Mayor's Race

[tonigking]

I have received a political brochure from a candidate for Mayor. It was placed in my mailbox, without postage, which most people know is illegal...

I would like to respond to Ms Metzger's criticisms of our current Council.

Item 1. city-wide clean up - major efforts have been made with grant money providing dumpsters with volunteer help.
Don't you know Ms. Metzger, city workers can't go on private property to do work.?

Item 2. drainage problems - do you know the size of our Water Dept. and the limited capacity they have to just keep up with day to day activities.
Good luck with LCRA- do you not think that has been tried?

Item 3. streets and roads - major efforts have been made for the last several years to pave and improve our streets.
Ms. Metzger do you have any idea what it costs to pave a street and again, with the very limited Street Dept.

Item 4. We have 1 building inspector and 1 code enforcement person.
Ms.Metzger do you know how much it costs to enforce a code citation, file a lien on the property and all the other legal requirements to force a private property clean-up ?

Item 5. waterline improvement- again the cost to complete waterline improvements is huge. Our Water Dept. is overwhelmed with day to day line breakages some due to age but most due to citizen carelessness.

I don't know of a single person at city hall that doesn't agree with you but in order to accomplish your goals; you would have to raise the water rates ( the City's only source of real income ) and raise the tax rate to an unimaginable level to pay for all these wonderful things.

How in the world can you state in your brochure that you can accomplish all of these things without raising taxes?

As far as your personal views;
*Granite Shoals is regulated by term limits
*Spending limits are governed by income and loans which are highly regulated by the State,(have you ever sat through the GS budget process?) everything else is done through grants some direct, some matching.
*GS "attends" to all of it's citizens with Police, Fire and EMS protection. As you may or may not know, boundries have been substantially extended fairly recently but without an increase in any staff.

Without the WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT,we will never expand our tax base and without it, our PROPERTY TAXES will sky-rocket just to maintain basic fire,police and ems protection. Requiring the issue to go to ballot is fine, just so you know it has already cost a 2 million dollar increase due to increased interest rates.

In my humble opinion Ms. Metzger, you've been lead down the garden path...

...and by the way when talking with LCRA, ask them how much longer they will allow the septic run off from aging septic systems.

[JakRussll]

Wow Toni. Vote for the candidate of your choosing, but do you really mean to flog a mayoral candidate in a public forum as you have? It may be your "humble opinion" but does that mean it should be posted in an internet forum?

Makes no sense why you would do this! None!

[tonigking]

Why not Jak ?

Every single item and personal view was taken directly from her brochure; placed illegally in my mail box.

It is merely a rebuttal to some of the misinformation put forth by her... she of course is welcome to respond.:)

[Wrangler]

I don't know anyone mentioned in Toni's message (not even Toni!). But,I think its great for a citizen to respond as she has. Bring on the debate! That's what an election is about. Examine the candidates and their positions in the light of day.

Bring it ON! Thanks for caring, Toni and I mean that sincerely. Oh, and the other side is free to comment also.

[Nomos]

Wow Toni. Vote for the candidate of your choosing, but do you really mean to flog a mayoral candidate in a public forum as you have? It may be your "humble opinion" but does that mean it should be posted in an internet forum?

Makes no sense why you would do this! None!

fo·rum/ˈfôrəm/Noun
1. A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.

Looked like an exchange of ideas and views to me!
And was done without personal attack.

[Caretaker]

I have received a political brochure from a candidate for Mayor. It was placed in my mailbox, without postage, which most people know is illegal...

I would like to respond to Ms Metzger's criticisms of our current Council.

Item 1. city-wide clean up - major efforts have been made with grant money providing dumpsters with volunteer help.
Don't you know Ms. Metzger, city workers can't go on private property to do work.?

Item 2. drainage problems - do you know the size of our Water Dept. and the limited capacity they have to just keep up with day to day activities.
Good luck with LCRA- do you not think that has been tried?

Item 3. streets and roads - major efforts have been made for the last several years to pave and improve our streets.
Ms. Metzger do you have any idea what it costs to pave a street and again, with the very limited Street Dept.

