Speak Out 12/31/14

London isn't

in Butler Co,

I'm sure Pearson and The Three Stooges couldn't find London on a map--let me help you --it's not in Butler County!

Why would Kaplan appoint a committee to review the architect/engineering firms to report on the feasibility of redoing the city hall or building a new one (we already know the answer to that one anyway!). When the committee report back that they have chosen the Springfield, Mo. firm w/Smith and Company as the engineers Pearson and The Three Stooges immediately rejected the committee's decision and said they were going with Traxel and an engineering firm out of St. Louis. They wanted to keep it local??? When someone asked about the differences in bids -- Kaplan said there were no bids, just a decision as to who to hire--soooo apparently Traxel has the job and can now charge whatever the heck he wants. Wouldn't one think that cost would be the major determining factor as to which firm to hire???

I think this is exactly what this council condemned the previous council of doing -- just hiring their cronies -- same crap -- different day!

Kaplan fails

Econ 101

Obviously Kaplan failed Econ 101! Everyone one knows that in order to attract business and industry into any city concessions have to be made, i.e. tax incentives, etc.

For starters -- you don't refer to your new businesses as Corporate Welfare recipients. Take a good look at our 8 Points Development since he arrived in town. 8 Points was going great with lots of interest from businesses wanting to locate here and after he arrived all of that has come to a complete halt. Can you imagine being a potential new business considering locating in Poplar Bluff and meeting with Kaplan, Pearson and The Three Stooges -- that would scare most anyone off.

I'm quite sure if we don't try to work with potential new businesses there is someone down the road that is more than happy to have them!

Kaplan complains about the tax money going into the TDD instead of the city coffers -- well actually the TDD money is used for city infrastructure.

These new businesses create much needed jobs for our community and bring customers in from the surrounding areas to spend their money in our city. Kaplan just indicated in his budget that the bulk of the city's money comes from sales tax -- think about it! Duh!!

Cartoon was

right on!!

A few months back the Daily American Republic ran an editorial cartoon that depicted an ostrich with its head hidden in one of his own body orifices. This was a descriptive picture of the new direction the city was being taken. Time has now passed. There were complaints about the crudeness of the editorial cartoon and yet here we are. The truth of the editorial cartoon has borne itself out and that is exactly where we are with a city council like an ostrich with its head implanted in its own orifice.

Time tells the truth, doesn't it? Time for the mayor to go along with all of her urchins.

City Council

is the solution

Hello, Speak Out. Like a lot of folks around here I've followed the City Council, Kaplan, cable TV, Bagby controversy in the DAR. Probably have read every article. I think people lose the point though. Kaplan is an employee of the City Council. The City Council are employees of the citizens of Poplar Bluff. Kaplan does not answer directly to the citizens. The Council hasn't done anything to regulate or curb or direct any of Mr. Kaplan's activities. If the people have a problem with Mr. Kaplan then the City Council is where the solution will come from. Good luck, Poplar Bluff!