The beauty of small town living...

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Bomont, West Virginia, United States
When you have no idea what you're doing, somebody else will ... or at least make something up & run with it.

Monday, February 13, 2006

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Can't you just feel the love?

105 comments:

ROSE said...

Or maybe it's just gas ...

Anonymous said...

Trust me, Rose. It's gas. Florists and greeting card companies just love this love day. haha. Candy makers are very happy and filled with love too. Of course, I do expect my share of flowers, cards and candies or the day of love can turn ugly real quick. teeheehee

Anonymous said...

happy valentines day Rose
roses are red
violets are blue
i am glad
theres a you

SmileyTD said...

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! (Also known as Singles' Awareness Day for those who aren't fortunate enough to have a significant other. LOL) Hope y'all have a goodern!!! :)

ROSE said...

Good morning, all!!

I'm guessing dentists appreciate this day, too. & whoever makes those big ol' diapers Cupid wears. teeheehee

For chocoholics like myself who have the foresight to buy everybody in the family "a little something," (including myself "just in case"), today could be nothing but a goodern!

(I'm glad there's a me, too!)

Anonymous said...

ANybody seen the jailbirds blog??

Anonymous said...

Well now Happy Valentines Day all... as for me I love my dog and she can't eat chocolate so the candy co. can't profit from me. Roses and other flowers don't do good in the snow so no use having them either so guess I can save money there also.. Now if'n you want a snowball well I got plenty of them...Hopefully not for long as a goodern day its supposed to be.

Anonymous said...

Singles Awareness Day!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Good one Smiley!

Anonymous said...

I'm feelin' the love now!!!
ooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeee

Anonymous said...

Hey what happened to the jailbird site and the froggers site?? Can't find 'em!

Anonymous said...

You better watch that Elvis stuff on Rose's site. She's prolley feelin' the luuuuuuuuv today & its hard tellin what she might do if Big E shows up.

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhh huh, Ahhhhhhhhh huh.......

Thank you, thank you very much.......

Anonymous said...

justme, what is the new URL

Anonymous said...

Suggestion: Let Dick Cheney take MP and Saddam quail hunting.

Anonymous said...

I'm NOT feeling the love. I'm feeling embarrassed and ashamed of some Clay County citizens. Especially the ones that don't have sense enough to be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves.

Anonymous said...

Amen brother Ben
Shot at a goose and killed a hen.

Presented by Sharp Shooters, Ltd.

Anonymous said...

So Rose I'm wondering what is your opinions on what AW is reporting today?

Anonymous said...

Oh, dear!! Rose, do ya really wanna talk 'bout that ole meeting and that ole stuff? Rather talk about love and laughter and roses and candy but guess all that just doesn't get things done. So, whataya think about AW's report? Is he giving us the straight of it? He is usually pretty darn close and some of the time too close. lol. Gets folks all riled up. Will be checking back to see what ya have to say about this. Later.

Anonymous said...

Clay County has some fine citizens. What exactly is it that they should feel embarrassed and shameful about?
Besides posting self absorbed petty greivences on a website that is supposed to represent a service to the public, is that what you are talking about?


I feel the love.

ROSE said...

LOL I don't just feel the love, I think I can almost see it in the air.

Don't worry, brulz. There's already plenty of cyberspace devoted to meetings & such. We'll go off on this little tangent briefly because it's the topic du jour. We're not going to devote my entire site to it, though.

Opinions? Hmm. I've got a million of them. Will I post them here? No, not to any huge extent. Why? Because I'm not nearly ... what's the word? egotistical? self-absorbed? conceited? presumptous? pompous? self-destructive? all of the above? ... enough to presume that my opinions mean much to anybody but a select few. I'd be far more interested in knowing what everybody else's opinions are.

Let's see if I can address some of AWs statements. For the most part, yes, I think he is correct. Note I said THINK.

The date on the Sanitary Survey I received is January 20. The Survey was actually conducted December 20 & the first I heard about it was via letter December 7. I'm assuming this is an annual thing & that the previous Survey would've been done around the same time last year. I don't know that for certain, though. Of the 5 current board members, only 2 of them (the slappee and the slapper) were on the board this time last year.

We're now addressing the issues raised. I honestly don't know what the previous board did to address previous Surveys, but if the same issues are indeed still issues, I assume little to nothing. I refuse to take responsibility for somebody else's neglect. The best I can do is try to do things differently and clean up the mess.

The concrete issue was a necessity. The driveway was a lawsuit waiting to happen. It posed a danger to customers, employees and visitors. This expense was discussed informally on numerous occasions.

Keep in mind that when the current board took office, we were operating in the red and inherited an astronomical amount of largely unsubstantiated debt. Funds were mismanaged far too long for anybody to have very high expectations of anything being fixed overnight. However, we have made progressive and substantial progress and continue to do so.

One of the most restricting problems we have is the fact that there was no "cushion" in the budget. By this, I don't mean extra cash just laying around, but that little "comfort zone" that keeps you from taking from Peter to pay Paul. Debts were allowed to accrue over an inexcusable amount of time, equipment was allowed to deteriorate past the point of redemption, etc. What would've cost a few hundred dollars to fix will now cost several thousand. Sort of like neglecting to have your car tuned up & waiting until the entire engine needs an overhaul before dealing with it.

As far as the day-to-day operations of the plant, it's absurd for us to involve ourselves in the daily business. We're the "administrative body" that oversees the operations, not participates in them. In fact, we're strongly discouraged from doing so. If my road needs plowed, I certainly don't want whoever's in charge of DOH in Charleston to have to grant permission for our local guys to do it. He's hired competent people to insure the smooth operation of local offices. I don't see where our board should be all that different.

Keep in mind as you read everything that's being said, though, that of the 13 meetings (including special, emergency and workshops) I've attended since last May, MP has been absent for 9 of them. Prior to the new board voting to delay payment of our board fees, MP rarely missed a meeting and in fact, the previous board held 2 meetings per month at the tune of $75 each, paid in advance. To date, I've received absolutely no compensation for my service, nor has any board member since the new board was appointed.

