Saturday, May 31, 2008
it's a jungle out there
So I have decided that while I loved one of the many gardens on my property, and every flower and plant in it, that particular garden was too big and too hard to weed all the time. My yard is like a jungle. Everytime I mow the lawn, two days later it looks like nothing has been done. The weeds grow at alarming rates, so I have weedwacked the whole garden, saved the hastas and planted wildflower seeds. that takes care of that. Now, if I could just figure out what to do with my traveling rosebush that is threatening to take over the world, I would be happy. Roses are such strange plants to me. They are so fussy but yet with the right soil they get friggin huge. I have never seen a rosebush this big before. It is 5ft by 5ft and at least 4 feet tall. While my traveling rose is creeping over the retaining wall and getting very close to my car, the huge bush is just getting too big to keep in the garden it's in. I'm going to have to make a garden just for that bush. (it's killing the tiger lillies) My frogs are really happy that the lilly pads in my pond are flourishing. Some of the pads are as big as salad plates. The calla lillies are getting to be at least 3 feet tall before their blooms so I can imagine they will be friggin huge by summers end. I'm having fun bringing the gardens back to life, but man, what work!
Friday, February 29, 2008
selling on ebay, buying a house
So, I've started a new scheme, buy pallets at super cheap cost and sell the stuff on ebay. There's this store that sells pallets of overstock for really cheap from Target, Sears etc. So I picked up a pallet yesterday and started listing today. I've done this before and it's pretty awesome way to get some fun cash or cheap items for the home. You can buy a pallet and depending on whats on it depends on the price, mine was $300. I can make the money back plus $500! I cut down my profit and kept an item. I kept a gliding rocker and ottoman set that retails $200, and with the stuff I've sold, I got the ottoman for free, plus made a profit of $300. It's kind of a pain in the butt, you have to pick up pallet, break it down, put it in your truck, then take it home and sell it piece by piece. But the profit is worth it, and you can get some really good deals, see rocker. On another note, I have finally found THE house. The other deal fell through. This new house is better. It's got a pond and kick ass landscaped gardens. It's on 3 lots. It's an old victorian that used to be the orphanage. It's lovely, and it's gonna be mine April 18th. We have it under contract right now, but pending the home inspection it will be ours soon! YAAAAY!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
uh oh, here she goes again....
Yeah yeah yeah, I know, I get a little psycho about my local politics, but it's getting rediculous here. Spent the week looking up Arkansas state codes and published Q&A from the attourney general and Arkansas govnr. This crap about the mayor not being able to veto an appointment of an alderman is BS, and the not so big three here know it. All this mindnumbing research has proven that the mayor was within her rights to veto this appointment. This childish self serving stalemate is getting out of hand. Nothing is getting done. And the only reason they are fighting so hard about this is because it would create a voting majority in their favor. Totally unethical. So I'm goin in guns ablazin armed with my state codes and what nots. Should be fun.
Friday, February 15, 2008
WTF?????
Local politics rant again.........
In a small town many times you can directly email your councilmen and voice your concerns. I did just that and this is what I got back. WTF????? That's all I can think of here. Gonna have to schlep it up to the courthouse on monday for the next council meeting and get political. dammit. well read on, it's worth a giggle............... (order bottom to top) Was this lady even reading my email????? Speaking of not listening..........
Dear Amanda,
The vacancy creates an issue that is unique to all other council votes.
It only takes a majority of the remaining members, and this is the only time state law is specific that we shall decide the qualification of our membership. In all other situations, public input and perhaps outside influence would apply, but not in this instance.It, by law, is the only time a decision is exclusively the council's decision.I believe we did follow the letter of the law.When I was taking notes on citizen comments I am doing exactly that.I choose not to interrupt citizens, but always try to speak during council comments concerning citizen input.The last meeting, many untruths were thrown out there to publicly humiliate me, and it is really getting old.The hypocrisy of blasting council, then asking us to be nice is ridiculous. The slander suit now being considered by 2 attorneys, is not somewhere I really want to go, but because of the outrageous nature of their character assignations must be stopped.Once again, the citizens who voted in the majority and put us in office, have stepped up to the plate and offered enough to wage an excellent court case.
Thanks, Kathy
Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:55 pm
Subject: Re: City council meeting 2-11-2008
Ms. Harrison,
Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to respond to my email
regarding my concerns about the council and it's current actions. I am familiar
with both sections which you have copied for me, I took it upon myself to
research Arkansas law on the matter after following the events surrounding Pat
Matsukis. The issue I have is not one of questioning the legality of these
events or who will be filling this vacant seat, as I am sure if taken through
the proper legal channels this issue can be resolved. The problem I really have
is with the way this and other situations are handled by you and your fellow
alderman, and the fact that you don't really listen to your citizen's concerns
and input. I watch every council meeting and I see you not even looking at the
person who is speaking during public comments, but instead, shuffling through
papers and making notes. You give the general public the impression by your body
language and actions that you do not care and aren't listening to what the
public is saying to you. I have had several people tell me not to bother
emailing my concerns to this city council as it will be ignored or I will get
a "blow off response." I hope this proves to be untrue, I would like to have
faith in the fact that those who swore to uphold the interests of the city and
it's residents would care enough to respond in an appropriate and relevant
manner to questions and or concerns your constituents may have. So I guess my
question would be, what are you going to do to change that image and how are you
going to do your part in ensuring that further business at hand at council
meetings is taken care of instead of brushed aside by petty arguments and
comments??
Thank you again for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Amanda Banaszek
:
> Dear Amanda,
>
> I appreciate your interest in local politics and that you follow the elected
government actions.
>
> Perhaps you will find the following information of help in understanding
the?majority of the council's decisions.
>
> Arkansas Law/Code
>
> 14-43-411
> (a)(1) Whenever a vacancy shall occur, for any reason, in the office of
alderman in any city of the first class, at any regular meeting after the
occurrence of the vacancy, the city council shall proceed to elect by?to ELECT
by a majority vote of the remaining members elected?to the council and aldermen
to serve for the?unexpired term.
> (2) The person elected by the council shall be a resident of the ward where
the vacancy occurs at the time of the vacancy.
>
> 14-43-501
>
> (B) They shall be judges of the?ELECTION returns and of the qualifications of
their own members.
>
> In the Municipal League handbook: Municipal Law in Arkansas, Questions and
Answers it states:
>
> "Can? a mayor veto an appointment of a council member when a vacancy exists on
the?Council?
>
> No Arkansas Supreme Court cases are directly on?point about this issue, nor
does a strict reading ot the statutes specifically answer this?question.
The?attorney general has opined that in first and second class cities it would
appear that this veto power exists. Both opinions were issued in 1990 (See
Attorney General Opinions Nos. 90-078 and 90-034). However, the attoerney
general later opined that it was unclear whether this power existed under state
law with regard to incorporated towns. See Attorney General Opinion 91-078. That
opinion?clouds the issue for all cities, although the better legal
reasoning?appears in the Opinions 90-034, 90-078 and 91-078. However, the
Attorney General noted in 91-078 a Marion County Circuit Court decision finding
that in a city of the second class, the mayor does not have a veto. While that
decision is not binding for the state, it does create some uncertainty on this
issue until a higher court or the legislature provide further guidance".
>
> As you can see opinions and actual court cases are different in their
findings.
>
> In incorportated?and?cities of the second class the courts have ruled the
mayor does not have a veto.?
>
> As things stand now, the question?on the table?seems to be, does the mayor
of?a city of the first class have extrodinanry powers not given to other
municipalities?
> Since the law is silent on this point, to assume this power exists, runs
against the?court decisions for all other municipalites.
>
> It is indeed a shame that obstruction of an election by council is?not
recognized by our mayor.
> The council replaced a councilperson while I was mayor and I assure you if I
thought I had the right to veto that election I would have.
>
> After questioning every member of the executive committee of municipal league,
and every mayor and council person I had breakfast, lunch or dinner with, not
one mayor, and not one councilperson thought the mayor could?veto their
election.
>
> Going to court is a real possibility, and a large legal fund has already been
established. I find the mayor's decision to spend her personal money
defending?her decision against a large group of citizens who elected her to be
against the best interest of the city.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Kathy Harrison?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> Sent: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:40 pm
> Subject: City council meeting 2-11-2008
>
>
>
> To members of city council and members of the press,
>
> My name is Amanda Banaszek, and I am a newer citizen of Eureka Springs. I
have
> been here since October of last year. During that time I have taken it upon
> myself to keep up to date with the goings on in local politics. This is my
home
> now, and I want to be informed. The impression I have gotten in these last
few
> months is quite grim. I see council members unable to be in anyway effective
> due to constant arguing amongst themselves and using childish tactics to stop
> the democratic process. It is shameful that a city council meeting should be
> called to a halt by it's members because they are unable to come to an
agreement
> on an issue that has been long overdue. It is even more shameful that those
> same city council members forget that they were appointed by the public to
speak
> and act for the public and instead are choosing to follow their own personal
> agendas instead of listening to what the public wants. There is no reason why
> ANY citizen of Eureka Springs should have a problem getting a hold of ANY
> council member. You are here for the people of this city, MAKE YOURSELVES
> AVAILABLE AND RESPOND TO YOUR CONSTITUENT'S CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS! None of
the
> members of this council who have ignored their constituents will have my vote
> ever again. This includes Rae Hahn, Eric Schuenemann and Kathy Harrison. I
> will also urge my fellow friends and neighbors to do the same.
> Thank you
> Amanda Banaszek
> Citizen of Eureka Springs
> 19 First Street
> Registered Voter
In a small town many times you can directly email your councilmen and voice your concerns. I did just that and this is what I got back. WTF????? That's all I can think of here. Gonna have to schlep it up to the courthouse on monday for the next council meeting and get political. dammit. well read on, it's worth a giggle............... (order bottom to top) Was this lady even reading my email????? Speaking of not listening..........
Dear Amanda,
The vacancy creates an issue that is unique to all other council votes.
It only takes a majority of the remaining members, and this is the only time state law is specific that we shall decide the qualification of our membership. In all other situations, public input and perhaps outside influence would apply, but not in this instance.It, by law, is the only time a decision is exclusively the council's decision.I believe we did follow the letter of the law.When I was taking notes on citizen comments I am doing exactly that.I choose not to interrupt citizens, but always try to speak during council comments concerning citizen input.The last meeting, many untruths were thrown out there to publicly humiliate me, and it is really getting old.The hypocrisy of blasting council, then asking us to be nice is ridiculous. The slander suit now being considered by 2 attorneys, is not somewhere I really want to go, but because of the outrageous nature of their character assignations must be stopped.Once again, the citizens who voted in the majority and put us in office, have stepped up to the plate and offered enough to wage an excellent court case.
Thanks, Kathy
Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:55 pm
Subject: Re: City council meeting 2-11-2008
Ms. Harrison,
Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to respond to my email
regarding my concerns about the council and it's current actions. I am familiar
with both sections which you have copied for me, I took it upon myself to
research Arkansas law on the matter after following the events surrounding Pat
Matsukis. The issue I have is not one of questioning the legality of these
events or who will be filling this vacant seat, as I am sure if taken through
the proper legal channels this issue can be resolved. The problem I really have
is with the way this and other situations are handled by you and your fellow
alderman, and the fact that you don't really listen to your citizen's concerns
and input. I watch every council meeting and I see you not even looking at the
person who is speaking during public comments, but instead, shuffling through
papers and making notes. You give the general public the impression by your body
language and actions that you do not care and aren't listening to what the
public is saying to you. I have had several people tell me not to bother
emailing my concerns to this city council as it will be ignored or I will get
a "blow off response." I hope this proves to be untrue, I would like to have
faith in the fact that those who swore to uphold the interests of the city and
it's residents would care enough to respond in an appropriate and relevant
manner to questions and or concerns your constituents may have. So I guess my
question would be, what are you going to do to change that image and how are you
going to do your part in ensuring that further business at hand at council
meetings is taken care of instead of brushed aside by petty arguments and
comments??
Thank you again for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Amanda Banaszek
:
> Dear Amanda,
>
> I appreciate your interest in local politics and that you follow the elected
government actions.
>
> Perhaps you will find the following information of help in understanding
the?majority of the council's decisions.
>
> Arkansas Law/Code
>
> 14-43-411
> (a)(1) Whenever a vacancy shall occur, for any reason, in the office of
alderman in any city of the first class, at any regular meeting after the
occurrence of the vacancy, the city council shall proceed to elect by?to ELECT
by a majority vote of the remaining members elected?to the council and aldermen
to serve for the?unexpired term.
> (2) The person elected by the council shall be a resident of the ward where
the vacancy occurs at the time of the vacancy.
>
> 14-43-501
>
> (B) They shall be judges of the?ELECTION returns and of the qualifications of
their own members.
>
> In the Municipal League handbook: Municipal Law in Arkansas, Questions and
Answers it states:
>
> "Can? a mayor veto an appointment of a council member when a vacancy exists on
the?Council?
>
> No Arkansas Supreme Court cases are directly on?point about this issue, nor
does a strict reading ot the statutes specifically answer this?question.
The?attorney general has opined that in first and second class cities it would
appear that this veto power exists. Both opinions were issued in 1990 (See
Attorney General Opinions Nos. 90-078 and 90-034). However, the attoerney
general later opined that it was unclear whether this power existed under state
law with regard to incorporated towns. See Attorney General Opinion 91-078. That
opinion?clouds the issue for all cities, although the better legal
reasoning?appears in the Opinions 90-034, 90-078 and 91-078. However, the
Attorney General noted in 91-078 a Marion County Circuit Court decision finding
that in a city of the second class, the mayor does not have a veto. While that
decision is not binding for the state, it does create some uncertainty on this
issue until a higher court or the legislature provide further guidance".
>
> As you can see opinions and actual court cases are different in their
findings.
>
> In incorportated?and?cities of the second class the courts have ruled the
mayor does not have a veto.?
>
> As things stand now, the question?on the table?seems to be, does the mayor
of?a city of the first class have extrodinanry powers not given to other
municipalities?
> Since the law is silent on this point, to assume this power exists, runs
against the?court decisions for all other municipalites.
>
> It is indeed a shame that obstruction of an election by council is?not
recognized by our mayor.
> The council replaced a councilperson while I was mayor and I assure you if I
thought I had the right to veto that election I would have.
>
> After questioning every member of the executive committee of municipal league,
and every mayor and council person I had breakfast, lunch or dinner with, not
one mayor, and not one councilperson thought the mayor could?veto their
election.
>
> Going to court is a real possibility, and a large legal fund has already been
established. I find the mayor's decision to spend her personal money
defending?her decision against a large group of citizens who elected her to be
against the best interest of the city.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Kathy Harrison?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> Sent: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:40 pm
> Subject: City council meeting 2-11-2008
>
>
>
> To members of city council and members of the press,
>
> My name is Amanda Banaszek, and I am a newer citizen of Eureka Springs. I
have
> been here since October of last year. During that time I have taken it upon
> myself to keep up to date with the goings on in local politics. This is my
home
> now, and I want to be informed. The impression I have gotten in these last
few
> months is quite grim. I see council members unable to be in anyway effective
> due to constant arguing amongst themselves and using childish tactics to stop
> the democratic process. It is shameful that a city council meeting should be
> called to a halt by it's members because they are unable to come to an
agreement
> on an issue that has been long overdue. It is even more shameful that those
> same city council members forget that they were appointed by the public to
speak
> and act for the public and instead are choosing to follow their own personal
> agendas instead of listening to what the public wants. There is no reason why
> ANY citizen of Eureka Springs should have a problem getting a hold of ANY
> council member. You are here for the people of this city, MAKE YOURSELVES
> AVAILABLE AND RESPOND TO YOUR CONSTITUENT'S CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS! None of
the
> members of this council who have ignored their constituents will have my vote
> ever again. This includes Rae Hahn, Eric Schuenemann and Kathy Harrison. I
> will also urge my fellow friends and neighbors to do the same.
> Thank you
> Amanda Banaszek
> Citizen of Eureka Springs
> 19 First Street
> Registered Voter
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Democratic Women's Dinner
Went to the democratic women's dinner this evening. Only one under 40. I am the cute grandchild for all off Carrol County's democratic women. Met the editor in chief of the Patriots Herald. Good networking opportunity, put I spent the evening in fear of the cheek pinchies. Hard to be serious networking pr lady when little old ladies are telling you how cute you are, I mean, wants to do a feature on a non profit who's pr lady is getting cheek pinchies from the ladies at your table. grrrrrr.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Local Politics
I can't believe I am writing another posting on the same day, but this shit is incredible. My local government has to be full of the most retarded ass backward fools I have ever seen. This is saying something since I come from Chicago (Daley anyone??). 4 of my city councilmen have just walked out of a city council meeting because 3 of them couldn't get their way and 1 was too tired to argue. This is the 2nd time this has happened. This is after 1 member of council took a nominee to fill the vacant seat that no one could agree on until recently when the gang of 3 voted in one patsy named Pat Matsukis (aka 4th vote) and who the mayor vetoed to Green Forest to be sworn in by their mayor for our city council alderman??????? WTF!!!???? Watching these meetings is like watching Days of Our Lives. It's a fucking joke, a soap opera and it's being broadcast all over Arkansas because it is so stupid. What a mess. Can't wait till next year to get these clowns outta office.
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