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FatPappy
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| Joined: | Oct 25th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield, USA |
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Posted: Nov 6th, 2005 11:13 pm |
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| I think we're beginning to see how much damage the Concerned Citizens have done. Their poison is still in the system. This is part of what I was talking about when I mentioned the hidden costs of their hateful tactics.
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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
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dmauser
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| Joined: | Oct 14th, 2005 |
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Posted: Nov 6th, 2005 11:33 pm |
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Dear Mr Peterson,
My name is Debora Mauser, past PTA president,member of Leadership Team at NWMS, current Legislative Chair of NWMS PTSA, volunteer on North Middle School/High School Project Team, volunteer at middle school weekly, and volunteer (inactive at this time) on Town CoreCommittee, active in Boy Scouts Troop 103. As you can see from my signature, I am not hiding. I think everyone should be involved,and put their actions behind their voices. I think an open debate is good for our community. I was not actively involved with politics in Summerfield until about 4 years ago and now try to stay informed.
I am a local that went to our schools, moved for college, ended back here to raise my family.
I am proud to be a citizen of Summerfield.
I can see where you mailing could have been mishandled without your consent. I think this was wrong and hope that the people that donated money to your campaign will be understanding that their canidate was 'lumped into' the CC group without your consent.
dmauser
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Steve Adkins
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| Joined: | Oct 14th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 12:48 am |
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I think Mr Peterson is wise not to state his position pro or con on other candidates. He's running his own campaign, not campaigning on behalf of others.
And my name is just like it appears to the left.
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donw
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| Joined: | Oct 21st, 2005 |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 01:43 am |
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Well folks- the election is just 2 days away and I am looking forward to becoming your new town councilman. There sure is a lot of uncertainty in many candidates, however; if you want someone who is honest, asks the hard questions, believes more communication is needed between the town and its citizens, wants Summerfield to be a bedroom community, believes in low taxes and less government --THAN VOTE FOR ME - DON WENDELKEN
This town needs a change or we will be going through this same scenario at every meeting brought on by the CC.
Thank you to the citizens I spoke to at Food Lion, the Fall Festival, those whose doors were knocked on and the corners I stood at for reserving your vote for me! I ask that you encourage your neighbors to vote for me. The hard work put in to this campaign has been worth it and I will do the same for the Town of Summerfield.
Thanks again,
Don Wendelken
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Cracker Jax
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| Joined: | Oct 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield, USA |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 03:20 am |
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Hi peeps! I was out of town today and obviously have a lot to catch up on! Missed you all terribly while I was gone!
Mr. Adkins - Thank you for acting as the voice of reason. While I may not agree that Bill does not need to tell us whether or not he supports the CC candidates, I do respect his right not to do so. Besides, what a pickle he would be in if he did answer....
So we will move on....
Don - I did speak to you very briefly on Fall Festival Day and I must say that after reading your posts and realizing that you do have good intentions (experience will follow) and lots of heart, I can honestly say that if you are elected I will not think the world has ended (as it would if Crawford or Strickland were elected) and I will support you as a town councilman. Thank you for running a clean campaign and for donating so much time to our town.
bill - As for the park issue.... I stand corrected. You did want a passive park. Doesn't that just consist of grass and trees? Keep in mind that we have something like that now in front of Summerfield School. We can walk the track and sit under a tree on any given Sunday. What we want is a place to go and picnic, a place to go and hear music, a place to tinkle if we want to, a place to gather as a community and possibly playgrounds and ball parks....To sum it up, a place our community can be proud of. If that comes with a parking lot and part time guy to change toilet paper, well, so be it.
I am very sorry that our postings bring to mind the endless hammering of the concerned citizens, but we have been silent too long. These people are making a mockery of our town and our government and I find it embarrassing. Luckily, we have some "upbringing" and don't scream out at council meetings at these people, however much we may want to. We have no other means, other than this forum to voice our views and opinions. So when a Concerned Citizen (whether or not it is a perceived association) finally came out of hiding and joined the forum, We just went crazy....I am sorry you were the one to bear the brunt of it. You say you care what the people want, well listen to us.
