Reader poll
Do you approve of the Emporia School Board selling the Lowther buildings for $200,000
- Yes
- No
- Undecided
878 total votes.
After more than an hour of debate and hearing input from a handful of opposing community members, the Emporia USD 253 Board of Education voted to accept a bid on the Lowther buildings at a special meeting this morning.
The board voted 4-3 to accept a $200,000 bid from Foutch Brothers, LLC, of Weatherby Lake, Mo., contingent on the company providing the school district a $10,000 cashier’s check within two days. The school board also said that while it accepted an offer it will consider signing a contract with the company at a future meeting.
Brent Windsor, Mike Crouch, Grant Riles and Angie Schreiber voted to accept the $200,000 offer from Foutch Brothers. Board members Mike Helbert, Amy Scheller and Glen Strickland voted against the motion.
The more than an hour of discussion before the vote included input from community members John Mallon, Fred Spellman, Skip Evans and others. The men, who spoke to the school board separately, asked that the board let more time pass and mothball the buildings before selling them.
The community members said the offers the school district has on the table for the Lowther buildings are not reasonable. They also said that more housing is not needed in Emporia.
After thanking the community members for their input, the board asked Rob Scheib, assistant superintendent of business, to update the board on the offers.
Scheib said that one company pulled their bid on Monday, saying that the company wanted to pursue projects in Lawrence and Kansas City.
The school board said at a previous meeting that it wasn’t interested in another offer, which was $100,000 for both buildings and each building’s contents.
Scheller said she felt like the board asked for community input during the past year when the district was discussing the grade configuration study.
“I’m really in a quandary. Where has this opposition been this whole time?” Scheller asked.
Board member Angie Schreiber said that the district would have to had sunk $2 or $3 million in each of the Lowther buildings to make them comparable to other buildings in the district. That money included a new roof for one of the buildings, updating the electrical systems and other improvements.
School board president Mike Crouch said school districts all over the state are selling buildings. Scheller also said that school buildings in the state have sold for as little as $1 or given away for free.
Helbert asked whether the board should consider a clawback agreement that would allow the school district to purchase back the buildings if the developer doesn’t follow through with their project.
Helbert said accepting an offer doesn’t guarantee completion of the developer’s plans for the project.
Windsor said while the board has no control over what happens to the buildings after they are sold, the board can set the motions in place for the buildings to be sold to someone who would maintain them.
Scheller asked to delay the vote until next week to give community members and organizations time to explore opportunities for the buildings.
“We do not have $30,000 to mothball a building,” Scheller said, adding that the money instead could go towards salaries and keeping programs alive.
The meeting, which started at 7:45 a.m., dismissed at around 9:15 a.m.
Foutch Brothers’ plan for the buildings include converting a majority of the space into market rate apartments, all inclusive, no maintenance. They would also maintain both auditoriums and gymnasiums for rental use and develop approximately 11,000 square feet in Lowther South for office or incubator space for rent.
Steve and Scott Foutch created Foutch Brothers in the spring of 2004 and have developed and built over 1 million square feet of historic and low-income tax credit projects, representing nearly 700 residential apartments.
The company has projects in Ottawa, Clyde, St. Joseph, Mo., Fairbusy, Neb., Leavenworth and Kansas City, Mo.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
THE BRICKS IN THE BUILDING ARE WORTH MORE THAN 200,000 DOLLARS. The ground is worth more than 200,000 dollars. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SPANKING THE PUBLIC.
May 4, 2011 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaRocks (anonymous) says...
Going, going, gone!
May 4, 2011 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
localresident (anonymous) says...
100K thats it? how did this happen? no one in board know basic business skills? especially longbine
The bidders know you are getting rid off it so they bid so low but that doesnt mean you had to accept it and just get done with it.
Could of waited and marketed little bit and got lot more money i say around 800K each building.
the buyer got gold for 100K
not impressed.
May 4, 2011 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
I gotta go with the majority on this one - where were the community groups, government agencies and private schools for the past year when it was clear these buildings didn't have a future in 253? None of this happened overnight. I think the board did the responsible thing and now I hope the community will support the developers. Yes, this town needs to have a conversation about its vision for the future. We're not unified on many things it seems.
May 4, 2011 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
railroadhorn,
by majority I guess you mean the majority of the school board?
When this comes to pass, how long will it be before the developers appear before the city and county commissions and ask for money or heavy local tax relief to "help" complete the project?
