The Charter of the City of Crestwood. (click here to read it please.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would please click on the header you will be directed to the City Charter which is the bed rock of Crestwood, and thus very important.

From time to time there have been those who would change it out of hand to suit their own agenda, or attempt to modify it for whatever reason, but it stands inviolate today thanks to the checks and balances put in by the framers.

Alas I am sorry to say it has become required reading in Crestwood as of late due to yet another attempted assault on it's very frame work. There are those forces who would make changes in it's chapter and verse to consolidate their positions for what ever reason, and this cannot be allowed to stand in my opinion.

Please take the time to read it and become well versed in exactly what it says, as well as what the framers vision was for Crestwood so you can oppose these forces when it becomes necessary. Remember we the citizens of Crestwood can call for a Charter review every ten years to make changes if wanted or needed. The last review and vote was some six years ago, so it will not happen quite yet.

I have lived here over 42 years and I have never been so concerned about our City as I am now! Please take the time to discuss this and other things with your Alderman, get involved in Crestwood Government, call the Mayor, but please make your wishes known so the forces who would change the charter and by extension our City will fail and our City remain the way WE like it.

"Just because you don't take an interest in politics dosen't mean politics won't take an interest in you." (freestyle translation from the Latin.)

Plato, 53 BC


Tom Ford

NO. 983

Translations of Common Euphemisms heard during the 'silly season,' AKA election year.

This was not written by me ( I received it in an email from a friend,) but it does sort of "tell it like it is," so read and enjoy.



Translations of Common Euphemisms

DEMOCRAT : REPUBLICAN :
Arsenal of Weapons: Gun Collection
Delicate Wetlands: Swamp
Undocumented Worker: Illegal Alien
Cruelty-Free Materials: Synthetic Fiber
Assault and Battery: Attitude Adjustment
Heavily Armed: Well-protected
Narrow-minded: Righteous
Taxes or Your Fair Share: Coerced Theft
Commonsense Gun Control Gun: Confiscation Plot
Illegal Hazardous Explosives: Fireworks or Stump Removal
Non-viable Tissue Mass: Unborn Baby
Equal Access to Opportunity: Socialism
Multicultural Community: High Crime Area
Fairness or Social Progress: Marxism
Upper Class or "The Rich ": Self-Employed
Progressive,: Change Big Government Scheme
Homeless or Disadvantaged: Bums or Welfare Leeches
Sniper Rifle: Deer Rifle with scope
Investment For the Future: Higher Taxes
Healthcare Reform: Socialized Medicine
Extremist, Judgmental,: Conservative
Truants: Homeschoolers
Victim or Oppressed: Criminal or Lazy Good-For-Nothing
High Capacity Magazine: Standard Capacity Magazine
Religious Zealot: Attends Church
Fair Trade Coffee: Overpriced Yuppie Coffee
Exploiters or "The Rich ": Employed or Land Owner
The Gun Lobby: NRA Members
Assault Weapon: Semi-Automatic handgun
Fiscal Stimulus: New Taxes and Higher Taxes
Mandated Eco-Friendly Lighting: Chinese Mercury-Laden Light Bulbs
Accepted Fact: Horse feathers

Kind of cute no matter what side you come down on, no?


Tom Ford

NO. 982

Ms. Eastman reverses decision by ? to allow gay couple to run in valentine race in White Cliff Park.

Please click on the header to be taken to the News channel 5 story. That's right folks once again in her short but stellar career our City Administrator has found a way to put us on front street in a dim light!

I have a copy an edict from her that basically says that she and only she can do the talking for Crestwood! Well she has been doing it, and so far I would rather have my 10 year old grandson represent me in the news.

Memo to Ms. Eastman, we live in the year of our Lord 2012 where believe it or not were not at all interested in sexual preference, race, gender, or creed when it comes to a race, consequently from now on please just have your people sign the form and stay off TV for a change!

Tom Ford

NO. 981

Meet the candidates night, Tuesday, January 24, starting at 5:00 PM at City Hall. Also see the attached agenda for the BOA meeting to start at 7.

Ladies and gentlemen please mark your calendar for January 24, 2012 to attend the "Meet the candidates night starting at 5:00 PM in the BOA chambers, Crestwood City Hall. The filing has closed and we have an especially qualified group of candidates who wish to serve the community to choose from. Please join Ms. Jackie Stock and me for a chance to meet them and find out their vision for Crestwood.

After the candadates meeting won't you please stay for the Board of Alderman meeting starting at 7:00 PM. This meeting (please click on the header for the agenda) is an important one for all of us to attend, if for no other reason than to watch the new City Administrator in action and gain some insight into her management style.

We all know that Crestwood is facing some tough economic times and it's not going to get any better soon, so what's her vision for cutting expenses to weather the storm? Hard times require hard decisions. Is Ms. Eastman the person that can and will make those hard decisions? Please stay and find out for yourself.

Please remember the words of the Greek philosopher Plato who opined, "just because you don't take an interest in politics dosen't mean politics won't take an interest in you!"

Tom Ford

NO. 980

Ways and Means committee meeting agenda for January 17, 2012 at 3:30 PM in the BOA chambers, Crestwood City Hall.

City of Crestwood
WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE MEETING
Board of Aldermen Chambers
Crestwood Government Center
One Detjen Drive
Crestwood, MO 63126
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Agenda
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Mayor Jeff Schlink, Alderman Paul Duchild, Alderman Darryl Wallach
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2011
October 11, 2011
October 25, 2011
3. City Administrator’s Report
a. Budget Considerations – Fire Truck Grant, Various Other Issues
b. Report of Current and Future States of Staffing
c. Delinquent Taxes (Property and Utility)
4. General Topics
a. Closing of Retail Establishments/Loss of Tax Revenues (Sears and Barnes &
Noble)
b. Funding of Street Lighting Program
c. State of the City Pay Plan
d. Invoice Review
5. Future Issues
6. Old Business
7. Adjournment
Posted: Friday, January 13, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
ANYONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WISHING TO ATTEND, PLEASE PHONE 729-
4700 SO THAT THE CITY MAY MAKE APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS
FOR YOU.
Note: Due to ongoing City business, all meeting agendas should be considered tentative.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a very important meeting to attend as this is where the recommendations for utilizing our tax dollars are made. If you have never been to one of these please attend this one as we must begin to cut costs, and soon to make up for the loss of revenue that is eminent!

Tom Ford

NO. 979

City Administrator Eastman tells Department heads they aren't needed at BOA meetings.

That's right folks, if an item not pertaining to their department is not on HER (she writes it) agenda she said they do not need to attend! If you were at last nights meeting you saw all the empty seats for yourself, and no they were not "out sick."

Now the last time I paid a tax bill (last November) I saw a portion going to the City of Crestwood, and so did you I bet. That said, as a tax payer I want to have ALL the department heads at every meeting baring illness or a family issue. Why, well if I have a question for Public Works or any other department I want the responsible party to be there to answer it!

I have no interest in "third party" conversations where Ms. Eastman writes down the question, gives it to the Department head and then "gets back to me." I want to be "nose to nose" with the person I ask the question of as it's the right thing to do for ALL parties.

I know it's no doubt an "issue" for the Department heads (or you for some reason) to be there but they knew that was a responsibility when they took the job, so Ms. Eastman,you need to rescind that "executive decision, put things right and return the department heads to the Dias as has been the case since I moved here.


What do you think about this folks, just who is running the ship here, the elected BOA or the new City Administrator?

Tom Ford

NO. 978

Meet the candidates for Crestwood Alderman (all four wards,) January 24, 2012 at City Hall.

Ms. Jackie Stock, (noted Crestwood Historian) and I will host a "meet the candidates meeting" starting at 5:00 PM to 6:45 PM in the Board chambers at City Hall. The regular BOA meeting will start at 7:00 PM so come and make a night of it.

We will be personally inviting all the candidates from all four wards who have filed by the deadline of January 17,2012.

Please join us and ask the questions you deem important to your ward and your candidates.

As the time draws near I will place a reminder on this blog but mark your calendar now please.


Tom Ford

NO. 977

Who are you most likely going to vote for? (click here for a test from USA Today.)

This is a fun little way to see just what side of the political spectrum you come down on. Take the test and tell us who came up as best suited for your taste.

(I did it and it came up Romney, Santorm, and Perry.) Interesting as I really wasn't looking at any of them (or so I thought.)


Tom Ford

NO. 976

Folks it's a repeat of 2009 right before our very eyes! (click here for the story in the Call circa 2009.)

There it was, Fall, 2009 and the incoming City Administrator Mr. James Eckrich proposes that pay perks be handed out to City employees because he recommends a few cuts to make the funds available.

Now we fast forward to fall, 2011 and we have a new City Administrator who came in when Mr. Eckrich asked to be demoted to Public Works director due to? Guess what, there are a few meetings between Mr. Eckrich and Ms. Eastman for the transition which is both needed and normal so she could get the "lay of the land."

This is where it becomes interesting to me though as she then makes almost the exact same request for the bonus / pay raise to the BOA as did Mr. Eckrich just three short years ago. Now as I am not much of a believer in harmonic convergences I wonder where Ms. Eastman could have come up with that idea, Mr. Eckrich perhaps?

At any rate were officially broke so it's probably a very moot point, but still a very interesting one to ponder, no?

Tom Ford

NO. 975