it's a hot and bitter cup we are sipping....

Most of you have heard or read something about the county's latest fiasco, brewing like cowboy coffee on an open fire pit. The issue specific is whether or not the county's assumed oral policy prohibiting the disbursement of brochures and pamphlets by the general public on county property is in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is an oral policy, not written and no one knows who or when they accepted it, since never written it was never officially adopted and is left up to the county officials to act upon based upon their individual interpretations of AZ Statute 11 Art 410 which states:



11-410. Use of county resources or employees to influence elections; prohibition
A. A county shall not use its personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections. Notwithstanding this section, a county may distribute informational reports on a proposed bond election as provided in section 35-454. Nothing in this section precludes a county from reporting on official actions of the county board of supervisors.
B. Employees of a county shall not use the authority of their positions to influence the vote or political activities of any subordinate employee.
C. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as denying the civil and political liberties of any employee as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions.



The salt added to the grounds of this brew is that a local resident, citizen and taxpayer was prohibited from dispersing his materials made that reflected the voting record of Senator John McCain prior and during the McCain Town Hall held in Kingman, Arizona, November 13, 2009, in the public owned county administration building. Luca Zanna was predominately ignored during the McCain Town Hall as he politely kept his hand raised for over 45 minutes in request to speak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOxD39_--g But Luca Zanna is not one to be ignored. He persisted until John McCain himself handed Mr. Zanna his microphone to address him with. Luca Zanna is very dynamic to be sure and can appear to be quite exuberant, but he is also one of the most respectful and sincere people I have known since living here. Impassioned sure, terrorist------NOT. As he and Buster Johnson have related to me, once he was asked to stop passing out his materials and told that he was in violation of the county rules, he politely and respectfully stopped. (Do you hear the striking of the match.)



As most of you know Buster Johnson is the county Board of Supervisor for District 3. What some of you may not know is that Buster Johnson is the Chairman of the Republican Central Committee. It was through his party affiliations and work as Chair that he was able to convince Senator John McCain and his staff that Mohave County should be the site of a scheduled Town Hall event and in doing so brought the event here as a public service opportunity we have been long denied. And it was as the Chair he was approached by one of Senator McCain's security guards paid for by our tax dollars, to tell Mr. Zanna and others to stop passing out their materials, "for security reasons" on the publicly owned property. And yes, he is the same security guard taking pictures of Luca Zanna during the McCain Town Hall in the video. (Just the back log for the campfire.)



In his quest for answers from the county as to just what is this policy, where is it posted, who does it apply to, are you sure it even exists......Mr. Zanna approached several county officials by phone call, email and in person. Yet his emails and questions were unanswered. Even when the county attorney revealed that they had just always fallen back on AZ 11art 410 and everyone had agreed that this is how they would do it, no one could explain or show Mr. Zanna where the county residents had ever participated in this decision. If it isn't written down, then how could they have approved it? If it isn't written down then how does anyone know when someone or party is in compliance or non-compliance? How do you know it is even in compliance with the State Statute itself? Since the county could not or would not answer his probes, he addressed the Board of Supervisors in an open meeting, yet still the same results. (Ignite the kindling now.)



What followed next was a production on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhy0hlfdfM reflecting how Mr. Zanna was starting to feel about being ignored. And he submitted a couple of letters to the local media. BOS Tom Sockwell felt he was being personally attacked and responded with an article in the Daily Miner of his own, http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=35736&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&S=1 Mr. Zanna started getting attention, the issue was being brought out, still no answers though to some very relevant questions. (We got smoke!)



The economy is slow, news is slow. We don't have much going on in Mayberry these days. People are out of work, out of money and don't have much to do but read the paper and the Internet, watch TV and youtube and they have the time to get involved in local affairs. The Daily Miner and other media venues have picked up on Mr. Zanna's plight. Support for his stance is growing. And the fact that the government is responsible for people being out of work and out of money and out of answers and out of patience is making us all irritable. Now there is a recall petition for Mr. Sockwell and a possible complaint to the State Attorney General. (We got flames!)



Ron Walker decided it was time for him to join the name calling, http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&subsectionID=73&articleID=36024, which like Supervisor Sockwell's retort, just added more heat to the pot just starting to boil. Oh yeah right we were making coffee. The county still needs a written definition of how AZ Stat. 11 Art. 410 will be followed and the written guidelines there of printed out for the public. But who wants to work that out while we all are too busy fueling the fire? (Uh, Ron Walker is the County Manager who is in charge of directing staff to put such definitions and guidelines down on paper to be reviewed and adopted by public approval via the representation there of, our Board of Supervisors.)



Maybe if our county representatives and officials had taken the time they have had writing articles to openly degrade private citizens to sit down with Mr. Zanna and discuss his genuine concerns reasonably over a cup of coffee something would have been resolved by now. Instead we have a media frenzy that makes Mohave County politics shine like the Dukes of Hazzard on steroids. And we are still out of work and out of money and wondering why the developments that could change things for us locally are continuing to locate their projects to the southern counties of the State. What we need is a fresh pot of coffee!

'The Big Dummy' speaks... (no not me)...

No doubt that I read the KDMiner.com pages for the latest -- almost -- daily information about things happening in the Kingman area. It is the only such media outlet that is -- almost -- daily that puts their articles, opinions, etc. online for all to see. The content that is produced by the employees at the Miner is what it is... and since it has no competition, again online, it is the best available. However, to me the 'gold' I find at the KDMiner.com site comes from the content that the readers leave on either articles or opinion pieces.

I found a couple of comments that I wanted to further spotlight here on MOCO and they will appear below. Click here for the link to the letter to editor from Wednesday's edition. Go ahead and read the original letter for complete context where the following two posts are addressing. The title of the letter is 'Smart' people back at it again.

The two responses come from the same person who uses the moniker 'The Big Dummy', and here is the first one... with some of my thoughts along the way...

Posted: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Article comment by: The Big Dummy

Mr.Stultz and other naysayers,

You clearly don’t know much of anything but rumors about the Griffith power plant, power plants in general, electric distribution, or electric markets. Before you try to compare Griffith to any other power project you should know something about which you speak first.

For yours and other’s edification I’ll lay out some accurate information for you.

I love it so far... and it gets so much better.

About 25 people work at the Griffith plant and last time I talked with an acquaintance there all but one called Mohave County home. That’s about the number they said would work there when the project was proposed. Don’t believe it? Check the Miner archives. Unlike a solar plant, every one of Griffith’s workers need to be a skilled power plant technician. A lot of jobs at photovoltaic and concentrating solar plants are window washers that don’t need to know a lot nor do they get paid that well. I expect the core number of skilled plant operators at one of these new solar plants will be about the same as Griffith. In any case, Griffith never promised large numbers of permanent workers so why are you complaining?

So much good stuff here... I love the 'check the Miner archives' thing there -- which of course most folks against new development simply won't do. The part about have skilled technicians... yeppers... important in this kind of investment and endeavor. Having newly relocated higher skilled level employees will not be a bad thing for this community or it's tax base.

If you are still not happy that at least 24 of our own got great paying jobs at Griffith, something you do need to think about is how many local businesses are still in business, benefit, or have increased their staff because of Griffith? It is likely local repair shops like RAM Enterprises, Laron Engineering, Sky Hi crane, United Rental, and others are happy to have places like Griffith around. If more power plants get built in our area these businesses are likely to expand and new businesses start up. Power plants need skilled workers to support them during times of major unscheduled and scheduled repair and upgrades. The point, Mr. Stultz, is that large industries often create even more decent jobs indirectly.

Sounds exactly like economic development to me.

County water records show that since Griffith began operation in 2001 it has averaged under 1000 gpm; or under 1613 acre ft per year. That is well below what they could use. The plant has always paid all the County expenses in maintaining and operating the wells. The plant also checks the aquifer level every month and sends the data to the County and guess what, it’s all at the County Water Department for you to see and believe it or not the Sacramento Aquifer is not being sucked dry by Griffith. I can’t remember if the USGS survey identified localized water level depression in the Griffith well field but if they did, so you and other know, that phenomenon is common and normal around an active well. There are limits to those depressions to protect aquifers against subsidence; and yes Griffith also has to do aquifer subsidence surveys annually in accordance with ADEQ. Maybe Mohave Engineering is another company happy to have Griffith around? In light of this, I have no idea where you get the information to make such a claim about the aquifer.

The water worry warts make 'claims' all the time... yet they never have any proof to back up their claims of dire emergencies lying in wait because some new projects want to move into the area.

The first water contract was that the plant paid for the water they used plus an expensive hi demand charge under certain usage conditions. However, the plant had a large amount of the water system capacity locked up in that contract. Power plants have to secure enough water to run full capacity at any time so they have to lock up that capacity. Due to the plant’s low usage it looked like there was a lot of water available and the county wanted to sell it elsewhere, which Griffith, or any other power plant, wouldn’t allow. The water contract renegotiation was a sweet deal for the County. Whether Griffith runs or not the County gets paid for the full amount of water the plant needs available. The result, the County is making a lot more money off Griffith’s water contract without supplying any more than the usual amount they use. Instead of complaining that Mr. Walker made a bad first contract, why don’t you be glad he acted in the best interest of the County, at least in this case, in realizing the deal needed to be renegotiated?

A simple estimation of the County property taxes on Griffith show that the 10 million dollar investment the County made in infrastructure for the I-40 Industrial Corridor has been, or very nearly, paid for. If I recall, I think the tax assessment on Griffith alone is right around a million dollars per year, so those taxes alone have almost paid for the entire investment. In addition, we now have the prison, Unisouce’s peaker plant, and a block making plant operating out there now. Also, property tax assessments don’t change if a facility isn’t in production for a time. For such a smart guy I can’t believe you’d make such a stupid comment.

Again... economic development.

Unless you have some inside information you can’t honestly say the plant only runs when California needs the power. But even if they did, what do you care? Is it the tired old complaint that they use our water and sell the power to another state? If so, then you’d better start complaining about Mineral Park that’s been using 3000 gpm of your water for decades and selling your copper and other minerals to companies in other states for a profit. And by the way, their mine expansion is set to raise that water consumption to 6000 gpm. What do you feel about Arizona coal that went to Nevada to make power for them? Was that a problem for you? A smart guy like you surely knows that’s how industry works. Natural resources in one area are mined, cut, fished, or whatever and shipped somewhere else for processing, or manufacture, and sometimes to another place for distribution. Are you upset that rock quarries in our area shipping boulders and gravel to Las Vegas? They have to use some of our water for dust abatement so is that okay with you if the product ends up out of state? What about those poor people in Wyoming whose natural gas gets piped down here to Arizona to keep or homes warm? Would it be okay with you if they got upset that their un-renewable natural resources go out of State and they wanted to cut us off? So we take from others but are not willing to give? Is that how it is? How is using a little of our water for local projects that also benefit other States a problem?

And I'm just willing to bet that the original letter writer or any of the many water worry wart types that comment at the KDMiner.com site won't even try to attempt to answer any of the above questions... too bad too... would love to see the spin.

Let me ask you a more pertinent question. First let’s first assume that the Hualapai solar project will run at full capacity, 24/7, for 30 years and we assume the smallest estimated quantity of water in the Hualapai aquifer of 4 million acre feet and we assume no recharge for those 30 years. In this unrealistically high estimate only 3% of the aquifer would be used. You are all so very smart, I assume you’ve already done the calculations. My question is this, knowing how small a portion of the aquifer could be used what is the basis for opposing these plants based on water use?

Simply an incredibly smart and effective way to ask a similar question that I've been asking of the water worry warts... my question simply is 'when??'. Since they won't answer my easy question they won't attempt to answer this one either. The water worry warts HAVE NO DATA TO BACK UP THEIR ASSERTIONS.

Another fact about Griffith is that it is a merchant plant. There are merchant plants all over the United States and this time of year they, like Griffith, are sitting idle because it’s not real hot, not real cold, and manufacturing facilities are not running at full capacity. Merchant plants will, however, sometimes run even under these conditions when base load plants go off line for routine or emergency repairs. So even though a merchant plant may not be on line it serves as an important backup to increase the overall reliability of the US electric grid. The location of Griffith and the grid upgrades that they provided to our tristate area have also greatly enhanced the reliability of our local power distribution system – so Mr. Stultz’s power is less likely to go out from a single transmission line failure.

Judging from the unsubstantiated claims and unreasonable comparisons you made, Donald, it looks like you might want to reconsider who the big dummy really is.

All right, maybe 'The Big Dummy' didn't have to go there... but I'm not holding it against him/her. The water worry warts have said much worse about the pro development, pro property rights, and pro free enterprise folks in the Mohave County area.

So 'there appeared a second post in response to three attempts to take 'The Big Dummy' to task... the lame responses fail to impress and the follow up comment from 'The Big Dummy' shows why.

Posted: Saturday, January 30, 2010
Article comment by: The Big Dummy

Thank you for the support Mr. Stokes and Guess Who.

WES, maybe in all your rage you didn’t notice you are arguing with me? How funny. I’m glad you are exercising your rights and are politically involved. It’s more than most do. However, I don’t think you’ll be able to sway too many people to see things your way when your comments are laced with so much hate and anger. Your passion is powerful; make sure it’s always based in truth and not anger. Good luck with your effort!

Everyone else,

Ron Walker is not behind the moniker of the Big Dummy. I’m a Mohave County citizen that because of my educational background, where, and who I work with; I have experience in and access to much of this information first hand. All sources for what I say about taxes and Griffith water use is public record. I’d be a fool to lie when the numbers are available for anyone to see. I tried very hard to present nothing as biased or intentionally un-factual. If you are a lover or a hater of using water then the facts are going to seem biased, but it’s your personal bias. The facts, by definition, cannot be biased.

Whoever 'The Big Dummy' is... I want him or her to know that they are welcome to comment on this blog site anytime... I'd honor the wish to remain anonymous as well. This is great scissor use.

I’ve not read any HVS hydrology report or been to the public meetings. I used numbers published in the Miner and some common sense conservative assumptions and ran my own simple calculations that almost any of you could do as well. According to one of the No Names I guess they match pretty close to what HVS’s people came up with. I think that’s pretty cool! That means those HVS hydrology people aren’t fudging the numbers!

I've done the math as well... it was easy and it is very difficult to argue with.

If it weren’t for my associations and concern for repercussions I’d have used my real name, and I wish I could because I believe it would actually lend credence to my comments. I do hope my thorough commentary helps cut through the misinformed rants so my fellow citizens can make an informed decision about supporting or opposing these projects.

For years I've been trying to get more people to bring forth information that can be used in public... but for whatever reason the folks with a plethora of knowledge in this area just don't nearly as often as needed. I guess they have their reasons... but we are all missing out. Again, I'd let this person posting under the moniker of 'The Big Dummy' to post here at this site.

To Ron Walker; Clearly, some citizens hate your policies very much. I personally think you and the Board could do a better job in getting information to the citizenry, it would help clear up all that distrust so many people have. Think of the positive though, now you know how these folks really feel! I am offering you an apology for un-intentionally causing people to think The Big Dummy post was from you and for bringing such vitriol out against you. I am sorry about that.

Heh.

And finally...

To the Kingman Daily Miner,

Thank you for posting my comments. Could you PLEASE do us all a favor and publish the Griffith tax assessment, summary of the terms of their water contract with the County, and the record of their water usage? Since Griffith was built there has been so much misinformation about that place; some of it your fault. For the sanity of our County, please publish the records! It’s really too much for someone to put in as a letter to the editor. If you can’t pick on just them then how about a nice spreadsheet that shows ten year averages of tax payments, water use and cost, and # of employees of the top 25 property tax paying businesses in the County for the last 10 years? You have my thanks in advance.

Yeah... how 'bout it Miner??

Like I said before, you can find gold in the comments at the KDMiner.com. The above was such an example. Would love to see more folks like this get involved in the discussion.

With headlines like these...

It's funny when the KDMiner editor gets all uppity about what is best for the community and then turns around and offers up the following headline...

Angry bikers to converge on Kingman

Just a crappy headline in so many ways.

However, the article itself is certainly worth a read. I even see some concerns for private property rights issues in this deal. From the article...

Deborah Barry, owner of Mad Dog's, said she instituted a "no colors" policy more than a month ago because of the surveillance being conducted by police in her parking lot. Because the bikers were being watched and photographed, they were less likely to drink, which led to a drop in revenue, and ultimately, the ban on colors, she said.

Barry said she was never threatened to have her liquor license revoked if she didn't ban colors.

Look, I don't know enough about motorcycle clubs... I don't drink at bars with any sort of frequency... or even know a dern thing about motorcycles for that matter -- but I'm siding with the motorcycle club chairman from the article and proprietors of private establishments if indeed it is true that some level of government is hanging the threat of a state liquor license against a property owner if they don't institute some policy that isn't even a law passed by the people.

It is becoming clear that it is time to remember our rights... and more importantly to protect them.

But some good news in defiance to the headline...

Ray said up to 2,000 riders could roll into Kingman by Saturday. He said he was aware of a couple of groups of more than 400 riders coming from Phoenix.

Ray said the riders have been invited to take part in the Veteran's Day parade in North Kingman Saturday morning. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of North Bond Street and Northern Avenue.

Too bad for the city of Kingman though I guess that the newly voted on increase in hotel room rates won't be in effect for the visit. Maybe the 'angry bikers' won't be so angry when they find out they'll save a buck or two.

On the radio

I listen to NPR via KNAU every morning. This is what I heard this morning.

Must have been a slow news day...

Found this at the KDMiner.com site this morning.

Ugliest dude ever in that photo.

The Polls say...

As far as I can tell, nobody is doing any scientific polling regarding the local issues of the day. Over at the KDMiner.com site readers are invited to take an online survey of whatever issue the Miner presents. Certainly an online poll is not to be confused with a real scientific poll, but for the most part I have felt (especially growth related issues) that the results of the poll speak to what the average citizen is feeling.

Because of the quotes by the Mayor that appear in this KDMiner.com article, I thought I'd take a look back at some of the results of various polls that the Miner has run. I'm doing this to perhaps remind the other elected leaders what this community is thinking on important issues, and maybe the possibility that they will also speak out (for or against) the same issues. It is time to take sides on the future as well as the present. We need to know who to support or defeat in the next election cycle. It isn't too early to think about it.

First, because I've already admitted that the KDMiner.com polls aren't scientific -- I still want to validate them to some degree. So the first one I copy and paste will be the poll that was asking who the Kingman voter will choose for the two remaining city council spots before the general election.

5/9/08

Which two candidates would you vote for in the May 20th City Council election?

60 (14%) Pennington/Schritter
36 (9%) Pennington/Walker
69 (16%) Pennington/Young
60 (14%) Schritter/Walker
60 (14%) Schritter/Young
137 (33%) Walker/Young

This was the only poll that asked for an outcome, and those that responded to this poll turned out to be correct as Keith Walker and Carole Young were indeed elected by the voters to take the remaining seats in the last election.

It is the best I can do to lend some viability of the survey that appears. You see where I'm going.

So the results of this next poll were actually posted before the last general election and the subject was those scurrilous 'impact fees'.

4/26/08

Kingman impact fees raise the cost of new homes an average of $2,900 and more than $26,000 for a 5,000-square-foot commercial building, with the fees earmarked to pay for city infrastructure needs. Do you support the impact fees?

167 (36%) Yes
266 (58%) No
29 (6%) Not sure

Pretty clear that those that responded to this survey are against the impact fees. And now some 15 months later we haven't seen this very important issue dealt with by the elected leaders. Unless of course you count the time the council raised the cost of the fees.

I posted this next one before...

7/3/08

Do you think RAID (Residents Against Irresponsible Development) is helping Kingman, or hurting it?

161 (27%) Helping
435 (73%) Hurting

KDMiner.com readers overwhelmingly show their disapproval of the political action group made up of local citizens. Our elected leaders should remember this poll looking ahead.

Posted this next one before here at MOCO...

7/11/08

Would you object if your closest neighbor constructed a wind turbine in his/her yard?

116 (14%) Yes
742 (86%) No

KDMiner.com readers favor private property rights... well that is what I take from these results. Your mileage may vary.

7/18/08

Do you plan to use the recycling trailers the city is going to buy with its recently awarded grant?

494 (79%) Yes
133 (21%) No

I'll share something anecdotal on this one. I play softball in the summer leagues at Centennial Park. If my game is on either field six or seven I park near the recycle bins located at the park. Almost without fail, each time I park there I see somebody dropping off stuff in the bins. Again, anecdotal but in a way does lead to some validity to the results of the reader poll.

9/3/08

Do you think lowering impact fees to build in the city will bring more business to Kingman?

380 (62%) Yes
233 (38%) No

Impact fees again. Hey... elected leaders... are you listening?? Bringing more business to Kingman will have a better result on sales tax receipts than trying to guilt people into 'Shop Local!' will. Having more places to 'Shop Local!' would be a good thing.

9/12/08

Do you agree with the developer's decision to drop the convenience store from the Tuscany Village rezone plan?

212 (30%) Yes
488 (70%) No

Another hall of shame moment in the weird political history of Kingman, thanks to the NIMBY's. This is the one that had the developer claiming that he would never spend another dollar in Kingman. It is no wonder that Kingman is viewed as an unfriendly community towards business. It is clear that our Mayor, based on his quote in the KDMiner.com article linked above, understands this and is actively and publicly doing his best to change the perception. The other six council members need to help. No excuses.

Speaking of the Mayor, he was the subject of this next poll...

1/2/09

Do you think Kingman Mayor John Salem has done a good job his first year in office?

274 (60%) Yes
186 (40%) No

I bet that number goes up if run again today in light of his comments. He gets it, now it is on the others to do the same.

5/29/09

If you could create anything in Kingman, what would you choose?

70 (7%) Art/Culture center
107 (10%) Roller rink
211 (20%) Water park
286 (28%) Shopping mall
40 (4%) Movieplex
45 (4%) Civic center
279 (27%) Other

62% of those that answered selected something that would lead to more jobs, opportunity, and tax revenues. Eleven percent chose something that would cost the city tax revenues up front in some form or another.

7/2/09

How often do you shop in downtown Kingman?

32 (4%) Daily
77 (9%) Weekly
66 (7%) Twice or more a month
145 (16%) Once a month
586 (64%) Never

Not as many people have concerns about the downtown area. Not for commerce anyway. Probably not all that convenient of a location... certainly not as convenient as something near Interstate 40.

While I agree that it would be great for Kingman if the downtown area was improved in some development sorta way, I seriously doubt that downtown should be the prime target for expensive improvement at this time. At best it should be a side project... at least until there is enough other positive growth that would allow for the funding needed for real improvements.

KDMiner.com readers overwhelmingly do not head downtown for much so the needs just aren't there, therefore downtown should not be at the top of the list of things to accomplish. Cross off some of the other things first.

Next...

7/9/09

Would you be willing to pay a slightly higher sales tax at a new retail center, as opposed to an increase in the citywide sales tax?

109 (17%) Yes
85 (13%) Yes, but only if the new businesses sell items that can't be purchased elsewhere in town
299 (45%) No
166 (25%) Maybe, but I would want more information on it

Nearly half the people responded no. Half the people that responded yes want certain conditions placed a new retail center. Conditions that would likely help whatever new venture that may have been thinking about Kingman, to look somewhere else beyond this community.

Now for the last poll I'll share, it just closed today and replaced with a poll asking to choose who makes the best hamburger in Kingman. This one covers the biofuel plant, see for yourself the results you see for yourselfers...

8/13/09

Do you support the biodiesel plant as proposed?

742 (72%) Yes
289 (28%) No

I will reiterate that these polls are not scientific so they may not amount to even a hill of beans, but on the other hand it my opinion that the folks who are taking part in these polls reflect much of how this community feels on the subjects featured in them.

Also, MOCO Real is likely the only online source with fresh content that is actively supporting growth here in the Kingman area of Mohave County. While I love this little hobby of mine, I know that MOCO is not nearly as popular of a stop that the KDMiner.com site is. I bet I get less than a single digit percentage point of the visits that the Miner gets. Even Loyd has a larger readership, and most likely the head water worry wart does too with her new blog. So it is not like MOCO is having a huge impact on public perception. MOCO is NOT a king-maker.

Not once has my email box been delivered a notice that there is a such and such poll on the KDMiner.com site so make sure you vote this way or that way. Also, if I've ever pointed to a poll and asked readers here to participate it was well after the poll was established and it was obvious that what I might have said in a MOCO blog post made zero impact on the results. I've yet to see any call to action regarding these KDMiner.com polls... yet the results speak for themselves.

As I said throughout this post, I hope that our elected representatives in all levels of local government are at least considering the results of the polls. If anything, at least enough to question the other side of the arguments just a little more. There is a silent majority here in Kingman, but it is not who many seem to think it is and it is time to represent them (many need jobs). Turn that sign around at the city complex so it reads... "Kingman -- Open for Business"... and don't flip it back around again.

Biofuel plant county meeting, part II

A friendly reminder that part two of the county P&Z meeting will be held tomorrow starting at 10:00am at the county building... subject matter is on the biofuels plant. Come on down and support private property rights, lend your voice to the discussion. If you are having difficulty remembering what transpired last week, here is an article given to me by Dave Hawkins that will appear in The Standard later this week.

