Monday, February 28, 2011

PTRA Board Resigns

Tonight at the regular meeting of the PTRA the residents/members were informed that ALL of the PTRA Board Officers except one the Sargent At Arms had resigned.

This did come as a shock to all residents/members as there was a lot of ongoing controversy over several issues pertaining to the PTRA By Laws not being followed and allegations of Officer Misconduct not only in the past but up to the present time but nobody really expected this radical of a decision by the PTRA Board itself.

At this point now there is a official election committee that has been formed under the supervision of April Steffensmeier the CHA Resident Services Coordinator and that committee consists of: Dora Parkes,Joe Stock and Ron Brammer.

There will be a nomination meeting at the next normal PTRA Board meeting on the last Monday in March on the 28th at 6:30 pm to see who is going to be running for the PTRA Officers positions that are open that include President,Vice President,Treasurer and Secretary.

The new officers are to be installed after the election at the normal PTRA Meeting in April and will serve out their terms then must run once again come the normal Aug./Sept. election time/cycle.

Now though those who wish to run for a PTRA Officer position can submit their resumes if they have one or they can fill out an information sheet and give it to a Election Committee Member or to April Steffensmeier CHA Resident Services Coordinator to be included in the election/nomination process.

In my 6.5 years this is one of a first where the entire PTRA Board of Officers except one resigned all at once but it is understandable with all of the ongoing controversy that has been going on over that 6.5 years I have lived in Paquin Tower.

This also gives the residents/members of Paquin Tower a chance at a entire new/fresh start and hopefully an entire new and improved frame of mind and turn the PTRA back over to the residents/members where it belongs along with ALL voting on ALL issues including ALL money expenditures because the PTRA belongs to the residents/members and not to any one select group of individuals that reside with in the confines of Paquin Tower.

What we see here is Democracy in action when issues are brought up that have been plaguing a small government party that has not been following it's own By Laws for far too long. It is the same with our own United States Government and not following our United States Constitution for far too long. People are going to stand up,make noise,be heard and demand change.

So it has happened with in the microcosm of Paquin Tower.

May we all have a fresh start and a new beginning to make the PTRA all that it can be for ALL of the residents/members once again.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Government Promises to Cut Social Security in Urgent Compromise

Here comes the hurt my fellow Disabled Citizens.
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It's official, national austerity measures are here! As Wisconsin protesters fill the streets because of lost rights and benefits to workers, the nation is gearing up to face similar losses with social security being cut. Comedian George Carlin warned us that this day would come:

"Now they're coming for your social security money . . . they want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street." -- George Carlin.

The debate has moved from whether or not to cut social security, to how many cuts, how much, and when they'll start. Threatened with the prospect of a government shutdown, Democrats are pushing for compromise by agreeing to cut social security to avert a manufactured "shutdown" disaster.

For years the government has had no problem raiding the surplus in the social security fund to pay for wars, bank bailouts, General Motors, and a slew of other unfunded giveaways. Yet, now, as they claim bankruptcy, they seek to take even more from the program.

As Marti Oakley recently pointed out:


The federal government DOES NOT fund Social Security! Social Security funds the federal government.

Since the Johnson Administration of the '60s, the S.S. fund has been plundered and the surplus from the fund used to finance wars and the daily operations of the federal government. This came as a result of Johnson declaring that these surplus funds would be added to the general fund. Once there, the funds could be used for anything and everything.

Now, seniors and future generations that had nothing to do with creating the national debt and massive shortfalls in social security are going to pay the price. Seniors have already had cost of living increases to their SS checks frozen for the last two years. This has been especially painful given the double-digit inflation to necessary goods like food and energy, and services like healthcare.

It seems the government is going to take and take until the people push back and say that enough is enough. Again, the people are not at fault and yet they are being treated like tax slaves to bailout the slave masters. It doesn't matter whether you believe in cutting entitlement programs or not. The overall equation for the average citizen has tipped so far in the favor of the elites who orchestrated this mess, that it's time to draw the line in the sand.

The perceived debt problems will not be solved by cutting social security while the wars continue and the banks get a blank check from the taxpayer. If we aren't ready to fight for their deserved benefits now, then we may deserve the absolute looting that is occurring.


Source and More:
http://www.activistpost.com/2011/02/government-promises-to-cut-social.html

Friday, February 25, 2011

Columbia Housing Authority - Resident Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting Agenda for Thursday, March 3, 2011

The full agenda packet for the upcoming meeting of the Resident Advisory Board of the Columbia Housing Authority on Thursday, March 3, 2011 has been posted to our web site at:

http://www.columbiaha.com/about/resident_advisory_board.asp

The full agenda packet is also available for review by the public at the following locations:

· CHA Administration Building, 201 Switzler Street.

· CHA Family Self-Sufficiency Center inside the J.W. “Blind” Boone Community Center, 301 North Providence Road.

· Oak Towers Manager’s Office, 700 North Garth Avenue.

· Paquin Tower Manager’s Office, 1201 Paquin Street.

· Bear Creek Manager’s Office 1109 Elleta Boulevard.


Please contact me if you have any questions or need additional information at this time.

Thank you,

Phil Steinhaus, CEO
Columbia Housing Authority
573-443-2556 x1100

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Dinner train arrives in Centralia; company hopes to start runs this spring

The Columbia Star Dinner Train is on the tracks in Boone County.

Really.

After six months of delays and debate, the vintage train cars pulled into Centralia on Wednesday afternoon, said Mark Vaughn, president of Central States Rail that owns and operates the train.

When service begins, the train will travel between Columbia and Centralia and offer appetizers, drinks and a five-course meal by candlelight. Four restored dinner cars from the 1930s and 1940s will seat up to 224 passengers. The ride will last about three hours and cost $69 per person.

Restoration of the dinner cars was mostly completed before the train reached Missouri. Now, Central States and Columbia are working on parking, bathrooms and ramps for the train on Brown Station Road in north Columbia.

Vaughn said his company was shooting to begin operating the dinner train between April 1 and mid-May. “We’ll start taking reservation 30 days in advance of the start up,” he said.

As the day of the first run nears, Central States will complete inspections, hire staff, and, finally, start selling tickets.

The Columbia Visitors and Convention Bureau approved $45,000 in June 2010 from the Attraction Development Fund to help get the train from Iowa to Columbia. At the time, service was planned to start in August.

Those plans slowed, and in the fall questions were raised about the lack of access for people with disabilities. Central States said the $175,000 cost of making a vintage rail car accessible to people with disabilities wouldn't work financially. In September, the Columbia City Council approved a compromise plan that approved the tourism funding for the dinner train and required Central States to make one of the cars accessible within five years.

“We, as disability advocates, understand that not every business can be made accessible,” Gretchen Maune, chairwoman of the Mid-Missouri Advocacy Coalition, said. “Our main concern is that public tax dollars were used. People with disabilities are taxpayers, too.”

“We want to be an all-inclusive attraction,” Vaughn said. “In the meantime, we’ve worked up some plans on one of our existing cars.”

This new plan could bring a fully accessible car to the train within 12 to 18 months. Vaughn was quick to point out these plans are preliminary and the engineering is yet to be done.

Since receiving council approval, the cars have slowly been making their way from their previous location in Waterloo, Iowa, to Centralia.

“I think it's very close,” Amy Schneider, interim director of the tourism bureau, said on Monday. “I feel safe to say it will be up and running in the spring.”


Source:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/02/23/dinner-train-arrives-centralia/

Upsets me though that the Tax Paying Disabled Citizens of Columbia who must use their wheel chairs to help them get around will not be able to be on the maiden train ride. These Tax Paying Citizens even include members of the City Of City of Columbia Disability Commission! Disgusting and it is all over money.

Paquin Park one step closer to No Alcohol Zone

CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Columbia City Council held its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the council chambers of the City Hall Addition. The meeting was open to the public. Council members present were First Ward Councilman Paul Sturtz, Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill, Third Ward Councilman Gary Kespohl, Fourth Ward Councilman Daryl Dudley, Fifth Ward Councilman Laura Nauser, Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe and Mayor Bob McDavid.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/feb/23/city-council-action/?fortherecord

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NEW BUSINESS INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING

S. Amending Chapter 17 of the city code relating to intoxicating beverages and gambling and adding a provision limiting consumption of alcohol in three downtown city parks
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At Monday night's City Council Meeting Paquin Park and two other down town pocket parks came one step closer with their First Reading at the City Council Meeting. This means that the next step is for the Public Hearings on the matter and then the vote to Amend the Ordinance in the City Charter.

I have fought hard for over two years literally kicking those in charge in person,in the media and via emails constantly to get this done so all residents of Paquin Tower can once again enjoy Paquin Park as it should be with out the worry of drunken citizens harassing them constantly or the worry of their grand children or family seeing drunkenness and the inappropriate behaviors that go a long with it.

This is what can be done but it takes people willing to stand up and get things done. As you can see by this accomplishment I am one to get things done. This is not my first successful project as you know and there will be others in the future but there is no "I" in the word "Team" and it takes a team working together as all of those I was in contact with made this project come into development and it's soon coming approval. That Team included Richard Craghead,Parks and Rec,The City of Columbia Police Department,The City of Columbia Disability Commission,The Lee School,The Columbia Housing Authority and many many others.

I did not do this for myself nor my own glory as some will be talking crap behind my back but I did this because a concerned group of Paquin Tower residents asked me to help them and I told them I will do the best I can to get some thing done.

That is how you get things done! You step up and you make things happen! You do not wait for others and if need be you drag those who are in charge of making things happen along by their ear if need be and you continually push from all angles for that change that everybody can believe in.

That is how you make things happen. This will pass because everybody is for this too pass.

City might pay for taxis to council meetings

Take a taxi to Columbia City Council meetings in the near future, and the city might be picking up the tab.

City Council members approved a motion 5-2 Monday night to draft a bill concerning transportation to and from City Council meetings. Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser and Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill voted against drafting the bill.

The legislation, if approved, would allow Columbia residents to take taxis to and from City Council meetings for a three-month trial period. The council suggested paying for the trial with council reserve funds not exceeding $250 per meeting.

The $250 would cover one driver and van service for the meeting.

First Ward Councilman Paul Sturtz suggested that reimbursing residents who take taxis — with a cap set at $250 per meeting — might be more cost-effective.

Many Columbia residents who rely on public transportation are not able to attend City Council meetings because bus services stop at 6:25 p.m. Mondays, according to a report presented at the meeting. Council members requested the report in April.

The proposed legislation will be voted on by the council at its March 7 meeting.

Source:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/02/22/council-debate-taxi-service/

Monday, February 21, 2011

Geo Thermal Construction Begins At Paquin Tower!

Today is the first day of the massive Geo Thermal Construction Project beginning at Paquin Towers.

This is part of an Energy Efficiency Grant that the Columbia Housing Authority was able to attain to upgrade this structure.

No parking is to allowed on the back parking lot during the construction project and all residents and their family,house aides and such will have to use Alternative Parking whether on street or via the University Parking Garage.

We will try to keep you updated as time and the project move forward.

Friday, February 18, 2011

"Town Hall" in Columbia with Senator Claire McCaskill

I am Cindy Hall, the Regional Director for Senator Claire McCaskill in the central portion of the state. I wanted to be sure that you receive information about next week's town hall meetings. Claire will be hosting a town hall meeting in Columbia on Wednesday, February 23 at 1:30 PM. We hope you will be able to attend. More information about this event is listed below.

Sincerely,

Cindy Hall
Regional Director

MCCASKILL TO HOST TOWN HALL FORUMS NEXT WEEK
Senator to hold forums to gather input from Missourians on ways Congress can adopt common sense reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to bring some 'Show-Me' State common sense to Washington, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill wants to talk with Missourians about ways to help clean up Congress. As she travels across the state next week, McCaskill will hold town hall forums in Franklin County, Columbia, and Blue Springs to gather input, listen to the concerns of Missourians, and discuss her efforts to implement new reforms that create more transparency and accountability to Congress.

Visit McCaskill's website to sign up to attend the Franklin County Forum, the Columbia Forum, and the Blue Springs Forums. For additional information, please contact one of McCaskill's five Missouri offices.

McCaskill has spent the last four years working to bring common sense to Congress, including introducing legislation last month to end the automatic annual pay raise given to members of Congress. She has worked to make the Senate a more bipartisan place by instituting bipartisan seating in one of her committees four years ago, and has pushed to make the Senate more transparent by fighting to stop Senators from anonymously holding up legislation and by opening up closed hearings to the public. This week, McCaskill wants to hear from Missourians about the reforms in Congress they would like to see implemented.

Constituents are encouraged to register for the town hall meetings. Depending on the turn-out, there may be more people wishing to attend the event than there is capacity. Seating may be limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Individuals with disabilities who require auxiliary aids or services to participate in the Franklin County event should contact our St. Louis office at 314-367-1364 no later than Thursday, February 17, for the Columbia event contact our Columbia Office at 573-442-7130 no later than Monday, February 21, and for the Blue Springs event contact our Kansas City office at 816-421-1639 no later than Tuesday, February 22.

Upcoming Events with Senator McCaskill:

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Columbia Town Hall Forum
Columbia City Hall
701 East Broadway
Columbia, MO 65201

http://mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=form&id=37

What is going on around the tower

A lot of things are gearing up around Paquin Tower and here is the short list:

The start of the GeoThermal Project with drilling the parking lot for the sumps and then new paving so we hear. o_0

The starting of the GeoThermal Project soon of working on the inside of the building with drilling through every floor in every unit. This should be a building shaker/mind twister in more ways than one. Get ready to move all of your things off the outer wall people just like you had to do for the window replacement. Here we go again! :)

Penny was talking about all new tile for the lobby and new paint through out the building.

Penny was talking a new Paquin Tower News Letter in house print version.

Still hearing rumors of Crafts having to move their Kiln Room downstairs so the Exercise Room can be moved upstairs.

So much starting to pick up with Spring rolling itself on in the door right around the corner. Stay tuned for more news and views to come.

If you hear any tasty tid bits you know how to get a hold of me although I think you can keep the real nasty dirty laundry to yourselves since everybody keeps me informed anyway.

Ciao. Carp Diem Baby!