Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.
A three-time mayor of the town of Quartzsite, AZ announced last week that he is in the process of forming a public-private partnership as a response to the Yakima judgment.
Charles Oldham released a press statement saying “La Paz Disposal, LLC is spearheading an effort by concerned citizens to form a $15,000,000 Public-Private Partnership (“PPP”) for waste management and disposal.”
“As everyone knows, La Paz County needs to quickly raise capital in order to satisfy the Judgment entered against it in Yakima Compost Company v. La Paz County Case No. CV 2003- 0119. It just makes sense to me to see that these monies come from the private sector instead of through new taxes.
“The original judgment has grown to over $14m with interest accruing monthly,” he continued. “I have lined-up a $15,000,000 financing package from the private sector with those who are willing to invest in a new PPP with La Paz County. After paying off the judgment, the PPP will manage and operate waste management and disposal in La Paz County. This is a “win-win” for our entire county and those communities that exist within it.”
Oldham set up a website to support the initiative at lapazdisposal.com. No word on how viable the County thinks such an arrangement would be as a way to deal with the Yakima judgment.
Without supervisors seeing what’s in Oldham’s plan for them, they’ll stand by and watch Clapperton’s haystack burn until the judgment grows to twenty million, the hell with this fine idea that would bring outside money into the county, they’ll be content, as usual, with taxation, and by extension, further erosion of consumer buying power — as well as reduction in business revenues — upending the delicate balance in the economic ecosystem, choking us all in the same way runaway algae chokes water. On the heels of Oldham’s interesting plan, I’m suggesting we adopt a system wherein supervisors are unpaid volunteers, the way all government used to be run. Only the blind can not see how career politicians have positioned our county on the precipice of collapse and ruin. We wouldn’t be here if our supervisors had come from a field of volunteers, who by definition of their “giving” nature, are successful decision-makers, and by extension, generous. Some of us have been volunteers all of our lives, but what I’ve observed in LPC during my long time here, fewer government employees participate in volunteer activities, unless they’re directed to do so as part of their job function, in which case they’re paid. Taxpayers deserve far more than the collapse and ruin brought on by non-volunteer stripes whose agenda has less to do with county prosperity, more with personal prosperity.
As a life long volunteer myself, here’s a hearty two thumbs up to your post. We need to get back to the old idea that politicians are regular citizens intent on doing a good job for their community, then leave and let someone else take up the task. When I ran for Supervisor some people told me that if I win and stay in office for X amt. of years I’d qualify for some kind of a state retirement benefit. WTF? (which I wouldn’t have taken anyway because it’s unconstitutional, and who would want to have that “job” for more than one term anyway? Ok, people like Dan Field and Holly Irwin and Sam Vederman would)
Jackal, if you run for office you have my vote, and I’ll bring at least 100 more voters your way too!
Now, as to Oldham’s offer, I’m not as skeptical that this won’t be taken seriously. Something tells me a deal is in the works. I may be wrong, it’s just a hunch I have.
I’m wondering what John Wright and the KLPZ crew and all the others on this blog think of this offer
Great post, Jackal! I’ve been checking out their website, lapazdisposal.com, and this is a real deal — successfully done by others and not at all outside the realm of realistic. The county is lucky there’s another option since they have come up with NOTHING while this mess continues threatening us and our community with bankruptcy. When they call a meeting to hear Oldham’s plan — which they asked to do on their site — I’ll be there to hear every comment!! This is the best news I’ve heard about this entire disaster.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 20, 2011.
AS I SAT THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, JUST FOR FUN, I COUNTED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IN A ROOM THAT WILL ACCOMODATE APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE, THERE WERE ONLY 27 PRESENT. OF THOSE, APPROX. 14 WERE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, MOST OF WHOM WERE THERE ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
I NOTEDTHE REST AS 3 OR 4 FROM THE TOWN OF QUARTZSITE, 1 NEWSPAPER REPORTER, AND 2 FROM THE BUCKSKIN SANITARY DISTRICT. THE REST I DIDN’T RECOGNIZE.
THE MEETING WENT RATHER QUICKLY, WITH ONLY 16 ITEMS OF BUSINESS, FROM “CALL TO ORDER” AS ITEM #1, TO “ADJOURNMENT” AS ITEM #16.
I ARRIVED APPROX. 5 MINUTES AFTER THE MEETING STARTED, AND LEFT APPROX. 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING ENDED. AFTER THE MEETING, I CONTACTED THE BOARD OFFICE AND REQUESTED AN AUDIO CD OF THE ENTIRE MEETING, AS WELL AS A COPY OF THE MINUTES. I WAS TOLD THAT MY REQUESTED PUBLIC RECORDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ME THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON, AND THAT THE CD WOULD COST ME 5 DOLLARS.
I HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED AN AUDIO COPY OF THE MEETING FROM ANOTHER SOURCE PRESENT THAT MORNING, AND I WILL COMPARE THE TWO TO INSURE BOTH ARE IDENTICAL IN CONTENT.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON I WILL LOG IN TO PARKER LIVE AND PROVIDE SOME EXCERPTS AND QUOTES FROM THE MEETING’S SPEAKERS.
THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO ANY ONE WHO REQUESTS IT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO THE BOARD OFFICE, AND COMPLETE AND SIGN A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FORM. WHEN YOUR REQUESTED INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A SMALL COPYING FEE.
THIS IS YOUR RIGHT TO DO SO, WITHOUT QUESTION OR HARASSMENT. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT TAKES PLACE AT THESE MEETINGS AND ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND LEARN HOW YOUR BOARD IS SPENDING YOUR TAX DOLLARS.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE POLITE AND CIVIL TO THE OFFICE SECRETARIES, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MESS THE COUNTY IS IN. THANKS!
Thanks for the update King. I was wondering how many people attended. Pretty sad! Please keep us posted!
What was most interesting was that Dan denied giving any information to Quartzsite’s mayor. That’s the info that Bill Moore was passing out. The mayor stated that this info was given to him by Dan Field at the last meeting. So what’s the truth-knowing Dan as I do it’s pretty hard to discount the mayors statement.
As for Mr Oldham, I’ll just wait and see–his past dealings does not suit this offer from him.
Hmmmm, that IS interesting. You know what gracie, you and I agree on a lot of things. Time will tell….
C’mon people, nobody else has anything to say? Don’t be shy. Exercise your 1st amendment rights. I have it on good authority that it’s still allowed here!
Gracie — I thought your post was confusing (to me, at least.) Can you help me figure out what is happening? Field denied giving any info to who? What mayor stated the info was given by Field at what meeting? Where did someone state that? I wanted to see where a Mayor is talking about what the county is or isn’t going to do as I am hoping for no new taxes.
willow–The Quartzsite Town meeting on the 14th-it was a out of control meeting by a group of “thugs? You can watch the whole meeting on utube. The Mayor made a statement that he received a letter from Dan Field that kind of turned the meeting into a real donybrook. Of course Dan denied it at the supervisors meeting monday. What else could he do as it was brought up at the Call to the Public. Dan has an image to protect as County Manager- He cannot afford to look too bad in the BOS’s eyes.
Mr Roth-we may agree on a lot of items, but, I do not agree with your methods of addressing them. I have worked very hard all my life and I had a very succesful business for nineteen years. I always paid the maximum money into fica and all other taxes. I am comfortable with my life and home. I just hate to see you and your choharts here in Quartzsite complaining all the time. Perhaps if you would sort of mellow out and attack the establishment in a different manner, you would get a lot more done. Giving the middle finger is not condusive to your cause,,very childish.
Thank You, Gracie — that does clarify what you had said. I saw one of those videos, too, and was shocked at how just the mention of Field’s name had the whole crowd up in arms.
Mrs Huntley,
You couldn’t be more screwed up if you tried!
Please no insults, thank you. -JW
Sorry John,
I meant screwed up in the sense that you’ve got it more backwards than you can imagine!