Pro Growth Swell


Energy and expression in support of growth and development was clearly more evident at an August 12 meeting during which the Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission tabled action on requests related to a biodiesel facility proposed about 20 miles north of Kingman.

Voices of opposition in recent months have dominated public hearings and meetings regarding billion-dollar-plus solar power projects and the $20-million dollar biodiesel plant that Sun West Biofuels LLC wants to build on a 15 1/2-acre site just outside the Route 66 community of Valle Vista. Mayor John Salem, City Council member Robin Gordon and a number of other Kingman area residents pushed a different point view, telling the County Commission that employment and other economic benefits must be weighed in the debate.

``I realize that there's only about 20 jobs that may come from this (biodiesel plant) but the reality is, as you all know, is this is just really the tip of the spear of an enormous amount of green development that's going to happen here in Mohave County," Ken Herskind told the Commission. ``We have an opportunity here to either open our door for business and opportunity for our citizens or to slam it shut. There's billions of dollars of development literally on our doorstep."

Justin Chambers said he's also tired of the anti-development attitude.

``I come to these meetings and time and time again I see the same people opposing anything that will bring growth to town," Chambers said. ``People my age have families to support and it's not fair what you guys are doing to us here. We don't have pensions and social security to rely on."

Cherish Sammeli added that young adults are leaving the area in pursuit of employment.

``My age demographic is slowly disappearing in this community," Sameli said. ``There are a lack of jobs, people are forced to relocate and there are not enough job opportunities available to choose from."

A number of Valle Vista residents hammered home their point that they are not opposed to growth or development and have no issue with biodiesel production. They said they mostly oppose the proposed location of the facility.

They said they were concerned about dangerous chemicals that would be used in the operation and argued the plant should be built at either the Kingman Airport Industrial Park or somewhere in the I-40 corridor in the Yucca area.

``The people who are for this project aren't going to live anywhere near this," one Valle Vista woman said. ``The ones who really care about their neighborhood in Valle Vista don't want the project because of the possibility of fire and the possibility of explosion."

Project Manager Rick Neal reiterated his position that the biodiesel plant will be safe, green and clean.

``There will be no hazardous waste of any kind. We will use no water in our production," Neal said. ``This is a closed loop system. We will be emitting no pollutants or smell into the atmosphere."

Several Valle Vista residents complained they moved into a rural setting to gain distance from industry and didn't want such businesses encroaching upon them. 50-year Kingman resident Shay Givans argued that Neal has property rights as well, and should be free to develop his land provided he's in compliance with all rules and regulations.

Richard Basinger, attorney for the Valle Vista Property Owners Association, countered that Neal currently enjoys no property right beyond the agricultural designation afforded under the general plan. Basinger urged Commission rejection of the request to amend the general plan to allow the biodiesel plant under a heavy manufacturing designation.

Other plant opponents, with support from Commission members Bill Abbott and Carl Flusche, expressed worry that the requested general plan amendment could open the floodgates for less desirable heavy industries.

``If you allow this, it's going to get a foothold and it will continue and the footprint will get a lot larger," agreed Frank Lee.

Bob Taylor, a civil division deputy county attorney, clarified that land use designations under a plan amendment do not change underlying zoning. Other heavy industrial projects, he said, would require additional zone changes or Zoning Use Permits (ZUP) for development and operation.

Commission and county staff members provided some comment but statements from 30 citizens dominated the 90-minute long public hearing. The Commission did not vote on the plan amendment or the ZUP sought for the biodiesel facility.

The matters will be considered during a special August 19 meeting of the Commission.

Investing in water's future...

I Googled 'the future of water' the other day to see the results. Mostly for news articles and of course I found many. I invite you to do the same thing if you are so inclined.

Wanted to share some bits from one particular article from 2008 found at Forbes.com titled Inventing Water's Future. It is a quick read but I'll copy and past a couple of parts...

In 2006, General Electric acquired Zenon Environmental, an advanced water-filtration maker, for nearly $700 million. Although GE's water business accounts for less than 2% of the behemoth's annual revenue, water figures prominently in the company's long-term growth strategy.

By effectively outsourcing innovation in clean technology to small start-ups, GE has convinced venture capitalists to invest in water technologies. As a result, venture capital firms like Toronto's XPV Capital have placed big bets on innovative water start-ups on the assumption that they will be future targets for industry giants like GE as scarcity, climate change and energy prices increase the value of water. The amount of money invested in water and wastewater technologies in the U.S. rose a whopping 436% between 2006 and 2007, according to the Cleantech Group, an environmental industry association.

My emphasis above. You see folks there is money being thrown around in the hopes of providing solutions for water issues. While the above does not specifically speak to the 'creation' of water (the problem we face with depleting aquifers), if there is a problem there likely is an investor that can help.

Another bit...

In processes where water use is hard to reduce, companies have sought to increase the yield produced for every unit of water consumed. For example Ecovation, a New York water-filtration start-up acquired by St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab (nyse: ECL - news - people ) in February for $210 million, develops energy-efficient water treatment systems for food and beverage companies.

In 2005, Ecovation designed a waste treatment facility for Breyers Yogurt that transforms wastewater into methane-based gas using a thin-film separation technology. That gas can then be burned to provide energy for the plant.

Sounds like killing a couple of birds with one investment to me. I haven't been around all that long, but I have to wonder if we were thinking of these things 50 years ago?? Therefore, what will solutions look like in another 50 years??

If we continue to try and scare away investment and opportunity (like some are doing their darndest to do around here), it won't look any different and all we'll have left are depleting aquifers.

One more from the web page where I got this article...

Veolia Water, a division of France's Veolia Environment, is the world's largest provider of water services in terms of revenue, which reached nearly $17 billion in 2007. Veolia recently won the first water services contract ever awarded to a private operator in Saudi Arabia. Veolia will build one of the world's largest desalination plants in Saudi Arabia, which will provide water to Jubail Industrial City and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The six-year contract has an estimated value of roughly $60 million and will eventually provide water to roughly 4.5 million people.

Just a guess here, but I bet the aquifers in Saudi Arabia are depleting too (if they even exist in the first place).

An article about housing recovery...

Found this one today (but it was published last Friday) and thought it had a few interesting things to comment on.

Read the whole thing here.

Some bits and commentary below...

A nascent recovery
Commentary: Overlooked signs the U.S. housing market is turning

That is the title of the article and before I go on I want to make clear that what I copy below perhaps won't have exact relevance to our local Kingman market, but still I sense there may be some items to look for.

Spurred by markdowns up to 80% from market highs, first-time buyers and investors both American and foreign descended en masse in the last three months on San Francisco's hardest-hit hinterlands as Wall Street and the economic climate improved. They're picking clean the Delta region's banked-owned inventory as soon as properties hit the market and are engaged in unprecedented bidding wars even on short sales.

Obviously the article is taking on what is happening near a location near San Francisco in California. Yet our own inventory of foreclosure properties here in Kingman is being picked as well, maybe not to the point of being picked clean but as I reported on in my Listings Report for May -- foreclosed listings are at the lowest level since I've been reporting on that sort of data.

I'm aware of multiple offers being put in on some foreclosed listings, but haven't heard the same thing about short sales in this area yet (doesn't mean it isn't happening though).

After spending most of the 1990s in the $250,000 range, the median-priced home that was sold in the seven-county San Francisco area rose to a staggering $850,000 by its May 2007 peak. It since fell to a low of $399,000 in February -- a 53% drop in just 21 months -- before posting its first monthly gain in March, albeit a 1% uptick. The median is expected to continue rising at a healthy clip in months ahead since it's now at the level of nine years ago, before the bubble began inflating.

The median priced single family home in Kingman has dropped 53% in pretty much the same time period as reported above.

I'm not as optimistic about the median price rising at a healthy clip in the months ahead though, but would love to be wrong about that.

California's statewide inventory of unsold homes -- based on the number on the market divided by the present monthly sales rate -- stood at a 15.2 months supply in February, 2008. That figure was down to 5.8 months in March, near the historic average.

At one point in Kingman I believe I reported that we may have had darn near close to 20 months of inventory on the market, and now my data says we are down in the eight to nine month range. Meanwhile for the foreclosure market has a little over a months worth of inventory.

The specter of rising foreclosures -- born now of the recession rather than just overleveraged subprime borrowers -- is the wild card in future health of the U.S. housing market and the economy by extension.

Yes.

And in an overlooked report that belies the first-quarter delinquency numbers, defaults on privately insured mortgages -- where borrowers are more than 60 days behind -- fell 3% in April and were down 24% from a record 106,482 in February, the trade group Mortgage Insurance Companies of America reported Friday.

I'm not sure what to make of that, but I hope it is correct and continues.

Most importantly for gauging the strength of the nationwide market is how conditions are improving in the most-depressed regional markets.

With those markets now stabilizing, banks are no longer anxious to dump real-estate owned properties, as houses in their foreclosure portfolios are called, fearing they'll get appreciably less three months from now for their foreclosed properties.

As a result, they'll be more judicious about the pace at which they release foreclosures onto the market. The new goal: To maximize the value of supplies in hand rather than unload it helter-skelter and torpedo the housing market like they did while they were shell-shocked by the devastation they'd wrought.

With the banks themselves now somewhat more stable, they'll also be less likely to want to part with their "toxic assets" knowing the most-scorched, still-serviceable mortgages will be the most valuable on a credit-risk markup once the economy recovers. In fact, the price stabilization in the most-depressed U.S. markets will allow a clearer valuation of the toxic assets we now all hold by virtue of bank bailouts -- a modicum of certainty that will hasten the overall recovery.

And there is the key from the beginning of this slide and the massive influx of foreclosures that led to the conditions we see today. The key being the day would (or will at least) come when banks consider not only competing amongst themselves to sell off their inventory... but also compete again against the traditional seller.

I'm not saying that it is happening right here, right now... it is just a sign worth looking for. With reduced levels of foreclosed inventory clearly visible in our market the sign might just be visible if not now then perhaps soon.

Last bit...

Homeowners in most of America know by their own property's value that the spike in U.S. median home values was driven in considerable measure by soaring prices and volume in major markets, especially in California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona. By virtue of their climates and economic-growth rates, those four states have been on the extremes of the U.S. boom-and-bust housing cycle since the 1950s.

You can't discount how critical an upturn in those states will be, considering they account for 46% of foreclosures nationwide. If foreclosures there are more quickly consumed as they're starting to be now -- fueled in part by foreign buyers who recognize their value -- we'll all reap a return on our bailout money a lot faster.

"The banks are getting smarter and realizing that if they don't sell it in a short sale, they lose more money going the foreclosure route," Barbee said.

Adds Sharga: "The banks will be very particular and thoughtful about how they'll release new foreclosures, because they know now how flooding the market will have a disastrous effect."

Something to keep an eye on anyway.

Still waiting for that other shoe to drop?? Well then, keep an eye on interest rates. Not out of the woods yet, but nonetheless a decent article worth considering.

Mohave Real Talk in the news...

My podcast partner at Mohave Real Talk, Evan Fuchs, is featured on the front page of the Mohave Daily News this morning. He was interviewed about using social networking and podcasting for business and other means.

Full article here...

BULLHEAD CITY - Ten years ago, if a company wanted to get more exposure, it would print flyers, make some phone calls and maybe even have a sign spinner on the sidewalk.

Today, the nature of marketing has changed. What once was a tangible medium now is an Internet-based model that relies on the use of social media. The utilization of Web-based social networking sites such as Twitter, MySpace and Facebook has opened doors between businesses and clients, allowing for a greater flow of information.

For local business people like Evan Fuchs and Nikki Reagan, business means communication and transactions in real time, online.

The spread of information, says Evan Fuchs of Bullhead/Laughlin Realty, in an integral part of the real estate business. With national reports daily about the dire state of the mortgage scene and rising foreclosures, Fuchs found himself in a different position.

“There's so much bad information out there,” mainly because, he said, real estate markets differ quite a bit regionally. National averages are not always indicative of the reality in specific locations. “Locally, our market is very different.”

Fuchs says Bullhead City is on the rebound, with the numbers indicating a possible balancing of supply and demand for homes in the city. And he decided to do something about it.

“I kind of look at it as my job to get what I know out there without spin,” said Fuchs. “Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse but it's the truth and I think that's what people want to see.

“I've got a little bit of techie going through me,” he said, noting that his fascination with technology helps him more easily spread information via the Internet.

First came the Web site. Then the blog. Then the podcast.

“Social media opens a lot of doors,” said Fuchs.

From its inception 10 years ago, Bullhead/Laughlin Realty's Web site has seen considerable monthly traffic and brings in “a ton” of business. “I've definitely found business through my blog,” he said.

Through the development and integration of the regional multiple listing service (MLS) - a database of home listings in the area - Fuchs met fellow Tri-state Realtor Todd Tarson of Kingman. After a few months of comparing notes via their individual blogs, Fuchs and Tarson realized the next step was podcasting.

“We talk about real estate and we do market updates, that sort of thing, but we also just kind of chat,” said Fuchs, of their now weekly Internet broadcast. “It's real casual.”

The co-hosts of Mohave Real Talk connect via Skype, an online phone system, record the show and post it for free download on the Web site.

Fuchs says he favors Social media because it simply gives his audience what they're looking for without pressure or hassles, which helps build trust.

“Our thing really - and this is what the Web site, podcast, blogging are all about - is to be a source of information for people,” he said. “I don't like things getting crammed down my throat, so I try not to cram things down people's throats. ... We just put information out there and just hope that people find it useful.”

My hat's off to Evan for making the podcast become a reality. So far I've had plenty of fun being a part of the show. We hope the podcast helps some become more familiar with the local market(s) and promise to give some insight into Realtor membership and other industry issues as well.

Thanks again, Evan -- and that sure was a very nice article.

While I have the scissors out...

The local guy that called everyone that planned to attend the Tea Party back in April a racist (also known as the editor of the Kingman Daily Loyd... I mean Kingman Daily Miner) wrote a little piece in the Sunday edition worth noting.

Now I don't find myself disagreeing with the column with extreme prejudice (he is not advocating hiding in a shell at least) but there are a couple of differences of opinion here that I wanted to share. So let's make some cuts...

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Wow. The city of Kingman needs a rich uncle to die and leave them everything. He would have to be really rich, though, because the city is completely void of cash to pay for the plethora of capital improvement projects on its "wish list."

At the recent town hall meeting attended by a whole nine residents, Mayor John Salem figuratively scratched his head over the dilemma. He knows that we can't grow responsibly unless we complete some of these projects, but he also knows there's no money in the till to pay for them.

Well it is no surprise that Kingman doesn't have a rich uncle, and no one in the community is hoping that somebody dies and bequeaths enough cash to pull off a few infrastructure projects. However, at this point, if I won Power Ball I'd heavily consider donating 10% of the take to have the Kingman Crossing interchange constructed for once and for all... with one caveat... that the project is renamed after me of course (relax folks... like I'm really going to win Power Ball).

Also interesting to see that the group that refuses to define 'responsible' or even 'irresponsible' (part of their acronym) is now up to nine members. But seriously, kudos to that political action committee for continuing to host the town hall events. Hopefully more folks will attend at future meetings.

As for the dilemma the editor points out of the mayor knowing that the community can't grow 'responsibly' unless some big dollar projects come to fruition but alas faced with no existing money available to pay for the projects... here is a reminder; 1) there is a 168 acre parcel of land with Interstate frontage that is currently owned by the city which by all accounts can be considered an asset to be used to fund a project and/or 2) there is a developer that has been willing to enter a public/private partnership where the developer would front their own funding and build an infrastructure project, at no risk to the Kingman taxpayer for the project, that would almost certainly take care of one glaring need AND want from this community.

Even right now on the front page of the KDMiner there is a little poll that looks like this (at the time I'm writing this post)...

If you could create anything in Kingman, what would you choose?

Please select one:
Art/Culture center -- 8%
Roller rink -- 10%
Water park -- 21%
Shopping mall -- 28%
Movieplex -- 4%
Civic center -- 5%
Other -- 25%

Shocking, Martha, simply shocking.

How many birds might be killed with considering just one stone?? How about 1) getting a new infrastructure project paid for without taxpayer money up front with all the risk, 2) improving the value of a city owned asset by many multipliers, and 3) more shopping venues to placate the 'SHOP HERE!' program currently in place.



Of course there would be a litany of details that would have to be hammered out... but it is just so damn surprising that the city and this media outlet fails to talk further about the possibility, one that would likely increase job opportunities, improve access and public safety, and increase city sales tax dollars.

How many tax dollars are being collected on either the developers property or the city owned property at this very moment?? Seriously... how many??

