Search our website
Chronicle E-dition








Elyria not alone in budget struggles

Filed by Lisa Roberson November 22nd, 2009 in Top Stories.
Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story

The industrial city of Middletown in southwest Ohio is much like Elyria.

Elyria has about 55,000 people, while Middletown is slightly smaller with 51,000 people.

Area-wise, Middletown is slightly larger - about 25 square miles, compared with Elyria’s 20. And Elyria has the Black River, while Middletown has the Great Miami River.

Both cities also have an income tax rate of 1.75 percent, and both have a projected budget deficit for 2010.

How these seemingly similar cities plan to deal with the deficit is where they differ.

Coming off a defeat in the city’s attempt to increase the income tax rate by 0.5 percentage points, Elyria will face a $4 million deficit next year, which means the city jail will remain closed, police officers will be laid off and other city departments will face six-figure cuts.

Middletown City Manager Judy Gilleland said she can empathize with the struggles of Elyria Mayor Bill Grace. Her city is also facing a deficit, albeit a smaller one of about $1 million.

“I don’t know of any city that is not feeling a fiscal crunch right now,” Gilleland said. “Even cities that have been traditionally unharmed by a weak economy are feeling the pain.”

Gilleland said Middletown is a city that has been in cutback mode for more than 10 years. But with a healthy general fund balance of $7 million, it is weathering the storm by dipping into that reserve fund and using it for what it was intended for.

“We are an older industrial city with many great things happening, yet we know we struggle financially,” she said. “That fund is like your personal savings account, and what we want to guard against is that once you dip into it, it is that much easier to deplete it. I prefer to not spend our fund balance, but we are fortunate enough to have 25 percent, and we will never intentionally dip below 15 percent.”

They are also leaving vacant positions unfilled and cutting back on services, she said.

The positions that will remain vacant are in the Police and Fire departments “but are not people on the streets,” Gilleland said. “Thankfully, we are not there. Public safety is a top priority in Middletown.”

Elyria doesn’t have such an option.

It depleted its general fund balance this year as it has overspent this year’s budget by nearly $1.8 million. As City Auditor Ted Pileski has said recently, Elyria is basically like hundreds of its residents: It is living paycheck to paycheck.

“Basically, we will be living from income tax distribution to income tax distribution,” he said. “It’s not good when you are at a point where you have no money to make payroll without getting additional money in, but that’s where we are at right now.”

Across the state, leaders of most major cities are wringing their hands over next year’s budget.

Mansfield

In Mansfield, elected leaders are cobbling together a plan to address a multimillion-dollar deficit by continuing the 32-hour work weeks started earlier this year for much of the administrative staff and the city also will be cutting back on city services such as plowing snow, opening swimming pools and operating parks.

Not only is Mansfield facing a reported $3 million deficit in the general fund, there also is a $1.2 million deficit projected in the city’s water fund.

Springfield

Springfield also is dipping into its reserve fund to cover a $1 million shortage predicted for next year as the expenses will reportedly be nearly

$38.3 million while projected revenue will be $37.3 million.

The local firefighters union in Springfield - worried about where the city’s budget is heading - agreed to a pay freeze for the next two years. Likewise, snowplowing is reportedly being limited this winter due to the budget.

Cuyahoga Falls

Even a top-rated city, Cuyahoga Falls, is being forced to think about budget cuts as revenue projections are holding steady for another year. New buzz words such as cost-cutting, furlough days and union concessions are in everyone’s vocabulary, but none knows them better than Mayor Don Robart.

“I think I can confidently say that all of Northeast Ohio is either now confronting drastic times or will be soon,” he said. “The reason there is a variance is because some cities do more forecasting. The city that is not bracing for a budget crisis is the one that is just not looking down the road far enough.”

Future forecasting has enabled Cuyahoga Falls to look to 2010 without a projected deficit, Robart said.

“But we will have one in 2011, and that is what we are bracing for now,” he said.

Next year will be a hard one for cities all over Ohio, but those that weather the financial storm better will be the ones that have been planning for it longer.

Robart said layoffs are the last thing he wants to do, so he is starting to work his way away from 2011’s $3 million projected deficit by going after concessions. So far, only nonunion employees have signed off on the plan.

Union employees have not agreed to the cost-cutting plan and have since called in an auditor to look of the city’s books, Robart said.

“This kind of thinking is hard because the unions keep asking why do they have to take these cuts now and we are not even projecting a deficit in 2010,” he said. “But what would happen if we did nothing now then came to them next year in a panic? The first thing they would say is, ‘Why are we just hearing about this now?’ ”

While Robart said he can’t comment on what Grace is doing to balance Elyria’s budget, he did say that the cost-cutting talks mayors are having now are real reactions to the current economy.

“This is not a figment of the mayor’s imagination or as one person said down here, ‘Oh, it’s fashionable to make cuts. All the mayors are doing it,’ ” he said. “It’s not fashionable. No mayor wants to lay off anyone. It’s just a function of the numbers we are seeing.”

Parma

With a general fund budget of $47 million, Parma slashed expenses this year to get the budget down to $42 million, according to Parma City Council President Chuck Germana. Now, for 2010, the finance team is looking to cut another $2 million from its general fund.

“We are looking at another worst year,” Germana said. “We are struggling on what we are actually going to be doing.”

Germana said many of the cost-cutting items put into place this year were seen as one-time sacrifices.

And, if declining revenue wasn’t enough to send Parma’s budget into a tailspin, Germana said a beast of a problem still lingers next year.

The longtime council member said the city is looking at a double-digit increase to its health care premiums.

“When you are furloughing people and asking them to give up 10 percent of their pay, it’s difficult to also tackle the problem of increased health care,” he said. “But raising fees is not going to bring us out of this. It will take the cooperation of management and employees. A lot of cities did not start planning a year ago. They just played this wait-and-see game and now they are laying people off, and that’s not where you want to be in a crisis.”

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.



Print this story
Report an innappropriate comment


In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.

55 Responses to “Elyria not alone in budget struggles”

  1. Middletown sounds like they have better people in office. The town sounds exactly like Elyria, but Middletown is cutting top-level positions instead of “people on the streets”. They have been in cutback mode for over 10 years, have a healthy general fund balance, and only a $1 Million deficit.

    “Next year will be a hard one for cities all over Ohio, but those that weather the financial storm better will be the ones that have been planning for it longer.” This is exactly my issue with Mayor Grace and the guilty City Council members. A true leader will prepare for economic downturns. History is cluttered with recessions, why pretend it won’t happen again?

    (Report comment)

  2. Jesse217 says:

    BIG difference between a 4 mill and a 1 mill deficit. Elyria has a deficit 3 X that of cities that are 3 X larger ? It’s time to get the guy responsible for this out ! Why does this take so long ? The people of Elyria should be in that office and helping them pack today !

    (Report comment)

  3. endthecorruption says:

    Well said Jason, very proud of your post, A few things Lisa forgot to add though. How much is the average household income in Middletown,what is the unemployment rate, is the Mayor Republican ar Democrat, and what is the make up of partys that sit on coucil? How many at Large and how many wards and there party. All these things make a big difference on how a City is finacially run. I think what Lisa was trying to get at, is that every city is in bad shape, that is not so true according to her report here. Other City planned Elyria did not. Oh one last thing Lisa talk to all the other City Mayor, where was our Mayors comment? We got one from Ted, And at council meeting we get it from Ted and Chris, but see, Bill has never had to manage his own finaces.So how can we expect him to manage ours. ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!

    (Report comment)

  4. Loving Life says:

    Wonder what the longevity bonus are in Middletown?

    (Report comment)

  5. Elyria’s median incomes are about $2000 higher than Middletown. The city formed a new charter very recently, and elected it’s first directly-elected Mayor. The city government is composed of a Mayor and six Council members (2 At-large, 4 Ward). Middletown’s website is far more advanced than Elyria’s.

    If I were looking for a location to start a business, the first place I would visit is city websites. The Middletown website has an excellent section devoted to attracting new business to the city with direct links and specific information on economic development. A website is an inexpensive way to present your city to the world. This is an area where Elyria has lacked. Even the VILLAGE of Wellington has a better website with more content available to citizens and businesses.

    (Report comment)

  6. Loving Life says:

    In all fairness Grace tried hard to start an IT department. It was a very expensive proposal and people were VERY upset about it.
    I don’t believe it got off the ground.

    (Report comment)

  7. Heck, I’ll build and maintain the website for free. I’m a rather good web developer.

    (Report comment)

  8. You don’t need an IT deparment to have a very good website. Sounds like Elyria was employing the GM System that Ross Perot talked about:

    “My question is: Why haven’t we unleashed their potential? The answer is: the General Motors system. It’s like a blanket of fog that keeps these people from doing what they know needs to be done. I come from an environment where, if you see a snake, you kill it. At GM, if you see a snake, the first thing you do is go hire a consultant on snakes. Then you get a committee on snakes, and then you discuss it for a couple of years. The most likely course of action is—nothing. You figure, the snake hasn’t bitten anybody yet, so you just let him crawl around on the factory floor. We need to build an environment where the first guy who sees the snake kills it.”

    (Report comment)

  9. LL,

    To answer your question, longevity pay in Middletown is 1% of base salary for years 10-14, 2% for 15-20, and 3% thereafter. All longevity pay is issued in a lump sum in December (like a Christmas bonus).

    (Report comment)

  10. Loving Life says:

    They should give it to the kids at the vocational school! Or see what the kids at Elyria High can do with it.

    Kids can do amazing things. It’d keep them busy and they have the time.

    We’d probably have one of the best sites around then.

    (Report comment)

  11. Loving Life says:

    Thank you Jason. Most appreciated.

    (Report comment)

  12. wetrustedyou says:

    We do have have a IT person, it is a Rothgery, hihered last spring at a cost of $50,000. Does anyone see much difference in the city website? Not I and Jason your post are very informative Thank you!!!

    (Report comment)

  13. wetrustedyou says:

    Jason,

    Do you plan on moving to Elyria soon because if you are make it qiuck that way you can legally run for office, you would be a great asset to our residents. Did you not help Madison when he ran for the 5th ward here in Elyria?

    (Report comment)

  14. I could save the city $50,000 right there. Of course, IT goes further than just building a website. However, I highly doubt the the IT necessities of the city warrant a dedicated IT professional.

    (Report comment)

  15. Inyouwetrusted,

    Thanks for your kind words. I am actually running of State Senate right now. I did support Marcus and am confident that he will serve his constituents and city very well.

    (Report comment)

  16. Loving Life says:

    Grace wanted an IT department. I believe he wanted a department of three. Rothgery already worked for the city. Are you saying he was let go and rehired as a dedicated IT person?

    (Report comment)

  17. wetrustedyou says:

    Loving life

    According to what I was told by my councilman, was that Rothgery orignally work in the police depatment, and that they orignally started formulating the IT department in the Auditors office with Bills sister working out of that office, getting the program off the ground. Then they tranfered her to the mayors office and hired Rothgery to run the IT Department when council approved it.

    (Report comment)

  18. Loving Life says:

    Thank you for the information. I thought the IT department never got off the ground because the city didn’t have the money.

    I

    (Report comment)

  19. Chris H says:

    When the whole IT department issue came up last year, I questioned the whole plan. The wanted to hire additional people as well as convert the 3 people already doing IT work to salary while giving them huge raises. I think the city is over looking a huge potential that they have in their very own backyard. With LCCC in town I’m sure there are dozens of students there that would work for the city as interns, giving them valuable work experience, and an inexpensive work force to do the IT work of the city. The bulk of the work they do is maintaining printers and city computers, that’s not something that requires several dedicated people earning over $50,000 a year. But that kind of thinking would require a higher brain function than most of the people in the city have.

    (Report comment)

  20. Chris H,

    Interns are a very good idea.

    (Report comment)

  21. Fred Smith says:

    Jason Schmidt says: “To answer your question, longevity pay in Middletown is 1% of base salary for years 10-14, 2% for 15-20, and 3% thereafter. All longevity pay is issued in a lump sum in December (like a Christmas bonus).”

    Elyria longevity pay is a lot different. The max you can make in Middletown is 3% of base. In Elyria the max is 20% of base. There are city employees that are getting $19,800 a year in longevity. That same employee in Middletown would get less then $3,000 a year in longevity. No wonder we are having so many issues.

    Elyria needs to reduce or remove longevity pay now. I still can not understand why anyone would pay people a perk for not getting fired or laid off. It’s the most ridiculous perk every created by the unions.

    Look at how the math would work out for the top 20 longevity pay outs in Elyria vrs how much this same group would get paid in Middletown.

    DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE NAME BASE Elyria LONGEVITY Middletown LONGEVITY
    FIRE DEPT BRLAS/RONALD A $83,972.09 $19,800.62 $2,519.16
    FIRE DEPT CONJALKO/JACK J $79,924.54 $19,369.36 $2,397.74
    FIRE DEPT CAWLEY/JAMES P $79,850.22 $19,179.63 $2,395.51
    FIRE DEPT MITCHELL/TIMOTHY J $82,259.36 $18,727.90 $2,467.78
    FIRE DEPT SADDLER/GLENN A $81,754.57 $18,424.27 $2,452.64
    FIRE DEPT PRONESTI/JOSEPH D $85,582.17 $17,471.32 $2,567.47
    FIRE DEPT MANDOKE/CARL S $69,779.25 $16,285.52 $2,093.38
    MAYOR’S OFFICE GRACE/WILLIAM M $102,625.00 $7,636.66 $3,078.75
    FIRE DEPT BENTON/RICHARD A $79,077.12 $16,558.99 $2,372.31
    POLICE DEPT EICHENLAUB/ANDREW D $66,033.37 $12,097.61 $1,981.00
    FIRE DEPT DEMPSEY/ROBERT J $72,946.74 $16,882.72 $2,188.40
    W/W POLL ARMELIE/DOMINIC $87,627.36 $17,525.50 $2,628.82
    FIRE DEPT KRUGMAN/ROBERT T $68,228.03 $16,534.13 $2,046.84
    POLICE DEPT JAYKEL/DANIEL P $75,485.02 $15,392.10 $2,264.55
    FIRE DEPT IGNECZI/DAVID J $68,295.29 $16,224.97 $2,048.86
    FIRE DEPT KEITH/CARL W $67,172.39 $15,183.18 $2,015.17
    FINANCE ADMIN. PILESKI/THADDEUS $84,550.00 $16,909.90 $2,536.50
    POLICE DEPT MEDDERS/MICHAEL $82,371.27 $16,474.15 $2,471.14
    W/W POLL GIBSON/DENNIS A $65,133.02 $16,002.15 $1,953.99
    FIRE DEPT GALL/WILLIAM A $61,242.27 $11,676.51 $1,837.27

    I did the math for the entire city. Elyria paid out $3,077,627.82 last year in longevity pay. If Elyria paid longevity pay like Middletown they would have paid less then $500,000.

    (Report comment)

  22. Bill Jackson says:

    One thing I have noticed whenever there is discussion of Elyria’s different departments, the same three names always come to the surface, Rothgery, Grace, & Eichenlaub? We contiunue on this downward spiral because Grace blew our rainy day fund, yet I’ll bet no one connected to those three families have lost their jobs.

    (Report comment)

  23. Sitting Bull says:

    Elyria pays $3,077,627.82 every year and gets absolutly nothing extra for it .

    (Report comment)

  24. Fred Smith says:

    Sitting Bull – People will argue that Longevity keeps good quality people around. You know like the ones that are running this city into the ground.

    We have a group of administrators that obviously have no idea what they are doing. We have a Fire Department that sues the city every two months for something foolish. Now the Police department is suing the city.

    We are paying most these people over $90,000 a year. It needs to stop.

    (Report comment)

  25. chrisdsito says:

    Bill Jackson

    You might want to read the layoff list again. Then decide if you wish to correct your last statement.

    Thanks

    (Report comment)

  26. endthecorruption says:

    Sito, Nicholas Eichenlaub may be on that layoff list from the police department, but who is one of the police officers that is suing the city so they can keep their job while booting out the offocers with tenure? Sito you do have to admit that they got that little bit of information abut 35years of service and out the door you go officers from the top, and I bet it was Chris or Eric that funnel it down to the young rookies. By the way Sito how come you are not B_______ about how much it is going to cost the city to fight this law suit it is not free, lawyers have to be paid and it will cost more than $50,000. Have a Good night everybody!!!!!!!

    (Report comment)

  27. Kim Ach says:

    The city of Elyria has no rainy day fund. When Mr Grace came in to office, he “inherited” almost $5 million. He has spent that and more. Can we really afford two more years with him as mayor?

    Do something positive this Christmas season, vote “NO” on December 22nd.

    Let’s help get our city back on track!

    (Report comment)

  28. Gosh - like most of Elyrians - they have run through their rainy day fund also. Guess we all make bad decisions - and we would all be facing a recall if it was up to some….

    5 million - drop in the bucket for a city this size and with the economy in the state its in. But thats all Graces fault too. Wonder if all the other mayors of all the other cities that are in the same financial boat as Elyria should face a recall too? All I know is that Elyria is now a laughing stock and is spending money that she does not have.

    Just 2 yrs ago when the economy was fine - the MAJORITY of people elected the guy in. Now that the economy tanked - its all his fault. How short our memories are.

    (Report comment)

  29. Kim Ach,

    A person named “Ken Behner” who goes by the username “DirtDigger” has been caught “red handed” telling what he knew to be a lie in the “comments section” of the “Pro-recall site snatched up by Grace Supporters…” article.

    Ken Behner has also maintained that he has access to a “large file” and he stated that “we have a big surprise for a certain person”.

    Are you aware of who the “we” is?
    Are you part of the “we”
    If “yes”, do you intend to continue your assocaition with Ken Behner?

    Kim Ach says:
    November 29, 2009 at 5:54 pm
    “The city of Elyria has no rainy day fund. When Mr Grace came in to office, he “inherited” almost $5 million. He has spent that and more. Can we really afford two more years with him as mayor?

    Do something positive this Christmas season, vote “NO” on December 22nd.

    Let’s help get our city back on track!”

    (Report comment)

  30. Well, the day you quit fleeing from the words in your own postings, you might find time to critique the thoughts/musings of others.

    But at the moment, you need to go venture off no further than the nearest mirror in your home to find sufficient fodder for critique/reflection.

    Country Bumpkin says:
    November 29, 2009 at 10:29 pm
    “Gosh - like most of Elyrians - they have run through their rainy day fund also. Guess we all make bad decisions - and we would all be facing a recall if it was up to some….

    5 million - drop in the bucket for a city this size and with the economy in the state its in. But thats all Graces fault too. Wonder if all the other mayors of all the other cities that are in the same financial boat as Elyria should face a recall too? All I know is that Elyria is now a laughing stock and is spending money that she does not have.

    Just 2 yrs ago when the economy was fine - the MAJORITY of people elected the guy in. Now that the economy tanked - its all his fault. How short our memories are. “

    (Report comment)

  31. PP - I truly am sorry, but I am not nearly smart enough to figure out what you are saying in your posts or rants. I gave up after you claimed a number of things that at the time didn’t make sense but I tried giving you the benefit of the doubt. When you dissapeared, you lost your credibility with me. I have tried to read some of your posts but as stated in the first sentence, I have NO clue what your saying.

    Now why I am even bothering replying to this - I wish someone would shake me till I see the folly of my ways….

    I think you are taking up way too much bandwith and really ruining this site for others to enjoy. I can not believe I am saying this, but its the truth. I think eveyone is entitled to their opinions, post debate but you my friend, have taken the diatrabe to a much higher level than I have ever seen. It has gone beyond amusing, beyond comical to the extreme of absurd.

    Well - talking about taking up too much bandwith - i just did it myself.

    (Report comment)

  32. The reason that you are “bothering replying to this” is because of the initial stimulus in one of your first comments directed towards me…

    You thought you were being clever and I embarrassed you in front of the readership…

    ….and I don’t know if this is the FIRST TIME or FIFTH TIME or some number in between… but A WHOLE BUNCH OF YOU state something to the effect of “not reading my posts anymore”… but you keep reading and keep replying…

    That is the nature of the sociopath… you’ve been stung…that is why you keep “bothering”

    Here… I’ll illuminate the point of what occurred to you with the CLOSEST Hollywood Film analog.

    You’re like Ned Beatty in that “sex scene” from the movie, “Deliverance”. You thought you were being clever like Ned Beatty thught he was being clever/tough with that Mountain Man by calling the Mountain Man, “Captain”

    Well, the Mountain Man then humiliated Ned Beatty in front of Jon Voigt just like I humiliated you in front of the CT readership…

    …and then the Mountain Man forced Ned Beatty on all fours, thrust himself inside Ned’s nether region and compelled him to “Skwealll lika’ pigggg”.

    Well after Burt Reynolds fired an arrow into the Mountain Man and thus killing him and Ronny Cox chased the other guy away…

    … Ned Beatty still could not come to terms about how his own mouthiness had gotten him a back-door visit from the Mountain Man…

    Now even though the Mountain Man was now dead… Ned Beatty wanted to attack a lifeless corpse but was restrained by his colleagues.

    You too are like Ned Beatty after having taken the Internet equivalent of the same treatment by me… it happened some time ago, but you’re still seething in anger.

    I mean I could re-post one of your initial contacts to me where you thought you were being clever and my subsequent reply which hurled you into the maelstrom of seething anger and vindictiveness as you realized for maybe the umpteenth time in your life that this “self loathing” attendant to the “sociopathy” that permeates every fiber of your being has gotten you into a hole you cn’t dig yourself out of.

    But instead of doing that to have you relive the memory, for the benefit of the readership, I’ll just close off now with that Mountain Man salute by whispering in your ear…

    “Country Bumpkin….skweallll lika’ pigggg”

    If you want a non-Hollywood textbook explanation, I can provide that also once this latest spate of “seething anger” subsides in you

    Bwahaaaa! LOL! ROTFLMAO!!!

    Country Bumpkin says:
    November 29, 2009 at 10:54 pm
    Now why I am even bothering replying to this - I wish someone would shake me till I see the folly of my ways….

    Country Bumpkin says:
    November 29, 2009 at 10:54 pm
    “PP - I truly am sorry, but I am not nearly smart enough to figure out what you are saying in your posts or rants. I gave up after you claimed a number of things that at the time didn’t make sense but I tried giving you the benefit of the doubt. When you dissapeared, you lost your credibility with me. I have tried to read some of your posts but as stated in the first sentence, I have NO clue what your saying.

    Now why I am even bothering replying to this - I wish someone would shake me till I see the folly of my ways….

    I think you are taking up way too much bandwith and really ruining this site for others to enjoy. I can not believe I am saying this, but its the truth. I think eveyone is entitled to their opinions, post debate but you my friend, have taken the diatrabe to a much higher level than I have ever seen. It has gone beyond amusing, beyond comical to the extreme of absurd.

    Well - talking about taking up too much bandwith - i just did it myself.”

    (Report comment)

  33. With that post, Peter, you’ve slid into further isolation.

    (Report comment)

  34. Jason - I actually think we have a true nut case on our hands…. and unfortunately I am NOT joking but being utterly serious.

    (Report comment)

  35. You mean I’m not “in tight” with those who’ve demonstrated their “sociopathy” on this forum, Jason?

    Oh, yeah… I remember you, Jason… You’re the spineless little fellow who talked about how the majority of Americans think Glen Beck is a psychopath only to backpedal away when asked for substtantiation…

    …and you stated that no one was reading my posts anymore…. only to backpedal away when it was shown to you all the people who read & replied

    …you’re the one who stated you were the subject of an attack by me …only to backpedal away when asked to produce the postings where you had been attacked

    The analaogy between that Mountain man and Country Bumpkin also applies to that Mountain man and you.

    Pssst… Jason!
    Come here for a second while I whisper something into your ear out of earshot of everyone else… You’re postings have shown that your THE MOST weak-kneed litlle individual on this forum… anybody distancing themselves from the conduct that you and more than a handful of others has engaged in is not “isolating themselves”… rather they’re quite wisely, “distinguishing themselves” — and it’s a “distinction” with a sugnificant “difference”

    Jason Schmidt says:
    November 30, 2009 at 6:18 am
    “With that post, Peter, you’ve slid into further isolation.”

    (Report comment)

  36. WSell, the analogy that I made to the ” sex scene” from the Hollywood movie, “Deliverance” was valid.

    It was made in response to you wondering why you “bother[ed]”

    I could repost one of your initial messages to me, my subsequent reply which incorporated your own words… you fled from the words in your own postings. I’ve pointed itout each time you muse/reflect/critique.

    You don’t need to muse/reflect/critique on anyone/anything but yourself.

    …and now you have to attempt to apply the term “nut job” to me because you can’t more appropriately apply the term, “cowardice” to describe the nature of your conduct.

    Country Bumpkin says:
    November 30, 2009 at 7:25 am
    “Jason - I actually think we have a true nut case on our hands…. and unfortunately I am NOT joking but being utterly serious. “

    (Report comment)

  37. Eatown says:

    just 6 figure cuts in elyria? cant they drop 7 figures by gettin rid of that longivity thing? im sure theres plenty of poeple on city payroll that get that extra pay. it all adds up.

    (Report comment)

  38. Big Mackey says:

    (@_@) look into my eyes PP and now do as I say!!!

    good i have you and are now manipulating you!!!!!

    now start typing inane ponderous postings!! yes yes yes good good now repeat!!!

    (Report comment)

  39. Eatown says:

    why the compairing of the other cities? i thought the idea was that this middletown was close to elyria in size and poeple?
    i like this line about elryia “It depleted its general fund balance this year as it has overspent this year’s budget by nearly $1.8 million. As City Auditor Ted Pileski has said recently”
    id like to hi light the word “overspent” as in not spending with in your budget. how does a mayor with his time in office; not know how to plan ahead better? why did it take him so long to see the obvius financal problem? i know i dont live in elyria anymore, i still have family there and the guy they have in office is more scary than worth while.

    (Report comment)

  40. Eatown says:

    someone posted on another thred about a letter to editor on the jurnal that someone wondered why the mayor in elyria is complaning about budget shorts but let the citys big union add a year to the contract with out changin or giving up anything.
    its a good thing to ask, id say. id want answers to it too if i were still living there.

    (Report comment)

  41. Eatown says:

    wow peter potamus makes littel sents. he confuses me. am i the only one? but is he tryin to say that poeple on here dont have social consence? thats what sociopathy is. i may not know how to spell well but i know how to look meanings up.

    (Report comment)

  42. Eatown says:

    what is this lie thing that dirtdiger posted in recall section? of this site? or the recall site? or the site that used to be the recall site. just watned to ask becuase peters posts wander and i figured itd be beter to ask and make sure.

    (Report comment)

  43. If Mayor Grace were to be recalled by the majority of voters in the great city of, Elyria, it would indicate that there are a lot of porch lights in Elyria that are of low wattage. (If you know what I mean). The ‘Stand up for Elyria’ group should be given thanks and respect for exercising their rights as guaranteed under the 1st Amendment to our Constitution which, like all of the Amendments as well as the Constitution itself, must always and continually be tested and used in order to be kept up to dste and relevent. to today.

    (Report comment)

  44. Peter,

    I guess I was wrong about people reading your posts. I understand that they read them for humor. Your posts are incoherent, ineffective, and laughable.

    I appreciate your assumptions of me being weak-kneed and spineless. However, this is contrary to the truth.

    Some good news though! I was appointed by the Commissioners to serve on the Board of the Economic and Industrial Development Corporation. I look forward to utilizing my skills for the benefit of the county!

    (Report comment)

  45. Sitting Bull says:

    If everyone hasent caught on yet , and obviously many havent , Peter P is only trying to keep the posts off topic and posted so full of crap that no one is reading or posting to them , so there for the truth about grace and company is not making a impact on these forums. All of you responding to him just helps his cause. So if any of you support the recall it would be to the best interest to just ignore the cartoon character

    (Report comment)

  46. Loving Life says:

    Jason what exactly does Board of the Economic and Industrial Development Corporation do? How did you go about getting appointed to it? I thought you were running for the Senate!

    Sitting Bull I couldn’t agree more.

    (Report comment)

  47. LL,

    I sumbitted an application to the commissioners.

    The Economic and Industrial Development Corporation is concerned with the economic development of the county and the giving of benefits to encourage new businesses to locate in Lorain County.

    I am still running for Senate, but I would like to do this as well.

    (Report comment)

  48. endthecorruption says:

    Jason, I hope it is not one of those volunteer jobs like Sito had and you will defend the commissioners at every critizism they receive from us posters.

    I thought that is what Twinning gets paid for, along with all those other people that we pay for. alomg with that building that the county rents and on 3rd. The old columbia gas building.

    (Report comment)

  49. Endthecorruption,

    I promise you that I will not defend the Commissioners. If you have ever read some of my Letters to the Editor, you will know that I am a vocal critic of the administration. The Corporation is an easy job, but that’s the problem. They only meet once a year. My concerns and desires for economic and industrial development in the county will warrant at least a monthly meeting.

    I

    (Report comment)

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.