What's a reimbursement resolution? Or, Copperas Cove has spent the $$ on the median design

 Take a good look at this, dear readers.

What is the above a picture of?

This is the information about a REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION from August 2017.

It has cost the city of Copperas Cove as much as $900,000 where the Business 190 median design is concerned.

Already.

Not will spend, might spend, let the people decide if it will be spent.

It's been spent.

In basic terms:

The city council said on August 8, 2017 that the city could spend the money with BSP - front the cost - and then PAY ITSELF BACK in June 2018 with the CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BOND LOAN FUNDS.

Squawk all you want about spending the money on the loan, but the city has spent the money on whatever it has been invoiced by BSP Engineering so far.

Business 190 broo-ha-ha, or: Copperas Cove, city of psychic engineers

A Curmudgeon Quickie.

Today is the public meeting for the Business 190 median project.

Two things to remember as you go into this meeting:

1. The Copperas Cove city council already authorized the

spending of the money for the engineering design. Check the records. This is not a secret. THE $700,000 TO $1,000,000 for median design has ALREADY BEEN SPENT, Y’ALL!!!

That money is gonzo, buh-bye, see ya Felicia – spent!!!  The checks have been written, both literally and figuratively. BSP ain't doin' this for free, y'all.

But now, we have a “new council” which seems to want to renege on the agreements already made back two years ago. One of whom, James I-was-for-it-before-I-was-against-it Pierce Jr., said YES to the funding agreement and is now backpedaling. Maybe it’s because he’s up for reelection.

A million bucks of the city’s money, already gone

Let that sink in, ALL of you squabbling back and forth, roaring about not spending the taxpayers' money.

Uhhh, the money is SPENT. 

Curmudgeon is not lying to you, dear readers. I don’t make any of this stuff up – I just hold up the mirror and turn on the spotlight.

If you read nothing else, please read my prior post about Business 190 and its funding history, in the link below:

Here we come a-waffling, or: Up Yours, KTMPO!

Please, for the love of the Sacred Bunny Fest, read the above post.  

Please, also, look at these below. I didn't make this up:

2. Also, evidently, we are ALL PSYCHICS AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERS. 

 We ALL seem to know WHAT will happen if this median is constructed. Wrecks everywhere, death knell for business, mass chaos and traffic. Or, beautiful scenery and walkers and bicyclers galore and pretty shops, a new paradise on the east side!

Curmudgeon believes it will be somewhere in between. So take a deep breath, prophets of doom!!

Curmudgeon waits with bated breath to see what happens.

Lookout TxDOT folks, you’ll be in for a bumpy ride.

And, the council will waffle on. Don't fund the certificates of obligation to include the $1,000,000 for the Business 190 median design, or even kill the project. The money is GONE.

Hopefully this meeting will not be an embarrassment. 

Hopefully, someone will ADDRESS THIS PUBLICLY TO THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY, SINCE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO READ THIS BLOG HAVEN'T BROUGHT UP THIS LITTLE DETAIL. The fact that the city has already paid BSP for the design work, so we're already out the money.

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Peace, love, and bunnies, y'all.

Curmudgeon talks Rabbit Fest and “Tourism” Or: We just ain’t a hot spot

Curmudgeon mentioned last week I was working on my Rabbit Fest review, so here ‘tis. I don’t know how long this post will be, so bear with me, dear readers.

It rained at least one morning – Sunday. Not sure if it was a total wash (ha ha ha) because Curmudgeon didn’t attend on Sunday. Or, maybe i did. Wouldn’t be RF without a good downpour.

Oh yes – Curmudgeon did go to Rabbit Fest this year. Curmudgeon has attended many, many times

over the past years. ALL HAIL THE BUNNY!! LET’S USE THE PARK FOR FREEEEEE BECAUSE RABBIT FEST BRINGS SO MUCH DOGGONE MONEY AND BENEFIT INTO COPPERAS COVE!!! WHAT WOULD WE DOOOOO WITHOUT IT????

Sorry, a snark leak. Had to get that out of my system.

Okayyy, now. Curmudgeon has to admit that Thursday’s opening ceremony complete with flags waving, a bit of pomp ‘n circumstance and some Bulldog cowbell, with appreciation shown to the Rabbit Fest founders and committee members was quite fitting.

But if you talk to longtime Cove residents you will hear all about how great “Rabbit Fest used to be.”

Yep, there was a lot more to it. There are reasons, of course, why some of those things went away and not all of the “used to be” things went away for the same reason.

Curmudgeon wonders why the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce doesn’t hire a bigger-name draw to the festival. “Back in the day” Rabbit Fest held concerts with headliners like Alan Jackson.

Curmudgeon remembers rumblings in the past by some in cahoots with those in charge that it was “too expensive” to bring bigger draws to the festival and “anyway, it’s about the festival, not the concerts.”

