Junction City and Geary County

[Question]

Why not accentuate the positive?

Such as, small town atmosphere and country living, good schools, good hospital, outdoor recreation, Milford Lake and more.

What has recently happened cannot be undone. Taxes will have to be paid to recover. Those involved in causing the problems will get justice served and have to take the consequences. Let it play out, but don't destroy the town and county in the process.

Anyone moving here, military and civilian alike, is likely to google the area, and with everything posted on this website, they will make a decision against living here before they even see the beautiful area surrounding Junction City.

With about 26,000 residents living in Geary County, those that post here are a very small percentage with a huge negative impact on the picture that is projected to potential home buyers, visitors and shoppers.

If people can be encouraged to make JC and GC home, instead of discouraged, it will have a positive effect on cash flow and perhaps help in recovering sooner, repay the debt and look forward to a better future.

[Bob]

You're right. I do like it here. It is a good place to live. But, the people posting here in a negative tone are only a product of what has happened to our local government. The large percentage of posters aren't making this up. Let's all stay positive and pay this crap off. Just say no to anymore wasteful spending!

[Dan]

Question wrote:

Why not accentuate the positive?
Such as, small town atmosphere and country living, good schools, good hospital, outdoor recreation, Milford Lake and more.
What has recently happened cannot be undone. Taxes will have to be paid to recover. Those involved in causing the problems will get justice served and have to take the consequences. Let it play out, but don't destroy the town and county in the process.
Anyone moving here, military and civilian alike, is likely to google the area, and with everything posted on this website, they will make a decision against living here before they even see the beautiful area surrounding Junction City.
With about 26,000 residents living in Geary County, those that post here are a very small percentage with a huge negative impact on the picture that is projected to potential home buyers, visitors and shoppers.
If people can be encouraged to make JC and GC home, instead of discouraged, it will have a positive effect on cash flow and perhaps help in recovering sooner, repay the debt and look forward to a better future.

You make excellant points. Help me to understand how you turn a 200+ million dollar debt into a positive. It took five people, 6 if you count Rod Barnes, a total of four years to turn JC into the mess we now have. But it is going to take 40+ years to pay off this debt. And the debt is just a small part of the problems we citizens face here in Junction City. I love this town, but at the same time, I have to be honest with my self. How much longer can I and others strugle to maintain a descent living and quality lifestyle? How long does one have to keep their house on the market because it cant sell in JC? How long does one have to wait to get needed repairs done to their brand new house? How many resturants are we going to go through until we find one that will stay in JC? How much money are we willing to give away in tax breaks for the sake of saying we are expanding to finally realize that we are not? How many foreclosures will it take to get the message across? When is enough, really enough? Why are the five or six individuals that got us into this mess still in office? Why are they not being held responsible? Why are the citizens of JC being made to pay for their incompetant decisions and choices? WHY?

[Question]

Dan wrote:

<quoted text>
You make excellant points. Help me to understand how you turn a 200+ million dollar debt into a positive. It took five people, 6 if you count Rod Barnes, a total of four years to turn JC into the mess we now have. But it is going to take 40+ years to pay off this debt. And the debt is just a small part of the problems we citizens face here in Junction City. I love this town, but at the same time, I have to be honest with my self. How much longer can I and others strugle to maintain a descent living and quality lifestyle? How long does one have to keep their house on the market because it cant sell in JC? How long does one have to wait to get needed repairs done to their brand new house? How many resturants are we going to go through until we find one that will stay in JC? How much money are we willing to give away in tax breaks for the sake of saying we are expanding to finally realize that we are not? How many foreclosures will it take to get the message across? When is enough, really enough? Why are the five or six individuals that got us into this mess still in office? Why are they not being held responsible? Why are the citizens of JC being made to pay for their incompetant decisions and choices? WHY?

Your anger over what has happened in the past five years or so is very well justified, and I am on your side. All the points you make are very valid, however, if the town is continually made to look substandard in the eyes of people who may consider moving here and making their home here, we are defeating our own purpose; which is getting out of debt sooner rather than later. The negative connotation that is given this city and thereby this county in these posts is not helping in bringing new people here to stay.

