Mary Souza’s post titled “Just Trust ‘Em!” paraphrased a summation comment made by Councilman Woody McEvers at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. The hearing in which he made his comment involved annexation of the Dearmond Mill site into the City and setting its zoning at C-17, the least protective and least restrictive of all zones.
Turn on your computer’s sound and listen to McEvers’ exact words. Follow along on the transcript below.
|
Speaker |
Comment |
|
Edinger (presiding as mayor pro tem) |
Anybody else? |
|
Goodlander |
And I would make a motion to that effect. |
|
Edinger (presiding as mayor pro tem) |
Objection? Woody? |
|
McEvers |
Oh, um…uh, this seems like a no-brainer. The trust issue is just constant. It just amazes me that what people say you don’t want to believe, but maybe I live that way. Um, I like the idea of shoreline protection. I like to see what the agreement says about what do we get. What do the citizens get from this? I mean, the Foundation, the college, they’re all our people, so I believe that the C-17’ll work. I don’t really see any problem with you guys selling some of the dirt to get your money back to do some cool stuff. Sorry! You know, it’s like the big no-no, but what? That sounds like good business to me. Untouchable. But,I just think it’s fine. I think you guys’ll do a good job, and if you don’t, Al’ll come after you, and Ron will too, I’m sure. No, we have to trust. God, this is government. If we can’t trust each other, we can just butt heads all day long and nothing gets done. And…so, I’m supporting it. Let’s protect the shoreline. Let’s get the Centennial Trail. Let’s get some stuff for the folks. |
I’m not sure what McEvers was referring to when he said, “The trust issue is just constant.” But then, I’m not sure he knew what he was referring to. If he was suggesting that the public should give its unquestioning trust to the “government” he also mentioned , then I would suggest he listen again to the betrayal of the public trust revealed by then-Councilman Dixie Reid and condoned by other Councilmen in my post In Her Own Words.
What strikes me as most telling about McEvers’ Tuesday night comment is this: No mention of education and vocational training. It was nearly all about getting “…some stuff for the folks.” That pretty much sums up our Mayor and City Council’s perception of what they deceptively call the Education Corridor. It’s more about stuff than education and vocational training.
Would this ‘trust’ be the same ‘trust’ we once held for the Mayor promising that no city funds would go to the Kroc Center? Or is this the same ‘trust’ afforded Council-toady Kennedy and his no additional funds promise for the new library or selling the old library? Who does Woody think he is kidding?
Woody exactly what are you going to do (as you promise) if something does not go the way it should? You just handed these people a blank check and they can do whatever they want with it and you cannot stop it. The only thing you can do is say “Oh darn” I won;t make THAT mistake again. Well Woody THAT mistake has been made time and again. Just look at the emergency fund balance if you want proof. Puppet.
Hey Woody, I’ve got some prime land in the everglades to can have for only $3 million. TRUST me, it is a steal at this price.
Comment by Wallypog — June 19, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
I read Woody’s comments a couple of times and listened to the audio. I think, I now understand his position. Does anyone know how many of the NIC Foundation Trustees were in attendance in support of the annexation and zoning change? Another post said that elections are only 136 days away. In the more immediate future, let’s hope the weather cooperates with the Ironman Athlete’s and gives us a beautiful Coeur d’Alene first day of summer on Sunday. Happy Father’s Day to all of the Dad’s out there. Enjoy the weekend, there will be plenty of time to discuss the fall elections.
Comment by Jim Brannon — June 19, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
Hi Jim, glad to hear from you. By the way, it was fun to run into you and Christine on the boat cruise a few weeks ago.
At the council meeting last Tuesday there seemed to be a number of Foundation members, I’m not sure how many in total. But I do know that all 5 members of the NIC Board of Trustees were present: Chairperson Christie Wood, Mic Armon, Judy Meyer, Rolly Wiliams and Ron Vieselmeyer. They all signed in on the optional sheet at the door and went on record as being in favor of the C-17 zoning request.
Comment by mary — June 19, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
The affinity fraud Bernie Madoff ran for so many years was successful because Madoff targeted people he knew and who trusted him. Trust but verify.
Comment by Bill — June 19, 2009 @ 4:22 pm