Page 3 - Sanger Herald 4-12-18 E-edition

SANGER HERALD 3A THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 EDITORIAL & OPINION
Random thoughts A council that is apparently only concerned with details when it is convenient ...
By Dick Sheppard
The city council spent
quite a bit of time last week
hearing about problems
with communications, talk-
ing about problems with
communications and cor-
recting a mistake related to
a problem with communica-
tions that was made way back in December.
That's when the council on a 4-1 vote, with only mayor pro tem Eli Ontiveros dissenting, approvedacontractwithafirmcalled New Economics and Advisory in the amount of $77,900.
Problem was, the contract was not in the agenda packet, nor on the city website at that time. It was not available to be reviewed by either the council or the public. Big no, no.
The council took the word of community development director Tom Navarro that it was a good deal and approved it. Apparently none of the councilmembers realized the con- tract was missing.
So much for doing their homework.
Community activist and city council watcher Henry Provost caught the mistake and brought it to the attention of the council.
After city attorney Hilda Cantu Montoy made sure the contract was posted on the website and was available for review at the April 5 meeting she had the council do a do- over, ratifying the approval of the agreement back in December.
Montoy said she didn't want to minimize the problem, but the do-over would fix it.
Later, when discussing steps taken to make sure there was no misunderstanding with the Sanger Unified School District over the sale of land in what the city euphemisti- cally calls its "Technology Park" she said she hoped this would prevent the kind of mis- understandings that have taken place in the past.
Those misunderstandings in the past still may cost the city the loss of a major industry.
The public forum at the April 5 council meeting featured a parade of residents talk- ing about misunderstandings, miscommuni- cations and misconceptions.
In my dozen years as editor of the Sanger Herald I can't remember a city administra- tion with more self inflicted misunderstand- ing, miscommunication and misconception problems.
One of the administrators brought aboard by city manager Tim Chapa got in trouble a fewyearsback,working inaneighboring community, when he made an $85,000 mis- take that resulted in an unbalanced budget.
He must feel pretty comfortable in Sanger, in this administration, where that kind of error would apparently be just part of a regu- lar days work.
Look at the chart below, presented to and accepted by the city council as part of its budgeting process back on July 6, 2017. Look atthe columnbetweenthelinestitled"FY 2016-2017 Projected."
Kevin Carter, another city council watcher, says that because of a math error there is a $1,238,707 mistake on the bottom line, labeled "Ending Fund Balance."
The error occurred on the line "Total Operating, Capital Outlay, and Gang Prevention/Intervention Expenditures" where the total should have been $3,728,146 instead of $2,039,438.
An $85,000 error?
That's chump change in Sanger. Kevin explained why he became inter-
ested in the budget projection, "At one of
the Measure S meetings I asked if we were spending more money than we were taking in this year. The committee said, 'Yes we are.' The fire chief went to the microphone and said we were spending down the reserves on purpose. I don't understand why you would just spend money because you have it. It really made me wonder. I have read most of the budget. It is just as entertaining as the meetings. It bothers me that during the bud- get presentation there is not more discussion and questions. I think the city finances really needtobelookedatclosely."
I think maybe Henry Provost and Kevin Carter need to consider running for city council.
They do their homework.
I also think it's just a tiny bit hypocritical that this council, at its March 15 meeting, turned down a Measure S Citizens Oversight Committee recommendation relating to left
over grant money because the committee didn't provide documentation, just an opinion.
Remind me, when did this council start looking at details, at documentation?
Last week the council again masqueraded as a group that actually looks at documenta- tion, budget numbers and contracts when it declined to support California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control sanctions against a local tavern because the police chief didn't provide enough details, enough documenta- tion.
Seems like Ontiveros is usually the only councilmember who questions staff recom- mendations and asks for more information.
The others seem more than willing to accept recommendation even when a con- tract is missing or there is a $1.2 million error.
Last week another regular city council watcher, Donna Bailey, told the council that it waslettingthetailwagthedog.
They would probably need more documen- tation, more details, to accept or maybe even understand that comment.
Comments, complaints and suggestions may be emailed to sangerherald@gmail.com or maybe made by calling 875-2511
Dick Sheppard
In my OPINION
Always expect mischief when bureaucrats at
any level are given free reign to spend money
Page 31 of the "Administrative Proposed Budget Fiscal Years 2017-2018 & 2018-2019" on the city council agenda for the meeting of July 6, 2017
By Fred Hall
Personally, I have to admit that I was some- what taken aback by the response of a reader to my usage of the aphorism “A rising tide lifts all boats.” An aphorism is defined as a terse saying that embod- ies a general truth or astute observation.
Fred Hall
`"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey
and car keys to teenage boys." – P.J. O'Rourke
port an item which was packaged as a “safety tax.”
A slanted telephone “survey” was under- taken, using fear tactics, to prove to area small towns that the voters would support payingmoremoneyinthenameof “safety.” Purportedly the money collected was to be spent on enhancing police and fire protec- tion through improvements which were to be funded exclusive of general fund expendi- tures.
Fortunately some of these little towns had theforesightto“sunset”thetax. Reedley was not one of those with the tax passing in perpetuity. Thatsimplymeansitnevergoes away. Otherssawtheneedtoendthetaxon a day certain but have abused the sudden availability of extra money.
We see this as a cautionary tale against citizens ever voting to impose a tax on them- selves—whether it's a bond issue or a simple tax. Everyone,especiallyinCalifornia,would realize by now that when money is taken from the private sector and placed at the dis- cretion of bureaucrats one can always antici- pate mischief in the way those funds are spent. Ourrecommendationisthatcitizens should always turn a jaundiced eye to those in government when they say they need more money.
Empirical figures as well as experience should have proved to all of us by now that when people who did not work for your money get their hands on it, it's a safe bet theywillsquanderwhatyoulaboredfor. If you believe I am wrong, please provide an example of how tax money is carefully spent.
But, as always, that's one man's opinion.
In addition to the Sanger Herald, Publisher Fred Hall oversees two other Mid Valley Publishing newspapers - Reedley Exponent, and Dinuba Sentinel. He can be contacted by phone at (559) 638-2244 or by email at fred@ midvalleypublishing.com.
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Thank you!
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to my family, friends and members of the Sanger community for their display of love and support shown to me on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Kings River Winery.
I was showered with hugs and roses from the Pink Heals community, Sanger’s Fire
Established 1889 • Published every Thursday 740 N Sanger, CA 93657 • (559) 875-2511
Fred Hall, publisher Dick Sheppard, editor
Lifestyles editor: Mike Nemeth
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Department, Sanger’s Police Department, crew members from our local Fresno County Cal Fire Station 84 and Sanger’s Rotary Club.
The act of love and service have sincerely touched our hearts.
I’d also like to take a moment to say a special thanks to my husband, Mike Viar and my daughters; Christina Viar Jolliff and Hollie Hudgins for their support.
That special thanks also goes to Rolinda Hernandez with Sanger’s Fire Department and Ashley at the Kings River Winery for helping to make that day possible.
I am still amazed at the support through continued prayers, hugs, and encouragement.
God continues my daily blessings of strength as I continue the fight against cancer!
Pam Viar
An award winning 2018 member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association
The Sanger Herald is owned and published by Mid Valley Publishing, Inc, 740 N, Sanger, CA 93657 It is an Adjudicated Legal Newspaper
General Circulation in Fresno County, Order No 85500, Dec 1951 Sanger Herald subscriptions are taken by mail in advance
Although I failed to attribute, the saying
is generally credited to John F. Kennedy
and is associated with the idea that general improvements in the economy will benefit all participantsintheeconomy. Kennedyused it in a 1963 speech to combat criticism that a dam project he was inaugurating was a pork barrel project.
I do take umbrage with being called “igno- rant” simply because of a long list of “privi- leges” which the writer chose to presume thatIenjoy. Namecallingofasubjectabout whom one has no knowledge is always a dangeroustacktotake. “Privilege”and“rac- ism'” have become far too common and pre- dictable on behalf of members of our society. When such terms are so freely overused they completely lose their intended impact.
The writer should be thanked for read-
ing the newspaper and recognized for her willingness to get involved in affairs which impacttheentirecommunity. Weadmire herfortitude. Webelievetheoriginalintent of newspapers was not only to inform but provide a means of civil discourse on public issues—a very different mandate than today's social media which is unedited and anything goes! Seldomwillonefindanysortofcivi- lized discussion therein.
In the event you may not have seen the letter of which I speak, it's available in the 5 AprileditionofTheDinubaSentinel. Acopy is available for review on its web site or one may pick up an issue at one of Mid Valley's locations in Reedley, Sanger or Dinuba.
Most people have lived in California long enough that they are no longer surprised to discover that there are actually consulting firms who aid and abet governmental and quasi-governmental agencies in packaging and assist in selling tax increases to the vot- ers. JustafewyearsagoalargeBayArea consultant group swept through the Valley helping small towns get the vote out to sup-
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