I agree with you, the people at fault need to be brought to justice, the wheels are now in motion and hopefully we'll see results. Those out there that have credible information on the wrongdoings need to contact the appropriate authorities with their information to ensure everything comes to light.

In addition, citizens and voters need to get involved to elect the right individuals to office so the "Will of the People" will be done instead of that of just five commissioners. We need officials that are willing to act in the best interest of city and county and are not afraid to voice their opinion and are not afraid to make unpopular decisions as long as they are based on what is best for all.

The 2011 election is not that far off, voters need to be prepared to stand up for their beliefs; and need to vehemently object to any further unnecessary spending in the meantime.

Unfortunately I cannot answer WHY it has happened, it would only be conjecture.

[you dont get it]

Hears the thing I don’t se how you are ever going to be able to pay off the debit you all have creative. But the first step is to find out is to crunch the numbers. The problem is that Barrnes has done a good job of giving you misinformation because he knows, I suspect that it is hopeless. And he sees no reason to let anyone know because if it gets out then he is done. He is just hoping that somehow that 3000 lots will get sold and houses will be built on them and they will be sold and pay the tax’s on them. If you think this will happen then you have nothing to worry about

[you dont get it]

If you don’t think .that will happen then go to the budget meetings that are about to start. From what I here the short fall will shock a lot of people but it is nothing compared with what will happed in the flowing three years. A lot on your temporary bonds maybe as much as 100,000,000.00 maybe more are not on the budget yet. This is because you browed 2 to 5 years on interest alone with the principle thinking the future home owners would pay the interest when the subdivisions were built out. You need these numbers and what it is going to cost to pay them off. I suspect it will send the budget over the top and raise taxes to a unrealistic point were no one could afford to live in JC. If that is the case you need to know NOW and look at what options you have. The only one I can think of is Bankruptcy. This won’t help your image but it is gone anyway and it might save what you have left. Sorry what has been done is done

[surrealdreamer]

you dont get it wrote:

If you don’t think .that will happen then go to the budget meetings that are about to start. From what I here the short fall will shock a lot of people but it is nothing compared with what will happed in the flowing three years. A lot on your temporary bonds maybe as much as 100,000,000.00 maybe more are not on the budget yet. This is because you browed 2 to 5 years on interest alone with the principle thinking the future home owners would pay the interest when the subdivisions were built out. You need these numbers and what it is going to cost to pay them off. I suspect it will send the budget over the top and raise taxes to a unrealistic point were no one could afford to live in JC. If that is the case you need to know NOW and look at what options you have. The only one I can think of is Bankruptcy. This won’t help your image but it is gone anyway and it might save what you have left. Sorry what has been done is done

I was thinking the bankruptcy route also

[Dan]

Question wrote:

<quoted text>
Your anger over what has happened in the past five years or so is very well justified, and I am on your side. All the points you make are very valid, however, if the town is continually made to look substandard in the eyes of people who may consider moving here and making their home here, we are defeating our own purpose; which is getting out of debt sooner rather than later. The negative connotation that is given this city and thereby this county in these posts is not helping in bringing new people here to stay.
I agree with you, the people at fault need to be brought to justice, the wheels are now in motion and hopefully we'll see results. Those out there that have credible information on the wrongdoings need to contact the appropriate authorities with their information to ensure everything comes to light.
In addition, citizens and voters need to get involved to elect the right individuals to office so the "Will of the People" will be done instead of that of just five commissioners. We need officials that are willing to act in the best interest of city and county and are not afraid to voice their opinion and are not afraid to make unpopular decisions as long as they are based on what is best for all.
The 2011 election is not that far off, voters need to be prepared to stand up for their beliefs; and need to vehemently object to any further unnecessary spending in the meantime.
Unfortunately I cannot answer WHY it has happened, it would only be conjecture.

Very well said. We need more individuals like you and I to get together and start spreading that message. We need to get out and get people involved, instead of just sitting at home watching TV and turning a blind eye and deaf ear.

[Question]

It has been several days now, not much response on positive posts. Perhaps complaining is easier than getting involved. We shall see how much voter participation will be at the budget hearings.

