Elk Konnected Hand out at County Commissioners meeting on 4/25

[Ross]

Amazing

Even the followers can't dispute what has been said, can they?

The truth is hard even impossible to dispute.

Even difficult for some to discuss, don't you think?

[flintauqua]

You wouldn't know the truth if it hit you upside the head.

[Ross]

You wouldn't know the truth if it hit you upside the head.

How sweet! An uneducated follower.

Can't say anything decent that makes a bit of sense.
Since you don't know me personally, your statement is unqualified.
Is that typical of Elk Konnected, LLC followers and leaders?

I definitly do know BS as well.

And you are unable to intelligently dispute anything posted, that's why the BS.

Sorry, try again. And have a great and happy weekend.

[Patriot]

You wouldn't know the truth if it hit you upside the head.

Truth 1:  Commissioner Hendricks, at an open county commission meeting, denied that Elk Konnected used public funds.  

Truth 2:  At the same meeting, Elk Konnected was afforded access to public funds for two future events it intended to sponsor.  Also at the same county commission meeting, Commissioner Hendricks admitted that Elk Konnected had received scholarship grant funds from the Kansas State Department of Commerce (state taxpayer monies) which were diverted and used to pay dues/fees to Mr. Terry Woodbury at Public Square Communities, LLC.  At least one such grant in the amount of $3,000 was so used, possibly two.

Truth 3:  At Elk Konnected's Grenola meeting, steering committee member J Englebrect clearly and specifically admitted that Elk Konnected had solicited and received public funds tp pay its' membership dues/fees to Public Square Communities, LLC from the following sources:  the cities of Longton, Severy and Moline, and the County of Elk.  The county monies were said to have come from the Special Parks and Rec fund, and to use these monies for outside dues/fees to Public Square Communities, LLC may be in violation of Kansas Statues Annotated 79-4180a01(4)(d), which says, in part, "Moneys in the special community support program and parks and recreation fund may be expended only for (1) the establishment and operation of a domestic violence program operated by a not-for-profit organization or (2) the purchase, establishment, maintenance or expansion of park and recreational services, programs and facilities."

Truth 4:  Those dues/fees help fund the operations of a private company from which County Commissioner Elizabeth Hendricks receives compensation as an employee.

Truth 5:  According to public statements of the Elk Konnected steering committee, Elk Konnected funnels private donations through the Elk County Community Education Foundation (ECCEF) who manages the monies for EK, thereby evading requirements for EK to properly establish itself as a tax exempt organization under Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Elk Konnected claims to then direct the disbursement of those funds by the ECCEF for EK's use.  Some $22000+ according to federal tax returns.

Truth 6:  Both Elk Konnected and the Elk County Community Education Foundation share a common founder: Elizabeth M Hendricks.

Truth 6:  Prior to Elk Konnected establishing itself an a limited liability company under Kansas law, Elk Konnected (the sole proprietorship) received funds from the ECCEF amounting to about $10,000.  At that time, the father of Elk Konnected founder Elizabeth Hendricks was on the board of directors of the ECCEF.  It is that board that designates where ECCEF grants and gifts are disbursed.

Truth 7:  The foregoing, when described to an attorney at the IRS Division responsible for tax exempt organizations described such activity as at best 'questionable', if not a 'violation' of the tax exempt status of of the tax exempt entity.

Truth 8:  According to EK steering committee member and primary contact David Whetstone, Elk Konnected has been attempting to 'brand' itself, largely by holding itself out as the sole sponsor of a number of events that were, in fact, funded by the taxpayers in and visiting Elk County.

Truth 9:  Elk Konnected has inferred that county money retained in the county Special Parks and Recreation Fund comes solely from Flint Oak Liquor sales and is not public tax money.  Both statements are untrue.  The money comes from sales of liquor and beer at ANY drinking establishment in the county (who patronizes those?) and IS a consumer tax according to Kansas law.  79-41a et seq.  The current tax rate is 10%.

Truth 10:  Elk Konnected steering committee members, supported by Founder Hendricks, admitted at Grenola that they  used the services of a county paid employees to write grants of which EK became the beneficiary.  

