Touchy subjects - water treatment and security

Could be some trouble brewing right here in Rogers County.
No, not as simple as the pool hall in River City.
It's more of a public relations nightmare for the Claremore City Council and Rogers County District 2 Commissioner Mike Helm.
For the current council members, on their plate is a decade old problem that has been ignored. Because of those previous blind-eyes and out and out neglect, the city has a water treatment center that never has worked.
City voters approved an $11 million bond to build the water treatment facility at Claremore Lake. That was back in 2000.  What those voters may not know until now, is 12 years later the plant does not work.
Current councilors rejected a proposal by city staff to spend $249,000 on finding a way to fix the $11 million debacle.
Due to the 12-year neglect, many questions are being asked.
Why wasn't the original contractor held accountable? Why wasn't there ever a lawsuit to compel the contractor to make sure it worked?
What city official signed off on the plant? Someone, who is probably no longer on staff, had to accept the project as complete, though it never worked in the first place.
More problems face the city council as it tries to find ways to pay the bond. Remember, despite the water treatment plant not working, the city is still on hook for the $11 million bond.
For now the city council is facing more questions than answers.
As for Commissioner Helm, his remarks at a recent meeting about courthouse security came across as blaming the lack of funds for the lack of security. He came across as "it's not my problem."
But incident after incident across the country where a disgruntled person has entered a public building and shot innocent people is enough evidence to make security an issue just as important as repaving any country road.
Helm put the issue in the lap of the Judicial System, but security affects not just people who go to court, but any resident or employee that works or visits there, including Helm.
Because the issue was raise in public, commissioners appointed a committee to study and find a resolution to the problem.
In typical Helm-style, he has attempted to pre-empt the committees work by suggesting a 3-card Monte switch-a-roo with budget items to make funds available for security.
Helm should let the committee do its job. His disruptive proposal may reveal he finally sees that security is more important than he first realized. And, don't forget he will be facing re-election the fall. For the time being, let the committee explore the options and make informed recommendations, instead of off-the-cuff ideas.
By this time next year, there will be a new courthouse and there must be much better security in place, if the committee is allowed to do it work.

GINGRICH: Dangling a carrot

It's the natural way. Politicians throw out promises, most of which they know they can never keep, in an out and out effort to gain votes.

Former Speaker of the House New Gingrich has perfected such an art.

"With Gingrich policies, what we know is we will dramatically expand our independence in the world market, dramatically expand our capacity to produce energy without regard to our foreign potential enemies and in the process prices will clearly be a lot lower," Gingrich said. "Now, I picked $2.50 as a stabilizing price for capital investment reasons. It could easily go down to $2."

Speaking to more than 3,500 people at Oral Roberts University on Monday, Gingrich dangle the carrot.

Much talk has been made that motorists should prepare to pay $5 a gallon come summer for gas.

In a state that relies heavily on the sale of gas and oil, Gingrich knew what to say. He wants to expand the oil capacity, good for the consumer, but not so much with the producer. More domestic oil might mean less reliance on the Middle East variety, but would it also reduce the profits of oil companies?

Gingrich was playing the crowd while in Tulsa.

Will voters believe Newt?

Garth may have started something Big!

Our own Garth Brooks may have set the humanitarian world abuzz.

In January he won a lawsuit against Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital of Yukon, Okla. for not using his $500,000 gift.

He filed the lawsuit in 2005, after the hospital promised to name a building after his mother, Colleen Brooks, who died of cancer in 1999, but did nothing.

The Rogers County mega-star received his $500,000 plus $500,000 in punitive damages.
Integris had to admit they were making Brooks work to get his money back.

Non-profit organizations and businesses, like Integris, shouldn’t be so arrogant, especially when a donor gives them such a large donation.

In the Intregis case, hospital officials actually sought Brooks out to recruit a donation, then apparently led him on.

Now word comes from down in Georgia that the Ray Charles Foundation has asked Albany State University for a $3 million donation it gave a decade ago.
He gave $1 million to the university in 2001 and another $2 million a year later. Charles, a native of Albany, died in 2004.

The singer was specific with his donation, according to the foundation. He wanted a new performing arts center built at the university.

As of yet there is no construction underway, and according to the foundation it is only on the drawing board.

Sounds similar to Brooks and Integris.

