Ruidoso Watchdog

Village Audit

2006-03-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Howdy again folks

An old pard of mine sent this web site address to me and I thought you might like to have it. These folks have posted the entire State Criminal Audit for your readin pleasure.
www.mountainwater.org I think it best that we do not loose sight of this cause we still have a couple a foxes in the hen house. Every citizen aughta have read this thing because it shows where the money went and like they say, just follow the money and you'll find the rustlers.

I missed the swearin in the other night, but hear that Ol L Ray did a pretty good job of setting the tone for the next four years. Lets hope it aint all political speak or what we refer to back home as hog wash.

See ya'll round the bend

Buck

Meet the new boss

2006-03-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

Howdy Ya'll

It's a bitter sweet morning for your pal Ol Buck. Thank the good lord for giving Councilor Greg Cory a clear mandate. Just about 1200 votes means that most every person voted for Greg and for that I am happy as a bee in spring. However, the folks thought Ron Hardeman was worthy of a second kick at the goat. Well, I'm quite sure those folks have not been payin attention. Hardeman has no clue about the business that Ruidoso is in and in fact has no clue about business at all and his voting record makes that clear. I can only surmise that those who voted for him also have no investment here in Ruidoso and collect a paycheck every month if'n it snows or not. Hardeman will sure miss his buddy Leon though. By which, can you imagine Leon thinking he had any chance at all. His kick in the pants was long overdue and for that Ruidoso can be proud of it's own self. Mr. Stoddard has demonstrated in the past a real problem bein open to discussion and I only hope he comes to this new position with an eye to what is best for Ruidoso and not just the good ol boys he associates with. If he has his marchin orders we'll all know soon enough, especially if the votin block is still in place with Hardeman, Shaw and him. Don Williams gave em a good fight. Don has been around politics for only a coupla years, but it is clear that the folks are warmin up to him. Don is a stand up guy and will continue to fight the good battle and with a little luck he'll choose to hang around and be our next Mayor. As for L Ray, I have some advise. Learn from the long list of mistakes Leon made and choose not to break every tie just because you can. Let the issues develop before you clamp down on em. Also, throw the Roberts rules book in the trash where it belongs. It has been used to bully, stiffle beneficial discussion and disrupt the democratic process in this neck of the woods for too damn long now. Get accountability into our government. Start measuring everything, especially anyone spending tax dollars. There's an old sayin in business...that which get measured gets done...we don't need another audit showing millions paid out without receipts, tear pages, invoices and results. One other thing Mayor Nunely, dig out those task force reports that Leon hid under the manure pile and show the respect that is long overdue to the folks that spend so much time and aggrivation working on em. They are filled with great advise and common sense and will encourage the locals to once again step up and take part in the running of our Village. Let me leave ya'll with this thought. If after a few months you hear yourself humming that old "Who" tune with the line in it that goes "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" then you'll know this election was another failure.

Candidate For...um???

2006-02-22T08:56:00.000-08:00

Howdy Pardners

It's good to be back on the Mountain and I got here from the ranch just in time to drop in on the candidates forum. Good to see some intelligent faces up there, not to mention hearing some answers that actually addressed the questions. Some of those old boys are dumr'n dirt and slipperyer than a greased sow. It was no surprise to see that Hardeman and Sterchi think that lodgers tax is way up. I suppose Lori McKnight doesn't share that kind of unimportant information with them and since they have such little regard for the tourism business they just would have no way to know that Lodgers tax and the cooresponding lodging gross receipts are down by hundreds of thousands of dollars this past year. They obviously also don't know or care to know that it was down long before this years bad snow winter hit. So much for those two and a few others who blindly supported (and still support) Grindstone Graphics. The Ol Boys are still at it! By the way, what the hell was Hardeman thinking with that cartoon character on his posters, it looks like Ned Flanders or Groucho Marx is running. I think its a sign all right!

This skinny guy sitting in the middle (Grazmick or something like that) who is the self proclamed top local expert on Ruidoso water and sewage must be studying under Angel Shaw as to how a feller should prepard for a Council meeting. He says he thinks all deals should be made behind closed doors long before the Council convenes. So much for the open meeting act with this guy. I guess we know who Shaws is voting for. No sirreee we've had bout all of that kind of shinnanegans we need.

L Ray stepped in it again when he was reluctant to tell where his funds came from. The first time he stepped in it was when he told the Rotary folks that the water system leakage is only about 12 per cent or so and he knows that becasue that hay seed Cleatus told him. Now there's a hook to hang your hat on. I think L Ray has been a member of the club for too long to change his stripes now.

