Ever notice how Google will sometimes “help” you with searches by displaying what others have already search for on the same topic? Well, sometimes that can be just a little too much information.
I can’t say much more on this one.
January 31, 2010
Burger King and King of Beers Join Forces
Want more than a coke with your Whopper? No problem. Burger King and Budweiser and teaming up to offer you more drink options with your combo meal. For about $2 more than a regular combo, customers can chose from a variety of brews including Bud, Bud Lite, and Miller Lite.
The new burger joint, being called the “Whopper Bar”, will also offer an expanded menu of burgers and toppings. The first restaurant will open in Miami Beach’s South Beach neighborhood.
Sen-Elect Brown (R-Mass) Supports Abortion Rights
Senator-elect Scott Brown (R-MA), just off his big win in Massachusetts, has told ABC’s “This Week” that he disagrees with his party’s position on abortion rights. Brown does not agree that the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion should be overturned believing instead that question is best handled by a woman, her family, and her doctor.
As a fiscal conservative, Brown appears to be more moderate on social issues.
No-Bid Contract Canceled
As a follow-up to a post I made here last week, the Obama administration has now canceled a non-bid contract recently awarded to Checchi & Company Consulting for work in Afghanistan. The owner of the company, Vincent Checchi, was a contributor to the Democratic party and a supporter of Obama.
Obama was criticized for the awarded contract after pledging during his presidential campaign to “end the abuse of no-bid contracts once and for all”. Obama criticized the Bush administration for awarding such contracts to companies like Halliburton.
January 30, 2010
Leadership – Discussion of Ethics
You can’t discuss leadership without touching on ethics. Day 2 of leadership training at Mizzou included a discussion of ethics and the challenges an elected official can face that relate to ethics. Here are a few highlights.
First, ethics is simply the act of making judgments about right and wrong. As people make those judgments, they’ll use some basis for their decision. That basis may be to do what’s best for the greatest number. It may be to follow the highest principle. Or it might be as simple as deciding you’ll do what you’d want others to do to you. There is no right or wrong answer on what basis you may use and that basis may change based on the circumstances.
So what happens once you set your ethical base? Well, you’re then ready to take on an ethical challenge. If you’re lucky, it will be a right/wrong decision. Does the conduct violate codes of conduct? Does it violate personal principles and values? Is it against the law? These are easy ethical decisions to make. They are clear (or bright line) and easy to determine right from wrong.
You can usually use a few simple questions to answer the right/wrong decision:
The legal test – is this something that could put you in jail?
The stench test – does this just smell bad?
The headline test – would you like to read this in the newspaper?
The ‘Mom’ test – Would you want your mom to know?
But what happens when you have a right vs. right situation? Those might include situations that involve truth vs. loyalty, individual vs. community, justice vs. mercy. Those ethical situations lead to very tough choices and usually occur when two (or more) competing values are in conflict. They’ll usually result in a ‘bad’ outcome for one or more parties and quite often have no really ‘good’ choices.
Regardless of the position you’re in, it’s just a matter of time before you’ll be facing a situation that involves an ethical dilemma. How you handle that situation will tell a lot about you as a person and your understanding of deciding right from wrong. But you must do what you feel is right.
To finish, remember the words of Harry Truman - “Do your duty and history will do you justice.” Good luck.
January 29, 2010
Truman School Pushes Leadership Development
One day down, one day to go in my first of three leadership conferences being held at the University of Missouri. Sponsored by the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs, this week’s two-day course is focused on:
- Understanding Individual Behavior
- Motivating People
- Ethics and Leadership
About twenty five people from around the state are enrolled in the leadership academy. Attendees consist of council members, city administrators, police chiefs, and airport directors to name a few.
One interesting part of the conference was identifying the personality profile of each attendee using the Myers-Briggs method.
The course is co-sponsored by the Missouri Municipal League. A flyer for the program can be found here.
January 27, 2010
Beds See More Action in 4th Quarter of 2009
The company accomplished this largely on the basis of a 29 percent gain in net sales, which finished the quarter at $244.8 million, thanks to significant increases on both the domestic and international markets. This pickup produced a gross-profit increase of 46 percent, which helped offset increases of 31 percent in selling and marketing expenses, and 23 percent in general, administrative and other expenses.
For the full 2009 fiscal year, Tempur-Pedic posted a 44 percent increase in net income, to $85 million. Net sales fell 10 percent to $831.2 million, but the company was able to trim selling and marketing expenses by 11 percent. Cost of sales dropped 17 percent.
Mark Sarvary, chief executive officer, said the positive quarter owed to a gradual improvement in the economy as a whole and Tempur-Pedic’s sales and marketing initiatives. Sarvary added that the company’s advertising campaign and productivity improvements point to a strong performance in 2010.
