Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.
La Paz County Board of Supervisors met today in a well-attended special meeting aimed at solving budgetary problems by cutting personnel costs.
County Administrator Dan Field addressed the Board, saying that a number of factors has created the need to cut some personnel costs at the County, which is one of the area’s biggest employers.
Although this is not a problem created by the Board, he said, “the burden now falls on [their] shoulders.” Field acknowledged the difficulty of the subject of layoffs and said it was an emotional subject. However, he said it appeared the Board now had no choice.
Field went on to outline a restructuring plan, including the 13 positions which would be affected out of 139 general fund positions. He said the amount saved to balance the budget would be over $786,000.
Before adjourning the meeting, Chairman John Drum said this was “the hardest thing I had to do in my entire life.”
Supervisor Sandy Pierce was visibly upset when talking about the decision afterwards.
Administrator Dan Field will be notifying the affected employees privately and executing the restructuring plan under authority of the Board.
Are the two new law enforcement rangers for the Parks and Recreation Dept. part of the thirteen lay-offs? I know one is married to Supervisor Irwin, but an objective and ethical decision to lay-off unneeded personnel would include them, as well. Can I hope for ethics in La Paz County?
Nice thought DR but with this board do you really think the husband of a supervisor is gonna go? They had to lay off people to meet bonding requirements so they can raise TAXES!! Think of the IRONY in that! Fire employees to raise a tax to make the PEOPLE pay for Gene Fisher, Cliff Edey, Mary Scott, John Drum, Sandy Pierce and Holly Irwins SCREW-UPS!!! Only in La Paz County. MORE TAXES!!!
HELLO AGAIN LA PAZ COUNTY, JUNE 15, 2011
SINCE I PUBLICLY “FIRED” THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2011, I HAVEN’T RETURNED TO THE BI-MONTHLY WASTE OF TIME THAT I REFER TO AS A “BORED” MEETING. I HAVE THOUGH, STAYED UP WITH MOST TOPICS OF INTEREST THROUGH THE LOCAL “PARKER PIONEER” NEWSPAPER, AS WELL AS THE “PARKER LIVE” WEBSITE ARTICLES AND BLOGS.
SINCE THIS “BORED” TOOK OFFICE, THE YAKIMA COMPANY HAS MADE NUMEROUS GENEROUS PROPOSALS TO BRING THIS RIDICULOUS LAWSUIT TO AN EQUITABLE END FOR LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYERS. THESE WERE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HAVE SHAVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OF THIS NOW $14,000,000 JUDGEMENT AGAINST US.
BUT NO, NOT THIS “BORED”! THEY WOULDN’T HEAR OF IT. INSTEAD, THEY KEPT STRINGING YAKIMA ALONG, DRAGGING THEM AND LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYERS THROUGH MULTIPLE COURT HEARINGS AND ENDLESS MEETINGS, ALL IN A FUTILE EFFORT TO SEARCH FOR A LOOPHOLE TO REVERSE THE JUDGEMENT. REMEMBER FOLKS, THIS WAS A JUDGEMENT SET BY A LA PAZ COUNTY JURY. WHY? BECAUSE LA PAZ COUNTY WAS IN THE WRONG TO BEGIN WITH! I WON’T BOTHER TO DIG UP THAT STUPID MESS RIGHT NOW.
IN THIS WEEK’S “PARKER PIONEER”, THERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH BEGINS ON THE FRONT PAGE AND CONTINUES ON PAGE 7. THAT ARTICLE PROVIDES A BRIEF SUMMARY ON THE ENTIRE CASE. READ IT IF YOU CAN. YOU WILL SEE THE FINANCIAL DISASTER THAT WE, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE FACED WITH.
THE THREE ELECTED LA PAZ COUNTY SUPERVISORS EACH EARN APPROXIMATELY $64,000 A YEAR, PLUS EXPENSES AND VEHICLES. THEIR APPOINTED COUNTY “MANAGER” EARNS A WHOPPING $104,000 A YEAR, PLUS PERKS. THAT BRINGS UP A COMBINED SALARY TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY $296,000 A YEAR, THAT’S ALMOST A THIRD OF A MILLION DOLLARS, PAID FOR BY OUR COUNTY TAX DOLLARS!
ARE YOU AWARE THAT APPROXIMATELY $100,000 A YEAR IS SPENT FINANCING TWO COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY “RANGERS” FOR THE LA PAZ COUNTY PARK SYSTEM? THAT IS TWO ARIZONA STATE CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (ONE FULL TIME AND ONE PART TIME ), THAT ARE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND WILL OF OUR COUNTY “MANAGER”.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF LA PAZ COUNTY IN 1983, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS HAD JURISDICTION IN AND OVER OUR PARK SYSTEM, AND HAS HANDLED ALL CALLS FOR SERVICE SUCCESSFULLY SINCE THEN. SINCE THIS “BORED” HAS TAKEN OFFICE, THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT YOUR SHERIFF’S OFFICE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE JOB ANY MORE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LAST SHERIFF WAS ELECTED. TO ME, IT SMACKS OF A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THE CURRENT SHERIFF, AT OUR EXPENSE. WHAT IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING IS THAT, AS MOST OF US ALREADY KNOW, OR SHOULD KNOW, THE PRIMARY “RANGER” IS THE HUSBAND OF A “BORED” MEMBER, WHO IS ONE OF THREE SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY “MANAGER“.
