08/19/2015
a day early
Wednesday, August 6, 2014 newspaper Galena City Council meeting story excerpt:
Mr. Kelvin Ward came before the council to read a statement that he had prepared pertaining to the proposed landfill. (It is a letter to the editor on page 2A).
He thanked the council for allowing him to speak. He recognized that the council had passed a moratorium on the landfill issue until January 2015.
“I have been trying to get some answers from the landfill committee before you, the city council, passed the moratorium,” said Ward. “ In other words a self-imposed gag order.”
“We all realize that you the city council have voted to rescind all ordinances concerning the landfill and the landfill contract,” said Ward.
“Just for clarification, Kelvin, I have a couple of things, the mayor can’t vote. The self-imposed moratorium is a cooling-off period,” Mayor Dale Oglesby.
“You can sign off and pass ordinances stating that you are voiding the contract, but the other party doesn’t necessarily have to agree to it.” said Ward.
“I wouldn’t have made any kind of agreements with moratoriums or statements that the city was released from liability had I not understood that the city was released from liability. The city does not own that property, the city never has owned that property. The contract between the city and Jordan Disposal, is not worth the paper it is written on,” said Oglesby.
Mr. Ward's Initial Statement:
GOOD EVENING MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER CITY LEADERS,
Thank you for recognizing me, a Galena resident, and allowing me the opportunity to speak in this, the proper forum. (A regular Galena City Council meeting.) My name is Kelvin Ward, as most of you know. I am here on old business. Topic: Landfill Contracts and Issues. I have stated “I believe we will need landfills, sewer and water treatment plants for future economic growth. After all city and county residents, tax payers, and business owners work the issues out.” I realize you passed some sort of motion or resolution on Wednesday, July 30th, 2014, which dealt with a moratorium. (The official version was not available to me as of this afternoon, Monday, August 4, 2014, about 2:30 p.m.) The mayor addressed the council and Riverton area residents on the landfill issue. In the last paragraph, I believe the mayor stated that the Galena City Council was hearing his proposal for the first time, as are the rest of you. Also, he asked for the council to concur on the four or five points he proposed.
I must admit, I probably, like a lot of you folks, left the meeting feeling great. Only later did I realize I might have only heard what I really wanted to hear. What I did hear was little or no discussion on the motion or resolution, only swift passage. Were you once again overzealous? Any of you council persons could have made a motion to table or postpone the action, at least until tonight’s meeting (only five days,) so that you could have had a little time to re-read and thoroughly understand what was presented and allow a little time for the tax paying residents, property, and business owners of Galena to speak with you, (our elected reps.) and to determine if any parties were left out of the process: Cherokee County Commissioners, legally-elected Reps from each incorporated city and Reps from each township and unincorporated community, the Quapaw Tribe and the CK County Economic Development Committee, etc. If the City of Galena wants to handle this issue in a professional manner and be at the forefront and lead we must be all inclusive, so as to not offend some.
I have been trying to get some answers from the City Landfill Committee, before you, the City Council, passed a moratorium in effect until January, 2015 (in other words, a self-imposed “GAG ORDER” on yourselves, passed on Wednesday, July 30, 2014.) Is this what the mayor meant in his first paragraph, about we have the opportunity to literally change the way political discourse is handled in CK County, (and the City of Galena, no debate?)
I was informed by the city clerk this afternoon that the KOMA classes have been scheduled. Maybe WE ALL need to take some classes on the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Mr. Mayor, you have spoken in public that Mr. Jordan of Jordan Disposal Co. LLC has been gracious enough to release the City of Galena from the landfill contract and the $10 Million dollar penalty if Galena is unable to fulfill its part of said contract. We all realize that the Galena City Council has voted to rescind all the ordinances concerning the landfill and the landfill contract (onesided agreement.) Does the City of Galena or the Galena City Attorney have in their possession, at this point in time, a legal document signed by the owners, partners, or all legal reps. of Jordan Disposal Co. LLC (as a good faith gesture by them,) whereby the City of Galena is released from the $10 million dollar penalty if unable to fulfill their obligations under the landfill contract? If so, it was unavailable to me at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon at the city clerks office (Aug. 4, 2014.)
In closing, one council member asked me “If I was just being an arm chair quarterback.”I hope not, you tell me. Is it just half-time? or after your self-imposed moratorium ends in January, 2015, will we discover that the game really was over in July, 2014? I hope not. I guess only time will tell. As a concerned resident, I remain available, when at such time, any of you can and/or, would like to discuss these or other city matters.
Thank you,
KELVIN D. WARD