Opinions? Yeah, I've got a few. LOL

ROSE said...

Let me quantify that statement about board fees being paid in advance. Only MPs fees were paid in advance. The fact of the matter is that CRPSD still owes every board member BUT MP past board fees. Several hundred dollars' worth, in fact. MP is the only board member paid in full with the exception of the 4 meetings she attended since May.

Anonymous said...

So, um, who ya gonna vote for? >:D

ROSE said...

Furthermore ... teeheehee

AW brought up the subject of consolidation. I worked for the Infrastructure Council around 3 years. During that time, the consolidated PSD project for the entire county of Clay was in the works. I could be off on my figures here (easily confirmed, though), but if memory serves me correctly, it was a $14 million project. Of that, around $9 million was GRANT (free & clear - a GIFT), $4 million (or so) was a 0% interest, 40-year loan & the other $1 million was a 40-year, 1% interest loan. Sweetest deal I ever saw, even if those numbers are skewed a bit. People fight tooth & nail all over this state & don't get deals anywhere near as sweet.

The project proposed consolidating all the water providers - Clay County PSD, Clay Roane PSD, Queen Shoals PSD & the Town of Clay. It proposed building 1 large plant to serve everybody, which would've spread those loan dollars throughout the county & none of us would've been paying nearly what we're paying now. I'm pretty sure it even included Pumpkin Ridge.

One of the obstacles? Predictions of doom & gloom & lost jobs for the current employees of existing PSDs.

The biggest obstacle? The Town of Clay. They were the proposed "master provider" and wanted no part of it. Why? My water bill last month was estimated & was $75.13. How about you Townies? What's your water bill average per month?

Consolidation has always been an option. Frankly, I think it's a darn good one & completely viable. Which is why it'll never happen.

Someone DID ask my opinion, didn't they??

Anonymous said...

Saw somewhere earlier someone was voting for Rick Burdette. Think I'll do the same.

AW says there is no answer to the present PSD problems. Is he right? Is there no hope for the PSD and it's paying customers?

Anonymous said...

Rose, it's really nice when you post some meat and potatoes (maybe I'm hungry) about the PSD board. I work evenings and cannot make the meetings. I feel that you are working hard to improve the PSD's situation. However, there are always folks who are willing to point out all the problems, but I've noticed they don't provide any solutions. A good example would be AW. He does not serve as an appointed or elected official in any capacity that I am aware of in Clay. He cannot win in the elections and will not be appointed any position because of his "National Inquirer" type attitude. MP, with her demented rantings and ravings on her site, causes me to believe that she is hellbent on sabatoging the Pumpkin Ridge water. I don't understand why you don't kick her off the PSD board or at least get in a brawl with her which seems to be her way of "working" with the board. MP states this and that about charges dropped because she was not guilty. When, in fact, we have a prosecutor in Clay that is inept. If the sheriff caught Bin Laden, the prosecutor would bungle the legal crap, and he would walk. Sorry to rant so much but I usually don't get much time to play on the web at work and felt like saying "hello". Besides, you asked for comments.

Anonymous said...

Can you impeach board members?

Anonymous said...

My average monthly water & sewer bill is $24.70 (subject to change, of course, with the 23% increase coming). But wait, I've lived here almost forever and remember when my monthly water/sewer bill was $12.12. Wait again. I live less than 1 mile from the water plant and maybe 2 miles from the sewer plant. My point is why do all you people who live out in the boonies (mostly by choice) think we "Townies" should have to pay more so you can have "city" water?

Don't get me wrong here. I think everyone should have good water. I can remember when we had to deal with bad water, no water, haul water. However, we did not expect anyone to pay for us to have good water. I don't know what the answers are or much of anything except that I am on a fixed retirement income which I worked very hard for and I can't afford to pay for the entire county to have city water. If you want it, then move to Town or be willing to pay whatever it costs to bring the water to the boonies to you and leave us Townies alone and quit your bitching because we have water and you don't.

Anonymous said...

Its all fun and games until someone lets the truth out and you get egg all over your face.

teeheehee

Anonymous said...

I can't help it. I still feel the love. It's a beautiful thing.

Anonymous said...

I am glad you all are having to pay for that sewer water as anyone knows you could recycle your own and it would just cost you a little extra on your power bill. You might even talk to your neighbor and trade water from the commodes as it is the same as what you are drinking now except you don't know whos commode it comes from. Out here in the boonies where I live we can drink out of the creek, a cow track or just dig a hole and drink out of it. All free of charge and no sewer water involved. Of course now if we wanted to drink sewer water we could just run ours over a rock and two grains of sand call it pure and sell it to someone who doesn't know any better just like the town does. Good grief I could make a fortune off of pee water also.

Anonymous said...

I think "pee water post" is trying to say something, just not sure what.

ROSE said...

Good morning, all!

Before I even get started, I want to say something about the Anon who points out we're Boonie Dwellers by choice. You're absolutely right. I wish I'd have kept track of the hundreds (literally) of times I've heard that, so I could give you a big, impressive number with lots of commas.

It's the same concept as paying taxes to fund the welfare recipients. The idea is, if we all pay some, nobody has to pay it all. The American Way & all that. On the one hand, I totally agree. I'll pay for my family; you pay for yours. On the other, since this is America & we're all helping to pay for families in BF, Mississippi, why wouldn't we be just as willing to help the neighbors we can actually see?

Honestly, I don't know if there are any solutions. Actually, yes, there are. I don't know if there are any that would fly 'round these parts, though. In this particular case, every time we think we can get started on a "solution," another problem kicks our tail & round & round & round we go.

GOOD MORNING, ALL!!

ROSE said...

Whoops! Another random thought I feel the need to share!

The ever-rising rates. First of all, when an entity borrows money - be it State or Federal - the funding agency does all sorts of analysis before any funds are actually dispursed. Based on their findings, they determine what it'll cost your entity to repay their loan and require that you charge your customers accordingly. So initial rates are set by the funding agency. Logically, the more grant money you get, the less you have to repay & the lower your rates can be.