IN ADDITION, IF YOU HAVE A SCANNER, YOU WILL HEAR AN OCCASSIONAL CALL FOR SERVICE AT A LA PAZ COUNTY PARK. ALMOST EVERY TIME, THE RESPONDING OFFICER IS, YOU GUESSED IT, A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY, NOT A PARK “RANGER”.
HECK, SPEAKING OF WASTED TAX DOLLARS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS, LET’S KEEP GOING. FOR EXAMPLE, CONSIDER THE RE-OPENED ½ MILE ROADWAY UPRIVER, SOUTH OF BUCKSKIN STATE PARK. AS I REMEMBER, THE PROPOSED AND APPROVED BUDGET FOR THAT WORTHLESS EXPENDITURE WAS APPROXIMATELY $20,000. HAS ANYONE TAKEN AN OBJECTIVE LOOK AT THE FINISHED SURFACE OF THAT SECTION OF COUNTY ROAD, INCLUDING THE GUAGE AND LENGTH OF THE CHAIN LINK FENCE, CONSIDERED THE ACTUAL COST? I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY VIEWED THE FINAL BILL, BUT, HAVING EXPERIENCE WITH CHAIN LINK FENCING, I WOULD SAY THAT $20,000 WAS BURNED UP IN THE FENCE FABRIC ALONE, NOT INCLUDING THE MASSIVE FENCE POLES DRILLED INTO THE SOLID ROCK AND FILLED WITH CONCRETE, THE ASSOCIATED HARDWARE AND OF COURSE, LABOR HOURS. AS WELL, THE FENCE IS ONLY PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE AT STOPPING ROCKS FROM HITTING THE ROADWAY. TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF. COULD THIS WASTE OF MONEY BE ANOTHER SPECIAL INTEREST FOR A DISTRICT SUPERVISOR?
HERE’S ANOTHER ONE. THE BOAT RAMP SCHEME IN CIBOLA. YES, THAT’S RIGHT. AGAIN, FOR THOSE WHO AREN’T AWARE, A BOAT RAMP HAS BEEN OR IS BEING BUILT BY PRIVATE LAND OWNERS IN CIBOLA, WHO WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY WHEN IT’S FINISHED. ANOTHER BOAT RAMP IN CIBOLA, NEAR AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED RAMP? COULD IT BE ANOTHER SPECIAL INTEREST FOR A DISTRICT SUPERVISOR?
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT CANNOT ATTEND A SCHEDULED “BORED” MEETING AT 10:00 AM ON A MONDAY MORNING, KNOW THAT IT IS BY DESIGN THAT YOU CANNOT ATTEND. IF THE “BORED” ROOM WERE FILLED TO CAPACITY EACH MEETING, STUPID DECISIONS LIKE THE ABOVE MENTIONED YAKIMA CASE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. HOLDING MEETINGS AT SUCH A TIME SERVES ONLY TO PREVENT THE WORKING CLASS (WHOEVER’S LEFT) FROM HAVING A VOICE IN COUNTY BUSINESS, PERIOD!
SO. WITH ALL OF THIS DEBT THAT WE ARE FACING, WHAT DECISION HAS THE COUNTY “MANAGER” RECOMMENDED? PUT 13 COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUT OF WORK! HE IS QUOTED ON PARKER LIVE, IN PART, VER BATIM, AS FOLLOWS: “ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM CREATED BY THE BOARD, THE BURDEN NOW FALLS ON {THEIR} SHOULDERS”.
CAN YOU SEE THE DECEPTION IN THIS STATEMENT?
HERE’S AN ANALOGY: YOU AND I ARE STANDING TOGETHER NEAR A HAYSTACK. YOU LIGHT IT ON FIRE AND WALK AWAY. I STAND THERE AND MAKE LITTLE EFFORT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. WHO IS TO BLAME? ANSWER: YOU FOR STARTING THE FIRE AND ME FOR DOING BASICALLY NOTHING TO PUT IT OUT. BOTH OF US ARE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE.
HERE’S A THOUGHT, RATHER THAN DESTROYING THE FAMILIES OF 13 COUNTY EMPLOYEES, HOW ABOUT TERMINATING THE RIDICULOUS WASTE OF $100,000 A YEAR IN THE FORM OF THE COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY PARK “RANGER” POSITIONS AND LET OUR SHERIFF’S OFFICE DO THEIR JOB LIKE THEY HAVE DONE SINCE 1983.
