Well now! Ya’ll did a pretty darn good job working on the Texas township burnin’ “Ordinance”. Ya turned out in droves at the past few meetings. Sorry I was out of town for that last one. I hear you filled the meetin’ room (beyond) capacity?
Ya see? Democracy works, when you do! So many folks turned out speakin’ their piece at the meetings (gen’rally makin’ a nuisance of themselves) that burn ordinance was successfully reduced to a smolderin, common sense “nuisance” ordinance.
Setbacks, that woulda completely eliminated paper burnin’ by folks in White Mills and Seelyville were incinerated. Fines which were onerous, were lowered to enough to still teach offenders a lesson. Without bankruptin’ regular folks merely makin’ an honest mistake.
A debt of thanks goes out to our township supervisors (and their staff) for listenin’ and acting in an upright manner. They’ve served their constituents (you&me) admirably!
It’s said “all politics are local”. And they are, when folks actually spend their own time, find their voices and express themselves openly, honestly and forcefully. Remember that when the presidential elections roll around in the fall. Everyone of us (and our votes) do in fact count!
Now on to something else on a “local level” (which affects people everywhere, wherever they live) school budgets and taxes. From your comments on the papers web page, I’m aware you’ve read my two previous columns about the (Wayne Highlands) school budget. Not just the forty-million+ dollars spent in the current budget. But the millions (!) spent on the ballfield.
Have ya been up by there to see the new “SkyBox”?! Yep, SKYBOX! You mighta seen it on the front page of last Saturdays paper? Just like the ones on NFL or college ballfields! Well..., maybe more of a Mickey Mouse size SkyBox? But a SkyBox just the same!
Geez! What are these people thinkin’!? I have it on (semi-reliable?) authority that the 2.3 million dollars budgeted for ballfield improvements has ballooned (as I predicted) to around 3 million dollars?
Bet that little SkyBox was the culprit! I didn’t wander out onto the field to check, but I’ll betcha it’s even climate-controlled? Won’t that be great for the uppity-ups (and radio announcers?) viewing the big games? Not to worry, you regular folks git to enjoy those brand new bleacher seats.
I’m worried about givin’ the folks currently in charge (shouldn’t it be you taxpayers in charge?) any more money squanderin’ ideas. But while I was observing the “improvements” up there on the hill, I noticed something that I’ll bet those big budget spenders are already thinkin’ about?
That old (suddenly chintzy lookin’) relic of a hand-operated scoreboard? Surely in the next round of budgeting, there’s going to have to be a motion to replace it? I mean what with the fancy new concession stands, bleachers, player facilities, that old scoreboard becomes, to put it mildly, an eyesore? (kinda demeans that little SkyBox, ya know?) One look at Wallenpaupacks (or Penn States) scoreboard and we’ll just have to have a new one, right?
Don’t know if we need one, but with these shiny new facilities in place, maybe a fancy, new head coach could be lured? Specifically, I’m thinkin’ ole Joe Paterno might be lookin’ around for a little sideline work if he ever leaves his present job?
No doubt he’d be impressed by a poor little franchise like ours. Where it’s clear there’s no compunction in our obtaining the very best. Despite having a mostly lower-middle class income constituency as it’s primary contributors.
Now keeping in mind my sources might not be completely reliable? An’ I haven’t actually been privy to all the actual budget numbers (scared to go up there an’ ask).
But this same budget year where they eked out that paltry $3,000,000. for ballfield improvements, I hear they also budgeted (mighta spent?) the outrageous sum of $80,000. Just for school books!
Seems like an awful waste to me? Who’s gonna wanna read a book, while that big, beautiful ballfield beckons? At least to the few ball (an’ band) players who’ll actually be usin’ it. Yeah, yeah, it’s “open for public use” I’m told. Right...! You ever see any “public” usin’ ‘em?
Maybe I’m beatin’ a dead horse here? But perhaps (like me) yer thinkin’ your school board (big spenders) are as out of line as I do? You’d best start using a little of your precious time to attend their (your) meetings in the future!
“I Don’t Know About You...” I just try an’ avoid it all. I git winded enough, writin’ that school-tax check out.
Cal Teeple, Now Online at: wayneindependent.com/cal He’s still found three stools down, where he may be ignored, accosted or contacted. He’s founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium.
