Another Coody Sewer Debacle

This time it will be a November Surprise. Mayor Dan Coody will be asking for a whopping 61% increase in Water and Sewer Impact Fees to cover another of his mistakes with the Westside Sewer Plant Debacle. Coody fall guy Dave Jurgens admitted that Coody and his staff failed to include a rather crucial capital improvement project the last time he raised the fees, and now that the money has been spent, the city can’t build a transmission line and storage tank to improve water pressure on the east side of town.

At Coody‘s request, the City Council previously approved spending $2.3 million in impact fee revenue to cover part of the cost overrun on the Westside Sewer treatment plant, but Coody failed to include the cost of pipes leading to the plant. Say what? Dan got us to pay for that “work of art” and forgot that we might need to connect sewer pipes to make it functional? Gee whiz.

As soon as the election is over, Coody will propose raising impact fees on an average single-family home by another $700. The increased fee would be $1,843, up from the $1,143 already charged. He will say that’s what some consultant told him to do. He will try to do it without a vote of the people. He will also blame the City Council and the Water and Sewer Committee for failing to catch his mistake.

It's time for a change. We can do better than this.

Coody's Imaginary Economic Plan

I am not the only one who had to laugh at a letter to the editor today in the Northwest Arkansas Times, in the same week that Athletic World Advertising closed down and left 125 former employees unpaid. One of Mayor Coody's apologists put forth one of the Coody campaign's big lies, claiming, "Industry was attracted to our area, largely through Dan's involvement in national organizations and his promotion of our fair city as a location for desirable, light industry." Just repeating that baloney doesn't make it so.

Name one industry that has located in Fayetteville as a direct result of Dan Coody flying all over the world on someone else's dime. Just one. Even Dan Coody has admitted that he hasn't had an economic development plan for the last eight years. As a last ditch desperate effort to save his reelection campaign, he pushed for a $150,000 consultant contract to come up with a plan, and he even screwed that up. By coincidence, the ethically questionable consultant will be here in Fayetteville, just three weeks before the election, asking local people what they think might work. Dan had eight years to listen to the citizens, but he was too busy traveling to conventions out of town.

Here's an example of what Hanover House experienced trying to build a world-class Media Center in Fayetteville, "in order to be located conveniently to our #1 customer, Wal-Mart in Bentonville. The facility will include a Motion Picture Soundstage, a set and props warehouse, and DVD fulfillment center and warehouse and administration buildings." That's exactly the kind of low-impact industry we need in our Industrial Park, but Dan and his clueless economic development sidekick Ray Boudreaux utterly failed to do anything right to land the business.

Hanover Media Center would have had a full-time annual payroll of over $2million, and a part-time contract-basis payroll of about $3-million. This was a high-tech business, with zero negative environmental impact, hiring top creative executives and very few low-wage level positions. After six months of frustration and getting the run around, CEO Eric Parkinson asked, "Why does the City of Fayetteville have 127 acres of land unsold in the Industrial Park, when you are adjacent to one of the fastest growing regions for business in North America? I now think I understand. ...I do not believe that Fayetteville is getting many of the 'better' projects or even your pro-rata share of the growth. ...Maybe I'm wrong, but if I'm right, and you lose this project to Bentonville, you may regret not taking the time for an informed and detailed discussion."

As we all know, Hanover Media Center did not locate in Fayetteville. That is only one example of Dan Coody's sorry record of failing to attract high-tech businesses and good jobs for our community. If Coody has been a dismal failure during good economic times, don't even think about how bad he would be with national financial markets in the tank and local developers in bankruptcy. We need new leadership.

It is time for a change.

Judge Hunton Sacrifices His Son

"Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." - Genesis 22:9-10

Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton told Quorum Court members this week that he is contemplating using eminent domain to condemn and raze on six houses near College and Spring to build a parking deck. Judge Hunton hired George Faucette, a real estate agent, to contact the property owners, but they either did not want to sell or wanted too much for their lots, including one with a historic home built in 1885.