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND MORE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE FOR A SMALL FEE BY GOING TO THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE DURING WORKING HOURS AND REQUESTING A COPY OF SUCH. THIS INCLUDES CD’S OF PUBLIC MEETINGS.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY. ALL OF US, NOT JUST A FEW, NEED TO BECOME AND STAY INVOLVED.
I WOULD ASK THAT IF ANYONE CAN CLARIFY OR CORRECT ANY OF THE ABOVE, PLEASE DO SO. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY NOT ONLY KNOW THE FACTS, BUT ARE AWARE OF THE TREMENDOUS DAILY WASTE OF OUR PRECIOUS TAX DOLLARS.
THANK YOU.
KING E. CLAPPERTON
LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYER-PAYER-PAYER-PAYER-PAYER
I’m thinking 13 layoffs may just be a start??$14,000,000 is a big number for a low populated county. I hope the County will be alone in laying off people. There could be a domino effect in the community, where business may have to lay-off also. That could get real ugly.
It is going to be very difficult to suck $14,000,000 out of the local economy, and still have an economy.
Best wishes – Jerry
King, I wanna buy you a beer!! It is great time to be a county employee and property owner, you get hit 3 times (salary freeze if you are fortunate enough to keep your job, high property taxes, and increase in sales tax!)
Jerry, I think the plan is to use the money saved to pay the monthly bond premium for the judgment. (I may be wrong; this may be just general budget stuff.)
Received this from Jim Willett:
————
Another boat ramp in Cibola, A job for my spouse that comes with a new truck, office, great pay and benefits and I don’t have to leave my home??? Boy I wanna be in the La Paz County Supervisors club!!!!
Way to go Danny, keep the Irwins happy-keep John happy with his subsidized golf course and I can’t figure Sandy out. Thought she wasn’t under your thumb.
By the way Danny, we do not need your input to our sorry “mayor”. Keep your thoughts at Parker.
Very soon, with the non-help of Vederman, you folks will be faced with some very sorry “people” that will migrate to Parker.
Guess that’s all I have to say–get ready for a very rough ride with the present BOS and their stooge Danny.
Do you want to know how to get out of a hole? Stop digging!
King, King, King,
Logic would agree with you. Common sense would agree with you. Intelligent and thoughtful people would agree. Progressive leaders would agree. Strong character would agree with you.
But alas the board would never consider cutting the almost comedic positions of unneeded park rangers. Gosh how did we survive without them since 1983?
If these two guys end up staying on the payroll while others are axed, I really give up.
I think I will call the La Paz Park today to see just how often these new park rangers work. Are they there 40 hours a week? Do they just show up for concerts? I’ll find out.
Gracie, you seem to be misinformed. Sam Vederman knows the law and is very fair. What has he done wrong? He is a fantastic County Attorney!
C’mon, lapazarizona! Who are you trying to convince, yourself?
Welcome back to this forum Mr. Roth. It is good to have a man of your intellect join us. What is your beef with Sam Vederman? You seem disgruntled.
I would use a related word, dissatisfied, or discontented. Disgruntled is bordering on a personal attack, which John said I better avoid….or else! FWIW, I have real reasons to be “disgruntled” with the Establishment justice system, in spite of what “M” might think and say! (Where is Vedermans best buddy anyway, haven’t seen him/her around here lately???)
Welcom back hear rothy I do beleeve. is you still drivin the low rider lincoln threw quertszite
Roth, were you the guy detained in quartzsite this week? Did they charge you with having a unibomber beard? Who is in charge there??
What the heck ‘billy’…… Use spell check.
Roth, you should sue them for what they did. Who is the city attorney?
Good for you King. Well said. The County needs to take over Quartzsite and dissolve it as a town. Who is the head POliceman down in Quartzsite.
The park rangers don’t work 40 hrs a week it’s only part time, They only come out when there is a special event or a holiday weekend. Yes the rangers are not needed for as little calls as they even get the Sheriff Department can handle what goes on there. Just to make sure we are on the same page, these cuts are not lay offs, these people are being let go not layed off.
To Michael Roth thanks for the entertainment in Q-town, some day that town will wake up and do what is right and get rid of what they consider a Chief of Police.
Lapazarizona–The greatest thing about our Country is that we can all agree to disagree about anything that we want to.
My ideas are certainly not in harmony with many others. My feelings about Mr Vederman and his methods of dealing with County issues and the way he deals with some of the malcontents that we have in this County are my own thoughts.
Why, we even have a large number of Citizens that think that Oboma is doing a good job for our Country.
