A little old lady was sharp enough to ask if the Elk County web site is an official government web sight.
And when the commissioners finally admitted that it is, she asked why a private organization was permitted to have
a web sight on it.
Elk konnected was using our resources for free and because of the lady's inquiry they are being evicted from the County Web site.
They will be permitted to have a link and that is all.
Kudo's to the lady. job well done.
Quote from: Ross on April 11, 2011, 02:14:19 PM
Elk konnected was using our resources for free and because of the lady's inquiry they are being evicted from the County Web site.
They will be permitted to have a link and that is all.
Kudo's to th lady. job well done.
Agreed! Job well done. Now if only someone would realize what a farcical conflict it is for an elected county commissioner to sit on the board of directors of ElkKonnected, LLC when ElkKonnected ( a private corporation) exists, in part, to lobby/influence decisions of the county commission we might start to witness a return to integrity in local government!
Same subject, for what it's worth....
From the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.....
http://www.kansas.gov/ethics/Local_Level_Conflict_of_Interest/index.html (http://www.kansas.gov/ethics/Local_Level_Conflict_of_Interest/index.html)
Local Level Conflict of Interest
Although the Commission is the enforcement agency for the state level conflict of interest laws and the Campaign Finance Act, the Commission's jurisdiction under the local level conflict laws is advisory only. Pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4303a(b) and Opinion 1994-25, the Commission lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine complaints under K.S.A. 75-4301 et seq. Violations of the local level conflict laws are handled by the appropriate County or District Attorney or the Attorney General's office by criminal complaint.
Criminal complaint? Hmmmmm. Do we even have local conflict of interest laws in Elk County?
I didn't know who the ladt was but have since been told she is the aunt to County Commissioner Liebau. How cool is that. I don't know if that is true. I still think she was great.
Patriot, I like your thinking. I think Honesty and Openess is what is needed.
Quote from: Patriot on April 11, 2011, 09:31:32 PM
Criminal complaint? Hmmmmm. Do we even have local conflict of interest laws in Elk County?
I don't believe so. Is there even a local conflict of interest law?
I do believe it was very unethical on the part of Elk Konnected to assume they had a right to use the counties resources.
It appeared that they were attempting to surrogate themselves into the county government.
I do believe Two of the County Commisioners were unaware that Elk Konnected posted on the web site because they appeared to be surprised by the question.
Quote from: Ross on April 12, 2011, 06:48:43 AM
I do believe Two of the County Commisioners were unaware that Elk Konnected posted on the web site because they appeared to be surprised by the question.
That's a stretch, methinks. I understand that one of our commissioners is also on the board of directors of ElkKonnected and the website content is managed by a county employee. Surprised, yes. But perhaps more surprised that members of the public noticed the inappropriate mess and made an issue of it. You will notice how quickly the web link disappeared.
I didn't know that Elk Konnected was a private corporation. I thought anyone could be members of it, well elected to it or whatever. Do you know what Elk Konnect does? I have seen alot of good that comes from this group. They are trying to make things for the younger kids possible here and around Elk County. Sounds to me like you are all on a bashing spree??? Or just not like that one person is on both things? Not many people will step up and run for things, so to me it is what it is.
Quote from: Lookatmeknow!! on April 12, 2011, 08:28:16 AM
I didn't know that Elk Konnected was a private corporation. I thought anyone could be members of it, well elected to it or whatever. Do you know what Elk Konnect does? I have seen alot of good that comes from this group. They are trying to make things for the younger kids possible here and around Elk County. Sounds to me like you are all on a bashing spree??? Or just not like that one person is on both things? Not many people will step up and run for things, so to me it is what it is.
A bashing spree? Try a public education spree. Even you did not know EK is a nonprofit private corporation establish in Kansas. I have no doubt that EK has some positive influence. But the fact remains that the same private corporation (with no requirement of public disclosure) is also involved in facilitating the lobbying of the county commission on which one of its' board of directors sits. That's called confict of interest and is generally recognized as inappropriate (and possibly illegal) for elected officials. Yes, it is what it is. A reputation is built by many acts but easily destroyed by one.
The fact that they are having meetings to find out what Elk County citizens mya want to have happen with any monies the county mya get from the wind farm implies that they want to influence out county government. And that fact make them a politacal action committee. A PAC by any other name is still a PAC. Simple, no bashing. In the nations capital they have PAC's and lobbyist that influcence our government's actions and they are not well liked by anyone. I'm not dissing Obama, but how do you think he got into office. He wasn't worth millins but yet PAC's raised 3/4 of a billion for him. This year they are expected to raise closer to a billion.
Now with EK I believe they want to control any monies to use as they see fit, so as with any political activity you manipulate and you give a scoop of ice cream here and a piece of pie there to get what you want in the end.
Ask your self how many people are registered members of EK? Who is on their board? Who is their president? Who is there secretary? Who is there treasurer? Where do they get their operating money?
Just think about it.
I'm not asking that you agree with anything I say. It's my opinion and I know it's right but it's still just my opinion.
Quote from: Ross on April 12, 2011, 11:43:15 AM
In the nations capital they have PAC's and lobbyist that influcence our government's actions and they are not well liked by anyone. I'm not dissing Obama, but how do you think he got into office. He wasn't worth millins but yet PAC's raised 3/4 of a billion for him. This year they are expected to raise closer to a billion.
And the NRA, Americans for Prrosperity, Freedom Works and a thousand other right-leaning groups aren't PACs and/or lobbying organizations? Are they also 'not well liked'? Will they not raise and distribute billions for conservative and reactionary candidates in the next election cycle?
Quote from: Ross on April 12, 2011, 11:43:15 AM
It's my opinion and I know it's right
From Websters:
conceited - 1. having an exaggerated opinion of oneself, one's merits, etc; vain 2. whimsical; fanciful
Quote from: Patriot on April 11, 2011, 09:31:32 PM
b][/i]
Criminal complaint? Hmmmmm. Do we even have local conflict of interest laws in Elk County?
I just spoke with Senator Jeff King and State Rep. Jim Kelly at the Swing Bridge Cafe about this.
And they told me there is no conflict of interest laws in Kansas. For what that is worth. Your message seems to say otherwise even with a link.
I addressed the fact that EK has recieved a $3000 Scholarship from the Kansas Department of Commerce which is funded by state taxpayers. After quizzing them about the fact that I thought scholarships were for kids to use to go to college and they agreed. I asked about the use of a scholarship by a private organization and why they could get away with it. This is where the crawfishing took place. They started saying that scholarships are sometimes used to fund other things. I just don't believe that is right, in my opinion that is stealing from the college kids. I told them I would take it up with Derick Schmidts office.
Mr. Ritz county commissioner was there and agreed with me that EK should stay out of county business. He said that's what we elected him for.
Patriot would you be interested in going together to visit with the county attorney? Let me know.
Quote from: flintauqua on April 12, 2011, 01:10:44 PM
From Websters:
conceited - 1. having an exaggerated opinion of oneself, one's merits, etc; vain 2. whimsical; fanciful
Not really concieted, it jsut my opinion.
Quote from: flintauqua on April 12, 2011, 12:39:03 PM
And the NRA, Americans for Prrosperity, Freedom Works and a thousand other right-leaning groups aren't PACs and/or lobbying organizations? Are they also 'not well liked'? Will they not raise and distribute billions for conservative and reactionary candidates in the next election cycle?
Perhaps I mis-stated my self. The one's you mentioned are working for legislation to follow the constitution, not control the taxpaysers dollars. I may be wrong, if I am my sincerest apologies.
Quote from: flintauqua on April 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PM
Is it just me or do the posts from Patriot and Ross seem to be different parts of the same soliloquy?
No way.
Quote from: flintauqua on April 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PM
Is it just me or do the posts from Patriot and Ross seem to be different parts of the same soliloquy?
For what it's worth, I don't even know Ross. Can we try to stay on topic now? Or would you prefer a good flaming session? Sheesh.
Quote from: flintauqua on April 12, 2011, 02:53:57 PM
Is it just me or do the posts from Patriot and Ross seem to be different parts of the same soliloquy?
Its just you~~~~~~~~~ They are different people...........
Quote from: flintauqua on April 12, 2011, 06:45:16 PM
Thank you Teresa, I'd had others ask me. I know who Ross is; Patriot . . . ???
and I guess if he wants you to know.. he will tell you.. if not............... :)