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

[Ross]

On January 27th while at the Elk County Court House, I asked for a copy of the three (3) voting districts for the West Elk School Board Seats. They informed me that the school administration had not provided them with one. They were told the maps were on order.

Son on January 29th I stopped by the West Elk District office on my way to Howard to buy some groceries.
I asked for a copy of the voting map and was informed they are still on order and that they would call me when they come in.

What was it two (2) years or four (4) years ago they asked the voters to allow the change from six (6) voting districts to (3) voting districts. How long does it require to get a simple job like this done?

Oh well, there is no alternative but to be patient.
Maybe, they will get the job done before Election Day.

Oh, before posting this I can't remember for sure if it was Longton or Elk Falls meals asked for volunteers to help out.

Now, I'm wondering if Elk Konnected with all of their followers and volunteers have stepped forward to help out?

If not, how come they have tried to demand that other people volunteer to work for them?

And how about their Strong families. Solid education. Superior Lifestyle. "Stay with us as we grow!"

Is it a lie?

Wouldn't that volunteering on their part support their Vision Statement of Superior Lifestyle ?

Or do they really care, since there is no money in it for them?

If that is the case

What a waste !

[Ross]

Howdy, howdy folks what a beautiful day it was today huh.

Well, I went to the County Commissioners meeting yesterday and plum forgot there was a West Elk School Board meeting and I missed it.

Before the County Commissioners meeting got started there was talk about giving a hand out to the county cities. Yep, that's right The County may go liberal and socialists. I heard a remark that there is two or three hundred thousand dollars sitting in a savings account doing nothing. Whoa, wait a minute ---- doing nothing? How about making more money. Oh well, I guess it is wasted money by that way of thinking!

Back to that giving money away --- that would be money from this year wind farm P.I.L.O.T. MONEY and who knows how many hundreds of thousands of dollars they may be considering giving away.

It really isn't the job of the County to make up for the short falls of the communities leaders is it?

The county government should return taxpayers money and let the cities or towns tax their people to get the money. Then there is real accountability and no chance of money getting lost of misplaced or whatever.

Who is doing the budgeting for these people? Why aren't they smart enough to budget a small amount each year for long term repairs. Roads wear out; swimming pools wear out and should be budgeted for. Don't you think? Money tends to burn holes in peoples pockets, doesn't it?

I guess a little or a lot of money burns holes in some people's pockets, just my thoughts. If we can't spend it frivolously we should give it away, right?

If the county doesn't want the tax money and save it for future use in a savings account, where it can make more money, give it back to the taxpayer.

Oh, I know the county gave us a tax break and perhaps a few people in the county saw a reduction in their property tax bill. But those that live with in the West Elk School District didn't because the West Elk School district raised our property taxes. If the County stops the yearly tax break I think, you will feel the West Elk School District tax real well.

I feel that the policy of the West Elk School Board is to tax, tax, and tax.  In fact at one school board meeting I heard the President of the School Board stated he didn't care how pissed off the taxpayers get.  Yes, he was referring to yours and my property tax.

It appears the people that are on these boards have the same mind set or as Elk Konnected called like-mindedness about tax dollars as those elected officials in Washington D.C.

In D.C. it's Raise the Debt Ceiling and spend, spend.

Same thing here in Elk County just keep Spending and Spending and Raise The Tax Ceiling, same-o-same.

Just look at the Tens of Thousands the School Board wasted on Architectures when they knew the taxpayers had already gave them a loud and clear message about a bond issue just a couple of years before this final attempt.

Why do they feel they need to live beyond their means? 
Does the word budget mean anything other than raise taxes?

I'm sure everyone has heard about Kansas's financial problems and how they are cutting funding to the schools again. It's called piss poor planning and doesn't show much intelligence does it. It is poor business principles.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters who re-elected a Republican governor known for aggressive tax cutting are learning that the state won't solve its serious budget problems without putting a normally sacrosanct asset in the crosshairs — its state-of-the-art highway system.

Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-dominated Legislature this past week worked out plans for closing a $344 million deficit and allowing the state to pay its bills on time into the summer. The plans included cuts to predictable targets, such as education spending and public pension contributions, but also diverted money from highway projects, which are especially prized by the governor's rural supporters.
http://news.yahoo.com/kansas-budget-problems-touching-cherished-highway-system-180529684--politics.html

I betting the state will need more money from any direction they can get it from. Don't ya reckon?

What comes to mind for me is the Wind Farms!
Think about that for a minute! What then? No more Wind Farm money for Elk County, that's what!
And property taxes will be increased again.

If the state decides to tax the Wind Farms what do you reckon might happen to our P.I.L.O.T. MONEY?

My bet is the State will most likely tax them for a whole lot more than the miserable $1 million paid in
P.I.L.O.T. MONEY that Elk County gets.

That's enough ranting and raving for tonight.

I want to talk a bit more about the County Commissioners meeting but will wait a day or two.

I wish a good night to everyone.

[Ross]

I said, I wanted to discuss something else that happened at the County Commissioners meeting.