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Well now! Ya’ll did a pretty darn good job working on the Texas township burnin’ “Ordinance”. Ya turned out in droves at the past few meetings. Sorry I was out of town for that last one. I hear you filled the meetin’ room (beyond) capacity?
Ya see? Democracy works, when you do! So many folks turned out speakin’ their piece at the meetings (gen’rally makin’ a nuisance of themselves) that burn ordinance was successfully reduced to a smolderin, common sense “nuisance” ordinance.
Setbacks, that woulda completely eliminated paper burnin’ by folks in White Mills and Seelyville were incinerated. Fines which were onerous, were lowered to enough to still teach offenders a lesson. Without bankruptin’ regular folks merely makin’ an honest mistake.
A debt of thanks goes out to our township supervisors (and their staff) for listenin’ and acting in an upright manner. They’ve served their constituents (you&me) admirably!
It’s said “all politics are local”. And they are, when folks actually spend their own time, find their voices and express themselves openly, honestly and forcefully. Remember that when the presidential elections roll around in the fall. Everyone of us (and our votes) do in fact count!
Now on to something else on a “local level” (which affects people everywhere, wherever they live) school budgets and taxes. From your comments on the papers web page, I’m aware you’ve read my two previous columns about the (Wayne Highlands) school budget. Not just the forty-million+ dollars spent in the current budget. But the millions (!) spent on the ballfield.
Have ya been up by there to see the new “SkyBox”?! Yep, SKYBOX! You mighta seen it on the front page of last Saturdays paper? Just like the ones on NFL or college ballfields! Well..., maybe more of a Mickey Mouse size SkyBox? But a SkyBox just the same!
Geez! What are these people thinkin’!? I have it on (semi-reliable?) authority that the 2.3 million dollars budgeted for ballfield improvements has ballooned (as I predicted) to around 3 million dollars?
Bet that little SkyBox was the culprit! I didn’t wander out onto the field to check, but I’ll betcha it’s even climate-controlled? Won’t that be great for the uppity-ups (and radio announcers?) viewing the big games? Not to worry, you regular folks git to enjoy those brand new bleacher seats.
I’m worried about givin’ the folks currently in charge (shouldn’t it be you taxpayers in charge?) any more money squanderin’ ideas. But while I was observing the “improvements” up there on the hill, I noticed something that I’ll bet those big budget spenders are already thinkin’ about?
That old (suddenly chintzy lookin’) relic of a hand-operated scoreboard? Surely in the next round of budgeting, there’s going to have to be a motion to replace it? I mean what with the fancy new concession stands, bleachers, player facilities, that old scoreboard becomes, to put it mildly, an eyesore? (kinda demeans that little SkyBox, ya know?) One look at Wallenpaupacks (or Penn States) scoreboard and we’ll just have to have a new one, right?
Don’t know if we need one, but with these shiny new facilities in place, maybe a fancy, new head coach could be lured? Specifically, I’m thinkin’ ole Joe Paterno might be lookin’ around for a little sideline work if he ever leaves his present job?
No doubt he’d be impressed by a poor little franchise like ours. Where it’s clear there’s no compunction in our obtaining the very best. Despite having a mostly lower-middle class income constituency as it’s primary contributors.
Now keeping in mind my sources might not be completely reliable? An’ I haven’t actually been privy to all the actual budget numbers (scared to go up there an’ ask).
But this same budget year where they eked out that paltry $3,000,000. for ballfield improvements, I hear they also budgeted (mighta spent?) the outrageous sum of $80,000. Just for school books!
Seems like an awful waste to me? Who’s gonna wanna read a book, while that big, beautiful ballfield beckons? At least to the few ball (an’ band) players who’ll actually be usin’ it. Yeah, yeah, it’s “open for public use” I’m told. Right...! You ever see any “public” usin’ ‘em?
Maybe I’m beatin’ a dead horse here? But perhaps (like me) yer thinkin’ your school board (big spenders) are as out of line as I do? You’d best start using a little of your precious time to attend their (your) meetings in the future!
“I Don’t Know About You...” I just try an’ avoid it all. I git winded enough, writin’ that school-tax check out.
Cal Teeple, Now Online at: wayneindependent.com/cal He’s still found three stools down, where he may be ignored, accosted or contacted. He’s founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium.