Consumer Confidence Rises in January
Both of the index’s component indicators, the Present Situations Index and the Expectations Index, also rose in the January survey—with the former gaining 4.8 points to 25.0, and the latter picking up 0.6 points to finish at 76.5. Lynn Franco, director of the The Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center, noted that this marked the third month in a row that the overall index gained ground. However, “Consumers’ short-term outlook, while moderately more positive, does not suggest any significant pickup in activity in the coming months,” Franco said.
This month’s survey found increases in the percentage of respondents who felt that business conditions are “good” and “bad.” The participants’ assessment of the jobs market improved somewhat, with an increase in the percentage of those who felt that jobs are “plentiful,” and a decline in the percentage who said jobs are “hard to get.”
“Regarding their financial situation,” Franco said, “while consumers were less dire about their income prospects than in December, the number of pessimists continues to outnumber the optimists.”
Former Carthage Municipal Clerk Charged with Theft
Harrison was fired last year after the Highway Patrol was called in to investigate the suspected theft.
Police Chief Greg Dagnan was quoted in the Globe as saying “We’re relieved the justice system has started, even though this is just the beginning, and that the issue is closer to being resolved. The city has been very proactive in taking steps to make sure this won’t happen again in the area of the court and the Police Department.”
The full article is here.
Residental Home Sales Drop Again
Sales of new single-family homes in December 2009 fell 7.6% from November and declined 8.6% from December 2008, to 342,000. For the full year 2009, new home sales fell 22.9% from 2008.
The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2009 was $221,300. The average sales price was $290,600. Estimated new homes for sale at the end of December was 231,000. This represents a supply of 8.1 months at the current sales rate.
January 26, 2010
Always Need A Good Co-Pilot
I often say that there are no words that can describe the bond a parent makes with a child. Until you have kids, you simply can’t appreciate the love a parent can feel.
Every so often, my daughter and I will do things on a father-daughter day. Sometimes it’s just the two of us loading firewood. Sometimes it’s just the two of us grabbing a bite at Subway. But it’s a special time for us to share time together.
A few weeks back, my daughter asked me to take her flying. As a pilot for 20+ years, hearing my daughter ask to do something that I also enjoy as a hobby is a wonderful thing.
Although the flight didn’t last long, she was a great co-pilot. And while I pride myself on be precise in my control and operation of the airplane, she’s more interested in quick climbs and decents that tickle her belly like a roller coaster (my late grandfather called those ‘howdy doody bumps’). She’s also picking up the radio talk quite well, but is still a little shy to say too much. So far, just a “roger, two niner lima” is the most she’ll put thru the mic, but it makes my smile. I can even hear the smiles on the other end of the radio when ATC acknowledges that young voice.
So to those parents our there, make sure you spend time making an positive impression on your children. And remember to enjoy the pride that comes with being a parent. There's no other feeling like it in the world.
January 25, 2010
Montee Says “Duty of Board to Oversee Finances”
State Auditor Susan Montee held a conference call this morning to discuss the State’s audit of the Village of Leawood. During the conference call, Montee stated that the “ultimate responsibility” for oversight of Leawood’s finances rested with the Board of the city. She called the failure of the Board to do that oversight “very sad”.
Many things required by state law were not being done in Leawood, according to Montee. Those included simple tasks such as preparing and submitting annual budgets.
The Globe website has a link to the audio.
Obama Says Sweetheart Deals Will End – Really?
As a candidate for president in 2008, then-Sen. Obama frequently derided the Bush administration for the awarding of federal contracts without competitive bidding. Giving a commitment to do better, then-candidate Obama told a campaign rally audience in Michigan “I will finally end the abuse of no-bid contracts once and for all…the days of sweetheart deals for Halliburton will be over when I'm in the White House."
I guess what he said was ‘technically’ true. He hasn’t given any sweetheart deals to Halliburton since becoming president, but it appears he HAS given such sweetheart deals to HIS political supporters. Reports today indicate that the Obama administration did award in January a $25 million federal contract for work in Afghanistan to Checchi & Company, a company owned by a Democratic campaign contributor. Reports indicate the award was given without entertaining competitive bids.
So much for doing what you say. Unfortunately, regardless of the party, I’m not a bit surprised.
Leawood Audit Cites Lack of Oversight As A Reason for Loss
The audit report of Leawood was released today online. In it, findings include over $325K of missing funds from the city between 2002 and 2008 along with confirmation that bank statements provided by the former Village Treasurer Gene Paul Boyd were fabricated. (Boyd was charged last February with stealing). The findings do no go back prior to 2002, but the accounts in question date back to 1978.
The audit includes this paragraph describing where the funds went:
Village checks totaling $37,300 were made payable to the former Village Treasurer from the village's official bank account between November 15, 2002, and October 16, 2008. These checks were not approved by the Village Board and according to village officials, signatures on these checks were forged. Additionally, village funds totaling $290,433 were diverted into an unauthorized bank account (unknown to Village Trustees) between November 15, 2002 and October 16, 2008. Disbursements from this unauthorized account included checks totaling $286,660 issued to the former Village Treasurer, $1,604 for bank charges and postage, and $2,169 returned to the village.
