Drainage....?

Perhaps a few more people in the neighborhood will agree with me that instead of dreaming of $65 million convention centers, that perhaps city leaders might think along the lines of spending a few dollars improving basic infrastructure; like investing in a modern drainage system. This is the "A" Street park a half a day after a 3 inch rain. More, much more is expected soon.....

Money for nuthin'....

In todays Midland Reporter-Telegram I was surprised to see that a company, BCCK of Midland, is to receive funds from the Midland Development Corporation. This is odd, I thought, I know these guys and they've always represented that they are doing very well in the nitrogen rejection business; a segment of the gas industry that has improved greatly with increased prices. If you read their project list I think you could see this for yourself. As I read the article, not learning much other than they want to expand, I did come upon the key statement from an employee. "We like doing business in Midland and would hate to leave". Or something to that effect.

I'm not begrudging the guys at BCCK their free money; on the contrary I'm wondering if this might not work for me....and you too. So I would propose to them:

"Dear Guys at the MDC, I have a small online business selling photographs. It costs almost nothing to run and takes very little time, but in some years we have grossed around $10,000. However, we think that with the help of a capital infusion we could grow the business dramatically. Especially if we are using other peoples money to fund our growth. We feel that $1 million in increased sales is possible. Using other people's money would dramatically effect our bottom line in a positive fashion! For this capital I pledge to increase our skilled employment base by three staff members when we reach the $1 million mark. Specifically these would be: an Italian girl to drive my Ferrari, a Norgweigan girl to process orders and a Swedish girl to provide exercise therapy to the other staff members. Truthfully, there is really not much we can do to expand, but if you will just give me a lot of money I'll go ahead and hire the girls and pay them from this windfall. Midland is our home and we are commited to the community, but do you know how fast I can move if I don't get any money. I would hate to relocate to Monahans."

If you, your company or your individual business has not threatened to move I urge you to think it over. And really it's for the economic good of the city. If everyone threatens to move and receives free money, think what the economic multiplier effect would be! I urge you to email the MDC and tell them that you've already had Bekins Moving and Storage out to give you a quote and how soon can you get your money.

Gratitude....

What have I been thinking? I try to make gratitude a key to my everyday living. I'm afraid I've neglected that concept lately, so today I'm here to atone and make amends to the city fathers.

While I, and others, have been complaining about paying Mr. Menchaca almost a half a million dollars to not work, little did we know that behind the scenes the municipal government has been working in our behalf to save us $300,000. We learned today that Mr. Menchaca valued himself as a non worker to the tune of around $800,000, but the city leadership held firm and made him settle for almost half that or $480,000. I'm here to appologize publicly. Thanks for your diligent work!

I Feel Sick.....

By the way, best story byline on the "Menchaca" affair goes to CBS7 and their news website for the very appropriate storyline entitled, "Ric Menchaca becomes 'Rich' Menchaca".

As I was grazing down the line item list of Menchaca's cash cow settlement I noticed that he is getting $80,000+ for "sick benefits". As with other details of this whole story the entry leaves the reader wondering; was he sick $80K worth or was he so well that he saved us $80K worth of unused medical costs and so now we're paying him for being healthy? Further, doesn't the city have medical insurance for it's employees if they do become sick, so why would anyone need 'sick benefits'? Since I don't recall reading in the last years that Menchaca was hospitalized I have to assume he is getting paid for being well. This strikes me as odd because in most jobs what you get for being healthy and showing up is.....well your job and the associated paycheck. Menchaca now has the best of both worlds. He can be well and not even have to show up! I think we now have to also assume that his employment contract was negotiated by the Teamsters Union.

I believe that I have grossly underestimated the opportunities in municipal employment with the City of Midland. Not only do you get a bag of dough for getting fired, you also get a bonus for being healthy enough just to show up at work [before you get canned]. The amount he received for being well is the equivalent of the income for two average families for a year. Eureka.

In the larger picture, the cost of Menchaca's newfound wealth is about $4 per every human soul in Midland plus quite a few of the dogs. Personally D. Daphne Dog and I would prefer to spend our 8 bucks on turkey ham and Lofthouse cookies. Oh yes, I also noticed that he received a paltry [in the scheme of things] four or five figure sum for "moving expenses". This was a wise investment, I assume, to guarantee his safety. Or perhaps to help him move into a new larger home.

Shop Around...

I have several friends serving on the city council, the Mayor too in fact. I know that these guys are all married to fine ladies and I'm sure most of the wives do the family shopping. But...my advice to the guys is; get back in touch with your inner shopping self. The key philosophy to making informed purchasing decisions is to "shop around", compare prices.

As in the case of the City Manager. Had the council guys shopped around for a person to pay a huge amount to for not working, I could have given them a much better deal. I would have not worked as the city manager for around $150,000/year. Truthfuly, if negotiations got tough, I could have not worked for $100K provided I could get a few more paid holidays and maybe a gold watch when I retired from not working. And frankly I would not have expected a bonus for not working either; not working for the people of Midland is reward enough. I have great experience at not working as the city manager too, I've done it all my life.

So, instead of shopping around for a bargain like me, the taxpayers have gotten stuck with a $400,000 non worker. I would have not worked for half the price!

Who's on first?

This could get a citizen wondering and perhaps a little upset. In summary here in Midville; in a recent power struggle between the Chief of Police and the City Manager, the city council sided, apparently, with the City Manager against the popular Police Chief. With this vote of no confidence, the Police Chief resigns. Then a month of so later we are led to believe that the City Manager resigns for personal reasons. No official word on what those reasons were other than the popular and too often used excuse, to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests.

Okay, except now slipped into the city council's agenda we find that we, the citizens, are going to be paying a six figure "severance package" to the ex manager. In the lingo of the common people "severance" usually means the dude was let go, as in fired. Things happen, but perhaps the city leadership ought to remember their Sunday School lesson from which we derived the old saying "Honesty is the Best Policy". Or was that Benjamin Franklin? Or Abe Lincoln? No matter it holds true.

Thanks to the Reporter-Telegram for keeping up with this. In fact while at the newspaper offices this morning editor Stewart Doreen was on the phone with the city spokesperson, apparently, about the council meeting to vote on the severance package. As I stood waiting at his desk, among the snippets of conversation I picked up from Stewart's side were...."what do you mean this is a closed session of the council". Makes one wonder.

Anyway, the ex-city manager will now probably be able to live up to his desire to spend more time with his family. Courtesy of the taxpayers.

Astute reader and commentor, Eric, points out that in my very first post there is a spelling error and wonders that since he pointed this out to me, if this will generate a venting outburst. Quite the contrary. I am serene in the knowledge that when typing even explanations of spleen venting one is apt to make mistakes. A mistake was made here by the idot who typed this in, whomever it may be.

I was reserving my first venting expedition for the proposed new tennis courts that the city is considering. My reasoning for being inflamed over this development is not that I hate tennis, quite the contrary. I've played tennis all my life, my grandmother lettered in tennis at the University of Wisconsin in 1918. Her daughter, my aunt, was at one time the Missouri state womens amateur champion, my Dad was a good player and I played in high school. No, I am disturbed that the city is planning on funding 35-40 new courts on the outskirts of town, when in fact we have 40+ public courts in town that no one seems to use.

This was a point of discussion in the annual West Texas Bloggers Roundtable last week. I made my case and no one seemed to care. It's hard to be angry when no one cares, so forget it!