Well the hits just keep on comin’ on the courthouse, don’t they. For those folks who have been out of the county for the past two years, Seneca county has been embroiled in a battle royal over whether to demolish or preserve the Seneca County Courthouse.
It seemed that a suitable compromise was on the horizon with the possible intervention of the local Port Authority to act as a third party in the interim, so the courthouse could be restored and refurbished.
Last winter, Commissioner Mike Bridinger filled out an application for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit, through the Ohio Dept. of Development. Recently the county received approval for the credit, if they chose to accept it. The $250 application fee was not included with the application and would not be due until 2010.
Now Commissioner Ben Nutter saw fit to publicly chastise Bridinger for sending in the application without board approval. Bridinger apologized, but said he thought that other avenues to preserve the courthouse had been exhausted, and he wanted see if this tax credit was even an option.
This appeared in the 10/24 A-T: “Nutter said he wanted to clarify to Bridinger board members do not work as individuals.”
In the interest of clarification for Mr. Nutter:
1. NO matter what, it is completely unacceptable to conduct yourself in an unprofessional manner at public meetings. Repeatedly you behave like a spoiled, petulant child. Attacking other commissioners in open meetings and being rude to members of the audience is wrong. What is next, are you going to take your shoe off and slam it on the podium for attention?
2. “Nutter said Bridinger should seek a legal opinion to learn whether the application was legally valid or whether Bridinger signing without authorization of the board would nullify the application and any resulting tax credit awards.” You can complain all you want about the legality of the application since it was only signed by one commissioner, but guess what? The board need only pass a resolution that the application represents the wishes of the board. There, now everything is copasetic. And ask legal counsel? Please tell me you are joking. You want Bridinger to ask Ken Egbert his legal opinion? Egbert who gives you such great legal advice that you still don’t follow the Sunshine Law? That is just precious.
3. Finally, Mr. Nutter I would suggest that while you are throwing rocks at Bridinger’s house, you look at your own. You totally dominate meetings nearly completely usurping the president, and Bridinger. If anyone acts as an individual, it is you.
You have a “Does Not Play Well With Others” on your grade card, young man. Now go to your room and think about what you have done.
Filed under: Uncategorized
You forgot the one about Ben Nutter and his “space needs study.”
Didn’t the application go thru the governers office.
If there was a problem with it ,you would think the governer would of said so.Maybe he hadn’t talked to Ben yet.
It’s a clear case of “Foot in Mouth Disease!”
Ben – Grow up. Maybe the voters should sack both you and Sauber and start from scratch. Is it that difficult to find elected officials that play well with others?
I found today’s issue of the Advertiser-Tribune quite enlightening in several ways.
The article “Clearing the err…” should clearly indicate to preservationists where Mr. Sauber and Mr. Nutter stand on the courthouse. Basically they are saying, “Da_n the demolition cost…tear that sucker down!”
It was also hilarious to see a letter to the editor titled “Working man for Egbert” praising him for not “badmouthing” his opponent while a front page story relatets how a letter from the State Bar Association is reprimanding Mr. Egbert for doing just that and worse.
It is also evident from the names of the authors of some of the letters suporting Mr. Egbert that the county is dealing with more that the “buddy system”.
What we have here is a TRIUMVIRATE of Sauber, Nutter and Egbert desperately doing whatever it takes to retain their postions of power.
Sadly, I would not be surprised to see the “Traumatic Trio” re-elected to continue the status quo and stay the course. I’m just not sure that their compasses are accurate.
I’m confused, didn’t everyone and there brother know about that application?
Another tantrum by the man of destiny. Nutter’s swollen ego once again is displayed to the detriment of Seneca County. How do you think his antics are playing in Columbus? A lot of people are working their butts off to make things happen, and Bennie boy pops off. With he and Borat the mayor as our PR men, Seneca County again looks like Hooterville.
Ben profiles like he is a “player” but behaves like a small time wanna be. His punk act is wearing thin. We need mature, reasonable leadership. His clench jaw, pound the table schtick plays well with some yokels, but that’s not how you get things done in the big time. Instead of congratulating Bridinger for bringing the bacon home (and garnering residual credit for himself), Bennie gets petulant, his gills green with envy that it wasn’t his idea.
It’s time to make Ben a full-time fireman again.
ASA i think you’ve stumbled onto something. Maybe we can get a Hooter’s in Tiffin.
The incumbents are hanging by a thread trying desperately to keep these county positions. It’s time for the voters to cut the thread!
Spread the word out in the county and in Fostoria. Email everyone, and ask them to pass it along.
Maybe it is time that we, the public, who are the “employers” of the Commissioners ask ourselves these questions:
What exactly do we expect from them?
How many hours should be in their work week?
How many hours are they expected to actually be in the office and available to the public?
Should all commissioners be able to vote on all issues before them without having to abstain to avoid conflict of interest?
If video discs are to be the minutes, shouldn’t the sound volume level and quality allow the public to hear and understand what is being said and by whom?
What questions do YOU have?
First of all, there is NO POSSIBLE WAY the two Comedy Commissioners could not have known about that application until now. NutJob is making it sound like he just now heard about it. I mean, crap, it’s been in the papers and all….. :snort:
So, why does he start causing a stink about it now? Perhaps because there’s this little election coming up, and he feels the need to start some drama all over again, since it’s been comparatively quiet recently. The only way the man can make himself look good is by trying to make someone else look bad.
Secondly, he has a damn lot of GAUL talking about the board only making decisions as a group, when he & Sauber sat there during ARB meetings, leaning back in their chairs, having whispered discussions BEHIND BRIDINGER’S BACK, like a couple of first graders, for God and everyone there to see. Whispering behind someone’s back when they’re seated right between the two of you – is THAT “making decisions as a group?” I think not.
I think NutJob AND Sauber need to go back to kindergarten and learn to conduct themselves in a more mature manner.
These two men, and especially NutJob, become more and more disgusting every day.
Sorry, meant to add:
“The only way the man can make himself look good is by trying to make someone else look bad” – AND HE’S NOT EVEN GOOD AT THAT!
Mr. Nutter knew all along that the application had been filed but He declared at many board meetings that they didnot qualified for it and that is why he would not file for it. Know he is just trying to save face.Ben is a very inventive lier.we need him out but if we all splet our votes between Love and Stacy he may win
Vote for Nutter? WHY? ARE PEOPLE INSANE?
Look at his personality and traqck record. The poll on this site shows him way our in front- can someone explain this freak of nature to me?????
Better the devil we know than the angel we don’t? Our county needs desperate help and soon, and we sure won’t get it from the good old boys netwok.
I say we pitch them all out and starrt from scratch.
As for the commissioner candidates, well I have looked at their websites, and the only one of them that has actual plans to do anything for Seneca County is Terry Love. And his plans are feasible, not pie in the sky. They are specific and workable.
So why is he running behind? The only man with a plan, the only candidate endorsing accountability ion office- and the public doesn’t want that?
Wake up voters!
I went to the commissioners board minutes to see the latest tantrum and apparently they are having problems with the server therefor you can not watch the Oct. 20th meeting.
How Convenient!
Old Timer used to report on Commissioners’ meetings. Essentially, he said “how crowded” the room was once the “Three Amigos” got their egos on the table and before the cameras.
Haven’t heard from Old Timer recently. Presumably, he’s in transit to the Sun Belt for the winter.
Lady Elf: It is next to impossible to win a Commissioners seat as an independent candidate. As of a couple years ago only one County Commissioner in Ohio had run independent and won. Independent candidates are many times the best person for the job but most times they do not stand much of a chance of winning in a three person race. Worse yet many times the independent candidates split up votes with the people that want change and the wrong people get elected. Look what happened with the independents running for commissioner four years ago.
splitting votes isn’t how I see it, it’s called selfish party voters not wanting to sacrifice their party vote for the best candidate
Fish Head
If you recall, Mr. Love was in the race first, before Mr. Crist dropped out. Apparently the Republican Party could not stand the thought that an independent might have a chance for the seat of Commissioner and brought Holly Stacy in. This way, they figure they can win by causing a split vote between the incumbent and the independent candidate. If the incumbent wins, at least he is the devil they know. Aren’t they clever? Sadiep hit it right on the head!
sadiep and Common Sense: You are BOTH correct!
Regarding Nervous Nutter, I find it interesting how he falls in-line with the great cadre of people who, even through they have never had an hour, or a day, of training in any of a variety of fields consider themselves to be experts in specific professions.
- Sunday School dropouts know all about the work of the pastor and how to manage a church,
- those who have paid a speeding ticket know all about law enforcement
- those who know how to unwrap a Band-Aid know all about medicine, dentistry, and related disciplines,
- those who have taken the oath of office as a County Commissioner presume themselves to be members of the Ohio Bar
Common Sense – The Republican Party would NOT put in a candidate in because they are afraid an independent would get into office to split the vote.
They put a candidate in because they are a political party and that is their job.
Lady Elf, your right…WAKE UP VOTERS! But there are people out there that are going to vote for Sauber, Nutter, Bernard and JR….because they reconize the name! Tell your friends to tell their friends….CLEAN UP SENECA COUNTY! Out with the OLD! Sauber and Nutter do not listen to the public, we need to get new commissioners in that will listen to what the public wants. Vote them out, like you did to Young and Distel. Remember Sauber and Nutter choose to make the sales tax permanent!
Scout,
If that is truly the case, then where is the Democratic challenger to Egbert and Devine? Where is the Democratic challenger for Sheriff? The Democratic party is a political party and that is their job too correct? Yet, they chose to put no candidate in those races.
The answer is they didn’t have anyone to run. Also, we are such a small community that most of us don’t care what party you belong to, as long as they do a good job. Getting people to run for some of these offices is like pulling hens teeth. Trust me. We all have tried.
Absolutely. There aren’t many people out there who will willingly be drug through public mud.
Check out “Iregularities and Improprieties in City Records?” on my website. I have published some of the evidence I have been talking about and no one is curious enough to ask me about. I will be submitting evidence I have gathered to the City Prosecutor tomorrow as Scout639 once suggested. These are things I inadvertently discovered researching an issue. Should I have ignored them? Read about it and then you tell me.
Ahhh modern politics. Who was the first to try to win an election through the Courts? Al Gore?
someoneelse:
Answer my question. Should I have ignored these things? Two books that don’t match? No big deal, right?
I don’t know the particulars on Nutter allegedly attending a Commisioners meeting while on duty at the Fire Department, but one thing sprung immediately to mind. How many breaks, and for what duration, does a firefighter get in a 24 hour shift. I would guess these total up to more than the time Nutter spent at the meeting.
Mr. Love, have you ever had a job with paid lunch breaks?
How many and how long do you think breaks should be for a person working a 24 hour shift?
Terry- I looked at your website and this is very interesting. The first question that comes to my mind – and I’m sure you have the answer – is what time of day does a 24 hour shift begin?
By all means, I think you should pursue this if you feel there is an honest violation of law, or a coverup. I think I probably already hit on a rational explantion though.
Found it…I can answer that for you. The Fire Department shifts start at 7am.
Thanks someoneelse! So Ben puts on a suit during his break and runs to the Commissioners meeting. I thought the idea of a 24 hour shift is that the fireman is at the firehouse so he could act immediately in case of an emergency.
someoneelse:
Then you have no problem that the Fire Chief’s log which is supposed to show which firemen were present and for how long and used as a basis for payroll has numerous inconsistencies when compared to the City Of Tiffin Emloyee Attendance History, the official payroll document? You have no problem with the page from the Fire Chief’s log where the register lines don’t match?
found it:
Thanks for answering the time question. Saved me the trouble.
As I said once before, nothing is about to happen that will have any effect on this election. But I will tell you this, I will continue to pursue this until my questions are resolved no matter how long it takes!
Terry – someone else isn’t saying that. He is just saying that it may end up having a rational explanation, like sloppy paperwork. Is it right to have sloppy paperwork? No. But it does happen, though that doesn’t mean it is right.
Exactly right Scout. As I said Mr. Love, you should pursue it if you really feel something illegal has been done.
I wonder if Wallmart or Lowes would find fourteen discrepancies on five people’s payroll records in one month acceptable?
Is that why I can never find anyone to help me at Lowes
or WalMart, they’re really working somewhere else?
