Harbor-Works Cleared Again by State Auditor's Office
The city and port did not break any laws when the Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority was created two years ago. The Auditor's Office made this determination last May, and they confirmed their findings again yesterday.
The audit was a result of concerns raised by Port Angeles residents Norma Turner and Shirley Nixon over the legality of Harbor-Works' formation.
The audit was a result of concerns raised by Port Angeles residents Norma Turner and Shirley Nixon over the legality of Harbor-Works' formation.
Labels: Harbor-Works, Norma Turner, Shirley Nixon
posted by Tom Harper at 7:40 PM
26 Comments:
You know, being as they make the laws, that's why they call them law makers.
It never occurred to me that they might have broken any laws. While shifty capitalist politicians get caught at times all in all they are pretty good at building the bridges needed to get the things they want legally.
Note to Norma Turner: STFU.
Norma....you lose twice, no more wasting the state auditors time and money...........get a real job
Thank you Norma and Shirley for your incredible efforts on behalf of this community. No matter what the "official" results are, you have both done a great deal to help move this town towards a more open and honest approach to governing. I cannot even begin to imagine how many hours you've put into your (unpaid) civic work, but please know, it is appreciated by many, many people.
I, too, am appreciative of the efforts of folks, like Norma and Shirley, who actually do their research and who act for the public good. Even if I don't agree with their position, I'm still appreciative of their skill at working through the process. This is a check and balance issue for local government that benefits us all.
Thank you to Norma Turner and Shirley for their tireless efforts to help us try to have more transparency in our local gov't.
Once a bigger Gov't entity makes a decision, they usually stick by it. That doesn't make the decision right.
Come on folks. Did you read the other article about the City paying $15,000 for a service they didn't use?
Rat Tail: Big & small organizations pay money all the time for services that they don't use. Just in case they might need it later. The biggest one of these services that is (hopefully) never used is Insurance. In your own life, do you carry more than the state required minimum liabilty auto policy? If so, did you waste the money you paid for the premium when you didn't have an accident? Of course not. It may well be that when the City signed the contract with CPI (seven years ago)they thought it might be possible that they would put several computer stations into the Museum, once it was remodeled,and $172 per month was good insurance (to avoid MUCH more expense to do it as a stand alone bid)is not that much to pay. Then, a couple of years later, as the economy faltered somebody might have decided not to spend the extra money to put in the computers. The $172/mo is already in the contract and can't be taken out until the bid for a new contract is negotiated (now).
So, who provides this internet service, and why was it so high?
I think if anyone can look into it is a shady deal involving some people with the initals KR and MM and a secretly voted on exclusive contract for a specialty fiber network service for another of their "friends".
This town is rotten to the core. Inside deals, binding contracts, no bid, and screw the citizens.
One important - and very telling - aspect of this is that CPI got an exclusive SEVEN YEAR contract with the City. Now, many companies in the tech world wouldn't even want a seven year contract, because technology changes so rapidly. What works today, might be obsolete tomorrow, and a year from now your company could be moving into a new business/focus entirely.
So the fact that CPI got a SEVEN YEAR contract speaks volumes. And CPI is located in the same building as..? That's right: Karen Rogers "Consulting." AND Exceltech. Gosh! What a coincidence, eh?
It will take years to repair the trust and undo the damage that Karen Rogers is responsible for.
It is a small world. The auditor's office employs the husband of Rayonier's previous media person. I think her name rhymes with "Bendy." One has to wonder if a fair evaluation of the issue was conducted.
I am pretty sure that HarborWorks would not exist today if it was proposed to the public in a way that allowed input, questions and suggestions.
Thank you to Norma and Shirley for doing your best.
I see that jobs in the marine field here is down. There must be jobs for craftsmen in New Orleans, Haiti, and Chile. I'm just assuming that though.
BBC, the world doesn't allow you to hop around and work, much, anymore. The issues in Chile is they have a large working populace, ready to fill the void. In Haiti...it's so red-tape ensnarled, and, the local populace, already dirt poor, will be tasked for that. New Orleans has had every loose nut, scam artist, and loser flock there to find work.
There are "officially" 14.9 million people out-of-work, or 9.7% (based on those on unemployment). The actual number is significantly higher (as much as 50% of the work force in some areas).
Wandering around "looking" for work is being done by the bus loads. No work to be had...
If there is no work to be had, plant a garden and raise some chickens and rabbits instead of sitting around whining there is no work.
As long as you can eat you can live, everything else is just extra shit.
I'll bet that half of you spend more on pot or other drugs than I do on food so I don't want to hear any whining from you. :-)
BBC don't do drugs, and just trying to tell you that the old codger "go to disaster areas to find work" isn't what is used to me.
As for your recommendations: don't you think we're all doing that ANDMORE? Hard to pay the power bill in chickens,though.
"As long as you can eat you can live, everything else is just extra shit."
BBC, you could print this on t-shirts and sell them.
Anonymous said...
Rat Tail: Big & small organizations pay money all the time for services that they don't use. Just in case they might need it later. The biggest one of these services that is (hopefully) never used is Insurance.
Hazard Insurance and services are apples and oranges.
Hazard insurance is purchased with the hope that it is not needed.
Internet service at a museum that is paid for and not used is a waste.
The circuit could have been built and paid for and the service could have been put on hold until the circuit was lit.
rat tail,
but, so businesses pay for services that cost too much from an exclusive contract, and from fiber that they could get from the county cheaper (as our neighbours to the east do)?
The one provider is why several high tech companies have decidedly AVOIDED the area. That's economic development at the expense of free trade.
Todays PDN article just shows you how corrupt this whole thing is, and how poorly the PDN covers anything. Did our friendly little cub reporter actually check out WHAT others are paying? NO...sounds like he's just parroting back what he was told, like a good little PDN employee.
Without competition -- without others in the same business and pushing them to BE competitive, to keep current with technology --to drive down retail prices you have the same b.s. that plagues this area: backroom deals and substandard service.
And, with the paper in lockstep (on the take?) with these backroom good ol'boys we're all in the dark.
Maggots, cockroaches, and backroom deals all hate the light.
CPI was founded as a fiber-optic telecommunications service provider in 2001 by Bob Jensen, owner/partner of Angeles Communications and Bill Roberds, owner/operator of Excel Utility Construction. In 2002 Craig Johnson, a telecommunications professional, joined the partnership.
(this was from saveourpud.com, during the election, it still lingers on the web)
Excel Utility Construction Inc. was incorporated in 1992 by Bill and Sue Roberds as a sub-chapter S corporation.
# Bill Roberds has been engaged in communications infrastructure construction on the Olympic Peninsula since 1977 and has held a general contract with US West/Qwest since 1992.
# Excel currently employs 12 people with 90% of it’s business in construction and maintenance for Qwest.
# Excel currently holds a three-year renewable general contract with Qwest Communications, negotiated in June of 2001 for the Olympic Peninsula area.
# Excel also provides infrastructure construction services for Northland Cable, Dry Creek Water and others.
(from the company website)
Isn't Sue Roberds a City of Port Angeles Planning Manager? How is this not conflict-of-interest?
I am just confused as to why the PDN doesn't lay out the connections, relationship, and concepts behind these things. Not saying they are sinister, only that it should reported, clearly.
"Isn't Sue Roberds a City of Port Angeles Planning Manager? How is this not conflict-of-interest?
I am just confused as to why the PDN doesn't lay out the connections, relationship, and concepts behind these things. Not saying they are sinister, only that it should reported, clearly."
And wasn't Karen Rogers Mayor when she was the secretery of the Business Incubator, and owner of KarenRogersConsulting, that had Incubator clients as HER clients? Didn't she write a letter of support for one of her clients (the Remediators") on city letterhead, as mayor? But, the PDN does not feel these things are worthy of investigation, or that the public should be aware.
This town is so corrupted and comprimised, I have no hope it will actually represent the residents. And the State Auditors Office doesn't seem to be very independant, either.
A bunch of people looking out for what they can get out of a situation.
And don't forget: Karen Rogers "manages" the building where both CPI and Exceltech are located. And her business is making "connections" between private businesses and governmental entities. So gee, could that all provide some rich fodder for conflicts of interest? You bet. Is the State looking into that? You bet.
But Karen's still in there swingin'. Today's PDN announced that she's been elected Public Relations officer for the Port Angeles Shotgun Club. She'll need some shotguns to get out of the mess she's in - or to get back into elected office of any sort.
"Vote fer me, ya varmints - or I'm a-gonna blast yew!"
The PDN is part of the problem with P.A. - pure going along to get along, not to mention slipshod reporting and ignorance of basic grammar and spelling. Investigative journalism? The PDN? Puh-leeeeze!
Now, now you scallawags! Saying those mean things about Karen Rogers! Tsk, tsk! Don't you know she's using her evil powers to pierce the veil anonymity you all hide behind and sue the be-jeezes out of you?
can't sue someone who speaks the TRUTH. No libel no slander in truth.
It's her job to disprove what was said. And, as she was a public figure, she cannot protest that her name has been used.
If the full truth were known...the newspaper publisher would lose all his buddies. The paper has been misleading and pushing a very obtuse agenda for years. Perhaps that is why the NYT let our esteemed publisher go? Nothing fair and balanced about the local rag. No wonder it's a dead end, dead-tree media... Yhe dinosaur is dead, just the message hasn't traveled to it's small brain, yet.
The Watcher sez: "But Karen's still in there swingin'. Today's PDN announced that she's been elected Public Relations officer for the Port Angeles Shotgun Club. She'll need some shotguns to get out of the mess she's in - or to get back into elected office of any sort.
"Vote fer me, ya varmints - or I'm a-gonna blast yew!".."
Ah, yes. I can see it all now. Karen gives up on the Democrats she has historically aligned herself with, and now is " born again" NRA gun rights tea-bagger!
Those types are her real constituents. Or, so they will be.
Mark my words.
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