The Emporia Gazette

What does Extension do?

Just a couple more very needed services that Extension Services as well as other entities have not provided lately is/are,

The understanding that taxpayers are " Streched " to the very limit as to what they can afford or are willing to pay for !

The very real need for tax relief/lower taxes.

In Fact, the need for reduced spending by all of the tax/taxpayer funded agencies, extension services, organizations, etc., and jobs creation, saving jobs that every taxpayer depends on for a decent standard of living is a more " Dire " immediate need by the citizens of Lyon County than joining The Frontier Extension District !

I for one do not see the " Dire " need for merging with the Frontier or any Extension District, especially one with an " Unlimited Taxing Authority " !

I would ask this of Run4Fun, which of the Extension Services actually cut spending, cut/lower taxes, provide medical, psychiatric care, serve to put out home fires, improve the infrastructure of communities/counties/States, pay for public schools/education, or perhaps the question should be, how many of the services provided by an extension service do nothing more than put an undue, unneeded drain/strain on every taxpaying citizen, community, county, State,. Government and does the number of people that actually benefit from an Extension Service, actually warrant any Extension District to have an " Unlimited Taxing Authority " ?

The problem with this Nation, States, Counties, Cities/Communities is, the fact that there are already to many entities, organizations, Associations, Extension Services, etc. that have " Unlimited Taxing and Spending Authority " ! This is just the plain unabashed truth .

It is pretty obvious to me, that " Unlimited/Unrestrained " spending amounts to " Unlimited/Unrestrained " taxing and therein lies the single largest problem, as to, why this Nation, States, Counties and Cities/Communities are in the deepest debt hole they have been in, since this country actually became a Nation !

JMO

February 10, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lyon County Commission seeks amenities for Bowyer building

Carpeting in a public use building that will be possibly be used for concerts, parties, wedding receptions, dancing, etc., makes about as much sense as installing artificial turf on a field that may be inundated, at times by river flood water or some of the other " idiotic " ideas/decisions that are being made around here !!

And I also thank Clint Bowyer for his generosity !

JMO

February 10, 2012 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

City moves closer to Starting property enforcement program

Is our, Commissions/Commissioners, Managers (City, etc. ), spending, taxing, government control ?

You betcha !!

Is it way past time for " We The People " to return control of the government to " We The People " ?

You betcha !!

Is it time for our : " The Peoples " elected government representatives to listen to and abide by the voice and wishes of " We The People " ?

You betcha, WAY PAST TIME !!

JMO

February 10, 2012 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

What does Extension do?

Questions, Questions,Questions !

Satisfactory answers, not really !

February 8, 2012 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

What does Extension do?

Again, Run4Fun, your answer only serves the purpose for me to ask,

Since, Lyon County already has the ability to set Lyon County' s budget and already has control of the rest that you mention. Then why should Lyon County join the Frontier District and have its tax monies deposited in a Franklin County Bank and since Lyon County and other county agents can and do assist/help other communities and counties, after doing their job in their own county -- what is the nee/benefit of joining/merging with another District ?
Other than having an " Unlimited Taxint Authority " ?

If the " Unlimited Taxing Authority " were to be taken off the " Table/out of the equation " would the Frontier District, still want Lyon County to join their Extension CO-OP ?

You see, I believe that the " Unlimited Taxing Authority " is/may be the largest reason that the Frontier District approached Lyon County to join their District/CO-OP in the first place.

Also, since it would seem, a majority of the committee positions, etc. are non paid positions . Who is or will be receiving the majority of the tax funding collected and would the Extension/District be willing to make it public exactly who is getting paid what, how much and for what ?
You, know, transparency/accountability, which is something that more and more taxpaying citizens are wanting done and need to know what for and where their tax dollars are being used and it it is worth it !

JMO

February 8, 2012 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

What does Extension do?

More questions, than satisfactory answers !

Firstly, If the county extension agents are already making an effort to cooperate, help and assist each other when they are able. Why is there a need for county extension agencies to merge ?
Secondly, Will a District extension agent be allowed to help a county extension service that does not belong to a certain Extension District, if so, will the District Extension Service " charge " a fee for helping/assisting the non member county of the Destrict Extension Service ? If so then who will set the amount of the " Fee " ?

To be quit truthful, the only one I can see that will benefit from such a merger of Extension Districts will be the " District " itself, in the form of having an " Unlimited Taxing Authority " !

Thirdly, What is the primary need for a District Extension Service to have an " Unlimited Taxing Authority " , other than the ability to raise an unlimited amount of funding through the ability to raise taxes by an unlimited/uncapped amount and why the need to be able to do so ?