Leon came off as the whiny arrogant he is and if anyone was dumb enough to give him another kick at the bull before this get together they surely must be reconsidering. I thought it was interesting that Leon skirted the subject of Moon Mountain then told the crowd that his largest donation came from the Moon Mountain folks. Now Ol Buck here supports the development for a number of reasons, but to not have the guts to defend your position openly when asked is simply the act of a chicken feathered barn beetle and not the kind of stuff our next Mayor needs to be made of. If ya'll remember he responded to the question of Moon Mountain by saying it was not the Village's concern, it was state land and they will do with it as they please. Glad to find this gem in the manure pile!

I felt sorry for Mr Wilkinson, MS in a terrible thing. However, he had the guts to get up and get involved so he earned my respect for that. Unfortunately, he is carrying a grudge and he has the view that no growth is best for the Ruidoso area. Anyone who wants to see their property values hold or rise and anyone who wants better restaurants, streets, water supply, schools and bout everything else taxes pay for would be wise to avoid this feller.

Well, enough of this. Here's where the cow jumped the fence. Don Williams continues to impress me with his straight forward and personable approach to problems. Greg Cory is a blue ribbon candidate with his clear understanding of the issues and his reputation for being fair and balanced. Doug McAlister is long on something this Village needs, common sense. The rest are a toss up, but I think after last night the coach is probably the best third candidate.

See yall at the polls

Your old pal

Buck Verde

The Winds of Change are a- Blowin' in Ruidoso

2006-02-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks

It's good to be back in the saddle. Ol Buck has been out of town for a while, but I been keepin my ear to the ground and I like what i'm hearing. Looks like the State audit has got a few folks riled up and I suppose that is good for now, but we can expect a lot more noise from those protesting and claiming their innocence when charges are brought. My hope is that this happens just before the elections in March just to make sure that Ron Hardemen, L Ray Nunely and Leon Eggleston are all held accountable for being stupid and displayin a whole lot of arrogance when they time and again supported the likes of John Underwood and Lori McKinight despite the clear evidence that things were gettin scrammbled in the hen house. I expect that the good people of Ruidoso already have had their fill of the gang of four and intend to toss every damned one of them out on their rear ends first chance they get.

I like this feller Don Williams. He's a straight shooter and I think he would make a great mayor. I also have a good feelin about Doug McAlister, Greg Cory and Ray Alborn for Council cause they are all smart and have no agendas to push and a ride on some rich guys airplane won't sound like a fair trade for a vote that favors someone in particular.

I wanted to make sure to let ya'll know that this company out of Austin (TKO) that is now the marketing company for Ruidoso is a breath of fresh air in ol' Bucks lungs. Now we need to make sure that we build up a strong Lodgers Tax committee and get busy dealing with a real marketing plan. If we do this correctly and keep it clean from the get go we can keep these new folks on track and accountable, won't that be a refreshin change! There are lots of ways to skin a rattlesnake and we need to make sure that we are doin the skinnin and not the other way round for the first time in 5 long years.

Time to take back our Village and get some real smart folks fixin all thats broke like water, sewer, advertising, pot holes, air service, accountability by Village employees for the way some of em treat the folks and most of all some decency and respect for us citizens by our elected officials.

Until next time, keep your horse saddle side up

Buck Green

Monkey Shines at Council Meeting...Again!

2005-11-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like Council is still divided with yet another tie breaking vote by the Mayor over the renewal of the Village Managers contract. If you ask Old Buck I would say that making public officials accountable for their actions is just not in the cards...or like my old daddy used to say, "that dog don't hunt"! The Village Manager has a lot of baggage and the heaviest tote is the Villages Assistant Manager, Cletus Richards. This guy got the grilling of a lifetime at last weeks special meeting and sat through last nights show like he owned the place. Only in Ruidoso I guess!

Councilor Ron was the lone decenting voice in the reversal of the Tax Committee's decision not to fund the Art Councils latest big event. The Tax Committee decided not to fund these folks because the event is being held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods out on the Mescalero and they do not pay Ruidoso Lodgers Tax. Apparently there were some other as yet muddled reasons that made even less sense. Tax Committee member Chavez came all the way down to Village hall to make sure that this action stood, seems like a lot of effort if all it was about was some money to fund what is the States biggest Economic Growth Industry (Art). Fortunately there were a couple of local yokals that stood up and pointed out where the bird was hiding in the bush and most of Council got it. That being everyone except Councilor Ron. Since it was pointed out that the funds traditionally have gone to help advertise events all over the County which also do not remit funds to Ruidoso's Lodgers Tax the argument proved to be bogus as a three dollar bill. Councilor Ron just couldn't get it though and voted no to the cash. Fortunatley, in the eyes of this intrepid reporter, common sense prevailed and the Arts will live to see another day...unlike the tenur of Ms. Chavez who immediately resigned her position and left in a huff. I hate a gal that can't take no for an answer.

