gdp's Comments

GazetteOnline.com : Miller, Langston spar over Linn County official's vacation

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:45:16 +0000

I did not "storm" out of any meeting. My time was up. The Deputy Treasurer was waiting to meet the Board. I thanked the Board and left.

GazetteOnline.com : Government keeps growing in Linn County, with an exception or two

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:35:21 +0000

Adam: Did you flip the numbers for LCCS and Sheriff?

GazetteOnline.com : Top Linn County stories of 2009, #1

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:51:43 +0000

Days ago, it was "fired"; today it's "harass". Self serving choice of words. What's next?

GazetteOnline.com : Linn County gets new Internet-based radio system

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:45:24 +0000

"Each agency will have to replace its radio system" per paragraph #2 and later you write, "... radio equipment will have to be upgraded in three to four years...." Which statement is correct?

GazetteOnline.com : Auditor wants to unload excess Linn County land

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:36:12 +0000

Looks like an old list was combined with a new list - here's the current list (see the following replies). And yes, many of the parcels may be worthless ... unless you happen to own the adjacent property and want ownership of the parcel - which is the whole idea of letting the public know these parcels might be for sale or giveaway. At this time, Linn County does not appear to have a good reason to retain them. [Just tried to post the list and it's a no go.] If you want the new list with the acreage and square footage, send an email to auditor@linncounty.org

GazetteOnline.com : Linn Open Houses: Apples to apples, or apples to peaches?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:34:11 +0000

My guess is that a similar number of jobs will be created through I-Jobs funding regardless of whether option 2, 3, 4, or 5 is selected. And indicating that $0-$8,802,297 in I-Jobs money was available for options 3, 4, and 5 - instead of only option 2 - would likely have changed the feedback the public is/was providing in the open houses. Apples to apples - it's not that hard if you are interested in being fair.

GazetteOnline.com : Linn Open Houses: Apples to apples, or apples to peaches?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:33:38 +0000

Adam, Everyone has a Plan B these days. Right? If getting as much I-Jobs money as possible was the #1 priority, then why didn't the BOS submit a Plan B building request? Why did they put all of their eggs in one basket when they knew there was opposition to the AOB? And why does everyone assume that no I-Jobs money is available for options 3, 4, and 5? Has anyone asked? If the original I-Jobs application can be amended to reflect input from the open houses, then are we saying the application cannot be amended if the public wants option 3, 4, or 5? Does the I-Jobs commission want to see public support only for option 2? Do they really care if the choice is option 3, 4, or 5? Or do they just want to see strong public support for a building that's going to be built with I-Jobs money?

GazetteOnline.com : Linn Open Houses: Apples to apples, or apples to peaches?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:53:41 +0000

The Steve & Barry's building had yellow construction tape draped around the pillars. The displays of the existing AOB and Steve & Barry's were photographs. The other three options were artistic drawings. An artistic drawing of Steve & Barry's was readily available on page 37 of the Howard R Green study - see http://tinyurl.com/y974bma

GazetteOnline.com : Linn Open Houses: Apples to apples, or apples to peaches?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:34:04 +0000

Dear 96Bravo, Thanks for the compliment!

GazetteOnline.com : How much overtime is too much overtime?

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 20:14:34 +0000

No one has answered the original question. How much overtime per week is too much? Is it 10 hours, 20, 30, or 40 hours? Nine county employees have worked more than 250 hours of overtime in the first 13 weeks of the fiscal year. On average that’s 19.23 hours per week. The “winner” worked 568 regular hours and 546.5 overtime hours, which is an average of 85.73 hours per week. Which is best practice: Use existing employees and consistently work overtime to fill staffing needs OR have enough employees on-hand and occasionally have them work overtime? Based upon the above data, it appears using existing employees and working consistent overtime is the best financial solution. If that’s the case, should it be adopted county-wide? If not, why not? The forty-hour work week was adopted many decades ago for a variety of reasons. Are we ready to say that the 40 hour work week should apply to everyone except those in public safety? What is our responsibility as an employer?

GazetteOnline.com : County building decision all about location

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 21:02:24 +0000

Dear rjohnson1960: As CedarRapids100 points out, "FEMA committed $2.2 million last fall to repair the Administrative Office Building", which is $2.2M to mitigate it - not $12M as proposed by 4 of 5 Supervisors. As for your statement, "Miller has always supported moving back to the AOB", please provide a reference to support your statement. You are incorrect.