Terry – Referencing the week of January 14th – maybe Mr. Nutter didn’t even knew where he was. Fire personnel were making sure everyone had escape routes and flashlights for use in the “former 1884 courthouse”. The commish office was reorganizing agendas, liability waivers, awaiting air quality study reports that had been held up in the Prosecutor’s office …all in preparation for the 1300 people who weren’t supposed to tour that weekend. Oh, and Ben was having an important meeting in Columbus on Friday . There may have been some flexible scheduling that week ?!
Fireman all over the world trade shifts all the time.
The flexibility that the fireman schedule affords is one of the attractive things about the job.
If you want to go watch your kids baseball game you could have a fellow fireman come in for a few hours.
Then on Friday night when your kid plays football he could come in for you.
Happens all the time at fire departments all over.
The key is that everyone works the required amount of hours for the payroll ledger to balance.
That is probably why the Chiefs log is different from the actual log.
The chief would know who was scheduled to work.
The actual log shows who actually did the hours and when.
It sounds like a bigger deal than it really is.
But if you spin it properly….you can make a conspiracy out of anything.
I have to give Holly Stacy credit for saying that she would resign positions she currently holds if elected saying, “…because I have to.” Apparently she is aware of the following from the Attorney General Compatibility Opinions Index pages 19 and 20.
I wonder if someone else is aware of the last one on the list?
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/legal/opinions/position_compatibility.pdf
This is only a portion of pages 19 and 20.
Commissioner, County
Incompatible with:
Education, city board, member …………………………………. 1945; 56
Education, district board, member …………………………….. 1909; 297
Education, local board, member ……………………………….. 1988; 88-011
Education, rural board, member………………………………… 1940; 1036
……………………………… …………………………………………….. 1932; 1528
Education, village board, member …………………………….. 1949; 131
Elections, county board, member………………………………. 2006; 2006-041
Fair manager, county . …………………………………………….. 1959; 485
Health commissioner, city district …………………………….. 1970; 70-004
Health district, general, board member………………………. 1923; 146
Joint township hospital, board of governors, member….. 1973; 73-024
Mental retardation, county board, member…………………. 1975; 75-032
Planning commission, regional, member……………………. 1965; 65-069
Port authority, member of the board of directors of …….. 1986; 86-029
Principal, local school district…………………………………… 1981; 81-010
Public affairs, village board, member ………………………… 1958; 81
Real Property Inventory Corporation of
Metropolitan Cleveland, director……………………………. 1938; 2293
Sheriff, county, deputy…………………………………………….. 1981; 81-009
I was.
Joe Anonamoose:
I understand that people substitute for each other at the Fire House. I just cannot see why the Fire Chief’s log and the Employee Attendance History sometimes differ as to which DAY a fireman worked. Suppose that something would happen on one of those “disagreement days’ that resulted in a fireman being involved in a court case that hinged on where the fireman was on that particular day. I could see where attorneys could have a field day arguing which record is accurate. Would it be the Chief’s log or the Employee Attendance History which the State Auditor’s office considers official? There could be witnesses testifying that he was at both places. Is this a stretch? Maybe, but stranger things have happened.
Surely a way should be found that would eliminate contradictory information between the Chief’s log and the Employee Attendance History used for payroll.
Granted, the way it is done makes a very neat looking Employee Attendance History page with the person usually shown as working one day followed by two days off for the month but when you try to reconcile it with the Chief’s log with all its codes for overtime, substitutions and other notations, the resemblance to the Employee Attendance History can become hard to find.
Conspiracy? You would have to look at the copies I received and judge for yourself. The two pages of the Chief’s log that I obtained the first day I asked for them show no “corrected” entries.
Three copies I received two weeks later show the use of white-out and lines roughtly re-drawn by hand in the whited-out colums that span as many as twelve firemen. You would have to decide it that qualifies as merely “sloppy record-keeping” or not.
Great technology that White-out!
Thought it had been replaced by Delete keys in most workplaces. Any carbon paper around?
I know…a little flippant here…sorry.
If you agree to put half as much effort into being a commissioner as you put into digging into Nutter….you have my vote.
Joe Anonamoose:
I promise you that I will, my friend! Uh Oh….that sounds just like McCain and Obama doesn”t it!
Sorry!
Joe Anonamoose:
I didn’t enter my email properly on my previous answer to you so maybe tha is why my picture didn’t display. I just want you to know that it was really me answering you. I would be very happy to have your support.