I hope everything works out for the best, the buildings historic character is retained and the developers make tons of money. I guess in these times that's all we can do.
SHAKE OUR HEADS AND HOPE.
May 4, 2011 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
OR NOD OUR HEADS AND HOPE.
May 4, 2011 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I am glad you went with the majority, railroadhorn, but exactly what majority are you talking about, the majority of all Emporia's citizens or the minor majority of the few Emporia power elite ?
Responsible decision ! Exactly what is responsible about spending $1+ million dollars on a middle school addition and transfering students back to some schools that are almost as old as the Lowther buildings and then pretty much giving the Lowther buildings away, when the current real estate market dictates that most private homes are selling for around $100 dollars per sq ft. !
Therefore, it would stand to reason that two multi floor buildings of around 170,000 square ft., that could be converted into 500 to 1200 sq. ft. apartments, at 500 sq.ft. these buildings would yield 340 apartments and if you rented them for $300 per mo. that would yield a $102,000 per month cash fflow or $1,224,000 per year cash flow ! Not to shabby for a steal at $ 200,000 for both buildings .
I have to say that Foutch Bros. LLC are much better and shrewder business men that those whe in Emporia have running the school district, the City of Emporia and the County .
Oh yeah, by all means we should always go and applaud the decisions of the minor few, who believe they are the majority, whether we the majority believe it is the wrong decision .
And I will say it again, " it is no use for the real majority of taxpaying citizens to say anything or even try and talk to the minority few that believe that they are the majority !
May 4, 2011 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Oh, by the way railroadhorn, there were plenty of us Emporians that publicly opposed the decision to add an addition to the middle school at a cost of $1 + million dollars and abondon the Lowther buildings, and to what end did our public opposition accomplish ?
May 4, 2011 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Does anyone remember the rug purchase for the High School and how that too was vehemently opposed by some of us lowly taxpaying Emporia citizens and how I in particular said that hold on folks, this was only the start of the spending spree ?
Well I am going to say it now, " I told you so " and you ain' t seen nothing yet .
May 4, 2011 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Lower taxes for/in Emporia, " Forget about it " !
May 4, 2011 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
powercat (Jerry Seinfelt) says...
What a slap in the face of the community. Couldn't wait two weeks to hold a community meeting to see if local organizations could benefit.
What was the rush to give the buildings away.
Brent Windsor, Mike Crouch, Grant Riles and Angie Schreiber need to be booted from the school board .
May 4, 2011 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Let me see, who was it that told me, when I complained about a 10 year tax abatement ( heavy local tax relief, help ) given to Industry, businesses that locate in Emporia, was just how the business of getting industry and business to/in Emporia was done ?
Well, wheres the tax relief, help for the real people who are need it worse/more than some wealthy Corp., Industry, Business or Developer ? You know the taxpayers of Emporia, who have to " eat " all of the tax abatements, relief, help freely give to wealthy " outsiders " , who, most of the time only care about what they can take from Emporia, for at least 10 years and how much they bottom line will increase in the same ten years .
May 4, 2011 at 2:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Emporia voted for these people. You should know what you vote for before marking the X
May 4, 2011 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
powercat (Jerry Seinfelt) says...
Can anyone explain what the rush was to give the buildings away? I wonder what Grant was thinking? I thought he was sensible. I guess not.
May 4, 2011 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
powercat (Jerry Seinfelt) says...
I don't think the community members were asking the board to keep the buildings nor was the community resistent to selling them. I think the group they just wanted some time to see if entities in the community could be partnered up to buy the facilities.
May 4, 2011 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Sure, by majority I meant the 4 school board members who voted to sell the buildings. I don't know whether a majority of Emporians wanted to wait for a community meeting. As I said in several posts, I believe there had been plenty of notice that the Lowther buildings weren't going to be in the district's future. But no one stepped forward until the last minute and without alternative proposals. It's another lost opportunity that's for sure.
May 5, 2011 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
But wait KVOE says there IS another proposal now on the table. So maybe the board will have another crack it.
May 5, 2011 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
You see, railroadhorn, almost every board, commission, organization in Emporia, gets in too big of rush to do something and doesn' t give the people of the community a chance to come up with or propose a solution or even have a constructive discussion about what should or should not be done with public taxpayer owned property .