Musical mega-stars with humanitarian hearts giving of their resources to help public institutions, but being dismissed by their respective charitable recipients.

What is it with organizations that receive sizable donations, but just sit on them and then do nothing?

The Ray Charles Foundation should get its money back. And get this, a university spokesman claims the donation was unrestricted and could be used for whatever the institution wants.

It sounds very familiar.

Here’s the catch - Albany State still has the initial donation in the bank. However, they gave the remaining $2 million away to 125 “Ray Charles Presidential Scholars.”

They gave it away despite the donor’s wishes to build a performing arts center.

Three million dollars is a significant donation to not be used like the donor wished.

Non-profit organizations need donations, but when donars see a lack of good stewardship over the gifts they receive, it is no wonder they are less than giving.

After Hurricane Rita and Katrina, several nationally known charities came under fire for not using donations for real needs, how donors wanted it to be used.

If there was anything learned from the Brooks vs. Integris lawsuit, non-profit board of directors should remember their fudiciary responsibilities and follow to the letter what donors say on how to the donated funds.

Look for the two parties to land in court with similar results as the Brooks trial.
And maybe they should be playing Charles’ song “What’d I Say?” when they enter the court.

Six Way Race for District 2

It's a crowded field for the GOP nomination to replace Congressman Dan Boren.
A recent forum of the candidates, George Faught, Markwayne Mullin, Wayne Pettigrew, Dustin Rowe, Duane Thompson and Dakota Wood, televised by RSU-TV was more of a love-fest than where voters could get substantive views on the issues.
For the most part, they all gave party-line answers. Since they agreed going in not to rumble with each other, it is very hard to make a distinction of who should represent District 2 in Washington.
March 6 is three weeks away.
Voters need more of a difference to help make their decisions.
Come on candidates, give us some fodder to chew on...

Investments, Drug Testing and Obama's plan

Welfare and Drug Testing

Look for Oklahoma legislators to take up the issue of requiring welfare recipients to take a drug test.

During the most recent legislative session, Rep. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw) introduced a bill that went no where. He plans to reintroduce the bill.

HB 1083 would require anyone applying for state-assistance to undergo a urine screening as part of their eligibility AND every six months afterwards.

Any applicant who might fail or refuse the test would have to forfeit eligibility for the next 90 days.

Oh, the cost of the drug screening would be deducted from the applicant’s first payment.

If someone receiving assistance fails a drug test they would be ineligible for the next year.

Looking at how Florida legislators took the same approach, Bennett says that sate saved nearly $1 million the first month it was implemented, with an anticipated $9.1 million savings annually.

A recent SoonerPoll indicates 88.3 percent of likely Oklahoma voters would support a law to require welfare applicants to undergo drug screening.

How much could Oklahoma save from the drug screening? No one really knows yet, but it looks like legislators are willing to try it.

POLL: Return on education investment not seen

Taxpayers spend on average $8,400 per student for education in Oklahoma.

The return on that investment is not being seen by taxpayers, according to SoonerPoll.

Of those polled, 62.4 percent said taxpayers are not getting a good return on their investment. Only 22.9 percent showed a favorable response.

Democrats in the poll showed a negative

“It’s a pretty sobering indictment of the status quo,” said Brandon Cutcher, vice president for policy at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), “and this is using the government’s own spending data. If voters knew the real cost of education—which, as OCPA  has demonstrated, is north of $10,000 per student—I suspect the return-on-investment results would be even lower.”

SoonerPoll, Oklahoma’s public opinion pollster, was commissioned for this poll by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. SoonerPoll.com conducted the scientific poll July 25-Aug. 11. Likely Oklahoma voters were selected at random and given the opportunity to participate in the poll by phone or online. Of the 587 respondents who participated, 17 took the survey online and 570 responded via telephone interview. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.04 percentage points.

Tax, tax, tax….Spend, spend, spend

 Today, President Barack Obama proposed $1.5 trillion in new taxes as part of his 10-year deficit reduction plan. The bulk of the taxes are on the wealthy. He also reduces spending on Medicaid and Medicare.

“This is not class warfare. It’s math,” Obama said. The HuffingtonPost outlines the areas Obama's plan would cut and add.

What else is it? It pits the rich against the no-so rich and the poor.

Initial reaction from Republican leaders is Obama’s plan is not a recipe for growth, according to Sen. Mitch McConnell.

No matter what McConnell or Obama say the real cuts will be recommended by the new super committee. We will have to wait and see who wins the war of taxes and spending.

Weekend Yada Yada: Behind the Scenes

Political Pals

Former state Rep. Wayne Pettigrew has been on a town-by-town journey announcing his candidacy for the Second District Congressional seat.

Pettigrew served in the Oklahoma Legislature from 1994 to 2004, representing District 39, a rural district northwest of Oklahoma City.

Lance Cargill

What was almost as interesting as Pettigrew’s visit in Claremore, was his advance man. ‑ none other than Lance Cargill.

Remember Lance? He was the youngest person to serve as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2007-08. He was 35 at the time. His leadership reign was cut short when it was discovered he hadn’t paid his taxes on time.

Cargill was quite an up and comer within Republican circles. He has a bachelors of science from Oklahoma State University in political science and economics. He went on to Vanderbilt University School of Law, where he earned the juris doctorate.

This could be the remaking of Cargill’s future political career.

Ironically, one of Cargill’s partners in politics at the time was Fount Holland.

Holland is overseeing the campaign of another Second District candidate, Markwayne Mullin.

Stillwater Coup, Sort Of

PHOTO: Joint Project Manager Guardian

A military coup of sorts has been seized over in Stillwater.
The city's airport authority has entered into a lease with FLIR systems, who plans to tests it Combat Outpost Surveillance and Force Protection system, nicknamed "Kraken".
The testing is to prove the equipment' viability.
Last month the U.S. Army reported http://www.army.mil/media/218457/ it was evaluating the "Kraken" system at the White Plains Missile Range in New Mexico. Check out the Army's site for more information. Let's just say if the system works it can protect our Armed Forces from incoming attacks.
It is "a cutting-edge force-protection system which combines radar, surveillance cameras, unmanned sensors, gunshot detection and remote-controlled weapons," according to the Army.
It is designed as a quickly deployable unit that can monitor and triangulate and lock on to the location of a person firing a weapon.
Let's just say WOW! Just what our military forces need over in Afghanistan.

Carter on Mitt's Side?

Mitt Romney and President Jimmy Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter might have been heard endorsing Mitt Romney as the GOP's choice for president.
Wait a cotton-pickin' minute. Carter was speaking with Lefty Rachel Maddow on MSNBC about the GOP candidates. The one-term president said "I'm not taking a position, but I would be very pleased to see him win the Republican nomination."
Carter also said he hoped Mitt's religion would not stand in the way of his achieving the land's highest office.

RWR Prognostications

Football season has begun so here are Right-Wing Randy's selections:

College
Oklahoma Sooner vs Florida State
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Tulsa
Arkansas Razorbacks vs Troy
Kansas State vs Kent State

NFL

Detroit
Buffalo
Green Bay
Houston
New York Giants

Have a great weekend!!!!

Carson, Intermodal-ness and No-Show Me Missouri

Top Army Counsel Carson?
Brad Carson, former Congressman, bronze star recipient and Claremore resident has been nominated to be general counsel to the U. S. Army by President Barack Obama.
He would be an excellent advocate for the Army.
Can he clear the hurdle of being a Democrat? Carson is an officer in the U. S. Navy Reserve. He served in Iraq in 2009 and 2010. But, his nomination must go before the Senate Armed Services Committee on which Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Republican, sits.
Inhofe's spokesman has said he will look at Carson's record on military issues and determine whether or not to support of oppose the nomination.
Despite party affiliation, Carson would be an excellent choice.

Intermodal - New Word in Transportation
Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett delivered his State of the City address on Thursday.
At the top of his priorities is Intermodal Transportation.
Intermodal? You might ask. It is when freight is transported using more than one type of shipping, truck, train, plane or barge.
Bartlett says creating an intermodal transportation hub will be great for the Tulsa region.
He named a dozen types of parts related to the oil and gas industry that can be shipped from Tulsa International Airport or via the Port of Catoosa. From the airport to the port an intermodal transportation hub would greatly benefit businesses in Catoosa and Rogers County.
Bartlett noted a recent shipment of crude oil traveled through the Verdigris Channel down the Arkansas River connecting with the Mississippi and arriving at a refinery on the Gulf of Mexico. It was the first of its kind to take that route.
The Tulsa mayor said Oklahoma has energy resources that are cheaper than those overseas.
This should be good news for Rogers County and the Port of Catoosa.
Get on board the Intermodal Express.

Show Me State Falls Short
A bill that would give 500 Joplin businesses property tax relief has stalled in the Missouri Legislator. Those business were either destroyed or damaged during the devastating May 22 tornado.
The state's House of Representatives passed the measure 149-0. When it arrived in the Missouri Senate it hit a snag.
Missouri senators should be ashamed of their action.
The bill would have allowed Joplin's small businesses to have their property taxes pro-rated. Now they will have to pay about $600,000 in taxes, while not generating revenues as they rebuild and repair their businesses.
It is outrageous. Missouri law already has a provision that allows homeowners a similar tax break if their homes are damaged by a tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
Show Me the money is the mantra of those senators.

Red Light, Green Light & a path to smaller government

Red Light, Green Light
Word coming from 104 Muskogee is Claremore will finally have street lights synchronized.

In the past 4 years city officials have studied and studied, agreed to spend money on a traffic light synchronization plan, and now it may become reality.

Will synchronization of traffic lights help traffic flow better along Hwy. 66? How will those lights be effected when a Burlington Northern train rolls through Claremore tying up traffic for 10-15 minutes?

The equipment has been installed at seven intersections throughout the downtown Claremore area. Traffic lights on Will Rogers Blvd., Patti Page Blvd., Lynn Riggs Blvd. and 1st street will be connected via the Internet and will feature cameras for the new system.

Rhythm Engineering, who installed the interactive system, says it will reduce stops by motorists by 60 to 90 percent, lower fuel consumption by 20 percent and reduce emissions by at least 30 percent. This all sounds great, as long as it helps unclog traffic.

Be patient fellow motorists, let us all with hold judgment on how it will work.

The proof will be seen soon enough.

Smaller government in name only
Most, if not all Conservatives believe in a smaller government. It's part of the Red Trinity we genuflex to each day, Smaller Government, Lower Taxes and Less Regulation.

A state representative from Midwest City believes he has a bill that can take belt-tightening to a new level.

Rep. Gary Banz (R-Midwest City) believes the state legislature should be downsized..
“As lawmakers, we constantly talk about the need for smaller government,” said Banz. “My legislation lets legislators prove it in a way that shows we are truly committed to reducing the size of government.”

Conservatism in real terms.

Less legislators would mean less staff at the Capitol. Fewer staffers would be needed to provide support. On the face, Banz' bill could save Oklahomans money.

Where's the catch?

Banz' House Joint Resolution 1021 would first have to be approved by the state's 101 representatives and 48 senators. If it gained legislative approval, it would be placed on ballot for voters to decide, since it would require a change in the state's constitution.

The idea behind Banz' bill is a good idea, but it strings out the process way too long. If it successfully clears the legislative and ballot box hurdles, it wouldn't take effect until 2021.

Banz wants the change to be done in a careful manner.

If Oklahoma can do without 10 percent of its legislatures, saving the taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars, why wait?

Maybe because the same legislators who have to approve the bill know that one out of 10 might be the one who's job will be eliminated. Banz wants to  wait on an updated

Census and redistricting, but by waiting 10 years most current legislators would become term-limited, thus keeping their jobs safe.

Downsizing never achieves its intended purpose without some pain.

We are all for smaller government, but not in name only.

Carry One Carry All
During a three-day span last week I discovered several missed calls at my home.

When I searched the Caller ID lo and behold the calls were from the NRA. Not just one attempt to reach me, but twice daily over a three day period.

Their callers did not leave a message. So, who knows what they were wanting to tell me.

Enlistment or lobbying are the likely two choices.

On an NRA note, a bipartisan bill is being considered by Congress. Republican Cliff  Stearns from Florida and Democrat Heath Shuler of North Carolina have co-authored the bill.

If passed and signed into law, it would give hard-working Americans who have permits to carry a firearm in their home state the right to carry their weapons when the cross state lines. Many states have voluntarily agreed to honor conceal and carry permits from other states there currently is not federal law blessing it.

 Sounds like a feasible idea, Let's see how far up the food chain it travels.