Not many businesses would consider a strategic management change without first identifying the risks and benefits and weighing the short term against the long term effects and otherwise preparing a serious cost benefit analysis. That analysis, laden with charts and graphs and detailed timelines and quarterly goals would then be taken before the board of directors and presented to the shareholders and maybe even overseen by the SEC. So a “sprint, not a marathon” push to put an ordinance to change Coos County governance on the ballot by November, when the “county is not broken” is simply not good business. Coming from a collection of self professed businessmen, undertaking a reckless, poorly thought out action like this without adequate due diligence is perplexing because it is just plain bad business. This is the type of “business” you see from OPM (Other People’s Money) types, not responsible managers of a publicly held corporation. Reckless management leads to lawsuits, forced resignations and very possibly criminal charges… think Enron or Adelphia.
So, once again, what is the REAL reason this purely ideological governance change is being rushed through at this time? If it ain’t broke, why break it?
The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons – Emerson
Eldon, Very well said.
I don’t think that scenario is anymore “chilling” than the current one. I heard plenty of stories from employees who were cowed and intimidated by a Commissioner from time to time – many admitted to keeping their head down and mouth shut for fear of retribution or getting fired. All this states is that the Administrator is responsible for personnel issues and the Commissioners are not – based upon the assumption that a skilled Administrator will have the skills necessary to deal with personnel issues. I can think of more than one past Commissioner who lacked the skills and experience necessary to effectively manage people, let alone the County.
On the revised County Administrator measure, on the page labeled amendment 9, it says that with a County Administrator, no commissioner would be able to intervene in issues affecting employees. If a dispute arose between a rank and file employee and a hired department head, the employee would have the choice of bringing the issue up with a commissioner who couldn’t intervene, or just keeping quiet about it, or taking their chances discussing it with an administrator who is not beholden directly to public opinion. Chilling.
THIS is what these ‘privateers’ do to working Americans in the name of profit. Privateering is what this is all about, let’s not forget. These cowboys, whether on a national or local level need to be thrown out of town on their own rusted damn rails. Just look what they did to solid waste, right in front of us, then pretend such shock when the public yells at them, they sit back and smugly smile, clalling the rabble in the street, well, I guess they call them rabble, huh?
From Common Dreams, please watch the video.
http://www.commondreams.org/further/2012/08/14-0
And so as to be able to sleep at night, they just call one another job creators, works decade after decade don’t it Sauce and Knudsen?
The appallingly instructive tale of the Sensata plant in Freeport, Illinois, where 170 highly skilled workers who made electronic sensors for cars quite profitably are now watching their plant being dismantled and shipped to China, piece by piece – all while they they train teams of Chinese workers to do the jobs they’ve spent their lives proudly doing. Sensata’s majority owner? Bain Capital. Workers and town officials offer an earful on greed, what capitalism is and is not meant to be about, the Bain business model, and “the big fairy tale” of Romney’s talk of job creation.
“When I hear Romney speak, it makes me sick to my stomach….I wouldn’t trust him to run a company, let alone a country.”
Don’t forget jon bartons’ ‘selling’ his $50,000 emergency satellite thingey all over Oregon. He even “sold” one to Waterfall Clinic, which isn’t even on their property. Seems ol jonny found a way to suck even more funds from “non” profits? Perhaps jonny will come on here and explain to us why Waterfall Clinic ‘bought’ an uneeded fifty thousand dollar satellite tracking device. How many more of these did you sell by sucking more public dollars for YOUR private business jonny? Yup, the old “funds for me, not for thee” boys are indeed concerned about Coos County finances. You boys have been sucking off one another at the expense of jobs all over this state, my humble opinion only fellas, but perhaps it’s time to wean yourselves from the welfare dollars you suck up every damn year.
I see a pattern here. He’s mentioned healthcare, healthy debate, healthy management and healthcare alternatives, while trying to sell the admin agenda.
Its gotta be a tell.
Could they next be planning to completely privatize the county’s healthcare system to a SCDC member? Once their Admin can cut the deal to save us tax payers some more of that money. They probably already have a plan for keeping the system alive because its mandated, but they want to put a needle in its arm and drain some of the life blood out of it. Who would think that the county healthcare system could be mined like ore or cut like timber? SCDC that’s who!
The Lane County decision addressed a specific instance in which two Commissioners deliberated and aligned the necessary votes on an issue to avoid public debate or criticism in the BOC meeting. I haven’t seen anything in the ruling that prevents them from meeting outside a quorum to discuss County business – they just can’t vote or pre-vote outside of public view. That ruling doesn’t prevent Commissioners from sitting down with each other and reviewing a host of healthcare alternatives, or deciding on which software should be chosen for the Planning office.
Utilizing Gillespie’s ruling as a broad-stroke argument against an Administrator is disingenous. That ruling has nothing to do with an Administrator position. Everything to do with our Commissioners, regardless if we have three, five, seven or nine.
Did anybody see an explanation about the loss of 25 million at the Beaver hill facility?
That’s a bold statement, where’s the proof? Was that just a plain old LIE?
“…having five Commissioners would free them to actually sit down with their peers, one at a time, and dicuss something as complex as healthcare…” This line is worthy of an entire post along with quotes from Judge Gillespie’s Lane County ruling
Susan – thank you for the intelligent and thoughtful question. The Commissioners would still be required to conduct votes in public, but having five Commissioners would free them to actually sit down with their peers, one at a time, and dicuss something as complex as healthcare.. Today, healthy debate or discussion between Commissioners often becomes headline news on local blogs or in the local newspaper. Basically, today’s structure is not conducive to healthy management.
Al, please help. I, Mr. Wiley, MGX, Jim Bice, and many others have asked so many questions during almost a year; none answered. Perhaps you will answer this one. One of your arguments for an administrator is so the commissioners can do business not having to gather as a quorum as now required by ORS. But, what will change at the state level if a local ballot measure is passed and an administrator is hired; or hired without a ballot measure. Won’t the commissioners still have to gather in a public forum to do business? Thanks.
Found these comments this morning in response to Jamie Dimon writing, “This is a Free Fucking Country”. Only free to his ilk, and others like him, parasites on the arse of society, jockying for a seat at That Table MM is constantly talking about.
Thank you Reminder, great piece.
For mark and al, who are trying so hard to sit with the big dogs, they are mere lap=dogs, nothing more.
14 seconds ago (12:49 PM)
So… it’s a “free effing country” when someone proposes new regulations on an out-of-control private sector. But when the walls come crashing down, who did Wall Street go to with their hands outstretched? The government, that’s who. Funny how the right is so against welfare for individual citizens, but will pull out cash hand over fist for companies that have made a mess of things.
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Dimon is a knave, paid and protected by people two or three levels higher than where he squats to drop greetings on John and Jane Q. Public. His incompetence is only exceeded by his chutzpah. When he gets the justice, whose gallop can be heard, it will be a day of national celebration.
TR,
I’m flattered. Really. Just one question: Where do I pick up my check?
Thanks for listening.
Excellent strategy. What Al thinks, breathes, believes, where he sleeps, what he eats or excretes is totally irrelevant to the future of Coos County
Oh and before you do go batshit about my statements, you should know that I am just going to ignore you to piss you off even more.
Al offers aggravation, nothing more. 25 million in losses at the dump. That’s what SCDC wants us to believe so they can justify closing the facility and handing the allotted county funds over to waste connections. Is that the amount we are going to lose to waste connections for their transportation costs, or is that the amount you want us to believe it was going to cost to make the needed repairs that were never considered or is that the amount you claim was lost at the facility before your group saved us with this new deal for a SCDC member.. SCDC is the group that Al is trying to shore up with that number to justify the sweet deal they promised and cut for one of their most supportive members.. and he would have us believe they aren’t going to gut the road department next for another dues paying member to SCDC. I think he is pulling that number out of his ass and has nothing but hot air to support that statement.
There are at least two guys that come here to pick fights with the readers, why?
SCDC knows they will never gain support at this site yet they persist in their effort to come here with no facts just bold statements. Why? Who sets the marching orders for this group of con-men and woman and what do they hope to gain with this bold effort to spin the facts to their favor. The two guys who are doing their bidding at this site have a personal goal in mind and its not to run a bike shop or host a radio show. They have a goal of replacing the heads of that table when those heads retire due to age if the organization survives that long. I think we should just go ahead and change their names to Al Barton and Mark Messerle as a sign of acknowledgement for their sponsors. You two are from different parties yet you represent the same interests and its not the tax payers of Coos County, its the dues paying members of SCDC and their friends. They already own our locally elected politicians and hope to convince someone, hell anyone, that they aren’t running a scam on this county. The biggest prize of all is the county owned timber, so you can just guess who’s really behind them sitting in the shadows. Misdirection is all this is and is all those two hope to gain for SCDC with their efforts. That ought to get their feathers ruffled and get them both going on offense at the same time.
Uhhh…thanks, Themguys.
Anyone else?
“P.S.S. Can ANYONE here explain how Solid Waste was lost if the County structure isn’t broken? I’d say a $25m loss is a key indicator that something is amiss. If someone has a good explanation I’d love to hear it. Thx!”
Let me give it a try. “SOMEONE” promised Waste Connections they’d hand them our entire system for free? It’s called manipulation, and we all watched it. Perhaps you were busy writing your application for Other People’s Money to spiff up your private business, I’m sure you just blinked.
Chew on that for a while al.
Nice try trying to trip- up M. You’ll have to get up earlier to do that, and quite frankly al? You eat her dust. Good try, once again you fall flat.
“The topic of whether the County hire an executive to run the day to day business of government and elect a board to oversee the executive, much like a city manager and city council, has been brought up quite a bit in the last four years. There could be advantages to a single executive running the County, not the least of which is that a loose cannon like Commissioner Stufflebean ripping up the road department and making budgets indecipherable would be less likely to happen.” – Mary Geddry, MGX, March 9th, 2011.
Well, since you seem to think we have not one, but THREE loose cannons running the County right now (“We should call them the ram-rod Commissioners”, “Commissioner etiquette; Main and Parry have none”, “Is there any real difference between Main and Messerle?”), let’s get on with it.
P.S. What is a “self-professed businessman”?
P.S.S. Can ANYONE here explain how Solid Waste was lost if the County structure isn’t broken? I’d say a $25m loss is a key indicator that something is amiss. If someone has a good explanation I’d love to hear it. Thx!
The key matter is that whatever the real reason is for the change, the ones pushing the change are afraid the reason would be unpalatable to voters
Agreed. It brings to mind, for me, the 24 hour duty I pulled in the Company Dayroom in Camp Pendleton once. I picked up the phone, and someone asked me what units were currently based at Pendleton. I informed the caller that information was restricted, and was only available to the Defense Department. Afetr a pause of about 10 seconds, the caller informed me he was FROM the Defense Department.
What you’re describing, Ron, is just how in-artfully the group tasked with implementing these changes have executed their mission and even more how they, themselves, don’t fully understand the goal. They aren’t leaders, they’re followers who probably don’t even know who the rear echelon m’fers are but are taking orders from the local lieutenant planted in country (or should I say county?). Whenever Parry talks I think about the scene from Chicago where Richard Gere is tap dancing seeds of doubt into the minds of the jury
This conversation brings up the same issue I’ve raised before. Why on Earth is a County Administrator being pushed so hard by an appointed official who has never run for office, in an area and a state where he is a relative newcomer? The name dropping, the condenscending manner in which he provides sage advice of what is needed and best for Coos County? There’s an agenda here that is not being shown. You never play poker with all your cards showing. You never ask a question without already knowing the answer. There are issues here that cannot be covered up with a smile and a “Gee-Whiz Folks.” I’m not buying it. It just doesn’t make sense. I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.
There IS no representation once those type of people are elected to office. Regardless of what statements they make in public foums, vis-a-vis in front of voters, behind the scenes their only real agenda is themselves. I find it amusing how much corruption they not only propagate on their own, but the rhetoric they use in espousing their contibution in fighting the same abuses of power.
Ron’s statement brings up a very important point that all voters should ask themselves. Wheres the support of our state representatives, for or against these SCDC goals to change our local form of governance to one that models the port. Why are they silent? Who do they truly represent in this fray. If they gave a damn, they would and should weigh-in on this matter. They have placed themselves above these local issues once elected to a larger stage. I don’t think they represent the public interest by being silent, which says a lot about who they do represent.
This is the same type of representation that we got concerning LNG and coal.
I no longer want to hear how they can’t make up their mind while the issue gets settled by their minions.
I have often wished we had someone in Curry County who could write about what is happening down there so if anyone knows of someone please let me know. By the way, check out the ORESTAR campaign contribution breakdown of the former trooper. He has received money from Williams and big pharma and cigarette manufacturers and waste companies and…
It’s the same abuse of power that’s currently taking place in Curry County. Individuals with private interests who want to tap public resources despite laws in place to protect our resources. Apparently, one only needs to contact a self-serving State legislator in Curry County and use that influence to bypass State law. Citizens with less financial means are regured to obey the laws while those with more money, and influence on lawmakers are allowed to do whatever they want. This is especially interesting as the lawmaker they have in their pocket was once in a position to enforce the laws of this State.
Reminder is right, of course, the goal is to funnel as much money from public coffers into private hands as possible as expeditiously as possible. It is astonishing how much work the paper has exerted trying to sell the public on an ideological change… a philosophy. Next it will be pitting protestants against Catholics or democrats against republicans or any number of other community building exercises
T.R., I think you’ve got it. Coos County revealed itself to be ripe for the plucking. Wim’s book chronicles one aspect of the local debacle, but I wonder if it didn’t get serious until after the Bandon Dunes started attracting one percenters who were exposed to the fecklessness of the public servants here. They realized that the evident greed of just a few power brokers here would allow outside control of our resources. Just as the chromite and logs now go to China, natural gas, and coal could easily join them on the trip. We would be the third world country for China. A subservient and ill-educated public aided the coop, providing cheap labor if necessary. Let’s hope it isn’t a done deal.
what is the REAL reason this purely ideological governance change is being rushed through at this time?
Answer: To facilitate the harvesting of county resources.To bypass the red tape that is seen as a hindrance to the goals of parceling the county’s funding to business interests that would like to capture the available public funds and direct them into the hands of private enterprise. To disband any public employee services that could be handled by the private sector.
Look at the group(SCDC) behind this scheme and it is all to apparent. They will run this county like the port of coos bay has been ran in recent years. One person to dole out the bounty, as compared to three that might find it unscrupulous to handle tax funds that way.
The speedy shutting down of the publicly owned beaver hill incinerator without the chance to even study the option to repair the facility was a deliberate plan by this SCDC group to send those dollars to a company that pays dues to SCDC. That mission was accomplished and we will see a wave of such moves if they get to appoint their administrator. Wheres the savings to the public with this move. We will likely see a price increase to the county and the public with this one single move.
You have to look at the track record of SCDC and see that these are the same individuals pushing this agenda. If private enterprise is running this county it will have to be for a profit. Our form of government was not set up for a profit. They see a golden goose and plan to eat it.
Yes, and once it is eaten, then it will be plain to see the insanity of it all.