Item 4. We have 1 building inspector and 1 code enforcement person.
Ms.Metzger do you know how much it costs to enforce a code citation, file a lien on the property and all the other legal requirements to force a private property clean-up ?

Item 5. waterline improvement- again the cost to complete waterline improvements is huge. Our Water Dept. is overwhelmed with day to day line breakages some due to age but most due to citizen carelessness.

I don't know of a single person at city hall that doesn't agree with you but in order to accomplish your goals; you would have to raise the water rates ( the City's only source of real income ) and raise the tax rate to an unimaginable level to pay for all these wonderful things.

How in the world can you state in your brochure that you can accomplish all of these things without raising taxes?

As far as your personal views;
*Granite Shoals is regulated by term limits
*Spending limits are governed by income and loans which are highly regulated by the State,(have you ever sat through the GS budget process?) everything else is done through grants some direct, some matching.
*GS "attends" to all of it's citizens with Police, Fire and EMS protection. As you may or may not know, boundries have been substantially extended fairly recently but without an increase in any staff.

Without the WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT,we will never expand our tax base and without it, our PROPERTY TAXES will sky-rocket just to maintain basic fire,police and ems protection. Requiring the issue to go to ballot is fine, just so you know it has already cost a 2 million dollar increase due to increased interest rates.

In my humble opinion Ms. Metzger, you've been lead down the garden path...

...and by the way when talking with LCRA, ask them how much longer they will allow the septic run off from aging septic systems.



Not trying to come to Metzgers defense but..By any chance are you related to the King that is running for council??

Heres a tibit from the Tax office/Comptrollers office.A Quote from them... Total TAXES collected increase ONLY when goverment SPENDING increases.

[Frank_Reilly]

Airing out issues is part of what makes politics work, and I've not seen any personal attacks, only attacks on issues raised in the race.

Ms. Metzger asks for things that are already being done. For example, she thinks a city wide cleanup would be a good idea. I, and our current council agree, and that's why we've successfully fought hard for grants to fund the city-wide cleanups the city has held for at least the past five years, sometimes twice a year, and one last fall. Grant funding is probably going away as the feds and state cut back, so we'll have to find other ways to do this because we need to keep the progress moving , but I challenge anyone to say that the city is not a LOT cleaner today than it was in 2005.

Ms. Metzger thinks term limits are a good idea. So did the voters in 2005 when the home rule charter they adopted contained limits of 3 consecutive terms. If I had chosen to seek another term, it would have been my last as I would have been term limited.

As to all of the other things for which we need continued improvement (streets, water lines, code enforcement etc.), significant progress has been made on these over the past 5 years, and I agree the city needs to continue that progress and do more. Toni makes a good point. Our city operates, and has since its inception operated, on a limited budget. The only way to increase the city's ability to better fund these necessary items is for the voters to approve the sewer bonds so that the city can have some real economic development -- new businesses and houses will significantly increase the property tax base, and we'll be able to keep our sales taxes in Granite Shoals and use them here rather than helping our friends in Marble Falls pay for their streets and water lines.

The economic development from the sewer system will also increase our tourisim dollars from the people that will come to the Andy Roddick Tennis Center -- the head of the U.S. Tennis Association told the River Cities Tribune that they will sanction official USTA tournaments in GS, which will bring "millions" of outside dollars into the community. Those "millions" will be spent in Marble Falls and Kingsland until and unless we have a sewer system that will support hotel rooms and more dining facilities.

I believe Ms. Metzger opposes the sewer bonds, so I don't know how she would pay for all of these things without significant tax or water rate increases, but I'd like to hear her plan.

Oh, and by the way, while I have a lot of friends that work for the LCRA, and they do a lot of good things, I don't think we need to ask them to the table to help us with drainage issues. They couldn't find a way to directly help our city deal with the tons of debris that was floating on their lake that had washed in from their watershed after the 2007 rain-bomb major flood...we ultimately got some help, but it was through the county, and after much political wrangling, both public and private. The LCRA has no funds to help cities with these issues, but they have plenty of money to involve themselves in regulatory matters.

[tonigking]

[QUOTE=Caretaker;10452]Not trying to come to Metzgers defense but..By any chance are you related to the King that is running for council??

