Board Meeting- October 13
Mr. Howard called the meeting to order at 7:26 with the Pledge of Allegiance. In attendance were board members: Shawn Dunmire, Dick Kozlowski, and Jeff Harmon. Also present were: Jon Reitz, Larry Bedow, Teresa Baldwin, Alice Dunbar, Paul Sadler, Jean Howard, Gary and I.
Jon Reitz questioned if board members are paid for months they are not present. Dick Howard explained that board members are considered salary employees and get paid no matter what. Mr. Reitz also questioned why the revised assessments were not received from the Assessor’s Office. Alice replied that she did not realize that she was suppose to send out revised assessments. Mr. Reitz questioned Alice why this was, she had received the same letter from the lawyer that everyone else did.
The Justice Report was read. There was a question from the peanut gallery whether or not Mrs. Manners has gone to training and was familiar with the increase in surcharges. I went straight to the source for this information and yes Judge Manners is familiar with the new surcharges and they have been implemented.
What started out as a quiet meeting progressing along smoothly quickly turned tense between the highway superintendent and the “Highway Committee”. What brought this about? Dick Kozlowski questioned Curt why it took the men 60 hours to do the little bit of milling that was done on Blaine Road. (I thought we might have a donnybrook on our hands for a minute) This turned into a great deal of tension during the remainder of meeting.
Highway Superintendent’s Report:
- Millings on Blaine Road
- Cut brush on Harland Ames road
- Graveled Billings Hill Road and Claire Carrier Road
- 2 Culverts on Burdick Road were replaced
- Graded Bowker Road
- Worked on shoulders on Allentown Road
- Fixed bridge on Andrews Road
- Cleaned ditch behind shop
- Millings on end of Wells Road
- New cutting edge on loader
- New skid plates on under side of bucket
- Put crushed 3’s and 4’s on the seasonal part of Dimmick and then covered with screened bank run (at the request of the school)
- Graved and graveled by Hoshal’s on Dimmick
- Received three bids for hauling of Sand & Salt (Jr. Green of Wellsville had the lowest bid at $5.34/ton)
- Curt made a point that bids should be in the paper earlier*
- County has brought approximately 1,400 tons of sand/salt
- Bought a 1995 1-ton Dump Truck from Andrews in Eldred for $4,000.
- Spoke with Guy James from the County DPW concerning the right-of-way for Paul Plants
The Code Enforcement Officer issued three building permits were issued for a total of $130.00.
Dog Control Officer passed their yearly inspection and had one run away dog.
The board passed a Resolution supporting the Cold War Veterans Exemption. This exemption is for any service man/woman that served during the Cold War which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991 provided such property meets the requirements of the law and they have a honorable discharge. Applications must be filed in the Assessor’s office by March 1 and must be accompanied by a copy of the member’s DD-214. This exemption does not apply to school taxes. The applicant cannot be receiving exemption under other veteran’s exemption programs. The exemption is granted for 10 years and must be renewed annually.
There was more talk concerning the doors and new stove for the shop. It was decided to put the doors out to bid. I suggested to the board that they have specifics on their bid to make sure they were paying for what they really wanted and didn’t get stuck with underlying costs. I found it interesting though that Mr. Howard said the board could still award to John Day (assessor) the doors even if he isn’t low bidder. I’m sorry but as a tax payer, I want those doors awarded to the lowest bidder. We might want to stress that to our board. I’m not 100% certain but I would think there would be a conflict of interest anyways by awarding the job to John. If he was an appointed assessor there wouldn’t be however; he is an elected official with the town.
Curt questioned why the highway fund still owes the general fund $25,000. Michelle was not sure about this. Didn’t the General Fund lend the Highway Fund $25,000 for the new grader? Just wondering.
The town still has not requested a refund from Abbott Welding for the argon tank the Bob Sherwood has had for the last couple of years. Why was this not done when it was discovered? Why does everyone have to ask permission to ask for a refund for the town?
The town received a letter from the insurance company stating they want the town to fence in the yard at the town barns and if this is not feasible then install security cameras with night with night vision capability with continuous feed and digital recording.
Three cheers for the people on the Dimmick Road that put up signs saying what we’re all thinking. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !! All the people that read this need to go up and see the signs. They’re priceless and every single word is true. As far as the tentative budget, WHO starts out making the salary of a man that worked and had 10 years experience, and then……………………….get’s a 12% raise after 1 year of being of the job. Come on town board…………………wake up !! It’s ridiculous that our budget is going up by $159,000. When is this nonsense going to stop ?????? How far can we all be pushed before there are NO residents left in the Town of Wirt? Except for the Town Highway Superintendent who can use his raise alone to pay his taxes and have money left over ! Why was there no money put in the contingency fund ??????????? I know where you could get $4,000 to start it. I’d be ashamed if I were Mr. Rung to even accept a raise like that. How embarassing he’s the only Town employee that gets a 12% raise after one year no less !
