Nothing says...

...we're sleeping with the newspaper quite like...


I didn’t want QHW to be handicapped




Night Night Readers.

XOXOXO

Say WHAT ??

Alderman split over $256 for recycle bins. Read it here.

Mayor breaks the tie and decides for the cheaper Canadian company.

The Mayor then added: "That's why we've always accepted the lowest bid."


A month ago the Quincy Taxpayer lost almost $6 million dollars on a hydro dream.

Who was the low bidder on this ??


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Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye

Duce confused with City vs. Family

From QNO:

Democratic Second Ward Alderman Steve Duesterhaus said that if the Republicans take control, "there's another election in two years."


He said regardless of the outcome, Quincy will "prosper and provide opportunity to its citizens (Family)when the majority, without regard to hyper-partisan leanings, acts for the long term benefit of the city (Family)." He also said this year's Democratic slate of candidates fits this description.

City's Brass Balls

You've pissed away Millions on a Hydro dream that's on the verge of failure.

You have another 6 million to piss away on a new choo choo station.

You pay 100% of your employees healthcare.....

And you ask for your broke school district to split the tab on crossing guards ?

Amazing.

Whig Free 3/15/2011

QHW wants you to know that the city
is ready to renew the city employees healthcare insurance.

QNO wants you to know that the city
is ready to renew the city employees healthcare insurance and gives you the details that the employees pay NOTHING towards their healthcare.

Maybe the Whig didn't think this was a big deal.


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R.I.P. Hydro

Quincy Hydro Project 2006 – 2011


Quincy Hydro Project born on Dec 12, 2006 in Quincy Illinois, left us on February 18, 2011. It will be joined in the after life by Firegate, Puppygate, Servergate, and other taxpayer funded blunders.

It is survived by it's financial dependents Klingner & Associates, Mead & Hunt, Joe Duesterhaus, Husch-Blackwell, Mississippi L & D 21, LLC, Grey Hunter Stenn, Michael Alexander and Associates, Northland Securities, Bernardi Securities and GREDF.

Quincy Hydro Project made no contribution to the city taxpayers and rarely had a chance to survive and produce electricity even if the project matured. I speak for the majority of city taxpayers when I say it's presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over its passing.


It's financial family will remember Quincy Hydro Project and amongst ourselves we will remember it in our own way, which were mostly taxpayer funded and easy times throughout the years. We may have made some fond profits of it and perhaps we will think of those times too. But I truly believe at the end of the day ALL of us will really only miss what we never had, a another taxpayer funded white elephant. As for the rest of us left behind, I hope this is the beginning of a time of healing and learning to be a financial responsible city again.


There will be no service. An online memorial service will be here on Quincy Fire where users can share their memories, moods, incriminating feasibility studies, pictures, and gross amounts of profit.

In lieu of flowers, financial dependents request that you send donations to “Where's My Damn Money Gone”. Grief counseling will also be made available by logging on to Quincy Area Hydropower Project.

We commit the application remains of
Quincy Hydro Project
to the Deep ~
ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

From water, all life arises.
Mother of waters, Father of rain,
You have taken back your own.
As a stream flows into a river,
as a river flows into the sea,
This project is dead,
R.I.P.

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Another 1.2 Million flows into the hog trough....

How many more can line up for free money ???

What's the upcharge....

on getting some turf like Boise State for some Blue Devil Blue turf at Flinn Field ?

2010 Hydro Update

Reading JRG's Blog on the "Wants, not needs" got me back on the Hydro track, well...... that and a morning inside enjoying the AC.

Bob brings up the point " We were supposed to have an equity partner in place by late June, early July at the latest. Guess what? July ends Saturday."

Today is August 1st so let's crunch some numbers.

Here is the information that I retrieved off the rivergages.com for this years thru 7/31/10.

Pool is river level at Quincy Filter plant, Tailwater is from L&D 21 and Fall is the difference between the two. The OEM of the Hydro generating turbines states that the minimum fall needed to produce electricity is 1.4 meters or 4.5'. The Chart here has the results color coded as below 4.5' as red and above 4.51' as green.

As you can see that there has been only 35 days so far this years that the multimillion dollar Hydro project would produce electricity. This is 212 days into the year.

Do the math and this is a whopping 6% operational efficiency.

Maybe that explains why the partners are not beating a path to city hall.

Thinking Michael may add some input ???

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QPD Irony

Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result: when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect.



Courtesy Rides, a service that provides free transportation to anyone who calls. Most of those who call are intoxicated individuals who need a ride home from a local bar and are grateful they won’t have to get behind the wheel and risk being arrested for DUI.

In an effort to protect the public the city council even changed the city code as to not allow this service to operate. He dropped his attempt to apply for a Taxi license because the Chief of Police had an issue with a $3k forgery bill.


Several of my favorite quotes include:




Duesterhaus said the ruling is about public safety.

"The public has a right to know that someone has checked out the driver and the vehicle," he said. "The licensing process is not so onerous that anybody of good character can do it."

Under questioning from aldermen, Copley said the police department hasn’t received any significant complaints about Courtesy Rides.



Pinnacle Security Systems comes strolling into town, fills out the needed paperwork for solcitors license and starts shaking down city residents under the full approval of the citys requirements.

Now the QPD warns of Pinnacle Security Systems concerns.


But hey, They met the requirements under the city code..........



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No License for you!

Cab License Nazi QPD Chief was quoted Friday by QNO that "Due to new information that has come to light today, I will be withdrawing the recommendation for a license and make a new recommendation one way or the other at a later time"

That new information was anonymously reported to be the story from QNO on Saturday that the Map detail from May 14 to May 29 only netted 2 DUI's. Several people overheard mumbling around city hall that there is no way the department can meet payroll on 1 DUI a week.

Diploma

Can you remember who signed your high school Diploma ?

......or could you give a rats ass? >>>>>>

Bar Pours

Three city of Quincy workers will face disciplinary action after using city equipment to pour new concrete on the north parking lot of the Spring Street Bar, 1631 Spring, during the week of November 1 for a private, for-hire construction job they did on their personal time.

Other Bars that have lined up for this service are:

Barney's
Kelly's
Backwaters
Instant Replay
Abbey
North End



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For all you do....This Bud should be Through !!!

Really? Getting up and walking out of a school board meeting when your the president of the board?



The school boards function is to help the school district and the children, not act like one !!




Didn't Bud take an Oath when he was sworn in as a school board member? He should have, it's now law. Copy is here.




It says:






Although most school boards traditionally marked the seating of new members with some form of ceremony, there was no official oath of office required for school board members until Public Act 94-0881 was enacted into law in 2006. This law requires that school board members, before taking their seats on the board, take an official oath that is in substantially the form presented below.

"I, (name of member or successful candidate) , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Board of Education (or Board of School Directors) of ( name of school district ), in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois, to the best of my ability.

"I further swear (or affirm) that:

"I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a faithful protector of the school district's assets;

100% on this one here. You have voted "NO" more times even when it benefits the school system. NEVER heard any hint of a suggestion of a solution....Just "NO"

"I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board, while respecting the privacy of students and employees;

Fail. Fail, Fail. You fail to recognize any other opinions except yours. And on the latest QNO story you mention the hiring process of an employee that offended you. Nice respect of the employees. Wonder why they think so less of you?

"I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting; and

More Failure here. You seem to be drunk with authority and think as board president you can have unlimited power.

"I shall abide by majority decisions of the board, while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels."

Here's one you need to make into a label and tape it to your makeshift gavel claw hammer. Walking out of a meeting does not fall into the "ethical and constructive channels"

Grow up Bud, It for the children of the School District. You and your clan have an underlying agenda and have done less than Obama has for this country.

Time to grow up or get out.





Next time Bud walks out, Lock the door behind him !!

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Decisions..Decisions...

Let's see.....

Back up water supply for the city of Quincy....

vs.

A 2 million dollar A/C unit for the QPL.

No brainer.

U would think.......

Get one for your car today!

"For hire shall mean and include an acceptance of any consideration of any kind".

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Taxi. Oh Taxi

Here a copy and paste of one I did on 12/12/06 Link.

Didn't like it then, don't like it now.

(PS. Happy Birthday Servergate)


Denied a request from David J. Peterson for a taxicab/limousine owner's license. Police Chief Rob Copley recommended denial based on the results of a background check. He also said Peterson does not have a permanent address in the city. During a public hearing in November, several representatives from other taxicab/shuttle services said they felt there is not enough business in town to support an additional service.

OK...This burns my ass.

1st. Has anyone read the city code on taxi service ?? It's 12 pages long !! WTF ?? The only thing that this guy didn't have to submit to City Council is a sperm sample !! This is WAY too much for a simple taxi service. Here is Springfield IL Taxicab operator's license and registration. Here is Rock Island city Code. Seem like they are more inviting to a new taxi business.

2. A check with the circuit clerks page shows only one David J. Peterson and has 1 citation. And it's for animal at large ??? Don't seem like a felon to me...

3. "Peterson does not have a permanent address in the city" ?? When did business owners have to live within the city ???? Must of missed this one. Wal-Mart, Sears, K-mart, pack up, you guys are out of here !!

4. "several representatives from other taxicab/shuttle services said they felt there is not enough business in town to support an additional service" Really ??? If you asked current retail stores if Quincy really needs a Sam's store and you'll get the same response.

Is this the way we want to regulate business in the city ??? Hope not.This city could use another taxi service and if there is not enough service..? Let the free enterprise system work. I will have to say, seeing that the QPD is hammering DUI's in this city and when another cab company tries to start up and the Police Chief denies it, it looks bad.What has this city done to free enterprise ???

Definition: Business governed by the laws of supply and demand, not restrained by government interference, regulation or subsidy. also called free market.



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New carrier for Quincy Regional Airport ??

A Massachusetts-based airline makes me think of ........

37.79%

That’s the percentage of days that the Hydro project will not be producing any electric.

This information comes straight from the VLF website.

The operating head for this turbine design is between 1.4 and 2.8 meters of head.

Seeing that the Corp of Engineers measures river levels in feet, this translates into 4’7.1” and 9’2.2”

Did some quick number crunching from the COE Rock Island web site on river levels. Take the pool level at L&D 21 and subtract the tailwater at L&D 21 and you get the “head”.

In the last 12 years the level that falls below the minimum operating head pressure design of these turbines would amount to them not operating 39.79% of the time. The worst years would be 1998 of not operating for 177 days ( 48.5% )and the best would be 2006 when they would only be down 55 days ( 15%).

If you want to look at the sheet I have done, let me know and I will paste it up.

Oh....and if this doesn't pass, there's a excellent chance that the city will save 6.6 million dollars.

That's better than the turbine company coming to town........

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