Oh, and drop the gavel issue already. It's the second time I've seen it referred to in print and that council member is not even up for election this go round so it is a moot point. If you had attended many of the meetings after you left the town council and previous to the one you keep mentioning, (I understand you were ill) you too would have been prepared to take up a mallet and fling it toward Ms. Dunham. I know I was wishing I had one. EVERYONE is sick and tired of Dunham's frenzied rhetoric. Now she just sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher... bwaa bwaa bwaa....The true shame of it is, she seems to be the brightest one of the concerned citizens and had her brains and energy been used for the good of our community, the possibilities would be endless.
I truly tried to post this without exuding "attitude," but I found it very difficult. You see bill, I do see through all of your "backdoor" jabs at the current council members whether or not they are running for seats in this election. We know you are smart bill. We don't need fancy quotes or backhanded slaps to prove it. Yes, you may be well versed in parliamentary procedure and you probably helped pen Robert's Rules, but we are decent people and it makes us angry when you are constantly criticizing our friends and neighbors.
Last edited on Nov 7th, 2005 03:23 am by Cracker Jax
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Opinions in this post are mine. Do not copy, distribute, mass mail or quote out of context without my consent.
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Bill Peterson
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| Joined: | Nov 6th, 2005 |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 11:50 am |
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Cracker Jax
Thanks for the good comments. I understand the frustration far more than you know and probably more than I'll ever tell you. You might think that after four terms my skin would be thick enough to take all the abuse heaped out but it just isn't so. (Please don't parse that... I am trying to be nice)
As to the park... you are wrong again. The park we originally discussed, and the one I supported and got the land to build, was far more than just trees and grass. It included pic-nic areas with shelters, trails, exercise areas along the trails, a lake, and even a playground. We discussed tying it to the school with trails so the kids could walk to the park without using the roads. We discussed putting up signs identifying trees and other vegetation to aid teachers in using it as a learning tool. Yes, it would have had parking and bathrooms. There was even a set of plans floating around proving the smaller area that the Community Center, Inc owns and occupies could be converted into 4 ball fields with additional bathrooms, walking trails and maybe even a concession stand. We even had a volunteer who had previously told the Summerfield Rec folk he'd do the grading needed to build the ball fields free of charge. Of course the plans kept the community center building in place. The rest of the park, could have been built for comparatively little cash. But, it did not include an amphitheater. The only one I know of in the area is at Greensboro's Lindely Elementary School. The last time I visited it was many years ago but it was a very high maintenance item that saw little if any use.
Of course there are performing artists in Summerfield....what I meant was there are no organized performing arts currently in need of an outdoor theater.(did I really need to explain that??) I enjoy outdoor events and I am sure that you are right. Build it and they might come.
In August of 2002 the cost of the amphitheater construction alone was estimated to be $117,800. That included grading, walls, walks, stage, and electrical. It did not include clearing, seeding, plantings, erosion control, site furnishings, storm drainage, bonds, engineering, professional fees and administration, water connections, maintenance, etc. It would accommodate 500 folk if they also sat on stone walls built to retain each terrace level. The main parking area had places for 75 cars to be shared by the center and the park. The plan called for temporary toilets to be provided for events The only permanent facilities would be attached to the community center building which is pretty good hoof from the other parts of the park.. To understand the estimated costs consider the small open shelter (20x20) was estimated to cost $38,125 in 2002. I just completed construction at post Katrina lumber prices of a 24x32 (1.92 times the size) fully enclosed building built much stronger than residential code for less than 1/2 that cost.
It was, and still is, my opinion we would serve more citizens more frequently by using limited funds to build ball fields AND the park we originally envisioned instead of building an expensive (basically) single use item or going off site to work on a school we pay county taxes to support. Further, with ball fields and bleacher seating, we can provide a place to listen to music with both seats and flat ground for blankets for much less cost until such time as the need for a dedicated outdoor facility is proven.
As to which candidates I support, I am afraid you will have to guess. If I am elected mayor I will serve with two of the five folks running. I think it best to keep my opinion to myself.
Obviously I know you. Unfortunately, I don't know who you are. It is also obvious that you might have an ax to grind. Are you running for mayor? Did I vote against a zoning request you wanted? I'd like to talk with you about it and any other problem you may have with me. Why don't you send me a private email and lets see if we might talk like adults.