So, you see what I mean? It’s a great Country to live in that we can agree to disagree> Have a wonderful day
toyotababe, I’m glad you think what is happening here is entertainment. I do try to have fun while fighting the hard core tyranny here. I wonder if you would still think it was entertainment if the police were ordered to arrest and hassle and bully you ON A DAILY BASIS. 10 of Jeff Gilberts own officers have accused him of several crimes. I was one of the “malcontents” he ordered the crimes against. (repeatedly)
It’s not just Chief Gilbert that is the problem here it’s also Alex Taft and the town council AND everyone else Dan Field hired while he ruined this town for 8 years. When are the people of this county going to get rid of him? If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have the Irwins and John Drum doing what they do. If it wasn’t for him the Yakima problem would’ve probably been worked out already. If it wasn’t for him Quartzsite would still have a kick ass economy every winter. We’d have town employees that actually lived here and cared about the place, instead of their paychecks. Not all people working here are bad, but the ones Dan Field hired and groomed are especially terrible!
SOA: We should dissolve this county and go back to Yuma county. La Paz County has yet to prove that it can govern itself.
The county has already taken over Quartzsite. Dan Field is still running the show here. Everyone knows Alex Taft and the council aren’t this evil all by themselves.
However, in defense of my beloved town. We are doing the right things here. We are fighting back against the criminals. We actually attend the meetings and let them know our dissatisfaction. This is how representative government is supposed to work. It’s weird and alien to people from the outside looking in because for most of this century the people in this country have been brainwashed into believing that government is a force of good, that all things can be solved with more laws, statutes, ordinances, etc.. And we will need more people like Jeff Gilbert to carry out those bogus laws, like disorderly conduct, which is the catch all ticket for cops who ain’t got anything else to write you up for.
You don’t see people rising up in Parker against the insanity. I’ve always wondered why Parker has a police department when you have the sherrifs office HQ’d there. NOBODY attends the B.O.S. meetings. I do and they don’t even let me speak, yet the citizens go along with it. Why do you think you deserve to be the county seat? I say move it to Quartzsite, at least we care enough to get mad at the criminals in charge!
Larry Irwin’s ranger job IS fulltime at toon of $55K I believe for driving around making sure snowbirds are picking up their trash during the week..Most likely drives his newer assigned Ford Expedition home to Cibola every day. Gilber is parttime on in as needed basis..Board claims they do not pay for his salary as the events that use the park pay county for security. Problem is, they can have deputies adjust or rotate shifts for coverage at little expense and put that money in general fund, or use the money to pay Gilbert so he can get his 20 years in as an officer!! Irwin may be paid on grant money, I say so what, you are letting good people go, make a statement and let him go to…His job is not needed and he created his own unhappiness with the LPCSO.
Say what you want about Quartzsite, at least they show up to town counsel meetings to show support for those that need it. The 13 layoffs are just the beginning, La Paz County Employees. Next will be a cut in salaries, and make no mistake the elected officials departments will be next.
I personally don’t have anything against Park Ranger Larry Irwin and wish him the best. Now in saying that it is unthinkable to keep his position funded while 13 employees are terminated. We all know a Park Ranger is not needed, and to make it more offensive is his spouse is a La Paz County Board of Supervisor.
Monday is a Board meeting, the building should be packed with concerned taxpayers and La Paz County Employees.
La Paz County = Punchbowl
Board of Supervisors = Turd!
http://youtu.be/5BmEGm-mraE
Mr. Roth,
I see you are still a vulgarian. You and Mr. Gilbert are ruining Q-Town. You both are tyrants and should leave.
M- Please refrain from name-calling. Thank you. -JW
LOL! Call me what you want. You and Sammy have a good day!
THE FOLLOWING LETTER IS THE ONE THAT I PERSONALLY WROTE AND PUBLICLY READ TO THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AT THE “CALL TO THE PUBLIC” SEGMENT OF THE MONDAY MORNING MEETING ON FEBRUARY 7, 2011. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LETTER, IN LITERARY EFFIGY, I TOLD THE BOARD THAT THEY WERE FIRED, THEN LEFT THE BUILDING. TO CLARIFY, HERE IT IS:
“GOOD AFTERNOON LA PAZ COUNTY, MY NAME IS KING CLAPPERTON. I HAVE LIVED IN LA PAZ COUNTY SINCE 1985, AND HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER SINCE APPROXIMATELY 1987.
SHORTLY AFTER MOVING HERE, I APPLIED FOR A DEPUTY’S POSITION WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AND, ONE YEAR AGO THIS MONTH, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HONORABLY RETIRE FROM THAT POSITION, FOLLOWING A 20-PLUS YEAR CAREER.
I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH LA PAZ COUNTY’S HISTORY, WHICH, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, HAS BEEN ONE OF GRATUITIOUS STAGNATION.