[Dan]

Question wrote:

It has been several days now, not much response on positive posts. Perhaps complaining is easier than getting involved. We shall see how much voter participation will be at the budget hearings.

Participation by the citizens would be nice but not much can be done or said at these budget hearings.

[Question]

Dan wrote:

<quoted text>
Participation by the citizens would be nice but not much can be done or said at these budget hearings.

The Public Hearing on the Budget will be in August, I believe, and anyone can speak and it's not limited to 5 minutes.

The process of preparing the proposal of the 2010 budget will be this week, and is televised on cable.

Citizens need to watch and make notes so they can effectively make their points and input at the Public Hearing.

[Pigeon Toed]

Did the notice for the public hearing involve what the city is planning, based on the JC Departments requirements or did it suggest that how the JC Commission was planning on how to obtain the $200M to pay off the bills? The taxpayer should be concerned about future spending, however, it needs to know more about how this major bill will be paid without impacting harshly on the JC taxpayers.

Question wrote:

<quoted text>
The Public Hearing on the Budget will be in August, I believe, and anyone can speak and it's not limited to 5 minutes.
The process of preparing the proposal of the 2010 budget will be this week, and is televised on cable.
Citizens need to watch and make notes so they can effectively make their points and input at the Public Hearing.

[Question]

Pigeon Toed wrote:

Did the notice for the public hearing involve what the city is planning, based on the JC Departments requirements or did it suggest that how the JC Commission was planning on how to obtain the $200M to pay off the bills? The taxpayer should be concerned about future spending, however, it needs to know more about how this major bill will be paid without impacting harshly on the JC taxpayers.
<quoted text>

It will impact harshly, no doubt.
You'll have to watch the sessions on cable this week to know what is in the making.

[Milford A Fish]

Since all these subdivisions were done under "alleged"false info an under the table money
I dont think the taxpayers should have to pay for this.Should be struck from the record the city made the mistake let the city insurance pay for it.

[What I See In JC]

Milford A Fish wrote:

Since all these subdivisions were done under "alleged"false info an under the table money
I dont think the taxpayers should have to pay for this.Should be struck from the record the city made the mistake let the city insurance pay for it.

AGREED! Unless the city insurance is ALSO a sham.

[What I See In JC]

Question wrote:

Why not accentuate the positive?
Such as, small town atmosphere and country living, good schools, good hospital, outdoor recreation, Milford Lake and more.
What has recently happened cannot be undone. Taxes will have to be paid to recover. Those involved in causing the problems will get justice served and have to take the consequences. Let it play out, but don't destroy the town and county in the process.
Anyone moving here, military and civilian alike, is likely to google the area, and with everything posted on this website, they will make a decision against living here before they even see the beautiful area surrounding Junction City.
With about 26,000 residents living in Geary County, those that post here are a very small percentage with a huge negative impact on the picture that is projected to potential home buyers, visitors and shoppers.
If people can be encouraged to make JC and GC home, instead of discouraged, it will have a positive effect on cash flow and perhaps help in recovering sooner, repay the debt and look forward to a better future.

Why tell people the truth?

Because I was one of those people that came to GC for the "small town atmosphere and country living, good schools, good hospital, outdoor recreation, Milford Lake" etc, and am NOW SADDLED WITH THE MILLIONS IN DEBT!

My home was devalued by nearly 18% just 4 months after it's purchase due to the incredible amount of mismanagement of this city.

The TRUTH is that the old money and the old guard of this city have done a piss poor job of managing and maintaining.

The decisions of the commission and the city manager have been evil, avaricious and flat out lies.

Yet, somehow, you want to accentuate the positive and lure more, unsuspecting people to this "paradise".

Lord, save us from the hypocrites and liars.

[To What I See In JC]

You are on a roll!

If negativism was painful (maybe it is), you would be screaming to high heaven.

[What I See In JC]

To What I See In JC wrote:

You are on a roll!
If negativism was painful (maybe it is), you would be screaming to high heaven.

Childbirth and truth - two of the most painful things on earth.