So far, for every answer given to specfic questions, has only, in my case, raised more questions !

I for one cannot see any benefit to the taxpayers, what so ever .

Given the following population figures,

Franklin Co. Ks. 25,992,
Ottawa, Ks. 12,887

Osage Co. 16295, Osage City, Ks. 2,277

Lyon Co. 33,690-- Emporia 24,690

it is apparent to me that Emporia and Lyon County will be the single biggest contributor of tax funds to the Frontier District, if Lyon County is allowed to join the Frontier District, Lyon County will be paying the single largest amount of taxes into the District and will basically relinquish how these funds are to be used and how much taxes may be raised on Lyon County taxpayers !

But, of course I may be entirely wrong !

JMO

February 8, 2012 at 10:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

What does Extension do?

The biggest question that sticks in my mind about this whole thing is -- If each individual County Extension Service is doing such a great job within its respective County-- then why the need to combine County Extension Services and what is the purpose of these combined extension services having an " Unlimited Taxing Authority ?

Another question should be, why can' t each individual County Extension Service work, help and cooperate with other County Extension Service's and share their individual " Expertise/Experience, without having to form a combined County Extension District ?

Does someone believe they deserve a raise in pay , is that the reason for the need of an " Unlimited Taxing Authority " ?

I feel that there are more questions, that need sufficient and satisfactory answeres than there will be sufficent, sensible and satisfactory answers for !

JMO

February 7, 2012 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

M.U.P.P. Board needs your help with a Survey

Question,

Are there any streets in Emporia that are wide enough for the addition of " Bike Lanes ", that would not cause more of a problem and increase the danger to bikers and motorists and if the streets chosen for bike lanes needed to be or were to be widened to accomodate a safe environment for " Bikers " what would the cost be ?

And the next obvious question would be, How would " Bike Lane " violations, by both motorists and bikers be policed and at what cost to who ?

Which gives rise to another question.
Would " Bikers " be required to use only streets with designated " Bike Lanes " and if bikers do not stay on these designated " Bike Lane " streets and stay solely withing the designated, marked " Bike Lanes " , will that be a " vilation " of what law and what would the fine/punishment be for such a " Violation " and would there even be a " Law " pertaining to " Bike Lanes " and the violation of such " Bike Lane " ?

I feel, that if you/we are going to implement marked/designated " Bike Lanes ", there possibly be " Rules/Laws " that the users of those " Bike Lanes " should be made to obey, adhere to, just as motorists have laws that they are supposed to adhere to.

" Bike Lanes " could possibly, just cause more cost, spending, increased taxes and problems for and for everyone .

My opinion is, the leaders of our community are losing focus on what the reals needs of the people of Emporia really are ! Those needs being, an increase in sustainable, permanent, good paying jobs, prevent the further loss of present jobs and the repair of the City' s infrastructure and above all less needless, frivolous spending and lower/decreased tax for the citizen taxpayers !
These are the priorities, needs, I believe that our City and County leaders most need to focus and concentrate on .

JMO

February 6, 2012 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Extension merger: where is the benefit?

alfalfa,

This is the way a " Democratic Republic " and its governing bodie' s are supposed to work .

And yes, other counties may be watching this with interest, as they should . As this may just give the other counties and its " electorate ( the people ) a " Model " as to how and what " the electorate/people/taxpayers can, do and should, at certain times take an interest in " The Peoples Government " and at times show " the Government/Governing body " that " The People " are the true and real " Government, of the people by the people and for the people " and this is truely how our founding fathers envisioned and hoped it would work !

After all, is this not a " Democratic Republic " with our Government that is elected by the voter/taxpaying citizens and not a " Dictatorial Regime or Monarchy " !

JMO

February 3, 2012 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

City Commission Prepares Goals For Emporia

How many of the citizens attending the Commission meetings have told the Commissioners exactly what you have just stated james ?

But then, how many of these same exact citizen/taxpayer suggestions have either fallen on " Deaf " Commission ears or been " Totally blown OFF " as suggestions coming from those who " don' t know " anything ?

And why do you think that petitions are started and signed by those same suggestion making citizens/taxpayers to bring " Bad " Commission decision making to a vote of the " self same " citizen/taxpayer electorate ?

And how many times has the Commission's thrown good money down the proverbial " think tank " rat hole or fleeced the taxpayer to attend a " retreat " or seminar to get " ideas " on City Goals, etc. ?

When you have answered these questions to your satisfaction, then you will know why Emporia, Lyon County and it's taxpayers are in the shape/trouble/debt that they are currently in, " up to their collective NECKS " !!

JMO

February 3, 2012 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )