Quartzsite's rats leave the sinking council meeting

 

Just when you think you've seen it all, the Quartzsite Town Council still pulls off a surprise. Everyone managed to get through Pat Anderson's phony spiel about the peaceful passing of Rosalee Oldham Wheeler "in her sleep" (I guess nobody told her about the blood on the pillow or the requested autopsy), they survived Rain's endless diatribe about Centennial activities nobody cares about. They even made it through the carefully orchestrated attempt by Lukkason, Anderson and Winslow to get a dig in at Mayor Foster by adding their snide remarks that he should have recused himself from the executive session over the air strip battle to the official minutes of the last regular meeting. It almost seemed as if the meeting could be conducted by grown ups. But it only took about two minutes for the whole thing to disintegrate into  preschool without nap time.

At "call to the public", current Candidate for Town Council Jennifer Jones informed our illustrious leaders that Police Chief Jeff Gilbert had violated Arizona Revised Statute 41-772 and Article 2, section 202 of the town employees policies and procedures manual by comparing candidate Jones and Michael Roth (the Republican Party Chairman for La Paz County) to Tucson  gunman Jared Lee Loughner during "reports and anouncements" at the previous meeting. "Politicking" on public time is a no no!

A class 1 misdemeanor, A. R. S. 41-772 states:

  "an employee shall not engage in any activity permitted by this section while on duty, while in uniform or at public expense. "

and 

"An employee who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to suspension of not less than thirty days or dismissal."

When Jones asked that Chief Gilbert be placed on administrative leave until the March 8th recall election to assist him in his apparent aspirations as wannabe pundit alongside Skip Gallup, the members of the town council came unglued. "Point of order!" "That's a personal attack!" Then Councilman Bob Kelley stormed out of the room with Councilman Jerry Lukkason close behind. Finally, Councilman Winslow has a tantrum and went to join the other rats in the back room. Because Vice Mayor Barbara Cowell was absent, this meant no quorum was present , forcing an abrupt end to the meeting which left citizens stunned and the Police Chief noticeably deprived of the opportunity to pontificate endlessly while his boot lickers gaze adoringly. For once, it seems as if a citizen almost had the last word.

REFERENDUM - It's official!

All the desperate maneuvers by Taft and the Town Council have been for naught, Foster will be a fully empowered mayor at the next Council meeting and I predict that heads are gonna roll...

Earlier today the signatures were turned in that effectively repeals the spiteful actions of Alex Taft and the Quartzsite Town Council until the voters decide. After the childish and selfish behavior by Lizzarraga, Wislow, Anderson, Lukkasson, Cowell, Taft and Walsma in their transparent attempt at usurping the legal and rightful powers of Mayor Ed Foster, the citizens were so outraged that the number of signatures easily exceeded that which was required. This was no small feat when you consider that the number is calculated as a percentage of voters in the last regular election. In other words, more signatures were required than for any initiative or referendum in the entire history of the Town, and despite a large number of voters having departed for cooler climates, Foster supporters will be reckoned with.

This leaves the council two choices: either they can rescind the motions amending Town Code, the Town Policy Manual and the protocol for information requests, or they can let the voters have their say at the ballot box. If the voters prevail, it will be "the law of the land" and carry more legal weight than any actions taken by those officials who are supposed to be representing them.

This move should come as no surprise to Town officials, as they were directly advised of the consequences for voting to strip the mayor's position of it's authority at the Council meeting at which Foster was eventually sworn in. Our self serving and arrogant "leaders" have proven that the will of their constituents means nothing to them. How anyone with an IQ over 40 can stand by them now is incomprehensible. Did they really think they could pull it off? I for one can't wait to see Ed assert the power given to him by the people.

Tuesday's Council meeting should be a real show. Come early to get a good seat! The verdict has been handed down by the jury, and the ruling is not in favor of Taft and her dancing puppets.

The last gasp of the unholy trinity?

Police Chief Jeff Gilbert, Town Manager Alex Taft, and outgoing "mayor" Wes Huntley just won't accept reality.

Before 10 am, Gilbert was already out of control. Thanks to Councilman Lukkason, his neighbor Russell Sias had already received a warning of potential problems today. (Way to step up Jerry! Congratulations, by the way.) Gilbert was video taped in the parking lot of the post office trying to take out his vengeance against Mike Roth, yet again! Mayor elect Ed Foster arrived on scene quickly to dissipate the tension and send Jeff on his way, with Sias and Jones as potential witnesses for Roth's plausible lawsuit. The rumor this morning is that Jeff and Sondra's ballots cast in Tuesday's election may be under investigation...

When Foster picked up his packet this morning for Tuesday night's Council meeting, he discovered that Huntley and Taft had orchestrated an emergency meeting for 2:30 today. It may have been "posted"somewhere, but it was definitely not posted on the Town website.Among the items hastily placed onto this last minute pre Foster agenda is the final approval of town engineer, and the CDBG grant that Taft's charity is supposed to administrate.

UPDATE:
WELL, IT'S MONDAY MORNING AND THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW NIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL HAS YET TO BE POSTED! IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE HUNTLEY/TAFT/GILBERT ALLIANCE WOULD CONTEMPLATE SOME DESPERATE STUNT? HOW LONG CAN THE COUNCIL AVOID THE TRUTH? WILL AN AGENDA BE POSTED BY DAYS END?

EVEN IF ALL OF THEIR PET PROJECTS WERE RUSHED THROUGH THE SPECIAL MEETING, THE CONSENT AGENDA CAN ONLY BE APPROVED AT A REGULAR MEETING. AN AGENDA IS BEING DRAFTED THAT INCLUDES THE SWEARING IN OF FOSTER. MORE UPDATES TO FOLLOW...

THIS JUST IN AT 4PM: 
TOWN MISMANAGER ALEX TAFT HAS PLACED ITEMS ON TUESDAY NIGHT'S AGENDA DESIGNED AT CHANGING THE MAYOR'S POWERS UNDER THE TOWN CODE! ALSO ON THE AGENDA COURTESY OF TAFT IS A POSSIBLE REVISION TO THE TOWN CODE AFFECTING KAREN NORRIS' POSITION AS TOWN CLERK. SEE YOU AT 7PM TOMORROW!

SO MUCH FOR "WORKING TOGETHER", IT PROMISES TO BE A KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT THAT MAY NOT END WITH THE SWEARING IN FOLKS. GOOD THING FOSTER HAS LAWYERED UP ALREADY! CAN YOU SAY REFERENDUMS?

SIGN WARS II: The Vendors Strike Back...

Captain's Log: Star Date Monday 4/26/10: 9:30 am
Oh wait...wrong science fiction parody!

Well, Quartzsite officials eventually noticed that big red sign at Greasewood (or maybe they read about it here and went to see for themselves...), and the Stormtroopers were summarily dispatched.

On the morning of April 26th, Councilman Jerry Lukkason and building inspector Al Johnson were caught having a covert meeting in their vehicles at "Greasewood Greens", behind "The Buck Stop Discount Store". When confronted by the video camera, Lukkason fled the scene, leaving Johnson to face some tough questions off camera.

Minutes later, here comes Al Johnson on foot with Emmett Brinkerhoff from Public Works, tape measure in hand...and they were headed straight for the big red sign.

Brinkerhoff, unsure exactly where the legal boundary was located, had to  leave and come back with the survey map, because "I think" wasn't a satisfactory answer for Quartzsite's "Vigilante Vendor". It seems that Business 10 aka Main St. is now owned by the Town, and only the easement for an undetermined stretch around the intersection at Hwy 95 is still owned by the State. Where the property line really is may be up for debate since the road was widened.

If Brinkerhoff was correct in his assessment, the longstanding landmark signs for the Quartzsite Museum and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Greasewood signs are way over the legal line! The end result was that three of Wes Huntley's signs were removed for "encroaching" and the big red sign was relocated to the north east corner of Greasewood. It's even more visible now, right next to the incumbent's signs on the intersection at the traffic light. "YOU CANT FIX STUPID BUT YOU CAN VOTE THEM OUT!" is there for all the world to see. Apparent there has been a ripple effect.

The "STUPID" sign began to have friends! A yellow "STUPID" sign has been making the rounds in the back of someones pick up truck. Others have reportedly been sighted.

On the morning of the incumbent's ice cream social, the dismal turn out was treated to a yellow and red sea of Ed Foster signs. Then, vehicles all around town began sporting the latest accessory...opposition candidate signs!Even Hi Ali Swap Meet on Main St. (the oldest swap lot in Quartzsite) has fought back from the dark side and replaced their Huntley signs with Foster Signs. SIGN WARS will be over tomorrow night. Will the vendors win? Let's hope so, because "stupid is forever" and Quartzsite needs to wise up!

P.S. If you are offended by comedian Ron White, then DON'T PLAY THIS VIDEO! If you are offended by this blog...well exercise your free speech for Wes Huntley and see how far it gets you. 

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???

MEET THE CANDIDATES RECAP

Last night's "Meet the Candidates" event at the Quartzsite Senior Center was the best show in Town. Of course, the FACT that incumbent Councilman Kelley's wife Carol runs the center had many anticipating a rigged Q & A...

The stars of the show, more or less in the order of appearance:

Appointed incumbent Patricia Anderson was inarticulate and befuddled as usual

Deena Blythe admitted to the felony charges (in front of her parents no less) when asked directly!!! She never actually denied lying, but insisted "I did nothing wrong" (after bragging that she was the only candidate that would tell the truth - HAH!)

Chaunce Hamilton was humble and well received.

What Bob Kelly lacked in specifics, he made up for in volume, while insisting that he recused himself from voting on conflict of interest issues (no denial about influencing the vote of the others though...)

Erik Larson failed to appear and the word around Town is that he was shook down and scared off by the powers that be at Town Hall...

Jose Lizarraga defended the rate increase - too bad, so sad, not a good campaign strategy to endorse such an unpopular policy change

Jerry Lukkasson claimed that he was not getting preferential treatment on his business construction, but no mention of how he rose to power so quickly

Bill Moore was was concise and asked the people to decide his fate, now that the majority will actually be in Town to vote

Russell Sias made a good showing, pro vendor and pro "snowbird" but needs to elaborate on planned high tech solutions to tele conferencing over the weeks of unbearably hot summer weather

Brad Trainer neither wowed nor offended and still holds more promise than any of the current regime



As far as the Mayor's race candidate responses:

Former Councilman Hal Davidson confessed to having only a high school education with a trade certificate, and focused on his cost cutting plans.

Ed Foster cleared the air over filing a writ of mandamus to get the incumbent council to abide by the law.
http://www.quartzsitenews.tv/news.htm
And seemed to be the favorite, if you are polling by the number of cars in the parking lot with his campaign signs.

Bumbling appointed "mayor" Wes Huntley publicly admitted to having only a seventh grade education!!! As if it weren't blatantly obvious by the fact that he could neither read, nor understand, nor answer the questions put before him. He lost any remaining chance of re election by promising lots more out of town retreats (vacations to casinos). He did disclose inside knowledge about a secret land development deal that may be on the horizon, but failed to elaborate...makes you wonder who's going to reap the potential profits!

Charlie Kukral made a good showing with his knowledge of finances and he has a like able demeanor.



After the mayoral climax, Town Manager Alex Taft was overheard chastising the moderator for making "mayor" Huntly look like an idiot...sorry to have to point this out to Ms. Taft but Huntly does that all by himself. As a former 1-800 number fortune teller, Taft should have seen it coming...

As a final note, the PAC money raised by Former Town Manager Dan Field and his protege current Town Manager Alex Taft (and her cronies) appears to be wasted. The effort to keep the incumbent appointee PUPPETS is going down like the Titanic, as being associated with "mayor" Huntly after his debacle last night will surely sink the chances of the standing council members. Citizens are poised to take back control of their Town. Revolution is in the air and I wouldn't want to be the Police Chief when the dust settles...gee, the poor delusional man actually believes that he's running the town behind the scenes. Of course, it's rumored that he registered to vote with a Rainbow Acres street address but a town zip code...so, will Vederman go after him with the same enthusiasm that he's prosecuting Deena Blythe with?

Special favors for Quartzsite Councilman Lukkasson?

Has anyone else noticed the new addition on the front of what used to be Chen's Q-Laundromat?

http://paloverdevalleytimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=167&SubSectionID=468&ArticleID=10791&TM=41889.03

It's right over the hot dog peddling enclosure owned by the Lukassons that connects to the Main St. facing exit doors.

Funny, but while Chen was alive his attempts at merely serving coffee and cans of soda were thwarted at every turn by Quartzsite Town Hall. Rumor - it was because he refused to play along with deal making on the zoning board...Chen was reportly also denied permission to sublet for a vendor in his parking lot. However, after Chen's widow sold the laundromat to the Lukassons the permits slipped out so quickly one would have thought they were well greased little piggies! Now, your beverage of choice comes with a side of food while you wait for your clothes to dry!

Shortly after the Lukasson's grand opening, Jerry was appointed to fill Hal Davidson's' seat on the Town Council. Apparently no one noticed (or cared) that Hal resigned on Wednesday Oct. 28th, 2009, following the previous evening's heated Council meeting but Lukasson was appointed by the remaining Council members before weeks end- without posting 72 hours notice for or holding a special session of the Town Council to discuss the matter in public. A VIOLATION OF THE ARIZONA OPEN MEETINGS ACT!

http://desertmessenger.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-post.html

After years of service to Quartzsite, Chen must be rolling over in his grave every time a hot dog is served at the business he worked so tirelessly to build...