Gracie just who in that video are you calling thugs? Let’s clear this up once and for all. If your refering to the Quartzsite Police Officers standing to the far end of the room in red shirts, you could not be more wrong. Those are the officers that are standing up for what is right and trying to explaine to you town of Quartzsite people that the Police Department is not being run the way it should be and that their Chief is doing things he should not be doing as a law enforcement officer, now if you and any other tax payer in the town don’t care that Jeff is doing things against the very law he is sworn to uphold them you just keep paying your taxes and runing your business with your blind eye to whats going on there. I agree the meeting was taken over by thugs they were dressin blue uniforms the biggest one that walked up front to intimadate those dressed in red shirts as the AZCOPS rep was speaking on their behalf. You see Gracie I’ve been in law enforcement for over 10 years and I know for a fact those officers in red would not lay their jobs on the line if they didn’t have all the facts they need to open everyone’s eyes to what Jeff is doing there in QTZ, they would not of contact AZCOPS and AZCOPS would not of been at that meeting to represent them if they didn’t think the officers were right. So please confirm with all of us Gracie just who are you considering to be thugs in that video? Because I just wanna make sure we are all on the same page. As for Richard’s attempt to deal with the damage from Yackima judgement I say good for you Richard for at least trying to come up with something our dead ass BOS can’t seem to do, I hope it works out.
From your lips to Gods ear TB!
LOL Roth, I know
I found more information about what they are trying to do at quartzsitenews.com after the headline there’s a link to read more. It’s pretty interesting. In there, Oldham says they asked to be heard over a year ago and no one including Field would even call them back. Our tails are in a $ 10m crack and they don’t even want to listen to a plan? What in God’s name is wrong with these people? Has anyone heard if the BOS is going to allow a meeting to hear them out this time?
If anybody finds related stories would you post them here? I can’t pay any more taxes. I will have to sell my property and I know at least 4 property owners who are in my same position.
willow- Oldham is not the only on to propose a plan to the supes. An editorial in the parker pioneer a couple weeks ago had an offer to the supes from Mr. Cramer and Jones to operate the landfill and make money. They just turn there head at any reasonable solutions.Senate Bill 1178 applies ONLY to La Paz County and allow the supes to raise excise taxes without going to a popular vote. If they pass this the base tax rate in La Paz county will go from 7.6% to 8.36% immediately. Then in 2013 the can raise it another 20% to 9.88%!!! In Parker the sales tax will go from 9.6% to 11.88%! And in Quartzsaite it will go up to 12.38%!! You wanna talk about losing the snowbirds! They already sream about the tax rates. Taxation without representation!!! But hey, we voted for them.
I didn’t vote for them. I ran AGAINST them! This is what happens when you listen to the establishment people.
Good point Roth! It appears that the old supes are still in control by the way things are going. Nothing but the names have changed. La Paz County, “we do stupid RIGHT”
So they pass it — I think we have 30 days to file the intent to bring it to a referendum? Then signatures have to be collected and during that process it’s a period of injunctive relief. It then shows up on the ballot. This isn’t a done deal if people stand against them in an organized, legal fashion.
The best approach as I see it is to question the consitutionality of SB 1178. Don’t think it will stand up to any scrutiny because I believe it is unconstituional. But hey, that has never hindered any actions by authority in La Paz County in the past!
The CON stitution, you silly goose! That’s a dead letter!!!
WELL, AS I SAID I WOULD DO IN POST #4 ABOVE, HERE IS MY REPORT FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011. IN REFERENCE TO MY REQUESTED PUBLIC RECORDS…….NOT AVAILABLE!!!!!! LET’S SEE, I REQUESTED A COPY OF THE BOARD MEETING CD AND A COPY OF THE MEETING MINUTES ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, FOLLOWING THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING. THEN CAME TUESDAY. THEN WEDNESDAY. THEN THURSDAY. THE OFFICE IS CLOSED FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, SO I WILL TRY AGAIN MONDAY, JUNE 27. THAT WILL BE A FULL 7 DAYS SINCE MY REQUEST. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!
