Leading To A Better Future (Pt. 2)

Our elected politicians are just that and differ from elected leaders. Pay close attention to the difference of persons; an ELECTED politician and an elected LEADER. In differentiating the two, there is a simple question that begs to be answered and addressed in shaping the future.
An elected politician would have the audacity to read a letter to the citizens and expect praise in spite of the turmoil. An elected politician makes excuses and blames others or takes the high road and simply focus on how THEY have solved all of the problems. An elected politician wants us to buy into their charade that all is well for the future. An elected politician assists special interests and touts big business as successes for all.

An elected LEADER would blow off a letter from a paid employee (by accepting a contract, MTAS is a paid employee) and accept the gesture as kindly, but still understand and introduce the fact that much work is needed to be done to regain the trust of the citizens. An elected LEADER takes full responsibility for problems that happened under their watch and makes no excuses, except for the laying out and implementing a solution for those problems. An elected LEADER never accepts mediocrity and not only wants and plans, but GURANTEES mistakes of the past will never resurface. An elected LEADER says enough to the huge retail and the large home developments, as they create a huge burden to the infrastructure (a word still not actually understood by the enlightened BOMA, although they have carefully crafted a plan for current and future growth) of the community and worries more about solving the problem of why so many of the small businesses are going under at an alarming pace. As this is not a focus of our BOMA, it will be a focus of upcoming posts because it is an epidemic here in Spring Hill. For a moment, a brief digression needs to be invoked to look at this problem. An elected POLITICIAN had the EDC have the newspapers garner solutions and input as to how to create jobs, where and elected LEADER leads the EDC by having the brightest and best serve in that capacity to understand and implement plans to sustain the small business and understand why real estate is more here than in Green Hills. That is what an elected LEADER does. An elected LEADER brings business together and roundtables the discussion as to how and why our businesses are in the plight they are in. It is reprehensible that the BOMA looks to line the pockets of a GM and has no plan to solve the small business crisis. Not only do they have no plan, they have not even identified nor addressed that there is a problem. Going back on point, that is what an elected LEADER does.

You can spin the facts and situations as much as possible. As those are tactics of politicians, it serves no place in positively affecting the future. You must ask yourself the next time you read an article or listen to the self-serving praise of our BOMA, “DO YOU WANT AN ELECTED POLITICIAN OR LEADER SERVING YOU?” That is the double and triple TRUTH, RUTH!”

Reflections on the Past and Present.....(Pt. 1)

For almost immediately after the audit was made public, our elected officials have been quick to pat themselves on the back on a job well done. The spin is absolutely making people dizzy. We have heard in the recent days that the audit was an effective tool; the audit allowed us to correct our weaknesses; the citizens of Spring Hill are in better hands; and that the government has adapted well enough to address the needs of growth and responsibility to the citizens. If you believe all of that, I am sure that there is a fabulous deal on oceanfront in Arizona.

It is almost unfathomable that our elected officials can take the stance that all is now well and that through their guidance, coupled with the results of the audit, our City is much better off in moving on in the future. It is still of wonder how no one, not a single person, has stepped up to the plate to admit that there was fault and that they take responsibility for that. It is often said that a person is better respected for admitting their faults and taking responsibility and then doing something to rectify the past. That is what parents teach their children; it is a way of life for many honest and decent individuals. It was said in one quote that where the City has addressed the concerns of the audit, the great question remains as to why Spring Hill fell into the predicament necessitating the audit. Without spin and innuendo, the citizens of Spring Hill DESERVE THAT SIMPLE ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION FROM ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY! How could you stand by and let this happen?

The responsibility attached with being our elected officials is not one that should be sought because it is “FUN” or you are trying to show off or add a notch to your resume. This is a REAL job solving REAL problems and serving REAL people. If you have no idea as to the working of municipal operations then you have NO business attempting to guide and lead the taxpayers. On one hand you ask the citizens to trust you, however, you have no expertise as to how to competently represent our issues. So keep on patting your backs for a job well done, but in the meantime learn about real budgets and how to ask real questions and for some, even learn how to ask questions and speak up during your BOMA meetings instead of either pontificating about what you think is right for you or just sitting silent in the corner. Seconding motions and moving to adjourn are only secondary tasks that you are charged with. Impress us all and make a motion to approve something meaningful and tangible that would benefit Spring Hill and just perhaps allow us to begin to heal and trust you. Forgotten in all of this is OUR healing. Tired are the days of hearing about how grand and strenuous the task you had as Alderman and Mayor in addressing the audit. THAT IS YOUR JOB! Focus on healing us, the citizens and the poor position you collectively placed us in.

