City planner hired
Thursday, January 28, 2010
City Manager Matt Zimmerman announced Wednesday that Bill Cornelius will become the city’s director of planning and zoning beginning Feb. 8.
Cornelius, from Springfield, Mo., has worked extensively in the private sector and served as a planner in Columbia, Mo.
Zimmerman stated that he was pleased to find someone with Cornelius’ qualifications for the job. Duties will include plan review for various projects, overseeing Code Services such as building permits, and addressing zoning issues. One goal of the position will be to develop a property maintenance program to improve the housing stock in Emporia.
“I believe he is very qualified for these duties because of his design, plan review and building background,” Zimmerman said.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
And what will the city be spending on salary and benefits for this guy? During these tough times it doesn't seem appropriate to be creating another position in the city government.
January 28, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Last I checked the housing market here was saturated and we have been hemorrhaging new industry faster than we attract it. So basically this guy was hired to better the existing housing in Emporia, what a crock!
January 28, 2010 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
At one of their meetings last summer where we were all invited for our much needed input, it was indicated that the city planner made about 100,000.00 a year for half time work. I am not for sure about this figure, but I do recall that it was a large sum of money for only working half time.
January 28, 2010 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hickory (anonymous) says...
You all should get your figures straight, before commenting and remember what you read in the paper. If you remember, the city isn't re-hiring their personnel director. They've turned that over to the Assistant City Manager (as if he needs more to do). That position paid 68 to 103 thousand a year. This new position pays between 50 and 80 thousand a year. So, as you can see the city is saving alot of money at the cost of the assistant city manager.
January 28, 2010 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
You can't save money you don't have to begin with hickory.
January 28, 2010 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Exactly how does this overpriced " yes " man propose people maintain their property, if they don' t have the funds to do so, because of the Citys' overspending and increasing taxes ?
Is he going to implement a " property maintainence stimulus program " funded by some sort of " City of Emporia Property Maintenance Grant " ?
Here we go again folks, I feel a tax increase in the air .
What ever happened to the Citys' balancing the Budget Priorities and Woes ?
Do the property owners of Emporia really need another overpaid beaurocrat on the payroll to tell them how to maintain their property ?
Do we not have any competent people working for the " taxpayers " Emporia that are capable of making competent and common sense decisions ?
How many overpaid " incompetents " does it take to screw in a light bulb anyway ?
I too, would like to know exactly how much this " Yes Man " is/will cost the taxpayers of Emporia ?
What makes Matt Zimmerman think that " improving the housing stock " in Emporia will bring very badly needed jobs to Emporia ?
I will ask the City Manager and the City Commissioners again. Exactly where will the money you wish to spend, unnecessarily and needlessly, come from when you have spent and taxed the taxpayers of Emporia out of Emporia or they will no longer be able to afford to pay their taxes and do you have any sort of contingency plan when this does inevitably happen ?
January 28, 2010 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
hickory
giggles is right. Take a look at the proposed third draft of the Citys Budget and you will see that the City is already
in the red for 2010 by some $ 406,000 and continues to operate at a budget deficit for several years and the tax mil levy continues to incease for several years as follows,
year total mil levy
2010 14.710
2011 16.988
2012 17.711
2013 18.215
2014 17.521
2015 19.037
2016 11.541
As you may see, taxes will continue to increase until 2016 .
And I doubt that we will see any decreases, even in 2016 or even after 2016.
January 28, 2010 at 6:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Tell me, folks, what it will take to get new industry to move to Emporia?
January 28, 2010 at 10:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
Higher wages in China, Taiwan, Haiti, India and Mexico.
January 28, 2010 at 11:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I believe that the city planner is part of a plan to help Emporia conform to the Cap and Trade Bill if it ever is passed. Download the PDF and scan a few sections of HR2454 to see just how crazy this bill is. Anybody that owns or rents a mobile home, apartment or a homeowner will be interested in the following--Sec.201 states as follows: Pages 214 and 215 under the title [3] VIOLATIONS, which reads, It shall be a violation of this section for a owner or builder of a building to knowingly occupy, permit occupancy of, or convey to the building if the building is subject to the requirements of--In plain English, if you own a dwelling, you cannot live in it, rent it or sell it for whatever length of time it takes to bring it up to code at your expense. Pages 215 and 220--State Enforcement of Efficiency Building Codes....A Federal Energy Czar with the authority to police every citizen's property and to punish those who violate this section. You will be fined for every day of unlawful occupancy of your own home. Steve Scalise's [R-LA] says, "we're setting up a global warming Gestapo. Living in your own home is considered unlawful under this bill which I think is unconstitutional. These statists want the government to be intimately involved in every fiber of your life. Are we becoming a police state. Just recently your City Commission passed on becoming under the international building code's rules and regulations. Go to Scailise"Were Setting Up A Globle Warming Gestapo! Youtube....As Paul Harvey said, "And now you know the rest of the story." And I'm round'n third and Head'n Home.
January 28, 2010 at 11:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hometownkid (anonymous) says...
I believe this city planner is going to have his hands full the first couple of years here in emporia. what happened to the last guy? Kevin Hanlin?? Why did he quit? I thought he was quite good at what he did. If Mr Hanlin couldn't get his job done working full time how is the new guy going to get his job, plus other responsibilities done on part time?? Is the city planner who I go and talk to about, trailers parked on the street? Trucks being parked at a residence over 1 ton? People having more than three pets at their residence? Neighbors not removing snow off the side walks in a timely fashion?? So someone is going to make big money to basically be in charge of neighborhood patrols?
January 29, 2010 at 7:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I do not know what it will take to get new industry or jobs to Emporia. But I do know that, bullying the taxpayers and continuing to want to spend money that the City does not have or will have and continuing to increase the amount of tax burden on the property/home owning taxpayers will only continue to decrease the number property owners who will be able to pay their taxes or be able to afford to maintain their home and property .
January 29, 2010 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reality (anonymous) says...
What would be great is if they would stop hiring people and use the savings to clean the roads in town when it snows.
January 29, 2010 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Wow, sounds as if Neighbor spying on Neighbor and then complaining or reporting their neighbors to the Citys' , " Brown Shirt " enforcement police is not only going to be a reality, but may already be a reality . Whats next, black uniformed " SS " police, knocking down your door and hauling you and your family off to some camp, never to be heard from again ?
What has/is happening to Emporia and this Country, that was once known as, " America, home of the FREE " . Sounds as if " FREEDOM ' is quickly becoming as extinct as the dinosaurs .
January 29, 2010 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Until you stop voting for the same clowns They will keep doing this crap
January 29, 2010 at 12:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
On Republic Broadcasting I heard that cities across America are hiring City Directors [City Planners] to elbow City Commissioners into such programs as UN Agenda 21 Sustainable Development and property maintaince efficiency programs such as Cap and Trade. UTUBE UN Agenda 21 Sustainable Development and then UTUBE Video: Cap and Trade.....These videos are the one's the Obama admin. don't want you to see. Don't be deceived, the more help government gives you concerning your property, the less it belongs to you. I would die standing on my feet, than be on my knees to these slave Czars.
January 29, 2010 at 6:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
If you allow them to do the same thing they've always done, Your gonna get the same thing you've always got!
Bad decisions, more taxes, higher water and utility rates and government waste!
January 29, 2010 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
custom (anonymous) says...
when is the soonest we can get rid of Zimmerman?
January 30, 2010 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hometownkid (anonymous) says...
I wonder two things today ! Why no article online about the city planner not taking the job and why did he decline after the paper report he was hired???? Probley didn't want to wake up with fleas after lying down with dogs !! Yes lying not laying.
February 7, 2010 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
he probably read the comments section here and didn't like all the negativity.
February 7, 2010 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Meanwhile I see another store is having a going out of business sale out on Industrial Road!
February 7, 2010 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
hometownkid,
News of the city planner's job being turned down was published in the Feb. 4, 2010, print edition of The Gazette.
Gwen Larson
February 8, 2010 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )