OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND PEOPLE OF QUARTZSITE

Mr. Mayor Council and people of Quartzsite I would like to present to you some of the salaries that our State and other States pay their Governors. These are the salaries of the highest elected executives in their respective states. The reason I bring this to your attention today is because, in my opinion and that of others, Quartzsite is paying a salary to our Town Manager that we can neither afford or should be willing to afford.

The salary for the Governor of Colorado is $90,000

The salary for the Governor of Oregon is $93,000

Last but not least, the salary for the Governor of the State of Arizona is $95,000.

That is $1,000 less than the Quartzsite Town Manager is paid.

We can just not afford this high salary in Quartzsite under the current economic constraints we are faced with. That is just one of the reasons there is a recall going on right now. We, the people, feel that under your leadership, we as a community are making the same financial mistakes over and over again. We are not going to allow you to continue on this path.

If you want to sign petition just call 928-581-0039 or 928-916-2888

The request refers to Jennifer’s “adversarial position” as if it was a new condition just created. Jones is the local resident who has been often dragged into the Town’s court with flimsy cause. She has for some time had a number of (adversarial) civil actions pending against the Town.

The Council will consider removing Jones from a volunteer board.

Request for Special Meeting

FROM THE DESK OF PATRICIA WORKMAN

 April 22, 2013

Dear Ms. Bruno:

 Today I received, through the Town in-house mail system, an argumentative essay (of sorts). It was presented to me, in a sealed envelope, at the Town Clerk window by a member of your town staff, “Susie” or “Tina”. It was not sent through the U.S.P.S.  The enclosure (essay) was neither dated nor was it stamped as received into the Town’s public record, by the Town Clerk. The one-page enclosure was not specifically addressed to me or to anyone. To whom it was/is intended I could only presume by reading the page from beginning to end. Those the essay is meant to in?uence must be inferred from the totality of the contents of the one-page essay. I assume you as Town Manager authorized the distribution of this essay through the Town’s in-house mail system, if not please advise me as to how it came to be distributed as in-house Town mail. The essay appears to be signed by Michelle Lukkasson. 

As I am sure you know, Michelle Lukkasson is an appointed Director of the Town Council to the Town of Quartzsite Municipal Property Corporation, therefore, this correspondence needs to be at least stamped and received as part of the Public Record of the Town. Certainly, we would not want it to appear that Ms. Lukkasson has exercised, under color of law in her appointive position, an attempt to lobby the Council through use of Town resources or the in-house Town mail system in her capacity as a Town of Quartzsite Municipal Property Corporation Director. 

The first paragraph of the essay reads as follows: (I am attaching a copy of the original envelope and enclosure with this memo to you)

Ok. Here we go again. I can sense from item 6 on the agenda that we as a town, you as our council representing this town are at it again. It appears that you will not be in executive session to discuss a raise for our chief of police, or even the idea of a press release and public apology for our Chief of Police for everything that he has been drug through, but rather, you will discuss the idea of getting rid of him. Me as a one of your constituents can only ask why. I see what has gone on in this town the same way that l am sure most of your constituents do and I am sure they are scratching their heads too. 

The second paragraph reads:  Our chief of police has been so thoroughly investigated by every agency in this state, along with the most recent money spent by our town to hire a private investigator to look into the matter of a complaint filed by some resident who was arrested. All reports in and all complaints are unfounded…huh….and now you want to go to executive session to discuss his dismissal….. And just what do you think this will accomplish? The reason for the strife in our community is plain and simple….the bullies continue to win….They raise a stink, you guys respond and the most consistent man in your town’s employ, who stands on the line of right continues to be attacked. Removing him does not solve the problem because the bullies are still here. If you can even find a new Chief of Police, the bullying will continue….and nothing changes…

The third paragraph reads: Quit being reactive and start be proactive!!! I would like to see this council take some positive action and spend what money you think you have to buy out our Chief and use it to solve the problems that create these kinds of issues. Instead of buying out Chief Gilbert, perhaps you need to start offering some money for the permanent departure of those who create these problems. 

The fourth paragraph reads:  If you even think that you have the arrogance to do something like this, you underestimate the support this community has for our Chief of Police. He is the cornerstone of this community right now. Who else renders the support that he does. If I were Chief I would hope that you offered him a buy-out and I would take the money and run while there is still money to take. It does not take a rocket scientist to see the direction our financial situation is headed. it won’t be long before the Town of Quartzsiteis not in the news anymore because the Town of Quartzsiteis going to be gone. No money, no town! ! The bullies win and the county gets what it wants and you as a Council facilitated it. Good for Patricia Anderson to resign…she saw the writing on the wall! 

The last, and fifth paragraph, reads:  I am only one voice, but l can assure you that there are many people out there that think and feel the same way. You would be smart to remove this item from the agenda, do your jobs as council people, taking care of the real problems of our community and leave our Chief of Police alone to do the fine job that he continues to do. Don’t you get it.. He is not the problem!

===================

Ultimately, the essay by whoever concocted it is Council correspondence in that it was distributed by the Town to me, and therefore became thereby a public record of the State ofArizona. We must be ever cautious as far as maintaining accurate Town public records, so I submit this to the Town Clerk to be distributed to you. 

Ms. Bruno, I am confident you recognize the above signature as that of Michelle Lukkasson or it is a seriously clever forgery. Would you please identify the source of this essay and how it ended up placed into my hands?

Patricia Workman

cc: Town Clerk, Town Council members

Please reference Attachment/Page 4

=========================

Page 4:  Ok. Here we go again. I can sense from item 6 on the agenda that we as a town, you as our council representing this town are at it again. It appears that you will not be in executive session to discuss a raise for our chief of police, or even the idea of a press release and public apology for our Chief of Police for everything that he has been drug through, but rather, you will discuss the idea of getting rid of him. Me as a one of your constituents can only ask why. I see what has gone on in this town the same way that l am sure most of your constituents do and I am sure they are scratching their heads too.

Our chief of police has been so thoroughly investigated by every agency in this state, along with the most recent money spent by our town to hire a private investigator to look into the matter of a complaint filed by some resident who was arrested. All reports in and all complaints are unfounded…huh….and now you want to go to executive session to discuss his dismissal….. And just what do you think this will accomplish? The reason for the strife in our community is plain and simple….the bullies continue to win….They raise a stink, you guys respond and the most consistent man in your town’s employ, who stands on the line of right continues to be attacked. Removing him does not solve the problem because the bullies are still here. If you can even find a new Chief of Police, the bullying will continue….and nothing changes…

Quit being reactive and start be proactive!!! I would like to see this council take some positive action and spend what money you think you have to buy out our Chief and use it to solve the problems that create these kinds of issues. Instead of buying out Chief Gilbert, perhaps you need to start offering some money for the permanent departure of those who create these problems. If you even think that you have the arrogance to do something like this, you underestimate the support this community has for our Chief of Police. He is the cornerstone of this community right now. Who else renders the support that he does. If I were Chief I would hope that you offered him a buy-out and I would take the money and run while there is still money to take. It does not take a rocket scientist to see the direction our financial situation is headed. it won’t be long before the Town ofQuartzsiteis not in the news anymore because the Town ofQuartzsiteis going to be gone. No money, no town! ! The bullies win and the county gets what it wants and you as a Council facilitated it. Good for Patricia Anderson to resign…she saw the writing on the wall!

I am only one voice, but l can assure you that there are many people out there that think and feel the same way. You would be smart to remove this item from the agenda, do your jobs as council people, taking care of the real problems of our community and leave our Chief of Police alone to do the fine job that he continues to do. Don’t you get it.. He is not the problem!

(Signature)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDCaTtObXyQ&feature=share&list=UUpOI84ohKOfpWoXxuiFTAXA

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJha-f_c89A&feature=share&list=UUpOI84ohKOfpWoXxuiFTAXA

Pickup trucks approved for purchase.

Thank you to video contributor Southwest Desert News / MPI, LLC (copyright)

Thank you to video contributor Southwest Desert News / MPI, LLC (copyright)

Video much appreciated, contributed by Southwest Desert News / MPI, LLC (copyright)

Discovered February 8 2013 at Quartzsite Town Hall sidewalk connecting to Children’s Library. The evidence indicates that the evildoers acted in broad daylight. Dana Stadler and Michael Roth were recently convicted for a chalking crime such as this. No investigation is known to be underway by QPD.

Video much appreciated, contributed by Southwest Desert News / MPI, LLC (copyright)

2. Notify Chief of Police Jeff Gilbert that his contract dated February 8, 2011 will not be extended. Motion passed unanimously.

Town Manager Bruno then prepared the way for Jeff Gilbert by stating that the contract change had nothing to do with performance. Council members Anderson and Jewitt then set up a speaking opportunity for Jeff Gilbert by insisting on public discussion. Even though Bruno had just asserted that the contract change was not related to job performance, Gilbert went to the podium and made political statements including his performance. He suggested that Mayor Foster and Councilwoman Workman should both recuse from the vote. Gilbert accused Mayor Foster of making “numerous false complaints”. Gilbert also lobbied against eliminating his position.

Video much appreciated, contributed by Southwest Desert News / MPI, LLC (copyright)

Quartzsite, Arizona,  January 31 2013

To the greater community of the Town of Quartzsite:

I have, as of today, resigned from the Quartzsite Town Council.I anticipate the Council will be soon processing my resignation so a qualified person can be appointed to my vacated Council seat.  I am resigning because I am unable to perform my duty. The Town has withheld, concealed, and delayed public records from me, including correspondence to which I should have been provided access in a timely manner.

Without appropriate access to information which the Town controls, I cannot represent the interests of my constituents. I will continue to act in the best interests of this community.

Patricia Workman, Former member of the Common Council of the Town of Quartzsite AZ

The title of the form (“Request”) implies that a person could be denied to speak, or to speak about a particular issue. No sample of the form has been issued.

Many residents do not come forward to speak at the podium until after they have witnessed some action by the Council. They rise from their seat to respond. The new rule could thereby preclude critical comments on actions taken by the Council during that meeting.

As a further “suggestion” the rules now say: “It is recommended that persons write their remarks in advance so that they can present them concisely …”. This “rule” seems to suggest the Council wants to make sure that residents do not change their mind about what they have previously (committed in writing on the form) indicated.

Mayor Foster first moved to approve the new Ordinance 13-01. Mike Jewitt seconded. The Quartzsite Council approved 7-0.

Video much appreciated, contributed by Southwest Desert News / MPI, LLC (copyright)