Ladies and Gentlemen, there is one thing that I cannot comprehend in our small city politics. Tis the absurd actions of some of the Adena supremacy.
Elections for council have somewhat become a common problem in most small towns as there is little or no interest. I wouldn't want to be part of a circus fair where fairness isn't found. Possibly, people who would like to serve rationally realize that they cannot reason with a few unreasonable fools. Frankly Adena has the worst exhibit I have ever witnessed and it is a crucial time when our village is in debt. There isn't a want for reasoning. Personal pettiness is prominent and a few don't represent reasonably for the commonwealth. Some townsfolk regard council as a carnival or circus and I dare say I agree.
Step right up! Tis no secret that some of our village officials have a problem with laws and deem themselves
supreme. So supreme that they supposedly hold meetings that violate the open meetings act of the Ohio Sunshine Laws, spout off and mock townspeople and
village employees, insult civic volunteerism, demonstrate ill civil conduct-publicly, solicit funding from taxpayers, and try to sell out the Mayor.
Look out Barnum and Bailey, there's a new circus show and it's funded by our tax dollars. (And tisin't, peanuts folks!)
Barkers affront the fun house--I like meat at a meeting! A hot, juicy, delicious feast, I could sink my pen into
but the last meeting Mayor Jeskey presided, or so tried, then tired. There was no meeting structure and twas was live action spectacle. The public speaks out
because some cannot conceive the ignorance of a few officials who unofficially degrade, mock, and are rudely illogical. Character assassination and dissension is
openly evident and it is visibly revolting. Some of these "electors" are NOT doing their jobs. There is no progress being made.
The Magic Show. Watch and see Adena's budget disappear before your very eyes!
As the BPA sinks into debt, (about $75,000.00 under) I only hear criticism of the BPA at council meetings, since they can't control the BPA, they cast criticism,
so I'll regard this as "spouting off." Instead of trying to work together and resolve the dwindling debt, the array instead agreed to buy new Christmas Lights.
Who' s going to pay for them? Power from people! Your organization will be invited to contribute and tis likely that council will emphatically accept your money. *You can
easily watch cash money go into the pockets of some electors at none other that a public meeting! Now you see it, now you don't!
The White Elephant The Adena Community Center/School re-construction project was a match
reimbursement grant approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the USDA, OSHA and the EPA, there is no record of a fire, health, or safety
inspection. Several meetings were held with the USDA but most of them were NOT publicly advertised, which violates the Ohio Sunshine Laws Open Meetings Act.
The USDA said the endeavor was initially for Historic Preservation but the building will not appear on the Historic register. The village voted accepting the lowest
construction bid to renovate some of the rooms inside the building. Its supposed goal was to breathe life into a white elephant. Now, pay attention
AHS Alumni, this building is not the school where you graduated that was built in 1944, on Mill Street. That one is currently in use. I'm referring to the old Adena High
School built in 1921, located on W. Main Street, where the majority of the Alumni alive today didn't graduate.
Keymaster The old school building undoubtedly has and will continually cost the
village money because it is yet another building owned by our dominion in dire need of maintenance. Since thestructure is regarded, as a Community Center,
shouldn't the community of Adena, children or at least the organizations benefit from it and use it free? That's what I think a community center should be. Since
no inspections were accomplished perhaps it should be called "Council's Center" and just remove the word community altogether because council exclusively
controls this building as well as the keys!
The outdoor sconces of the main entrance doors of the community center cost $600.00. The SAVE OUR SCHOOL fund paid for the lavish fixtures through
donations from the Adena High School Alumni. The AHS Alumni board claims there was no vote to solicit funding from the AHS Alumni. So, exactly where are
the donations from SAVE OUR SCHOOL FUND? I'll tell you where it isn't---in the Adena village treasury.
Flame Thrower In 2002 I invited the Ohio Historic Preservation Office to visit the building when it was in its
original, failing, condition. At no cost to the village, they came and later wrote a letter to the Mayor and Council advising that the first step of proper historical renovation should be a feasibility study. At that time it would cost $10,000.00. In the long run,
thousands and perhaps millions dollars would have to be spent in the reconstruction but could be accomplished over a period of time via grants, but shortcuts
were made instead. Perhaps council's committee should have had the building inspected. At least then, the organizations that meet in some of the rooms of the building
wouldn't have to worry about mold and the propane space heaters posing health and fire hazards.
Juggling Act- Recently the panel purchased former Bedway property so now Adena owns Bedway Park,
the village green, the former Bedway Coal office and garage, the former AHS football field, and other surrounding Adena areas. During renovations, the Mayor
and clerks were evicted from their offices inside the Community Center and Jeskey set up shop in the former Bedway coal office.
Unlike costing taxpayers money, donations were used to remodel the village offices for three clerks and the Mayor. Employees and kind
townspeople gathered last summer to fix the roof and help with minor repairs. This endeavor cost the taxpayers $0.00 and people worked together in harmony to beef up the building. OSHA inspected the edifice and the air quality
was better than good. The Mayor has chosen to keep it there. Furthermore, it is less costly to heat and maintain.
Blindfolds Please! At a public meeting, where the shades were pulled down again on the Ohio Sunshine Laws
Open Meetings act, and the Mayor could not preside, council tried to sell the municipal (formerly Bedway) building! Later, the solicitor told them that the Mayor
could have his office where he chooses. Obviously some didn't like that, so an assemblyman wrote her a letter, and she answered it-again! She also reiterated the
procedure for the sale of public properties. Tis law you can't rip off people by selling a building to a buyer in unfair condition like a leaky roof. But since council
seems to adhere to unFAIRness, and obviously demonstrated permanent lapse of reason and it was ignored. So here we go round again, and the
majority of council will try to bid out the Bedway office and garage. I'm willing to bet that most of the Adena properties and parks will be sold too because it takes money to make money, right?
Two tickets for sale- buy two tickets get the second free.
Peanuts and Crackerjacks Since the village now owns property and parks, you may be paying to use them!
This was actually deliberated. This whole undertaking (pun intended) is as organized as scrambled eggs, and money foolishly spent could
feed a few
Adena families sufficiently for a year. (Hot Dog!) Are you getting hungry? I'll feed you more.
Disappearing Act Last year council contacted Sheriff Fred Abdalla's office requesting the prisoners to help clean
out the community center. Then they realized they should feed them. So they asked citizens for donations and we donated food. After the dinner bell rang,
the Building committee submitted a bill for reimbursement of food and supplies at a public meeting. They voted and were unanimously reimbursed!
And lunch was on you! This Adena regime rules that it costs money and donations to pay a hungry bunch! It went over so well, they're tried it again last
year too! *
At the January 2008 public meeting an Adena citizen handed a $100.00 check to a councilwoman, not the treasurer, and she accepted it.
Ringmaster Last spring, the Adena Police Department contacted the Jefferson County prosecutor because
at a supervised cleaning at the community center and with the help of the prisoners, the Police Department's evidence closet was broken into and cleaned out too!
Colored Balloons When driving through town, I saw beautiful "historic looking" street signs all about the town.
Park Avenue seemed to be the only lane that had none, so I inquired appropriately. After a very hasty reply, and a month later the sign was posted. Dave, the street
supervisor confirmed he erected almost all of the signs. Watch out Viagra! But hey, at least Adena paid a Viagra price, $250.00 a piece! Here's what a 911
official revealed. "Critical time might be lost during an emergency by personnel looking for the street, especially if they need to call mutual aid. Also, since Adena
is incorporated, its duty of your city government to properly mark the streets." Are the authentic $250.00 non-reflective street signs regulations of 911? Moreover,
should an Adena resident be in medical crisis, is safety a priority? OK, so safety may not be a priority, but the signs do look pretty.
Free Rides Do these officious officials want notoriety? Last August it was reported that the Adena's street
supervisor was ordered by a councilman to clean garbage and cut weeds at a vacant property on E. Main Street. The work was done and was critiqued in the street
report. According to the County Recorder's Office, the councilman who had the street manager clean it up now owns the property!
Circus Clowns You don't have to have talent to participate in this parlor game. Some of these paid council
members can solicit funding, act on behalf of the Mayor, remove evidence and weapons from the Police Department, hold keys the community building, take
personal donations, insult people at public meetings, use your tax money and charge you more, and have their properties groomed all at the Adena taxpayer's
expense. Is this unlawful? You tell me.
No Littering According to an Adena Village employee poll, 99.9 percent said they "wished they were
treated as well as the town shrubbery." Most employees are quite happy when Ohio's minimum wage becomes mandatory because that is when they get a pay hike.
When an employee approached council for a cost of living pay increase in 2005, the answer was this, "If we have money to give raises, we need a janitor in the
school building." 2007 marked the first year that the employees weren't given a ham, gift card, or even wished Merry Christmas.
Tickets to Ride Remember you can always watch the show but get your money's worth! Please be wary of
who your paying, where your donating, find out where your money and tax dollars are going and how its being spent. The village treasury books are no secret they
are public knowledge. Though they may be contrasting colors, please don't get these purses confused.
Show's over. So where are our local "leaders" leading Adena?
They're perking their own prominence people, and they aren't seeking Adena's best interest. Their manipulations concern me because when a board
you elected votes to sell out your Mayor, Adena's probably going to be next.
your comment.