Well, with all that money the chamber is saving by not having to pay the city part of its profits, maybe it can now afford to book some larger gigs.

Okay, I’m laughing right now because according to the city council and chamber reports, the MOST the chamber has had to pay the city in profits was a $5,000 donation last year in 2017.

(I MOVE THAT THE COPPERAS COVE CITY COUNCIL DO AWAY WITH THE RESTORATION FEES. WHY CHARGE RESIDENTS TO “RESTORE” THE PARKS WHEN IT LETS THE COPPERAS COVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOME 20,000-PLUS INTO THE PARK TO TEAR IT UP FOR FOUR DAYS – WITHOUT ANY “RESTORATION” FEE???? WHY DOESN’T THE COUNCIL COME UP WITH A RESTORATION FEE OF $5,000 – THAT’S 25 CENTS PER RABBIT FEST ATTENDEE. BECAUSE, DEAR CITY COUNCIL, WHO DO YOU REPRESENT – THE PEOPLE OF COPPERAS COVE AS A WHOLE, OR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE???!!!)

Which brings me back around to the good old days. Rabbit Fest USED TO contribute to the betterment of the city park. It built the Fester’s House bandstand/stage. It USED TO do a lot of things to help the park. Now it seems that over the past however many years, the chamber stopped giving to the park.

Again, it and the chamber started wanting something for nothing, and the council fell for it again because it worships The Bunny.

Newer readers and older ones who need a refresher can read more about my rantings and curmudgeonly rambles about The Sacred Rabbit Fest here:

Peace, Love, And Bunnies

and 

All Hail the Fest!

and particularly, a pure snark leak of which I am particularly proud:

Bacon Fest

At a future time, Curmudgeon will shine a spotlight on chamber’s finances and its “nonprofit” numbers

Back to the not spending money on a big(ger) name to come to Copperas Cove.

Ummm…you really need to take a good, hard look at what motivates people to attend an event.

So…..What were the big draws to Rabbit Fest this year?

The carnival was the biggest by far. They had a few new rides and some old ones. Either you love it or you hate it, but the carnival is there and it was packed. Curmudgeon heard whining online about how “expensive” everything was at the carnival. Curmudgeon also heard a few vendors disappointed in 2017 that all the crowds were at the carnival and not by them.

This year, lemonade. Lots of vendors had it. Lots of people drank it. The refillable metal collector cups.

Sporting events. I heard some people “complaining” that there were ball games held during RF weekend. Um, don’t you want people to attend? One kid typically brings at least 3-4 people with them to a game. Do the math. It’s a built-in opportunity for making sure you have people coming to the park.

Shopping was meh as far as quantity goes. Curmudgeon didn’t count the vendors but there were not nearly the same number there have been in the past. There were some new vendors Curmudgeon hadn’t seen before with some ACTUAL handcrafted items. That was nice. But the overall offerings seemed limited.

Now, the obvious elephant in the park was the parking. Curmudgeon has schlepped across the park at Rabbit Fest from days gone by, stumbling on rocks and stomping through dust or mud, depending on the year.

The V-shaped parking lot was not finished. It was the location of the disabled parking, which had to be shifted to just beyond the duck pond. This year, it seemed to work. Curmudgeon parked wayyyyyy in the back and it didn’t seem a bigger deal than usual.

But of course, let’s blame the city for the parking not being done. Because, the poor, picked-on chamber who gets to use the park for free because Cove is so benefited by a carnival.

Because that’s what it is…a carnival with a few add-ons.

Methinks the chamber could host a carnival in the fall at another location and still make bank with a lot less effort.

Over and over, Curmudgeon heard, where are all the rabbits? A shame there were no actual rabbits highlighted at the festival itself. Yes, Curmudgeon is aware there was a rabbit show on Saturday morning. A few years ago someone tried to do some rabbit-themed events at the fest itself, but, well...

And the Saturday morning parade? Not very much participation, maybe 25 entries if that? And only one had any kind of decor or embellishment related to The Sacred Bunny. It was the Five Hills Scholarship Pageant Royalty, who had their float decorated with rabbit shapes. Great effort!

Sad, sad level of participation overall, however. Why do other cities have bigger parades? There's no incentive to enter this one other than trying to be a good sport and be supportive. But, Curmudgeon digresses...

Why doesn't the chamber just rename it Cove Fest and be done with it? 

This ain't my Rabbit Fest, y'all. 

Maybe later this week, I’ll talk tourism. Because right now at this moment, neither the chamber nor the city really know what they are doing for effective tourism. Key word: effective.

We just ain’t a hot spot. Sorry, y’all.

Peace, love, and bunnies. 

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I smell fish

Curmudgeon caught a whiff of something that smells a bit like fish.

Fish should smell good, like the ocean, salty, briny. But not the stinky, I’ve-been-laying-out-in-the-

sun-on-the-deck smell.

