Here’s the thing about stupid stuff: It’s gonna happen! But can you learn from it?
Sadly, learning quickly is not the case for our favorite bumblers, the M&M boys.
Part-time County Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke — along with part-time Councilor Jeanne Stewart — are looking at spending up to $300,000 for two new councilor offices.
Now it’s pretty much stupid stuff to spend that kind of taxpayer money (is your house worth $300,000?) on two offices. But there’s an even larger question.
Why do part-time county councilors need individual offices?
A little history to put this issue into context. The M&M boys have been doing stupid stuff as long as they’ve been in office. So much so, the community spanked them by voting in a new form of charter government.
That new government increased the number of county councilors (they used to be called commissioners) from three to five. Thus the perceived need for two more offices.
But wait!
When they were full-time commissioners, maybe — maybe — they needed offices. But now, they’re part-time councilors. None of them — except perhaps the council chair — needs an office.
And shouldn’t they be spending more time out in the public and less time in their offices, anyway?
“That’s appropriate because they’re part-time. Oftentimes they conduct their meetings outside of City Hall. Setting aside private space for each council member isn’t prudent, it’s not frugal and it’s not necessary.”
o o o
Hmmm? Why this county push to have taxpayers pony up for more county councilor offices? They simply have not had a discussion about just giving up their offices now that they’re part-time.
So let’s assume they won’t do the right thing and go sans office space. Still, why spend $300,000? There are much cheaper alternatives.
Honestly, listening to these characters talk about spending for office space felt a little like payback for the voters who approved the charter government. Remember, all three county councilors were strongly against what the voters wanted — a new form of government.
Madore — who campaigned heavily against the charter — argued the new government would cost more money.
“I communicated that to the voters and the voters still approved it,” Madore said at a council meeting this week.
You mean, Councilor Madore, the voters didn’t listen to you?
Shut the front door!
Of course what Madore isn’t communicating — or at least not as loudly — is that there are much cheaper alternatives to this $300,000 office space solution. Much cheaper.
Mielke — who also campaigned vehemently against the new charter form of government — couldn’t resist taking a cheap shot.
“I remember the charter (supporters) said it will not cost any more money to implement this. Are you telling me that we were lied to?”
No, councilor. If you paid attention, showed up to work once in awhile and read a little (maybe this column?) you would learn important stuff, not just when the lunch bell rings.
But alas, after a lengthy discussion, stupid stuff prevailed, with Madore and Stewart voting for the $300,000 office option.
But wait!
Madore now is having second thoughts. Why? Mielke was able to claim the moral high ground by being the only councilor to vote against the big expenditure. And because all three councilors are running for the county chair position, standing alone in protecting taxpayers is a big deal.
Madore doesn’t want Mielke to have that advantage. So he’s looking to un-vote as soon as possible.
In the end, stupid stuff will keep oozing out of the sixth floor of the county building. I’ve accepted that. I’d just prefer not to see the ooze with a $300,000 price tag.