Judge Hunton told the Morning News that since he is not running for reelection it allows him to make an unpopular political decision that he feels is in the county's best interest, as if he thinks a politician would avoid hard decisions during a reelection campaign. Jerry seems not to care that his son, Earl Hunton, is running for State Representative on his dad's reputation and name recognition and says, "I don’t mind telling you I am going to try and follow in his footsteps." That leaves him wide open to be tarred with the eminent domain brush by his opponent, incumbent Mark Martin, who professes to be a staunch defender of property rights. It is a close race, and this could make the difference by throwing red meat to the rural Republicans.

Judge Hunton had already caused some political problems for young Earl when he decided to get involved in the Fayetteville Mayor's race. Jerry and his real estate prospector George Faucette were among the speakers at Dan Coody's campaign kickoff in July and constantly on CAT since that time. A number of longtime Democrats wondered why Hunton, who doesn't live or vote in Fayetteville, would interject himself into such a hotly contested local campaign. Dan Coody has never been active in Democratic party affairs. One of Coody's opponents is a member of the Washington County Democratic Committee, and another held statewide office as a Democrat for a decade. Jerry's poor judgment has reportedly cost his son some sizable campaign contributions from traditional sources.

Judge Hunton should have sacrificed a goat instead of becoming one by sacrificing his son on the alter of his own political ambition.

She Said, He Said

Last month we had an entry citing a letter signed by Keena Melton addressing the role of Walt Eilers in filing a Code Enforcement action and his attitude toward college students. "He does want students here that are mindful and respectful of city ordinances and our citizens," she said, but neither she nor Eilers cared much for having five students living in the Waterman Woods neigborhood.

According to Melton's account, "The number of people not only violated our neighborhood covenants but also exceeded the number allowed by city zoning codes. Walt, in trying to protect Waterman Woods and the city of Fayetteville, took up the cause. He initially used diplomacy and tried to work personally with the offending renter, but was rebuffed. Subsequently, by going through proper channels, using the complaint procedures and the city’s enforcement system, Walt succeeded in keeping our neighborhood a good family environment."

Now comes another version of what happened in a letter from John Burckart, the owner of the house at issue. "While I do agree that the 'hard work' and diligence put forth by Walt Eilers (eradicated) any college students from his neighborhood, his methods and actions were unbefitting a leader empowered with influence requiring ethical behavior, tolerance, open-mindedness and an even-tempered disposition. The 'diplomacy' referred to that Walt 'initially used,' amounted to telling me that college students were 'not welcome here' and this was a 'family neighborhood.' My attempts at 'diplomacy' were to assure him that I was about to make substantial improvements to the home, thus enhancing property values, and that these young men were all honor students involved in student government, philanthropy and other worthwhile endeavors. While they are not unsociable, they do deserve respect and the benefit of the doubt. Walt's reply was, 'I don't care who they are, if they are students they don't belong here.'

"After receiving threatening letters and e-mails," Burckark said, "I hired a Fayetteville attorney. Initially, there were five men living in the 5-bedroom home, one of which was my son. Walt initially told me it was against the covenants for renters to live there, and that the covenants wouldn't allow that many people, both of which I found out were false. We learned later that there was an obscure city ordinance that prohibited more than three 'unrelated' persons living in the same household. Though our attorney offered a high degree of hope for defeating this in court, we decided to have two young men move out. Before we could ask them to move, they gave us notice because of the constant intimidation of Walt yelling and screaming at them as they walked out to their cars in the mornings. Walt called the city police on several occasions only to be told 'they are doing nothing wrong.' Walt did succeed in getting one of their cars ticketed for parking along the curb when there was also seven other cars at other homes parked along the curb that went un-ticketed.