Truth 11:  Elk Konnected has exploited, or attempted to exploit, county paid emergency telephone services and internet assets.  They ceased such activities only when their founder, Mrs Hendricks, was confronted in public at a county commission meeting.  An inability to know impropriety in advance without being held to account?  Or simple arrogance?

Truth 12:  Elk Konnected has  utilized the county paid time of an employee, Jennifer Brummel, to print/copy fliers that advertise Elk Konnected 'sponsored' events.

Truth 13:  Those advertisements were printed/copied on county owned equipment and the county was not paid the generally required per page copy fees.

Truth 14:  That same employee has been reimbursed mileage charges by the county to deliver those save advertisements.

Truth 15:  That same employee has been compensated for mileage (and possibly time) from county funds to pick up and deliver equipment to Elk Konnected 'sponsored' events.

Truth 16:  Even Commissioner Ritz has recognized the problems with Elk Konnected's entanglement with government and has publicly called for Ms Brummel to be paid by Elk Konnected rather than by the taxpayers for her services on behalf of Elk Konnected.  Mr. Ritz also suggested that Elk Konnected needs to get its' hands out of the taxpayer's coffers.

Truth 17:  Elk Konnected steering committee members, at Grenola, admitted that one of EK's grand plans is to "create 'fond memories' for today's youth so they will return to Elk County 'someday' hopefully with their families and business ideas."  Seriously?  And in what shape will Elk County be  in 25 years or so IF those kids return?  Based on trends of the last 20 years or so, when (and if) the first 15 or so kids return, it will be bankrupt and have a population of around 1900, the majority of whom will be over 70 years old and/or on welfare.  Good plan or wishful thinking?

Truth 18:  The foregoing is only a fraction of the improprieties compiled to date about the business operations and methods of Elk Konnected, LLC.

Truth 19:  David Whetstone, West Elk USD 282, has officially recommended that the school board engage in 'long range strategy planning' with the help of an outside 'facilitator.'  One wonders, who might be available to 'facilitate'?

Truth 20:  Much of what Elk Konnected and its' partner Public Square Communities are engaged in is nothing but the failed progressive liberal/socialist leaning agendas of 'community organization' of fraudulent groups like ACORN and the failed economic policies of the current US administration.  Hope and Change?  No, Dream and Scheme (on the taxpayer's dime).

More Truth:  Ross may not know truth in your opinion, but it's apparent that with all the information that has been presented on this thread and elsewhere, Chuck, that you don't know sh*t when you're sitting in it.  A true testament to your concept of 'truth' perhaps?  Ross' points about blind followers is on the mark.

Stay connected, citizens.  Sometimes finding the truth takes time and patience.  

[readyaimduck]

But, but, but....Ross?
If you needed money to buy a gun and I had a couple lying around to give,  however you are a felon and I would be breaking the law (see abetting a felon).
So I just happen to give it to a friend who gives it to another friend and he leaves it next to a dumpster sans serial number....and you just happened to come upon it.

I only lent you money for whatever reason, Ross as you asked for it.

Does THIS sound familiar?   It is called laundring, either by guns or money.  If gone through the local channels it is quasi legal, however I don't believe it is ethical.

ready

[Ross]

Hi Ready,

Are you setting me up to go to jail, if so I guess you'll go with me, huh?
That's what I need a wide striped suit for halloween.
Last year I was the devil and looked pretty good, too.
Horns and all, it was great.

I'm not looking at anything so harsh as legal stuff.
I'd just like to see some public apologies to the Elk County Citizens for the abuses and financial payment to the county
as reimbursement for those abuses.

Also, some form of assurance that they will discontinue any further questionable practices.

After all our County Commissioner Hendricks broght with her to the last meeting in Grenola their attorney and don't you suppose that their attorney could advise them to do the right and proper thing?

Are they decent upstanding citizens with the ability to do the right thing?

I can't speak for anyone else but this is what I would like to see happen.

As well as an apology for each  Real  Elk County Community for the statement shown below.

Wow! There is a lot of bad attitude in all of this. And as pillars of the community as someone called them Elk Konnected in MHO takes the cake. They openly said because of one little community in this county refusing to use county wide refuse they had to do something.
At the county commissioners meeting Liz Hendricks said they didn't mean to be bashing Elk Falls, and I told her they did just the same. And I believe the remark is still out there for all the world to read. Elk Konnected claims to want to promote pride in the county but lacks the pride to be decent. The only thing I see them promoting is themselves with a slogan like "Watch Us Grow", not something like watch "Watch Elk County Grow" It is self centered. And I believe centered in Howard. And I believe that's why the won't divulge who they are.