The PSC then comes along once a year and requires an annual report and a budget from your entity. Based on what they find in those documents, they may determine that your entity is still capable of operating in the black and leave you alone. Then again, they might find that your entity is in danger of not being able to meet its financial obligations, so they may raise your rates. This only applies to public service districts. Municipalities - cities, towns, etc. - set their own rates.

So. Rates aren't set by crazed board members who like to see you squirm or some lunatic with a burr up his butt. They're mandated by the PSC and you have to bill accordingly. In determining rates, the PSC relies on your budget, your annual reports, your entire financial history. They don't set your budget, nor do they go riffling through your files, confirming every dollar. They look at your bottom line, suggest changes in spending habits if necessary and take it from there. If they don't get good, solid numbers to work with, they can't possibly give you good, solid rate rules.

Conversely, if you see that your entity is in danger of not being able to pay its bills (inflation, cost of doing business, etc.), you can ask the PSC for a rate increase. They won't just randomly grant it, nor can you just randomly change the rates on your own. They'll come in, do a rate analysis, do all the things they do, then determine if an increase is necessary and let you know what you can increase to. However, if they are the ones to initiate the increase because you're on a downward spiral, there's very little your entity can do but implement it. Of course, if you refuse, they will eventually catch up with you & by the time they do, they'll probably recommend yet another increase because the original one is no longer applicable.

PSD aren't allowed to make a profit. They're allowed to make enough money to cover their cost of doing business and pay expenses. When there's not enough money to cover the cost of doing business and pay expenses, customers are forced to pay more.

Currently, CRPSD's cost of doing business is largely "retro." The truck that's such a "piece of crap" ? Somebody approved it's purchase 2 years (or whatever) ago, somebody allowed it to get into the shape it's in. Why wasn't there money to address the Sanitary Survey when it first became an issue? The current financial woes aren't the creation of the current board. Had things been dealt with proactively - or even in a timely manner - when they became problems, the finances would be a heap site more optimistic.

We are, however, trying to fix those woes & at some point, the cost of doing business will level out.

PSD board members are appointed by the county commission. County commissioners are elected officials. If you don't like the way board members are doing business, elect a commissioner who will appoint more competent people who will do a better job. Remember, once a board member is seated, you're stuck with him/her for 6 years.

Anonymous said...

Yep what I was trying to tell you is its mighty stupid to complain and fight over sewer water. I am sure a drilled well has less expense, cleaner water, and for sure you know it don't come out of a commode. I for one do not want anything to do with commode water that comes out of elk river, off the garbage dumps, off the funeral homes drainage, and last of all off every commode flushed between here and the head of elk river. If you want to see what happens in the river just watch the fish as they travel from one side to the other depending on which side a commode is flushed..I will just keep my well water and I don't care if it hasn't been ran by a turd or two at all and over two grains of sand mixed with a little bleach and floride added. Have a goodern day all.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, not feeling the love here at all!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, but what about what MP says on her website? She called you a lier.

Anonymous said...

Everyone that doesn't agree with MP is a liar. Haven't we learned anything after all the endless MP'ing? lol

Anonymous said...

I don't think this was supposed to take the "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo" format. IMOHO, MP, as usual is full of herself and full of crap. She "says" stuff everyday. Most of it is sugar coated blather that she feels makes herself seem the innocent lamb in a den of lions.
From what I can see Rose has posted her opinion on AW posted on his site. She stated a few things that she's learned while serving on the CRPSD and given a very detailed and welcomed explanation of rate increased.
I find it interesting that MP seems to continually be the only one in oposition on the board, any time anything PSD related comes up. Why is this? Is everyone else wrong and lying about everything except her? I hardly think so.
So what if she calls Rose a liAr. She said she didn't steal money either. If she didn't steal it? Why'd she pay some of it back. That's as good as admitting guilt isn't it?

Anonymous said...

MP has a website?

Anonymous said...

She tries to pass it off as a Clay Roane PSD site for her adoring customer base, but one gander at it plainly shows what her agenda is.

Anonymous said...

Here's my PSD: www.bcpssd.com. Here's my mom's: ww.jcpsd.com

MP's site is an MP site.

ROSE said...

If MP calling me a liar is the worst thing that happens to me today, I'll consider myself blessed.

I'm thinking maybe tomorrow's lesson might be quantum phsyics, depending on how the quiz on PSDs goes this evening ... BAHAHAHAHA

SmileyTD said...

Don't mean to change the subject, but Gino's was sure reeling in the business last night, wasn't it Rose? LOL That place was a madhouse. At least this time around, we knew for sure who one another was. :P

ROSE said...

I'm glad I wasn't an employee there last night! I offered to lock the door behind me when I left. LOL

Is it always that crowded on Tuesday or was it just the Love Is In The Air thing??

SmileyTD said...

Did you notice that some of the employees were looking rather frazzled too?? LOL Tuesdays are usually a little busier than normal, but I haven't seen it that bad in a long time.

There was a birthday party going on in there. I believe there was also a ball game yesterday evening. Then, they had the "Two For Tuesday" going on as well as Valentine's Day. I think that it may have been a combination of the four things that made the place so rediculously busy. LOL

I do know this. My sis and I both were about to pull our hair out before we ever got out of there. LOL We went in to relax and have a nice quiet evening out with the kids, but it turned into a more of a chaotic circus than anything. Too many people going "every which way". LOL

Anonymous said...

www.clayroanepsd.com is the site and you will find what they are talking about under news

ROSE said...

LOL Good lord. I see we're back to the copy & paste.

For the record, what I said was, "To date, I've received absolutely no compensation for my service, nor has any board member since the new board was appointed." Paid for SERVICE. Mr. Grigsby was paid MILEAGE when he used his personal vehicle to drive hither & yon to pick up supplies, equipment, etc., during the water leak at Wallback. The company vehicle was in the shop or he'd have used it instead.

Perhaps if finances had always been scrutinized this closely, we'd be having an entirely different discussion.

I think I'm about done with this topic. Anybody got anything to add before we move on??

Anonymous said...

Hey there Rose! Happy belated sweety day! DJE

Anonymous said...

I just stopped by MP's site where she has posted checks from the water service. Does she not know that the account numbers can be copied and used and bled dry with just a little bit of know how.. I wonder if she saw how fast a FEMA account was emptied by showing a $2000.00 credit card on National TV during Katrina. I think at last count over $64000.00 had been drawn from that account in two minutes time after being viewed on TV.... Whewwwwwwwww what a brain fart MP must be the Mark of Intelligence

Anonymous said...

Just more proof that she's a freakin nutcase. She's just mad cause she ain't getting to write checks to herself no more. Rose, you need to leave her pissin off the porch by herself and move on.

Anonymous said...

I say let's move on, Rose. Can't wait to see what you come up with next and how it long it will take to get totally off your original post and back to discussing and cussing "you know who." lol

Anonymous said...

" Well "

ROSE said...

LOL They do seem to go to hell in a hurry, huh, brulz? Never a dull moment, though!

Hey, DJE! Happy belated sweety's day right back atcha!

Hey, smiley? I got my foot in the door 2 or 3 times, but seems like every time I got close to some food, somebody'd stop me to talk about the water plant! LOL I swear, all on earth I wanted was to get out of cooking. LOL

Hmm. I was thinking it'd be fun to go back to the "add a line" post, but ... maybe now wouldn't be such a good time for that.

Anonymous said...

You gonna make her take your name off her site like she did? I'd sue her (after I slapped her.)

Anonymous said...

Sue her for what? Not like she has a pot to piss in. And slap her? Ick! that involves touching doesn't it?

ROSE said...

Ya know, I've given this whole "situation" a lot of thought. While I'm far above stooping to a pissing contest with Ms. Postelwait, I'm also fed up to the gills with being a "whipping boy" in silence. So, here goes. I apologize in advance & yeah, I'll probably regret my knee-jerking. Right now, though, I'm a little peeved & after discussing this with someone whose opinion I respect, I'm going with my gut & spewing.

Ms. Postelwait is currently harping on $21.60 paid to Mr. Grigsby for mileage back in September. This is the only money received by any board member since our appointments in April. She's also hung up on $1,500 we paid for concrete for the driveway at the plant. I have before me a printout of CRPSD expenses from January 2003 through October 2005. These documents are public domain and can be viewed by anybody. I encourage each and every one of you to go to the plant during normal business hours and ask to see these documents. Remember, these expenses were made to her as a CRPSD board member, paid from CRPSD customers. County commission salaries are subsidized by the entire county.

This is not opinion, this is fact. It's very important to stress here that with the exception of the above mentioned mileage, no board member has received one red cent since April, OK? Not for expenses, not for board fees, not for nuthin'.

This printout lists all the expenses to board members, including how the expense was incurred. Mr. Whaling, Mr. Saulsgiver, Mr. Sutton & Ms. Beard all received board fees & that's it. Ms. Postelwait's page(s) tell a far different tale.

I don't have a complete listing, but I've already calculated a total of $633.41 ABOVE AND BEYOND HER BOARD FEES. No other board member has any of these expenses.

What did she charge the District for, you ask? How about $79.67 for mileage? How about $31.79 for printer ink for her PERSONAL PRINTER at home? Incidentally, when I first joined the board, the plant couldn't print my documents out because they didn't have any ink in the printer & had no funds to buy a new cartridge. Here's another $84.20 for mileage; $54.00 for mileage; $111.60 for mileage; $30.00 for LABOR (this is HIGHLY ILLEGAL - board members cannot pay themselves for working for the District!); $47.00 for mileage; $51.00 for phone ... let me remind you of something. At one point, Ms. Postelwait was charging the District for her $17.00 monthly phone bill. I'm lookin at at least $125 worth of phone charges the District paid to her. $633.41 would've bought a lot of gravel that would've gone a long way in keeping the driveway from getting to where it was when we had to buy more, wouldn't you agree?

The current board holds ONE meeting per month & our fee is $75.00. The fee used to be $100 - I don't know when it changed or why. During Ms. Postelwait's tenure as chairman, there were some months where FOUR meetings were called. In June of 2003, there were 2 special meetings ($75) & 2 regular meetings ($100). That's $350 paid to Ms. Postelwait in June of 2003. The same thing happened in July. Several months had 3 meetings, all had at least 2.

Are you seeing where the financial woes may have begun? Are you getting a better understanding of where the money went? Are you getting a feel for what the real problem is here - both hers and the District's?

ROSE said...

Let me also throw this in here, while I'm on a roll.

The current outstanding board fees amount to THOU$AND$$ of dollars. Every board member - both present and immediate former - is owed HUNDRED$$ of dollars except Ms. Postelwait, who (according to her own records) is owed $75.00.

Did y'all hear the one about the Gravy Train derailing?

Anonymous said...

I'm no mathamicin myself, what would the total on that be in comparison to what the board members are receving now?

ROSE said...

Ms. Postelwait = $325 (2003)
Ms. Postelwait = $2,784 (2004)
Ms. Postelwait = $1,767 (2005)

Current Board Members = $21.60 (combined 2005 total for all current board members)

I'm not even sure my totals are "in full." There may very well be more payments.

The amounts listed are what's listed under "Check Amount" on the document I'm looking at. I haven't done the actual math myself, so I'm not sure if these amounts are in addition to other expenses (mileage, ink, phone, etc.) or if it's included. I believe these amounts also include the "overpayments" and "advances" Ms. Postelwait received, for which she signed the checks herself.

Anonymous said...

The board paid for her hotel when she took PSC training too didn't they? I heard they also paid for her "driver's" meals because she couldn't drive herself. Even though she done said she had a valid license. How much was her mileage for that? More than $21 I bet.

Anonymous said...

MP took her PSC training in Flatwoods. What is that 45 min drive, if that? But she had to stay in the hotel for two day and get paid for that, mileage and meals. And yes I believe that not only did her aunt go with but so did hubby and child. I think another member taking the same training, took his personal camper and camped at the lake for the weekend and didnt charge a thing for any of it. Go figure that one.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised she's evne had any training. Sure can't tell it from watching her in action.

Anonymous said...

If I remember correctly....MP made a big stink about the operators getting paid to attend their classes to keep their water license current. She didnt believe they should get paid mileage or for those classes! But she things she can rake in the money for what....running the place in the ground??? Arent the operators required to keep their licenses current to provide the water we drink? So what did she want them to do...let the license expire so she could go run the plant. Hell why not??? She thinks she can do it all. Like the time that girl in the office was having her baby, I heard that she had to go to the plant all the time to help Melissa from screwing up and then they paid that girl for maternity leave then made her pay it back???? Why pay it back when she was always down there??? OH MY GOSH>>>>> MP and her reign as queen wanna be. Hey I know what.....Lets not follow any laws and lets all just go freakn wild. First thing Ill do is rip that tag off my mattress!!!!!!!! what will you do?

Anonymous said...

ASk her nephew about how she rode around in his car with him when the company truck was parked in the lot so she could charge mileage.

Anonymous said...

Holy cow Rose! Hold on, I think I spilled my drink. Well, well, well. I think it's about time someone turned the tables on the divine Ms. MP. Okay, okay, I know you're sick of dealing with PSD poop in general and the divine Ms. MP stuff specifically, but that was a pretty big spew. Looks like we might have had ourselves a little "Enron" taking shape right here in lovely Clay County, WV. Wow, those are some pretty big numbers MP was racking up. And, oh my, look at that, you have the actual documentation to prove that what she says on her website is a load of dooky? Sniff, sniff, I smell a FOIA request. Is this a great country, or what? I went to several of the old Board meetings. They were so frustrating, I used to want to poke my eyeballs out. Now, not so much. Although I do think they could be a little shorter. You and your other Board members are doing an excellent job. It's an important job and it means a lot to us folks who live here in the lovely village of Clay. You can't clean up the mess you walked into over night. Oh, and I'm sure you know, there are MPs everywhere, seemingly put here on earth for the sole purpose of irritating the crap of folks who are trying to do something good. Publishing those numbers is the right thing to do. It will certainly open the eyes of the public. What's that? An ambulance? Going to give Andy Waddell oxygen, I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

awwwww nowwwwww....none of that stuff ever happened according to MP. Does she really think we are all stupid????? We are from Clay Co. where we grew up around all these back stabbing lying not worth the gum on my shoe good for nothing but trouble making news worthless people or wanna a be politicians. Which She actually fits right in that bunch, but hey......WE DONT BELIEVE A WORD THAT COMES OUTCHA MOUTH!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could click my shoes twice and go back to Kansas. (never been there but Dorthy thinks its nice.) "why cant we just all get along".......AAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH Im so sick of her petty crap that I could just.......turn this pc off...nite all.

Anonymous said...

You've been feeling down about this situation because of the stress its causing in your day to day life. I hope that the support you gained from this website and the community shows you that you're important to this community, both as a citizen and as a Board Member.

David Grigsby

ROSE said...

SHEWEE! I must admit, there are times in my life when I've truly wished I had no morals, no values, no ethics, no fetchin' up about me a'tall. Certainly, it seems to make life a heap site easier for those who live that way.

Sometimes, though, you just have to get past it all & air the dirty laundry. Try it. It's therapeutic. Especially when the dirty undies belong to someone else & have their name all over them.

Thank you, David. I'm sure our mutual respect for each other and our fellow board members will bring us even more grief, but you know what? I don't give a rip. Bring it on. We can take and rise above it. Eventually, when we reach the point where we can afford to pay ourselves our board fees, we'll all have to take ourselves out for a drink. BAHAHAHAHA

Incidentally, yes, all the information I've offered here is documented and available for public viewing.

Anonymous said...

I think you guys got busted doing a no no and are just trying to use mps past as an excuse.

The sad part is that you are no better than her if you are doing things without approval. The proof is there on the website.

Using mps past reputation doesnt change the fact that she is right.

Anonymous said...

signing in as anonymous doesn't mean that you are

Anonymous said...

if you are implying that i am mp you are sadly mistaken

my initials are jt

Anonymous said...

Yeah, yall shoulda called another emergency meeting so you'd suck up more money you don't have so she could ream you a new a-hole for not sending her the email & then she wouldn't show up anyway but she would diss you all to kingdom come.

Anonymous said...

Her website is so full of truth, I'm blinded by it!

Anonymous said...

wrong is wrong is wrong

and if the new board is doing things privately it is wrong, no matter what the excuse

i am not in favor of anyone persay but i dont think that by trashing mp and doing exactly what she was ridiculed for makes anyone any better than she is

Anonymous said...

Oh-My-God! MP is not right! What are you even talking about. She put up a copy of a check that was made to David Grigsby and blabbered on and on about one member did take payment for his services. If she could read, she could see that check says, sad poor copy that it is, mileage, under the memo area/ The check is $21.00 for petes sake. That's hardly close to the amount that MP seems to have bilked the county for. I think Rose already explained that it wasn't service related at all. If MP isso "right" about all that you are saying lets see some documentation to back it up. Let's see some public record to dispute what Rose is saying. Let's see some PROOF that the parking lot at the plant wasn't dangerous. Let me see some proof that all that bills that MP was reimbursed for were actually used for PSD purposes. She's gotta lotta talk in her, but so the hell what. It's called "heresay" in court. She ought to know that, if not from all that high faluting U. of Phoenix schooling then from her vast experience at filing paupers papers for her own damn stupid lawsuits. I'd be interested in seeing some actual proof to back up what she's talking about and not just hearing her say how "innocent" she is because her case was dropped. Seems to me on George's blog there is a conversation going on about how all the druggies aren't in jail for their crimes either. It has nothing to do with guilt or innocence its because there is inadequate counsel. She's guilty and is trying to make others appear so to distract from her own faults while she makes a futile run for office. Here's a big onomatopoeia for MP:

PPPPFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT!!!!!

Anonymous said...

WOOOWHOOO!!! Looks like the baboons are comin' out tonight!

ROSE said...

MP says, "One last note tonight, there has not been money to fix the items on the Sanitary Survey. That is why they are there again this year. That is why they will be there again next year as well."

I'm merely offering a possible reason as to WHY there's been no money.

MP says, "As for the comment on that egotistical blog that no one has taken pay since April of 2005. That is another lie from the current board. Mr. Grigsby received pay from CRPSD right after or during the big leak at wallback."

Mr. Grigsby did NOT receive "pay" - he loaned his personal vehicle to the cause at a time when gas was almost $3.00/gallon. He was reimbursed mileage. MP received "pay" when she billed $10/hr for 3 hours worth of cleaning out a tank at the plant. Board members as contract laborers is a huge no-no, specifically addressed in WVa Code.

Let me make it perfectly clear that I am in no way "trashing" MP. What I've offered here is no different from what AW offers in his Magistrate Report - a recap of an individual's personal actions. Again, this information is all public domain and fully documented.

Remember those rates that continue to go up, up, up?? These are some of the "costs of doing business" - obviously, the priority list was much different.

Anonymous said...

You are wrong, others are trying to change the subject back to mp because they were caught in wrong doing.

I dont even care about the 21 dollars, but rose did say no one had taken anything.

i do care about the other, it was done without anyone knowing about it and outside of a meeting and that is not right

whether you like mp or not, trying to change the subject to her to avoid taking credit for your own actions is not right

Anonymous said...

i happen to know she paid that 30 dollars back, I was there at that meeting

i dont care what anyone says, what mp done is wrong and what the new board is doing wrong too

but to trash each other or allow others to trash a fellow board member on anyones website is wrong as well

you should call a truce and work for us not to please each other

Anonymous said...

i just want to know where us customers fit into this bickering and child like behavior?

my god this is ridiculous

Anonymous said...

The customers can choose to look or not look at personal websites. If I were a customer I would be wondering why my rates have continued to increase at absurd rates with water that has not increased at all in quality. As a paying customer I would be delighted to have easy access to informatin about what my money is being spent on.

Anonymous said...

Don't you see why MP doesn't let anyone discuss on her website? Her agenda is purely self serving. She doesnt care about anyone's input, opinon, comments, suggestions. She has no use for them because in her mind, there is no other viewpoint than her own. She has no ones interest at heart, but her own. She has no proof to back up her claims. The proof she puts on her site only further dispute what she says to be true. Why are though no other board members in agreement with her? Don't the customers question that???

Anonymous said...

As a customer, I look at these websites as it is a reflection of what kind of job they will do for us.

So far I dont see anything that impresses me.

ROSE said...

I am both a board member and a customer of CRPSD. As a board member, I learned early - and am reminded often - why this town is in the shape its in. I can't for the life of me understand why people would pay to run for elected offices.

As a customer, I've still got the brown sludgey water from 2002. My out-of-state relatives all joke that when they'd come to visit, they always had to bring water with them because ours invariably went off.

As a customer, you go to meetings & voice your opinions & try to get your voice heard. As a board member, every time you open your mouth, somebody slams their fist in it.

As a customer, I recall the CRPSD website being operational for quite some length of time. We used to laugh at all the negative stuff posted there about employees & such. As a board member, it's not so funny.

As a customer, I don't recall the CRPSD website ever offering any insight as to why my rates continued to go up, why my water was swill, why I couldn't get that swill to come out of my faucets 1/2 the time, where the hell the money went.

As a board member, I was forced to approve the rate increases the PSC mandated long before my time that were ignored. I pay these rates, too & frankly, have better things do to with my money.

My water is rarely off now. Do I take credit for that? No. My rates are sky high. Do I take credit for that? No. I'll actually let my kids brush their teeth with what comes out of the faucets now. Do I take credit for that? No?

As far as this website goes, I opened it on a whim in November. MP followed suit with her own blog, as did many others. It was all in good fun. We all suddenly were bombarded with knowledge of how some people feel about certain others, whether we wanted to be or not.

One has to ask if these things were already being said or if this blog simply brought out the worst in people & made them say things they weren't already saying.

There is no "truce" to be called because there is no "war" going on. MP has chosen to be very selective in her "public information distribution." She's very good at pointing out all the things wrong with the world, but you never see mention of her own name in her public information. Apparently, what was spent yesterday has no bearing on today & should never be mentioned again.

Earlier in this post, I stated that a large part of the financial issues faced by CRPSD today were created way before the current board was seated. Apparently, I've overstepped some sort of line in the sand by pointing out some of the payments that took priority over a lot of others. Obviously, I'll never make a good politician.

People have bitched & complained all over these blogs that they don't know anything, nobody ever tells them anything, etc. Yet very few people come to the meetings & I don't know of many who have bothered to go to the plant to view the minutes or see any of the documentation that might shed some light on their complaints.

When I first set this blog up, I got reemed on a regular basis for not allowing certain comments. For months, I kept the email confirmations that a new comment had been posted here. Currently, there are over 2,000. For a long time, I moderated & the number of comments that never made it is astounding. It was almost like, "Have computer, will talk out my a*s just because I can." The MP comments that did make it were mild compared to the ones that didn't.

I encourage each and every one of you CRPSD customers to go to the plant. Ask to see the records. Don't limit yourselves to any specific timeframe. Educate yourselves. Then, before you come back here & rant & rave about how immature we are & how we need to all get along, at least attempt to understand the frustrations faced by this board.

As a customer, when I discover that one of my former board members filled in for an employee who was on maternity leave & ordered $5 ink pens, that tends to piss me off. As a board member trying to find the money to fix all the screw ups, it tends to piss me off even more. Apparently, $5 ink pens were more important than setting aside money to address the Sanitary Surveys & such that were being ignored because there was no money. Obviously, I'll never make a good accountant, either.