I AM NOT GOING TO SUBJECT THE INNOCENT RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS IN THIS ROOM WITH A LONG, DRAWN OUT PORTRAIT OF WHAT LA PAZ COUNTY COULD HAVE BEEN, UNDER RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, SO I WILL GET RIGHT TO MY POINT.
SINCE I HAVE LIVED IN LA PAZ COUNTY, I HAVE PAID MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAX, JUST TO WATCH MY HARD EARNED MONEY SEEMINGLY DISAPPEAR INTO THIN AIR, ESPECIALLY OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS.
I, FOR ONE, AM THROUGH BEING A SILENT VICTIM OF FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CUSTODIANS OF MY TAX MONEY.
THE SALARIES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THEIR APPOINTED COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ARE ALL PAID EXTREMELY WELL FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS. THEREFORE, IF WE ARE PAYING THEM TO DO ANY PARTICULAR JOB ON OUR BEHALF, THEN THEY MUST BE OUR EMPLOYEES.
THE VERY FACT THAT THESE TRUSTED EMPLOYEES HAVE, AS I PERCEIVE, IRRESPONSIBLY AND ARROGANTLY ALLOWED THIS LAWSUIT TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY, IS, IN MY OPINION, JUSTIFICATION FOR IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
THEREFORE, LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IN CLOSING, SPEAKING AS BUT ONE OF YOUR MANY EMPLOYERS………YOU’RE FIRED!
K.E. CLAPPERTON
020711”
YOU TOO CAN PRESENT YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND OPINIONS TO THE BOARD AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, DEPENDING UPON WHO YOU ARE, YOU MAY ONLY BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, IF AT ALL, SO I RECOMMEND YOU WRITE YOUR SPEECH IN ADVANCE, SO YOU CAN READ IT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD, IF THEY DON’T TELL YOU TO SIT DOWN OR OTHERWISE AJOURN THE MEETING. GOOD LUCK !
King,
You are a good man! I don’t care what everyone else says about you!!!
Roth – serious questions, no bs.
What are you looking to see happen in Quarztsite? What are your goals? Would more access to the podium at meetings be enough?
We know you want Chief Gilbert gone, the council except for Foster gone and Vederman gone.
Realistically only Chief Gilbert will be gone. He can’t survive the no confidence vote and the turmoil in the department. The council will stay and most likely Foster will be gone in the recall election. The council has solid backing and you know that and Foster has no chance against Jose. We can argue about Vederman but he is not going anywhere. He is too popular outside of Quartzsite (especially in Parker / Upriver) and there is no one that can beat him.
Freedom works in mysterious ways my friend, NO BS!
Roth calm down I was only kidding, I know all about what is going on in QTZ I work for the county, I would not give Jeff a reason to arrest me or have me pulled over on a regular basis, Yes I agree Jeff needs to go as well as Dan Fields and the whole BOS. I so can’t wait till next election, all that time Joyce waisted on her recall Sheriff Lowery scam and she should of been trying to recall Dan Fields. QTZ Officers have my full support they are standing up for what is right. I agree with who ever said 13 layoff’s is only the beginning, and who said pay needs to be cut, your so right. As far as our County Attorney he can stay he does a great job at putting drug dealers away. You would like him Roth if you wouldn’t get arrested. lol
toyotababe, you couldn’t be more wrong about Vederman. He’s gotta go like the rest of ’em! Me personally, I’m a Datsun man!
Roth I’ve been with the county for several years, I’ve seen the damage Martin did as a CA he sucked, Vederman is putting people in jail he is doing a far better job then Martin did. Now if someone better decides to run this next election that I think could do even a better job then Vederman they will have my vote. Don’t even make those cars anymore. lol
PRESS RELEASE:
La Paz County offered $15 MILLION to settle Yakima debt by private partnership!
http://lapazdisposal.com/lpd7.pdf
http://lapazdisposal.com/
Oh and unless you guys actually read Roth’s “Patriot” column in my newspaper, you really shouldn’t be so judgemental, and presume to know what any of us hope the outcome of all this “house cleaning” will be. Remember, it was Roth that organized those public meetings with Willette, so that the tax payers could get information. I think all of us only want the facts laid out for the people – then let the chips fall where they may…
toyotababe,
Putting people in jail does not make Sam Vederman a good CA. I know, I was one of those he tried to jail and all I was doing was exercising my 1st Amendment rights at town hall. Sam is a political animal first, an attorney second. (and not a very good one at that)
You may be right about Brannon, but didn’t he advise the BOS to NOT proceed with the Yakima lawsuit that is destroying this county?
Don’t make fun of my Datsuns, them’s fighting words! 🙂
Mr. Roth, why are you allowed back on this website? Yakima’s lawsuit isn’t destroying this county. This county is its own worst enemy.
Leave Sam Vederman alone. Stop being a public nuisance. You’re only embrassing yourself. And lapazarizona-stop butt kissing Sam Vederman. It’s tacky.
