For those Gentle Readers waiting breathlessly for a report on last night's Ogden City Council happenings, gentle reader and frequent contributor Dian has graciously provided a detailed write-up for our entertainment and enlightenment. Yes, thanks to the diligent and tireless efforts of our own Dian, Ogden city political junkies can again get their political fix right here.
Don't forget to chime in with your ever-perceptive and thoughtful comments.
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41 comments:
I'd definitely like to learn more about this "geiger & associates" pr firm. Anybody know how to do a Florida corporate search?
Why would Jeske's motion to allow everyone to attend their respective caucuses fail???
That is a citizen's right.
What happened, Dian? Enjoyed being enlightened on the doings last nite, but would like to know who voted aginst Jeske's motion?
Question: Is the mayor reimbursing Geiger and Associates for all their PR and press releases, interviews, etc on the gondola? Did the mayor authorize the Ch 2 gondola push?
How much does a ferret cost? Is it worth microchipping, etc? What do ferrets do?? Are they snuggly? Do they bark? Sit up, roll over and play dead? Do they eat dog food? Seems like a lot of trouble to go thru for a weasel. Come to think of it, I think there are several weasels running around with micro chip, collars, and vaccination papers. Call Animal Control immediately!
I meant withOUT micro chips, collars, and vaccination papers.
I understand they'll be eradicated in about a year and one half!
Sharon, I have no idea why the motion failed. I was told this motion was made last year and failed then too. I believe it was seconded by Brandon Stephenson. Rick Safsten spoke against it, sort of--I remember him stating that the caucus would go on with or without him. (He also joked about the "Young Socialist Party," which was quite amusing.)
It was a voice vote. I was behind a pillar, as usual. Strong male voices saying "Nay" is all I can tell you.
The article by Schwebke says that "a consortium of officials from..." and then lists organizations, some of them governmental, hired the Geiger & Associates firm. From this, it sounds like it was "privately" done, doesn't it? With no involvement from the organizations, although they were mentioned?
But I do not know for sure, and do not know anything else about this, and would of course like to.
It seems only approprate that the council appoint Mr. Glasmann to look into, and advise, about these tourist and concert problems.
He is the onliest one on the council, or in the city government, that knows a damn thing about promotion, concerts, and putting butts in seats.
I think that if he were in charge, stuff would happen.
Amen, Ozboy....I doubt that Glasmann would book "Air Supply" to play at the Ampatheater or anywhere else in town. He asked about the 3 Big Bands, that the City likes to present, last night. The response was that the lesser known bands are booked because those who would attend could not pay the price that more notable bands command. I think there's a trick in booking here that whoever the City has doing is doesn't know about.
Also, not to put the guy on a pedestal or anything, but he might even be able to show those new boxing promoters that put on fight cards in the OECC a thing or two that would help 'em all out.
I remember that he had a buddy that helped out here and there, some guy who lived in the Hollywood Hills and made a pile of dough televising Kenny Loggins and Merry Clayton.
Now, those two, re-producing their Summer "LIVE FUNK" Series, would be a real good pair to draw to.
First, thanks to Dian for the well-written summary. Would that our councilpersons wrote as well. [Thinking of running, Dian?]
Second: the infrastructure comments by tourist folks were interesting and I think on point. I know some council members have been looking into the idea of a ski bus in winter connecting Ogden hotels to the local slopes. I don't know if the bike rental idea will work. Do they have them available to rent at Snow Basin [as they do at the base of the Park City resorts and the Cottonwood Canyon resorts in summer]? Anyone know?
As for tourguides and such like: some years ago, discussing things civic over a dram or two of Rooster's finest, I proposed to Mrs. Curmudgeon that we buy a sixteen passenger van and start a tour company of our own to cart the touring retired to the scenic splendors of Ogden's Hole [or as the locals like to call it now that homes go there for a mil plus, "The Upper Ogden Valley"]. We could call it, I told her, "Geezer Mountain Tours: We Know Where the Bathrooms Are!"