Bill
wepete2@bellsouth.net
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EUSON
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| Joined: | Oct 24th, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 03:40 pm |
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Bill thank you for joining the forum. It is enlightening to hear from the candidates.
Yo Don, caught you on the corner this weekend, thanks for putting so much positive effort into your campaign.
Last edited on Nov 7th, 2005 03:51 pm by EUSON
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Skiddles
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 04:22 pm |
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Bill,
What I remember about the plan to build ball fields on the site of the Community parkland is this plan could have never happened. First of all the plan was not drawn up by professionals in this field, just guys with an idea. I know great things can start with good ideas, but this was not a good idea. I understand the volunteer you were speaking of was going to use the lake as a STUMP DUMP. Fill the lake with DEBRIS, cover it with dirt, dust his hands off and abracadabra instantly flat land. NO, it is not as simple as that! This all sounds like dragging nails across a chalkboard to me. This STUMP DUMP idea does not cover a major item in this equation - fresh water springs, several of them. Impacting water and wetlands is not a simple issue; it is a major issue to consider. However, the volunteers did have good intentions and wanted to meet the needs of our community, which still exists today.
The idea of a few having no experience in building parks and the thought that our natural resources could have been compromise in this way is a very scary thought. I applaud the town council for taking the necessary time, energy and money to come up with a professionally written plan that works with the character of the land and hire professionals to build it. We do not want a park that is a do nothing, low quality park - why build it at all? Let us be proud of our park! I like it as many of my friends do. We are looking forward to using our Community Park and all of its facilities one day. This is a good thing! This is a benefit to our community.
I do not understand the thought of having a problem in maintaining an investment that we have spent time and money on. I know I paint my house to preserve its wood. Most people take care of things and maintain them to protect them and because they care. I care and many in the town care. I have visited the Parks and Recreation tent on Founder’s Day for many years and there is always someone excited about our park there.
I know you had a part in this process and I thank you for that. I believe you have stated earlier you did not support this issue when it became a burden on the town. I keep reading about how much we have in the bank and now we have a tax; I cannot believe the maintenance of this park will be as momentous as you make out. As I see it, the first part of the plan is just getting off the ground and the amphitheater is not even being built yet. Additionally, the county and the state are paying for many of the costs. It sounds to me the town is trying to be responsible reguarding the park.
In my opinion, our park offers a wonderful place for: our friends and family to enjoy, a place to meet our neighbors, become healthy, lower stress, listen to wholesome music in the park, art in the park, theater, storytelling for the children, festivals, boy and girl scouts around a council ring, educational experiences in the outdoor classroom and much more. This is like going against hot dogs and apple pie. I just wish we could not fuss about the good things in life and support them. Yes, we need to be smart about how we go about things, but Bill, everything comes with a cost, that’s life.
Last edited on Nov 7th, 2005 04:26 pm by Skiddles
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bama80
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 04:26 pm |
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| Donw, too bad you don't live on the Stokesdale/Summerfield line somewhere and are able to run for both towns. I know more about you than anyone running in Stokesdale and would write you in for all positions on the ballot. Good Luck. Roll Tide Roll!
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Roll Tide and Go Pack. Maybe or maybe not in that order. [insert profound quote here]
This post will self destruct in 10.......9......8....
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DOGGETTJA
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| Joined: | Oct 24th, 2005 |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 04:39 pm |
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| Hey Folks there is a meeting tonight 11/07 at the Community Center at 7 PM to discuss future park needs in Summerfield. My understanding it is being led by the Proffessor from UNCG who is doing the questionaire you should have received. This is follow up. Hope to see lots of people there so that we will have some ideas as to how to proceed in this area.
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dmauser
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 04:46 pm |
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| unfortunately I will be undable to attend the meeting tonight, since I have commitments with the scout troop, but wanted to say that I thought the survey was a good idea and have mine ready to mail back in. I think we will find out what people are really wanting in their park.
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Cracker Jax
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| Joined: | Oct 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | Summerfield, USA |
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 04:58 pm |
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bill ~
Can you just imagine Mark Brown using the word "peeps"? I assure you that I do not have an ax to grind with you personally. I simply feel like our council members, town volunteers and Sheriff Barnes have been barraged with unrelenting personal, unnecessary attacks and need us to stand up for them instead of against them.
It is fine to disagree with them, but do so with respect and do not condone or participate in the mud slinging that is going on in the CC crowd. You have been here longer than most of the CC group and you know as well as I do that none of the decisions made by our council have been made for personal gain. You know these people and you know they do not have hidden agendas.
In an earlier posting you referred to King George (who I can only assume meant Mayor Barnes) and the "punk" Revolutionaries (Concerned Citizens) who spoke out against tyranny in spite of the odds. Are you forgetting that the Revolutionaries won? That's a sickening thought.
I have a much better metaphor for ya.
There was another Revolution a little later on in France which was also begun for good reasons. But they went a little too far. Eventually Robespierre and a CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE assumed power and instituted what was known as the Reign of Terror. They basically killed everybody they could get their hands on who opposed them or was perceived to be in opposition by introducing them to madame le guillotine, who very efficiently removed their heads.
The only problem with the metaphor is there are simply too many people who fit the role of madame le guillotine!
Last edited on Nov 7th, 2005 04:59 pm by Cracker Jax
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Opinions in this post are mine. Do not copy, distribute, mass mail or quote out of context without my consent.
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StewartM
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 06:52 pm |
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Skiddles
I do remember the plan for the stump dump at the community center. I was on the community center board back when they made the presentation for ballfields where the lake is now. They did have good intentions, but it would do to much harm to wetlands and our natural resources. They did the right thing and did not move on with the project. The Community Park has been in the works a long time. I'm glad to see the site work has started. The park committee and our professional staff has worked very hard on a good plan for our citizens and environment. We have now voted to do a professional survey for our other park needs. Please everyone complete your survey and send it back. Your town council wants to hear from you.
Remember to vote tomorrow....Its your Town....Mike Stewart
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Bill Peterson
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 08:34 pm |
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Cracker Jax: Not to worry about telling me who you are. I know. And, I also know why you have been busting my chops about the park and the actions of one council member. I had enjoyed our conversation Tuesday night. Did you feel out of place "huddled" with me? Which one of us should be deemed guilty by association?
A few closing thoughts to maybe clear up remaining issues:
For the folks who proudly stood up and gave their names, I appreciate that you brought some logic and civility to the blog.
It is sad but almost comic to hear some folks complain so loudly about the actions of others and then have to endure them hiding in the shadows doing exactly what they complained about..
Yes... if we buy it we need to maintain it. On going costs are part of asset ownership. It is also a real consideration when making an informed buying decision. Failure to look at the fully allocated cost is a failure of due diligence.
Folk have the constitutional right to address the government. The council is only the council when it is session so the public meeting time is the only time any of us have to address our government.. We should not limit the right to only those with who we agree. I'm not sure its even legal.
To threaten assault or to even indicate a desire to commit a physical assault because someone speaks for more than five minutes or says something that we do not agree with is not a joke.
The plans I saw for the ball fields looked pretty professional, but I only saw them for a few moments, on the hood of a car in the twilight. I believe I was told they were fully engineered but its been several years. When the council denied a request to buy lights for the school ball fields but arranged for the schools pay for them, the Summerfield rec fellow who had the plans got mad and went home. I have never seen the plans again. I recall there was some talk of a stump dump and moving the lake to another part of the land but that it was not required to build the fields. My memory is Mr. Doggett agreed to do the grading for free if he was allowed to make a stump dump first. I understood we could keep the lake where it was and pay for the grading without the dump. This was never presented to the town council. If it was presented to any group, it would have been Community Center Inc.
Becky, Don, Dwayne, Jane, Mark, Mike (alphabetical order) Good luck tomorrow. Win loose or draw I look forward to working with you.
Debbie... Lets talk soon.
Bill
wepete2@bellsouth.net
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Steve Adkins
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Posted: Nov 7th, 2005 10:47 pm |
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| Mike, Jane, Don & Bill, where do you plan to be Tuesday, ie what voting location? It would be nice to shake your hands when I go vote. Last edited on Nov 7th, 2005 10:49 pm by Steve Adkins
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