WTF ?

So City Council will vote on yet another bid for replacing traffic signals in town.  Only one company bid on it and was like $125 K which was 40%+ over who someone we call an engineer that works for the city. 

Now a new "revised" quote comes in $1,500 under the last sole bidder and now our engineer says he compared 23 other IDOT projects.

Where did he pull the first numbers from ? His ASS ?



FFS ! You can't make this shit up !

QPD Fundraising

Although I differ in opinion with the Strawman, Reading thru the Blotter looks like to me that the QPD made some money on north 12 street this week.        I say good deal.      Don't like it, don't speed.

I'll leave this post open for anyone to leave any tips for the QPD on areas around Quincy that you would like to see more patroled for violations. 

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Daily Delusional

We believe (as always,WE know best) whig.com brings value to our (shrinking) audience and to the (QND Fans) community, value that should be reflected in our pricing structure.(Lube up subscribers here it comes) That value has increased (seriously?) over time with investments in technology (new coffee machine) and personnel (now hiring?) that are enabling us to provide more news (email it to us please), real-time coverage (mayor Spring & city hall) of breaking news,(AP) and coverage that incorporates video.(We bought a new video camera and have learned how to use it) The new (increased) price structure, in line with policies at a growing (shrinking) number of large and small newspapers, (justification for price increase) will ensure that we can continue to provide the kind of quality journalism (again, seriously?) across all platforms (well, the ones we choose) that the community has come to expect. (same shit, higher price)



FYI: before you shell out the addional upcharge for the "Black Friday" edition for the QNDHW, you can visit each local store "on-line" and get the ads early and most let you make a printable shopping  list.  Go Green !


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Welcome to the World of More.

Welcome to the World of crisp digital picture and sound on all your TVs.

Unless your having problems.

The only "more" I have experienced is more calls to 1-800-comcast. More problems. More DTA's and More headaches.   So far I have installed 2 DTA's, had them both lose programming, several calls to comcast, got one back, and had a service call, got the other back, then lost all cable. Oh, and not one person has physically touched any part of the cables or DTA's  I have. (all programming error)

Looking to installing a 4" electrical conduit to the back of my flat screens to hide the cables.

How's your new cable service been ?


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Really ???

Nothing I like watching on my 60" Flat Screen TV is a flipping Frost Warning that scrolls continuously across the screen for hours.

Like there isn't enough info on the screen, a local station seems to think that we need more.

Good luck checking other scores and teams during a "major" weather event.

Call the police, I've been hazed !

Local Quncy Media goes for the hat trick in dragging QHS Sports program thru the mud.

First up KHQA.

Then the Whig.

And following the whig, WGEM.


Kevin Haslam should have called the police on this.

Bet he is scared for life.




Suck it up buttercup.




Go play soccer or try cheerleading.




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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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What the Pakistani Intelligence Agencies Missed

The compound was three stories tall but had few windows facing outside. It appeared to be worth at least $1 million, but had no telephone or Internet connections to the outside world. It had 12-to-18-foot security walls topped by barbed wire, and occasional plumes of smoke where the residents burned trash that they dare not place outside like other neighbors for trucks to haul away.



Wow. Really ??


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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.

Get out and VOTE !

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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Conflict of Interest?

Even tho Quincy Pundit , QNO and UDN beat me to the blogs on last nights city council meeting, I did a search for what I thought was a conflict of interest of Duesterhaus voting 12-1 to establish a private corporation with his brother, Joe Duesterhaus, being brought in to handle the legal work of forming the corporation.

Didn't take 5 minutes to find this:

In order to understand what a conflict of interest means, it may help to examine what we mean by 'interest'. Almost all of us have personal or professional interests, whether it be a hobby, an investment in a business or a desire to help our friends and family members succeed in their own interests. Sometimes we base our decisions on whether or not they will ultimately benefit one or more of these interests. Most of us would not face a conflict of interest situation because our hobbies rarely interfere or intersect with our professional responsibilities.

But people placed in positions of judgement or power must take extra steps to insure that their private interests do not compete with their professional duties. A conflict of interest may arise, for example, if a city councilman awards a lucrative contract to a company owned by his brother. It would not be illegal to award such a contract to the best qualified company, even if that company were indeed owned by a relative, but the councilman himself could not be part of the decision making process. There would be an obvious conflict of interest, because the councilman's own family would benefit financially from his position of power.

I swear, you can read it here or click the Title.

Funny how Lovelace abstained from voting to approve Gomez-Lovelace's hiring in October by a 3-1 vote.

Seems it's not a problem at City Hall.

* Also seems it's funny how the City Hall Gazette failed to mention that Joe Duesterhaus is the brother of Alderman Steve Duesterhaus (D-2nd Ward)

Slight oversight I'm sure....

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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.......

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 !!!! City Hall Sugestion Box

Alderman Steve Duesterhaus, city Democrats and the Mayor have installed a new suggestion box at City Hall...

After all the mayor says.....

I want to hear from you on how we are doing, and especially on how we can do things better here at City Hall.

Feel free to let us know what you think anytime. This Mayor and City Council are looking forward to hearing from you.

John A. Spring
Mayor

Fire took a photo of it:

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SILENCE !!!

Comment moderation has been enabled.

All comments must be approved by King Deusterhaus!

"If I Want Your Opinion, I'll Give It To You"

Meanwhile, watch me piss away

10 million dollars into the Mississippi

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Stamps?

SO.... I need one measly stamp.

I stop buy the post office on 36th street about 6pm only to find out......

They don't sell stamps from the machine anymore.

Vending machine is gone.

No stamps.

So, if you need stamps after hours, don't go there.

That's Bullsh*t !

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City Council Meeting

Well ?

City Hall Celebration

Raises for all my Employees

Let's all take the afternoon off.






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