This being a Family Values blogsite [Rudizink is after all a Republican, like the Mayor], I will spare you all her response. Suffice it to say that I don't get no respect.
I attended last night's CC Meeting and have a few observations to add to Dian's always superb postings:
(1) To answer Sharon regarding Jeske's motion, there were a few options discussed. It was felt by the Council that because the annual City Budget, wherein everything is put on the line as far as the direction the City will take, would be under serious discussion with Department Heads and already scheduled and probative issues on the docket, and that the Budget must, by Law, be completed by its specified time, that eliminating a Budget Work Session would not be in the City's best interest. Also, with the Caucuses beginning at 7 pm, and the CC Meetings more often than not running past that hour, and then followed by the Work Sessions than often run for an hour or two (3-4 during Budget times), there's NO gaurantee that the Council Members would be out of the CC Meeting by 7 pm. BEFORE the vote, the council made mention that on THAT night, each member could satisfy his or her own personal conviction and either attend the WS or just leave and head to the Caucuses. No need to form up the vigilantees, Sharon, and "ferret" (pardon the play on word, here) out those who voted Jeske's motion down so you people could "string 'em up." Anyone who wants to go to Caucus, may in fact exercise that right, but the Work Session, due to its seriousness, etc., will continue as planned.
(2) KUTV, as any ohter media source, will report its findings and air its report, without a mayorial "kickback" or authorization. Nothing on that particular reporting was iron-clad; it was merely floating a concept which the Mayor's version differs from others. It's NEWS, that's all. No need to get all worked up over a news story.
(3) The cost of a ferret? Who cares. Micro-chipping is "what's happening" these days and ALL domestic animals, kept as pets, in the City are bound by ordinance to have tracking and licensing in cased they get off the leash, so to speak.
No conspiracy at last night's meeting, Sharon. Much accomplished and much discussion among the Council members on EACH agneda item, something that was noticeably absent from the prior council. Hell, the "newbies" even have Stephenson and Safsten joing in, and even occassionally voting against one another.
Curm:
Us'n Repub's never did get no respect!
But as John Nance said "anybody that don't respects us, well hell, they ain't worth a bucket-O-Warm spit anyways"
Or did I get that backwards?
I think knowin where the pissers are is the biggest money makin idea that has hit Emerald City this decade. Sign me up for investin, I got twenty bucks says this is a winner.
Where are those pissers anyway? Ever since I passed 60 I been lookin & wonderin.
EC
I think that dude from the Hollywood Hills went off the high side back about 1979.
Either that or he joined the Church and got sent to Iraq on a Family Home Evening mission.
In any event, aint nobody heard from him since.
Just one slight correction to Dian's diligent reporting. We are so lucky to have her on this blog. My motion was to cancel the work meeting after the Council Meeting on March 21st, so that we could attend our Neighborhood Caucus meetings. Brandon Stephenson did second it, and he and I were the only two who voted for it. The reason that the others voted against it, is because we are starting the budget review meetings, and it was a concern that we'd be able to work that meeting information into another work session. But, it was quite ironic that later in our work meeting, Bill Cook told us that the work meeting scheduled for Thursday night was cancelled. When I asked if it were possible to reschedule the 21st work meeting agenda to Thursday night's work meeting, I was sharply told that we had voted to hold the work meeting on the 21st. There was also a copy of an email from Bill Cook that he had sent to the Administration stating his concern about not meeting with the department heads on the budget during the March 9th, 14th, 16th and 21st work meetings. I wonder why he didn't mention this when we were talking about cancelling the 21st work meeting.
I was told that Geiger & Associates PR firm from Florida, have no connection with Curt and Bob Geiger. It's just a coincidence that the names are the same.
The Golden Hours and The Special Events Advisory Committees gave their annual reports. They are doing outstanding work in the Community and have added a great deal to improve citizen quality of life in Ogden. The excellent programs at the Golden Hours Center should be checked out. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised at all the courses and activities they offer. We appreciate very much all their efforts to improve life for our older citizens. All those great activities that happen all year long from the Christmas Parade to the Farmers Market that we enjoy so much are the results of the hard work and perserverence of the Special Events Advisory Committee! They make Ogden come alive and make it fun to live in and near Ogden with their foresight and diligent planning of the many enjoyable and worthwhile events. A big, heartfelt "THANK YOU" to them for their untiring efforts to benefit all Ogdenites!
