tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110682162024-03-23T10:57:26.276-07:00Electric City WeblogThe Rough Draft of the First Draft of HistoryGeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.comBlogger1406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-73595597005299702462007-10-26T05:59:00.000-07:002007-10-26T06:01:04.055-07:00We've Moved.Due to lack of interest either way, I am moving Electric City Weblog to this new location:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.electriccityweblog.com/">www.electriccityweblog.com</a><br /><br />Please update your records.<br /><br />(Contributers, please email me with a new username and password, and I'll get you set up on the new site.)GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-71249954093953944322007-10-25T08:29:00.001-07:002007-10-25T08:31:06.351-07:00Last Chance<a href="http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071025/OPINION01/710250310/1014/OPINION">Last chance to hear the candidates tonight</a>:<br /><br />Civic Center<br />5:30, p.m.<br />Missouri RoomGeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-18367944886485483032007-10-25T08:27:00.000-07:002007-10-25T08:28:36.660-07:00I'm So ProudMy <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402337.html">alma mater made the national news</a>:<br /><blockquote>If the Supreme Court takes Flint's appeal, it will see that the University of Montana is indeed teaching students a lesson about politics -- the pernicious lesson that politics should be conducted under tight restrictions on advocacy. The university is preventing students from learning such essential civic skills as how to raise and allocate political money for advertising and organizing. Thus do the grossly anti-constitutional premises of McCain-Feingold seep through society, poisoning the practice of democracy at all levels</blockquote>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-33649839082376394212007-10-24T19:37:00.000-07:002007-10-24T19:44:49.655-07:00Housekeeping IssuesI have a couple housekeeping things that have come up.<br /><br />First, it has been suggested to me that I should try to get an Offline Version out before the election. I would try to include excerpts from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bloggers</span>' Debate, as well as information about the Pilot Program (since the Tribune is obviously going to studiously ignore the story).<br /><br />I have some problems, though. If I get the thing done this weekend, I can probably email it up to the publisher over the weekend. If so, I might be able to get it printed, leaving 6 days to distribute it before the election. The short timing leaves two issues. First, how do I distribute it in 6 days? If anyone wants to volunteer to help, please email me at <a href="mailto:fallsblog@yahoo.com">fallsblog@yahoo.com</a>.<br /><br />Second, I need to sell a few ads to cover the cost. I'm going $150.00 for a full page, $100.00 for a half page, and $80.00 for a quarter page. Any takers? I'm already out of pocket a few hundred dollars on this election and, considering that I can't even vote in it, I would like to at least break even on the print version.<br /><br />The next housekeeping matter is the move. I am going to move this blog, I think, to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wordpress</span> at <a href="http://www.electriccityweblog.com/">www.electriccityweblog.com</a>. Please go over, check out the template, and let me know what you think. Do you like it? No? Leave me a comment somewhere or an email, if you wouldn't mind.<br /><br />We now resume our regularly scheduled programming. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">LK</span>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wolfpack</span>? Anonymous?GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-37891826765462946312007-10-24T06:11:00.001-07:002007-10-24T06:11:49.957-07:00GF Debate-Conclusion<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1098464003832454492&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-15418964529403942412007-10-24T05:27:00.001-07:002007-10-24T06:12:03.619-07:00GF Debate-Candidates Question Each Other<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-6425627855844661542&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-4173796700903719212007-10-24T05:22:00.000-07:002007-10-24T05:24:54.984-07:00GF Debate-Ambulance Service<embed id="VideoPlayback" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 326px" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" hl="en" flashvars=""></embed><br /><br />Only Susan Kahn believes that the ambulance charges should be established by the City of Great Falls. The rest are undecided, oppose it, or didn't answer the question.GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-47216693119721479862007-10-24T05:07:00.000-07:002007-10-24T05:08:01.142-07:00GF Debate-Police