and intent" -- possibly to HELP -- could be a bit understandable.

"Let me see how else I can jump in and interfere--um, I mean HELP" - Marky-E-Marc Payne

HOWEVER, when one is advised of the fact of what you can and cannot do as a city council member, one should heed the charter and chuck the good intentions. Else, it's a slippery slope of pie.

Marky-E-Marc also demonstrated similar behavior, when, as the chairman of the EDC board, he took it upon himself to engage a not-yet-contracted attorney for the EDC's legal services. So that was for free?

Anyhoooo, Marky-E-Marc was booted off the EDC board by the city council for a stunt like that before he sandwich-signed his way onto the council.

Seems like he didn't learn his lesson and has engaged in similar shenanigans.

Allegedly.

I wonder what his favorite kind of pie is?......

Ok. Snark leak over.

Gentlemen, leave the operations of the city to the highly skilled and competent staff you like to complement and stick to policy making. But I'm not convinced you're qualified to do that, either, due to your lack of regard for ethics and chain of authority.