In the first place those Lowther buildings, nor any of the " PUBLIC " school buildings or property belong to the School Board. These buildings, property, etc., rightfully belong to the people who supplied the funds to pay for each and every purchase the School Board, School District, City of Emporia, Lyon County, State of Kansas, U.S. Government, has ever made, namely the people who provided the funds the School Board, School District, City of Emporia, Lyon County, State of Kansas, U.S. Government used to make the purchases in the first place, namely the citizen taxpayers of the States, Counties, Citys, School Boards and School Districts and the U.S. .
So, the taxpayers should have a great amount of say in the decision making as to what is done with public taxpayer property , what is purchased or not purchased and who should recieve public taxpayer funded grants and how such grants should or should not be used .
May 5, 2011 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
If you got a set Emporia? Recall these people
May 6, 2011 at 9 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Scheller said she felt like the board asked for community input during the past year when the district was discussing the grade configuration study.
“I’m really in a quandary. Where has this opposition been this whole time?” Scheller asked.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER DISCCONECT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND CITIZENS THAN THE CITY COMMISSION AND CITIZENS.
May 8, 2011 at 5:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
booker5m,
according to state statute, elected officials can only be recalled with cause.
STUPIDITY does not count.
May 8, 2011 at 5:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
I would go with mismanagement then
May 8, 2011 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Has, Ms. Sheller forgotten or just have selective memory syndrome ? There was plenty of opposition to the grade re-configuration, after the school board made the public announcment concerning the Boards decision to close/abondon the Lowther buildings and spend $1+ million dollars on an addition to EMS .
However the schoold board, like the City Commission had already made up its mind to do what they and a few influential people wanted, long before the school board even considered informing the community/public and when community and public opposition did arise, after the fact, their excuse was that contracts had already been signed and issued, therefore community/public opposition was deemed moot and irrevelant . So I don' t understand why the amazement or lack of understanding about the community, peoples ire at how they, the school board conduct the business of the people . The opposition was there, but they, the school board / district chose not to inform or listen to the community / people .
booker5m, one has to have the ability to manage in order to be capable of mismanagement and the school board / district or the City Commission have either, therefore " Stupidity " or the desire to do as their " handlers " tell them are the only things left .
It would seem that publicly elected officials quickly forget that they are working for " all of the people " not just a few of the influential people of the/a community and that the money that they freely and foolishly throw away / spend is the money of " all of the taxpaying people " and not just the money of the " few people " who have set themselves up as the masters of everyone in the/a community .
May 8, 2011 at 9:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well perhaps the City Commission and school board members could be recalled
" Cause " they are failing to heed, listen to, and do the " will " of all of the people .
May 8, 2011 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Do you approve of the Emporia School Board selling the Lowther buidlings for $200,000
Yes 26% 111 votes
No 68% 288 votes
Undecided 4% 20 votes
419 total votes
May 8, 2011 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
What is really amazing to me is the fact that Sheller said that they, the school board does not have $30,000 dollars to mothball the buildings, yet somehow they do have $1+ million dollars to build an addition on to EMS !
Here is another fact. If the school board had not spent several million dollars of Federal Energy Improvement Grant funds for a carpeted practice field at EHS, they would have been able to keep two school buildings open, in the interest of the childrens " EDUCATION " . What exactly does an artificial turf practice field have to do with the education of our children ?
I feel that there is plenty of " Cause " for a recall vote of the school board and the City Commission, not only for " Stupid is as Stupid does ", but for lack of " common sense " and mismanagement of taxpayer funds .
May 8, 2011 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I would like to know what is the next move of the schoold board ?
Will they decide to close WAW school, WANUT school, LOGAN AVE school, MAYNARD school, VILLAGE school and any other school they believe is getting old and will thy not maintain these schoold, as they did the Lowther schools, just to spend taxpayer funds on building new schools ? Don' t be suprised if they do just that and raise taxes to boot .
These public officials act as if we are in a boon era instead of a bust era.
Here is some new for them . We are still in a " Bust " era and how long this down/bust era will last is not known .
May 8, 2011 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, Steve, that sounds like the real majority to me .
May 8, 2011 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
Methusia, may I assume that you will leave the seclusion of your computer sanctuary Wednesday evening and Saturday Morning to attend the School Board meeting and the Eggs and Issues so that you may tell the Board members to their faces what you have been spilling on this blog for the past week?
May 9, 2011 at 8:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Yes, I will, just as I have done in the past, not only the school board, but the City and County Commissions as well . And my opinion and comments, will again fall on deaf ears and hauty attitudes, just like every other meeting of the School Board , City and County Commission .
You see, TheWatcher, it makes no difference whether you confront the School Board, City or County Commission members face to face or by written word via a discussion forum .
And I have introduced myself both by my birth name and as methusla, not methusia, at these meetings. However since my birth name is not considered to be high enough on the social register, I and others like me are usually ignored or given no credence what so ever .
After having said that, You will excuse me if I do not attend the meetings, since it would seem that my comments on the Gazette forum, seem to garner more attention that a personal appearance at a School Board , City or County Commission public meeting .
May 9, 2011 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher
It would seem that what I have been spilling on here for the last week, must have some truth to it, as it seemed to get you pretty excited .
You know, the truth has a way of getting people excited .
May 9, 2011 at 9:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
Not going to be there huh? Somehow, that's what I thought. And I certainly don't remember you introducing yourself at any school board meetings the past four years. And excited by you, I hardly think so.
May 9, 2011 at 10:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Do you approve of the Emporia School Board selling the Lowther buidlings for $200,000
Yes 25% 178 votes
No 70% 497 votes
Undecided 4% 33 votes
708 total votes
May 10, 2011 at 5:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
"TheWatcher"
Your condescending response to methusla more or less proves his point. The point about elected officials not listening to the average citizen. I don't know if you are a board member, or an employee of the district. It doesn't really matter.
Meth, I and others who comment on the actions of our elected boards/ officials have a right and duty to do so. We have grown up here and lived most of our lives here. We have paid taxes here most of our adult life. We elect our representative leaders and board members so we don't have to go to each and every meeting and voice our opinions.
When we vote for a board member, we expect them to listen to the entire community through every medium. We expect them to listen to every ones opinion and to read the newspaper and listen to the news.
PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE POLL?
Do you really want 708 people at a school board meeting?
Our board is made up of community members, they do not live in the vacuum of the Mary Herbert building. They have to make decisions based not only on facts presented to them at the meetings by the superintendent and her staff, but also take into account public sentiment from the people who foot the bill.
For any board member to express shock or disbelief of recent events is disingenuous . If any board member is truly wondering about the reactions to their recent actions they need to get out more often.
On a personal note. Didn't your mother ever tell you to respect your elders?
May 10, 2011 at 6:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher,
If, you as a member of the school board or an employee of the school district or someone who attends each and every school board meeting, which I somehow doubt, you do not listen very well, as I have attended some, not all, of the school board meetings, City and County Commission meetings .
And if you could read and comprehend what I previously said, which was, and I quote, " You will excuse me if I do not attend the meetings, " ! Now, you will notice the little word " IF " in the comment . That word " IF " does not imply that I will or will not attend the school board meeting or the eggs and issues meeting, which is another " listenless or ignore " meeting and in my opinion accomplishes absolutely nothing in the way of common sense leadership decisions, especially if our elected representatives are only going to listen to and do what a select few people want them to do, instead of listening to and doing what is in the best interests of all the people of the Community and not just the select few people !
Face to face as far as the elected leadership of Emporia is concerned means absolutely nothing, if they/you as the elected representatives of " all of the people " are not going to seriously listen to all of the people, instead of only listening to a select few people .
In fact the school board, won' t even listen to the teachers who work/worked at the Lowther schools . Well, I have and one lives next door and says that the Lowther buildings are not in that bad of condition and that the school board and district has already spent a ton of the taxpayers money on them in the way of maintenance, such as new carpeting, paint, etc. and now the school board wants to basically give them away .
Common sense decisions ? I think not . Well thought out decisions ? I think not . Decisions made, based on what all of the people of the community, say or need ? I think not .
Best use of Federal Grant or taxpayer money ? I think not .
It is easy to spend someone elses money, isn' t it ? But very difficult to suffer the slings and arrows of those taxpaying people when they question your or the school boards decisions to do so, isn't it ?
For someone who refers to themselves as TheWatcher, you neither watch, read, comprehend nor listen very well .
May 10, 2011 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Steve,
I really don' t think it would make any difference if 7, 708, or 23,000 Emporians attended any of the meetings held by the local elected leadership . The voices that will be heard will be the 100 or so prominant few, whom have and will continue the Emporia leadership's decisions .
May 10, 2011 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The Watcher,
The taxpayers of Emporia are carrying a City debt of $41+ million dollars and have one of the highest tax burdens in the State and both will continue to get worse, if the School Board, School District, City County, State and its leaders continue to follow a " Forrest Gump " style of doing things, you know, a " Stupid is as Stupid " style of leadership . Its way past time to dump the " Stupid " decision making and start making some well thought out, decision making, based on what the needs and wants of all the people say they need and want .