Issues<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1769555871270673478&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-78884382010784026702007-10-24T04:45:00.000-07:002007-10-24T04:53:48.904-07:00Ms. Hensley and her job at the City-UpdateA poster below left a <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/ms-hensley-and-her-job-at-city.html#c7404206448641395840">comment</a>: "No one on the city staff urged Hensley to run for the commission seat. Has anyone asked her why she resigned her position at the city? She was a witness to the day to day happenings in the fiscal department. Could it be that she was unsatisfied with the way things were being managed so she quit because she was fed-up? (Remember: City Employees are hard workers, homeowners, and tax paying citizens too!) Is it possible to think that she is really trying to make things better for Great Falls by using her 'inside information' to improve city government? It is possible that management doesn't want her on the city commission because she knows the truth."<br /><br />If this is true, and it may be, then I guess I am a little disappointed in her stealth dissatisfaction. She has as much of a stage right now as she will probably ever have on this issue, and she is silent?<br /><br />If she quit the City because she was "fed-up" with "the way things were being managed," yet chooses to remain silent on that point in a City election, I guess that causes me concern. What, we only get to learn her "inside information" if she's elected? If she loses, she'll keep it to herself and the City will go on being managed in a way that is unsatisfactory?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hmmm</span>.GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-41559745389128769552007-10-23T20:25:00.000-07:002007-10-23T21:12:30.220-07:00At 21:33 of the Coal Plant Video<a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/candidate-debate-coal-plant.html">At 21:33</a>:<br /><br /><strong>Ed McKnight:</strong> I would like to ask Commissioner <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kuntz</span>, you talked about stepping up and taking leadership in this power process. And yet all the information I have, either the coal plant or Electric City Power, you have done nothing but lose money.<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Channing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hartelius</span>:</strong> So is that your question?<br /><br /><strong>McKnight:</strong> If losing money is an indication of leadership, is that the kind of leadership that we need?<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hartelius</span>:</strong> Did you under...did you get the question?<br /><br /><strong>Diane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jovick</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kuntz</span>:</strong> I did. And again your figures and my figures are different on the losing money. You've gone to the budget and picked one particular line item out of our budget and said we're losing, we're losing, we're losing. You have not gone and visited with Coleen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Balzarini</span> on a regular basis regarding this issue so you view us as losing, losing, losing. I don't view it that way, and I think with Electric City <span style="color:#000000;">Power</span>, because of the obligations that we have, for the contracts, for the next 20 years, there will be enough revenue to carry us through. <strong>And we will not <em><span style="color:#cc6600;">continue</span> </em>to lose money.</strong><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hartelius</span>:</strong> Thank you Diane.<br /><br />[Emphasis Added]<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ci.great-falls.mt.us/people_offices/fiscal/cafr/cafr2006/02ffs.pdf">See, p. 28, p. 7 in Adobe Acrobat</a>: Operating Loss, Electric Fund:<br />-404,973.<br /><br />Actually, I think we have the <em>same</em> figures, don't we? And yes, I am picking out one line from the <a href="http://www.ci.great-falls.mt.us/people_offices/fiscal/cafr/cafr2006/01auditreport.pdf">AUDITED</a> financial statements. It's the line called "Operating Income (Loss)."<br /><br />The obvious: If we're not losing, losing, losing right now, how can we "continue" to lose money? Good question, eh, Dr. Freud?GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-16623610439552903552007-10-23T20:23:00.000-07:002007-10-23T20:24:11.970-07:00GF Debate-How often do you attend Commission Meetings?<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-6713858585763398824&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-25342937627689974082007-10-23T20:22:00.000-07:002007-10-23T20:23:00.243-07:00Candidate Debate-Candidate IntroductionsSorry for not putting these in order!<br /><br /><br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-470687004474663579&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-71925811297793551212007-10-23T10:41:00.000-07:002008-11-06T18:52:51.836-07:00RascalsFrom 1973...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhWlYkUccm5kAx1-_tvWJ2NjORyoyK8JmQE-YUFyvCgbfFtoR8QkS5ZC4Ud0B5j4Ngm-WabpEYy1Yr0vOnSI9MSw453_RK8NBzpJYvGXdvyVQUlFP2fbOm_gNX1r-ZbytZi2k/s1600-h/Rascals.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124589315005453650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhWlYkUccm5kAx1-_tvWJ2NjORyoyK8JmQE-YUFyvCgbfFtoR8QkS5ZC4Ud0B5j4Ngm-WabpEYy1Yr0vOnSI9MSw453_RK8NBzpJYvGXdvyVQUlFP2fbOm_gNX1r-ZbytZi2k/s400/Rascals.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks, Alan!GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-54031831905108968982007-10-23T08:31:00.001-07:002007-10-23T08:31:56.676-07:00Candidate Debate-What New Ideas or Changes Do You Have?<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-1425006623950388164&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-46128178727380785262007-10-23T08:17:00.000-07:002007-10-23T08:18:18.139-07:00Candidate Debate-Thoughts on City Manager<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=7231193408506542514&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-11984451970376060302007-10-23T06:42:00.000-07:002008-11-06T18:52:51.869-07:00Power DepositsSome may recall that, back in July, <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/why-why-why.html">I argued</a> that the City of Great Falls was giving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SME</span> a gift when it agreed to provide a 1.4 million dollar security deposit that was not otherwise required by contract. I stand by the <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/unasked-questions.html">questions I raised</a> at the time.<br /><br />In any event, though, the security deposit was <a href="http://www.ci.great-falls.mt.us/records/minutes/yr2007/071707_24.pdf">justified by City Staff</a>: "A standard industry practice requires security deposits equal to two months of energy supply costs."<br /><br />It occurred to me, then, to see what our <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0VWOMwT5_bd2Q_MAUX8Mjf8igGIWu_ZgZg846f2P7UxHZAoIeXXGauF3ZhRkrhlxO_62VZQd43K6zKS5D8D2fVxc8sYr2bxuq75PBy-T4uOE3UYs-gLgZLk8GLeecdaus7JM/s1600-h/Letter+14.jpg">City Manager's power contract</a> has to say about deposits. It's a little bit better deal than the city got. The <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXKaOgGWyeBU5VSjWo_lAfou3CuqhdtjOF-6p7gQgUK6cfj0OHKNMBQrV0tBfbHuIe5cRKktF4iR2aRGpUcwkIxxSXrSCzPNwo1Guy1b1p3PWp9LY7voNvs1llIJ2z0xoXcPi/s1600-h/Standard+Service+Offer+3.jpg">contract provides</a> that a deposit can be required only if service has been terminated for non-payment within the last year, if the customer has received 2 or more termination notices (for non-payment) within the last year, if the customer has a current delinquent account with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ECP</span>, for tampering with the utility services, or an unsatisfactory credit history.<br /><br />None of those would apply in the case of the City's gift to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SME</span> (which <em>was not</em> provided for by contract prior to July 17). Further, the deposit in the City Manager's contract will be refunded <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AKtNPMaXMpFZ9UfgsDZCM_8w6leIBc9yTG8Uo6lL6ywnlG8oBgy9V2Cpl_GJp8Z8bATkXbGX0wxMripkrbWhp0ruq1Nmc0Q8ADyO5BIUwuVjccp1gvLl05s7OTB2gqLTAlar/s1600-h/Standard+Service+Offer+4.jpg"><em>with 5% interest</em> </a>if he were to make his payments on time for 12 months.<br /><br />$1,400,000.00 x .05 = $70,000.00.GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-78740767422113335732007-10-23T06:09:00.001-07:002007-10-23T06:09:53.769-07:00Candidate Debate-The Coal Plant<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-4707917675116621241&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-90109911421094610142007-10-22T20:03:00.001-07:002007-10-22T20:11:18.963-07:00Ms. Hensley and her job at the City<a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/city-directory.html">Below I posted a City Directory</a> showing that City Commission candidate, Elna Hensley, worked for the City of Great Falls and shared a telephone number with Coleen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Balzarini</span>, the Executive Director of Electric City Power.<br /><br />Several people I respect pointed out in comments and through the back channel that I was somewhat unfair in my questioning of Ms. Hensley's motives. I have to agree; the fact that I distrust some of the people she worked with should not serve to imply that her motives are anything less than honorable.<br /><br />Thus, I have stricken what I believe to be the unfair portion. I didn't remove it all the way, because that looks too much like I am covering my tracks. Let the strikeout be a reminder of the error of my ways in making unfounded suggestions about Ms. Hensley.<br /><br />I do not agree, though, that the fact that she worked with Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Balzarini</span> as late as this year is wholly irrelevant. Come on, people. We do not have to be ignorant to be fair.<br /><br />The coal plant/city utility is the most significant issue in this election. It is simply not reasonable to suggest that we must ignore the fact that one of the candidates worked closely with a key player in this debate. The relationship is fair game; the baseless implication that she is a shill or a plant is not. I apologize for the latter.GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-89229470686578048132007-10-22T11:50:00.000-07:002008-11-06T18:52:52.471-07:00City DirectoryCity Commission Candidate, Elna Hensley, shared a telephone number with Coleen Balzarini.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWouiB11HkWBoeli722EjyDaWOUuWIBXOs_UIh4opyjlb3uzJyQyX7EQkigc3Iw8qVQ9x6bFM1cKs4JyrT7G6PAnJk7HSPYZXpoKf_anscYP7bYe-GqPSKN6yKHifWh3xqQti/s1600-h/Directory+page+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124258967595881746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWouiB11HkWBoeli722EjyDaWOUuWIBXOs_UIh4opyjlb3uzJyQyX7EQkigc3Iw8qVQ9x6bFM1cKs4JyrT7G6PAnJk7HSPYZXpoKf_anscYP7bYe-GqPSKN6yKHifWh3xqQti/s200/Directory+page+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyfuE5SjZ-xgx77ag2rMLT1BQ8gRk0dh-siResTeHzT2l2HI-QcwkhxTxriigkwM3RMfoiCWhAJj7SP1wdNZbc4DGgqO2LH93caZkqdVXYa2Xfu9xGcBfq61tpb940cmUb7Rg/s1600-h/Directory+page+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124258980480783650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyfuE5SjZ-xgx77ag2rMLT1BQ8gRk0dh-siResTeHzT2l2HI-QcwkhxTxriigkwM3RMfoiCWhAJj7SP1wdNZbc4DGgqO2LH93caZkqdVXYa2Xfu9xGcBfq61tpb940cmUb7Rg/s200/Directory+page+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strike>I wonder if anyone in the City Staff urged her to run in order to get a friendly ear on the Commission? Does anyone know?</strike></div>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-54996024523609628232007-10-22T06:38:00.000-07:002007-10-22T14:20:49.572-07:00What does this even mean?In the comments, <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/must-have-been-stand-in.html#c7245647650001499721"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LK</span> takes Elna Hensley to task</a> for her remarks in the paper about the <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/5-minute-rule-at-city-commission.html">5 minute rule</a>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wolfpack</span> thinks she did a <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/must-have-been-stand-in.html#c4817614754030923364">good job</a>. For the record, Ms. Hensley said:<br /><blockquote>Montana's public meeting laws are very clear — the business of the public must be conducted in public. However, a distinction needs to be made between a public meeting and a meeting held in public. Unlike a public meeting, the meetings of the City Commission are for the purpose of conducting the business of the city and are held in public. The commission members must consider comments on matters they will be making decisions about, but at some point they need to be able to move on and make the decisions that the voters have entrusted them to make. Setting reasonable limits on the time for public comments is not inappropriate. I do think that commissioners need to make themselves very available to the public in other settings, such as neighborhood council meetings or other public meetings convened to discuss specific issues, to hear the comments of members of the community.</blockquote><br />Excuse me?<br /><br />While she may have "<a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/must-have-been-stand-in.html#c4817614754030923364">made her point very well</a>," what she said is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">gobbledeegook</span>. There is no distinction between a "public meeting" and a "meeting held in public."<br /><br />A meeting is "the convening of a quorum of the constituent membership of a public agency or association described in <a href="http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/2/3/2-3-203.htm">2-3-203</a>, whether corporal or by means of electronic equipment, to hear, discuss, or act upon a matter over which the agency has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. " Unless dictated by the needs of individual privacy or private litigation, <a href="http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/2/3/2-3-203.htm">meetings need to be opened</a>.<br /><br />According to Ms. Hensley's statement, City Commission meetings, "<em>unlike a public meeting</em>, are for the purpose of conducting the business of the city and are held in public." In other words, City Commission meetings are meetings for the Commission to "hear, discuss, or act upon" matters "over which the [Commission] has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power." Sounds like a public meeting to me.<br /><br />Ms. Hensley can be excused, maybe, for ignorance of the finer points of the open meeting law. But I cannot excuse a mindset that would suggest that when the City Commission conducts the business of the City, it merely <em>happens</em> to hold those meetings in public, apparently at the leisure of the Commission, and there is really no requirement for public input.<br /><br />While Ms. Hensley seems like a very affable and reasonable person, her comments bespeak a real misconception about the fundamental nature of the democratic process. This almost sounds like something a staff member might try to make up to justify exclusion of the public.<br /><br />Unless she retracts her statement, I don't know how anyone could vote for someone who does not recognize the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">public's</span> role in its own government.GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-28686455675734388602007-10-22T06:28:00.000-07:002007-10-22T14:21:18.414-07:00Vote for Private Property RightsI attended the Town Hall Meeting on Saturday night. After hearing the candidates (that were present) unanimously oppose the coal plant on the grounds that it would, at a minimum, visually impact the Lewis and Clark Trail Landmark. Wait, I guess I shouldn't say unanimous. Larry Steele does not oppose the plant on those grounds, although Mr. Steele failed to offer an articulate reason why he did not believe the plant would harm Trial visuals.<br /><br />As I listened to the others, though, it occurred to me that the coal plant is planned for private property. And, while it might be easier to argue that we should be able to prevent a coal fired generating station on someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">else's</span> land, our City Commission potentially makes many decisions impacting one's private property rights. What about the Design Review Board telling a businessman, who is about to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new building, that he needs more shrubs? What about making a personal decision about how tall <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2005/03/now-this-is-after-post.html">someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">else's</span> signs should be</a>?<br /><br /><p>Notions of private property are very important to me. In this modern era, where people think they should have some say in what you do on your own land because they drive by it every day, we need to be very vigilant to ensure that we do not elect those who would presume to <em>dictate our conduct</em> due to <em>their</em> preferences. This is an extremely serious and important principle in our society. (For more on the history of this issue, see <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2005/03/sign-code-part-1.html">this post</a>.)</p><p>Therefore, I asked the candidates about it.</p><p>Mary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Jolley</span> and Ed McKnight both stood strongly in favor of private property rights.</p><p>I'm not sure <em>what</em> Larry Steele really thinks. He discussed the "American History of signs" and "intimate domain."</p><p>Stuart <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lewin</span> is not a property rights advocate. He correctly noted that we "granted these rights to ourselves in the Constitution," raising the implication that what we have granted we can take away. According to Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lewin</span>, "we have to be willing to adjust how we manage ourselves if we wish to survive...Private property rights are being used and abused to harm the planet."</p><p>I am not going to argue Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lewin's</span> point about property rights <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">vis</span>-a-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">vis</span> environmental issues, although I disagree with him. I am going to argue a more fundamental point. Acknowledging the Constitutional importance of private property, he discussed the need to, perhaps, move past a strict understanding of private property for the greater good. What he did not mention, though, is <em>amending</em> the Constitution. This signals, to me, a predisposition to ignoring...wait, let's be more tactful...<em>interpreting</em> the Constitution in accordance with his own beliefs. Once we presume to do that, though, all bets are off. Is this a sign of how he might govern?</p><p>Susan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kahn</span> discussed the more practical side of private property issues in Great Falls, arguing that 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> Avenue South needs more unity among the various players, something akin, maybe, to the Downtown Business Association.</p><p>She used a couple terms, though, that lead me to question her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">commitment</span> to private property rights and property owners' freedom. She talked about planning and directing property uses to the "universal good." In my experience, this is a buzzword used to support the agendas of those who would tell others what to do. Didn't we hear a similar term wielded in favor of the sign code?</p><p>She also discussed the need to regulate property owners to "attract the <em>right kind</em> of businesses to Great Falls." I disagree. We need to attract <em>legal</em> businesses to Great Falls. It is not our leaders' decision what is a "good" business and what is a "bad" business.</p><p>Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Kahn</span> and Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lewin's</span> positions remind me of people who are <a href="http://ecityblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/plank-two.html">smarter than you</a>.</p><p>As far as the remaining candidates, well, we don't know where they stand on this, do we?</p><p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Ed McKnight clarified my paraphrasing of him as follows: "My brief answer was that I read the 213 report by the park service which said the impact can not be mitigated. I did not say that I opposed the plant for that reason.</p><p>I oppose the involvement of the city against the will of the public, If the public had voted for it I would not oppose it. I oppose the city spending so much money on something I think will fail for technical reasons."</p><p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Susan Kahn states in a comment that I misquoted her. Maybe I did. </p><p>My notes reflect that she stated she would accept regulation of property uses for the "universal good" and to attract the "right kind of business." In response she says that she was referring to the expenditure of public dollars, rather than regulation. If my notes were wrong, Susan, I apologize.</p><p>Certainly spending public money for the "universal good" and to attract "the right kind of business" is more palatable than regulation to like ends, <em>provided, however</em>, that we assume the money should be spent.</p><p>A legitimate private property argument can be made, though, that the government has no business taking away my property (money) in order to give it to someone else in order to entice that someone else to conduct commercial activity in our town.</p>GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-33415010670178547242007-10-22T05:47:00.000-07:002007-10-22T06:02:02.671-07:00Local Subject Alert: ServiceDave at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GreaterFalls</span> has a <a href="http://www.greaterfalls.com/index.php/2007/10/21/service/">post</a> up about service in Great Falls. (He actually cites to this <a href="http://www.joshhutchins.com/yardwhisperer/2007/10/16/its-not-just-you-service-really-is-bad-in-great-falls.html">post</a> by Hutch)<br /><br />I have to disagree with Hutch's premise. I find that service is usually pretty good around town.<br /><br />I should clarify, though, that I draw some distinctions here. When they screw up my order, that may or may not be a service issue. It's a service issue when, to my chagrin, I encounter a waiter or waitress who refuses to write things down (what is up with that, anyway? Are we supposed to be impressed?). If they do write it down, though, I consider that it is a kitchen issue and don't consider it bad service.<br /><br />Likewise, when the waitstaff is running around, and the place is clearly disorganized, I don't consider that a service issue, I consider that a management issue.<br /><br />A service issue, to me, is when the waitperson is rude or unhelpful. I rarely encounter that in Great Falls. I find that, when someone walks up to the table and you smile and make conversation, people are almost universally receptive. Thus defined, I receive very good service in this town.<br /><br />Management issues, though, can be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">prevalent</span>. For example, has anyone else stood in a long line at the Pita Pit watching while 3 of the five pita makers are constructing sandwiches for delivery orders, those who couldn't be bothered to come to the restaurant? Is that the fault of the server, or the manager?GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-39142219532269416682007-10-22T05:41:00.000-07:002007-10-22T05:46:51.938-07:00Thoughts on PreyThe President of the Center for the Study of the Environment and professor emeritus in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, says about global warming:<br /><blockquote>Some colleagues who share some of my doubts argue that the only way to get our society to change is to frighten people with the possibility of a catastrophe, and that therefore it is all right and even necessary for scientists to exaggerate. They tell me that my belief in open and honest assessment is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">naïve</span>. "Wolves deceive their prey, don't they?" one said to me recently. Therefore, biologically, he said, we are justified in exaggerating to get society to change.<br /><br />The climate modelers who developed the computer programs that are being used to forecast climate change used to readily admit that the models were crude and not very realistic, but were the best that could be done with available computers and programming methods. They said our options were to either believe those crude models or believe the opinions of experienced, data-focused scientists. Having done a great deal of computer modeling myself, I appreciated their acknowledgment of the limits of their methods. But I hear no such statements today. Oddly, the forecasts of computer models have become our new reality, while facts such as the few e<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">xtinctions</span> of the past 2.5 million years are pushed aside, as if they were not our reality.<br /></blockquote><br />He also goes on to disabuse us of the notion that even if the global warming alarmists are wrong, it doesn't hurt us to try.<br /><blockquote><p>Many of my colleagues ask, "What's the problem? Hasn't it been a good thing to raise public concern?" The problem is that in this panic we are going to spend our money unwisely, we will take actions that are counterproductive, and we will fail to do many of those things that will benefit the environment and ourselves. </p><p>For example, right now the clearest threat to many species is habitat destruction. Take the orangutans, for instance, one of those charismatic species that people are often fascinated by and concerned about. They are endangered because of deforestation. In our fear of global warming, it would be sad if we fail to find funds to purchase those forests before they are destroyed, and thus let this species go extinct.</p></blockquote><br />(Hat Tip to <a href="http://rabidsanity.blogspot.com/2007/10/clear-view-of-global-warming.html">Steve</a>)GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-30308631378089601082007-10-22T04:47:00.000-07:002007-10-22T04:52:37.274-07:00Must have been a stand in...Commissioner Diane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jovick</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kuntz</span> was <a href="http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/NEWS01/710220301">quoted in the Tribune this morning</a> on the 5-minute (formerly, 3-minute) rule for public comment at City Commission meetings:<br /><blockquote>I was never in favor of time limits. When people take time to voice their opinion or concerns, whether it is for one minute or 20 minutes, it is our obligation to listen to what they have to say.</blockquote><br />Amazingly, when one reviews the records of the applicable meetings, <a href="http://www.ci.great-falls.mt.us/records/minutes/yr2007/m01162007.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.ci.great-falls.mt.us/records/minutes/yr2007/m08072007.htm">here</a>, both Resolutions passed with 5-0 votes. So Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Jovick</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kuntz</span> voted for things she was "never in favor of."<br /><br />Conscience or consensus?GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11068216.post-21404967618056225262007-10-20T21:35:00.000-07:002007-10-20T21:49:52.805-07:00Town Hall Meeting-UpdateI was fortunate to be able to attend part of the Town Hall Meeting this evening. I had to leave due to family commitments (Apparently I am not alone in that; two other candidates bowed out for family <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">commitments</span>).<br /><br />I hope to post more details later, but I was disappointed in this Meeting mostly for who was not there. Neither incumbent attended, Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Jovick</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kuntz</span> for family <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">commitments</span>, and the Mayor for reasons unspecified due to her lack of a response to the invitation. Elna Hensley and Bill Bronson were both absent, due to prior <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">commitments</span>, one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">of</span> them "family commitments" although I don't remember which one was family and which one was just prior.<br /><br />I didn't see any media there, print, television or radio. Considering the Tribune <a href="http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/NEWS01/71020003">publicized it,</a> I think it's too bad they didn't attend.<br /><br />I think it is fair to say that this was the anti-establishment debate. The two incumbents skipped it. Bill Bronson, while a good hand, is on the City's Planning Board. And, it was suggested tonight that Elna Hensley either works, or recently worked, with Coleen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Balzarini</span> at the City's Fiscal Services Department.<br /><br />Nevertheless, it was interesting. I'll post more when I can.GeeGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896054313394692210noreply@blogger.com22