What’s important

March 19, 2014

With the construction of our new ball park supposedly on schedule for an April 28, 2014 opening, we might want to look at how the city is doing with it’s other construction projects.

This graphic was taken directly from the city’s web site the other day.

lutherschedule

Let’s see.  Fall has come and gone.  Winter will be over in a few days.  March 20 is the start of spring this year.

The city has not moved into the Luther/Mulligan building yet.  As for the development center building, the city is now telling us that they will be able to move in sometime in April.  Evidently it is harder to build some things on time than others.

We deserve better

Brutus

3 Comments | Ball park, City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Painted dunes golf course

March 18, 2014

Some of you are aware that our water utility owns and operates a golf course in northeast El Paso.

I can’t see how it makes sense for the water utility to be in the golf business with our money.

How is the golf course doing financially?  Are they losing money and thus making us pay higher water fees to subsidize it?  Are they making a profit and should that money be used to contribute to the city general fund?

According to the water utility’s 2012 annual financial report:

During the year ended February 28, 2006, EPWU acquired a municipal golf course and has contracted
a managing agent to operate the facility. The assets, liabilities, and results of operations are included
in these financial statements as part of the Water and Wastewater Utility.

No way to know

The water utility has chosen to combine the golf course numbers with their water and wastewater operations.  We cannot see the detail.  It looks like something is being hidden here.

We deserve better

Brutus

5 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Another suggestion for the Times

March 16, 2014

A Times reporter suggested in a comment on this blog that if we have stories that we think the Times should write about we should come forward with our suggestions.

Suggestion

You might write an article telling us how each of the members of city council, the mayor, the city manager, and the city attorney explain that the city is continuing to sue the Texas attorney general to block the release of correspondence.

The city attorney was told by this new council to bring the issue to closure.

Yet we are continuing to spend taxpayer money to try to deny us the right to view the records.

We deserve better

Brutus

3 Comments | City government, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

A name that will live in infamy

March 15, 2014

This post is not intended to highlight an event or present facts.

The post reflects my opinion.

I think that naming a restaurant in the new ball park “City Hall Grill” is a horrible act.

I can only think that the name was chosen either out of insensitivity or a desire to make an “in your face” statement.

Either way it will be a constant reminder to those of us who while not opposed to the new ball park were opposed to tearing down city hall.

We deserve better

Brutus

11 Comments | Ball park, City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Glass house resident throwing stones

March 14, 2014

According to the Times our city manager is upset that a government agency can’t get it’s numbers right.  She evidently wrote this to our chief appraiser:

“A (valuation) variance of this nature is egregious and on the surface seems either irresponsible or incompetent,” Wilson wrote. “Per the City Council’s direction, I am filing a formal complaint with you, the CAD (district) Board, and State Comptroller and asking that immediate measures be taken to prevent this from happening again.”

What about?

What will the real cost of moving city hall be?  Her chief financial officer told us it would be $33 million.  The costs we know about at this point exceed $70 million.

The ball park was supposed to cost $50 million according to her crew.  We are now over $64 million without counting the $17 million in extra financing costs because they were  either “irresponsible or incompetent”.

Responsibility

And then there is the question of why she did not make allowances for the huge increase in valuation when developing the city budget.  The fact that she had to cut the budget mid-year is a testament to her actions or failure to act.

We deserve better

Brutus

6 Comments | Ball park, City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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