Oh yes Roth I as many others are aware of your being jailed, There is a correct way and an incorrect way to excerise your first amendment rights, you just haven’t learnd the correct way to do that. Slooooooowwwwww learner you are.
You don’t get it. This is how you treat tyrants and thugs! Wake up!!!
It’s funny how it seems that people who probably spend less time studying the Constitution than Roth has,like to lecture him about it. Ironically, it’s even the rights of his greatest critics that he’s fighting for. Since I was actually there the night he was arrested last year and witnessed what really happened, and since I have read his Appellate brief, I’m thinking that a lot of people are going to feel very stupid when his verdict is overturned on the basis of what the law really says – and not what some people wish it means, when selectively applied.
Oh My! Now we have roth and jade on this blog–two of the most vocal persons in Quartzsite.Time to let this go.
Yes, time to go. Scary scary Truth is here!
The squeaky wheel gets the grease!
Roth I understand your poin now open your mind larger then what it is to see mine. Do you see anyone getting arrested at the Board meetings in La Paz? The city meetings in LHC PD are televised you don’t see anyone getting arrested there either. I know you and others want things corrected but it takes time for that to happen. Yes you have questions you want answered but some of those answers have to come from someone who is authorized to answer that when they are authorized to do so. I believe Jeff and his buddies are doing things wrong but the investigation has to take it’s proper course befor the general public can know things. Rome wasn’t built in a day. These meetings in Qtz need to be more orderly. Don’t just rush up to get in line to speak do it in an orderly fashion. The mayor should see that order is done. Maybe the next meeting done right you won’t be arrested. And it’ s not just you Its Steve Bennett too and everyone else that just has to jump up and race to the mic to speak, if it’s done in an orderly fasion everyone will get their chance to speak. There may be some questions that you may be told we can’t answer just yet ok then ask when they can be answered accept that and move on. I can only hope Jose won’t get enough votes to become mayor as he is blinded by Jeff Gilbert which as many years as I have known Jose I will say I’m shocked he isn’t seeing what these officers are saying is true.
toyota, where to begin with you…. how about with the truth…
Uh, police have arrested people at Mojave BOS meetings. http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2011/03/08/news/doc4d75aeac8e108503248807.txt
What did this evil “midemeanor terrorist” do that landed him in jail? He was wearing a red white and blue hat and waving an American flag!
This isn’t the first time there were arrests there.
http://mohavecountyconstitution.com/pics/Judgement 3-9-11.pdf
And nobody really even goes to the meetings in Parker. And your idea of me not being orderly is way off base when Al Johnson, Quartzsite’s assistant town mis-manager, illegally shuts down the meeting and takes the microphone away.
You really don’t understand Roberts Rules of Order, do you?
Nobody jumped up to the mic, except Al Johnson to take it away.
I guess if I was nicer to my enslavers they would’ve been nicer to me. Kind of how the jews were treated fairly for not resisting in Germany!
Wake up!!! History may not repeat exactly but it sure does rhyme!
Quartzsite Council meetings will not become orderly until the council and staff set a better example. The June 14th meeting was very well controlled until Chief Gilbert bullied his was to the podium, and refused to step down, even though the Mayor told him to. That’s what caused the crowd to get angry. If Gilbert was allowed to disregard the “not open for public comment” restriction on that agenda item because, as the town attorney asserted, “he was an employee”, then every employee would be allowed to break the rules. But the “rules” are selectively applied. This new “no public discussion” policy was only implemented recently, to stop myself and others from pointing out important things like case law that should be considered before they vote.
I like the idea of televised meetings. Everyone should she Councilmen Winslow and Kelley name-calling and yelling at their constituents, the town manager and town attorney fawning over each other and giggling like schoolgirls, the vice mayor trying desperately to invent excuses, Al Johnson’s temper tantrums…the bad examples set for the audience go on and on.
As “CEO”, the mayor could have had both the police chief and Al Johnson removed from the room, but exactly which officer present was going to follow the state statutes and kick them out? It was a no win for Foster, who controlled the meeting pretty well under the circumstances. One misstep, and a riot could have easily broken out.There were too many guns in the room that night, and the council’s stubborn and self serving refusal to follow protocol by placing the chief on paid administrative leave and having a proper investigation conducted has clearly placed the officers and the public in real danger.
Everyone used to get their chance to speak “in an orderly fashion”, but former appointed mayor Wes Huntley order the town attorney to write new rules (that violate state law BTW) and gave them power to silence their critics. The meetings have slowly degraded because of the council, not the current mayor or the citizens.
