Council says “slap in the face” from BOS

mltc1_15_14Members of the Mammoth Town Council said it felt like a “slap in the face” when the Mono Supervisors declined to directly contribute to Fourth of July events at Crowley Lake.

Councilman John Eastman pointed to the letter that came from Mono County Administrator Jim Leddy that said the Supervisors were willing to consider the request from the Town for $5,000 in cash to help fund the Fourth of July. But, he said they were actually willing to consider that the Town could apply for a grant through the County to get the money. Councilwoman Jo Bacon said the application date had passed. Town Manager Dan Holler said the grant would have put the Town in competition with County agencies that would have been hard to beat. Holler said the idea was “not viable.”

Councilman Eastman said, “Maybe I’m missing something. I can’t understand why the Fourth of July at Crowley would not be looked at by the Board of Supervisors, especially those who represent Mammoth Lakes,” said Eastman, “and not fall all over themselves to fund a menial distribution for a County function.” Eastman said the Board members were “playing a game and creating reasons for not funding this.” He said voters in Mammoth Lakes and Crowley should be upset.

Mayor Rick Wood and Mayor Pro Tem Bacon agreed. Eastman turned to an old joke about getting elected. He said, “There’s been a saying for many years that Mammoth Lakes elects Board members and at the first meeting a lobotomy is performed in Bridgeport. From then on,” he said, “it’s difficult for them to represent the community of Mammoth Lakes.” Mayor Wood chimed in, “I couldn’t have said it better.” Councilman Matthew Lehman said the Town did not apply for the County grant, as he saw it, on principle. Said Lehman, “The Fourth of July is something that financially benefits all of us.”

Lehman had earlier reported that community efforts had galvanized private donations toward the ultimate goal of $28,000 for fireworks and pops in the park. He said the event will work with private money and a little Town funding. Lehman added that with the dismal winter right now, a focus on summer would help the area “re-cap our losses.”

As for the political discord, Mayor Wood added that there is an election June 3rd and Mammoth Supervisors’ seats are up for election. Said Wood, “Voters can and do make a difference.”

 

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Local Yokel
Local Yokel
9 years ago

Since the ugly $30 million judgment against the Town of Mammoth Lakes for breach of a development agreement took place in Mammoth Lakes (with Eastman right in the middle of the fiasco), perhaps Eastman should be the one to be slapped in the face for once again ignoring the rules… Read more »

Desert Tortoise
Desert Tortoise
9 years ago
Reply to  Local Yokel

The FAA screwed TOML if you ask me.

Mk
Mk
9 years ago

Yea Maybe so but they are the Feds , they get away with that sort of thing.
The Town does not have that power, although they think they do!

Roger
Roger
9 years ago

DT- the FAA did not screw Mammoth- Greed and Arrogance screwed Mammoth.

Bemused
Bemused
9 years ago

That’s completely false. MMSA (Rusty), MLTC, and TOML “screwed” Mammoth…along with various attorneys (but of course).

Scott turner
Scott turner
9 years ago

haha TOML..Im glad the county isn’t spending its money on you!

Wake UP!
Wake UP!
9 years ago
Reply to  Scott turner

I Kinda wonder that myself.

Abuse of discretion , willfully causing multi- million dollar judgements , Bank ruptcy

These guys are Blind.

Jay Wheaton
Jay Wheaton
9 years ago

Thank You Mono County Supervisors, the county does not revolve around Mammoth Lakes. I am a homeowner in Mono County, there are more important issues for the county residents than to piss away money on fireworks. Waaaaaaa!!! Mammoth Lakes fund your own unnecessary crap.

Local Yokel
Local Yokel
9 years ago

Jim Leddy at the meeting this morning, made it quite clear the officials from the Town of Mammoth Lakes were notified long ago as to how to request monies for this event (as always) – and ignored the correspondence. And like clockwork, the usual inept suspects are now whining like… Read more »

MeadowGal
MeadowGal
9 years ago
Reply to  Local Yokel

Local Yokel, I was thinking the same thing. What are they crying about? They had a deadline, missed it, then are complaining because they didn’t get the money they felt they deserved – without going through the process? John Eastman, it’s the right decision not to run again. On the… Read more »

Tearing the County apart?
Tearing the County apart?
9 years ago
Reply to  MeadowGal

It is rumored that long-timer local politician John Eastman has a huge photo of Ronald Reagan behind his desk. Perhaps Eastman should take a cue from another conservative Glenn Beck, who recently apologized on conservative-operated Fox TV for “Helping tear the country apart.” We can’t allow any useless, pointless Town… Read more »

Eastern Sierra Local
Eastern Sierra Local
9 years ago

It’s deja vue all over again; seems like every year the issue of the Crowley Lake fireworks comes up.

MJA
MJA
9 years ago

The 4th of July is all about the independence from government, isn’t it? So rather than funding explosives to fizzle frivolously in the sky I think the time has come to free ourselves from government again, time for a new Independence Day. the time has come to unincorporate the town… Read more »

Shine
Shine
9 years ago
Reply to  MJA

If TOML unincorporates, rest of county will have to incorporate to protect themselves.

Desert Tortoise
Desert Tortoise
9 years ago
Reply to  MJA

Sorry to burst your bubble, but no. It was about founding a nation independent of Great Britain and about founding a government that was elected and thus derived it’s authority from the very people it governed. It was never about the absence of government.

upthecreek
upthecreek
9 years ago

Why is the Mammoth CC so surprised ??
Do they not understand the county needs ever Penny they can get for their huge Pension payout..
Tic Tic Tic……

GGW

Ken Warner
Ken Warner
9 years ago
Reply to  upthecreek

How much is Mono County’s annual pension pay out exactly? Where does that money come from? Who do you think you are saving from what? Explain how pensions destroy our economy. You’ve found a nice little imaginary demon to confront whenever you think you need to win a fight and… Read more »

Benett Kessler
Benett Kessler
9 years ago
Reply to  Ken Warner

I find Upthecreek more poetic than that.
BK

Curious
Curious
9 years ago

Alms for the poor? Anything funnier than multi millionaires crying poor house again. The rich continue to get richer by using tax monies to promote their business interest. Let me guess, someone who profited most over the TBID vote, kicked in the five grand for the 4th of July fireworks?… Read more »

Ken Warner
Ken Warner
9 years ago
Reply to  Curious

Eighty-five people control the same amount of wealth as half the world’s population. That is 85 people compared with 3.5 billion.A new report from Oxfam has been published in time for the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. It shows the world’s ultra-wealthy have not only recovered from the… Read more »