en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/621958 Comments by RobbyMarvin http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/04/21/linn-votes-to-review-budgets-every-six-months#IDComment69569428 I'm a big fan of having a live, breathing budget. While I can't speak as to how necessary it is at the County level, I think it's fair to reassess spending mid-year. However, if Supervisor Roger's point about bigger departments lobbying for an exemption holds true, we have a problem. It's the bigger departments with the larger ticketed items that you'd tend to want to watch more closely. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:07:02 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/04/21/linn-votes-to-review-budgets-every-six-months#IDComment69569428 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/04/21/take-a-day-off-linn-county-employees#IDComment69567056 Agreed! "Use it or lose" after a certain point seems reasonable to me. I'm curious though... Would you be allowed or forced to work overtime hours to make up for the work you didn't get done because of vacation?! Wouldn't that be time and a half? Also, what about the opportunity cost of delay in city services? Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:58:02 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/04/21/take-a-day-off-linn-county-employees#IDComment69567056 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/04/20/muscatine-seeking-funds-to-fight-gangs#IDComment69102977 3 suggested alternatives to strictly adding additional police force: 1) Additional lighting. Improved lighting in neighborhoods makes it harder for shady characters to loiter. The catch is you have to enforce the "no loitering" policy. 2) Help residents become part of the solution. Does Muscatine have a Crime Watch group or Neighborhood association? 3) Mixed use commercial/residential property open at different hours of the day. Multiple people coming and going at all hours of the day detour possible thugs. I can't guarantee this will fix the problem, but it seems like a better long term solution then temporarily federally funding additional police. When the funding stops, someone else will either have to fund the new police force or someone is going to get fired, neither of which are good scenarios... Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:28:19 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/04/20/muscatine-seeking-funds-to-fight-gangs#IDComment69102977 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/04/19/police-question-iowa-city-high-student-about-gun-at-school#IDComment68864973 Big thanks should go out to the kid who said something! Short of metal detectors, you have to rely on the kids being part of the solution to preventing school violence. Though no ill will may have been involved, it's still scary to think about. Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:10:59 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/04/19/police-question-iowa-city-high-student-about-gun-at-school#IDComment68864973 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/04/13/land-acquisition-for-highway-100-sought#IDComment68021309 I'll admit, I don't understand the expansion either. I'm with those who would rather see improvements to our existing roadways. Paving more roads to solve traffic problems is equivalent to saying throw money at the problem. Corbett and the council have done a good job thus far of making the trains run on time, but this is one where I wouldn't mind seeing "a culture of delay." Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:43:58 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/04/13/land-acquisition-for-highway-100-sought#IDComment68021309 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/education/2010/04/12/linn-mar-school-board-to-consider-reduction-in-property-tax-rate#IDComment67423760 I'd ask the good people on the school board to think very carefully about voting for a decrease. Taxpayers are already used to paying the money right now. Some families I've talked to have moved into the area because they understand that the extra property taxes they pay goes towards the school. it's much easier to justify that taxes remain the same this year than to justify a tax increase in future years. Plus, regardless of how much money the state allocates to schools this year, state budgets across the nation are still in limbo. My two cents: save for the next rainy day. Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:01:14 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/education/2010/04/12/linn-mar-school-board-to-consider-reduction-in-property-tax-rate#IDComment67423760 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/03/03/family-policy-group-opposes-expanded-gambling#IDComment59597086 Agreed GrandpaR. Just because we have the opportunity to legalize internet gambling doesn't mean it would be the responsible thing to do. We do have plenty of opportunities for Iowans to gamble. You won't hear Dubuque or Riverside complaining - they're already winning on the system. Try thinking about it in these terms: Gambling is essentially a tax on the thrill for an opportunity to strike it big. Does the state ever lose money on gambling? No - why else would they do it? Everyone is OK with a tax that doesn't affect them. But someone has to pay it. You're going to have a hard time convincing me that the only people this affects are Grandma and Grandpa who have retirement money to blow and time to waste. Though a person should have the personal choice to gamble if they see fit, I don't like the moral implications on Iowa taking the lead on this. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 18:34:22 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/03/03/family-policy-group-opposes-expanded-gambling#IDComment59597086 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/03/03/law-that-holds-parents-responsible-for-children%e2%80%99s-actions-facing-legal-challenge#IDComment59595444 I agree this is a slippery slope, but to some extent, parents should be held accountable for their children's actions as minors. Your example goes a bit far commonsenseguy, but I'm with you in wanting to rethink this a bit. Jail time for the parents would be over the top. I don't think the Supreme Court will go this far though. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 18:21:31 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/03/03/law-that-holds-parents-responsible-for-children%e2%80%99s-actions-facing-legal-challenge#IDComment59595444 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/03/03/polk-county-rejects-raises-for-elected-officials#IDComment59593975 Linn County also elected to unanimously freeze elected officials salaries this year. Does something else have you upset? Wed, 3 Mar 2010 18:09:58 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/03/03/polk-county-rejects-raises-for-elected-officials#IDComment59593975 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/28/make-guards-optional-resident-urges-council#IDComment59142842 I do - I feel bad for those who have been seriously hurt by their yardees, however, let the guards be an optional purchase by the yardee user. Maybe it's not as obvious as "don't run with scissors" or "don't drive with hot coffee in your lap" but still. Let's look at the alternative costs of $540k - For the estimated cost of the yardee guard we could save 10+ city jobs, start construction on the amphitheatre, lower property taxes for all CR citizens by a few bucks, fix up some of the streets or sewage issues, offer help to flood businesses & flood owners, etc. I'm sure you can think of a few other "better" uses for the money. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:35:10 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/28/make-guards-optional-resident-urges-council#IDComment59142842 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/12/video-is-this-snowpile-a-hazard#IDComment56811522 Yes - considering I almost got hit there myself from someone merging last second. Honestly though, isn't it a big hint to have the other orange cones that gradually merge over to the other lane, and in this case, the snow that hasn't been plowed from the entire lane in general? Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:30:26 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/12/video-is-this-snowpile-a-hazard#IDComment56811522 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/sports/2010/02/03/iowa-state-brings-in-high-percentage-of-recruits#IDComment55284742 As a Hawk fan, it's still good to hear ISU recruitment going well. When an Iowa school is successful, the whole state wins. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 05:10:59 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/sports/2010/02/03/iowa-state-brings-in-high-percentage-of-recruits#IDComment55284742 http://gazetteonline.com/sports/2010/02/03/bike-advocates-shift-gears-on-safety-legislation#IDComment55283688 Don't laws already protect car drivers who get into an accident as a result of a bicyclist? I've never heard of anyone dying in a car due to a bicyclist (though it's probably happened). I 100% support ticketing bikers who break traffic laws - you can't have a double standard. As JohnG states, a new law increases liability and helps raise awareness to be more careful, though there's probably a better solution as I too agree that I'm not sure you can enforce it. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 05:01:04 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/sports/2010/02/03/bike-advocates-shift-gears-on-safety-legislation#IDComment55283688 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/gov-schwarzenegger-takes-a-stab-at-iowa#IDComment55282872 I'm willing to cut the Governor a little slack as Iowa just happened to be the brunt of a bad joke (though not nearly as thoughtless as Chris Matthew's comments from the State of the Union). However, he's totally wrong. Living in Iowa is like going on vacation everyday - vacation from the traffic you face in the Los Angeles area. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 04:50:30 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/gov-schwarzenegger-takes-a-stab-at-iowa#IDComment55282872 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/linn-supervisors-put-kibosh-on-internal-auditor-again#IDComment55282435 Actually, if you get a chance, watch Eyerly's presentation from tonight's council meeting and the discussion that occurs afterward. You might be a little surprised by some of the reporting. It's not exactly the same, but there are instances it makes sense to hire a consultant. However, we should be looking to hire from home (I'd argue including surrounding towns as well) before looking outward. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 04:44:32 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/linn-supervisors-put-kibosh-on-internal-auditor-again#IDComment55282435 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/04/sinclair-demolition-contract-still-being-awarded-tonight#IDComment55281874 I guess what I don't understand and need to follow up on is: why do we need to keep our own debris here if some other city is willing to take it? Could we actually be responsible for any future incidents related to it after it's in another landfill? Are we worried that there could be a crash on the highway involving the debris and the city would be liable? If so, I can see some concern here. I'm not sure to what extent fear tactics were used, but someone (I thought a lawyer) spoke during the public comment section tonight stating that the trash could be hazardous to some citizen's drinking water to put the debris in Site 1... He also brought up a decent point that FEMA could look to the "reasonableness" of other options and choose to only reimburse Cedar Rapids for the amount of money it would have cost it to put the debris elsewhere. Then there's the whole argument of the total money being spent to keep it here; even if it's not just Cedar Rapid's money being used, someone is footing it. What's fiscally and environmentally responsible appears to be shipping it out. What are we missing? Thu, 4 Feb 2010 04:37:48 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/02/04/sinclair-demolition-contract-still-being-awarded-tonight#IDComment55281874 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/02/grants-awarded-to-study-sinclair-smokestack#IDComment55130082 Well done Maura and team! A one day turnaround. Not too shabby. Council asked for quick turnaround. Assuming the study begins in the near future, I'd say you delivered. Wed, 3 Feb 2010 03:47:06 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/02/grants-awarded-to-study-sinclair-smokestack#IDComment55130082 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/01/28/capitol-briefs-1-28-10#IDComment54293901 This is a GREAT way to keep the public informed. Thanks Rod! Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:12:30 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/01/28/capitol-briefs-1-28-10#IDComment54293901 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/01/28/sinclair-contract-put-on-hold#IDComment54293245 We're talking about a 200 foot tall, one of a kind, smoke stack. I'd like to someday look at the smokestack and think "wow, what did this symbolize to Cedar Rapids 100 years ago," rather than look at the new buildings and wonder what the history is of this area? Stories are much more meaningful when you have a physical piece of it. Though I don't want this to come at a safety concern to anyone. I've got to think that they can reasonably clean the smokestack of asbestos and ensure it's structurally sound. I realize I'm stretching here, but is Brucemore just a mansion? Is Czech Village just a bunch of buildings? Is American Gothic just a painting? No! The significance of these places/things is that we not only get to hear the stories behind them, but we get to experience them first hand. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:03:35 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/01/28/sinclair-contract-put-on-hold#IDComment54293245 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/linn-county-crossroads/2010/01/28/analysis-truenorth-library-site#IDComment54290980 Help me out here - I've got more questions than answers... I don't like the idea of tearing down the Gazette building; it seems like a building like that could serve another use. Besides the fact that it sounds ideal for the Gazette to move, is the building too old? Does it need to be brought down soon anyways? I like the Emerald Knights location because it's cheap (could savings pay for the amphitheatre?), is seemingly out of harm's way (Cedar River), and could be Good for that area of the town. However, the True North building is appealing (even at it's high cost)... Having the building next to the park is a HUGE asset. This screams accessibility for the next generation. The deterant here though is how many citizens are going to complain in the library when bands are playing at Uptown Friday nights or other concerts? Can we have our cake and eat it too?! Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:43:16 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/linn-county-crossroads/2010/01/28/analysis-truenorth-library-site#IDComment54290980