Cascade's Pump Woes

Spent the weekend reading old Cascade City Council notes in The Cascade Interpreter, which I published between August 1989 to the Winter of 1994, because an editor has expressed interest in an article trying to answer the question-- How does a city administrator affect democracy in a town? If he will pay me, I’ll write it. Anyway, I stumbled on this interesting bit in my coverage of the Monday, March 11^th 1992 meeting:

Tom Engleken of Northway Well & Pump appeared at the invitation of City Administrator Larry Farley to estimate for pulling and maintaining the well pump. This has not been done since 1976 and should, ideally, be done every five to seven years.

Engleken said, “It probably needs bearings.”

Councilman Pat “Blackie” Lyons (then a mechanic running his own automotive repair shop) replied, “I can’t believe it wouldn’t!”

Reading that, I fell out laughing thinking of the recent June 26^th meeting.  At it, the City administrator Lisa Kotter reported that the pump in well #5 had perhaps fallen down the shaft or was stuck in it. In any case, the pump repair company was called.

I checked with city hall this morning, Clerk Kathy Goerdt says that the repair company has yet to appear because they are busy elsewhere. We all better pray they get here soon and nothing happens to #6.

So here we are, spending $50,000 for a promo & party planning position, but it seems we are not doing any better than previous councils at taking care of the infrastructure of this 100+ year-old town.

Recent Ordinances & Cascade Democracy

     Item #12 on the June 12th Cascade City Council agenda should give every citizen in this democracy the heebie-jeebies. It’s been a standard for years dating back years that a new ordinance be subjected to three public readings at separate meetings, so that the community can object. People seldom do, but that’s no reason to get rid of the provision.

This is basic to democracy: the people affected, should have time to react and have some say in the matter.  It’s an integral part of the American system. Built in, like kitchen cabinets and appliances.

         But the current Council, especially Mr. Delaney and Ms. Oliphant, don’t like this idea—they seem to think they were elected king and queen. They have the final vote, but should they have the final say on every aspect of every matter? That’s oligarchy. A democracy is supposed to be fair to as many people as possible. And that requires everybody getting a hearing and action on their issues.

In late December last year (’22) the city passed a Dilapidated Building Nuisance Ordinance. I am concerned it was initially formulated and passed because of one person. Now, I am well aware of the implications of one individual’s unmaintained property on their neighbor’s, but again, this is a democracy. There is something quite disreputable about people with clout taking out after people with less money to maintain their property, but it is becoming a regular practice at the Cascade City Council.

There is another ordinance in the works that is as worrisome as these two.  Check this blog to read about it.

Does Cascade Need a $60,000 Marketing Mgr?

 

Cascade Chamber Director Hailey Rausch has appeared at the last two council meetings promoting a new position she would like created, which will be funded partially by city money, though it is difficult to say exactly how much.

It is almost as difficult to say what the person in this new position will be doing to earn the $60,000 they plan to pay him/her. In her comments to council, Rausch has outlined the duties as: 1) organizing volunteers, 2) promotion and 3) marketing.  In short, amorphous and undefined and slippery work. Until she is able to be specific about what activities are going to be organized (More street fairs? Pool parties?) and what is being promoted and marketed, citizens should object to council giving $60,000 that could be used for infrastructure to a salary we will never be able to assess the results of. We know we got potholes. We know we got old water mains. The photo at the left is the alley north of New City Park, in the same condition many in town are.

The city council has gradually given up dealing with all but essential infrastructure—sidewalk and alley repair. It should have a regular, on-going program of replacing water lines, some of which were installed 100 years ago. Some of the street disrepair around town is unbelievable. Though repairing the potholes in the New City Park parking lot is on the agenda. So ask yourself if an up-market gazebo of limestone and iron and a new marketing manager at the chamber is more important basic infrastructure.