After voters soundly defeated the city's last attempt to create bonds to pay for some of the projects, the city is skittish on the subject of bonds, especially in this economy. Former RAID (Residents Against Irresponsible Development) president Mike Bihuniak echoed at the meeting what many folks said after the bond failed two years ago. In a clear, concise way, ask voters to fund ONE project at a time. Tell them how much is needed, what you will do with the money, when the project will start and end, and how important the project is to the future of Kingman.

If the project is viable, voters will support it, EVEN IN THIS ECONOMY...

And here I agree with the editor and the reference to Mr. Bihuniak (can you believe it??). I frankly didn't care about the bonds on the 2007 special election as compared to the anti-growth referendums and stupid asset management decisions brought forth by said referendums back then. I since stated many times that I'd likely favor a bond measure that has clear and concise benefits that the community would enjoy. Since the media and political action committees have done their best over the last three or so years to thumb their nose to new investment and development in this community... it may just fall onto the community to pay for any improvements needed (example the increase in the base charge on the water bill). But still... doesn't mean it has to be that way (example earlier in this post).

Raising the sales tax, though, would be stupid, now or whenever. That stifles growth and makes residents angry. How about a gas tax on stations near the highways? Their prices are so high now, no one would notice. How about a tax on people taking their pictures in front of the train at Locomotive Park. I don't know if I've ever NOT seen people there posing when I drive by.

I agree here as well, however not so much on the taxing people in front of Locomotive Park park. More so in the sense of being creative on developing tax revenues. I don't know if there are any quirky legalities with increasing the sales tax rate on fuel purchases made at the 'near the highways' as the editor suggests, but he is obviously alluding to getting more tax dollars from those that are not from the Kingman community, i.e. those passing through... and again, not really a bad idea.

City conscience-keeper Loyd Peterson would like to see more belt tightening by the city, and I'm certain more can be done, but Salem is right when he says there's only so many reductions that can be made before residents cry foul.

City conscience keeper?? More like lead propagandist for the advocacy of hiding in a shell, so please spare us that moniker for the Kingman Daily Loyd.

But again I find myself agreeing with the the one that labels tax demonstrators as racists and the mayor, city services will likely suffer unless more economic development initiatives find success... and soon. Quality of life issues are very important and even if you, say, are against the expenses such as the golf course or the local public transportation service -- taking either away from even the vast minority of residents that partake in the services and the city will have folks up in arms.

The answer is developing more revenue resources... and if Kingman truly was making every effort to do so... they would simply be joining the thousands of other communities competing for the chance to do the very same thing.

Is. Worth. Fighting. For.

I still believe the answer to our money woes is in utilizing our "natural" resources, mainly Route 66. If the city would offer major incentives to transform that small section of the Mother Road, from Beale to the bottom of the hill, into a 1950s-style environment, with drive-ins and putt-putt golf and the ability to turn around at either side for "cruising," people would flock to Kingman from all over the world to "relive" that bygone era.

It's almost like "Field of Dreams," when Kevin Costner's character, Ray Kinsella, builds a baseball field in his cornfield and people come from all over to see it. James Earl Jones as Terence Mann has a good quote that fits here:

"People will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa (Kingman) for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway (Route 66) not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. ... The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. ... Oh, people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

Okay time for some slight disagreement on this. First of all I don't think Kingman has any former acid dropping owners of corn fields that hear voices in its midst, sadly. Second, Field of Dreams is a made up story that was made into a Hollywood movie. Chances are incredible that if the movie was adopted from a book, you'd find that book in the 'fiction' section of your favorite book store or library.

And even if there was some relevance between the movie and the plight of economic development in Kingman Arizona... there is a huge difference between the fun nostalgia of the 1950's and the American pastime of baseball. The main one is that baseball is still around with popular attention being paid to it and has been for over 100 plus years spanning many generations and will likely continue to be that way long after this current generation has been laid to rest. Dads (and Moms actually) and kids are still to this day 'having a catch' and creating lifelong memories. So it is no surprise that Field of Dreams plays on the heart strings for practically anyone that has shared a bit of catch with their parental unit. Same simply cannot be said for future generations for a stretch of road that is basically by-passed by most these days.

As for the Disney/Pixar animated movie Cars goes (someone is thinking about using that movie in a response right now reading this) well I saw that movie... protagonist wins the race and gets the girl and everyone is happy-happy... like all Disney movies. Kids today growing up loving that movie probably aren't going to be drawn to Kingman in future to check out a road cutting through it. Route 66 was a prop used in the background to tell an all too familiar story.

Our little stretch of 66 has been wasted by the leaders in this town for far too long. Mr. D's and places like it should be up one side of the road and down the other. Neon should be a requirement to build there; the more you plan to have, the more money you save to build. People would come from all over the world to cruise our "Radiator Springs."

I'll take Doc Grahm over Doc Hudson as a better bet to improve the future economic development here in Kingman. Well... no... I won't be that harsh. Though it would still be awesome with a capital A if Kingman landed a minor league baseball team sometime in the distant future.

Actually redeveloping the downtown area of Kingman to this theme isn't all that bad of an idea, I'm just not sure that this alone is the answer to the current economic woes Kingman faces. It would have likely been a better idea 10 or so years ago because that is likely how long it would take from now before all the heads got together, came to some form of agreement on how it would all work out, finding the funding (I'm not voting for that bond measure), planning, and finally carrying out the whole thing.

Face it, the generations of folks that are most attached to Route 66 aren't getting any younger. As a proud member of Generation X I have to admit that the first I heard about the fabled road was in a cover song produced by the 80's mod band Depeche Mode (it is awkward admitting to that). So it isn't all that likely that I would be passing along my affection of the Will Rogers Highway on to the next generation, but don't just take my word for it and I won't speak for the rest of my g-g-g-generation.

The answer to Kingman's financial woes is where one usually finds an answer to a problem. Right there in front of your nose.

Well said editor, well said. Too bad we differ on what is the more likely and viable solution for the economic development fix this town so badly could use. You know... the one you hardly trifle to bother covering.

I guess the interwebz...

I read an article last week in the NY Times covering the decline of housing prices in Phoenix. For whatever reason I was inspired to read it again and it got me thinking (yes dangerous of me to think I get that).

But, not so much of the 'why' the prices declined... that is pretty evident and basic economics 101 stuff (lack of buyers for the prices of the homes on the market).

I'm thinking more of the 'why' prices have declined so quickly. Here is the snippet of the article linked here...

Phoenix has achieved the unwelcome distinction of becoming the first major American city where home prices have fallen in half since the market peaked in the middle of the decade, according to data released Tuesday.

Though historical statistics are scant, experts said the precipitous decline probably had few if any equals in modern times.

“Even during the Depression, I’m not sure prices fell this quickly,” said Karl Guntermann, a professor of real estate at Arizona State University.

The professor is not sure because data from that time (The Great Depression) is hard to come by. But that is not the case today is it??

Well I don't think it is. Sharing information is practically the clarion call in these current times. Everyone's doing it... it seems.

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to share local information about the housing market here in the Kingman area. I got really tired of looking for such information (that didn't seem to exist) and had been collecting data for a couple of years on the market before MOCO hit the Internet. So that decision was easy and at least a few hundred people a month stop by this blog to see some of the information.

This blog certainly wasn't the first that provided local housing information (actually it was the first in this area, but not the first in the state or beyond) I was inspired by others in the real estate industry that were doing much the same thing on their blogs and websites. Add in that I had received email inquiries about the market which told me that others wanted to see the best data possible, and no matter how large or scant -- there was a market or demand for the information (not a financially beneficial market to my wallet, as yet anyway, but an intellectual market for certain).

People... out there... somewhere... demand relevant information on practically everything. The Internet provides the outlet of information and others take it upon themselves to supply the information. It works rather well I must say.

So back to my thinking... I surmise that if the Internet was around for the Great Depression era, housing prices (any asset class actually) probably would have declined at a faster rate than it had (depending on the best guesses of professors and historians). Today with all the information a mouse click away practically, the masses (buyers in this case) figured out that at the peak prices of a few years ago -- prices were too high and left the market.

That left the sellers, of course, holding the bag so to speak. There was no easy transition to a buyers market (if you want to call it that). Seemingly one day it was clearly a sellers market, and the next day -- clearly something else. So in essence I don't think the rapid rate of decline in housing prices is all that shocking, given the circumstances.

My feeling is that the best remedy for an overinflated market is a corrected market... as soon as possible. The Internet is having a huge impact on the correction from my view of things.

Sounds like a party...

I'm talking Tea Party here for a second. Here is one bit about a Tea Party organizer that was denied the opportunity to speak in front of city council (not here in Kingman).

City Council votes to deny public speaker

by Bob Gough, editor, QuincyNews.org

Along a party line vote, the Quincy City Council denied a written request to speak by a taxpaying resident of the city.

Steve McQueen, one of the organizers of the Quincy Tea Party effort, requested to speak on the recently approved $31.2 million budget and water and sewer rate increases.

When it came time to vote to open the floor to allow the speaker, a mixed voice vote took place. A roll call vote ensued and the seven Democrats denied McQueen's opportunity to speak while six Republicans voted to allow him to speak.

Shameful that this was allowed to happen, but I'm not all that alarmed that we'd see this sort of denial to speak in front of our own local city council.

Also it is examples like the above (as well as Tea Party attendees being called out as racists -- actually by our own local media) that tells me that these Tea Party movements might actually become something else... a new political party. Hopefully the momentum continues.

Don't forget about the Tea-Party on Wednesday...

See this website for more information as to the when and the where's...

But I guess I should warn the folks that are thinking of attending. You see a comment appeared in the Sunday edition of the Kingman Daily Miner... an ugly one at that. I'll get to that comment in a second.

The Tea-Party movement has taken place all across this country in a very organic and mostly spontaneous way. From my reading and understanding, there is very little organization going into the protests. The first Tea-Parties saw a couple of hundred folks show up in large cities holding informal demonstrations complete with homemade signs. Now I am seeing reports of thousands of people showing up in larger cities and hundreds more in smaller locations.



These are not republican or democrat demonstrations. They are not backed by wealthy individual political activists (like a George Soros backed MoveOn.org deal). The republican party is not sponsoring or organizing these events, in fact republican party leader Michael Steele was asked NOT to show up at a recent Tea-Party event.

Here in Kingman on April 1 there was a Tea-Party and now later this week (Wednesday) there will be another one -- just one of many hundreds and maybe even thousands that will be held on 'tax day', if you will.

Hmmm... 'tax day'... hundreds or maybe even thousands of Tea-Party protests all over the country... what, I say, what just might be the theme of these protests??

Well the editor of the Kingman Daily Miner believes that these events have one common theme...

As if we didn't have enough problems with our government trying to give us the shaft, we now have a growing group of tea-baggers intent on making sure every American is scared crazy about pretty much everything. I would love to be there when these Henny Pennys discover that they really don't have much in common except that they all hate the fact that a black man is running (ruining!) the country.

That is right, he believes that if you are attending any Tea-Party anywhere across this country you have a problem with a black man running the country. Way to play the preemptive race card there pal. Disgusting.

In reality, if you were to read the rest of his column, you'd see that the editor is a fine candidate to join the folks at the Tea-Party. No... not because he himself is a racist because I doubt he is (I really don't know the man other than I know he is a Denver Broncos fan) and I would never call him a racist preemptively the way he just called hundreds of thousands of Americans. Actually why he would do well at this protest is because he is fed up with the decisions the governments (national on down to local) are making with our tax money...

... which is the entire point and theme of the Tea-Party movement.

Well I won't be holding my breath waiting for an apology from the editor of our local paper, but he should man up and offer one... at the Tea-Party on Wednesday (it's doubtful he'd even send a photographer or a reporter to cover the event even).

No matter though, the event is about us US citizens and our not feeling so swell with how the governments are spending money they don't have now and asking future generations to pay off these enormous debts.

I hope my schedule affords me the time to be at our local Tea-Party, and hopefully you can make it there too if you have some disagreement with how government is using our money at this time.

You can find contact information for the editor of the Miner here.

Shades of possibility...

City Council members held a public work session last Wednesday, the subject was on the proposed Rattlesnake Wash interchange and road improvement project.

Read this whole article for a better update... I'm going to share the following from the end of the article...

One of the property owners present, Paul Shuffler, said a handful of property owners had been willing to help fund the project if it could be moved up in ADOT's calendar. Since that didn't seem likely, Shuffler said he thought it only fair that all property owners should be involved in some kind of development agreement with the city to ensure everyone paid their fair share. Another property owner, Bill Bowers, agreed that an improvement district was the only reasonable way to go.

Council directed staff to draw up a resolution to hire a legal representative to proceed with financing such a development agreement with the property owners, as well as to initiate a formal Intergovernmental Agreement with ADOT that would make official an earlier letter of intent calling for ADOT to finance 70 percent of the project, with the city funding the remaining 30 percent.

I consider this a positive sign of the times. There is so much potential for industry type of jobs and other opportunity in this area, but much work needs to be done. For the landowners to reach out publicly the way they did is certainly a great beginning to get the community on the same page. If they are willing to pony up in return for normal benefits and take some risk, I think the community would also be more willing as well.

I've said all along that this infrastructure is as important as any other Interstate related proposed project.

Existing home sale up, nationally

Really shouldn't come as a shock or that large of a surprise.

Link here...

Sales of U.S. pre-owned homes rose 5.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.72 million in February, boosted by "deep" price discounts, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday.

Some say this news helped bolster the stock market yesterday, personally I don't have a clue as to what spurs the stock market on a daily basis.

I maintain a belief that there are two data points to consider and each has its own 'bottom' if you will. One data point is the value in dollars... and I don't think our local real estate market has reached that point yet. The other data point is sales in units and what I emphasized above has led to an increase of unit sales... and yes it appears that the bottom has been reached there.

Imagine how many more homes would sell if there was an ongoing effort to develop Kingman to attract new neighbors. It would coincide with the bottom of the price data point much earlier.

It is all about demand from here on out.

"Is it really that bad"

Friends from the Mortgage Calculator have sent me a link to share. I found it interesting reading and just wanted to pass it along.

U.S. Housing Market: Is it Really That Bad?

Plenty of good links to check out in their article. (I can't write all the articles people)

notable quotable..

Well smack my ass and call me Charlie... the Kingman Daily Miner did a brief write up, including quotes, on the subject of Kingman Crossing. I had to look out the window to see if pigs were flying (none visible).

Shares from this article...

"As HMMC grows and attracts more patients, however, we foresee the local community wanting even faster access by means of an I-40 interchange," Scholer said.

"Appropriate infrastructure growth is surely going to depend on the creation of not just one, but two additional interchanges - one at Kingman Crossing and another at Rattlesnake Wash. From the point of view of optimal access to health care, we believe the community would certainly be well served by the Kingman Crossing interchange.

"The community will also need an infrastructure that grows with it, and that includes access on and off of I-40," (Hualapai Mountain Medical Center President Duane) Scholer said.

I can almost hear the no-growthers now... I remember some crowing that the new hospital stating it didn't need an interchange. Well I guess it is too late for a referendum, dang it. The hospital doesn't need an interchange... but potential patients in need of emergency services might beg to differ.

Optimal access to health care... has a great ring to it.

Of course the reader comments are already laying the propaganda groundwork with cries of 'no tax exemption' and 'driveway to nowhere'... well if you are in need of emergency services of a hospital in that area, that 'driveway to nowhere' is actually a very important somewhere.

Yet for all the coming hand-wringing... none can argue on any factual basis on how a possible new interchange in the Kingman Crossing area might come to pass. Nothing is on the table in the form of negotiations or solutions (pigs might actually fly by the time any of that A) happens and B) gets reported on by the local daily).

There was also this from the article...

On Feb. 9, the city met with Vanderbilt and Vestar for the first of several negotiations concerning a tax reimbursement agreement for Kingman Crossing.

The two groups haven't met since, and no other meetings are scheduled, Mayor John Salem wrote in an e-mail.

Cool of the Miner to finally getting around to reporting on a meeting held over a month ago [sarcasm off/].

More econ development news... in other locations

I'm just going to continue to bring this kind of information here, from time to time, until we here in Kingman start to see these kinds of discussions happening in our media and from our elected officials.

CB 10 meets the challenge

All signs point to economic recession. But Community Board 10 intends to meet that challenge head on. The board voted unanimously to create a brand new economic development committee on Thursday, February 19.

“This new committee is going to be great,” board member Anne Jack said. “A lot of businesses in Westchester Square and on Crosby Avenue need our help.”

Until now, the board has barely addressed business concerns. But a global financial crisis has the district teetering between renewal and decline. Economic development, like residential development, deserves attention.

...

According to Kearns, the committee could work with Westchester Square merchants to launch a Business Improvement District. It could also sponsor seminars covering government loan, tax incentives and grants.

“We’ll have business-minded members on the committee,” he said. “We’ll have a business-minded chair.”

Board member Virginia Gallagher isn’t frightened by the prospect of a second Great Depression.” But Gallagher believes communication between business owners and civic leaders will prove crucial to the area’s success.

Ready to face the challenge... and ready to put a plan of action in place?? Cool.

Less duplication, more cooperation: Local officials say improvements possible

The local government machine aims to provide its taxpayers with public services they depend upon - transportation access, economic development, education, recreational opportunities, law enforcement protection, infrastructure for water, roads, growth planning and more.

...

Morton County Commissioner Andy Zachmeier said some duplication could be eliminated by city and county boards attending the other's meetings. "We could work together. The snow removal could be one example," he said.

"We want to promote growth, but we want to keep property taxes low and keep business taxes low," Zachmeier said. He said that would attract more residents and economic development.

While snow removal is not a worry for us here (at least this month), I do like the effort to keep taxes low on business and property in an effort to attract MORE residents and economic development. It can be done folks.

Economic development program hopes to lure top companies to region

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada may be seen as a player-coach in Greater Reno-Tahoe's economic diversification efforts, but there are some real all-stars playing the actual game.

Key partners in this endeavor include NV Energy; the Nevada Commission on Economic Development; the cities of Reno, Sparks and Fernley; the seven counties that make up our region; the University of Nevada, Reno; Truckee Meadows Community College; Desert Research Institute; Reno-Tahoe International Airport; developers; Realtors; businesses and more. Some provide vital funding, others needed skills.

This diversity of talent will make something happen and that is precisely what our "Out-of-Market Business Attraction" program is all about. We're working to recruit companies and jobs to our area in addition to responding to inbound company inquiries and assisting existing companies looking to expand or even just stay in business.

Out-of-market attraction is important for at least four reasons:

# Jobs. Nearly everyone knows or is related to someone out of work and we need to create jobs as the feed source to the economic stimulus.

# Tax dollars. Companies and the people they employ pay taxes basic to our interdependent system of government and services.

# Diversification. A broad base of companies from different industries -- clean energy, advanced manufacturing, business and financial services, advanced logistics and more -- provide jobs and taxes that minimize the obvious dangers of a region supported by a single industry.

# Competition. Through sales relationships, public/media relations and marketing we must promote the Greater Reno-Tahoe region and its many assets to attract new business.

...

Our goal is to bring company executives here to experience Reno/Tahoe firsthand. Second only to personal contact, decision makers are most influenced by news stories, which makes a national public relations campaign critically important to our region's of-market attraction efforts and getting the word out that Reno/Tahoe is a top place to do business.

So I'm not just imagining influencing factors like 'news stories'. I knew it. I'll resist the urge to link to some really non flattering articles about our community from one of our main local media outlets. Issues that probably give private interests with private money pause before dropping their dollars locally.

But I really like the bullet points in the linked article. Jobs, tax dollars, diversity, competition... all things Kingman sorely needs more of.

PROGRESS: Building friendships: Cities find the personal touch helps draw, retain businesses

A friendly face can make all the difference in economic development.

The former Clarion Hotel in Wickliffe was a good opportunity and key location when Julius Mosley bought it in June 2007.

Yet, the reason the hotel reopened in January as the Mosley Select Suites Hotel was the city's desire to build a relationship with him.

"It helps when you have a friendly city," Mosley said. "Originally, they were very receptive so that was a plus. That takes down 90 percent of the roadblocks if you have a cooperating city."

Even with an economy still struggling to recover, Mosley continued his plans to open the 196-room hotel, located at 28500 Euclid Ave.

"I already started it before the economic meltdown. I can't let that affect me. I can't just roll over and play dead," he said.

...

Attracting business

Available land, buildings and work force represent vital elements to bringing business to the area, said Jay Foran, senior vice president of business attraction for Team NEO.

The Cleveland-area group, which focuses on marketing and outreach, has 45 active projects — 10 new ones in 2009 — that could potentially bring employers to Lake and Geauga counties. Although there were 12 new projects in 2008, the potential is great for the area considering there are 10 months left in the new year, Foran said.

"We're an attractive place," he said. "In these economic times, we will see a decent amount of lead opportunities come our way.

Of the 45 possible projects, Foran anticipates that 10 percent of them will come to fruition, which he considers "a good average."

"We've developed relationships with these people over the long run. We are being successful with these people," Foran said.

"We're becoming a contestant in these opportunities much more so than the past.

"Basically, I'm feeling good about our lead stream compared to the previous year. We didn't expect to be this vibrant this year," he said.

...

Keeping businesses

Business retention often can be more impactful than bringing in new businesses.

In 2008, Wickliffe attracted 30 new companies and 130 employees; however, Laver said 80 percent of the city's job creation is through existing businesses.

In Chardon, Assistant City Manager Randy Sharpe also said that job retention is crucial.

Last year, the city collaborated with the chamber of commerce to create a business visitation program, which allows them to build more personal relationships with employers.

Since the program was implemented, the city has visited 16 employers; Sharpe said the visits have been well-received.

"We felt it was a way to get to know them better, help them grow where they are or somewhere else in the community," Sharpe said.

Does Kingman see a decent amount of lead opportunities come its way??

Development head seeks to add 2 employees

By assuming day-to-day management of the city's infrastructure and development plan, the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority is encountering a work force issue for itself.

GAEDA, the city's economic-development arm, has two employees, Executive Director Clifford J. Moller and Executive Assistant Angela Varnado. That staff may need to double for the authority to handle the $96 million development plan known as SPARC, for Special Planned Activity Redevelopment Corridors.

...

Alexandria Mayor Jacques M. Roy said compensation will be addressed in a cooperative endeavor agreement he hopes to present Tuesday to the Alexandria City Council.

The agreement will lay out the role and deliverables associated with the SPARC program as agreed upon by the city and GAEDA. "A sharing of responsibilities" is how Roy described it.

SPARC's goals range include improving infrastructure, transportation and housing as a means to induce private economic development. The plan segments the city into three cultural restoration areas, or CRAs, roughly described as downtown and the Red River waterfront; North Bolton Avenue and MacArthur Drive; and Masonic Drive and Lee Street.

A total of $40 million from the city's sale of two long-term municipal bonds in July 2008 is available now to fund projects.

...

Roy and Lawson agree on SPARC's potential to transform the city.

Lawson called it the most significant thing the council and city have done. Roy described SPARC as "city altering."

"I know it can be," the mayor said, "and I believe that we're really on the precipice of something great."

The goal there is to attract private economic development. Will that be the goal here in Kingman?? When??

Covington mayor gathering IDEAs through certification program

Economic development, strategic planning for communities and building a competitive community with an attractive quality of life are only a few of the topics of the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association (IDEA)’s economic development certification program course that Covington Mayor Candace Watkins is attending this week in Baton Rouge.

Watkins said that participating in courses like these continuously gives her training to implement programs and ideas for growth in the city of Covington.

She will be commuting to Baton Rouge each day and plans to use the knowledge obtained through the course and seminars to further economic development and planning in the city.

Other seminars in the four-day course include retail expansion and downtown redevelopment, workforce development from the ground up, business retention and expansion, developing an entrepreneurial economy, finance in the local economic development world, effective targeted marketing for business recruitment and managing the economic development organization.

Citizens of Kingman are demanding everything I emphasized in the above paragraph from our local government.

Economy has slowed, city still seeing growth

Although the economy nationwide has slowed, Coppell’s economic developments is still growing, slowly, but it is growing, according to economic development coordinator Mindi Hurley.

“There has definitely been a slow down in development,” Hurley said. “Every city has experienced some slowdown because of the economy, but we have been fortunate in this area to not see the kind of slowdown other parts of the country has seen.”

...

Several new businesses have come into Coppell in the last six months, which is important to the city.

“In the last six months, we have had Market Street open, two restaurants, Chipotle and Mooyah, and American Home Mortgage Servicing,” Hurley said.

According to Hurley, American Home Mortgage Servicing could employ more than 750 people.

“I think that many people think you get a new business every week and that is not necessarily true,” Hurley said. “It takes a long time before a company will finally make the decision on a location.”

Hurley said she has had a few meetings in the past two weeks with companies putting out feelers about coming to Coppell.

“That doesn’t mean they will come,” she said. “In the last two weeks, I have met with four different companies that are looking.”

The companies range from small retail to larger industrial users, she said.

...

Hurley sees two areas which she hopes will continue to grow in the future.

“I hope we will see more retail and a variety of retail coming in,” she said. “In addition, we are just now beginning to see more office space in the community.”

When, I say when, will the good folks of the Kingman community see this kind of information in our own media??