"Ms. Melton's article painting us as the intruding, law-violating, bad neighbors and Walt as the saint and savior of Waterman Woods needed setting the record straight," Burckart explained. "Fayetteville is a college town. My wife and I are university alumni and both our children, born in Fayetteville, are currently attending the university. We love Fayetteville for its quality of life and diversity. While Ms. Melton claims Walt is 'supportive of our college students' and 'wants to involve them in the community,' my son, while living next door to Walt, has actually involved himself in the community by raising over 50,000 cans of food for the local shelter, as well as several other philanthropic endeavors over several years. I guess Walt's willing to 'support' these college students as long as they are 'not in his back yard.' If actions speak louder than words, then Walt Eilers should be more interested in leading in a town devoid of a college atmosphere. Fayetteville cannot afford a mayor who will 'just get it...' wrong!"

There are usually at least two sides to every story. This one is just getting more attention in the letters to the local newspaper because it involves a candidate for mayor. As they say at Faux News, "We report. You decide."

State Auditors Flag No-Bid Contracts

The Office of Legislative Audit released its audit of Benton County and busted several officials for ignoring the law by executing illegal no-bid contracts. Benton County Sheriff Keith Ferguson failed to seek competitive bids on nearly $195,000 worth of purchases for the jail food contract from Aramark Services, jail computer software from Southern Software, and six vehicles from Bale Chevrolet in Little Rock in 2006.

State auditors also found that Benton and Washington counties didn't take bids as required by law on a road project that cost more than $235,000 for asphalt and a construction contract to pave about 5 miles of road to Camp War Eagle, a Christian sports and recreation summer camp that just happens to be a project of the Walton Family Foundation. Benton and Washington counties reimbursed SCJC, the project's general contractor chosen by Camp War Eagle and also paid Donelson Construction Company on a no bid contract.

Benton County Judge Gary Black took responsibility for his actions and said, "The audit falls on me, not the road department." Washington County officials were less forthcoming. Washington County administrator John Gibson said he was not involved in the joint project, and referred further questions to Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton, who was out of the office and did not return a reporter's calls.

We all know the dangers of no bid contracts, yet some public officials ignore the law and find an excuse why it is more convenient for them than to seek the lowest costs for taxpayers. There are no criminal penalties, and the public doesn't usually seem to know or care. Both Black and Hunton will be leaving office at the end of the year.

The next Legislative Audit of no bid contracts signed by the City of Fayetteville will not be made public until after the November election.

Springdale Endorsements

If you attended the forum for Springdale Mayoral candidates sponsored by the Washington County Republican Women at the Jones Center, you might have gotten the idea that the city's only problem was illegal immigration. Never mind that it looks like a strip mall wasteland in a forest of billboards and has a budget that has been heading south for 20 consecutive months with no plan to stop the bleeding.

Springdale has some fine citizens who have civic consciences and care about important public issues, but most of them have neither the time to nor interest in being a part of the impotent city government that has been little more than the source of financing for the Springdale Cowbirds. We can't blame them for that, but it complicates the chore of endorsing candidates in the upcoming municipal elections.

FOR MAYOR: Nobody. It is a sorry lot, and we see no one capable of providing the informed leadership the city needs. Whatever you do, though, don't vote for Ray Dotson, Mike Overton, or Nancy Deason Jenkins. That leaves three grab bags from which to choose.

City Council Ward 1: Kathy Jaycox, hands down. She has been the progressive voice of reason in the Cave of the Winds. If she is not reelected, Springdale should surrender its municipal charter and seek annexation to Bethel Heights in Benton County.

City Council Ward 2: Wretched choices all around, so just don't vote for the incumbent.

City Council Ward 3: Josh Jenkins is young, energetic, knowledgeable, and committed to solving some of the city's serious problems. He should help form a sensible voting block with Kathy Jaycox and Jesse Core. Josh is a little too enthusiastic about the 287(g) program, but that seems to be a problem with all candidates, and he is not the incumbent.

City Council Ward 4: Ruth Strebe Motes seems to have some commitment to citizen input, and she is not the incumbent.

If it doesn't work out, there's always 2010 or changing the name back to Shiloh.