I am not related to Ms Shirley King or anyone else in the political community. My name is King because I was once married to a King who is deceased

I am on no one's payroll, I am beholding to no one. I owe no allegiance to anything or anyone except God and the United States of America.
I try and do my homework and get to know the city leaders. I have done a substantial amount of volunteer work, including chairing the Annual Veterans Parade and Celebration. An event dear to my heart.
I know and have faith in Dennis Maier,Shirley King and Eric Tanner and their spouses and I support and appreciate all the hard work they all do every day.

I am a 72 y/o concerned citizen and independent thinker. I also live on a fixed income and can't afford to see my taxes and water bill go up.

[trashlady]

I am amazed that the brochure being passed around has so much misinformation in it. Since this candidate states that she has lived in GS for 3 whole years, but does not even own any property in the city, perhaps finding out a bit more about the way cities have to legally operate would have been beneficial.

The LCRA is presently selling off all interests in everything that it tried to gobble up a few years ago. The citizens of GS voted a definite NO to selling them their old water system and I am sure they would have sold it to an out of state or country company if they had been successful at that purchase also. GS has a great new water plant, even though it still has a way to go replacing the 40 year old water pipes in some area.

A Citywide Cleanup has been held twice a year since 2003 manned by volunteers AND city staff. All GS water customers, inside city limits and out, have been allowed to bring anything except hazardous wastes to these events. Last November 23 40-yard rolloffs were filled to capacity with citizens cleaning up their yards and ditches. Over 600 tires were collected and disposed of in just that one event. The cost of these events come to just over $10,000 each -- and all but one have been financially supported by grants that are written and submitted by hard working volunteers for no pay at all.

Has this solved the 'bad yard problem' - not yet- but many residents are working on the project, with the support of overworked and understaffed city crews the efforts continue.

Has anyone noticed how many real estate agents we have in the race this year? Interesting! :rolleyes:

[tonigking]

Trashlady you are right on except...

I have nothing against real estate people and I don't think you are either. I have several friends who are very successful even in a bad market.

But for sure let us not forget the last real estate woman who came in, spent a lot of money and got herself elected Mayor nor the real estate dude who also spent a lot of money and got on Council. Both with ulterior motives. (You know the one who is associated with the other real estate dude that is running for council now.)
Both of them quit and left town before their terms were up when they found out we're not the total idiots they would like to think we are.:D

[trashlady]

You are right, I have absolutely nothing against real estate agents. I just thought it was unusual.

[tonigking]

Now this is a man we can trust...
Not to mention all of his personal experience and skills.

(An excerpt from Dennis' brochure)

I am retired from the US Air Force and also from my second career in the aerospace industry. I have 38 years of professional experience in leadership, management and personnel supervision as a scientist and engineer. Since my retirement I have been working to improve the City of Granite Shoals and pursuing several hobbies. I have been married to my best friend and wife, Donna, for 44 years. We are active in the Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association. We have three grown sons and 2 young grandsons.

My personal vision for Granite Shoals is to maintain our small town atmosphere and friendliness. I’d like to keep the “country” feeling while tackling our challenges with a systematic approach. Such a huge task can be overwhelming, leading to inaction as we have seen in the past. As your Mayor, I will lead the way in taking one step at a time to improve our infrastructure and the appearance of our city while guiding the growth.

I have the experience, training and skills to lead the City of Granite Shoals as your Mayor for the next two years. I would appreciate your vote.

Sincerely, Dennis Maier

[countryboy]

Now this is a man we can trust...
Not to mention all of his personal experience and skills.

(An excerpt from Dennis' brochure)

I am retired from the US Air Force and also from my second career in the aerospace industry. I have 38 years of professional experience in leadership, management and personnel supervision as a scientist and engineer. Since my retirement I have been working to improve the City of Granite Shoals and pursuing several hobbies. I have been married to my best friend and wife, Donna, for 44 years. We are active in the Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association. We have three grown sons and 2 young grandsons.

My personal vision for Granite Shoals is to maintain our small town atmosphere and friendliness. I’d like to keep the “country” feeling while tackling our challenges with a systematic approach. Such a huge task can be overwhelming, leading to inaction as we have seen in the past. As your Mayor, I will lead the way in taking one step at a time to improve our infrastructure and the appearance of our city while guiding the growth.

I have the experience, training and skills to lead the City of Granite Shoals as your Mayor for the next two years. I would appreciate your vote.

Sincerely, Dennis Maier

So just because he has a very good brochure you think he can be trusted?:confused:. And as far as his background. Impressive but, do you really need a rocket scientist to run GS.;)

Master Gardner with 3 grown sons and 2 grandsons.. Hmm wonder if he used Miracle grow:laughing:

[ICARE]

GOSH, Toni, you seem to be really adamant about your mail box but not concerned over our current City council and Mayor spending over $500,000 trying to wrongfully annexing Beaver Island. I could be wrong, but it doesn't correlate in my mind.

[Frank_Reilly]

ICARE, on the issue of the amount of the lawyers' fees and expenses that you previously noted, you're correct (fees of $246,145.50, plus expenses of $41,259.87), and you know me well enough to know that I never intentionally misstate any fact. However, let's give some context to the litigation and the settlement, all of which is explained in far greater detail elsewhere in this forum.

Property owners on Beaver & Web sued not because an the city was "trying to wrongfully annexing [sic] Beaver Island." They sued to undo the voter's choice of changing forms of government from the old general law system where an elected mayor was the city's chief executive, to a home rule self governance, where the city manager is the chief executive. They did this because they knew that in a home rule city, they couldn't, as they had done many times before, just reverse annexation by filing a petition a year after the annexation. They claimed that the former mayor and former city council committed fraud or bad faith in 2005, before I or most of the council were elected. I sat through that entire trial and heard no evidence of either. But the city (and the islands) were faced with years more of litigation, appeals and uncertainty, so we put down our arms and settled the suit, and we now have a timeline when the islands have agreed they will rejoin the city without protest.

The city collected a total of $605,527 from the islands during the time in question, and incurred legal fees and expenses of $287,405.37, and paid what I would call a "nuisance" fee to settle the case of $275,000. That leaves the city on the positive side of the ledger with $43,121.63 in net revenues.

The court's final judgment in the case said that GS was a home rule city in 2005, and still is a home rule city. That was a victory for the voters who overwhelmingly voted for positive change in 2005 and voted for the home rule charter.

[ICARE]

How much did the Beaver Island fiasco cost us citizens in attorneys fees? A number would be great to get. Thanks

[trashlady]

How much did the Beaver Island fiasco cost us citizens in attorneys fees? A number would be great to get. Thanks
I believe the answer to that question was in the above post, at least that is what I read. Hmmmmm.

[trashlady]

ICARE, most folks who are political candidates are not afraid to use their real names in this forum.:confused:

[Caretaker]

The city collected a total of $605,527 from the islands during the time in question, and incurred legal fees and expenses of $287,405.37, and paid what I would call a "nuisance" fee to settle the case of $275,000. That leaves the city on the positive side of the ledger with $43,121.63 in net revenue.


A Nuisance Fee.Is that what you consider those Island folks to be?. Who was the Bigger Nuisance. The Island Folk or the City. The City still made out like Bandits by getting 43.121.63 from folks who did not want to be in your city in the first place..

[Frank_Reilly]

Caretaker, I wasn't talking about the residents, many of whom are friends, as being a "nuisance." I happen to like most of them. I was referring to a payment by the city to get rid of a lawsuit that was a nuisance and was distracting the city from its continued forward progress.

[ICARE]

ICARE, most folks who are political candidates are not afraid to use their real names in this forum.:confused:

O.K. you got me I'm Don Harrison candidate for position 3 on the city council. Now we don't know who you are. Now we don't know who you are. Are you a candidate, a candidate's brother-in-law, sister-in-law or a close friend of one of the candidates? Darn, we may never know. You may be happy to find out that I am about to make my last post on this forum that is so heavily weighted in favor of the incumbents that it is no longer worth the effort. All 5 or 6 of you that frequent this forum enjoy the incumbents Kool-Aid.
Look for my last post in a few minutes. Bye!!!

