en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/635905 Comments by GrumpyOldGuy http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/09/12/boat-auction-helps-lake-delhi#IDComment98457268 If the dam owners can't find anything to do, as the vice-president of the ski team says, then they aren't looking very hard. There are plenty of property owners, both upstream and down, who suffered property damage because of the dam who most likely would appreciate some help cleaning up the mess that was left on their property because of the dam. Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:49:01 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/09/12/boat-auction-helps-lake-delhi#IDComment98457268 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/09/10/lake-delhi-dam-officials-unveil-9-9-million-plan-to-rebuild-by-next-summer#IDComment98161055 It seems kind of funny he article doesn't mention how the dam owners plan on coming up with the money to compensate property owners both up and down stream for the property damage they suffered because of the dam the association owns and is responsible for. Imo, that should be the dam owners first priority, instead of just thinking of themselves and re-creating their private playground. Sat, 11 Sep 2010 06:05:20 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/09/10/lake-delhi-dam-officials-unveil-9-9-million-plan-to-rebuild-by-next-summer#IDComment98161055 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/19/ui-officials-clarify-after-game-tailgating-rule#IDComment94454887 I think law enforcement owes the public an explanation as to why these "tailgaters" are allowed to climb behind the wheel and drive home afrer spending a good portion of the day, before, during and after the game consuming alcohol. Is Iowa football so important to state coffers that these people are allowed to be an exception to the law and put the rest of the motoring public at risk of being maimed or killed? In my opinion, law enforcement should be posted at every exit of the U of I parking lots and ramps and sticking a breathalizer into the mouth of each and every driver, one by one, as they leave U of I property and enter the public roadways. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:12:32 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/19/ui-officials-clarify-after-game-tailgating-rule#IDComment94454887 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/16/iowa-city-still-says-no-to-tailgating-site#IDComment93587870 Hooray for the council holding their ground. Now, if law enforcement would start doing IT'S job and start sticking breathalizers in the mouths of drivers leaving the parking lots, maybe Iowa football Saturdays would go back to being about football instead of an excuse to have a big public drunk. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:41:06 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/16/iowa-city-still-says-no-to-tailgating-site#IDComment93587870 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/09/council-to-hold-public-hearing-on-second-avenue-closure#IDComment91856209 How about elevating the portion of the building that would set on 2nd ave one story and leave 2nd ave. open? Better yet, why not elevate the entire building one story, leave 2nd ave. open and use the ground floor level on both sides of 2nd ave. for parking instead of building an $8 million parking ramp? Either of these solutions should make everybody happy. One other solution would be to run 2nd ave. UNDER the building. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:00:37 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/08/09/council-to-hold-public-hearing-on-second-avenue-closure#IDComment91856209 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/05/many-downstream-residents-hope-delhi-dam-isnt-rebuilt#IDComment91097684 It seems to me the association should be liable for all the property damage done downstream as a result of the dam failure. Also, I can't help but think that dam holding the water back also makes flood damage upstream more severe. If that river had been free flowing, surely the flooding would have been less severe in downtown Manchester, along with all the private homes in Manchester that were damaged. If the association wants to enjoy the benefits of having their own private dam then it seems to me they should be willing to accept all the responsibilitys and liabilitys that go with it. Fri, 6 Aug 2010 00:54:35 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/05/many-downstream-residents-hope-delhi-dam-isnt-rebuilt#IDComment91097684 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/08/04/plan-to-reduce-dust-gets-negative-reviews#IDComment90924630 How many illegal aliens do you suppose it would take to harvest Iowa's crops by hand? Thu, 5 Aug 2010 04:10:31 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/08/04/plan-to-reduce-dust-gets-negative-reviews#IDComment90924630 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/04/lake-delhi-dam-will-be-rebuilt-association-president-vows#IDComment90797859 "Attempt" to get re-elected is all Culver will do. Branstad will blow him away. Wed, 4 Aug 2010 15:00:03 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/04/lake-delhi-dam-will-be-rebuilt-association-president-vows#IDComment90797859 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/03/culver-wants-plan-for-lake-delhi-recovery-possible-dam-rebuilding#IDComment90666629 Imo. Culver is making a big mistake. That dam is privately owned and no way should the taxpayers be on the hook for repairing or replacing it. The people that own it knew or should have known there was always a possibility of failure when they bought the dam and if they didn't insure it against failure and any resulting property damage caused by a failure, then they have no one to blame but themselves. Either have the people who own it come up with the funds to repair/replace it or let the DNR remove what's left and bill that cost to the owners also. Tue, 3 Aug 2010 21:16:40 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/08/03/culver-wants-plan-for-lake-delhi-recovery-possible-dam-rebuilding#IDComment90666629 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/07/22/hefty-reminder-of-sinclair-plant-now-at-the-history-center#IDComment88193254 I have a suggestion for the Preservation Commission on where to direct the FEMA money. Since it isn't going to be used on the smokestack, as intended, how about returning it to the U.S. Treasury? It would help pay for the $30 plus billion we just had to borrow to extend unemployment benefits. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:00:26 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/07/22/hefty-reminder-of-sinclair-plant-now-at-the-history-center#IDComment88193254 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/16/state-of-the-art-landfill-expansion-struts-its-science-as-well-as-trash#IDComment86910683 I'm not against the landfill but can't imagine anyone wanting to use a trail or fishing pond at a landfill site unless they have no sense of smell. Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:13:20 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/16/state-of-the-art-landfill-expansion-struts-its-science-as-well-as-trash#IDComment86910683 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/07/13/city-to-direct-fema-funds-to-fix-electrical-service-in-ellis-boat-harbor#IDComment86554992 If the public is going to fund making electrical service available for the fortunate few who own boathouses at Ellis Harbor, will these boathouses then be available for public use or will the owners be the only ones to benefit? Something just doesn't sit quite right with the idea of the public footing the cost to make electricity available to privately owned boathouses. If I remember right, after the 2008 flood, the DNR said or ruled these boathouses never should have been allowed to be on the river in the first place and a special variance had to be granted for them to remain. Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:20:29 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/07/13/city-to-direct-fema-funds-to-fix-electrical-service-in-ellis-boat-harbor#IDComment86554992 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/07/12/sinclair-smokestack-to-be-razed-in-phases#IDComment86363020 $97,000 for a crane? More wasted money. All it would take is a small charge of dynamite at the base to topple the whole thing over and to heck with the "plinth" Wait and see how much money they manage to waste preserving and or restoring this "plinth". Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:17:44 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/07/12/sinclair-smokestack-to-be-razed-in-phases#IDComment86363020 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/10/linn-county-hopes-to-sell-downtown-witwer-building-by-years-end-2#IDComment86108935 How is it possible for a building worth $450,000 to sustain $1.2 million in damage? Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:47:03 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/10/linn-county-hopes-to-sell-downtown-witwer-building-by-years-end-2#IDComment86108935 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/24/city-commission-hopes-smokestack-base-can-be-saved#IDComment82026779 Preserving the "plinth" it's called, will accomplish 3 things. 1. It will make taking the rest of it down more complicated so the "plinth" isn't damaged. 2. It will make the job take longer. and 3. It will make the job more expensive. This historic preservation commission seems determined, come hell or high water, to waste tax dollars on this old chimney, one way or another. Do any of these people know our national debt has now exceeded $13 TRILLION and is still climbing? Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:15:29 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/24/city-commission-hopes-smokestack-base-can-be-saved#IDComment82026779 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/flood-recovery/2010/06/23/paramount-renovation-committee-in-hunt-for-more-funds#IDComment81840323 I know everyone would like to see the downtown restored as soon as possible but isn't it making anyone atleast a little nervous that all these millions are being spent on restoration when no flood control is yet in place and likely won't be for years to come?...Meanwhile, the river is running bank full and the forcast is for more heavy rain later this week. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:06:16 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/flood-recovery/2010/06/23/paramount-renovation-committee-in-hunt-for-more-funds#IDComment81840323 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/21/linn-county-to-require-union-non-union-worker-match#IDComment81353051 Where did the idea originate that tradesmen who join a union suddenly become skilled tradesmen and tradesmen who remain non-union do not? That's one of the silliest things I've ever heard of and in my opinion, is nothing but union propaganda. Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:54:10 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/21/linn-county-to-require-union-non-union-worker-match#IDComment81353051 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/21/linn-county-to-require-union-non-union-worker-match#IDComment81270610 I thought, according to state law, that government officials are required to accept the lowest bid by a qualifying contractor. If it isn't a law, it should be. I don't see how elected officials can justify subjecting taxpayers to paying a higher price for union labor when it isn't necessary. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:45:50 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/21/linn-county-to-require-union-non-union-worker-match#IDComment81270610 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/06/16/linn-county-mulls-higher-fees-for-open-burners-pollution-sources#IDComment80531151 Why are people being charged for installing air pollution equipment? Shouldn't they be rewarded instead? Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:30:12 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/06/16/linn-county-mulls-higher-fees-for-open-burners-pollution-sources#IDComment80531151 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/06/11/part-of-historic-west-branch-building-collapses#IDComment79682062 Why couldn't it have been the Sinclair smokestack before any public money is wasted on it? Sometimes, there is just no justice in this world. Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:40:29 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/06/11/part-of-historic-west-branch-building-collapses#IDComment79682062