Author: iexposedus

Feedback for the Week – 12/02/2018

A long-time coming: Wiley College president set to graduate from JSU’s executive doctoral program, continues to beat odds
12/08/2018 — anonymous — phone message
 This is very impresive.

WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS COSTS FOR OCTOBER 2018 
12/07/2018 — JR — phone message
 Interesting. How does this compare to last year?

Cost of construction management services for Memorial City Hall 
12/06/2018 — anonymous — text message
 It is very disappointing that the city commissioners would let this happen. Maybe it is time to elect some new city commissioners.

Halliday: One Man’s Quest to Abolish Slavery 
12/04/2018 — anonymous — text massage
Thank you for publishing Doc Halliday’s articles they are always so interesting

Cost of construction management services for Memorial City Hall 
12/02/2018 — David Granger — facebook
 Good ol’ boy politickin’. Isn’t it kind of unethical for anyone on the city staff to get paid for these kinds of things?

Cost of construction management services for Memorial City Hall 
12/02/2018 — Peggy Byassee — facebook
KSLA, KTBS, KTAL, KMSS and KLTV have investigative reporters. We need more sunlight.

Cost of construction management services for Memorial City Hall 
12/02/2018 — Leo Morris — facebook
If this information is accurate, I find the financial matter to be a bit disturbing

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A Christmas Letter – 2018

December 1, 2018

Greetings,

Once again another year has slipped by and were it not for my journal I would be hard pressed to account for the time.

March found us dining at Don Cesar’s with my birthday twin. I don’t know how many more years we can make this pilgrimage but “Lord willing and if the creek don’t rise” (locals talk like this), we will be there this coming March. Click here to view St. Pete Beach gallery.

April was quite exciting. My local friend and travel buddy,Susan, and I popped across the “pond” if you call 11 hours in a plane “popping.”Destination England, Wales, and Scotland. The trip was out of this world. Ron won’t go anywhere that is cold or rainy. Needless to say, he didn’t accompany us.

In May we visited the Slot Canyons in Page, Arizona, and other local sites. This is an awesome area. I was totally blown away by the Slot Canyons. We went with a guide and a very small group. Like maybe 10 people or you won’t be able to experience the beauty. We also went out one day with a husband and wife—no one else–and they shared their land with us. I will never forget that day. No one else around for miles. We stood on the edge of the east rim of the Grand Canyon watching the Colorado river meander its way through the Canyon. Ron also got to shoot Cadillac Ranch. And we spent our last night on the road in Amarillo. On our way north we had dined at Crush, an outstanding restaurant with an unbelievable wine selection. We dined there again on our drive home. Click here to view the Horseshoe Bend Canyon gallery. Click here to view the X Canyon gallery. Click here to view east rim of the Grand Canyon gallery.  Click here to view Cadillac Ranch gallery.

In June I joined my friend, Denise, in Austin. An incredible trip. Austin is cool! Great sights and restaurants. We stayed at an AirB&B. Very pleasant experience. We positioned ourselves on the Ann Richards Bridge at the appropriate time to see bazillion bats fly out headed for dinner(mosquitoes). We used Lyft for transportation and it was affordable and convenient.

On June 24 we drove to Lebanon, MO, where we bought 6 pounds of love. Yes, one can buy love. In this instance it is a Noir poodle. This size is between a miniature and a standard. Should be less than 20 inches tall and 25 pounds. For our friends who believe I am crazy, I am. But for now, she motivates me to take daily walks. She is 8 months old and she looks like a black furry foal. All legs.  Click here to see pictures.

In September we made a quick trip to Virginia to attend myfriend Jonny’s special birthday and 50 years of wedded bliss party. It was a surprise created by her son and daughter-in-law and they really pulled it off. Great do-da.

We also visited my family, my sister and my two new grandchildren, Bella and Edward…goats.

Health wise it was an excellent year. I had broken a big toe and it had grown back with the top half sticking directly out at a left angle. Not too many shoes are made to compensate for this configuration, so I visited my podiatrist. He took one look and said he could fix that with no problem. How? His response, “I’m just going to lop it off but I’ll knock you out so you won’t hear the saw.” I now have a straight toe and the recoup time was minimal.

Ron went on his California sabbatical. I used to think the trip was good for him. He would return renewed with a positive outlook. Now I’m not sure he wants to come home. He certainly isn’t renewed. Northern California, or Marshall, Texas. Which would you pick?  Chick here to  see the Highway 1 gallery. Chick here to  see the Bohemian Bus Airbnb gallery.

However, Ron did find some time to design two new websites for his public…iEXPOSED.us covers art, entertainment and travel and is the platform for his photography. The other website is EastTexasExposed.com which is where he reports on local politics and current events. This allows him to pick on politicians starting at the ground level and going to the top. Let’s just say we are not invited to many social events particularly after Ron has released another volley from his painfully honest fingers. I keep asking him what became of good old hypocrisy. He said he is having too much fun and he never was much of a politically correct kind of guy.

In closing Ron and I trust you are comfortable and content and that the past year did not present too much “stuff” for you to handle.

 Be well my friends and Happy 2019.

                                                          Ron  and Deloris 

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OPINION: TICK TOCK – TICK TOCK

By Ron Munden – November 30, 2018

The clock is running and the Marshall City Commissioners, true to form, appear to be doing nothing.

Of course, the City Commission has chosen to not keep the public informed on their progress. Why let the citizens know what is happening?  The Commissioners could be doing great work but that is hard to believe based on their record.

In my November 21, 2018, article I said:

I have learned that the Commission met on November 14 and narrowed the list of candidates and agreed to hold interviews. It is all good but now the bad part. They agreed to hold interviews on December 3. This is still good, BUT the Commissioners decided not to interview all the candidates the same day. I can only assume that they did this because some of the Commissioners don’t have the endurance to work a full day.

So, the Commissioners had to select a second day for interviews. Because of the commissioners’ busy schedules, the next day they can hold interviews is December 12. This means that is going to take these Commissioners one month to interview 4 to 6 people.

Since writing that article I have learned that there are only four candidates to interview.  So, the Marshall City Commissioners have decided that it is impossible to interview four people on the same day.  If the interviews are one hour and there is 15 minutes between interviews, the entire process would take less than 6 hours.  In my opinion it is very important to interview all four candidates on the same day.  The Commissioners need to hold the interviews on one day and meet the following day to make the selection.

That is not what the Commissioners plan to do.  They plan on interviewing two candidates on December 3 and nine days later interview the remaining two candidates.  The Commissioners better take detailed notes during each interview since the selection process will be at least 10 days after the first interview.  How can someone be expected to remember the details of these interviews for 10 or more days.

WHAT! NO NOTES!!

I recently learned that the Commissioners are strongly encouraged NOT TO TAKE ANY NOTES during the interviews.  The reason given for this advise is that these notes would be subject to an open records request.  The Commissioners notes could become public information.

This “no notes” recommendation would not be a problem if the process of selecting a new city manager was completed in a single day.  However, based on the current timeline and track record of the Marshall City Commission, the process is going to take between 10 to 20 days.  It may be even longer.

What is wrong with these City Commissioners?  Why can’t they complete the interviews on December 3? I have come up with only three explanations:

1.       They are lazy

2.      They are physically unable to perform the duties of a City Commissioner

3.      They just don’t give a damn

As I said in my last article:

The clock is ticking. The City Commission should act quickly and the person that can make that happen is Mayor Hurta. In bridge they say, “he who hesitates is lost.” The same thing can be said for hiring a city manager.

I would not recommend you select one of these commissions as your bridge partner.

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Cost of Construction Management Services for the Memorial City Hall Renovation

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By Ron Munden

In October 2018 at meeting of the Marshall City Commission acting City Manager Jack Redmon told the Commissioners that the construction management fees were not included the cost numbers that he had presented to the Commission.

Based on data obtained by an open records request, at the end of October 2018 the city has spent $268,669.74 on construction management for Memorial City Hall (MCH).  The number includes the salary of Construction Supervisor Vance Walker — $197,689.38 and the salary of Support Services Coordinator Jeffrey Whiting — $37,749.48.

The number also includes the supplemental pay for to Jack Redmon.  During 2016, 2017 and 2018 Mr. Redmon salary was increased by $1000/month because of his construction manager responsibilities.  The total through the end of October 2018 is $33,230.88.

The cost of construction management is continuing.  Based on the latest reports one must assume these charges will continue through April 2019.  The predicted addition cost is $57,840.51.  This will bring the total construction management cost to $326,510.25.

Based on the numbers Mr. Redmon provided to the City Commissioners the cost overrun for the MCH renovation will be $453,874.  But Mr. Redmon said this did not include the construction management costs.  So, this takes the MCH cost overrun to $780,384.25 plus additional architectural fees that are not known at this time.

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Feedback for the Week – 11/25/2018

City to postpone lighted Christmas parade to December 2 because of weather concerns
11/30/2018 — parade goer — text message
The city constantly changing the date for the Christmas parade is confusing to the public. It is understandable that they moved the parade from Saturday because of the football playoff game. However when they made that decision there was an 80% chance of rain on Friday. Why didn’t they just change the date to Sunday December 2nd at that point?

Cost of construction management services for Memorial City Hall 
11/29/2018 — anonymous — text massage
This renovation has been a disaster from the start.  It just keeps getting worse.

Cost of construction management services for Memorial City Hall 
11/28/2018 — anonymous — text massage
I thought that the city was going to save money by being it own construction manager. It looks like they actually are spending more money. Where is the extra money going to come from?

Your New Feedback System
11/28/2018 — anonymous — text message
I love your new feedback system. I particularly like the ability to use text messaging to provide my feedback. Good work.

Outstanding New Addition To Your Website
11/27/2018 — anonymous — phone call I am very very pleased with the addition of a verbal feedback system for the website.
What a very very clever idea. Thank you.

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