I can see, though, that nobody really cares about that kind of petty stuff. It's all about getting along.

Jimmy, Pete & Fran collectively approved the 3 new board members. I don't know whose choice I was, but I do know I wasn't the first choice & it wasn't an opportunity I jumped on with gladness in my heart & overwhelming enthusiasm. One day, when I learn to be masochistic enough, perhaps I'll appreciate it.

ROSE said...

Of course, I have one more thing to add.

It's been stated that the chairman is "just another board member." Once, for kicks, I Googled CRPSD. Imagine my surprise when I got a hit that listed MPs home address & phone number as the contact information. The District paid her phone bill so she could conduct business out of her home. The District paid for her ink so she could conduct business out of her home. How high would people jump today if Mr. Grigsby - or any one of us - tried the same thing?

Anonymous said...

Rose, I heard that at the last meeting MP said that she made a copy of the survey for AW. Then made a big show of walking across the room and handing it to Jenifer and ignoring AW. I also heard she said she didn't want her name on any emails the board got. I waited for her to brag about it, but didn't see anything about it on her website. I've monitored her site for a long time. She's never done anything but trash the employees. There are a lot of things that's went on at the plant that you all don't have any clue about. It's not documented anywhere, but people know it happened and she was in the middle of it all. She's never took responsiblity for anything. I wouldn't have your job. All of you deserve a pat on the back for putting up with everything you put up with and still trying to do a good job. No matter what you do, it won't be enough.

Anonymous said...

It looks to me like you just accounted for where some the "missing" $50,000 went to.

Anonymous said...

The $50,000 that you speak of was before MP. It went to another board member and a current employee.

I am a paying customer as well and I am not happy with MP or any of the rest of you as well.

The District had more financial trouble before that woman came along. I know I was there.

I have been there for many years. Let me correct that, many many many years.

I have been thru far worse board members that MP could ever imagine being.

My point is, it doesn't matter now. The money doesn't matter now because we can not recollect it. We can't hold them responsible and we can't recollect it.

The current board is one of the better ones I have seen. However, do gain public repor you need to conduct business in public; without fighting and bickering.

I also have read these blogs and websites. It is unbelievable.

You might not realize it or believe me but I have seen MP go out of her way to help others and yet all I here is she has nothing to say on herself.

I was one of those she helped. I think maybe she isn't the type of person that needs constant praise for the little things.

Way before MP came along it was unheard of for a board member to go out in the field and work beside the others for free.

Not everything that MP has done has been negative.

Still, I hold my opinion that you need to learn to get along and work towards a common goal. At the end of the day it is DG, RC, JD, SB or even MP that ends up with crappy water service, it is I the customer.

Anonymous said...

MP could be Mother Teresa, but until she stops acting like such an idiot and putting herself in such a bad light, it don't matter. Lots of people are nice & do nice things. Most of them don't sue everbody in town, steal, lie, slap, etc. She's a mystery.

Anonymous said...

Incidently, you aren't the only water customer in town anonymous long talker. I think one of the board members already stated that they too were a water customer. Public business is conducted in public. There are no business deals being made on this site. So what if MP has done something nice. I bet all the board members have done nice things for people, you don't see them doing any sort of music box monkey show for attention do you?
I said it before and I will say it again. MP is simply trying to divert the negative attention she is getting (and deservedly so in my own opinion) by trying to show the other board members in a bad light. Again I will say, she is not showing any proof of what she is talking about nor is she showing any proof to dispute the information showing the unnecessary spending she has done. The PSD has been in bad shape for years, no one is saying that MP is the complete and total cause of it. However, her actions not only did nothing to help resolve any of the issues (and don't get all puckered up, I'm not saying it was her sole responsibility to get the PSD back in the red), they hindered the fragile state of the PSD even further. So I'm really happy that she helped you with your groceries while you were crossing the street or whatever, but she's no angel so don't try and make her out to be one.

Anonymous said...

I never said MP was a saint. I believe I even said I don't approve of what she has done.

My point is we need to look closer than the board members to the employees.

Did you know that overtime is taken and not earned? This is a two person set up and come payday the amount is split.

Now don't go hysterical, it has been that way for a very long time. Going back again to the days even before MP.

I think Larry White said it best in his resignation letter when he stated employees played board members, because that is how it is.

The reorganization of the board was a good idea, now please get rid of the employees and start fresh there too.

ROSE said...

Prove it, Anon, and it can be fixed. I've heard about this "bogus" overtime since ... the beginning of time. A lot of people have a lot to say, but nobody has ever bothered to take it past the gossipy "I heard" point.

How, exactly, though, does one prove it? Sit around the plant every minute it's supposed to be manned? How does one track the hours of somebody who's doing field work? Does the board need to form an "Employee Watch" to put an end to the speculation once and for all?

Who are these employees? What's their setup? How do employees play board members? Who got the $50,000? Where is it now? Where's the paper trail? If you knew it then, why are you still just talking about it now? An awful lot of people seem to "know" an awful lot about this kind of stuff. Should we assume that CRPSD has always employed the World's Best Cons and Embezzlers? MPs infractions are small potatoes compared to stuff like this, but at least she was considerate enough to leave a paper trail a mile wide.

When somebody develops the cojones to put names, dates and proof to the speculation and rumors, the situation can be addressed. Until that time, it's just idle gossip.

ROSE said...

If idle gossip was punishable by law, 90% of this county would be in jail (the other 10% isn't old enough to talk yet).

Anonymous said...

If you really want to find it, it is there. No idle gossip, no speculation, it is there.

Just ask any past board member that got to close to the truth.

Ask DS what really goes on down there, he will tell you straight and how to find it. That is why one employee did not want him there.

That same employee is the one in on the overtime scam.

You will not find a paper trail unless you get the bank records. The other ones mysteriously came up missing remember?

Kind of like one employee taking the closet off the hinges and taking items.....

Things have a way of disappearing there when it is convienant for someone.