[Jetskier]

No longer worth the Effort!?!?! Citizens of GS are not worth your time. That is what you are saying.!?!?!? So if someone disagrees with you this is your reaction. Citizens of GS please observe this. If he is elected how in the world would he represent you. Mr. Harrision, you need to explain, if not you need to collect your little signs and drop out of the race.

[Caretaker]

O.K. you got me I'm Don Harrison candidate for position 3 on the city council. Now we don't know who you are. Now we don't know who you are. Are you a candidate, a candidate's brother-in-law, sister-in-law or a close friend of one of the candidates? Darn, we may never know. You may be happy to find out that I am about to make my last post on this forum that is so heavily weighted in favor of the incumbents that it is no longer worth the effort. All 5 or 6 of you that frequent this forum enjoy the incumbents Kool-Aid.
Look for my last post in a few minutes. Bye!!!


Dont give up Mr Harrison.. A Good Statesmen always stands his ground. In Politics opposing sides always think that they are the only ones who know whats best..If your Gut instinct and your heart take you down a specific path (even if its looked at as an agenda) then stick with it..Never be intimidated.

[tonigking]

I started this thread along with others, hoping for an open discussion and/or platforms from the candidates.

Dennis Maier immediately provided me with a very informative brochure containing both his accomplishments as well as his goals and objectives if elected Mayor. (that was just hours before his Mother passed away and he of course left town immediately.) We have also known Dennis and his lovely wife, Donna and know them to be upstanding pillars of the community.

I received a statement from Ms. Metzger that was filled with eroneous information that made her seem quite uninformed. Oddly I received the very same statement again today and a little later in the day I received a questionaire and opposition letter for the Wastewater Treatment Plant again filled with erroneous information.

Ms Metzger, what is your point ? Everything you have in print, that I have seen is either misrepresented or an out and out lie as has been proven over and over again by Mayor Reilly in this forum.

You state that "you have been active in politics from grassroots level to serving in a White House appointed position" . That covers a lot of ground yet you site not one single political post or accomplishment. You obviously did not do your homework before putting out printed material. So if your statements are true why not tell us about your political career.? Where did you come from "nearly three years ago"? Where did you have all these " home improvement/real estate/mortgage industries"

You live in your daughter's home, you own no property/pay no taxes in Granite Shoals, you haven't been here very long, no one that I can find knows anything about you, so what would be your motive to take on the very serious and difficult task of Mayor?

Personally, I want to know about the candidates and I believe other folks do too.

Granite Shoals, how could we elect a person who won't disclose who she is and demonstrate what her values are, based on past activities. The people supporting you are not exactly pillars of the community...

And for that person who asked if she was related to the GS Metzger Ranch family; they say "no relation".

[tarheel]

You live in your daughter's home, you own no property/pay no taxes in Granite Shoals, you haven't been here very long, no one that I can find knows anything about you, so what would be your motive to take on the very serious and difficult task of Mayor?

First off, I don't live in GS, just reading this as an interested observer. If the above statement is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, since you seem to be very up-to-date on your facts, then the question you ask is a really good question. :popcorn:

[trashlady]

I am assuming that Ms Metzger does not read this forum. But the 789 folks that have viewed it since the start of this thread, would most likely be interested in answers to these questions. I know I am. If anyone knows this candidate please tell her that some voters are curious to know more about her experience and background. Our city is at stake.

[tonigking]

Dennis Maier, Mayor pro tem, Veteran, United States Air Force retired, proud father, grandfather, devoted husband, 26 year property owner/resident/taxpayer and 1000's of hours of volunteer service to our community.

Peggy Metzger, unknown guest in Granite Shoals...

[Frank_Reilly]

The Granite Shoals Interfaith Council has set up a candidates and issues forum for Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 pm at Highland Lakes Elementary School. The council is a coalition of all of the ministers of the churches in Granite Shoals. I believe all candidates will be there, or will send a representative, and both sides of the sewer issue will also be presented. I'll be speaking on the pro side, and I believe that Don Gund will speak against the bond issue. I also think some questions from the public will be allowed.

[tonigking]

...and the truth shall set you free !:)

[Belle]

I wanted to meet Mrs. Metzger at her headquarters before I vote and it was closed up, empty and a for rent sign in the window. Did she drop out or something?:confused: