| Author | Post |
|---|
wepete
Member
| Joined: | Jan 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |  |
|
Posted: Apr 27th, 2006 12:36 pm |
|
Please don't take what I was saying as a negative against buying development rights...I was not intending to take a stand. Remember, I am moving and have paid my last tax to Guilford or Summerfield so I don't really have a dog in that fight. I'd point out that the value of most raw land in Summerfield is potential development so the town would have to pay what a developer would less a small residual value and that translates to a lot of cash per acre. It would take a heck of a lot of money to make a difference. But, without regard to the good or bad of the project, what caught my attention was the statement that it as something we can spend money on... Like we need something else... that's all I wanted folks to know. I'd have posted the same message if the idea was to buy me a new car. (well, maybe not) BTW Want to buy my place??? It will have great highway exposure. (grin)
|
DOGGETTJA
Member
| Joined: | Oct 24th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield |
| Posts: | 1198 |
| Status: |
Online
|
| Mana: |   |
|
Posted: May 3rd, 2006 06:35 pm |
|
| I was at Town Council last night but wondered if anybody else was there and what did they think about the way the zonings went?
|
Waytago
Member
| Joined: | Jan 24th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 175 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 3rd, 2006 09:51 pm |
|
Yes, I was there.
Overall, it seems the TC did a good job of listening to constituents, and following the recommendations of the Zoning Board.
I think one lawyer will think twice the next time before he calls folks "self righteous" and "indignant". Last night was one time that Stricklands abrasive manner actually was well placed in giving the lawyer a mild dressing down before the vote.
|
Waytago
Member
| Joined: | Jan 24th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 175 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 01:14 am |
|
I was going to with hold this comment, but after some reflection decided not to.
I am appalled at Dwayne Crawford, and his recent comments about illegal immigrants.
Independent Contractors are held to certain expectations, #1 of which is to follow the law and local ordinances.
There are any of a number of things a contractor can do that might violate the law, but our fine councilman Dwayne has decided that employing illegal immigrants is the #1 violation. It's OK to cheat on taxes, drive vehicles without insurance, do slip shod work, burn without permits, ad nauseum................but all that is OK as long as it's not with illegal immigrants.
Then during the TC meeting on 5/2/06 he point blank asked an Armenian developer if he used illegal immigrants. Heck with the eco-system, heck with the local taxpayers opposing the re-zoning.....Dwayne just wants legal manpower.
Dwayne, I hope you enjoy your ONE term in office, because with platforms like this one, I sincerely think that's all taxpayers are going to tolerate.
|
Cracker Jax
Member
| Joined: | Oct 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield, USA |
| Posts: | 4722 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 01:59 am |
|
Well. I just feel so lost. I missed the TC meeting. 
Strickland went nose to nose with a lawyer? That pseudo-law degree must be paying off!
I did hear the speech that Dwayne made last month about the illegal immigrants. I can't believe that Dwayne really expects the town of Summerfield to "police" the illegal immigrants. Next he'll be wanting to take on the gas crisis. The terrorism issue could use some attention too I'm thinking...
Dwayne... that's NOT your job.
____________________
Opinions in this post are mine. Do not copy, distribute, mass mail or quote out of context without my consent.
|
wepete
Member
| Joined: | Jan 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 11:27 am |
|
oh no... can't believe I am about to do this but..... it kinda is (was) an employer's responsibility to check legal status. (I assume its still this way) Any new hire must complete an I-9 form (INS-9) which requires proof of citizenship (legal status) and identification. I always followed that law but as far as I know I was the only small businessman in compliance. I am not sure I ever met someone outside a large personnel office who even knew what an I-9 was. We were not required to authenticate documents but we were required to prove we saw them and record the ID numbers.
Without taking a stand on this issue (and I could) even without the current legislation under consideration, undocumented workers are illegal and have, by definition, committed a crime. Employers who knowingly hire them are also guilty of crimes frequently including tax evasion. This is a very complicated issue and deserves real thought not knee jerk reaction or emotions. The decisions made here can effect folks lives, the business community and have some pretty heavy economic effects. It needs to be addressed accordingly. In the meantime Summerfield hs no business knowingly exposing its self to problems by employing illegals. but it really doesn't need to impose its self in policing private business either.
Under the food for thought thang...I heard a fellow on the radio ask if you could imagine what would be done if Americans sneak into another country, demand they speak English, march in the street, change the national anthem, demand full government paid welfare, demand equality with citizens, work but not pay taxes, make up 5% of the population but occupy 19% of the jail cells... and so on
|
wepete
Member
| Joined: | Jan 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 11:32 am |
|
| Does anybody know what happened to Michael Brandt's request to the council for a building maintenance committee? Its been many months since he and I discussed the bricks disintegrating in the Town Hall front wall. He told me he was going to ask the council to make provisions for repairs. Now the bricks are almost completely gone and you can see under the building from the road. Can you say "building fall down and go boom"?
|
Cracker Jax
Member
| Joined: | Oct 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield, USA |
| Posts: | 4722 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 01:24 pm |
|
Wepete.
I agree with you that Summerfield doesn't need to be policing the private businesses.
Also, I was at council the night (a couple of months back) when Michael B. made the report about the repairs needed (including the bricks) at town hall. Excuse me for not knowing the town council lingo for what happened, but to the best of my memory they "directed" Brandt to price the repairs and report back to them. It hasn't been brought back up at subsequent meetings but I did not attend last Tuesday's meeting, so I am not sure if it was brought up or not.
____________________
Opinions in this post are mine. Do not copy, distribute, mass mail or quote out of context without my consent.
|
FatPappy
Member
| Joined: | Oct 25th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield, USA |
| Posts: | 3245 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 01:53 pm |
|
The illegal aliens ain't got a leg to stand on legally. They legally got no right to protest and make demands. My point is they's lots o' dirty hands in that deal on both sides o' the border an' it's been known fer years. Let's not heap all the blame on them.
I agree we should comply with all laws. What I don't understand is why Crawford thinks the town ought to take a special stand on this issue out of all the other issues.
____________________
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
--Abraham Lincoln
|
Hairbrush
Member
| Joined: | Jan 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 120 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 02:10 pm |
|
I think I read in the paper the other day that the largest group of illegal aliens are day workers. Is Dwayne going to start questioning every citizen? Illegal aliens are just that illegal. It is a problem and it needs to be handled but we need to look to our elected officials or soon to be elected officials to see how they stand on the issue. Officials that have the power to do something. Everyone should be following the laws on the books. It is not the job of the Council to police that unless they are thinking of hiring illegal aliens directly or don't have their I-9's in order. I was very, very embarrassed by the questioning of Mr. Bob Bates about illegal aliens. Just one more reason I know that I was right in not voting for DC (not that I every had any doubts).
I think the council needs to look at how they are going to preserve open space. I didn't see any trails or large connecting areas of open space in the subdivision that passed on Tuesday (I could be wrong and I hope that I am). The council turned down the one subdivision on environmental issues but no plans on how to fix it. Maybe the town should buy up this environmental sensitive areas to protect. BS was all worry about the water in Summerfield and that piece of property would certainly help protect our water supply. It could go to a single family who wants to have a horse farm and then they will cut all the trees off it, pull up all the stumps, fence in the area including the wetlands and in a few years that wetland will be severely damaged. I heard mention of another piece of property that was logged, but it sounded like that was okay because it would be a horse farm. Livestock (including horses) are very hard on streams and wetlands.
I also heard mention of the developers needing a groundwater study. BS asked this everytime. I thought the town of Summerfield did a groundwater study a few years back. If I am not mistaken Ralph Heath did the report and he is top in his field. Does she not have a copy of this report?
|
DOGGETTJA
Member
| Joined: | Oct 24th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield |
| Posts: | 1198 |
| Status: |
Online
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 04:01 pm |
|
| I agree that the illegal immigrant issue is going to have to be directed from Washington. Businesses are required to have I9's on every employee. Businesses are also required on immigrants to validate the social security number on a website but the federal government list is not valid so how can they expect the business owner to to know? I work with what I presume are illegal immigrants all the time in the workers comp arena and am concerned that the preception is that they are taking benefits with out giving back. Unless they are being paid under the table they do pay taxes just like everybody else. If they are injured on the job they have a right to workers comp if their eimployer has it just like legal citizens and why shouldn't they? They are doing the work. As to health care I think the number is over 50% of citizens in the US don't have health insurance so why would we expect illegal immigrants to be able to afford it? We American's want cheap goods. If the jobs weren't here then the illegal immigrants would not come. It is a massive problem and I think Summerfield's role should be to hire legitimate companies to do the work and that's it.
|
wepete
Member
| Joined: | Jan 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 04:45 pm |
|
Hairbrush wrote: I also heard mention of the developers needing a groundwater study. BS asked this everytime. I thought the town of Summerfield did a groundwater study a few years back. If I am not mistaken Ralph Heath did the report and he is top in his field. Does she not have a copy of this report?
Nope she would not because that report does not exist. The US Geographical (Geological) Survey (USGS) did a very exhaustive county-wide study. Mr. Heath was hired to oppose the report by the same folks who opposed Summerfield using the study as a reason to increase average lot size. If he had been in favor of it he would not have been paid. Heath's logic was faulty as he proposed the water cycle was practically a closed system due to septic tank use in Summerfield. He forgot about stream run out and such. But I understand he got paid. BTW His report was about 2 or 4 pages long. The USGS was printed like a text book book in 2 column text some 1/2 inch thick and very professional relying on a tremendous amount of data they compiled and tested. Heath used their findings and research.
|
wepete
Member
| Joined: | Jan 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 92 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 04:58 pm |
|
DOGGETTJA wrote: I work with what I presume are illegal immigrants all the time in the workers comp arena and am concerned that the preception is that they are taking benefits with out giving back. Unless they are being paid under the table they do pay taxes just like everybody else.
How can they do that without a social security number?
On May 2nd I went into the Randolph County telephone office to get service for our new house. The lady gave me a paper that was written half in Spanish and half in English. I had to ask if I had come in the day before on No Immigrate Day if they would have given me one without the Spanish. (Yep Jane, still stir'n)
Oh yeah... should the town council meetings be in spansh? (had to get on topc)
Last edited on May 4th, 2006 05:01 pm by wepete
|
DOGGETTJA
Member
| Joined: | Oct 24th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield |
| Posts: | 1198 |
| Status: |
Online
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 08:15 pm |
|
| Now language is an entirely different topic as I see it. But here again we have a country that does not declare a national language so again we citizens are to a large extent responsible for the problem. I think people should be expected to learn the language of the country they live in!!
|
jbeeson
Member
| Joined: | May 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: May 4th, 2006 08:27 pm |
|
wepete,
I must inform you that the study actually does exist. The study was completed by Mr. Ralph Heath who, according to the Town, spent 20 hours of his own time researching groundwater data gathered by the USGS for the town of Summerfield only to learn that the town had never asked him to perform the evaluation. How Ralph got the Phone # for the Town's representative, did the study by mistake, contacted the Town for a date to present his findings by mistake, and expected compensation, by mistake, is still a mystery! I attempted to present the paper at a town council meeting for a local developer, who compensated Mr. Heath after he read his findings. I was told to sit down, my time had run out. The letter was still addressed to the Town of Summerfield and was dated prior to that developer ever attempting to rezone property. If you check the records you will find that another hydrologist by the name of Dave Evans submitted a report with similar conclusions. Dave was a hydrologist at NC State. A copy of that report should still exist in that subdivision application, somewhere.
Your mention of Mr. Heath's knowledge, or lack there of, of ground water and his misunderstanding of the water cycle is most interesting. I'm sure that you're not claiming to be a hydrologist! Certainly not. Am I to understand that you believe that by being paid Mr. Health and Dr. Evans came to incorrect conclusions? As to the rezoning of a tract of land you must understand, professionally we make no more or less depending on results. Licensed professionals can and will be taken to task and are risking their reputation and very livelihood if they misrepresent the interpretation of data or allow financial compensation to influence their findings. I would hope the validity of the findings rested more on the facts presented than on the width of the text column or thickness of the binding.
Bye the way, the main disagreement with the USGS report was with the equations made in the USGS report by Dr. Charles Daniels where he concludes that NO water from any septic system ever reenters any well! He actually contradicts himself in his own text stating that a percentage of that water is reintroduced to wells, but he never acknowledges this or gives it any weight in the equations.
|
|
|