Dig dig dig, go back before MPs time and start there. Go to the bank and view the copies of the records, don't pay for them, just go look.

Start from the time Procious was merged with ClayRoane.

Better yet, vote to approve all overtime and mileage on a month to month basis and only after verifying the information provided. That will cause a mass panic again.

Anything else you want to know? Like I said MP doesn't hold a candle to what I know.

Anonymous said...

The overtime scam works because two employees are involved.

One says they worked this amount of overtime and the other keeps their mouth shut in exchange for half the money.

Start questioning every hour of overtime Rose and you will locate what you are looking for.

Start popping in unexpected, just drive by, mark the time and date. If no one is there, then check the overtime record.

It might take a few weeks or months, but you can find it. I did.

Ask MP. She found it once too before she was a board member. Should be in the past meeting minutes. Caught an employee lying about time and in public, the board of course took no action.

Look hard enough and ask the right questins Rose and you too shall become enlightened.

ROSE said...

Yes. I want to know it all. What I really want to know is why this is still an issue so many years after the merger?

While I'm digging, might I suggest you take your knowledge to the PSC & spill your guts. Initially, it's completely confidential.

Why aren't you a board member? Why aren't you calling the Attorney General's office? Why haven't you contacted the news media? Why aren't you screaming to the high heavens? Why am I more responsible for this as a board member basing my knowledge on gossip than you, who's had this information for years?

I know DS & he doesn't strike me as a push-over or a wimp in any way. Did he just roll over & cave in or is there more to his story, too?

"Allegations" - no matter how convincing they may seem - don't mean jack without the proper proof.

Incidentally, why haven't you done the digging? The majority of the District's files are open to the public. FOIA if you feel the need.

Scoop AW on this one. Be a hero.

ROSE said...

Ok, obviously, you type faster than I do. teeheehee

Why don't you just put what you've got in the mail to me? Or leave it on my porch? Obviously, you wish to remain anonymous, but it's not that hard to get info to me.

I don't have time to go lurking around the plant at all hours. Honestly - no offense - I think it's a bit ... bizarre.

MP could do a lot of good if she'd just go about it the right way. She's got plenty of time on her hands. The new board isn't the old board. Personally, if such things are going on & can be proven, there's no way I'd sit back & keep my mouth shut. MY rates are based on the cost of doing business, too, ya know. Contrary to popular belief, we're not all puppets & I don't think any of the new board members would tolerate it. Again, though, the proof is in the puddin'.

Anonymous said...

Ok so I know you probably don't want to hear this because it involves the one person everyone loves to hate.

I was at the CCC meeting the day MP told them about the missing check book and records. She didn't hide it, she openly told them. They said nothing.

MP and the old board asked a certain someone several times to get the bank records for them several times, again I was there I heard it. The response was always the same, we can't afford it now wait until later. The board never pushed when they should have.

The later never came. It would be a wise investment in my opinion. There are stories in those bank records beyond any newspaper mans dreams.

I have complained and bitched and moaned. I have told board member after board member where to look and how to find it. Nothing has ever changed.

I give credit to MP though. Not for what she done wrong, but what she did find and bring to the board. It wasn't her fault they outvoted her.

I was there the night she reported on the employee removing the hinges and taking "things" from the closet. Larry White said the employee should be commended not reprimanded.

Why do you think the employees dont like mp? Before she ever was a board member, her and CC dug more stuff up and brought it to the public than any employee wanted anyone to know.

If you ever get the chance just talk to her. She doesnt always go about things the right way but she knows enough on the wrongdoings down there to make your toes curl.

ROSE said...

Hmm.

I guess the bottom line is that there's little to nothing that can be done about things that happened "then" anyway. What's done is done & digging to China won't bring it back. Former board members no longer bear any responsibility for the District.

I don't doubt that MP & entourage found a lot of stuff. What I do find to be surprising is that she stopped at the CCC.

She's not shy, she's not afraid of controversy, she doesn't give a rip about being politically correct and/or what people think of her. She certainly doesn't have problems filing complaints & lawsuits. She's proven that no matter what she says or what she does, she's firmly rooted in her seat until her term expires.

Seems to me if things were going on that were that blatantly provable, the whole county would've been overrun with investigators.

Yes, it might make a nice story for the news people, but would it solve our problems? Otherwise, what's the point?

Again, "knowing" something is one thing. Proving it is something entirely different. Spreading the unproven knowledge hither & yon does nothing but cause unfounded controversy. Which, granted, this county thrives on, but ...

Incidentally, when you know something illegal is taking place and you have hard evidence of such wrongdoings and fail to report it, that sometimes makes you an "accessory." I learned that on TV.

Anonymous said...

I agree miss rose. You can't hold the past one responsible but you can make the "excessive" spending stop.

Don't go causing a riot or nothing, just keep your ear to the ground and it will soon come to you.

MP is stubborn as hell. I have known her for years and there is no stopping her once she gets started.

Her mother was basically the same way. She sold Avon in these parts for many years. A very nice person but lord be watch out if you made her mad!

Enough for now. Talk Later.

Anonymous said...

Just so it doesn't cause a riot, I was a very close of friend of MPs mom, Lynn, and that is why I said that.

She would do anything for anyone. She truly was a impressive woman.

ROSE said...

Hmm. I'm always open to advice & suggestions, so I'll keep my eyes & ears open. My ma always said "The Good Lord gave you 2 ears & only 1 mouth for a reason" so I guess I'll watch & learn.

Thanks for you input. My email address is in my profile if you ever feel so inclined to communicate that way instead of one so public.

Anonymous said...

Where do you find the employes for crpsd? If most are thiefs. do you do back ground checks. it shoud be set up where it take a least two signatures for a check.

ROSE said...

Um ... noboby's really reading this thread anymore.

It IS set up so that all checks must be signed by 2 authorized people. Currently, there are 3 people authorized for check signing - the chairman, the treasurer & the secretary. Also, the bank isn't supposed to clear any checks that don't have the proper signatures.

Are you siting a specific incident or just venting in general?

Anonymous said...

venting