Speaking of leaving in a huff, as I understand it, as the evening dragged on like a log behind a mule Councilor Ron decided that he had had enough of all this negotiating and haggling, and bikering, and ballyhoo and left the meeting faster than a coyote with a cactus burr on his butt, ranting about having had it....I assume "it" being his job as an elected official. Like my old uncle Theodore from England used to say "Bad form old chap!"

Well, if you ask old Buck here what he thinks of it all I would have to say (after pondering on it a minute or two) we are in for a hell of a campaign leading up to next March's elections!

See ya at the poles.

Yer Old Friend

Buck Verde

Sub Committee end run

2005-08-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago the Mayor asked several members of the Lodgers Tax Advertising sub committee to step down. He did this because they had started a new company in Ruidoso called Go West Marketing which developed the new Ruidoso tourism web site www.GoRuidoso.com. This they did in response to the loss of the Ruidoso web site after a year of two of the principals (Chuck Duncan and Bob Moroney) attempting to save it. The Mayor claimed that there was a percevied conflict of interest in this advisory committee with four of it's members being involved in Go West Marketing. In good faith three members resigned expecting the mayor to reappoint three new members. This was a false expectation. Since the beginning the Mayor, Angel Shaw and Ron Hardeman worked to disband the sub committee because their loyalties lay with the local advertising vendor Grindstone Graphics and this vendor hated having any body looking at what they were doing. This amounted to accountability (the first ever) and they were vociferous in their attempts to have their Council friends disband the committee. Three attempts in Council failed, so obviously they devised the plan to have the Go West boys resign and then not replace them, thus by default dissolving that committee. It should also be mentioned that the Mayor pushed Bob Moroney off of the Lodgers Tax Committee and replaced him with another long time loyal freind. The LTC is now stacked with a group of essentially toothless political appointees who have demonstrated no desire to chellenge the status quo. This is all a disaster and the fact that Ruidoso Lodgers are experiencing a significant drop in business illustrates that these actions by the MAyor, Shaw and Hardeman have finally come to roost. The good news is that we have an election next spring and we can toss the Mayor and Hardeman out on their ears and replace them with considerate individuals whose loyalties lie with the citizens and local business in general and not their cronies. By the way Mr. Mayor how tricks over at River Crossing? Does not cross your mind that you are in conflict of interest does it?

Down again in April 20%

2005-07-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Well, after a very difficult month of June with all of the political wrangling in an effort to get someone to pay attention to the situation Ruidoso is in regarding advertising and promotion we now find out that April was down 20% in lodgers tax...according to Brad Treptow.

This is simply unacceptable and the fact that it is not front page news is even more distrurbing. Wake up...this is the business Ruidoso is in and no one is making any noise about it.

What happened to marketing to Austin and Tuscon? Two locations identified by the workshop which was attended by a large group of Ruidoso lodgers and other business people who came up with some very dynamic stuff.

We have had no fires, we have had great snow and yet we continue to pattern in a downward spiral. Is it too much to expect from our Village, the stuards of Lodgers Tax funds, to request an explaination for the decline in business? All of the personal vitriol aside, where is the accountability? That is all we are asking for! How hard can it be?

Mistaken identity and thoughts

2005-07-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Buck made and observation last week in a post claiming that the Mayor and Councilor Hardeman appeared on Tim Keithley's radio program with the Doth's. This was an error and my fault as I told Buck that it was the Mayor when in fact is was not. I appologize for the confusion, I got that from a trusted source and unfortunatley a mistake was made...yes even the infamous Chuck Duncan is fallible.. ;-) I would also like to add that I am encouraged by the Council and the Mayor figuring out how to compromise on an important issue. I have been a harsh critic of some Councilors and the Mayor, but now wish to thank them for coming together. That having been said I now challenge those same folks to insure that a considered request for proposal be the next step. The reason for the trouble over Grindstones contract is how poorly it was written. As an astute friend of mine pointed out the other day all we want is acountability and measurement. Surley this is not difficult. Having administered dozens of contracts in my previous life I know how simple a process it can be if the process is supported by upper management (Council). The advertising sub committee would be a perfect vehicle for this. Whether or not Grindstone gets the contract I think it is time for a fresh look at marketing. Seven years in the saddle is a pretty long run in any contract driven relationship and tends to cause complacency. I would hope that the RFP includes an invitation for innovation and that that carries the weight it deserves. Chamber President Greg Cory, someone whom I admire greatly, commented on what goes into making a successful Village. Every point was on the mark and the general sense that the community is served well only if the community at large gets active really sums things up perfectly. I have developed many close friendships in Ruidoso largely because I have been active and vocal. I would like to see all of us working on making the Village everything it can be. To Laura and Mark, I have also been critical of you folks and would like to think that the environment of new beginings and the opportuntiy to focus on the future together is upon us and I would like nothing better than to see you guys working with the vested community to really get things cranking.

Thanks

Chuck Duncan

Council shows signs of promise

2005-07-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

I have been a harsh critic of the Council of late and for good reason. I am also inundated with phone calls and emails from Villagers expressing even more discontent that I have so it is difficult to gleen any good stuff. However, yesterdays (Thursday June 30th) was a happy day for Ruidoso because our Councilors all got together to work out a problem and found what I feel is an excellent solution. By giving Grindstone Graphics another year on their contract we maintain the continuity that so concerned many in town. By instructing the Village lawyer to draft an RFP for marketing services with a target date of 90 days we finally get to where we could have been already. And beyond this it was agreed to address the issue of a Village Marketing Manager. I am hopful that we may stand a chance of getting a dynamic and intuitive marketing program together as recommended by the Lodgers Tax Task Force many moons ago. I do caution Council that the issuie with Grindstone was largely the way their contract was written. Generalities are the bane of good contractual agreements. It is my desire to see the Village either consult with someone with tourism RFP and contrasct experience or draw from those who have been active in getting this issue addressed and we can help with presenting an RFP that will demand accountability and accept Village input. Of course, for any of that to work the Village must revitalise the Advertising Sub committee or the Tax Committee or both as they would serve well as the oversight for all contractual obligations of the successful applicant. If we hire a Tourism Director the synergy there would have even more impact on controlling our advertising dollars and energies. That all being said I want to thank Councilors Nunly and Hardeman for addressing the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday to help clear the air. I personally feel that you are true gentlemen and who are doing the best that you can in a divisive environment. I may not agree with all of your decisions, but I do think you mean well and have a sincere appraciation for the need to mend fences and get things done. Thanks for all you do.
Chuck Duncan

Mayor out of control

2005-06-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Well, tonight the Mayor intends to do an end run around the will of the people in an effort to prop up his image as a leader...:-) Last session three Councilors representing their constituents voted not to renew the Village's marketing contract with Grindstone Graphics. With a victory under their belt most in town were ready to celebrate the potential of a fresh start with a new company. However, the Mayor, Councilor Angel Shaw and Councilor Hardeman had different plans. Not ones to accept defeat graciously they are intending to do an end run around the legitimate decision of last time by having Grindstone parade a bunch of their friends in front of council wanrning of the dire consequences of not having Grindstone Graphics at the helm. The Mayor, right on cue, will then announce to the world that he sees this as an emergency and with his omnipotence he will claim his right to place the issue on the agenda where his lackies will vote to reinstate the contract. This is not about what is good for the community, it is about what is good for the ego of Leon Eggleston (the soon to be one term Mayor) . Stay tunes and mark my words, tonight is gonna be a barn burner!

Buck Verde

Underdogs win one

2005-06-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

It is a victory when the underdogs finally get their say. The firing of Grindstone Graphics has been a circus event with the losing side claiming conspiracy...big surprise! Mayor Eggleston and his gang are all claiming that the three Coucilors who have the courage to face the entrenched political machine planned for Grindstone to put their contract forward on the same day that minion Councilor Hardeman was out of town giving them the edge they needed to pass a motion to get rid of Grindstone Graphics. This is typical of that group who are used to ramming through their agendas with one Mayoral tie breaker after another. Of Course, chief protagonist Councilor Angel Shaw has been busy spewing her venom and it appears she has encouraged Mayor Eggleston to fire Bob Moroney from the Lodgers Tax Committee as a return volley. This is not at all surprising since this pair worked dilligently to fire the entire Advertising SUb COmmittee for attempting to hold Grindstone Graphic and the Visitor Center accountable for their actions...God forbid and level of responsibility to the tax payers enter into any of this. Because Bob is a stand up guy, vocal citizen and successful businessman he has garnered some power and this really scares the voting block.

This conveniently all comes at a time when the State is auditing the Village and early indications are not promising for some Village officials, elected and otherwise. The audit has taken far longer than any audit I have seen which indicates that there are some real concerns about the Village practices. You can bet that legal council for the Village is at the center of most of this. Of course, anything he did will have been signed off on by the Mayor and Village Manager Lori McKnight.

Elections are coming soon and heads will roll. We need a new face to our Village administration. One where the Mayors word means something. One where partisan politics do not control decisions important to the Village. One where the Village Attorney does not control Council like a marionette. One that respects it's citizens and their oppinions. One that understand the business that the Village is in.

Buck Verde
Ruidoso New MExico

Council gives Grindstone Graphics a Long Overdue Hard Look

2005-06-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Ruidoso has finally charted a victory over the condecension and arrogance of it's largest Tourism related vendor...Grindstone Graphics. After realizing that Grindstone had increased their management fee each of the previous two years on their three year contract and were once again looking to pad their take, three astute councilors voted to put the Villages marketing contract out for RFP. This is a true win for Ruiodoso as the latest numbers show Lodgers tax down 20% and overall lodging appears to be weakening. Grindstone has been very reluctant to embrace any recommendations from the citizen committees who have pooled their resources to help better drive Ruidoso's tourism industry. Grindstone, in fact, has spent much of their time and influence on denouncing these groups and has even persuaded the Mayor and Councilors Shaw and Hardeman to actively move to disband the Advertising Sub Committee. A committee that was staffed by notible marketing gurus like Bruce Timson and Brian Parrish. The transparency is obvious when you consider that Grindstone makes a large chuck of change off of commisions and therefore are not motivated to do anything or spend any of the Villages money on advertising that does not net them a back door profit. Much of what has come from the recommendations of the committees has been things that Grindstone cannot profit from and therefore they have simply ignored them. Until the Sub Committee was established there was no oversight of accountability attached to the contract and the suited Grindstone Graphics just fine. This author will press to see that any new RFP contains checks and balances, including a disallowance of any secondary profiteering from ad placement purchases. Thank You Councilors Rebstock, Byers and Williams for your courage and forsight...well done!

Ruidoso, New Mexico and growing pains

2005-06-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here we are in the early throws of the 21st century and the quaint Village of Ruidoso, New MExico is struggling to catch up to the rest of the world. Specifically we have a Village council that is partially populated by old school-old boys attempting to appear to be running local government while, in actuallity, continuing to stiffle many initiatives that may show signs of promise and benefit for the community at large. Fortunaltely, we have three or four solid Council members that trully understand what is happening in the world and what Ruidoso needs to do to compete. As a tourist town with no other industry to speak of we must stay ahead of the curve in regards to logistics, infrastructure and promotions. We fail at all three. In fact this Council has attracted the curiosity of the State auditor who after a cursory look has set up permanent residence in Ruidoso realizing that things are not as they should be. This audit promises to send a clear and devastating message to those in power who's errogance and actions directed at the great unwashed (citizens, retailers, realtors, lodgers, etc) are completely unacceptable. That message will hopfully open the way for a new face in Council and the Mayors Chair come next years election...or sooner!

We have many challenges in the community and have forced Council to create one task force after another to address these issues. Water shortages, a delapidated Convention Center, ineffective or questionable advertising, unaccountable vendors, solid waste, affordable housing and on and on and on...many of which were addressed by various citizen committees and have all fallen victim to the great black hole that is our Village administration. Actions taken by council on water task force recommendation "0", actions taken on touism promotions Lodgers Tax Task force recommendations "0" with the exception of the appointment of the Lodgers Tax Sub Committee which was immediately subjected to vote after failed vote in Council to eradicate that committee. The reason? The vendors complained to their chums in Council and the Mayors chair and that was all our leaders needed to go on the attack. The vendors complain and all of a sudden the citizens are the bad guys...isn't that the same as asking the Fox if everything is OK in the chicken coop? Those poor dumb chickens (citizens and business leaders) apparently did not understand that it is they who are the great unwashed in Ruidoso!

I hope others will begin posting and commenting on this Blog as we must begin to campaign now if we are to make the changes that our wonderful Village needs.

Remember my favorite adage: If the Mayor and his minion Angel Shaw spent as much time focusing on our desperate water issues as they have on killing every initiative by the Lodging community we would be overrun by Visitors...all arriving by boat!