The report went on to say that poor accounting procedures and a general lack of oversight by village officials contributed to the loss.
Even an potential nepotism finding was included that stated the Village Secretary, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees, voted to appoint her spouse to fill one of two vacant board positions.
The audit ‘yellow sheet’ can be found here.
January 24, 2010
Neosho Daily Supports Sheriff's Look Into Finances
Below is a editorial comment from today's (Sunday) NDN.
Neosho, Mo. —
We’re heartened to see that the Newton County Sheriff’s Department is investigating potential criminal violations regarding a transfer from the “bed tax” fund to general revenues in order to make city payroll and other city obligations.
While we’re not attorneys or judges, it is clear that the fund transfer was a clear violation of the intent of the ballot issue voters approved back in 2006, if not of the law itself.
For this conclusion, we needed look no further than the ballot language itself: “Shall the city of Neosho impose a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels, motels and tourist courts situated in the city of Neosho at a rate of four percent for the sole purpose of promoting tourism?”
Key words in that ballot issue, in case you missed it: “the sole purpose of promoting tourism.”. Sounds pretty clear to us. If funds are designated solely to promote tourism, then that is what they should be used for. The end. Finis.
But that wasn’t what they were used for. Instead, funds were used to pay city bills.
We understand the money crunch the city is in right now. Times are tough for all of us. We all have had to make sacrifices in order to keep afloat, to rob Peter in order to pay Paul.
But you can’t take money designated for one function, bound if not by law, then by the intent of what voters approved, and use it for another purpose. It isn’t right. It’s a violation of the people’s trust.
The council is slated to meet in a special closed session at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss personnel issues.
We hope some of those issues involve disciplining anyone involved in the fund transfer. But, we realize, the council has the authority only over the city manager, the city attorney and the city clerk.
City council, the eyes of all of Neosho are watching you. Do what’s right.
DAILY NEWS
Newton County Approves 2010 Budget
Newton County officials have approved their 2010 budget with no plans for cuts in service. After seeing a 4.88% reduction in sales tax revenues in 2009, county officials were forced to eliminate any cost of living adjustments for the new budget year. Revenue projection for 2010 are ‘flat’ with 2009.
County officials credited their past build up of reserves as the reason the county hasn’t been forced to cut services.
The full article can be found here.
January 23, 2010
Sam Walton – Where Are You?
25 years ago, Sam Walton launched a new campaign – the “Buy American” campaign to help keep American jobs in America.
As part of the campaign, Walton said: “We cannot continue to be a solvent nation as long as we pursue this current accelerating direction. Our company is firmly committed to the philosophy by buying everything possible from suppliers who manufacture their products in the United States.”
I can still remember seeing the signs displayed in the local Wal-Mart stores promoting how many jobs had be saved by Buying American and the running total that stood in the front of the store tauting the program’s total impact.
As our gov’t leaders (Gov. Nixon and President Obama included) talk about the economic woes we face and work to create jobs and reduce unemployment, I’d encourage them to take another look at the plan Mr. Sam had 25 years ago. It seems like a good place to start.
Congrats to Shelby
Just a quick note of congratulations to Shelby Cummins for being crowned Neosho’s Basketball Homecoming Queen. I’ve known Shelby for many, many years and I’m proud of her accomplishment. She’s a great young lady with a great family. (And kudos to Dr. Jimmy Ray for his excellent job of escorting. He didn’t look too nervous.)
January 22, 2010
Statement on Sheriff’s Investigation
Citizens of this city and of this state and of this country have an expectation that any governmental body that COLLECTS a tax will USE that tax responsibly for the purpose(s) for which it was approved and collected. This is a fundamental duty and responsibility of government.
Recently, issues have been brought to light concerning the spending of the city’s hotel / motel tax. Specifically, it has been reported that the city used those funds to help finance their day-to-day operations. I am concerned that this use may be in conflict with the intended purpose of the tax and therefore be in violation of Missouri statute.
As an elected official, I am sworn to support the provisions of all laws affecting this city. I felt an obligation and a duty to make the Newton County Prosecutor and the Newton County Sheriff aware of these possible violations.
It is now their responsibility to look into this matter. I appreciate their willingness to do so and look forward to the matter being resolved.
My Blog is Batting 1000
Since installing Google Analytics over Christmas, I’ve got a much better idea of how many people are visiting the site. Since Jan 1, I’ve had a 1000 hits by 169 different people. Those 169 people have looked at 2162 pages of ‘stuff’.
If you like numbers and stats, here are some to file away:
50.5% have come in via DSL
2.3% are using dial up
51.9% are using Internet Explorer
7% are using a mobile phone
72% come straight to the site – no referral
4% come from google.
While I had no expectation going into this, I’ve been quite pleased. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are enjoying the posts.
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