Setting it straight

Guest Editorial by Michael Armstrong

Deception – Lies – Falsehoods – Untruths and Scare Tactics

Mayor Orville Nelson is utilizing the vilest form of electioneering.  He is purposely lying to his constituents to scare them into voting for the recall.  Mayor Nelson, Councilor Crockett and others went door to door with a handout full of falsehoods, lies and untruths.

Here are some of the claims being made by them, rebutted with the truth:

THEY CLAIM:  The five councilors intend to raise sewer rates as much as 60%

THE TRUTH IS:  There has been no discussion about raising the sewer rates since the five councilors were seated in January 2009

THEY CLAIM:  The five councilors have cost the City thousands of dollars

THEY TRUTH IS:  These five councilors have saved the City thousands of dollarsin spite of Mayor Orville Nelsons obstructionism.  Mayor Nelson’s personal choice was an out of state absentee city attorney who cost the city an average of $3000 a month.  This attorney was replaced with a local attorney who attends every meeting and at a cost of only $600 a month.  A DEQ state certified Wastewater Superintendent was hired; replacing the uncertified friend of the Mayor, saving the City from DEQ threatened fines for being out of compliance with

DEQ – OAR rule 340-049-0015.

THEY CLAIM:  “Thanks to them we now have someone who is not qualified managing the finances for this city and who in 2008 received a pay increase of  $1067 per month”

THE TRUTH IS:  Councilors Swift, Eubanks, Armstrong, Schilling and Anderson didn’t even take office until January 2009. During the January 11, 2007 City Council meeting Mayor Nelson promoted the referenced employee and voted to raise their salary $2.00 per hour.  During the February 8, 2007 City Council meeting Mayor Nelson again promoted the reference employee and voted to raise their salary another $1.00 per hour.

THEY CLAIM:  “On September 10th at the City Council meeting the city councilors turned away more than half of the citizens waiting to attend, citing State Fire Marshall rules for maximum occupancy.  No capacity sign was visible or posted”

THE TRUTH IS:  The State Fire Marshall ordered the occupancy notice be posted and enforced after the August 13, 2009 city council meeting, where it was standing room only and citizens were blocking all exits.   The City Council is obligated to comply with his order.  The notice was plainly visible at the entrance to the council chambers prior to the regular meeting.

Anyone wishing to know the truth can ask questions at City Hall.  

All minutes verifying the facts are outlined in a guest editorial researched by Michael Armstrong, with hyper links to scanned city council minutes