Rocky River City Government

Pork Barrel Spending

Rocky River ‘Green Light’ For Taxpayers’ Money!

November 10, 2007

For Immediate Release

ROCKY RIVER - On Tuesday November 6^th, 2007 Rocky River voters elected Pam Bobst Mayor of Rocky River, Ohio.   Okay Rocky River taxpayer/voters what did you get?   Even more important I know you voters gave “your” new elected mayor of Rocky River … the green light!

• “Mayor Pamela Bobst reported at City Council’s Sept. 4 meeting that the city has been working on what she called a Sewer Maintenance and Rehabilitation Plan …”  “The plan, … calls for $55 million of work on the city’s sewers over a potential 20-25 year time frame.”  (West Life Newspaper by Ben Saylor ROCKY RIVER - 10/10/2007 “Sewer rehab program announced”)

• “ROCKY RIVER – With her re-election to office, incumbent Mayor Pamela Bobst is looking towards finalizing the 2008 budget which includes the implementation of the city’s sewer maintenance and rehabilitation plan.” (West Shore Sun – 11/08/2007 “Bobst seeks sewer money.”)

Rocky River taxpayers don’t worry yet about paying the $55 million dollars out of your pocket so you can’t spend it on yourself or your family. 

Perhaps the United States Government can come up with the cash to pay for the $55 million dollar Rocky River Sewer Maintenance and Rehabilitation Plan that “your” new elected leader has come up with?  Maybe not?

• “The Treasury Department, which issues a daily accounting of the debt, said Wednesday that the debt subject to limit was $9 trillion on Tuesday.”  (By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON – Wednesday, November 07, 2007 “National Debt At Record $9 Trillion”)

If you cannot get blood out of a turnip you surely cannot get $55 million dollars for a Rocky River Sewer Plan from the United States Government that is at a record $9 trillion dollars in debt.

Perhaps there will be an ‘economic upswing’ in the United States and Rocky River will benefit from it and then the residents and businesses can afford and pay more taxes to pay for the $55 million dollar Rocky River Sewer Maintenance and Rehabilitation Plan that “your” new elected leader has come up with?  Perhaps not!

• “Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, told Congress today that the economy is going to get worse before it gets better, a message that got a chilly reception from both Wall Street and politicians.” (New York Times by Edmund L. Andrews – Washington 11/08/2007 “Fed Chairman Says Economy Likely to Slow”)

With a looming budget busting $55 million plus due for the payment of Pam Bobst’s Plan for Sewers … coupled with the Rocky River City School District’s upcoming Operating Levy and perhaps a School Building Levy also with hands out.

• I see it’s time the taxpayers’ pockets will be picked by the newly elected Rocky River city hall and Rocky River School District in 2008. 

Yet voters voted for them and gave them the green light in 2007.

Respectfully, Fred Sokol – Resident – Rocky River, Ohio  

‘PORK BARREL SPENDING’ RUNS RAMPANT AT CITY HALL ! 

(1.)  Council Ok’s ‘No Bid Contracts’.  Who gets Rocky River’s No Bid Contracts? 

(2.)  City ‘picks up garbage’ for some (businesses /private school’s) in Rocky River ‘AT NO ADDED CHARGE’ as taxpayers’ pay bill.  Why do some businesses/private schools get their garbage picked up by the city and not everyone? 

(3.)  City built a new financially wasteful indoor swimming pool while Rocky River High School already has an indoor swimming pool.  Why another pool?  Who got the contracts to build it? 

(4.)  City Hall plans 20 year plus effort to replace all sewers in Rocky River!  ‘HOW MUCH’ will this cost, ‘WHO’ will pay for it, ‘HOW’ will this be done, ‘HOW LONG’ will it take?  I support River Sewer replacement.  Yet Overspending, Favoritism, Financial Waste could possibly be synonymous with a ‘Rocky River led’ 'pork barrel' sewer project with Rocky River Taxpayers' pulled into a money pit.  I propose The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District taking over Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant and lead the repair of Rocky River’s Sewers.  They have the experience. 

(5.)  City plans costly, senseless ‘makeover’ of Lake Road Corridor that will cost taxpayers $millions of dollars.  Who will directly ‘financially benefit’ from this construction? 

(6.)  An approximate ‘.66 billion dollars’ or ($661,496,781.99) has showed in the City of Rocky River’s ‘proposed spending budgets’ from 1990 through 2007.   Ms. Mayor of Rocky River, on your ‘elected watch’ as a Rocky River Council Member and now Mayor, “WHO GOT WHAT OF SAID MONEY AND WHY”