As I have said many times all these little communities are exceptional and I enjoy visiting them and their festivities and parades.

These little communities are each unique and that is what makes Elk County special.

IMHO it is not Elk Konnected, LLC and it's founder County Commissioner Hendricks that make Elk County Special.

It is the general population and the distinct communities.

And each and everyone of them deserves the respect of honesty.

Thank to each of You for reading this, please continue to read this thread and contribute please.

[readyaimduck]

Are you setting me up to go to jail, if so I guess you'll go with me, huh?

I am ready, if need be....however I don't think that is what is going on...but not far from it.

And as far as our costume:  I need the vertical black and white to make me look thinner, please.

It (the topic) is of concern, or should be to the Citizens if what is happening, is.

I have never known a Comissioner to shy away from the truth without divuldging another commissioner's opinion then... (that would be against the law).  (open meeting)

I am not seeing one commissioner giving their thought...outside of Ms Hendrick and that to me was lipsink as to appeasal, not truth.

just ready reading

[redcliffsw]

Truth 20:  Much of what Elk Konnected and its' partner Public Square Communities are engaged in is nothing but the failed progressive liberal/socialist leaning agendas of 'community organization' of fraudulent groups like ACORN and the failed economic policies of the current US administration.  Hope and Change?  No, Dream and Scheme (on the taxpayer's dime) 

Patriot, your post sure looks good from here.  It's worth reading again - several times.  Paragraph 20 sums it all up. 
Folks ought to turn away from the EK social agenda and anti-Americanism in Elk County. 

Yeah, and Flintaqua is deep into liberalism which is pretty much a refection of most Republicans much of the time.
I prefer to call it a lie as liberals ignor the truths to promote their government money schemes and programs.

[Ross]

Quote from: L Hendricks on August 17, 2008, 09:27:01 pm

The original steering committee was Richard Fish, Andrea Arbuckle, David Brace, Larry Galvan, Liz Hendricks, Dave Whetstone, Vic Donahey, Dave Sanchez, Chris Haag.  

And todays steering Committee is Andrea Arbuckle, Nancy Barker, Jennifer Brummel, Julie Englebrecht, Liz Hendricks, Tommie Provence, David Whetstone.

If they were suppose to only be on the steering committee for two years
and rotate off
and even taking into account
the fact that they changed that to three years --- three of them
have far exceeded either rotation by several years.
Why do you suppose that is ?
Or is it a control afctor?

Can't they get anyone else to be on their so called steering committee?

By the way Isn't a steering committee the similar to a board of directors?

A very important and respectable job isn't it?

================================================================

okay - as we have seen from the Howard City Council meeting -
how do we get ideas generated from here to real life....
How can we bring the stakeholders together to have a serious conversation and everyone wins...
if we don't start working together
we will have no more volunteers...

=========================================================

Indygal - another topic that Elk Konnected is trying to address -

a county wide communication center

and it looks like

this forum will be the venue...

So where are you with that County Wide Communication Center?
We are here, where are you?

[Ross]

What a day, it's a beautiful day, however wecould use some rain.
I screwed up today and tried to go to the County Connissioners meeting.
Wrong Monday, oh well it was well worth while.

I stopped in Howard at the Hot ans Spicey with a friend and had a bite to eat.
And by the way no one tried to slap me or anything else something I was warned about on this
thread that could happen. The common people in Elk Couty are nothing like that,
they are for the most part IMHO very good people.

However, I did have an excellent experience. There was a man in the restararut talking about the forum
and when he left the cafe I followed him outside and introduced myself and shook hands with him.
He said, "Oh so you're Ross, I knew I'd meet you some day. He said you should know who I am and I said no I don't.

He said I'm Hefe de vaca and we had a short but very plesant conversation. My hamburger was getting very cold waiting for me. We did agree to disagree.

Even though it was a short conversation to be very truthfull with you I like the man. He said he may return to the forum.


    SO
Welcome back to the forum Hefe.
Please be sure to go back 3 or 4 pages and see what you think.