I listened to the recording of the last board meeting and heard Mr. Kozlowski stating that I should go to every board meeting. Well Mr. Kozlowski, before you became a board member you came to a total of ONE meeting before Mr. Rung urged you to be on the town board. I have lived in the Town of Wirt my entire life and once you’ve gone to as many Town board meetings as I have, you come and talk to me. NO OTHER Justice has every come to every board meeting. Why do I bother giving you a monthly report when all you do is criticize. I don’t work FOR YOU. I called and left you a message as to why you would not accept my Justice report. But, of course, you NEVER returned my call. You’re a coward. You can run your mouth but can’t justify what you say. I really don’t care what you think of me. I am an elected official just like you and I do my job. Don’t accept the next 20 justice reports……………….I don’t care. I don’t answer to you. As long as the state accepts my report, (which they have NEVER had a question over) that’s all I care. Other elected and appointed officials need to do THEIR job and not worry about mine. For your information, the classes that were required of me were completed by June. BUT I go to training almost every SINGLE month to keep up on the changes in the judicial system. I take my job very seriously and am tired of being questioned by you and yours constantly. Don’t worry about me………………………look in your own back yard and worry about the job YOU AREN’T doing. No one can say I am not a fair judge. I treat everyone the same. I go by the LAW, the law I was taught to uphold. This is it for defending myself because I will not do that to anyone……..anymore. No matter what garbage you people tell, there are two people to your one that knows better and knows me. My name and reputation speaks for itself and always will.
I read Judge Laura Manners comments about Mr. Kozlowski’s stating at the last board meeting that he thought the Judge should be at every meeting. Certainly if the Judge is submitting a report the board can accept it like they do the other reports that are submitted and if there is a question then I’m sure the Judge could be contacted and she would respond. Is the board having a problem with the Judge doing her Job?
The last board meeting I attended non of the assessor’s were there and they have three.
The board has attempted to satisfy me by making sure I receive the information I needed concerning my sister’s assessment in the Town of Wirt after Assessor Alice Dunbar refused to provide it to me or my sister. Shawn Dunmire stated that neither Alice Dunbar or Jane Cardwell really wanted to see me and that when I showed up it was upsetting to them. I knew that just the way I was treated. Mr. Dunmire suggested to me that I make any request by certified mail, which I agreed to as I knew the board was constantly hearing from Mrs. Dunbar and Mrs. Cardwell. Mike Scott also addressed the sending of the minutes by Mrs. Cardwell to me which I am to receive until the assessment issue is resolved. I submitted a request for information from Alice Dunbar over two months ago and to this date she has not responded to me. The time will come that the assessor’s office will take the job more seriously, respond to the taxpayers and abide by the laws.
When reviewing some assessments in the Town of Wirt, I came across the assessment of Michael and Ellen Shawl’s property on East Hill Road and couldn’t help but notice the large increase in their assessment.
The assessments in the Town of Wirt was 74% last year. This year they are to be 100%. The 74% would have to be increased by 35.1% to be at 100%. The Shawl’s property was assessed for $66,600 last year and their new assessment for this year is $112,500. That is an increase of 59.2%. With the budget that the town is looking at this year it will make the rate about the same as it was the previous year and the Shawls will have an increase of about 59% in their town taxes over last year. On my visits to Wirt this past year I heard several times from the assessors that the increase in taxes is caused by the town, not the assessments. It is very obvious if you are over assessed and the tax rate is increased it is a double sword. I do not know the Shawls and do not understand why more of the taxpayers do not insist on changes.
Mr. Dunbar,
Mr. Shawl was a Wirt Town Supervisor in the past.
I am only stating the facts about the assessment on the Shawl’s property. I did not know Mr. Shawl had been a Town of Wirt Supervisor. I also do not know the point you are making or will attempt to figure it out. It would be good for the taxpayers if there is a point that you have, that you share it with everyone so all could come to their own conclusion. There are numerous other examples of very large increases in assessment and some very low increases in assessments. I do believe overall that the assessment in Wirt are much better than they had been. There are still some that need some attention and the assessors are aware of them or should be aware of them.
I am asking you to use your full name so everyone knows who is making comments.
The Town Board in Wirt cannot pass this preliminary budget. The financial crisis we are in across the country will only get worse before it gets better. So how in hell can these people even dream of increasing the budget; any budget? Think about your own personal budgets. What are you doing with those? Spending more money? I think not. Oh yeah, that’s your OWN money; not someone else’s! Wake up guys. Wake up.
There will be no end to the battles in Wirt if the budget is not reduced, instead of increased. And a decrease in the budget is what the town board told us in January they’d be looking to pass. What happened guys?
It’s a mess already, as everyone is keenly aware. The only possible good I can think of is that some of them might finally be run out or shamed into leaving. Think before you vote guys. That’s all I can say. Think before you vote. You serve us.
I have read the State Comptrollers Audit of Wirt Township and shake my head in disbelief. The former Town Superintendant did not keep any records as to vehicle mileage or fuel consumption. Town road crew all had keys to the gas tanks. Not pointing the finger, however, remove the temptation and remove any doubt! Scrap metal (which nearly every other township compiles to be turned into revenue so as to eleivate the tax burden, irregardless of how minscule) was awarded to a “friend” of the former Superintendant to do with as he pleased, with no percentage of the monies realized to be returned to the town coffers. There was a matter of collected taxes not being “banked” in the state alloted time…who knows what propted this…lack of memory or one of organization? In any event, this town need not even enterain increasing their “budget” as taxes levied on “the small number of legitimate “taxpayers” within the township have increased over 54% in the last two years. For what honest to goodness improvements done in a professional and a more permanent mannerhave been duly accomplished? We all know that filling pot holes with mud, stone and scraps is at best a temporary fix which will be
vanquished with the first heavy rain or snowfall…to what purpose, a continuation of proven failed efforts. WASTE! The overburdened taxpayers have seen the camels back broken time after time over bad judgement and rash decisions. Living within the means of a small township buy earnestly looking out for the interests of those who truly pay the bills are penalized by ever increasing taxes not the tax payer by throwing good money into a failed plan. If the existing town board cannot knotch up their collective belts and invision a balanced budget that does not send property owners scrambling to the real estate offices to wring out a pittance of the original cost of their properties then they need not let the door hit them in the rumps while exiting their office, of which they could not or would not treat the office or their constituients in a fair and just manner. I might add, that I harbor no ill will to the present Town Superintendent, but I sure as there is a heaven and hell, do not think that one year in office, in hard, hard economic times warrants a smidgeon of a raise. I do feel sorry for the real “taxpaying” public who are subject to the whims of a road crew who are protected by unions who through their collective efforts and oft times undeserved “steps” or annual raises, whether they are deserve or not, and by the looks of some of the roads I have to risk life and limb to negotiate in this township, on certain roads. If some are offended by posted signs of displeasure suffered by tax-payers, then sit down and iron out the differences like adults. I invite any sensible solutions for this historical little town, with little industry, who has long since seen the “Oil Boom” days gone by. Let’s treat everyone’s money as if it were in your wallet….of course in the light that you earned it yourself!
Today is election day and I just got through looking over the Town of Wirt Preliminary Budget. Assessors salary to be increased from $9,750 to $12,500, (30%) Town Highway Superintendent from $32,000 to $36,000, (12%) and Town Clerk from $9,964.00 to $9,964.00, (0%). I can somewhat understand the Superintendents increase as $32,000 is not a great amount of salary for his type of job no matter how long he has been there. The increase of the Assessors does not appear to be reasonable. The Town Clerk increase of 0% appears that someone does not agree in sharing the wealth. As I have always stated it is about being fair.
One week of road building class – less than one year in office – no improvement in town road conditions – this justifies a $4000 raise for the Town Highway Superintendent?
How can the Town board even think about passing a budget like this…especially in these hard econimic times?? I have yet to meet a person around here who is gonna get a 12% raise, but OUR TOWN BOARD is going to give one to a man who has been in the position for 1 year?
Lets look at performance..I don’t see anything better then when the past superintendent was in office!! Matter of fact, the snow plowing this past winter was MUCH WORSE, but let’s give the guy a 12 % raise! Most employers give a cost of living raise..fine, that is acceptable (5.8%) but to double that when job performance is not up to parr is totally wrong on the part of the board members!
To give a raise of that percentage and then only grant the Town Justice a raise of 250.00 ( I believe, the first raise since she has been in office —4 years!!!!) is unjust! Plus, let us give raises to the assessors who may deserve it, but what about the one assessor who may have a “house” in town but truly does not reside here and IS NEVER AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC. This is wrong! How can this assessor truly fulfill his duties and responsibilities when he is not around? He should have enough respect for the very people that put him in office to resign and let someone who can be available for the public get elected.
Does the board just get to pick and choose like this?? What about basing raises on performances like MOST EMPLOYERS DO!!! From what I am hearing, seeing and even witnessing…..the roads are not any better, the snow plowing is not up to parr and as far as I am concerned the new highway superintendent walked on the job getting the same pay as a man who worked in that job for 10 years—-the only thing that I can conclude is that the TOWN BOARD MEMBERS must be getting all the “great services” on their roads to even think about granting such a high pay increase. Perhaps that is their pay off to the super….too bad the board isn’t looking out for what the people of WIRT really need and want….LOWER TAXES!!
In such unstable economic times, the board members should be looking to cut costs and “save” for emergencies. I am not against ANYONE getting raises if they TRULY deserve it. Can the board really say that the superintendent is deserving of such a high raise?
YOUR PUBLIC IS CALLING AND YOU (THE BOARD) MUST ANSWER!!