A person showed up from yet another NGO (Non Governing Organization) called Project 17 and ran off  a spiel so fast I could not keep up with writing my notes. They really aren't much different than Elk Konnected in my opinion! Because they use Other Peoples Money and they would amount to nothing without governments involvement, er, I mean without taking advantage of local governments. Consider just what does Elk County do as a member of Project 17 besides lend it's name to the project providing the minimum of prestige to the NGO? But you see if you get enough inactive governments names involved the prestige grows and how dare anyone question it.

What I could note from the spiel si that Project 17 has a marketing firm working for them. There was no name of the Marketing firm provided or what the Marketing Firm is accomplishing for them. Why is that? There never is any explanations of accomplishing anything, why?

Project 17 spiel is basically the sane as every other NGO:

1. Get everyone to work together.
2. Talk about Work Force
3. Talk about Poverty
4. Family Dynamics
5. Economic Development
6. Quality of Life
7. Entrepreneur
8. Employee Relation Problems
9. Education
10. A person can not Telecomute with out high speed internet

But they never mention how they intend to accomplish anything or if anything has been accomplished why? Are they gonna provide inexpensive  high speed internet? Are they gonna get someone to provide high speed internet to a very small percentage of Elk County's 2700 population? Hell no! Why ? Because there is not enough population to make it profitable. But they won't tell you that.

Will they discuss the fact that there really isn't much of a work force in Elk County?

No Elk County doesn't mean anything to them except just another name on their roster.

This particular person threw out a few more words:

Drug abuse

And that kids learn by the age of three to grow up and run away from this place and it is difficult to change that attitude when they graduate from high school.  So they are starting a contest for kids to make video's to show why kids should stay here.

Why do all these NGO's always seem to use kids in one way or another?

I mean this organization claims to have hired a Marketing Firm so why ask the kids to do the marketing via a contest? Is it because the adults are to lazy to do the work, to do the thinking so use the kids?

This NGO has acquired Federal Grants and State recognition:

Call for unity resonates at Southeast Kansas economic summit
Senators organize effort to improve region's quality of life
By Jim McLean | November 21, 2011

"If we can make this work, it's going to be utopia,"
Read at: http://www.khi.org/news/article/southeast-kansas-economic-summit/#sthash.CbGANEQY.dpuf


Posted on: August 1, 2012
'Project 17' initiative receives nearly $1 million federal grant
Read at: http://www.kansascommerce.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=662

Project 17 @Project17United
$4 million was awarded to 15 Kansas cities and counties for community improvement projects!

Why aren't our cities receiving any of this grant money?
Why isn't Howard receiving any of this grant money to repair their swimming Pool and their streets.
Why isn't Project helping Elk County?

Read at: http://twsproject17.org/project-17-2/

Just how does Elk County benefit by lending it's name to this NGO "Project 17" ?
Or does Elk County pay some kind of dues to belong to this non-performing NGO ?
Non-performing for Elk County at any rate!

And like any other NGO certain people have to be paid a salary, but you just don't get told how much they are paid! I guess if the job is a function in one of the 17 counties at least one county benefits from that salary.

Position Announcement
Project 17 Executive Director
(This has got to be a well paid position, possibly 6 figures, don't you reckon?)

The candidate should possess a bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Community or Regional
Planning, Economic Development, Business Administration or other relevant educational background. A
minimum of seven years of experience in the position's primary responsibilities is expected as is in
region residency during employment.

. Fulfillment of these tasks involves working with
regional leaders, local elected officials, development professionals, volunteers, and business entities throughout the region and beyond to create and/or retain jobs, train future regional leaders, improve public health metrics as well as plan for future economic growth within the region. 

(I think they mean you should be smart enough to manipulate and dupe elected officials)

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Employment and health benefits will be
in accordance with those offered to Kansas State University unclassified employees. 

This Project 17 has been in operation since 2011 and what have they accomplished except for using Other Peoples Money. And providing some of that money to a few communities for road repair and such. The very same money the communities could have applied for and requested for community development/improvement grants.

I'm just wondering why people are such saps for Organizations?

What of any enduring accomplishment has any NGO done for Elk County?

I can't think of a single thing.

Oh, did I mention Governor Brownback is involved in the NGO Project 17 and look where Kansas Financial situation is thanks to him. Now they are cutting school funds again.

Of course all of this is just my thoughts and opinions. Nothing more!

I hope everyone manages to stay warm and healthy during this cycling weather.

[Ross]

[redcliffsw]

Ross, you're right on about the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's).

They're socialists so it should understandable why any county commissioner would have anything to do with them.  They're like-minded.  People know their people.

[Ross]

West Elk USD #282 Board of Education,
Howard, Kansas
School Board Meeting  Tuesday 2/17/2015
7:00 PM
West Elk School Library
(Called the Media Room by the School)

Holding meeting between basketball games.

Acceptance/Rejection of HVAC/Roof Bids.
Acceptanc/Rejection Lease Agreement with First Neodesha Bank

For Roof and AC's bank quoted $856,000 and 5, 7 and 10 year loans at various interest rates and the one that stuck out was 3.25%.

The bid I heard from contractors was $1,467,000 to be borrowed from the First Neodesha Bank.

While Mr. Bellar was trying to get a discussion going, in my opinion the discussion was rudely interrupted by Elk Konnected Board Member Whetstone with a motion to accept the banks offering and I believe he said 5 years. They just don't allow for discussion or communication in my opinion. Shouldn't there be a discussion about the length of the loan and interest rates.

I think they were more interested in closing the meeting so they could return to the gym for the next basketball game. The meeting on lasted about 20 minutes and apparently wasn't important enough for more time.he School Superintendent kept saying the board could keep raising property taxes. The amounts mentioned were 3 mil, 4 mil and up to 7 and 8 mil. The Superintendent told the board 4 mill is worth $101,000 total.

So yea folks, in the West Elk School District prepare for much higher property taxes.

These people have no respect for you, as far as taxing the hell out of you.

What happened to that 1,000,000 Dollars they had just a few years ago?
Why didn't these people take the advice of the university 2 or 3 years ago when they had the 1,000,000 Dollars and contract the job over the last two or three years when the job would have cost approximately 1,000,000 Dollars.

Oh, I remember they wanted to build a professional sports complex.

Just look at the following minutes I copied and pasted from the Schools Web site:

MINUTES-of the regular Monday, December 8, 2014 meeting of the West Elk USD
#282 Board of Education, Howard, Kansas at 7:45 p.m. following the Elementary Music Program.
At 7:45 p.m.,

After discussion Whetstone moved to accept the bids presented (#1682 Seeding,
Spraying, Labor & Equipment - $8,350.00; #1631 Irrigation, Labor & Equipment
$14,150.00 and #1681 Annual Maintenance Agreement $2506.00) for a total of
$25,006.00. Walker seconded and motion passed. (5-1) (Black voted no)

3. Bids from Sunflower Farms for dirt work to the baseball field were reviewed.

Why do high school kids need a $25,006.00 professional football field, they are not professional players, are they?

So are they gonna pay the same amount to make the baseball field professional too?

Oh well you folks that are called taxpayers apparently have more money than you need.

You know what? I worked in maintenance for several companies!
And if I would have ever told my employer I wanted to hire someone else at company expense to do my job, I would have been fired.

Why do we pay for maintenance employees and have to pay someone else to do maintenance?

Be sure to Thank the Liberals for ex·or·bi·tant property taxes coming your way.

I was about to say that the County can't keep up with West Elk USD-282 in Taxation and waste.
But I may be wrong. There is talk around the County Court House of giving away taxpayers dollars. Yea, give a few hundred thousand to the cities. We are becoming a liberal socialistic county from my view point.Just as bad as those elected folks in Washington D. C.

Are we going to [progress to one unified centrally located government as pointed out on page one of this thread? Well it sure looks like it's going that way.

It is not the County's job to provide any m oney to the cities, no more than it is the City governments to provide money to the county.

Think a little bit about what is going on here at home.

It's beginning to look like the county might be paying for repairs to Howards swimming pool thanks to Konnected Kounty Kommissioners.

[Ross]

Elk Konnected and other NGO's post signs and preach about positive attitudes.
But they never define what that is.
To me it has came across to ignore the negative that happens in life.
And that my friends is not a positive attitude.
Nothing can be accomplished by ignoring the negative.

Now I will attempt to explain myself.

BEING POSITIVE DOESN'T MEAN IGNORING THE NEGATIVE. BEING POSITIVE MEANS OVERCOMING THE NEGATIVE.

That's right, you must recognize and deal with the negative to over come the negative for a positive outcome.

If you ignore the negative you can not achieve a Positive out come.

Because the negative will come out and bite you in the butt.

It is not a positive to spend other peoples money to gain recognition, or to use other peoples money to pay yourself an income.  By that, I mean raising peoples taxes, so you can beg for more for yourself. That is a super big negative in my humble opinion.

Personally, I have never begged for money or anything else.
I have always worked and paid my own way. Always.

In my opinion NGO's can do the same thing.
The Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts earn their money.
If children can do it, so can NGO's instead of being leeches on society.

[Ross]

I am still out here folks, I've just been very busy with personal stuff.

I wish to reassure you I am still interested in becoming your School Board Member
and to represent you and not some NGO -Non Governmental Organization of so called educated elites and that is self serving at best.

Show me how these so called educated elites have served you?

I have shown you how they have wasted thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars that were intended for educating children, so I ask you show me how they have improved the educational standards of West Elk by wasting all that money.

Please I really want to know just how I am wrong.

Thank You.

[Bullwinkle]

     I would like to know why my taxes for USD 282 General increased by 128.30 %.

     Next on the list is Rolling Prairie Extension, 66.38% .

     Just curious.

[redcliffsw]

By the way, what is Rolling Prairie Extension?