May 10, 2011 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
Grumpy anonymous old men...are they wonderful?
May 10, 2011 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher, a.k.a. annonymous,
A lot of people know who I am, my real name and where I live. But, have the common decency to respect my wish of annonymity on a public, world wide forum.
Besides an identity, name or face to face encounter does not make one anymore or any less credible, truthful or real .
Facts, reliability, common sense, trustworthiness, commitment and truth in either spoken or written words or facts are what is viewed as being credible, moreso than a name or a face .
You see a name or face, no matter how famous or recognizable, does not necessarily denote credibility, common sense, reliability, trustyworthiness, commitment or truthfulness .
How about it TheWatcher , want to tell us your real name ? Perhaps you think it will lend more credence to what you think, say or do .
May 10, 2011 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
Methusia, you do have a right to your opinion. Wednesday, the School Board will be making a decision on the sale of the school building(s). There is a new offer on the table from a local group. The public is given an opportunity to speak at the beginning of the meeting. Why don't you be at the meeting and speak to the board and make your case? Do you forget that three board members voted no on the sale at the last meeting. Why don't you (and Steve Corbin) come make your case?
May 10, 2011 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I don't know about you meth, but with the mood of people lately, I am somewhat afraid of attending that meeting. Anything could happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQjQOl...
As I am oxygen most of the time I don't know how fast I could move to get out of the way of some nut that might show up.
Now before someone calls me on this post I am just saying some people feel they have no recourse, and we will see more things like this video in the future.
TheWatcher,
In case I show up what side of the building is the meeting held? I can't walk long distances.
Steve
May 10, 2011 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
It's located right inside the west side of the building...there are handicap parking spots close to the door. One never knows about the actions of crazies, but no one is going to attack you. Your opinion would be valued!
May 10, 2011 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Thanks, good to know. Hadn't been in there since Mrs. Brough's fifth grade class.
Steve
May 10, 2011 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher,
As an annonymous commenter, can you guarantee the safety of Steve and myself ?
And can you guarantee that our comments, will be listened to and valued in earnest ? Our comments have not been listened to or valued at any of the meetings to date, neither has most anyone else, unless one happens to be a well known " Name " !
C'mon TheWatcher, will you listen to and value our comments and views any more in person, face to face than on an online forum ?
As far as safety is concerned, I had a cousin who believed that his church was just about the safest place one could be.
And yet he was shot to death inside his church while worshiping his god, in front of his family and friends, right here in Emporia, a number of years ago .
So one never knows when he or she will be physically attacked .
And desperate times, make people desperate. And our leaders/leadership are not making times any more less desperate. In fact our leaders/leadership are contributing to what may be even more desperate times, which may cause even more desperate people .
I haven' t decided, as yet, whether I will attend the meetings . But, Steve and I both know from past experience that personally attending a public meeting of the School Board, City or County Commission, has no affect on decision made in advance of such meetings, therefore we are beginniing to realize that attending such meetings are, as the Borg say, " FUTILE " .
However, if you are going to attend, here is something you may want to ask the School Board .
If a large amount of Federal Grant money had not been spent on an artificial turf practice field at EHS, would it now be necessary to abandon/sell/giveaway two perfectly good school buildings, build a $1+ million dollar addition to EMS and re-structure the grades and move students into schools that may cause overcrowding ?
And the fact is that there have been some EMS students who have commented of the Gazette forum, that even they do not know why an addition need be built onto EMS as they have stated that the EMS building is not being used fully now !
Also a fact is, student enrollment in Emporia schools has been on the decline, as is the population of Emporia .
A declining student enrolement, to me, doesn't equate to a need for spending unnecessarily or abandoning or giving away school buildings .
I have always believed that it was not how new the school building was that caused a student to want to be educated and learn, but rather, it was the quality and dedication of the teacher/teachers that caused a student/studens/children to want to get educated and to learn .
May 10, 2011 at 11:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
There has always been a misconception about the money spent on the practice field at EHS. 1) The Federal Money was the federal environmental stimulus money provided for specific purposes. It could only be spent on a project like the turf. And had Emporia not spent it, someone else in Kansas would have; 2) The field has been used for more than just practice. It has been used by the band...and soccer and numerous other activities. People have never understood this. And I don't believe that the board makes decisions before the meetings since this would be a violation of state law. The decisions are debated out. Anyway, why don't you at least provide your opinion and support it Wednesday night...a very important decision will be made then involving local control or sale to an out of state company.
May 10, 2011 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
And I do believe that the Board will listen to you and weigh in what you say with what others say as well as with what appears to be correct. I know that presentations to the board last spring on programs that were in danger of being cut had significant impact on final decisions of the board on the budget. The presentations by John Mallon and others at the last meeting did have an impact on several board members and did produce a new offer for one of the buildings.
May 10, 2011 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaRocks (anonymous) says...
"TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
And I do believe that the Board will listen to you and weigh in what you say with what others say as well as with what appears to be correct."
Why do you believe that? They never have in the past.
I'm just forming my opinions on what they have given me to work with in the past.
May 10, 2011 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
And Rocks, when did you speak to the board, offering (good) policies that were not accepted?
May 10, 2011 at 2:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher,
Well then, I totally misunderstood what I thought the Federal Energy Stimulus money was supposed to be used for . It was my understanding that the Federal taxpayer funded Energery Stimulus Grant was to be used for upgrading Emporias schools to bring them into, Federal / State Energy Guidelines, in order to make our Educational Institutions / Schools more energy efficient . Did I misunderstand this Grant and its purpose ?
I remember quite well the comments / debate / discussions that I and others had, wanting to know what the hell an artificial turf had to do with making anything more energy efficiant and how the discussion went from how the artificial would be more energy efficient, because it would not have to be mowed, watered, sprayed with insectiside, etc. and how I provided facts as to how an artificial turf could actually cost more to satisfactorily maintain and potentially have a higher risk of personal injury to humans than a natural turf field.
And with that fact presented, the comments / debate / discussion, then turned to how the artificial turf field would be of intrinsic " Educational " value .
And there were quenstions asked as to how an artificial turf could possibly have any " Educational " value at all, as its soul purpose was to be used as a " Playground " for only a numbered few, and was sumarily told that the points I and others were making were moot, as it was already decided and a done deal .
continued
May 10, 2011 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher continued,
No. TheWatcher, try as hard as you may, you will not convince me that the ordinary, lowly, non-socially prominant citizen of Emporia's comments, words, advice, suggestions or advice would or will ever be taken into serious consideration by the School Board, City or County Commission or you or people like you .
As for John Mallon, president of INO-VEST, Reality Co., yes the various boards and Commissions will indeed listen to him, as he is considered as one of their own and that is what I mean by not heeding the comments, advice, suggestions, opinions or opposition of the common ordinary taxpaying citizen of Emporia . Everything that is done in Emporia and every decision made by Emporia's so-called leaders is based on, " Who you know or who you are " instead of based on what needs to be done based on what all of the people of Emporia want .
And that is the way it has been for quite a few years now. And that is why the City of Emporia is in debt to the tune of $41+ million dollars and will continue to build upon that debt and continue to drive people from Emporia, instead of draw people, etc., to Emporia .
TheWatcher, your comments to EmporiaRocks and me, have just convinced me and Emporia Rocks are absolutely correct about how the board, Commissins view and treat people in a different manner based upon who you may happen to be in the social arrangement of Emporia . Your attitude and blindness to what has happened to Emporia in the past several decades and what will continue to happen to Emporia, if attitudes do not change, is exactly why more ordinary people do not attend more of the School board and Commission meetings.
And that is why I for one will not waste my time attending the School Board meeting or the Eggs and Issues meeting, because it would be an excersize in " Futility " on my part .
May 10, 2011 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheWatcher (anonymous) says...
No, what I have exposed is that neither you or Rocks have come before this Board during the past four years to express any type of opinion and that you have no legitimate basis to say that you would be ignored IF WHAT you said had any degree of validity...certainly your opinion on the turf funding has no validity. Mr. Corbin, I hope you will be at the meeting.
May 10, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
You have exposed nothing, TheWatcher, except that you have not lived long enough or are capable of seeing and understanding how things are done in Emporia and furthermore you do not want to know how things are done in Emporia . As I said, the Federal Grant that the Emporia school board / district recieved was not specifically slated to be used for artificial turf and that it was indeed a Federal Energy grant to be used for school building " Energy saving " upgrades . What I have succeeded in exposing is the fact theat you are evidently, a school board member who wishes to berate people who wish to remain annonymous on this forum and yet you, yourself prefer to remain annonymous when on this forum also.
Perhaps it has been 4 years since I have attended a school Board meeting, perhaps not, either way I do manage to try and keep up with what is being discussed at the school board, City and County Commission meetings, as well as attend the meetings when I believe it is waranted and still as yet have felt that my comments, words, advice have been taken into serious consideration.
May 10, 2011 at 4:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Somehow all these many "invitations" to appear at the next board meeting carry with them an ominous note. I don't think I'll attend, thanks.
Where is the rule that one need attend a meeting to be heard. What baloney! E-mails or snail mail should carry just as much weight because the writer identifies him/herself.
I have e-mailed my thoughts to school board members on many issues, including this one. I won't name any names here, but for some strange reason, only two board members take the time to answer their e-mails. That is flat out rude and disingenuous of the others not to.
May 10, 2011 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher,
The following is from the Gazette forum story archives :
School board will study energy-saving options
By Bobbi Mlynar
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Share
■E-mail story
■Post a comment
■iPod friendly version
By Bobbi Mlynar
mlynar@emporiagazette.com
The Emporia board of education will have until the end of September to decide what, if any, changes will be made to district buildings in an effort to save energy and money.
Now, was I misled into believing that the Federal Stimulus money was to be used for changes, modifications, upgrades, etc. to school buildings and not going to be used to purchase an outdoor playground " rug " .
To be perfectly clear on this, I am not against spending money on something that will further the education of our children . However I am against spending taxpayer money on an outdoor, playground " rug " that doesn' t in my opinion serve to further the real education of the children of Emporia, nor am I for abondoning or giving away two good educational facilities that could still serve as educational facilities if the " rug " money had been used on them .
May 10, 2011 at 5:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher,
Would you please explain what an outdoor playground " rug " has to do with the " real " education of our children !
And all this " rug " is, is an outdoor playground and nothing else .
Let me make myself perfectly clear, I am not against spending money for the education of our children . However, I am against the stupid, unneeded spending of taxpayer funds on anything that has nothing to do with the real education of Emporia's children .
I ask you, Would the money spent on an outdoor playground, been better used to upgrade two, already existing facilities / buildings that dealt with the " real " education of Emporia' s children ?
May 10, 2011 at 5:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The Watcher,
Have you read the archive article ?
If so, how valid is my arguement about the artificial turf now ?
Also how can the school board justify spending $1+ million dollars on an addition to EMS, when they have said that they can' t afford $30,000 to mothball two building that the taxpayers own. $30,000 is pocket change compared to $1+ million dollars .
Talk about no " validity " or common sense .
May 10, 2011 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
In my opinion this is a perfect case of spend more than you can afford. But that is just the way things are done in Emporia's leadership circle .
May 10, 2011 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Meth, you are a little off on the figures, The addition to the middle school was said to be in excess of 3 million dollars. Guess the real totals should be known tomorrow.
May 10, 2011 at 8:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
the 1 million figure is just what is left from the energy grant after the carpet installation. Let's see if they would have used the 1.6 million on lowther instead of turf, that money and what was left over would have come close to 3 million for real energy remodeling and this mess would not even be taking place.
May 10, 2011 at 8:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
TheWatcher,
Classifying new turf covering for a practice field in the name of energy savings is pretty much the same stretch as calling Entrance rocks infrastructure.
May 10, 2011 at 8:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I agree with you create. Will send e-mails to the board and probably won't make the meeting. My written word should carry as much weight as it would if I were there in person. (none) :>)
I am wondering what the bids on the addition will be tomorrow . Will they be close to the 3-4 million the board said it would cost to bring the old buildings up to Taj Mahal status? All I am saying if that 1+million spent on turf was added to the 1+ million they have left to spend on energy savings it sure would have changed things, huh?
The rec commission is having meetings Wed. and Thurs. with architects on spending their new mill levy. The hospital is now talking about enacting their own mill levy. The city has already said we will probably see an increase in it's levy. Who knows what the county is going to do with it's levy? Those levies along the Mississippi are not the only ones crumbling.
May 10, 2011 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Steve, you are probably right about the dollar figure for the addition to EMS and you are right about the EHS turf being pushed thru as an energy saving project.
But, what do you, me, create or the rest of us annonymous, invalid, uncredible, nobodys know anyway . We are only expected to go along with the status quo, same ole, same ole, way of doing things, pay the mounting bills being made by our presumed leaders and pay, pay, pay and never disagree with anything the so called " better / smarter than thou " crowd proposes or decides to do and only be their " deaf, dumb, blind and obedient " Cash Cows " .
My, oh, my , what will these so called, " glorious, know it all, full of themselves, valid and credible " so called leaders do when their poor ole " Cash Cows " can no longer afford to or refuse to pay the ridiculous taxes that are required to maintain the Emporia leaders spending habits or the taxpayers have moved from Emporia to the point that there will no longer be any taxpayers to be a " cash cow herd " .
May 10, 2011 at 10:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
And Steve, my friend, you and I both know what it is like to attend a public meeting of any kind, especially when board and commission members have already decided in advance what will be done and we also know how useless it is to think that board or commission members will take under advisement anything that us common ordinary, life long, taxpaying citizens of Emporia have to say . We have both " been there, done that " and it been the same every time .
May 10, 2011 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Steve, Emporia Emporia School Board members, Emporia and County Commission members,
The big difference between the Mississippi levees and the local tax mil levies is, the Mississippi levees are crumbling from the forces of nature, but the local City and County taxpayers are starting to crumble under the burden of the ever increasing tax mil levy being placed upon the taxpayers, not the forces of nature, but by the stupid, needless wants and decision making of our local School Board, City and County Commissions .
Again, I would ask our local learned, leadership . What is your plan, when the local taxpayers cannot afford to pay your ever increasing tax mil levy to support the wants of the few, who have managed to build a ridiculous debt by spending more than could be afforded ?
I will also say, the Federal Stimulus money that you, our leaders seem to believe was free money ... was not free money, but was taxpayer money that " Stimulated " only one thing . More spending on needless wants, instead of what is/was sorely needed and more and more waste of resources, such as the two Lowther buildings and more likely than not an increase in the taxes the local taxpayers will have to pay and that will result in taxpayers, being able to keep more of their own, hard earned money and having to do without more of their own wants, needs and lifes necessities than they should, in order to pay for the needless wants of the selfish, selfcentered few .
May 11, 2011 at 5:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Screw it. I'm done. Well not completely.
I will just sit here in the comfort of my
"computer sanctuary"
being a pain in the ass to those who just don't get it. And until I break the rules of the poster agreement, not much relief is in sight.
May 11, 2011 at 7:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Not to worry Steve, the relief you will get will be the releiving of you of your tax dollars from the enema that the local leaders will give you, via, their continued, needless, spending and taxing .
If my last statement offended you, it was not intended to, nor was it aimed at you specifically. It was intended, intentionally aimed at the School Board, City and County Commissions . I really don' t know why I put your name at the beginning, I am sorry Steve , my bad .
My friend, I too will continue to set in my rabid dog, computer sanctuary and bark and growl every chance I get and may attend a meeting every now and then .
Again I am sorry if I offended you, Steve and hope you are doilng well .
May 11, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
romano1784 (anonymous) says...
Having not attended the school board or commision meetings due to work schedules, i have emailed both parties and was rewarded with a long song of silence. Argue all you want but selling schools for 200k is just insane when the schools are not broken down, condemned buildings. When house cost more then schools something has gone very wrong with our economic structure.
May 11, 2011 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
romano1784,
Actually, even when you attend one of the public meetings, all you get, is blank stares, double talk or are just plain ignored or as you put it " a long song of silence " .
May 11, 2011 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fedup101 (anonymous) says...
The arrogant, self centered, "higher educated" elite "leaders" in Emporia have turned this town into a joke. They do not care about the citizens of Emporia at all. They seem to have the illusion that we have an endless supply of cash. Methusla mentioned the taxpayers leaving Emporia, but home owners are not likely to leave town unless they default a loan or sell for pennies on the dollar. With the already outrageous tax burden on the residents, and the constant threat of losing your job, the list of people who can afford to buy a home is shrinking daily. Surely I am not the only one that has heard the rumors about Tyson possibly being shut down if the market does not pick up. I realize these are just rumors right now, but that would have a major impact on the economy and enrollment figures, and should probably be investigated some and taken into consideration when making a major decision. With that possibly looming, does it really make much sense to spend potentially millions on a school expansion.
The major issue is that Emporias "governing bodies" decision making are mirroring our federal governments outlandish, gross overspending, and look at the horrific mess this country is in and might very well never come out of if things are not revamped COMPLETELY!! It is almost as though there is a competition going on to see who can get the most expensive, worthless project passed. Unfortunately I think it is actually more of what project can they get passed that will put money in their pocket, and every time they put money in their pocket they are taking it out of ours.
May 11, 2011 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
They look more like a deer hit with headlights
May 11, 2011 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )