I am angry. I have the flu. The latter precluded me from being able to attend and videotape the festivities at the Wetumpka City Council budget meeting today at 3:00 p.m. The former would indicate it is probably better that I have the flu. My video camera did attend without me, however, and initial reports are that the meeting went terribly. I don't know all the facts but I will soon. When I do, those of you who are interested will be able to read all about it right here.
My best understanding at this point is that Hammock, Washington, and Holt have no intention of doing anything other than whatever it is they want to do. They are embarrassing to our city and to their respective districts. I can't imagine anyone other than a select few sidekicks of theirs being satisfied with the horribly inept job they have done and continue to do almost one year into their terms.
My question is this: Does anyone care enough to do anything about it? I know that many of you are concerned and you've expressed it on this blog and in our community. I'm not sure it has been communicated to these people by us, the citizens of Wetumpka, in a way that makes them understand that we've had enough. At the end of this four year term, if things continue in the direction they are going, the City of Wetumpka will have taken giant strides right in the wrong direction. Backward. The citizens are not being heard, at least not the majority of them because there has been no change in these three councilmen's behavior and change doesn't appear imminent.
I refuse to let my life be hijacked by these ne'er-do-wells and watch them run the city that I call home into the ground. Wetumpka has far too much potential to be a leader in the River Region in so many ways to have it squandered by these irresponsible simpletons who don't care about any of us. Only themselves. That is a fact.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD. I'm not sure what it might take for them to actually stop asking pointless questions long enough to hear us but we can make it happen if we have the intestinal fortitude. Share your suggestions, PLEASE! Call, write cards, write newspapers, make people aware! If we wait much longer before taking action it will be too late and our chance will have passed us by. We'll be left in the dust of other cities like Millbrook and Prattville and maybe even the Redland area. They'll be enjoying new opportunities and development while we watch our own beloved city grow stagnant and depressed. It doesn't matter who you did or didn't vote for. The fact is that you are a citizen and they are hurting you with these shenanigans whether you voted for them or not.
They'll run me down and tell you the only reason I write on here is because I'm doing the mayor's bidding. They are wrong. I have two children that I hope will grow up and live right here in Wetumpka. Anyone, ANYONE, who isn't doing their d---dest to make Wetumpka a better place for them and for your families is worthy of any derision that may be cast in their direction! If they tell you these things, then just keep watching this space and you'll see with your own eyes, over the course of time, how they act and what goes on at these city council meetings. My camera will continue to show up and you can see for yourself here or in person should you choose to attend a meeting. Mere words can't even begin to express my disgust at how almost one whole year has been frittered away. I hope that you, like me, refuse to sit back and allow three more years to be utterly wasted.
Just my opinion. I could be wrong, but I'm not. Not this time.
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16 comments:
Sorry for the salty language.
Sometimes the stupid actions of so-called adults will make you use a little salty language that isn't normally used. We forgive you. Keep up the good work.
Well good morning Mr. Thad.....
Back to Holt, Hammock and Washington, May the Good Lord Have Mercy on Our Souls! Why should He have Mercy? Just let me share with you...
I sat on the back row yesterday during the budget meeting of the Wetumpka City Council. As I watched the angry faces of Holt, Hammock and Washington I knew this was going to be a "beat down the Mayor until he falls to his knees face first, kick him until he can't breathe, bury him without a coffin - throw dirt on his face and leave him there" kind of meeting. Kathy Holt looked me square in the face time and time again when she was running for office and swore to me that she would work for the city, and low and behold, this piece of filty trash continues to lie along with her pretty little buddy that sits to her left, right beside her at the head of the table and the wild-eyed jackass that sits at the end opposite pretty boy. Do you remember the blogger that bloged in a while back and said the two (2) KH's and Washington are hurting our children, THINK about it Wetumpka! I thank God my kids are grown and do not live here. How sad for me to be forced to think that way. Come on Wetumpka, do you care about the future of your children that want to make this city their home and raise their children here just like you did? I challenge you to blog in on this blog and express your feelings, but more than that, show up at the council meetings and support what the mayor is trying to do for Wetumpka, If you come, you will see what we all are talking about. We could care less about Hammocks personal problems (even though the whole town knows what happened there) and could care less about Washingtons ignorance - they can't help their broken down lives, however, KHOLT, she was born evil. She's her mama's daughter, she can't help it. Now, get on with the city's business and leave our children's future along! A big thank-you to Chris Carter and Greg Jones, they see through these idiots - and they are trying their best to help the mayor help the city. Thanks Thad for this blog. We know for a fact Kathy Holt and Ken Hammock are reading it, however, Washington can't read (he doesn't know naught from naught, but Jethro Bodine does) so maybe the two KH's will fill him in. Take this the two (2)KH's and digest it and then throw up on Washington! Hey come on OLD girl, and I mean OLD, Mr. Kindergarten and OLD MAN RIVER, let me hear you defend yourselves! Are you scared? You don't want to defend yourselves because you know it's the truth!
Smith...Thanks for understanding. LOL!
Worried...Sounds like you are as sick of this behavior as I am! It is absolutely insane!
I'm new here. What is going on that is so terrible? I personally would like to see Wetu spend more on infrastructure and business development. Does this have anything to do with that?
Jaiden...Both of the things that you mentioned are very important. The problem is that neither infrastructure imporovement nor business development will happen because these three councilmen care only about showing the mayor who is in charge. If the mayor is for something, you can be sure that these three will be against it. So, even though the mayor won in a landslide, nothing will get done as long as he supports it because the overriding motivation for these three is seeing him fail. This puts the mayor in a catch-22 situation. He either has to not support good ideas and initiatives so that these three will support them or support them and have them die a slow death because this gang of three is interested only in causing him to fail. Either way, the city loses. Welcome to the fray.
My comments were too long. I'll have to post in two parts.
You really need to come see the circus for yourself... I have attended quite a few and this is the general summary. Mayor Willis who is about retirement age and a small business man in Wetumpka for 30 or more years is very professional and presents a great image for the town. His age and job status would indicate that he has no higher asperations or motives other than to lead Wetumpka to the front of the river region where it belongs. The mayor sits around a table with one retired state police officer who I would say fits a similar profile as the mayor and seems to make very level headed decisions.
This is the part that disgusts me:
These two sit at the table with three of the poorest excuses for council people this town has ever seen (Holt, Washington, and Hammock)who use their position to brow beat, humiliate and pick fights with the department heads and anyone else that they don't like. Which department heads they like or don't like is determined by whether that department head takes direction from the Mayor... as required by law...or from the three losers. They are constantly blaming the Mayor, Department Heads, Employees, and anyone who supports those they don't like or didn't vote for in the last election. The meeting are full of these three making snide comments, which they refuse to repeat when given the floor, making rediculous accusation, all kinds of wierd facial expressions, secret winks and nods to tip each other of as to how to vote, requests for the Mayor or department head to explain something that has been explained several times and could have been understood by a first grader, complaint about not being made aware of something that they eventually remember being told or better yet complaining that they were not made aware of something... being told by the Mayor that he left them a voice mail, a fax, an e-mail, and a photo copy and them replying that they don't check their voice mail, e-mail, fax machine or read anything in their hand delivered Councilperson packets.
Recently they even started blaming the Pulic Works director who has only been hired for 3 or 4 months for contracts that originated in the previous administration. Contracts that only the council can approve or terminate and contracts that she probably hasn't even been given a copy off. When the Councilman who is doing the brow beating is made aware of the facts by the Mayor, City Clerk etc.... do they get embarased, or apologize, or offer to give the department head time to research and respond.... heck no... the start attacking the messenger and the department head. No employee should be subjected to this type behavior...its an embarrassment to the City that the employees are treated this way... especially while the City Attorney just sits and smiles. Mayor Willis, Councilman Jones, and Councilman Carter have all had to call these three off on several occasions but this just adds to their bitterness and make them more ready to pick the next fight.
Which brings us to the final Councilman, Councilman Carter.... lately Mr Carter seems to have seen enough of the pettiness, snide remarks and continual beat downs of employees...Mr Carter has asserted himself to focus council people on the issue on the table and discouraged the unproductive attacks on the Mayor and employees. If you have the opportunity, encourage Mr. Carter to assert himself more quickly, before the damage is done, and more often. There has to be two leaders to make the process work... One is naturally the Mayor... but there has to be a leader on the Council too...Holt, Hammock, nor Washington are capable of providing the leadership because of thier pettiness, jealousy, inability to tell the truth, hatred for the Mayor,(I could go on for a long time on this point).. nor will they allow it to come from Councilman Jones...Therefore... Mr. Carter...WE need you... PLEASE STEP UP..we will support you. If you have the opportunity to attend a council meeting or encourage Mr. Carter please do.. you will be glad you did.
I hope to post more soon.. with individual behaviors of each council person in more detail.. Oh...by the way Thad.. I was at the meeting where you were questioned about videoing.. have you heard from Councilman Hammock's attorney yet as he threatened you?
That's my time... I thank you for yours.
Jim F.
Unfortunately I must claim personal ignorance of the purported shenanigans at recent City Council meetings because I have not been in attendance. However, as a 30-year resident of the City of Wetumpka, if what has been reported here is anything NEAR the truth, I am OUTRAGED to the point of screaming HELL-DAM#-BULL$HI+ from atop Bald Knob! These freaking people were elected (by us dimwit citizens) to represent us and lead this town into the future, not make us the laughing stock of the Southeast. If they're not getting the job done, it's up to us (again, dimwit citizens) to get them the F&@K out of office!
m3...I have seen it, two of the commenters have seen it, and so have many others. You are absolutely correct when you say laughing stock. That is exactly what we are fast becoming if we haven't already! I had someone videotape this most recent meeting and hope to have it posted here soon. Then you can see for yourself. The time for action is now! Come to a meeting and get involved and let's put a stop to this garbage! And it is garbage!
Oh, and the frustration you express is how I feel every time I attend a meeting or talk with someone who did!
Contact Information from the City of Wetumpka Website:
Ken Hammock
Councilman for District One
Home Address: 228 Country Club Drive, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
Home Phone: (334)567-4211 Work: (334)567-8433
E-mail Address - councildistrict1@bellsouth.net
Lewis E. Washington, Sr.
Councilman for District 2
614 Marshall Street, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
Home: 334/567-9400
Kathy Holt
Councilwoman for District 3
108 E. Tallassee Street, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
Home: 334/567-6688
email councildistrict3@bellsouth.net
Don't know if ya'll heard about the final budget meeting, everything got approved but the Fire Depts part time training officer. When Greg questioned them about it they said that he had tried to run Haynes Ambulance out of town, when in fact it was Ken who asked Greg why don't we run an ambulance service. Greg told him he would check in to it and see what it would take. But Greg does not want to run ambulances, because Haynes is now doing a better job.
I've been to a couple of meetings and have seen these nitwits in action, but I don't live in the city limits so I had no say so in who got elected, but I will start talking to them and find out what they are doing in office.
Thanks
This site is amazing! Here is my conclusion: These people have more vested interest in the problem than they do in the solution. It is an embarrassment to me - as a citizen and a business person to witness this kind of conduct from adults. Signed...BEWILDERED
Bewildered, spirited debate, people becoming involved, issues being discussed and problems being brought to the forefront of everyday life embarrass you? Now I will concur that on the surface, this does appear to be people complaining, and doing nothing else. However, what you don’t see are the hundreds upon hundreds of private conversations that have been borne of this blog between City Officials, voters, and non-voters alike. This blog and others have been successful in getting people talking again about issues that are important to everyone who not only lives in our City, but that travel through here as well.
Sometimes people that blog here have been guided back to the right direction of the way an issues fluid dynamics really are. Sometimes it has resulted in the opposite and the elected City Officials have been the ones to reap the benefits of enlightenment. Either way, results are made and in many opinions, are suitable outcomes.
So Be-Wildered no more (ok, it was a cheesy play on words), progress is made when people come together to talk, educate, and most importantly be educated. Fear not and loose your embarrassment because in businesses all across our City (hey, maybe even yours) people are once again getting involved in what they think is best for the City of Wetumpka. After all, it is a Government of the people, by the people right?
Well said Steve. How can change come about if we don't get involved, discuss, or care about what is taking place? Some people just want you to hear no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil! That's great in a perfect world with perfect people, but that's just not the way it is!
Keep the dialog going guys.
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