The Weber Pathways group had an excellent and very informative presentation. The gave the City a huge, framed 5' X 6' colored map of the trailways in Weber and Davis Counties. They are very diligent in adding to our quality of life with beautiful trails. They are to commended for the great job they do.
In our work meeting, UTA brought us up to date on the commuter rail. It is exciting to see it starting to develop. The trains will be modern-looking double decker trains and are planned to move 140 people between SLC and Pleasant View with speeds up to 79 mph. June of 2008 is the scheduled date to have it up and running.
Thanks for the update, Dorrene. And I agree -- we are EXTREMELY FORTUNATE -- to have such an accomplished researcher, reporter, and journalist as Dian regularly contributing to this blog.
At one reader's request, I sleuthed through the State of Florida's most excellent online corporate records.
None of the local "Geigers" show up in Florida state records.
It would be nice, though, I think, if the council would simply ask for "records" of the Geieger & Assocs. transaction, just to assure eveybody that all is "kosher," and so we'll know exactly whom we've been inadvertantly dealing with.
As for the loose-cannon Bill Cook... MANY of us are asking ourselves who he thinks he's working for...
Bill Cook is one of us.
Joseph Smith created the United Order, and God has ordained it will ultimately happen here in ZION.
Relax! You'll be fine here, so long as you quit gripimg.
And watch out for the danites, you obstructionists!
althepal - are you implying that maybe, just maybe.......naw...couldn't be. Could it?
Glad to hear that the "GEIGERS" aren't "Geiger & Associates".... That would be all we need.... start Paying the Geiger's to promote the Gondola....it would be scary. Without any pay that we know of, they spew lies and filth all day long!
As for Bill Glassmann, I know he can put Butts in seats, but I think that he might have to familiarize himself with some folks other than Air Supply, Jethro Tull and Kiss. It's been a long time since he filled an arena with young people.
I'm confident that he can do it, but he might want to brush up on pop culture and what's in.
Sharon -
Again, great read here. I think that you are right on to ask whether or not the Mayor is in kahoots with Channel 2. He's seemingly bought off the Standard Examiner, why not Channel 2.
Certainly any news about Gondolas, ski villas, and growth in Ogden must be bought with dirty pee wee bucks!
Don't let people challenge you as being a bit too skeptical of the Mayor. I wouldn't put it past him to put some money under the table to Channel 2 to promote his vision and I wouldn't put it past Pee Wee and the Geiger's to form a fake "Geiger and Associates" PR firm from Florida to find a way to funnel some City $$$ into the Geiger's pockets for all the pro Mayor filth they spew into the community. They've probably been racking their brains how to get some tax dollars for their false optimism ever since they set foot in this town. HMMM! I wonder why you can't find any Geiger's in Florida....could it be because they are in Ogden promoting a Gondola and receiving under-the-table payments by the city under false pretenses as a PR firm from Florida?
Bill Glassmann should look into this. I'll bet he finds a rat, or a whole buch of rats. He may even find a bunch of unvaccinated weisels or farrets!
Yo Elder Benson:
Was it Joe that created the United Order? or was it brother Brigham?
Seems like it was tried here in Zion and failed. Seems like the good Mo's of the day couldn't brook communism.
That of course aint stopping brother Godfrey from trying. Each generation comes up with its own false prophets, ours is no exception.
Brother Rockwell
Joe Smith created it ("the Law of Consecration")around 1831. It was practiced in various places, including the outlying Mormon post, Independence, Mo.
Brigham Young's "United Order of Enoch," established in 1855, was a dim shadow of Joseph Smith's original United Order, lacked the truly Marxian communist aspects, and was a dismal failure.
Okay....supporter of our firefighters and police officers!!!
That *&%$#$ SB 229...Godfrey's Revenge Bill, as Rudi so aptly put it, made it out of the Rules Comm tonite and is on the House floor.
Jolley....the ADMINISTRATIONS' LOBBYIST was successful in doing this.
Had a call from the Firefighters Pres...asking for emails to all our Weber County Repreentatives NOW to kill or at LEAST, amend to have option of Civil Service Commissions in all cities of qualified size. For expedidency sake: bdee.kwgibson,gcurtis,gdonnelson,jmurray,lsurtliff,neilhansen, are all @utah.gov. dgreggbuxton is @comcast.net.
Curtis is HOUSE SPEAKER.
Let's get this vengeful act of Godfrey's killed! Gotta hurry and get your friends to email also. Your brave public servants thank you. Do a mass mailing.
Mr Reporter
What conspiracy? I don't recall talking about a conspiracy...just asked Dian who voted against going to respective caucus meetings.
Where's your sense of humor? Do you work for the city? The SE?
I think the work meeting should be cancelled on the 21st. The budget can be discussed another time...EVEN a day other than a Thursday.
Too late to act on SB 229. Mayor Midget's revenge bill. It passed the House.
People of Ogden should be pissed that Godfrey is pissing away $45,000.00 a year to have a lobbyist push bills that are strictly for the little F*&*er.
None of the Bills that was pushed by Jolley was in the interest of the taxpayers of Ogden, they were pushed for the Mayors agenda.
Tell the Council to stop funding his Lordships lying revengeful bills. Cut Funding to the Mayors office to the Bare Bones.
Elder Benson in the last days, even the elite will be deceived as you have been deceived by Bill Cook. He's not what he appears to be.
It is really true that the construction crew at the old mall site discovered a half full 1500 gallon gas tank which they broke and spilled 750 gallons of gasoline at the Earnshaw site. So why is the Mayor trying to keep it a secret? Doesn't he realize that's about like keeping the sun rising over the mountains a secret? How long is that going to hold up construction? Are they going to have to do the soil sample testing again? How are they going to clean it up, or will it become a toxic dump?
Anyone heard any more about this?
Back to making Ogden tourist attractive: I've thought for a long time Ogden was missing a beat by not encouraging someone to buy one of the decrepit buildings on lower 25th street that once served as a bordello [according to some, virtually every building on lower 25th street once served as a bordellow], to restore it to its days of glory [so to speak] and to open it for touring. Other ex-bordellos seem to be doing good business as tour sites. Particularly in Texas, for some reason. Might pull a few off the interstate now and then. It certainly fits the ad appeal of "Historic 25th Street."
I know, I know, this does not fit the image Hizzonah is trying to convey that Ogden is Provo North [hence the destroyed Ogden Summer Festival]. But then, neither does Ogden, High=Roller Ski Resort, fit that image. Nobody confuses Park City with Provo. Thank god.
Well Curmudgeon, you just keep coming up with one great idea after the other!
First it was a tour that included the important stuff - like where's the john - now it is bringing back some of the whore houses on 25th Street!
I think if you ran for mayor next year, you would not only win, but you would actually bring Ogden back economically!
Here are some "hard" facts for your campaign.
If those 10 percent of Geiger's 3 million phantom tourists that by pass Ogden each year where to pull off the highway for - lets call it a little refreshement - and if that 20 percent of Bonnie's fly overs also dropped in for a little tune up - why hell man we would have the hoppinist little whore town in the country!
More money would be pouring into the city than even the little mayor could count. In fact we could even doll him up a bit, slap some lipstick on his little pursed lips, and put him to work doing something he is actually qualified to do.
"Air Supply"....really Anonymous, don't you understand "tongue in cheek"? There's no doubt that Glassman, a born Rock & Roller who has figured out how to "Beat the Clock," as Tom Petty sings, could book the right bands into the right venues, even today. Experience, contacts....still in play here. Remember, "Rock & Roll is here to stay, It was meant to be that way!"
Sharon, your posts are filled with conspiratorial theory...."who voted against Jeske's motion?"; "Is the Mayor reimbursing Geiger?"; "Did the Mayor authorize the Ch 2 gondola push?" Some OK questions, but then followed by "several weasels running around without microchips." It's the old "read between the lines." But hey, nothing like a good mystery, eh? And, you do present your cases with eloquence. Pretty good read, mostly.
Things are what they are for a reason and the reason isn't always some sinister plot. That kind of takes the fun out of things, I know, but all isn't as gloomy as some portend. The paradigm, actually, is quite fascinating if one looks at it in its entirety.
OzB:
Ho ho ho. So to speak.
But seriously....
(1) Elder tourism, according to what I read, is a big and growing business. Would not be amiss to have have Ogden promoters thinking a bit about the possibilities locally to hitch on to some of that business.
(2) Two Bit Street has, whether Hizzonah likes it or not, a rowdy and checkered past. Exploiting that part of its history for tourism would seem to me a natural. When Mrs. Curmudgeon and I crossed the plains by car every summer in search of mountains and, finally, a place to move to, we often pulled off the road for some local attraction or historical site we thought interesting and out of the ordinary. I imagine other folks do too. Tapping into Ogden's more... colorful?... past by opening an old bordello for tours on Two Bit Street might not be a bad idea at all. After all, Ogden's promotional brochure used to say "nobody ever went broke in the liquor business in Ogden." [Does it still?]
ONLY for tours, I hasten to add. Besides, the place wouldn't have much competition. So far as I know, at present the only operating bordello open for public tours in Utah just ended its regular session in Salt Lake City.
Dear Reporter
HUH???? I don't think one has to have a 'conspiracy' theory when observing the manipulations, ego, greed, underhandedness, etc, etc, of the mayor and his over paid cohorts. If anyone sees a conspiracy in this admin's actions...who started observers seeing them?
I like the idea of restoring 25th St's bordello's to grab all those millions driving by and flying over. Maybe Dolly Parton would open another Dollywood here, and we could play "Biggest Little Ho House on Ch 17 as pay for view?
Curmie,
Is it your turn to call the press this time? This makes #3 I believe, doesn't it?
The wife and I were in a small Idaho town called Wallace a year or two ago touring around and had the very same idea after touring a bordello museum that was actually just as it had been left in 1985 (yes, it was functioning until 1985) when the girls caught wind that the feds were on their way. Very, I repeat VERY interesting place, even for the MORman and his wife. We thouroughly enjoyed the tour and came back wondering how that could ever be done in Ogden. I agree with you that Ogden has a history, whether or not people choose to like it (I personally do), and it should be shared; because it IS interesting. Now, not to say that I would want a child touring that kind of place, but the more mature audience could really get a kick out of a place like that. Remember what I told you before- If it's a good idea, I don't care who or where it came from, let's do it. Who knows, maybe I'll do a story on the "museum" in Wallace, Idaho over at my place one of these days.
Biggest Little Ho House in Ogden, with a line dancing intro by Cook, Safsten, Stephenson, and Johnson in drag. Since Hizzoner wants motels to rent by the hour (so as to keep a fresh "drug free" clientele), then pay for view of the city being screwed over would be a money maker, for a change! As a double feature, how about the mayor ramming through another of his dirty schemes...also pay for view on Ch 17?
Time we started to make some real dough in this town.
In the February issue of Salt Lake Magazine, there is a one page piece on Ogden's 25th Street, which starts something like:
30's gangster Al Capone said that Ogden's 25th Street was too rough for him...
Or something like that--that is a paraphrase--and then goes on to say that although it is no longer as rough as it used to be it is still....well, I don't think they used the words "cool" or "sexy," but coolness at least was implied. Very nice little article, with pictures.
Note that they began with the history angle. I absolutely agree. We NEED to capitalize on that history.
Here's SL Magazine's website--in looking at it briefly I could not see if the February issue was linked anywhere, but somebody might be able to find it.
Utmormon:
BTW, I have not been over to your new site lately since from home everytime I logged on, it hung up my machine and I had to reboot. Every time. Sorry.
Yes, this makes three. To hell with the press. I think we need to call the Guiness people. [grin]
Do the piece on the Wallace place. I'll log on at work and read it. Our next poking-around-the-west car trip will probably be NW into Idaho. I like learning of off beat sites to see like that.
curm
You may enjoy a trip to Johannesburg, CA near Ridgecrest and China Lake. You can still see the 'cribs' the 'girls' entertained the troops in during WWII and after. (at least they were there about 20 years ago). Some of the ladies were married and flew in from the LA area leaving hubby home to tend the kids while they 'worked'. It's a mecca for rockhounds, too.
Sharon:
TY
Noted, and filed.
I like all of these ideas. Couple that with our former Mayor's plan to have an annual Train Wreck in Ogden, and I think you may have something. A throw back to the good ol days when Ozboy got some action.
Sharon--
Conspiracy theories!!! It's not a conspiracy when its true. Right?
Well now boys, I gotta do a little admittin here.
I spent a bit of time in a couple of those Wallace cribs, and it was before 1985!
My dear departed uncle Doug was married to the madam and took great delight in introducing the young OzBoy to the working girls!
Also hustled news papers on the very active and original 25th street in the early 50's. That was the Ogden Standard Examiner back when it was an actual newspaper. Used to work all them bars on both sides of the street - including the HUB!. There was three solid blocks of them. At least a couple of dozen for sure. The only ones that wouldn't let me in were the Porters and Waiters Club and Poncho's.
I would make three or four sales in each bar on a good day. I would make 2 1/2 cents per paper, and most of those old drunks would tip me another nickle, sometimes a dime! I was llivin real big for a ten year old. My good Mormon Mom, bishop uncle and saintly grandmother would have had a total caniption fit had they known what their little Mo boy was doing in his after school job!
Great memories of a great street. Later when I was in the Army, when people learned I was from Ogden, I was asked wherever I went about two bit street! It was very famous throughout the US and Europe thanks to the millions of GI's that came through here on the train.
I say bring it back - just like it was - whore houses, bars and all! I think, with a bit of lip stick, the little Lord Mayor could be the biggest attraction of all, and would finally bring us the fame and success he so craves.
To hell with these two bit ski companies, bring back the real two bit - street.
OzBoy,
You need to find a progressive legislator and get a bill passed to have the 'girls' submit to monthly health dept 'testing', just like NV.
Mona's One and Mona's Two in Elko
are just down the street from the post office! You can see that this is a money maker when the madam has TWO houses! Perhaps a franchise in Ogden?
Did you pay tithing on your newspaper wages?? A hustler like you could be the MR Madam of your house!
Ozboy--
You've nailed it--- An annual train wreck and whore houses! This should be the future of Ogden.
Throw out Pee Wee.
Well now "never house bound" - in Wallace, circa 1968, the two cat houses I was familiar with were both owned by the same madam. Miss Vicky was her name, she was married to my uncle Doug - a real rounder, bounder and two fisted pounder.
I guess that made old Vicky my aunt! Now I gotta tell you, I would rather have an aunt runnin a whore house than an uncle named Pee Wee. She was much more honorable than our little mayor.
As to the tithing on my paper sales - well believe it or not I actually did! However, I never told the bishop how I was making all that money which as I recall was about $11 bucks a week gross. Big money for a 10 year old Ogden boy in 1953! Handing that buck over to the ward secretary on Sunday was a bit tough to take, but being a sorta good little Mo boy, I didn't have much choice!
Meant to write and say I'm glad people appreciated those notes, and thank you for saying so. In fact I did write that a couple of days ago, but the site was having problems and I couldn't post it. I will continue to do the notes when I can, especially since people realize that they are there for discussion and even correction, if warranted. This whole blog is meant for civic dialogue, and the more info we can get on it, the better.
"This whole blog is meant for civic dialogue, and the more info we can get on it, the better."
So true, Dian.
This place is not MY soapbox.
It belongs to the people who read and post here.
New comments are not allowed.