Mr. Roth,
The Consitution is not a ‘con’ and is not dead. Please leave your political activism and style in Quartzsite, for it only ‘works’ there. God bless you.
John, sorry for labeling Roth as a “vulgarian”.
You didn’t get the memo “M”? Anyone who asserts their CON stitutional rights in this county is to be arrested and tried using legal maneuvers to make our “leaders” look good in the castrated local media.
http://youtu.be/8I4EsfnUGrI
King, are you surprised? Better be careful or they will start calling you names like “dissident”! Or my favorite by Dan Field, “he’s trouble”
Oh Gracie, still waiting to read your response. What, the cat got your toung?
Have to agree with Roth here. In La Paz County you had better not disagree with the old guard or you will be retaliated against. Wouldn’t be surprized if King’s retirement checks started to disappear. I agree that in most parts of the good old U.S. of A. that the Constitution still stands. Just not here.
Gee. It looks like the same people running Parker are also running Quartzsite. They don’t honor FOIA requests or efforts to obtain records there, either. Oh but that would mean that Dan Field — oh, never mind. Couldn’t be.
Willow, hate to be the spelling police, but it’s “ruining” NOT “running”. If anything they are running this county right into the ground!
Can you say “Higher Taxes?”
I tried to warn you guys but everyone thought Holly Irwin’s establishment backing would help them! It certainly helped the Irwins and Dan Field.
I LEFT THE BOARD MEETING EARLY AS BAIT. THIS MAY YET BE INTERESTING. BACK MONDAY.
Good one King! Yes, keep us posted. I noticed when I would show up to the BOS meeting, without fail, within 35 to 45 mins Chief of Police Jeff Gilbert was there, practically kissing Lowerey in the bench seat. (sometimes with Alex Taft in tow) I doubt you could’ve pryed them apart with a crow bar.
He was there to try and diffuse anything I might say, but I never spoke whenever he showed up so it killed everyone’s gameplan.
Anyway, good try at a trap! Hope you catch them in a lie!!! (if you didn’t, you’ll catch them next time, they can’t help themselves!)
Mabe you can hook up with that lostinlalapaz fellow. You two seem like you have mutual ideas…
Yes Gracie/Mary, in your opinion, who are the thugs? It’s ironic that Wes Huntley lobbied so hard to get rid of Chief Gilbert, and advertise for the position – only to renew his contract. I believe that’s how he got his nickname “Waffling Wes”.
Willow is right. The same people are running Quartzsite and the county. According to news archives, we have Dan Field to thank for Chief Gilbert, Alex Taft, Pam Walsma, and Holly Irwin. Gilbert and Sheriff Lowery were CRIT pals, but the tribes wont discuss their work relationship. Quartzsite should not hire the county’s rejects, like Lowery’s former second in command, Rick Patterson. Oh, and wasn’t it Lowery’s pal Joe Escorza who got AZCOPS to endorse Sandy Pierce, Don Lowery and Sam Vederman?
[Edited. – potentially libellous. – JW]
Get a big broom and sweep them all out of the county!
I will help collect signatures for a referendum on the excise tax. Whose pulling the papers?
Send me some letters to the editor guys! The deadline for the July issue is the .
Note to self, never piss off that lady who wears her ovaries on the outside of her pants at The Desert Freedom Press.
There’s something wrong with your link to Escorza’s myspace page
After the last Quartzsite Town meeting on June 14th, with the videos being posted on You Tube, they are spreading like a grass fire through the powers that be in Phoenix with great alarm! I have been informed officially that Chief Jeff Gilbert is only one of several that are now under criminal investigation by an outside agency that he has NO political pull with.
The big question now is, “How many will Jeff roll over on to save prison time and where he will spend that time?” One could say that if Gilbert wasn’t IMHO, busy covering up, he was hiding the skeletons in the closets throughout La Paz for his friends in office. At this point it looks as though he has the most to lose from the evidence that has been recovered to date. But then again, whom in the food chain is ready to sell him out to save having to pull any prison time?