Roth I didn’t say MOHAVE county, I said La Paz and Lake Havasu City meetings NO one has bee arrested and ther meetings there are handled in an orderly fashion, Yes Gilber had not business walking up front and acting like a childish jackass he needs to learn he does not control those meetings and the mayor should of asked him to leave if he can’t act as he should. Just because he has on a badge doesn’t mean he is God. The mayor and council members need to have control of those meetings. And you and the rest of the crowd need to wait till your called upon to aproch the mic. Is that too much to ask? I agree the city concil needs to pull their heads out of their asses and conduct those meetings by the city protocal. Contact the AZ Post on Jeff’s behavior contact the attorney general ask them what can be done if the mayor can’t keep order in the meetings and the chief of police is being a jerk.
tb,
I know you didn’t say MOHAVE, You’re missing the point. People get arrested illegally all of the time for speaking truth to power. What difference does it make if it happens at a town hall meeting or a BOS meeting? It happens. And it should NEVER happen.
For every meeting you find where the people do nothing, I’ll show you ones where the people did the right thing and let their “masters” know what they thought of them. Sitting on your hands while your elected officials run roughshod over you, isn’t very smart.
And if we wait to be called upon before we “aproch” the mic, it’ll never happen. Besides, none of us rushed the mic. The town mismanagers took away our right to speak. (remember that first amendment thingy?) And Steve Bennett wasn’t there to speak, he was there to fight. Go watch the videos.
Jeff isn’t being a jerk in this town, he’s being a [……]. His own officers have accused him of crimes. We’ve contacted all of the outside authorities and they have done nothing so far. For the first time since I’ve lived here the people are starting to act like real Americans. I’m wondering when the rest of the county will catch on
Michael- Hi. You said nobody should ever be arrested for speaking in a public meeting. But without that power, how would municipalities ever call a meeting to order? This is why meetings typically have a ‘Call to the Public’, no?
Roth,
It is simple, wait your turn, don’t raise you voice and or yell, espeically out of turn and if board is out of line, that does not give you permission to be out of line…
I meant nobody should ever be arrested for speaking truth to power. And you don’t necessarily call a meeting to order by arresting people. People can be removed but in Arizona, ONLY the mayor has this authority. A chief of police can’t arrest people because he doesn’t like the content or the style of the speech being given. This is Nazi! The first amendment is there so that we can discuss very difficult things, openly and freely, not to talk about the weather!
sanger1, watch the videos. I wasn’t out of line or any louder than the other good citizens giving the thugs a piece of their mind that night. I was arrested because of WHO I am, not what I did. I was assaulted twice in front of the Chief of Police, but because of WHO I am, he had me arrested. He didn’t even have the courage to do it himself!
If the council is out of line the citizens need to let them know in no uncertain terms, otherwise they do worse next time. Get it? We used to call this being American! Now the slaves tell the other slaves to sit down and shut up, and most slaves take it. Well, I am not a slave. I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees. But good luck to you anyway!
I believe you would have better results changing your demeanor… I do not agree with Drum shutting the BOS meeting down when you asked a very important question that we all want the answer to. He still seems to think he is LAPD or JP6 judge and can do as he pleases. The people that vote these supervisors in deserve change to question their poor decisions and be heard. As for the Qtz meetings, there a bunch of people that are out of line imo. Joining in and speaking your mind out of turn is not the way to go about getting your point across, unless you want to continue to but heads with L.E.
Thanks for your input sanger1. I’ll change my ways when the thugs in local government start following the rules. I’ve played nice and all I got was shat upon.
Oh, when I got shut down by Drum, (for exercising my 1st amendment rights) everyone called me all kinds of names here. I don’t go through life worrying what others think of me. I try to do the right things and if others don’t like it, it’s their problem not mine!
LEO’s gotta follow the rules too!
AZPOST was contacted, but won’t act until the new law takes effect next month. According to the AG, charges must be filed locally or federally. I know what IS being done to restore order, but I am not at liberty to say at this time.
What I am interested in, is what’s being done to restore sanity at the county level? Regardless of the source, this $15 mil offer may be the answer, and since it’s more than the money owed to Willette, maybe it would restore somebody’s job. The fat needs to be trimmed at every level of government .
Oh, and King C, if you ever want to write a Parker column for me, I’d be happy to print it. It’s not like anyone is getting the complete picture for their fifty cent investment in that other publication. I appreciate your common sense and I reach about 2,000 readers just in Parker!
Print media may be a dying form of communication, but I propose we give it one heck of a send off!
Sanger1 thank you for understanding my point. Your so right. Roth I agree Steve was there to fight and that is not the way to resolve anything. I saw the video and saw how many people get up to stand in line along the side waiting for the 1st person who was speaking to get done? That’s what I’m talking about they Mayor needs to run that meeting in a more professional manor allow those who want to speak to raise their hands or stand up at thier seats and let him call them up to the mic in order. Yes I agree Jeff is a […..] and should be fired, there is an investigation going on and things will be right it just takes time. Ok you should not of been arrested but you put yourself in the wrong place at the right time for Jeff to be an […]. My guess is your charges will be thrown out of court and if your smart hire a good lawyer and sue Jeff. Yes the first amendment is there for those reasons but PLEASE DO IT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANOR! I’m not saying you all don’t have something to be bent about with all the crap Jeff has been pulling down there believe me I know more then you think I do, I work with the […], be patient he will be removed.
Please do not use name-calling to make your point. -JW
Thanks TB! There is only one way to fight a [……..] like Gilbert, and it’s not Professionally. All we are doing here is bringing the truth to light. (and the truth sometime hurts) You have NO FREAKING IDEA what kind of pressure was applied to me and others who stood up to him. NO IDEA! So thanks also for the input but I think the way we have been handling this situation here is working out just fine, thank you very much!
And for what it’s worth, the only investigation that is happening so far is one that town mis-manager Alex Taft and the Town Council have hired out for. According to our own town policy, only an OUTSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY is supposed to investigate. Which I believe will happen!
And don’t take this wrong, but where were all the Gilbert haters when we were fighting him with illegal arrests and ticketing and hassling around town? Where??? Glad you’re here now, but it doesn’t sound like you’ve had to suffer like those of us that stood up to him. I’m proud of the way we handled it!!!
You almost got the point but the ball went wide.
Queen Graft, Walt Akin, Dan Field and now Jeff Gilbert WANT to make Quartzsite the county seat.
It’s all about power, money and control. And the ones who spend the money … Lord how they help themselves.
The Terrible Foursome may want all they want, but they are about to lose power, so it’s irrelavant what they want. They don’t have any power and no money and they have lost all control! TOUCHDOWN!!!
That meeting was complet;y out of control at the very beginning due to the red-caped thugs. It started with taylor comming completly unglued before the meeting even started. Bil Moore shoving blue letters into peoples faces regarding Dan Fields advice to the Mayor-In which Dan denyed doing. Even the Mayor could not control the red-hated thugs that in fact elected him to office. Wonder how our police officers felt being used by this very out of control red-hated thugs? Interesting times in Quartzsite..
All those red hatters were his own cops against Jeff Gilbert. The cops on duty were all brown nosers as far as I’m concerned. One brown nosed cop even had a cubic zirconia glued to her nose!
Loyalty before ethics is unprofessional, and that’s what we are against here.
Wow, even “Gootietoons” has back peddled:
http://www.parkerpioneer.net/articles/2011/06/14/news/doc4df78d19b0298304422338.txt
John G. wrote on Jun 21, 2011 10:07 AM:
” It should be noted the editorial in question was written prior to the June 14 Quartzsite Council Meeting. It expressed the Pioneer’s desire that an honest, thorough investigation would be conducted, and that local politicians wouldn’t try to use the matter for political gain.
We agree with Mr. Staudt that politicians not listening to the residents is as bad, if not worse, than grandstanding. We would also agree the town needs to follow its own procedures and guidelines on these matters. ”
And calling the supporters of 80% of our police force “red capped thugs”, reveals the caliber of person Gracie is. Because those “blue letters” weren’t even printed until Thursday the 16th (two days after the meeting), but they did contain actual quotes “regarding Dan Fields advice to the Mayor-In which Dan denyed doing”. So Gracie, when exactly did you discuss this with Dan? Because the quote came from an original document, containing Dan Fields original signature. I know this, because the document was a legal opinion written on town letterhead, to former “Gem” publisher Bob Miller, who gave it to me from his archives. I surprised Foster with it, right before the meeting. Someone probably even caught me giving it to him on video.
Oh, and Roth don’t let “Gracie”, I mean Mary Huntley get under your skin. As per my conversation with her before the meeting, I believe she intends to save a place in hell for me. She’ll recognize me when I arrive, because I’ll be the one standing outside the gate, taunting her with a bucket of ice cubes! She’s not worth it Mikey!
Thanks for having my back, It all makes sense now!
Shame on you Gracie, those officers in red are the trueist officers on that department. I’ve known each and every one of them for several years. Jeff only went after the chief of police job for the money, he has no clue how to be a cop. And Mike I’ve been there all along I just can’t openly complain, there are reasons I can’t get into on this blog, those officers know I support them and have their back.
This group of supervisors could care less about eliminating 13 employees. The proof is in the pudding. Imagine if Dan Field and the supervisors put the kind of energy in negotiating with Yakima as they did in getting a tax increase bill through the legislature. But Dan is sure proud that they rammed this through the legislature in 6 weeks!! What a joke. They all need to go. A group of high school freshman could manage this county better than these jokers. They are all about themselves. It is as though the previous three numbskulls are controlling the county behine a curtain. Sad, so very sad. It is only until the people in La Paz county start to care that anything will change. Whats the problem La Paz county? WHO CARES!!!
Keep up the good fight lostinlapaz. Maybe you and that King Clapperton fellow can get together and at least try and save your part of the County!