Something smells like fish, namely the “retirement” of Head Football Coach “slash” Athletic Director Jack Welch after 24 years.

Curmudgeon never promised anyone, dear readers, that Curmudgeon would not segue over to CCISD and the “powers that be” over there, but I couldn’t help it. Just this once. Maybe just once.'Cause it smells like fish.

What an eventful month it has been over at the district.

Tell me, O Wise Ones, who gets to “quit” or “resign” from a job with three years left on a contract and get $80,000?

Now, most teachers are year-to-year contracts so Mr. Welch’s contract was a bit different, being an administrator.

But still…. Who gets to “quit” or “resign” from a job and get thousands upon thousands of dollars to leave?

Research contracts and buyouts and you will see it’s if someone is fired from their job.

As in, if the City Council had ever decided to fire Andrea Gardner, they’d have to shell out probably close to half a million once all was said and done, by the terms of her contract in 2008 or so.

Look at sports and not city government, and you will see the same thing: Buyout = fired.

But in the case of Mr. Welch, was this a case of: "Resign or we’ll fire you!"?

Did Mr. Welch and Dr. Burns get into an Alpha-Male-type clash over, ah, something?

Who would want The Welch gone?

Ok, y’all, I know, HALF the town, maybe? Or, a third, or???

Mr. Welch has had his rabid fans, the ones who believe he EARNED the 80-grand check (minus taxes) on May 1. You and I will do NOTHING to convince the rabid Dawg fans (ha ha,  go ‘Dawgs) that Mr. Welch deserves anything less.

Curmudgeon has been a fence-rider where The Welch is concerned.

But, change the name and the district and the situation… who DOES this?

The elected school board did, led by Mrs. Jay Manning.

Did they have “no choice”?

Mrs. Joan Manning and board, you ALWAYS have a choice. 

If one looks at the wording in the terms of the “retirement” agreement, one sees language like “let’s avoid litigation and lawsuits” and “let’s all talk nice about each other, ya hear.”

Have any of you, dear readers, actually taken the time to read the agreement?

It’s a major case of mutual CYA and it stinks, I tell ya.

Not even a Gulf Coast fish market smells as fishy.

AGAIN, who RESIGNS from a contract with three years left and gets a nice, tidy little “BUYOUT”?

Anyhoo, it may seem a bit pointless to hash all this over now…but Curmudgeon has a point. Or several.

Did it escape ANYONE’S notice that the new coach is a buddy/pal of Dr. Burns, and they’ve worked together before in a town called Kirbyville?

DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN MUM ABOUT THE NEW COACH’S CONTRACT AND HOW MUCH HE WILL BE PAID? NOBODY KNOWS RIGHT NOW.

Well, probably two people do: Burns and Alvarez. But nobody’s saying nuttin’, not nobody, not no-how.

DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT THE DISTRICT ADVERTISED A MINIMUM SALARY OF AROUND 80-GRAND OR SO FOR THE JOB?

CURMUDGEON ASKS:

WHY WOULD A COACH LIKE MR. ALVAREZ – WITH 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE – SIGN A CONTRACT WITHOUT A SALARY?

Let's guess: did it have $81,030 listed, with a "plus" sign and a blank for "someome" to fill in a signing bonus?

 Did he get to write it in himself? Or will his friend, the superintendent write it in for him?

Who does that? 

Wowser, y’all. Just wowser.

Is it legal? Probably? Low-ball the salary and tell your pal to apply for the job so he blows away the competition who are likely trying for their first head coaching job.  Not exactly a level playing field (har-dee-hard)

But, it's perfectly legal, especially if the school board okays it.

Slick. Yup. A way to get your way. Yup.

The kingdom that is CCISD is not ruled by the board. For whatever reason, they bow to what Burns would like to do.

(It's the same thing Andrea-Gardner-haters railed against for years, that the council 'did her bidding' and her haters called the council "Stepford Wives." (snort))

But, hey, if we win football games, it’s alllllll good.

For the mere price of an 80-grand buyout, we can just plead poverty and stuff the bus in August for the needy students. Because, school supplies, y'all.

80-grand to make a problem go away was a cheap compromise. 

And what's the deal with not letting Welch use the stadium in December, as the HOT Bowl has for the past 17 years? He paid to use it. Was his money not good anymore? 

What in tarnation happened that was so bad that for whatever reason, CCISD thinks it will be hosting playoff football games at Bulldawg Stadium, something it has not done in recent memory, or at least for the past 17 years?

Was the rooster-clash between Welch and Burns so bad that one wants NOTHING to do with the other, even professionally?

Geez, Louise, as a teacher o' mine used to say.

Peace, love and bunnies, y’all. Still working up to my Rabbit Fest review.

Curmudgeon PROMISES no more ISD posts.

Curmudgeon might do a Sorry-Charlie Youngs move remind everyone there is a school board election in November. Just sayin'.

Curmudgeon out.