Anyone that watched the video of the June 14th meeting can surely see two things. The police chief is a tainted tool for the Neo-Nazi’s on the council and that Roth’s arrest was a preplanned and poorly exacuted attempt to supress freedom of speech. I saw the video of this Chief of Police compare the good folks in Quartzsite to the Tuscon shooter. I am not sure one could get more pathetic and vulgar than that. He should have been fired for that statement alone. The Quartzsite government is as corrupt as they get. They, and the La Paz County leaders should be voted out. Unfortunately it will be long after the damage is done.
I just got done reading the Quartzsite Mayor’s website and I think Quartzsite is… omg… like stick a fork in those guys already!!! I will be back after I stop rolling around on the floor LMAO at those councilmen… omg… good for that guy ROFL http://www.quartzsitemineshaft.com
Chief Jeff Gilbert’s problems are not over yet. As you have said L.I.L.P., all you have to see is the videos being his major undoing. Hard to deal with your defense when that old, “Film at 11” that everyone can see for them selves thanks to all the videos out there clearly showing what kind of C.O.P. he has been and still is. How many times has he (Gilbert) violated the “Due Process” of the visitors and citizens here in Quartzsite and now he wants us to feel sorry when he cries about his “Due Process.”
As you have said L.I.L.P., he is just a tainted tool and when he becomes too hot from this and other criminal investigations, you will see his puppet masters cut his strings and disavowing his existence faster than a member of the I.M.F. from Mission Impossible. If you think the people that live and own property in Quartzsite are upset with him now, just wait until they learn that they are going to have to foot the bill for his criminal and civil trials! This will be one the rare times when the defendant will be convicted by his own words while never taking the witness stand…
OMG! It’s on tomorrow night’s Quartzsite Council agenda – it appears they intend to enact a complex EXCISE TAX CODE!!! Taxes on items over $1,000 that are purchased elsewhere – TAXED when you bring them into town! Gross receipts of RV park/apt rental – TAXED! Vendor sales – TAXED! Contractors construction work – TAXED! We need a county wide REFERENDUM!!!
This is where socialists fail. Never have raising taxes achieved their intended results. Sure there will be an uptick in receipts for a time being, but the people who are going to pay these taxes are going to vote with their feet!
This is all the handiwork of Alex Taft and Dan Field, two of the worst socialists to ever work in the County!
Again we see IMHO the total mismanagement by Town Manager Alex Taft of the government within the Quartzsite Town walls! If you own property in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”! If you do business in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”! If you own and run a RV Park in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”! If you are a renter in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”! If you plan to be a vender in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”! If you are a renter in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”! If you plan to spend this winter in Quartzsite, you MUST READ the proposed “Excise Tax Code”!
There is NO doubt in my mind from what I have read that it can and will be challenged in court and overturned (more costly attorney fees for the tax payers). However, what bothers me most comes from the fact that this is the last nail that will be driven into the coffin only to turn Quartzsite into a sleep gas stop and Ghost Town on the highway maps and a very short note in the history books showing how NOT to run a town. One must ask them selves, “What really is behind this move?” The biggest tragedy is the retired people that have laid down stakes and made Quartzsite their last home only to find out that they can no longer pay the taxes and fees that the Town of Quartzsite has placed in their way of an affordable place to live out the rest of their lives…
ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, I PICKED UP MY REQUESTED PUBLIC RECORDS FROM THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE, WHICH INCLUDED AN AUDIO CD OF THE JUNE 20, 2011 MEETING, AS WELL AS A PHOTOCOPY OF THAT MEETING’S MINUTES.
WHEN I GOT HOME AND OPENED THE CD, I FOUND IT TO CONTAIN 4 SEPARATE TRACKS, TIMED AS FOLLOWS: #1/ 42 MINUTES AND 35 SECONDS, #2/ 29 SECONDS, #3/ 6 MINUTES AND 38 SECONDS, #4/ 6 MINUTES AND 57 SECONDS.
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS TRACK #3, IN WHICH A WOMAN FROM QUARTZSITE IS SPEAKING AT THE “CALL TO THE PUBLIC” MICROPHONE, VERY ELOQUENTLY PROVIDING HER VIEWS ON QUARTZSITE POLITICS.
AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND 25 SECONDS INTO TRACK #3 (46 MINUTES AND 29 SECONDS INTO THE MEETING), I WALKED OUT OF THE MEETING AND CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME, WHICH CAN BE HEARD.
ON THE CD, AFTER I LEFT, THE WOMAN CONTINUED HER SPEECH BY REFERRING BASICALLY, TO ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH HER PERCEPTION OF HOW QUARTZSITE SHOULD BE, AS: “GARBAGE THAT COMES OUT” (3 MINUTES AND 54 SECONDS ).
SUPERVISOR DRUM AGREED WITH HER, AND TOLD HER, IN PART: “EVEN THE COUNTY HAS A LITTLE NUCLEUS OF CANCER THAT WE CALL IT….“ THEN REFERRED TO HER AS A “GREAT LEADER”.
THIS TYPE OF PUBLIC RESPONSE FROM ANYONE IN A POSITION OF POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE OF THAT PERSON’S TRUE MINDSET TOWARD ANYONE WHO MIGHT CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND DISAGREE WITH THEM BY SPEAKING OUT WITH AN OPPOSING VIEW.
WE ALL KNOW THE BASIC DEFINITION OF CANCER. OTHERS ARE “EVIL”, “BLIGHT”, “SCOURGE”, “CANKER”, “PLAGUE”, “MENACE”, AND “BLIGHT’.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, DESPOTS HAVE ALWAYS SOUGHT TO SILENCE THEIR OPPOSITION. WE SEE THIS HAPPENING TODAY IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES. IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WE STILL HAVE SOME RIGHTS LEFT, AND ONE OF THOSE IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
TO A DESPOT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS VERY MUCH INDEED A CANCER.
A COPY OF THIS CD IS AVAILABLE AS PUBLIC RECORD FROM THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE FOR A 5 DOLLAR FEE.
HEAR HEAR!!!
Yeah also thinks that having Buckalew as counsel, Holly’s husband as armed Park Ranger and putting the Yakima judgement on the back of La Paz County taxpayers are good ideas so I wouldn’t give much creedance to a Drum idea or opinion. Maybe after he is voted out of office he will move to Quartzsite! I bet Alex Taft and the current QCC (Quartzsite Currupt Council) would welcome him with open arms. Hey he might just be the next Chief of Police! Ancient Buddist teachings say that expectation is the key to all disappointment. Lower your expectations my friends and find true happiness and joy in La Paz County.
Yeah Lost in La Paz, Buckalew is a real piece of work. An attorney I know told me he sent a La Paz County resident to prison for life, and when confronted with the fact that he was innocently imprisoned, he didn’t care!!! The innocent man is now free but he wasn’t for a while because Buckalew was able to put him away, kind of like how Vederman tried his best to give me a felony. People like this aren’t American in my book! They’re not even human!!! Does anyone care?
This Youtube is for you Lost in La Paz
http://youtu.be/Bitxwy6okn4
“Legalize Freedom” I love it. Great Video.
Thanks Mike
WHEN I WAS IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, I REMEMBER A CLASSROOM BANNER WHICH READ AS FOLLOWS: 1. IS IT THE TRUTH? 2. IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? 3. WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?
YEARS LATER, I DISCOVERED THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE REFERRED TO AS “THE FOUR WAY TEST”, AND ARE DISPLAYED AND RECITED AT ROTARY INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AROUND THE WORLD, EVEN HERE IN PARKER.
IN ACTUALITY, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED IS QUESTION NUMBER ONE, NAMELY: “IS IT THE TRUTH? IF IT IS INDEED THE TRUTH, THE REMAINING THREE QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ASKED.