It is funny how at the recent BOMA meeting that the Mayor would read a letter praising his leadership and that of the Board’s. Where normally a letter of that magnitude would be impressive, it is hard to look at it as such because didn’t the City just approve a contract for the company that wrote the letter. Hmmmm, a paid contractor lavishing praise on a client, now that must be what they want us to believe to be the epitome of consummate leadership. Are we as citizens so simple and ignorant to be taken by such a ruse? ABSOLUTELY NOT! THAT IS THE TRUTH RUTH!

To be continued……

Enough spin...time to find out the truth

micklamick writes:

My letter to:

Governor Phil Bredesen
Senator Lamar Alexander
Senator Bob Corker
Congressman Lincoln Davis
Senator Bill Ketron
Senator Jack Johnson
Representative Glen Casada
Representative Tom Dubois
Attorney General Robert Cooper
District Attorney General Mike Bottoms
District Attorney General Kim Helper
Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long

Spring Hill Mayor Danny Leverette is very fond of the phrase “It’s a great day in Spring Hill.”

Well, it is NOT a great day here in Spring Hill. Today, we are reeling from the conclusions of the state audit. Our elected officials and their employees have taken us from a solvent city that paid cash for projects or did without, to the brink of financial ruin with decreasing income and increasing debt.

At a time when most of us have to tighten our belts to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and gas in our cars, these officials have spent, spent, spent...and now, we are left to pay for their fiscal irresponsibility.

$4,000,000 was illegally transferred from our water and sewer fund into the General Fund to allow for continued spending. We didn’t authorize it. We didn’t do anything illegal. But we do get to pay for it...$800,000 a year for 5 years.

They hit us with a 60¢ property tax, and then promptly took out two loans totaling another $4,500,000, including a $2,500,000 loan to repave two roads and complete a new one. They say they’ll repay that with state gas tax revenue over the next five years. So after these projects are completed, we’ll have to wait five years for any additional road projects?

And by the way, after over 1500 Spring Hill voters signed a petition requesting a bond issue to fund the road work be placed, as a referendum, on the November ballot, the Mayor and Board elected to go instead with a capital outlay loan, ignoring the wishes of the people who elected them. In fact the Mayor and Alderman Eliot Mitchell openly chastised these citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. The mayor criticized local citizens’ involvement with the petition protesting this loan. Eliot Mitchell called for sanctions against a local newspaper for publishing an article about the petition drive. He also suggested Spring Hill businesses refuse the newspaper distribution space.

In their responses to the state audit, the Mayor and Board continually cite the establishment of new procedures and new committees.
Here’s the real truth:
Budget and Finance Advisory Committee - Eliot Mitchell, Rick Graham, Bruce Hull - all members of the same Board of Aldermen who either didn’t know, didn’t care or contributed to our current dire financial situation.
City Administrator - Ken Weaver - hired by the mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen (see above).
Finance Director - Jim Smith - hired by the mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen (see above). The position of Finance Director was suggested by the former City Administrator instead of creating a position for a full time Planner.

Incompetence...if they didn’t know.
Complacency...if they didn’t care.
Complicity...if they contributed.

I’m asking you to not let this matter go unnoticed. I’m asking you to investigate and prosecute the people responsible for the illegal action and mismanagement of the city’s finances.

Our only recourse as citizens of Spring Hill is to vote the responsible parties out. Unfortunately, we are not sure who those parties are. We think we know, but you can find out for sure.

Rights and Laws

Thanks to those who are viewing this site. Thanks also to those who have asked how to help fix the problems we face. Please continue to feel free to email fixspringhillnow@yahoo.com for more information about the organized movement to request further state involvement.

It's fine to note that there is, or has been, a problem in the city. It's great that the audit report has been brought to light, and that steps are being taken to finally make things better now. But "better" should not be an area that's only run to in times of desperation, when one is caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"Someone should do something" often leads to "Nobody bothered" and "Everyone forgot". That is human nature. People are busy. Life happens. But if you or I broke the law, we'd have to pay the piper. Should those who hold elected offices be any different?

Perhaps it all really came down the way a vocal few want us to believe. Many of us are suspecting that we are being told what the city wants us to believe. Regardless of our own opinions, we will not be able to find out the truth from the outside.

So, action is now underway to ask that the state to determine who knew what, when they knew it, and what they did about it when they found out. Mr. Dycus, who led the audit, was specific in his report that his purpose was to summarize and notate the issues, but his office was not responsible for any possible further actions or prosecution. The district attorneys, the state attorney, and even the governor have been furnished with copies of the audit. It is up to these entities to determine the investigation into the next steps, should they choose to pursue the issues.

However, the citizens of the city may also request a formal investigation from the state into the details surrounding the alleged activities via what is called 'Ouster Proceedings', which have been mentioned previously.

Whether or not the mayor knew of the illegal activities, or if he claims he did not know of the activities, but the state in fact determines that he should have known, he still could be subject to the ouster law enforcement.

If he was part of any illegal activities, we, the citizens, have a right to ask the state to protect us from any possible further harm. It's the law, and it's our right to expect the state to enforce the law.

Rights and laws....sometimes it's easy to forget that we have those things. But in fact, we do, and today, on September 11th, it seems especially fitting to remember them. Hopefully, our state officials will engage quickly on behalf of the citizens who are asking for the law to be enforced and our rights to be upheld.

Oh. One last thing. Just a reminder that comments won't go up here that abuse members of the community. There are multiple people posting now, but we have all agreed that this standard will be maintained. People have the right to be heard and not be verbally abused for stating their opinions or speaking out. People also have the right to differ in public with their elected officials.

"An innocent man fears no truth."

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AUDIT RESULTS

There is much in the audit that references Ken York.  Although Ken York, the prior city administrator, may have been responsible for much of the mismanagement of Spring Hill, the main question is this:  Was Ken York in charge of the city?

If Ken York's was an 'at will' employee, who was responsible for Ken York's actions?  Who reviewed Ken York's performance, monitored his progress and possibly would have been responsible to initiate his termination if he had not followed proper procedures?

The answer is simple.  The mayor of the city, Danny Leverette.

How many reviews did Ken York have? How was he rated?  Above standard?  Below Standard? Why was he given a large amount of money when he resigned? 

Does one employee have the sole responsibility for the failings of an entire city? Just who was in charge? 

Is Mr. Leverette's primary function to simply pose for photos at ribbon cuttings?  If it is, let's just all understand that the city administrator will run the city and the mayor is just a figure-head with no responsibility.  Let's just vote for whoever is the prettiest candidate and move on. If our votes and our rights as citizens don't matter, then let's just ignore this whole thing.

Mr. Leverette apparently doesn't feel comfortable planning for the future of the city, as he appeared to delegate all responsibility over to a single employee, who never had the authority to run the city.  Simply,  this city voted for Mr. Leverette to be mayor, not Ken York.

Fact:  Mr. Leverette's term began in 2005.  The audit started in 2007 and went backwards.  It addressed items that happened prior to Danny Leverette's administration as mayor (but while he was serving on the board).  But it also addressed things that continued to happen under Danny Leverette's administration.  

Fact: Mr. Leverette claims to have 'invited' the audit, however the audit was  expanded once the illegal activities were uncovered.  

Fact: The illegal activities went on under Mr. Leverette's watch.  The BOARD of Mayor and Aldermen may not have known what was happening, but the MAYOR HIMSELF is not the BOARD.   He is the mayor.  And this mayor, Danny Leverette, either knew of and allowed these illegal processes, OR was completely oblivious to what was happening in the city he was supposed to be running.  

Are either of these two options acceptable?

To the board:

If you, individually or as a group, are innocent of the wrongdoings, you should request Ouster proceedings against Mr. Leverette simply to protect your city.  If you are not guilty, we expect you to hold accountable ANY individual or individuals who ARE guilty.

Any alderman NOT committed to calling for Ouster proceedings or for the immediate resignation of Mr. Leverette should be considered guilty himself of 'hide covering'.  

To the Mayor: 

Time to come clean. What did you know, and when did you know it?  

Mr. Mayor, say what you want, blame who you want,  YOU were the one who championed dropping the property tax.  YOU were the one who ran the city into a deficit.  YOU were the one who was responsible for the 'misteps' of this administration.  YOU were the one who was the mayor when the majority of this illegal activity occurred.  YOU were the one who was voted to run the city, NOT Ken York, an employee who worked for you. MR. LEVERETTE, YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE. 

If you, Mr. Leverette were the head of a publicly traded company, the board would fire you for such gross failings.  The Board of Mayor and Aldermen should act accordingly.

Just because you've implemented changes now that you've been caught does NOT change the fact that these illegal activities took place ON YOUR WATCH.

If you never knew what your employee was doing, you should resign.  

If you knew what your employee was doing, you should resign.

If you WILL NOT resign,  YOU SHOULD BE OUSTED.  

IT IS TIME TO CALL FOR THIS MAYOR'S RESIGNATION, OR FOR THE STATE'S OFFICE TO DO THEIR JOB AND REMOVE THIS MAN FROM THIS POSITION BEFORE HE CAN BRING MORE HARM TO SPRING HILL.

To the Citizens of Spring Hill:

CONTACT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, and the DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL TODAY AND ASK THEM TO SIMPLY DO THEIR JOB AND ENFORCE THE LAW.

State of Tennessee Attorney General:

Honorable Robert E. Cooper  (615)  741-3491

District Attorney, Maury County:

Honorable Mike Bottoms  (931) 762-7777

District Attorney, Williamson County:

Honorable Kim Helper (615) 794-7275

Here is the link to the entire audit.  Read it if you have the stomach to see what has happened to your city.

http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/repository/MA/springhill2/pdf

September 9, Audit Release---FINALLY

(Also courtesy of The Tennessean) Sept. 9 release date for Spring Hill audit BY JILL CECIL WIERSMA • STAFF WRITER • AUGUST 28, 2008 Read Comments(1) Recommend  Print this page   E-mail this article SHARE THIS ARTICLE:   Del.icio.us   Facebook   Digg   Reddit   Newsvine   What’s this? SPRING HILL — A state audit of the city’s finances over the last few years is finished and will be made public Sept. 9. The state’s report will be available that morning on the state’s Web site, comptroller.state.tn.us/cpdivma.htm, said Dennis Dycus, director of the state comptroller of the treasury's municipal audit division. Dycus’s staff started working with city staff nearly a year ago, compiling information and researching past documents, after it was realized that the city’s general fund had been operating in a deficit. It also was discovered that past budget amendments had been made without the required approval from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The audit is completed and Dycus said it will be released when he gets back from a vacation because he want to be available to answer questions after the document is made public.

In Your Voice READ REACTIONS TO THIS STORY DianeC wrote: I wonder if this is happening with more city governments than just Spring Hill. Are they struggling to keep up with the growth on limited funds? How do they go about correcting and catching up. Where are the financial guru's when we need them? How do we get back in the black and stop robbing Peter to pay Paul? 8/30/2008 6:27:45 PM Recommended (1) New post Reply to this Post Report Abuse You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Register

Counting down until April

(courtesy of The Tennessean)

Mayor, four board seats up for grabs next spring

BY JILL CECIL WIERSMA • STAFF WRITER • SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

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SPRING HILL — While it looks like smooth sailing ahead for Corey Napier, the lone candidate and incumbent for Thompson's Station's one available board seat, chatter and speculation have already started in Spring Hill about city offices that will be up for grabs next spring.

The city's mayor and four of eight aldermen will be selected in the April 9 election, said Todd Baxter, administrator of the Maury County Election Commission.

Because City Hall is on the Maury County side, the Maury County Election Commission conducts the city election, with cooperation from the Williamson County Election Commission.

All of the seats are for four-year terms. Voters will get to pick one alderman for each of the four city wards.

Anyone interested in running for office must be a registered voter and have lived within Spring Hill's city limits for at least a year. Candidates in the aldermanic races must live in the ward they want to represent, Baxter said.

Candidates can pick up a petition at the Maury County Election Commission on or after Oct. 17. In order to qualify to run for office, they must submit signatures from 25 registered city voters to the Election Commission by noon Jan. 15.

Incumbents in the spring election, if they decide to seek re-election, are Mayor Danny Leverette, Ward 1 Alderman Miles Johnson, Ward 2 Alderman Jonathan Duda, Ward 3 Alderman Domingo Gallardo and Ward 4 Alderman Charles Raines.

For information about the spring election, call the Election Commission at 931-381-4691.

Contact Jill Cecil Wiersma at 615-790-7207 orjwiersma@tennessean.com.

Spring Hill asked to waive fees for School

This post is from the Tennessean.   Please see the webpage below.  You may post comments here or at the Tennesseean.com.  If you post them here, your aldermen will be likely to see them as some are starting to pay attention. http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200808250210/COUNTY090101/808250317 Spring Hill asked to waive fees for school Contractors ready to go regardless BY JILL CECIL WIERSMA • STAFF WRITER • AUGUST 25, 2008 Read Comments(6) Recommend  Print this page   E-mail this article SHARE THIS ARTICLE:   Del.icio.us   Facebook   Digg   Reddit   Newsvine   What’s this? SPRING HILL — Construction may start today on a new Maury County middle school, even though school board officials and city leaders still haven't worked out the roughly $300,000 in building fees. Mayor Danny Leverette said Maury County Public Schools asked the city to waive fees for the Jim Warren Road site, which the Board of Mayor and Aldermen did at a special meeting last August. But he said no one from the school district requested the city to do so when the school board changed its mind and decided instead on the Cleburne Road site. School board Chairman Shaw Daniels said contractors were asked to pay the fees last week. He said a letter was sent requesting the city waive the fees for each of the sites last year. He said work will start today and said the school district has opinions from the state attorney general saying that the public school district doesn't have to pay the building fees. Leverette said the city's board has to go through the same steps with the Cleburne site as it did with the Jim Warren site, when Maury County Schools Director Eddie Hickman requested a special-called meeting. "This is the process we're going through," Leverette said. "The city staff are not to take it upon themselves without legislative approval. We certainly anticipated that request in August 2007, but they never actually did." Leverette said the city came up with a "work-around" to allow work to continue. But Daniels said that solution included the school district putting the money for fees in an escrow account until the city board votes to waive the fees. Alderman Michael Dinwiddie asked Leverette to call a special meeting. Leverette said work could start prior to a board vote at the next regular monthly meeting on Sept. 15. That option didn't satisfy school officials. "I'm pretty sure we're not going to turn over a check for that kind of money with the assumption that we might get it back," Daniels said. The city board did briefly consider waiving fees last August for the Cleburne site after the school board changed its plans. Anticipating a second request, the board planned to waive the fees at its regular August 2007 meeting. Board members tabled the item in a 7-2 vote because they had expected the school board would go to the Maury County Commission that same night, seeking funding for the school. Leverette said they wanted to hold off on waiving the fees until they knew for sure what school site the county would approve. The two-level school is expected to open in the fall of 2009 with a capacity of 1,000 students. Initially, it will have 500-600 students with room for growth. It will be the first middle school in northern Maury County. Spring Hill and Marvin Wright elementary schools' students now graduate to E.A. Cox Middle School in Columbia, about 12 miles south. Contact Jill Cecil Wiersma at 615-790-7207 or jwiersma@tennessean.com.

In Your Voice READ REACTIONS TO THIS STORY   Newest first  Oldest first  JamesC wrote: Since we have never charged a school board fees before, it appears to be a formality. Why would one site be approved and not the other? Per the above article the Mayor stated a formal request was never made for the Cleborne road site, while Mr. Shaw Daniels stated that the letter requested the city waive fees for each of the sites. Obviously one of these statements is untrue. In this instance I choose to believe Mr. Daniels. Now we all have preferences and I believe that the BOMA favored the Jim Warren site, for obvious reasons, and I happen agree with those reasons. However, the final decision is up to the School Board and the County Commission. We can only try to convince them of our preferences, but I personally believe that an effort was made to coerce the School Board into choosing the Jim Warren site by waiving those fees and not the other. If someone can show me proof that the request for the waiver of fees was only for the Jim Warren site I will most humbly apologize, and until that happens I will continue to believe that games are being played.  Who do I think paid for the water and sewer lines to be run to that site? I know exactly who paid, we the tax paying citizens of Spring Hill that's who. Were they run expressly for the school? Absolutely not! The contract awarding the job was awarded (resolution 07-06) on February 20,2007. The reason for the need was given in resolution 07-17 "Whereas, there is a critical need for the installation of a sanitary sewer system to serve the Beachcroft road area and the commercial developments occurring along McCormack creek:...". No mention of a school at all. In fact the request to waive fees wasn't made until August. As to suing GM for the right of way. It was GM that suggested suing them in order to expedite the process and avoid the normal lengthy process for acquiring approval. So why do people read between the lines or look for conspiracy theories? Because often times we find them.