vision2020
Re: Pool Finances
Ken:
We certainly agree on the need for public disclosure and restoration of
confidence. I do think it's a problem sometimes figuring out just which
information should be highlighted (ie, what the public is most interested in)
and how to disseminate that information. As an example with which I have
some familiarity, the school district has tons of "information." Not only is
there the question "what exactly do people want to know about" but even
more important, how do we distribute it? The D-N doesn't always (usually
doesn't) print "news" that we release--unless it's controversial. It costs a lot of
money just to send news home to parents of district students--but that leaves
you and lots of other Moscowites out of the loop. V2020 is a great way to start
discussions and give information, but that leaves many others out of the loop.
I'm really happy that one of the major portions of the District's Strategic Plan
is Communication. Plans and actions have not been finalized, but it has a
major part of my attention this year and beyond. Your ideas are always
welcome, and I appreciate being able to disagree with one another
occasionally and still respect each other's points. Keep up the good work, and
be please let me know when you have questions about the District and
suggestions on how we can do better. I'm only one of 5 board members and
am not an administrator, so I can't always change the organization's direction
overnight. But if I don't know about it, I can't help fix it.
Regards,
Mike
On 22 Sep 00, at 21:01, William K. Medlin wrote:
Date sent: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 21:01:08 -0700
To: "Mike Curley" <curley@turbonet.com>
From: "William K. Medlin" <dev-plan@moscow.com>
Subject: Re: Pool Finances
Copies to: Moscow <vision2020@moscow.com>
Thanks very much, Mike, for your reasonable and cautionary remarks
about all the scuttle-but about the Aquatics Park issue. We needed
that. At the same time, it would be good if other civic leaders, esp.
a council person or two, would step forward with a policy statement
addressing some of the concerns that have been voiced. I personally
have no serious concerns, other than that the public deserves to be
as well informed by officials as the available data allow. Not only
in this community but generally across the country, the range of
citizen responsibilities and participation has been growing more and
more restricted due to a variety of erosive factors. It's up to
elected officials to help restore both confidence and interest in
govt'l affairs, and to build trust between the elected and the
electorate. Good communities usually emerge from these wholesome
relationships. Carry on, Mike! Ken M.
>Ken and other Visionaries:
>Just a side note to what has been to me an interesting discussion
>about the pool and public works generally: before we cast any new
>aspersions at any of our city officials or pool managers, we should
>keep in mind the time it takes to have a full and complete picture of
>the finances of any operation, commercial or public. The pool just
>closed a week or two ago. Bills will no doubt continue to trickle
>in and be paid, and some operational costs may be fragmented
>throughout the fiscal year. I am not making excuses for anyone (and
>particularly DON'T know whom that anyone may be), but simply saying
>that to get an ACCURATE picture of the finances of any operation
>takes both time and an understanding of the accounting principles and
>conventions that are used in making the report.
>
>I expect in time our city council will ask the same questions that
>are being asked here and that a business manager, accountant, or
>manager will supply not only the data, but an opinion on the net
>revenue/cost of the pool. In fact, to those council members who do
>subscribe to 2020 or otherwise hear about the posts, I ask that you
>follow up at an appropriate time and that you have the basic
>information posted here or at least identify a site where the
>information can be obtained.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mike Curley
>
>
>Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 20:53:22 -0700
>To: krehbiel@moscow.com
>From: "William K. Medlin" <dev-plan@moscow.com>
>Subject: Re: Pool Finances
>Cc: Moscow <vision2020@moscow.com>
>
>Folks: I thoroughly subscribe to Doug's reasoning here and on
>insistence on disclosure. Political officeholders throughout our
>society have acquired a predilection for keeping public data,
>budgets, expenditures, evaluations (when rarely required), etc. away
>from public scrutiny. The McCain-Feinstein appeals over the past 2-3
>years for campaign reform are only symptomatic of a widespread
>practice by politicians and those whom they control in govts.of not
>being accountable to anyone except at the ballot box. That's not good
>enough for a democracy or a free market economy. For better and for
>worse, the growth of govt. regulation at all levels places increased
>fiscal and investment options within control of politicians. As for
>the pool itself, it's a great 'invention' for this community, even
>tho on most hot summer days it was like cans of sardines back to back
>and little SWIMMING room other than getting wet. With the Joseph St
>land now being developed, hindsight says we could have, with long
>range planning and community participation, developed an all-purpose
>sports and recreation site there, with a covered pool. It would have
>been well worth the extra few $ million to make that a comprehensive
>project to serve MORE people and bring in more receipts. Just
>thinking out loud. Thanks, Doug. Ken M.
>
>>My original comment was really an attempt at gaining information. I
>>think we need to evaluate the finances of all of our public facilities
>>in order to operate them in a responsible manner. We, as tax paying
> >citizen, have the opportunity to comment on all government budgeting and
>>spending. I would like to know that an Air Force toilet ($1200) doesn't
>>go into city hall. The debate about the cost/benefits of the pool is
>>somewhat hampered when we don't know the costs.
>>
>>>From my perspective, if the pool "lost" a lot of money, we should hold
>>the managers to the task of being more responsible with our money. If
>>the pool "made" money, a review of entrance fees is in order and we
>>should hold the managers to the task of being responsible with our other
>>money.
Mike Curley
curley@turbonet.com
208-882-3536
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