From the Email In Box

Dear Gramps:

I'm beginning to think I am delusional. There was so much press as to how great that superhero nonshow was. All of the people I spoke to didn't want to waste their time. The citizens think it is getting worse every year.

Gramps Reply:

It has been so bad since Assistant City Manager Steve Berry has tried to make it "better", "bigger" and "HIS" justification for a job, I haven't gone to the event in years. The year they decided to allow a beer garden was the last time I went.

Your not alone in not liking the day of traffic interruptions. For those who did go, they report more negatives than positives, when they reflect on the day. For example the food is priced to high. Why is it scheduled around the time of the year the children are having their SAT CAT test? Of course the how could this money and effort be better spent always comes up.

If that level of corporate donations are available for a Community Activity, let's hope it is available for Year Round Youth Activities instead of a one day blow out party with hired entertainment. Citizens who serve on the GT Days Committee have a challenge in re-directing the Dictates of Steve Berry. I think if they united behind an alternative plan and brought it to the City Council and CITIZENS change can happen. Perhaps not in the first year, but the second year of organized demand for a change. It seems Steve Berry has already set his Mind on the vision for next years GT DAYS, and may have already contracted the imported labor for the event.

Speaking of a contract issue, eventhough this is funded with donations, because those donations go through City Hall, if any one of those contracts is in excess of $5,000.00 it MUST according to State Law be a competitive bid.

I am waiting for the post GT Days Audit of Labor by the City Employees and Contracted Services. This is the cost not covered by the "Donations".

Gramps