Hey, Willpower Inc. - Where's the pool?

As temperatures rose past 80 degrees for the first time this year we were once again reminded of Town Manager Alex Taft's broken promise to provide the community with the "Quartzsite Activities Center and Pool" ("QAC").

The bumbling incumbents may be suffering from Willpower amnesia when they inked the "animal shelter" contract with the 501 (c) (3) at the March council meeting but the community has not forgotten the donations contributed to the Town Manager's charity,

In a Willpower Incorporated donation solicitation brochure circa 2007/2008, The "Quartzsite Activities Center and pool will be a multi-purpose place for fun and educational activities; crafts, theater arts, basketball, dance, cheerleading, yoga, quilting, after school programs, potlucks and more - activities to keep minds and bodies stimulated, happy and healthy." WOW! Who wouldn't want to donate for that? And donate they reportedly did. The QAC money kept rolling in from every side...and yet somehow Quartzsite has absolutely NOTHING to show for it.

Little QAC donation jars were everywhere and many residents openly speculate that as much as $50,000 or $60,000 was raised. As one woman stated "my late husband donated over a thousand dollars."

Last Wednesday night at the March 24th public hearing to discuss  how to best utilize approximately $246,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the Arizona Dept. of Housing regional acct., many locals who do not normally attend these kind of meetings showed up to urge that the federal gift be used for a "community center". Was it because they had ALREADY donated towards and been promised one by the Town Manager seated before them?

http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/wp-content/uploads/032410-ph.pdf

When a public comment pointed out that if a community center was to be built with the CDBG grant money then the QAC money should be added to the pot ,Taft responded that the approximately $7,000 currently in the QAC fund was going to be turned over to Parks and Recreation. But Alex, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE MONEY WAS DONATED FOR! The PEOPLE wanted a pool! (And still do.) Oh well, what else would you expect from our current leadership...

Only $7,000 Alex? I think that everyone who donated should contact the AZ Corporations Commission if they believe there may be a discrepancy. The tax returns can be printed off for everyone's viewing pleasure at this web address:

http://starpas.azcc.gov/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/names-detail.p?name-id=10866431&type=CORPORATION

Sadly, at present, the closest thing to a community pool that Quartzsite has experienced is the "lake" that formed on Town Council candidate Chaunce Hamilton's property in September of '09.

http://desertmessenger.blogspot.com/2009/09/lake-in-quartzsite.html

And the internet footprints of Taft's Willpower Inc have mysteriously disappeared, like this link:

http://www.willpowerinc.org/partners.htm

that was discovered archived here, from April of 2007:

http://www.gopitbull.com/pitbull-news/2660-positive-pit-bull-link-paw-power-inc-quartzsite-az.html

There will be one more public meeting to discuss whether this grant should be spent on infrastructure, or a community center. I suggest that EVERYONE who donated to QAC attend...

:

POLICE CHIEF AIRS DIRTY LAUNDRY , MAYOR HUNTLEY CHEERS!

AT THE TUESDAY NIGHT REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, POLICE CHIEF JEFF GILBERT WAS GIVEN UNLIMITED TIME TO SELF AGGRANDIZE, AS FORMALLY SCHEDULED IN THE MARCH 23rd OFFICIAL AGENDA.

HE MUST HAVE BROUGHT HIS OWN CHEERING SECTION BECAUSE WHEN GILBERT FINISHED HIS LENGTHY DISSERTATION, SEVERAL OF THEM STOOD ALONG WITH "MAYOR" HUNTLEY AND CHEERED. THEN "EL JEFE'S" FAN CLUB LEFT THE MEETING BEFORE ANY REAL BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA WAS DISCUSSED.

AFTER REPORTING RECENT ARREST STATISTICS AND SUCH, CHIEF GILBERT LAUNCHED HIMSELF INTO A MONOLOGUE THAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS THE DESPERATE ACT OF A TRULY DESPERATE MAN...

WORD FOR WORD, HE RECOUNTED THE RECENT COMPLAINTS FILES AGAINST HIM WITH AZPOST! (ARIZONA POLICE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD) APPARENTLY UNAWARE THAT VIDEO WAS RECORDING THE ENTIRE EPISODE, GILBERT FIRST PUBLICLY SLANDERED AND DEFAMED MAYORAL CANDIDATE ED FOSTER, THEN COUNCIL CANDIDATE BILL MOORE.!

CHIEF GILBERT INSISTED THAT FOSTER'S COMPLAINT OF USING HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION WAS "UNFOUNDED", YET THAT WAS PRECISELY WHAT GILBERT WAS DOING ONCE AGAIN...THEN, WHEN HE RECOUNTED MOORE'S COMPLAINT THAT PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH "THE WARRANT LESS SEARCH" OF THE RESIDENCE OF A LOCAL PET GROOMER, CHIEF GILBERT TURNED TO THE AUDIENCE AND POINTED TO THE VICTIM SEATED IN THE FRONT ROW, IDENTIFYING HER BY NAME (AS IF TO INTENTIONALLY  INCITE SOME KIND OF PUBLIC RETRIBUTION FOR THE COMPLAINTS).

WHEN THE WOMAN SPOKE UP TO AFFIRM CANDIDATE MOORE'S ALLEGATION THAT THE INCIDENT REALLY HAPPENED, "MAYOR" HUNTLEY WENT COMPLETELY BERSERK. ( IS HE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING SOME KIND OF MEDICATION TO PREVENT THAT?) THE VEINS WERE POPPING OUT IN HUNTLEY'S REDDENED FACE AS HE POUNDED HIS GAVEL AND REPEATEDLY SCREAMED "GET HER OUT OF HERE!"

(SEE HUNTLEY THROW OUT MIKE ROTH IN A SIMILAR, THOUGH LESS DRAMATIC TANTRUM HERE:)
http://www.youtube.com/user/qnewseditor#p/u/0/zxFwgxLOTcQ

A STUNNED SILENCE FELL OVER THE ROOM AS SERGEANT WILL PONCE ESCORTED THE BUSINESSWOMAN OUT OF THE MEETING. AS SHE LEFT THE ROOM, SHE TURNED TO THE CROWD AND INSISTED "FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THE DEPARTMENT DID ENTER A WARRANT LESS SEARCH. THEY WERE NOT REPRIMANDED. FORMAL COMPLAINTS WERE FILED. THE CHIEF DID NOTHING ABOUT IT..." AND FURTHER, THAT THE FACTS COULD BE PROVEN BY VIDEO, DOCUMENTS, DISPATCH AUDIO AND PHOTOGRAPHS.

COUNCILMAN  LUKASSON SMIRKED, TOWN ATTORNEY WALSAMA GRINNED, THEN WITHOUT MS.HARRIS IN THE ROOM TO DEFEND HERSELF,THE CHIEF READ HER COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM, WHICH HE CLAIMED INCLUDED PHOTOS BUT GILBERT CONVENIENTLY CHOSE NOT TO SHOW THEM. HE ALLEGED THEY WERE "NOT OF VERY GOOD QUALITY" AND "THEY REALLY DON'T SHOW A LOT". DID THEY ACTUALLY  SHOW SOMETHING THE CHIEF DID NOT WANT VIEWED?

GILBERT FINISHED OFF HIS TIRADE BY THREATENING "I WILL SEEK PROSECUTION FOR FALSE REPORTING" AGAINST THE COMPLAINANTS, BUT AS OF THIS DATE NONE HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH A COURT SUMMONS OR EVEN INTERVIEWED "BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY" REGARDING THE MATTER.

THE POLICE CHIEF'S DIRECT SUPERVISOR, TOWN MANAGER ALEX TAFT THEN ASSURED THE CROWD THAT THE COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE "UNFOUNDED"  AFTER BEING THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED (BY WHOM - GILBERT?). TAFT STATED: I FIND NOTHING TO MERIT FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OR CHIEF GILBERT. I FIND NO CAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE ACTION ON HIS PART OR THAT OF THE OFFICERS UNDER HIS COMMAND."

TOWN ATTORNEY PAM WALSMA OF THE YUMA LAW FIRM, SHADLE $ WALSMA, PLC
http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/85365-az-pamela-walsma-398188.html
MADE NO ATTEMPT TO STOP GILBERT FROM COMMITTING PROFESSIONAL SUICIDE. WHY?  IN FACT, SHE APPEARED QUITE PLEASED, WHICH BRINGS UP SOME OTHER INTERESTING THOUGHTS...

DID THE POLICE CHIEF COME TO THE DECISION  OF AIRING HIS DIRTY LAUNDRY ALL ON HIS OWN? WAS LEGAL ADVISE PROVIDED FOR HIM BY THE TOWN FIRST? DID THE COUNCIL KNOW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO? DID THEY APPROVE? BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, DID THEY KNOWINGLY TRICK HIM INTO MAKING THIS BLUNDER SO AS TO SACRIFICE HIM LATER AND THEREBY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE CREDIBILITY BEFORE THE ELECTION???

WELCOME! Now quit sniveling and comment...

We have attracted MANY new readers since the primary election…I would like to welcome everyone that has managed to find their way to my little corner of the blogosphere, A SPECIAL WELCOME TO POLICE CHIEF GILBERT, ALEX TAFT, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE DESERT MESSENGER, THE PARKER PIONEER, QUARTZSITENEWS.COM, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE, AND SORE LOSER DEENA BLYTHE!

It must be driving the guilty parties crazy, all the anonymity that the internet can provide. Speculation and rumors are buzzing around Town Hall, even false accusations about the origin of all this news that the current regime would rather sweep under the rug. While I’m amused at the little “fishing” expedition in the comment section, I’m not surprised that the perpetrators of financial ruin are more concerned with their dirty little secrets getting out then they are about solving the problems of this community. Misdirection, sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors will not be enough to convince voters to stay aboard.

MAN THE LIFEBOATS!

When “Quartzsite” Charlie Kukral rightfully called for a “forensic audit” to find out where the money really went, panicked allegations reportedly began to disseminate from Town Hall that Kukral’s cost saving strategy would include closing the children's library…How many votes did this dirty trick cost "Quartzsite" Charlie? Did it backfire and help Foster? It certainly did not help Wes “Captain of the Titanic” Huntley enough to get 50% +1.

Now, facing almost certain defeat in the runoff election, it appears the incumbent machine is attempting to sully the reputation of the opposition candidates by alleging that one or more of them are the source of this blog. WRONG AGAIN!

While I support Foster, Hamilton, Moore and Sias in the belief that they are more competent than the alternative (more reckless spending, back room deals and protestations of ignorance...), I AM NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE & THEY ARE NOT WRITING THESE ARTICLES. I don’t even want the job (the pay is lousy and the pressure intense). I am only a casual observer that has become horrified with what I’ve witnessed, and like Foster, Hamilton, Moore and Sias I have been spurred into action in an effort to throw the people a life preserver.

If the powers that be are interested in a feeble attempt to justify their behavior, THEN ACCEPT MY CHALLENGE AND POST IT HERE! Quit your incessant whining, your constituents are entitled to an explanation. It’s long overdue. No closed door “executive sessions” or out of town “work sessions”, the people want transparent government! They do not want the orchestra to play on while the ship sinks…

Do you support a regime change in the upcomming election?
	Yes, the incumbants are ruining Quartzsite!
	Yes, new faces can't do any worse, hopefully better!
	Yes, we need better representation!
	No, I hate winter visitors and vendors
	No, I'm related to a current council member
	No, I'm glad were over 4.7 million in debt and climing
pollcode.com free polls

Has Deena's reality check bounced?

Well, now that the final results are in and the voters have spoken LOUDLY in regards to pedicurist Deena Blythe - here is your electioneering report:

Blythe's claim that she was destined for Town Council was apparently a check written by her big mouth, that the voters couldn't cash. What a surprise! Speaking of checks that wouldn't cash...stop by and talk to JAG signs - trust me on this.

Ms. Blythe, (a legend in her own mind) must have been shocked to find that she finished in next to last place, after being released from the hospital for an undisclosed disease that locals speculate might have Lon Lundgren of "Mr. Motorhome" checking with the county health department. If you're concerned, you can check on her health yourself at the La Paz County Superior Court on Monday, March 15th, at 3pm for her pretrial hearing on those level 4 felony charges.

Local developer Eric Larson, a ghost of a candidate, still managed to finish above Blythe, despite having no campaign signs, not appearing at the "Meet the Candidates" forum, and having poll workers erroneously posting a sign claiming that Larson dropped out. Why the low profile Eric? Could it have something to do with the two properties you just sold to Police Chief Jeff Gilbert? Supposedly you lowered the sale price by $20,000 after Chief Gilbert and Al Johnson the "Building Official" paid you a little visit...so does the phrase "don't mess with the Chief of Police" sound at all familiar Eric? Just buy an insurance policy, install some security cameras and tell Compliance Manager, Bob Irish with AZPOST what really went down before escrow closed.

birish@azpost.gov
602-223-2514 x 225

As for other electioneering news, Candidate Bob Kelley's wife Carol (treasurer for the Senior Center where both "Meet the Candidates" and the voting took place) was reportedly the source of that phone call to Alex Taft, which prompted Chief Gilbert into harassing those assembled who were legally holding signs for the opposition candidates. Voters have apparently filed complaints with the County Elections Board alleging that Carol and the Chief of Police were allowed free access to the polling place without being election officials, and because Carol was witnessed hypocritically telling voters that the free speech advocates assembled outside were the ones "harassing" voters. If John D. "Skip" GallupIII, the incumbent supporter who paid for that libelous Desert Messenger ad was looking for "police harassment", maybe Skip should have stayed at the polls for a few hours...Oh wait, he's not a registered voter!

"mayor " Huntley prefers felons to "snow birds"?

Is this the view that you want from your patio? It very well could be our future because Police Chief Gilbert, "mayor" Huntley, and the sitting Council appear to envision the construction of 500 bed minimum/medium security facility within the Quartzsite Town limits to be a financial quick fix to the ponzi scheme that has prevailed in recent Council history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzi_scheme

Speaking of ponzi scheme, while the "special" meeting for a discussion only session was just a first step toward replacing seasonal residents with more permanent ones, in typical Quartzsite fashion it was barely posted 24 hours in advance (in accordance with AZ open meetings law).

http://www.azleg.gov/ombudsman/Open%20Meeting%20Law%20101.pdf

Huntley reportedly told those attending that he had talked to representatives from the project last week, but for some mysterious reason the item was NOT placed on Tuesday nights meeting agenda.

Who stands to benefit if the prison is built? Mostly the consortium (yes mayor, it's a big word - have someone look it up for you...) of investors and bond holders under the Corplan umbrella.

Potentially, local real estate mogul Barbara Cowell, (the sitting councilwoman who has been recently recalled) might get a juicy commission from the land transfer. Cowell told Parkey "we were going to annex up to Gold Nugget Rd." in reference to the future BLM land AUCTION.

How much land? "We would like to have 300 acres." was the response from James Parkey , owner of Texas based Corplan. And let's not forget that Corplan threw out a thoretical million dollar bone for improvements to the waste water treatment plant that had Alex Taft and the council salivating so eagerly they probably didn't notice Corplan President James Parkey mention that they were perfectly capable of building their own on site plant as an alternative...

But once again, our current leadership has proven incapable of running a simple internet search...

Why I hate Corplan

http://whyihatecca.blogspot.com/2010/03/why-i-hate-corplan-corrections-today.html

Behind Montana Jail Fiasco: How Private Prison Developers Prey On Desperate Towns http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/behind_hardin_jail_fiasco_private_prison_salesmen_prey_on_desperate_towns.php#more

Banking on private prisons in the fleecing of small-town America

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/5578/the_rainmakers

CSC Rap Sheet

http://www.privateci.org/rap_corplan.html

Prison Companies Profit and Public Debt Grows

http://realcostofprisons.org/blog/archives/2006/10/tx_jailbait_pri.html

Sparks Fly Over Private vs Public Prisons
http://prisoninitiatives.com/

More on Texas-based prison developer Corplan in Arizona

http://www.texasprisonbidness.org/corplan/more-texas-based-prison-developer-corplan-arizona

Time after time, our current council continues to give good cause for replacing them - they are not competent to manage THE PEOPLE"S MONEY!

ED FOSTER AND SUPPORTERS BRAVE WIND AND POLICE HARASSMENT...

As expected, "Quartzsite" Charlie Kukral split the reform vote, forcing a run off between incumbent "mayor" Wes Huntley and Ed Foster.

http://www.co.la-paz.az.us/Data_Folder/Elections/TOQ_2010/TOQ_30910_unofficial_results-1.htm

It looks like Foster will win by a landslide if Kukral's frustrated supporters fall in line behind the only viable (and educated) candidate. Yellow and red "Ed Foster for Mayor" signs seemed to be blowing in the icy wind all over Town, and at the polls, while signs showing support for the status quo were noticeably few and far between. Ed Foster and a group of supporters with signs for Foster, Hamilton and Moore, as well as "NO INCUMBENTS" were harassed repeatedly by Police Chief Jeff Gilbert (reportedly at the behest of the election sergeant). A source stated that Gilbert was later instructed to run off the protesters by Town Manager Alex Taft, or at least that's what allegedly came over the police scanner. Gilbert's bluff was called and the frustrated Chief was forced to back down by Elections Board Supervisor Donna Hale because the crowd was peaceably and legally assembled 75 feet from the door. Officers Yeomans and Star were assigned by Chief Gilbert to babysit the assembled reform supporters - bill to the taxpayers for about 8 hours...and the polls closed at 7pm without incident.

Final score: Free Speech 1 - Gilbert's "gestapo" tactics 0

The race for council seats was tight with only Jose "I did my homework" Lizarraga securing enough 50% +1 or more votes to keep his seat. (Imagine how well he might have done if his name had been marketed independently of the PAC funded election banners which touted an all incumbent ticket.)

Incumbents Patricia Anderson, Bob Kelley and Jerry Lukkasson will face top vote winning opposition candidates Chaunce Hamilton, Russell Sias and Bill Moore in the May run off.

Papers were filed to recall sitting councilpersons Joe Winslow and Barbara Cowell...

More election coverage here:

http://www.quartzsitenews.tv/

The evening was capped off with another drama filled meeting of the current Town Council. Holt Engineering Group and Kennedy Jenks tried to shake down the Town for more money on the contract for waste water treatment expansion. Perhaps feeling the pressure to please voters in the upcoming run off, the Council said "nay" to throwing more money into a project that has already cost taxpayers about a half million.

When Michael Roth tried to give input during "discussion"on a grant proposal for digital dashboard cameras placed on the agenda by Police Chief Gilbert, the packed room witnessed the Police Chief motion to "mayor" Huntley to cut him off by drawing his finger repeatedly across his throat. Huntley responded by ordering the Chief to physically remove Roth from the PUBLIC MEETING! All of this was caught on video...Since we are all pretty sure the "mayor" can't spell l-i-t-i-g-a-t-i-o-n, he may be surprised when their legal blunder comes back to haunt them. See:

http://www.youtube.com/user/qnewseditor#p/u/0/zxFwgxLOTcQ

http://www.justice.gov/crt/crim/241fin.php

In another fiscally irresponsible move, the council unanimously approved renewing a contract with Town Manager Alexandra Taft's "charity" Willpower Inc. for animal shelter services.

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/AZ294.html

It's no accident this website uses "Town of Quartzsite" and "Willpower Incorporated" interchangeably. Alex Taft runs them both. Can you say "conflict of interest"?
Although "discussion" pointed out that the contract requires the TOWN to provide a "certified" animal control officer, Ms. Graft, I mean Taft sidestepped potential cost issues by saying that her "no kill" shelter volunteer was certified in euthanasia. Taft and Council members ignored concerns that the length of the Willpower contract would encompass not only the current cobbled together "temporary" facility, but roll over into a planned future facility of undetermined expense.

It is a matter of public record that the original Willpower "Membership Invitation" states:

"We are negotiating with the Bureau of Land Management to lease land for a large, permanent facility."

The Town Council are on record discussing purchasing land for the animal shelter and a rodeo grounds at the east end of Town. And that the BLM representative discussed the upcoming land AUCTION, tentatively set to take place in a year or so...the real question to taxpayers is:

HOW MUCH OF YOUR MONEY HAVE TAFT AND THE INCUMBENTS EARMARKED FOR THE TOWN MANAGER'S DREAM "NO KILL" SHELTER, WHILE THEY CURRENTLY PAY THE COUNTY TO KILL QUARTZSITE'S PETS?

Stuff the Desert Messenger didn't tell you...

The pre election issue of Quartzsite's "news" publication, The Desert Messenger, sank to an all time low in journalistic standards this week.

Residents and winter visitors have become accustomed to editor "Rain" Shanana Golden-Bear's nauseatingly benign articles but since "Rain" and her partner "Star" have purchased property here in Quartzsite (and now they need building permits...) the pro incumbent sucking up is leaving a journalistic vacuum. Well, actually more like a gigantic black hole.

After a hypocritical editorial on impartiality, "Rain" printed a free advertorial column by our incumbent "mayor" , and article advising voters to call Town Hall and reserve a free ride to the polls by candidate Bob Kelley, and a libelous paid for ad against mayoral candidate Ed Foster. The ONLY letters published in "The People's Voice" were by an incumbent's wife, an incument, and the wife of "mayor" Huntley...

This after giving lip service to the US Constitution via the following email:


--- On Fri, 2/26/10, Desert Messenger wrote:

To Political Candidates and Town Officials,

As a courtesy, I am sending this information for educational purposes. Please pass on to others.

There have been anonymous flyers placed through doors of unopened businesses, on bulletin boards, etc, throughout the town regarding a certain candidate's arrest. Please note the following and take appropriate actions to protect all political candidates' rights. I run my newspaper accordingly, and I hope all candidates will also follow the Arizona laws.

from the Arizona Newspaper Association's

ADVERTISING BY NEWSPAPER

A Comprehensive Guide to Newspaper Advertising

Under Arizona Law:

"CANDIDATE ADVERTISEMENTS

Any advertisement by a candidate or political committee that advocates the election or

defeat of any candidate or solicits contributions to a political committee shall state that it

was paid for by the candidate or the candidate’s campaign committee, if that statement is

accurate, or shall state the name of the political committee that paid for the

advertisement, identify the chairman of the political committee and provide a telephone

number for that individual.

If the literature or advertisement is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s

campaign, the advertisement shall so state. If the advertisement is an independent

expenditure (i.e., an expenditure by a person or political committee, other than a

candidate's campaign committee, that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a

clearly identified candidate, that is made without cooperation or consultation or at the

request or suggestion of any candidate or committee or agent of the candidate) by a

political committee, the advertisement shall also state the names and telephone numbers

of the three political committees making the largest contributions to the political

committee that paid for the advertisement. If an acronym is used to identify any political

committee, the name of any sponsoring organization of the political committee must also

be identified. The required disclosures must be printed clearly and legibly in a conspicuous manner in the advertisement...."

for the full report visit: http://www.ananews.com/advertising/adbook2006.pdf

Sincerely,

Rain

PS. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads, in part, "No person shall be ... deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law ..." Therefore we always say, "allegedly" when referring to charges made.

Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear, Publisher
Desert MessengerQuartzsite's FREE Community Paper

PO Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359

Quartzsite, Arizona, The Rock Capital of the World!

928-785-7204

541-218-2560

www.desertmessenger.com

http://desertmessenger.blogspot.com

OK, so what didn't she tell you that happened recently? Well, the meltdown tirade by Police Chief Jeff Gilbert was so disgracefull that he reportedly apologized THREE times - the third as attendees were leaving the building. (And why was Gilbert's attendance necessary at a meeting between local contractors and the newly hired building inspector anyway?)

At this weeks "Coffee with Cops" Gilbert admitted to having a formal complaint filed against him with AZPOST,

http://www.azpost.state.az.us/

conceded to threatening a local pet groomer with arrest for "disorderly conduct" at her own business, bragged about how he will be writing new traffic ordinances for the Town this summer, and said he has a policy of "No drugs, no thugs, and no crime" He went on to define "thugs" as "People who take advantage of people. People who con people. People who swindle people." Gee Jeff, I guess Town Hall should keep your department pretty busy then - oh wait, don't you get paid by those folks to look the other way?

The Quartzsite Senior Center lost a valuable volunteer. Newsletter editor Judy Abbott resigned in frustration after volunteer politics and hypocrisy pushed her to her limit. Abbott had hopes for improvement in cooperation between the volunteers after the recent Senior Center Elections, but was disappointed. Her newsletter will be missed, and we hope that Judy arrives safe and sound to Wyoming.

The wife of a relative of a Yacht Club employee revived a man who suffered an apparent heart attack while dancing with Helen, the owner.

http://www.quartzsiteyachtclub.com/

Local emergency response was quickly on the scene. Good job everyone!


Reportedly, The AZ State Board of Cosmetology paid a visit to Deena's Nail Clinic. Or maybe it was the Health Department. Either way...the buzz was that the investigator was displeased.

And that big journalistic vacuum of real news has been filled by a FREE newsletter called "Quartzsite's MINESHAFT". If You don't see it around Town, DEMAND IT!!

ALEX TAFT, THE TOWN MISMANAGER?

At the March 3rd meeting of the Arizona Emergency Services Association in Phoenix, it was revealed that in the wake of the September '09 rains and subsequent record flooding, Quartzsite Town Manager Alex Taft did NOT turn in the "preliminary damage assessment" forms that would have allowed Federal and State funds to have covered THE ENTIRE COST of damages sustained by the Town! Instead, repairs were reportedly paid for from the Town's indebted General Fund...

You see dear taxpayers, La Paz County had been officially declared a "disaster area", which meant that damages would have been covered 75% by Federal funds and 25% by State funds - IF the paperwork had been turned in on time.

In order to fill out the proper documents, they had to be submitted by someone who was "NIM" compliant (National Incident Management). However, nobody on the current Town Council has the required credentials.

If the Towns fiscal interests were foremost on their list, the Council could have called upon former Councilman and current Candidate Bill Moore to fill out the PDAs. (Moore is a Senior Commander, certified by the Arizona Emergency Recovery Office.)

How much money did Taft's blunder cost Quartzsite citizens? Ask the finance department. No wonder the Town is 4 million in the hole! And the incumbents insists it not their fault. But they unanimously approved Ms. Taft contract (after a closed door executive session). Then they unanimously approved the water and sewer rate increase to rake in revenues aimed at offsetting the General Fund deficit used to cover the $250,000 deficit in water and sewer revenues.

I don't know about the other $194,000, but on March 3rd of last year, the Town Council approved payment of $56,000 to contractor Bill Foote for a concrete foundation with drainage hole for the "no kill" animal shelter located on the property of the water and sewer plant. This "Paw Power" shelter, run by Town Manager Alex Taft's Willpower non profit incorporation had an intergovernmental agreement to provide services to the Town, but had been shut down for numerous code violations. Rumor has it that the Council approved supplanting Federal WIFA funds to foot the bill...Caught like deer in the headlights, the original "animal shelter" is now called a "storage building"! A serious audit needs to be done if the substantiating documents still exist... BUT the very public meeting of the Town Council had plenty of witnesses that might remember under oath.

Stay tuned for the rest of the animal control scandal - INCLUDING THE DEATH TOLL AND WHAT CITIZENS PAID FOR THE KILLING OF QUARTZSITE'S STRAYS at the dirty hands of incumbent council persons. "No kill"? HA! What a sick joke played upon those who donated to save these pets.

Hopefully, the voters will seize the opportunity to oust the supporters of Ms. Graft...oops, I mean Taft, and save our beloved desert oasis from further mismanagement.