Charter

Gosh Roy, I try very hard to make things understandable to you but somehow I seem to keep going over your head. You keep insisting on inserting words or ideas that I did not express. Why is that Roy?

I did NOT call you a liar. I did NOT say that the letter did not exist. I asked you who wrote it and what the solutions were along with a couple of other questions. But as per usual you don't answer any of them.

So let's try again.

What do you expect the County Attorney to do? Should he tell the Commissioners to go against the court order from your law suit? A poor choice in my opinion.

What part of the Charter gives the County Attorney any authority to "Uphold the Charter"?

How much money do you think the Commissioners will make if Karen were to win her suit?

Why didn't you file your law suit in the name of CPVR if you are trying to protect my rights?

I don't see where anything has been or will be accomplished by your actions or Karen's. What purpose will either of these two pay law suits serve except perhaps give our Commissioners more money for not upholding the Charter as you imply.

If they aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing why pay them more for it? 

Roy, when you can start answering questions I might consider taking you seriously. Until then your comments and actions make no sense to me.

Mike Heemer

Roy, I was puzzled by the timing, not the content of your original letters to the editors. It seems to me that, with a court decision just days away, it would be prudent for the County Commission to follow the County Attorney's advice and just wait for the ruling.

The Charter Amendment at stake in the remaining court case is the one that would set the salary of County Commissioners at 37K and require voters to approve any raises in the future. I supported the amendment, joining the vast majority of Clay County voters who approved it in November's election.

The amendment was sponsored by CTLAC. I've got friends in that group, and I've supported many of their proposals over the years. The amendment was opposed by CPVR. I've got friends in your group, too, Roy, but I can't say I seen the group propose anything I could really get behind. It is grassroots versus former Charter Review Commission, political polar opposites.

And, of course, there was the mistake. The Supervisor of Elections Office made a mistake, a big one, and there are all kinds of theories, from amendment proponents and opponents, about how that mistake could or should be remedied in-house.

I like the idea of citizen-bosses controlling salaries, but it's not a huge issue with me. Like folks on both sides of the politics, too, and feel sorry for the SOE folks who made the mistake. At this point, though, all those things have become extraneous. The bottom line to me as a citizen, the single most important issue among all the personalities and politics and pay scales, is this: We held an election. Was it legal?

It's the kind of question that affects my rights as an American citizen far more than how big my County Commissioner's paycheck is. I don't want the Board of County Commissioners taking actions trying to guess the answer to that question based on the advice of the County Attorney, either.

That, Roy, is why I disagree that any immediate action on the issue be taken by the BCC. Let's wait it out, let the court do its job, and make sure we get it right.

Roy,

1.  Have you checked the official recorded minutes of the meeting where the BCC approved this petition to see what the BCC approved and forwarded to SOE?   There should be a copy of the BCC approved petition attached to those minutes.

2.  Was the one approved by the BCC the one the SOE put on the ballot? 

3.  Since this issue is not a result of anything CTLAC did, why should they required to do it over again?

4.  Who is providing the funds for Karen Lake for her lawsuit?   Based on what is in public records, I don't think its coming out of her pocket.

Rlyons

Hemmer –I am constantly amazed that way back when I had a blog removed from the site because the “caretakers” thought it was a personal attack.   Why “they” continue to allow you to personally attack me in such a manner is a mystery to me.   You never fully read what I write or try to understand its meanings.   There are certain people who just don’t
”get it” and I guess you would count as one of them.    You constantly, if not outright infer that I am “stupid” and “idiot” self serving and a threat to the government of Clay County.   Yes, I have the information to back up what I state.   Yes, there was a serious wrong done by both the BCC and SOE and nothing was done to correct it.   When the BCC asks for advice from the County Attorney they get a bunch of garble gook and never receive a straight answer. Since when is it correct for the county Attorney to give advice which is contrary to our governing document? I said in my letter that the process was what I was questioning not the content of the petition, but you don’t seem to comprehend that either.  I have never and will never personally attack the CTLAC.  I don’t agree with them, they don’t agree with me, but personal attacks are not in our agenda and I would rather you refrain from making any comments if they are always going to be “not quite” personal attacks.What you need to do is research whatever subject you are speaking on , that would make your comments more valid.   I have a right to my opinion and will continue to work towards making the Clay County Government work for the voters of Clay County. Including you. We, in Clay County are very lucky that you were beaten so badly in the last election. Your lack of research would have made for a bad elected official.   You sir, are not worth anymore of my time. Smile life is good

Mr. Lyons, why do you, exactly like Karen Lake, never answer an honest question with an honest answer? You have been asked repeatedly about several things but all you seem capable of is attacking Mike Heemer. Thankfully, neither are you an elected official. You've done enough harm already as simple citizen. You're an embarrassment to this community. Please go somewhere the likes of you are appreciated. Lower Slobbovia springs to mind.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

Roy,

At this point, you are embarrassing yourself!

I do not understand why anyone who has served his country for more than 20 years would want to go against the will of the people.  That was our primary duty to support and defend the Constitution and protect the rights of our voters.

I know this is a Republic and not a Democracy and I know that the peoples views should be represented accurately and mindful of the will of the people.

 Someone made a mistake.  Heck Believe me I know how easy it is for someone to make a mistake, but when something is so clear and unabiguos as what was on the ballot why would anyone want to challenge it especially one who pledged to support the peoples rights so many years.

Our government is fraught with special interests and they seem to always get their way.  Roy I hope your not representing special interests and trying to payback the stooges for their support of tax draining proposals that can only assist Clay Counties special interests and not truly serve the ordinary citizen.

I think it is time to put away the attorneys, Karen can continue to get her ticket punched for future positions other ways.

Let the people have at least a small victory after all the extra taxburden's that have been shifted their way.  We need leadership that supports the majority of our citizenry not those who give their votes to special interests to line their pockets.  I believe in capitalizm but not at the expense of the peoples tax interests.

So boys why not work together and do something for the people and stop the Beltway, reduce development until the water tables return, pump water into the Lakes,  stop the pillaging of the St Johns and solve issues that protect the rights of our grandchildren.  37,000 is not bad remunteration for 2 days a month.  I can assure you that I would oppose any increase until leadership looks after the people first.  If we continue to elect the chosen ones then I would never vote for a raise.

Please do a C&P of my comments that called you stupid or an idiot. You must have read Bax's post and then quit reading.

I'm bad at research? I thought doing research meant asking questions. I've asked you quite a few and have yet to get any answers.

What is your opinion on what should be done? I've asked you that too.

Roy, if you honestly believe that I got beaten badly in November you are sadly mistaken. I won more than you will ever know. But let me try to explain some of it for you.

Over 21,000 (over 22%) of the voters that cast a ballot walked into the booth and did not vote for my opponent. They did not all vote for me but the fact is they did vote against me either. That is one heck of a performance for a relatively unknown Write-in. And I didn't have to spend over $50K of someone else's money to not be the Elected Chair of the County Commissioners.

As a candidate I was able to use that "Bully Pulpit" as some like to call it to speak against the At-Large seats and for the $37K pay. Both of those passed with an overwhelming majority. I am just egotistical enough to think that I might have had at least a little bit of influence on that outcome.

So you see Roy, I wouldn't say that was a resounding defeat. I exceeded my expectations by a considerable margin.

As a final thought I'd like to hear the answer to two questions:

1. If I had won the election would you have filed a law suit to try to keep me in office? Was it the seat or was it the individual?

2. If the $37K amendment had failed would you have filed a law suit because the process was flawed? Is it the process or is it really the money? Actually I guess I should be asking why you didn't make the same challenge in your law suit that Karen is in hers. It seems to me that she is the one that is fighting for the process Roy.

Honestly I don't expect you to answer these two questions. I've asked them before but I'm just trying to prove to you that I do try to do my research. You are the only person that has the answers.

Here is your chance to set the record straight about your motivations. Smile Roy, life is good.  

Mike Heemer

Roy I have personal knowledge of how you operate at times having witnessed it myself.  To say you have nothing against CTLAC is just not true, I have watched you attempt to belittle them in small public forums.  The last debate at FI Library over the amendments. While Jane stuck to the "merits" of the Amendments there were multiple times you referred to them as "you people" "those people".   You did not debate the merits of the amendments in my perception, you debated the intent and integrity of the group itself. My respect for you took a major hit that night and my respect for Jane Padgett soared.  

You yacked about the cost to the taxpayer for the petitions they submitted because CTLAC requested a waiver from the cost.  The amount I might add was several hundred dollars. The elephant in the room is the tens of thousands you have cost/will cost the taxpayer with yours and Karens suits.

The people have spoken, well over 80% I believe and whether or not to overturn that, or negate it should be decided in court and will no doubt go clear to the DCA once again.

I remember when we worked together over the Ravines issues, I sat at your dining room table while you spoke about how you were sure which way the Commissioners were going to vote except for Rob Bradley. There had obviously been much discussion between you and them.  Once it was over I remember you and Dianne standing at the gate passing out flyers for a fund raiser for Harold Rutledge. What you said to Fred and myself was that since Harold had voted "our way" that we owed it to him to support his next run for office with a financial contribution. I can remember being put off by that sales pitch. I was grateful the BCC voted in favor of not changing things, but in my mind they were doing what they were paid for, not something they should be financially rewarded for.  Rutledge had already lost my vote over other issues, getting my way on that one issue didn't change that.

I could say so much more but it is mostly things I've been told. What I have witnessed personally is enough for me to believe that your efforts have very little to do with the betterment of our county and more to do with less altruistic plans that benefit a certain few. 

You had no outrage at the poor performance of goverment when the first petition was tossed out, because you acheived your goal. You would have posted no objections on the salary amendment if it had not passed because you would have achieved your goal. You had no outrage over the mistakes of the SOE that had Fred tossed as a candidate, and it cost "your good friend Jenny" (your words)her job.  This isn't about poor performance in goverment, it's about wanting things your way.  I can understand that, I want things my way too. My way says the people voted to lower the salaries and control any increases regardless of what petition appeared on the ballot. That purpose that was clear in both of them.

The last few lines of your last post prove that you're just as willing and capable of attack. Some I've witnessed, most I just hear about.  The last time I even spoke to you had the same superior "Im better then everyone else" with regards to these blogs. You didn't read them, you couldn't be bothered, they're a waste of time etc etc etc yet here you are.

Clay County would have had a Great Commissioner in Mike Heemer. He's honest, unwilling to accept money form those who donate not based upon the best candidate for the county but for the one that will vote the way they want.  He would have walked that fine line of what is best for all and what the majority wants. Based upon the current performance of incumbant I'd say Mike has a real good chance of getting elected the next time around if he ran and actually put his name on the ballot.

The people voted, and that carries a tremendous amount of weight with a Judge. Even if you could have gotten the BCC/Scruby to do what you wanted it would still be decided in court.

www.ctlac.com

I can not imagine why any one who has the vaguest knowledge about Clay's political history over the past 20 years would give a damn what Roy Lyons thinks He has been and still is the establishments  " political pimp " It was He and his kind that help make the Clay Republican party the great creditable org. it is today

Ex, I stopped caring about what Roy Lyons thinks some time ago.  However so long as he's running his mouth I will be right behind him running mine. There was a time when I would have bought into his way of thinking, I want to make sure I do what I can when I can to put both sides of the issue out there.

I'm not so sure he's a political pimp, I would wager he's on the other side of that sort of business arrangement.

I wish you would share some of this history you keep referring to, it seems like you just come in here to let us all you know more then we do but yet you never expand beyond that. I've heard stories about the local Republican Party, some of what has taken place at their meetings.  I've heard stories of former Chairmans screaming at people, about Chairmans who've been removed from that post due to lies and deceptions. I've heard stories about what all was done to remove the last Chairman.  If you witnessed any of this stuff why not share it?

This much I will validate.  I've seen enough of people like Roy Lyons that has made me disgusted with the local Republican Party. I've gotten the impression that there is a significant number of them who are nothing more then well dressed thugs.

http://www.ctlac.com/

...Marsha, but I don't think they are all that well dressed. ;>)

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

This in my opinion, is the same person that got 30plus disillusioned residence of th eRavines to believe that he had their best interests at heart only to leave them looking at a cow pasture with six feet tall weeds and a property value that is just enough to wipe your you now what with. 

 Why would anyone take him seriously or even give him the time of day.  I have always found that if you ignore someoneor something long enough it/they just eventually go asway.  You put your house up for sale sometime ago and then pulled it, why? Couldn't get that mortgasge covered huh? Welcome to the flippen club

One can only hope you go away, you are an ass and I have zero interest in politics.  I cannot believe you people that stood next to Lyons in th eCounty commkissioner meetings are proud of your contributions to our community- shame on you!