HERE’S THE PROBLEM. THE TRUTH APPEARS TO BE ONLY A VAPOR IN LA PAZ COUNTY GOVERNMENT. EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL OF OUR SO-CALLED “LEADERS” RECITE THE “FOUR WAY TEST” EVERY WEEK, THE WORDS SEEM TO BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN THE MOMENT THEY ARE SPOKEN, WHICH IS EVIDENCED BY THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN TODAY.
SUPERVISOR DRUM HAS MADE IT PUBLICLY CLEAR THAT HE CONSIDERS ME PART OF THE “LITTLE NUCLEUS OF CANCER”, ALL BECAUSE I, AND A FEW OTHERS, HAVE THE AUDACITY TO PUBLICLY ASSERT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THE QUOTE ABOVE CAME FROM THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S MEETING ON JUNE 20TH, 2011, AND IS ENTIRELY REPRESENTATIVE AS TO HOW HE FEELS ABOUT ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH HIM. HERE’S SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER: WEREN’T THE JEWS A TYPE OF “CANCER” TO ADOLF HITLER? HMMM!
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECENTLY LAID OFF AT LEAST 13 EMPLOYEES, YET RETAINED THE ABSOLUTELY USELESS “PARK RANGER” POSITIONS TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $100,000 A YEAR TO LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYERS. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMPLETE AND IRRESPONSIBLE WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS, THIS BOARD CONSISTANTLY TURNS A DEAF EAR TO ANY AND ALL WHO DARE TO PRESENT A REASONABLE OBJECTION.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, ON MY SCANNER, I HEARD DISPATCH SEND THE UPRIVER DEPUTY TO PATRIA FLATS IN REFERENCE TO A GRAFFITI COMPLAINT THERE. THE DEPUTY REQUESTED DISPATCH TO CONTACT THE “PARK RANGER”, BUT WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO FIRST CONTACT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BECAUSE THE “PARK RANGER” WAS NOT ON DUTY THAT DAY, NEITHER WAS THE BOARD. SO EXACTLY WHAT DOES THE “PARK RANGER” DO? NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, OTHER THAN HE ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AND COLLECTS A HEFTY SALARY FOR BASICALLY NOTHING IN RETURN, OTHER THAN PAID TRANSPORTATION FROM CIBOLA TO PARKER AND BACK.
THE THREE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EACH DRAW A SALARY OF APPROXIMATELY $64,000 TAX DOLLARS A YEAR. THE COUNTY MANAGER DRAWS APPROX. $107,000 TAX DOLLARS A YEAR. THE “PARK RANGER” POSITION IS PAID SOMEWHERE AROUND $60,000 DOLLARS A YEAR. I’VE HEARD THAT PART OF THAT IS GRANT FUNDED, BUT SOMEONE’S BEING TAXED FOR IT, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT FREE. THE TOTAL FOR THE ABOVE SALARIES IS APPROX. $359,000 DOLLARS.
RATHER THAN SEND 13 MORE FAMILIES TO THE BREADLINE, HOW ABOUT CUTTING THE UNNECESSARY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S POSITION AND THE CERTAINLY UNNECESSARY “PARK RANGER” POSITION AND SAVE APPROX. $167,000 DOLLARS A YEAR, OR PUT THOSE LAID OFF BACK TO WORK? OH, I’M SORRY, I FORGOT THAT COMMON SENSE, REASON AND LOGIC DO NOT APPLY TO THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ONLY SPECIAL INTERESTS.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AN OCCASSIONAL BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S MEETING, HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT NO COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EVER, SPEAK AT “CALL TO THE PUBLIC” AS TO THEIR CONCERNS AS EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY? THIS IS WHY YOU SEE ANONYMOUS NAMES AND MONIKERS ON VARIOUS BLOGS AND POSTS, WITH VERY FEW ACTUAL NAMES.
THE REASONS FOR THIS SHOULD BE OBVIOUS. AS A FORMER COUNTY EMPLOYEE OF OVER 20 YEARS, I TOO WAS RELUCTANT TO SPEAK OPENLY, FOR FEAR OF REPRISAL. I NEEDED MY JOB, SO I DID NOT SPEAK OUT. WELL, NOW IT’S MY TURN! OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED THOSE IN HIGH PLACES, EVEN AT THE LOCAL JUSTICE COURT, AS SPECIAL INTERESTS WERE GIVEN PRIORITY OVER OTHERS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
ON PAGE 5 OF THIS WEEK’S PARKER PIONEER, THERE IS A “NOTICE OF TAX INCREASE”, TELLING TAXPAYERS THAT LA PAZ COUNTY IS INTENDING TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES. THE ARTICLE USES THE WORD “PROPOSED” THREE TIMES. IT ALSO SAYS, IN PART:…“THE INCREASE IS…”, INDICATING THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS GOING TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING, SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2011, AT 1:30 PM AT THE BOARD ROOM.
ONE-THIRTY PM. PERFECT TIMING AS USUAL! RIGHT WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND UNABLE TO ATTEND. HOW ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN IN THE EVENING? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE TIMING OF THIS MEETING IS STRICTLY BY DESIGN, AS ARE REGULAR MEETINGS. THE BOARD COUNTS ON A SMALL TURNOUT, SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO FACE RESISTANCE FROM THE PEOPLE.
MARK MY WORDS…THE TAX INCREASE WILL TAKE PLACE, MEETING OR NO MEETING! WATCH! PROOF ONCE AGAIN THAT TAXPAYERS IN LA PAZ COUNTY HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON ANY PREDETERMINED OUTCOME. RENTERS, THIS AFFECTS YOU TOO. AS YOUR LANDLORD’S TAXES GO UP, SO WILL YOUR RENT.
EVERYONE THAT POSSIBLY CAN, SHOULD ATTEND THIS MEETING ON AUGUST 1ST. CARPOOL IF NECESSARY. PLAN NOW ON HOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET THERE. THIS BOARD HAS ALLOWED THIS 14 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO FIND THE MONEY WITHOUT BREAKING OUR FINANCIAL BACKS TO PAY FOR THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS.
SEE, THE “FOUR WAY TEST” DOES NOT APPLY TO LA PAZ COUNTY!
NOTE: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST ACCURATE CORRECTIONS TO THIS LETTER.
KING CLAPPERTON
LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYER…PAYER…PAYER…PAYER
Sorry King nut you should feel honored to pay taxes in La Putz county! And why on Earth would anyone question the actions of Supervisor Drum? With all the corruption in our little county you should feel relieved that we only have a small amount when compared to Quartzsite! The Board of Stupervisors sure as hell are happy for the worldwide attention on Quartzsite, keeps the light off them. They just fail to realize that the next in line to this debacle will be THEM!! Of course I feel honored to be a LOW PAY county resident and just love paying some of the highest property and sales tax in the western US!! Viva la PUTZ’S
I agree Lost In La Paz. What’s wrong with paying more and more and more, and even more yet, in taxes? It’s the price we pay as Americans to be ruled by people like the Board Of Supervisors and Dan Field. They shouldn’t be bothered with having to think, we ought to never question them or their motives. After all, we elected them to do their job, now let them tax and regulate like it’s Quartzsite on steroids! I for one am thankful that George Nault, and the Three Amigos and Dan Field are doing their very best at making La Paz County even poorer than what it is. You can’t have freedom and prosperity in Amerika! That’s so 2000ish. And don’t even get me started on the heavy handed justice system. They need to do more. I think Sam Vederman should imprison ALL non-violent victimless lawbreakers immediately without even a chance of a trial. After 9-11-01 this country can’t afford to even think about the consequences of living in a police state.
King, you better wake up and do it soon. Your kind of talk is CRAZY!!! You sound like one of those wack-job CON-stitutionalists. I bet you think Ron Paul is a good man! Turn on your TEEVEE and stop reading those books!!! You can’t trust what you read, only what you are told.
Sorry for the long rant, I’ve got to go lick my Masters Boot now. I’m coming Jeff………