Gridiron Show This Weekend

Whatever your take on the world of politics and news, expect an evening of fun from the 2008 Northwest Arkansas Gridiron Show. With sketches, songs, and spoofs written, directed, and performed by the local Sigma Delta Chi - Society of Professional Journalists, the Gridiron Show is a chance to laugh at and with newsmakers, many of whom may be in the audience tonight and Saturday night.

Proceeds benefit SPJ projects, American Association of University Women Single Parent Scholarships, and the Rogers Little Theater. Admission: $25 for such good local causes.

Rogers Little Theater (Victory Theater), 116 S. Second St., Rogers.
October 10 & 11. Doors open at 7 p.m. for general seating. Show begins at 8 p.m.

Don't miss it!

Sierra Club Endorses City Candidates

The Ozark Headwaters Group of the Sierra Club has announced its endorsements of Mayor and City Council candidates in Fayetteville. The endorsements were based on candidates’ public records; their responses to a series of detailed questions about environmental issues, their presentations at the candidates’ forum held at the UA School of Law, and the club's assessment of the candidates ’ likely effectiveness as public servants with attention to environmental values.

The Sierra Club endorsed Lioneld Jordan for Mayor, citing both his outstanding record and his trustworthiness.

For the City Council, the group endorsed Brenda Thiel, Mark Kinion, and Sarah Lewis.

Reports from the Sierra Club candidates' forum indicated that with one exception, all of the candidates for city office professed a strong commitment to environmental issues. That the club went beyond the rhetoric to look at the records and effectiveness is a good sign, and it gives much more credence to their endorsement as a guide for environmental voters.

Bentonville Leads on Alternative Energy Planning

Looking at alternative energy as a cost-effective, sustainable way to power local homes and businesses, Bentonville citizens and city planners participated in an American Planning Association conference yesterday afternoon to consider how planners can utilize local energy in their communities. One recommendation from the national panel of alternative energy experts was that cities should start offering incentives to residents for utilizing wind and solar energy.

In this time of economic hardship and looming energy and budget crises, one of the smartest things that Bentonville did was to participate in the conference via the Web, instead of having to take extra days off to travel to the conference, increase the carbon footprint by flying across the country, and saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars in expenses for airfare, lodging, and meals. They learned just as much from participating in the Web Conference, and that is sustainability in practice, in deed not just words.

Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin did not participate or issue a press release, and his name was not even mentioned in the news stories, but those participating were the city planners who can make a real difference in implementing alternative energy practices on a day to day basis. It was also open to participation by Bentonville "citizen planners." Good thinking.

Wednesday's Web conference was part of Bentonville's recognition of National Planning Month and the focus on "Green Communities," and the city also is conducting a citywide cleanup day this Saturday. That's not as much self-congratulatory publicity as Fayetteville's mayor staging another sustainability event as part of his reelection campaign; however, it does make a small but real difference in the lives of ordinary citizens.

Political Paranoia

Sometimes it seems that there is nothing a mayor might not do to mess with an alderman, and most often it is laughable. On Sunday, Tontitown Mayor Joe Edgmon filed a harassment complaint with the Washington County Sheriff's Office against Tontitown Alderman Henry Piazza.

Alderman Piazza pulled alongside Edgmon on Henri De Tonti Boulevard and motioned for the mayor to pull over so he could ask Edgmon about certificates of appreciation for a celebration event that was going to be held that afternoon in City Park. Edgmon told officers that Piazza was "hateful" and called him names. Imagine that.

Piazza, 71, is seeking re-election to the Tontitown City Council. He told officers the mayor would not return numerous phone calls from him for two days, and he was just trying to make sure everything was in order for the event.

WCSO Sargent Oscar Henson said the incident was investigated and that no charges are going to be filed. "He was trying to stop the mayor and make sure things were in order. The intent to harass was not there."

It has been a tough time in Tontitown. Mayor Edgmon recently vetoed a resolution that displeased the corporate interests, after he had already signed it. And last year the City Council passed a resolution of no confidence in the Mayor. It seems that all mayors get paranoid, deeply resent any criticism, and do irrational things that embarrass themselves and their cities. Elections are the best cure for such dysfunctional behavior.