I have to say it has been interesting reading all the comments on the Des Moines Register's website and the blog today. I wanted to talk about a theme I picked up in some of the comments tonight. I believe that theme is finding a common ground. I think we need to find a common ground to discuss the concerns of both sides. I think that some of this might be solved if we come to a definitive conclusion on what the city should do with the golf course. Some people do not want to continue to having higher property taxes if the golf course is continuing to lose money. Obviously, if the golf course does well, we don't have to pay higher property taxes.
But we have to have some kind of measuring stick to determine when it won't be feasible to continue to have the golf course if the course continues to lose money. Can we decide at what point that will be? I think this may make both sides a little less edgier because both sides will know what to expect going forward with the golf course.
This is only one option in trying to find common ground with many other options out there.
Now to a couple other items: As many others have stated, I'm not really sure what the purpose of airing Councilman Benson's past has to do with the current debate other than to make him look bad. Furthermore, I really don't think that is a road that we want to head down. It seems like the city attorney has opened the door to every councilmember's past, which I believe is a disservice. Their past is their past, whomever it is.
Doesn't the City Attorney work for all the council member's and city's best interest? Maybe the city council should get rid of him and start new and get some fresh legal input. From what I have read, he is doing a great disservice to our community. Or stirring up controversy so he can get paid more. Maybe this could be some common ground. I would find it really hard for two council member whom he should have been working for also to continue to trust his input, and trust is common ground that is greatly needed by whole town now. If you don't have trust it is almost impossible to heal wounded relationships.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. After his "tirade" quoted from Des Moines Register. I have talked with several people from Lehigh and they are very happy with their attorney. These were people from their council. After his "tirade" the other night I don't know how could ever be unbiased again. I have seen many attorney's and how they respond and have never seen anything like this.
ReplyDeleteI guess I wonder who hired the city's attorney ... If it is the city council that has anything to do with the hiring of Mr. Mark Hemmingson, Dayton's city attorney, I would suggest that Councilmen Benson and Vegors file grievances against him with the State Bar of Iowa for what appears at first blush to be both his apparent conflict-of-interest and abuse of power in disparaging Messrs. Benson and Vegors in a publically-held city council meeting.
ReplyDelete2:28 Post. Thank you for posting this here, I saw that you had posted this to the Des Moines Register article.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any ideas how to reconcile the issues that have been created with the golf course? I agree with what was blogged by the Dayton Observer today. We do need a way to measure how the golf course is doing. Could the park and rec board write a business plan for this year? By looking at the year to date information this could be done.
ReplyDeleteIn all of the emotion of the last week we not to loose track of the real issue. That is the current status of how the course is doing and what it will be at the end of this golf season.
The people I have visited with continue to want to see the golf course succeed, but intelligent informed decisions will need to be made. Let’s try to work together for this.
I feel this is the way to go and stay away from personal confrontational issues and past
histories and accusations. This will only escalate if these types of things are continued and I am sure everyone does not their past drudged up for the whole world to see. So let’s stop these attacks and move forward. I am afraid if we don’t move forward with positive
constructive measures. This could become a full fledged mud slinging free for all.
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There has to some positive movement or the people will all start taking sides and continue to battle. I dare say that I would not like my past revealed like the attorney and other people have done. I have read that there are more things that people can say without repercussions at election time. So we will get it on in Nov.
ReplyDeleteYes Virgina, There is a Santa Claus! Especially if your mother is on City Counil in Dayton, you can expect a 20,000 job for 5 months work. Not Bad!
ReplyDeleteBetter get your figures and facts straight before you just throw out a fictitious number. If you don't know what your talking about don't blog it! Oh, but that's what this blog is, fiction....
ReplyDeleteOh great, how do we get the olive branch started when people like 8:13 and 9:50 are throwing stones at people?
ReplyDeleteHere are the figures: Superintendent position pays $500 a week for 5 months. The other helper position is $400 a week.
ReplyDeleteHas any of this attacking getting anyone
ReplyDeleteanywhere. Not all of this blog is ficticious.
I just came from another site trying to get something removed that should never been posted there. It was from a person who doesn't like anything from Dayton. And is attacking both sides. They went way beyound their limits. I know everyone whatever belief you have doesn't want this to come to this. We need to be at least civil with our disagreements. This all and out war is not working. Please both sides, lets try to post a little positive. Please read what the Dayton Observer blooged today. Please this does need to stop. Trying thinking about solutions instead of getting even. I didn't like the attack at the meeting but I also do not like the attacks of anyone. Like DaytonTiger said this does not need to come as out and out mudslinging. We need to be constructive, you can disagree but be constructive.
