Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/236838
8A Daily News – Saturday, January 4, 2014 Opinion DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 No easy job is right Editor: Gerry Wolfe's recent letter to the editor is another attempt by her to disparage a wonderful asset in our community, the Kelly-Griggs House Museum, and the people that work hard to keep it open. Her comments about hard work being necessary for a charitable organization to survive seems quite obvious to most, I'm sure, and to state that the volunteers working at the museum don't do so is quite unfair to them and shows a complete lack of respect for a community asset Ms. Wolfe once regarded highly. She comments about the "new school" board of directors, as she puts it, and infers it is misguided and lacks the hard work and dedication that her "old school" board seemed to have. Well, with this in mind let's ponder a few things of interest. Ms. Wolfe states that through her fundraising efforts as museum president, money was raised to paint the museum and replace the antiquated air conditioning systems. In fact, with Ms. Wolfe's signature attached, a letter from the old school board of directors was sent to museum members and potential donors for this cause. This letter is dated April 26, 2004. The old school board of directors was not replaced until April 2006 when the new school board of directors was appointed. Ms. Wolfe states that because of the "ousting" of her and her board of directors there was no opportunity to do these projects. However, for two years it seems money was collected from this fundraising effort, and comments in her letter suggest the money was available for the stated projects. But neither the Kelly-Griggs House was painted nor were the air conditioning systems replaced. It was the new school board of directors that replaced the air conditioning systems. Additionally, even though a new coat of paint is a vital component to the long-term preservation of the house, there were much more important, and potentially dangerous, conditions of the house that were present but apparently ignored by the old school board president, Ms. Wolfe. This included the deterioraBecause of her letter, I called tion of the more than 100-year- Dish regarding the same probold foundation. The condition of lem and was connected to a fastthe foundation as inhertalking foreign person ited by the new school who obviously didn't board was so bad that know what he was Your the museum was facing talking about. After I forced closure or potencalled him on a few tial condemnation. statements he made, It was the new without warning I school board members that rec- found myself connected to a ognized this issue and applied person who obviously had a for and received grant money to higher status. repair the foundation to a level In any case, he was telling that made the house safe once me that DirecTV was having the again. The siding of the house is same issue with ABC and I also in need of significant repair countered with the fact that I and slapping a coat of paint on it had friends who have DirecTV will not solve the problem. without this problem. At that As a seven-year director and point in the conversation, he past treasurer of the Kelly-Grig- offered me $10 a month off my gs House Museum nominated by bill for 6 months "for my trouthe new school, I can attest that ble." In that regard, I question hard work has been the hallmark Ms. Nelson receiving $50 a of all those I have had the plea- month bill reduction, considersure to work with in keeping the ing the double talk I received. museum going. DirecTV may have this probEric Frey, Red Bluff lem as well when its contract expires, but paying now for programming that is not received is frustrating, especially considerEditor: ing the lack of explanation you The letter submitted to you get when you call the company. by Kathy Nelson hit the nail on No one seems to know how to the head regarding the Dish TV resolve the matter. and ABC-TV issue. Carole Clark, Corning Turn Dish dispute Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 150 Amber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary City Council demonstrates courage The last City Council meeting for the year was very interesting; it showed a side of the council I had not seen before. Before the more interesting public session the City Council met in closed session. The reason given for the closed session was the evaluation of the City Manager. The reason this of some interest is that the Council had just approved a two percent increase in the City Manager's salary to $173,400 in July, but the evaluation of the City Manager didn't come until five months after that salary adjustment. In July the mayor had said to those on the Council concerned about the salary that the City Manager has done everything asked of him. That did not constitute a formal evaluation. A more interesting development was the unfolding of a discussion about ethics, something that is not normally done by public bodies unless by the demagogic types who puff up their self-righteous chests and tell us what to do or think. In this case, however, there was no hint of self-righteous, and the conversation was truly an attempt by the Council members to do the ethical thing. The issue at hand was the recommendation by the staff to impose an additional one-quarter cent sales tax to fund the deficits in both the Police and Fire Departments. The problem was that the proposal presented to the Council was for a "general tax measure scheduled for the November 2014 general election." The recommendation was not for an earmarked tax which would be specifically tied to designated expenses. The apparent reason for the "general tax" proposal was that it would require a majority vote, but a designated tax would need a twothirds majority vote. There was seeming consensus that even though the Fire Department and Police Department needed help, and even if the community could understand this, the chances of getting a two-thirds vote were remote at best. One council member commented that even free ice cream would not get a two-thirds vote. Prior to the discussion a member of the audience had suggested the Council do the same kind of study for the police department that they were undertaking for the fire department so that the Council could spell out with precision the items the new tax would provide. The concern expressed was that the proposal on the agenda was not very specific; it stated the tax increase could "help support the personnel, operational and capital outlay costs for the Police and Fire Departments." The speaker said passage would be more likely if the uses of the new tax were tied to specific items based on the Council's careful study of the departments. The ethical dilemma was that the current city council could not assure anyone that the next council would, indeed, spend the money generated by a general tax increase on the fire and police department needs. The Council's discussion proceeded to what would happen if the next Council would decide to use the new tax revenues in a different way. The City Manager/Attorney told the Council they could not control what other Councils might do. Then the dis- increase, but voters might feel cussion focused on how specific better if they knew the Council had a plan. the ballot measure could If succeeding be, and someone gave an Councils try to use example where "public the funds in another safety" was inappropriateway, I hope the voters ly used to justify a new tax will remind those in another community. succeeding councils One council member of their intentions wondered out loud how when they were votthis would "play out on ing for the sales tax the street." He seemed to increases. be saying that the public As if to announce did not trust the Council to his own plan B, the do the right thing. Joe Fire Chief told City In the end the Council Council that the directed staff to prepare an department would be ordinance for a general tax selling tee shirts as a increase for the November fund raiser to support ballot; presumably after review the Council would approve budgetary needs related to proper putting that on the ballot. So the training. They are $10 each and Council is sort of in the position can be purchased at the Fire of telling the voters to trust them, Department. It is a worthy cause, the new funds will be used to and the shirts would pronounce support the Police and Fire your support of their efforts. In contrast to the seriousness Departments. They seemed to feel a little uncomfortable about of the regular part of the meeting, that; none were advocating tax and while each council member increases, but all felt there was an was reporting on the various unprecedented need to shore up committees they are assigned to public safety programs. In some attend, our most recent mayor ways the council was demon- could not let an opportunity for humor pass. After a councilman strating courage. My estimate is the quarter- reported on a fifteen minute cent increase would generate Tehama County Transportation $700,000 per year. I feel it would Commission meeting he had be good to be able to know just attended, our former mayor, in a where this money would be loud stage whisper said, "That spent, based on a careful plan was the easiest $100 you ever developed by the Council, even if earned." succeeding councils cannot be Joe Harrop is a retired held to that plan. Having that educator with more than 30 plan would show insight and forethought on the part of the years of service to the North Council; the plan could not be State. He can be reached at used as a selling point for the tax DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop