Dear Sedona Eye Editor:
Sedona Fire District’s Business Director, Karen Daines, remains an unsung hero.
In April, 2011, Ms. Daines was awarded the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the District’s outstanding budget. This is the very budget she is now called upon to protect and defend, decipher and explain, at every meeting of the Board.
Board members consistently turn to Ms. Daines for information and clarification. Her knowledge and expertise are obvious as she works within an environment which must be described as hostile – at the very least. Why then, would the Board fail, or refuse, to seek her input with regard to its proposed reduction in the 401(a) contribution?
Thousands of taxpayer dollars were wasted when Board member Phyllis Erick sought outside expertise but failed to provide accurate information upon which any “expert” could accurately base recommendations. She then brought the proposed reduction in District contribution up for a vote at a meeting, blindsiding everyone!
It became necessary for the Governing Board to enlist the services of the regular Board attorney and yet another pension expert (at a total of $950 an hour plus travel expenses) to discover Ms. Erick’s costly and useless endeavor. Her “expert” subsequently recanted ANY advice he’d previously provided to Ms. Erick.
Additionally, the District is contractually obligated to make the already budgeted fifteen percent contribution to the administrative employees’ 401(a) program, another fact which would have been easily accessible had the Board sought Ms. Daines’ input.
Board members are ELECTED. Why then, do we continue to stand for this nonsense?
Thanks to the Board, the Sedona Fire District burns around us and exemplary employees like Karen Daines that face those flames every day!
VP Kline
Visit the SedonaEye.com Calendar of Events daily!
992AZ condominium company of Phoenix, AZ and its 1010 Followers are reading your SedonaEye.com news tweets!
saw this__happy now morons, now that you ruined a good fire district & lined the pockets of friends at the risk of our lives++ we should sue you all, bet the first person that dies for no reason gets a good lawyer first
https://sedonaeye.com/verde-valley-fire-district-hires-sedona-fire-chief
Doug Fitzpatrick did an interview that was aired by KAZM radio yesterday morning. It deals with some of the things that are going on in the Sedona Fire District. I thought it might be of interest to all the readers.
Doug Fitzpatrick gave his number as 928-284-2190. If you want to hear the interview, call Doug and ask him to send it to you via email. Tom Tayback of KAZM was the interviewer.
Fitzpatrick was appearing on Letter of the Law, a KAZM interview show. Doug also said that listeners can call 928-284-2595 if you want to sign the SFD recall after hearing the interview. Visit http://www.sfdrecall.com for more information too.
Tom Longo
Sedona AZ
During the August 24, 2011, regular meeting of the Sedona Fire District Governing Board, it was a distinct pleasure to hear and view Business Director, Karen Daines’ very detailed budget presentation. Her explanation, with verifiable supporting documentation, was detailed and thorough and made understanding the budget process most accessible. Imagine for a moment, a meeting where tangible District business is actually being conducted by consummate professionals.
Contrast that visual with Dave Blauert, Charles Christensen and Phyllis Erick, who refuse to address reality. The pride they take in our District having amongst the lowest mil rates in the state is nothing less than ridiculous. I can take pride in how low my grocery bill is, too, but when I open the door and there’s no food in the refrigerator, my disappointment is palpable.
And that disappointment does not constitute a life or death situation. SFD staff reductions, equipment reductions and construction postponements have stretched an already discouraged district to an unsustainable limit. And the Board plays on.
They think nothing of spending a proposed – but not limited to – $190,000.00 in taxpayer funds on an unnecessary, repetitive and of questionable conflict of interest, audit. They lavish funds on outrageous and quite possibly illegal attorney’s fees, while simultaneously attempting to cut – by half – the District’s contribution to employees’ 401(a) retirement program and diminishing services to those very people providing the funds.
For the sake of your own well-being and that of a community effort needing your support, sign the petitions to recall Dave Blauert, Charles Christensen and Phyllis Erick. Stop this dismemberment before it’s too late!
Wendy V. Tanzer
VOC
The minutes for the meeting referred to by Wendy Tanzer have just been released and I would like to share them with your readers.
http://www.sedonafire.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/8-24-11-Board-Business-Minutes.pdf
Furthermore, that $190K contract is being given to Joe Demme’s wife’s employer. How can that be legitimate? If there’s criminal activity, hire a detective.
Seating Blauert was not only a huge mistake, it denied the next person who garnered the most votes in the prior election from what was legally his.
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE DOING? ERICK SHOULD BE ASHAMED (editor deleted).
THEY PULLED (editor deleted) DOWN MAKING (editor deleted) A PUPPET VOTE. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOSING RESPECT.
LOOK AT THE FACTS.
THEY DENIGRATE EACH OTHER BEHIND EACH OTHER’S BACKS. HOW MANY KNEW THAT A CERTAIN WIFE WAS WORKING AT THE COMPANY AWARDED THAT AUDIT CONTRACT?
WHEN DID TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BECOME MONOPOLY MONEY?
IF THEY ALL KNEW ABOUT (editor deleted name) JUST WHAT IS THAT LEGALLY? ETHICALLY? HELL CALL AN EYE AN EYE WHAT ABOUT THE MEANING OF TRUSTING AND HONESTY ?
IF THEY KNEW FORBYGONE CONCLUSION TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THAT COMPANY DO I WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM IN PUBLIC OR IN BUSINESS PLACES ?
IS SUPPORT OF PERSONAL AND BUSINESS CHEATS AN INDICATION OF ME PERSONALLY ? YES.
LIKE VEGAS PORN CHARGES ARE TAXPAYERS SUPPOSED TO LET MORALITY AND INTEGRITY ISSUES SLIDE BY? NO. THEY LOST MY SUPPORT AFTER READING & WATCHING HERE & RED ROCK NEWS.