I've kept quiet and tried to remain positive since the meeting last week--but the post on the other site was probably the most hurtful thing anyone has ever done to me--and I had absolutely no idea what I did to deserve it. Bringing up Cody is so completely beyond the pale. "Slap on the wrist"?? The child is SCARRED FOR LIFE. Of course he read it and of course he reacted--very negatively. How much counseling is it going to take to fix that one nasty sentence?
ReplyDeleteAnyway--I don't like personal attacks for five reasons:
1) My Christian beliefs--but even if you aren't religious or spiritual "Do Unto Others As You WOuld Have Them Do Unto You" is still a mighty fine rule
2) I have always believed that a person's personal life does not have anything to do with their ability to govern. That is why I never had a problem with the Bill and Monica thing--that indiscretion was between them and Hillary and their minister--and had nothing to do with me or how he ran the free world. What any council member did years ago--or even NOW for that matter--as long as it doesn't effect how they rule the city--is not my business.
3) "An Eye for an Eye makes the Whole World Blind"
4) This opens up everyone (Including my son, apparently) for the same type of nasty criticism.
5) I believe you should always take the high road in business and in life. No matter what someone else does--you maintain your integrity.
There ya go! Do I follow these all the time??? Of course not, I'm human. Do I try REALLY REALLY HARD--yes.
I am pretty sure now this local politics thing is not for me. I'm much more comfortable behind the scenes, working on larger campaigns--where my family is not fair game. I'm a big girl--attack me if you MUST--but leave my kids out of it.
Kendra
You are a hell of a Mother Kendra! Way to stand up for your kids. That is YOUR JOB! All I can say to you is way to go and these other people need to leave them out of it!
ReplyDeleteNo one's personal life or past should have been brought into this. The city attorney and getting the Des Moines Register involved simply exasperated the situation even more.
ReplyDeleteWhat we have is a firestorm, come on people quit feeding the fire. Let's use this blog constuctively, lets get to the root of the problems and address them. As I have said, if we keep feeding the fire it is going to grow and engulf the whole town. We can look for the arsonist later. Lets have some solutions and act on them quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhen you toss gas on the fire it will burn wild for a minute. When you slam a person with what has been said on here tempers will flare. This crap gets you nowhere. If you don't like someone simply walk up to them and tell them what is on your mind. If you have to knock them on their butt. Eventually they will get the hint and change for the better. Anytime you get the press involved they can either be good or bad. They will print what you say!
ReplyDeleteAny post on here about Kendra's family is way out of line and the person that made such a post should be brought to the front line and recognized as such a person that would harm a young man that has gone though a very unfortunate tragedy in his life. Shame on you for making such a post. If you don't like Kendra, get off your butt and away from your computer and go tell her, but leave her family out of it. If you are having a problem understanding what I am saying I would be glad to give you my name and you may sure pay me a visit. I will teach you some morals in life quite quickly!
If you can't say something good about someone than shut the hell up!
I really don’t even know what to say this morning. These issues have escalated way beyond human decency. Yes I am also a Christian and I hold strong to my belief’s.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for all that have personal attacks in this situation. There is so much anger.
The City Attorney and the Des Moines Register apparently gave free reign for everyone to be attacked. I was so fearful that this would happen. Sure it may be said that those in any sort of political office are open for attacks. But I feel also that things that are in people’s past and don’t affect the job that they are doing should be kept that way, in their past.
When you start attacking someone’s family just because they are on the council in inexcusable. I think now is the time that both sides of this issue come together and meet in the middle and stop this behavior now. Anger is not the answer. This situation has grown to the point that people are involved that don’t like anything about the city, that don’t even care about the issues and are attacking to be attacking. .
There may be some or maybe many that disagree with me but at this point maybe we should consider getting a new city attorney. His personal speech went far beyond arguing pro/con issues. I feel it became personal for him and has escalated this situation to a whole new level that is inexcusable. I am sure there are many attorneys’ that could give their opinions and help the city.
Please will everyone join in with me and focus on the issues and come together with a solution to this division.
To: 10:02 I agree with you completely, but these comments were not made here on this blog.
ReplyDeleteThey were somewhere else. I would hope that if anything like this was posted here it would be removed.
My hat is off to you Dayton Tiger! You are right, the comments were not made on this blog but you know as well as I do that the comments are posted either in cyber space or in print in some damn newspaper that we subscribe too. Band together, work together, and stick together people. Together without the bickering solutions will be found. It will take time and things will come together and be solved. Keep them in line Tiger!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very nasty problem. I once made a nasty comment on this blog and it was not even close to the magnitude of this and it was removed. Why wasn't this removed from the other site?
ReplyDelete