Lots to comment regarding the BOA meeting last night which lasted well past 10 PM. Here is item #1 (not necessarily in order of importance).
The Community Center, the saga continues. If you attended any of the BOA meetings late last year and early this year the concern over the condition of the CC after rentals was discussed often. A fee system was put in place, no more free rentals, and a "get tough" policy on witholds of deposits was vetted. Madames White and Hoy were especially critical of return of deposits when issues post rental remained.
Since then renters Bugg and Regan have approached the BOA for refunds of withheld deposits. And prevailed. Last night renter Redding requested relief from deposits withheld for a function in December 07. The decision to withhold money was discussed at the January meeting (I was in attendance) and included Q&A with CC manager Payne. It was noted then (and Alderman White mentioned again last night) Ms Redding had left the CC on previous occasions where cleanup was necessary. Robust discussion last night on procedures necessary to avoid what is becoming a he said/she said situation..."we left it clean...no you didn't". Ms Payne has a digital camera to document condition conditions, but as Alderman Hoy noted, difficult to see exact conditions of CC on pics. Alderman Hoy also noted Ms Payne had expectations of leaving the CC in "pristine" condition.
Apparently fingerprints on the walls are now considered "fair wear and tear". It was noted that due to the paint used in the recent redecorate, fingerprints cannot be washed off.
Discussion about aldermen being involved in check out ensued, after event or next day. Policy and procedures seem to be a bit in disarray.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Life on Weatherby Lake
Moratz Consulting
After a professional career in medical devices and pharmaceuticals working with insurance reimbursement, I have launched a business focusing on Medicare insurance and people who might benefit from the coverage provided by UnitedHealthcare. Take a look at this link to a customized web site which provides valuable information about Medicare in general.
No hassle Dental/Vision self-enrollment on the web
Additionally I can provide Dental and Vision insurance from a number of providers, Delta Dental/Cigna/UHC as well as Short Term Health Insurance. Contact me at:
Featured Post
Silly Wabbit
Google Fiber reaches the City! Actually touches WL! I was curious about the GF Rabbit signs on the property at 9601 NW Barry Road, (sou...
Since March 2008
WLIC & City Links
About Me
- mike moratz
- Weatherby Lake, Missouri, United States
- Medical Industry professional, experience in medical devices, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. Managed care and reimbursement expert with speaking engagements at national and regional forums.
The text and pictures of this blog, unless otherwise noted, are the intellectual property of Mike Moratz under the applicable copyright laws of the United States of America. Any use or reproduction without the permission of the author is strictly prohibited.
17 comments:
Why is Redding coming forward five to six months after the incident? If it was discussed and voted on in January, then it is over.
Hats off to Shawna Payne for the meticulous care of our community center and fighting to keep it in excellent condition.
First thank you to the person who anonymously emailed this link. I would not ususally come post to a blog, I feel we have better things we could be doing, but I will today. I know I will get negative comments after reading this what some of you have said about your nieghbors, but here goes. Let me say to anonymous #1 I didn't wait 5 to 6 months to come forward on this. Our event was December 14, 2007. I was never notified of the sapposed issues until February 18th (the day before the board meeting over 2 months after our event) I did attend the February meeting and stayed until after 9pm with a 6 year old whom after 2 hours was getting crazy (meeting went long due to Owens project). My attendance can be verified as I did sign in that evening. My husband works Tuesday evenings and due to children on a competitive team (practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) that just ended the end of May this was the next meeting I was able to attend on a Tuedsay. I would like to state that Mike posted that Ms. White mentioned that we had left a mess previously on other occasions. If you look over the city minutes she never made such a comment. I mentioned that in over 3 years there had never been a complaint made to me regarding issues when the city was in charge, nor when Darlene Saddler was in charge and to my knowledge not earlier in the year when Shawna Payne was in charge before she started having financial problems. As to digital pictures I am the one who had pictures showing the center was clean and I brought them to the meeting (from what the alderman said Shawna did not). Shawna said it took 10 1/2 hours to clean up after our event. I'm sorry I don't know of any event in history ever taking 10 1/2 to clean. My husband personally stayed from 8:30pm until a few minutes to 11pm (which can be verified through cell phone records and I'm sure the security system showing what time he locked up) taking down decorations and cleaning (I had to take the 6 year old to the emergency room so I left around 9) There were only 8 children at the event so it seems even more unlikely that we could have done such damage, when we have had over 50 children and families and not had complaints. I also brought up for Shawna to walk in and see what would end up taking over 10 hours to clean must have looked horrible why then did she not call me to question what was going on?????? I have rental property if I saw such a mess (and I have) I immediately called my renters to question and I took pictures and video tape. Why did Shawna not?? Why was it brought up at the January 19th meeting when she had never brought it up to me. Then why did she turn around and send me a letter dated January 28th but not post marked until February 13th (25 days later). I also brought in letters from the families in attendance that evening stating the condition of the community center when they left amazing that the Morehouse, Colemans, Hendersons, etc stated how clean the center was. What are we to believe that my husband stayed after these people left: took down lights and Christmas trees and decorations then destroyed the center himself?? It is interesting to me that Shawna looses her daycare or stops daycare then people (this has n ot just been the kids klub, the fishing club and others) all of a sudden are leaving hours of cleaning. These are not people whom have never rented before and don't know how to clean. At the Wild Game Dinner it is said to have taken Shawna a few hours to clean up. Amazing when one of our own aldermen was there helping clean after the event!! The Womens Club had issues with the center not being in good condition prior to them renting (What happened to Shawna doing such a meticulous job cleaning?)
As to the second anonymous and the hats off comment I see nothing to say hats off to when someone is trying to rip off the members and clubs of the community they live in. Hats off is what I say to those of us who have the guts to stand up to Shawna and say we aren't going to be falsly accused and take it.
Just an FYI regarding the minutes of the BOA. It is not a verbatim capture of the discussions. I did attend this past weeks BOA as well as the BOA in January. I take notes and stand by my comments. It is interesting that comments about MS Payne's "financial problems" surfaced on this blog when the Regan/Bugg cleaning issues occurred as well. Neighborly huh? What is also not captured in the minutes during Mr Buggs' Q&A with the Board regarding his withhold of deposit monies was his own admission there may have been problems with the floors.
Don't know about "guts to stand up", seems more like "ax to grind" to me.
Mike, I never denied there may have been 1 problem with the center and that was my husband saying that he did not remember screwing the lights in the front back in after the party. I noted that there were not issues with some of the same groups that have rented before (even earlier in the year when Shawna was in charge) then all of a sudden there are issues each time someone rents. I think anyone paying attention would notice the occurrences. I'm not sure exactly when on your blog Shawna's financial problems were brought up, however it is interesting that so many people seem to be aware of it and are noticing the timings between the incidents! I find it interesting that you have so many negative things to say on your blog as well, especially when you just mentioned the neighborly comment. Why not be more neighborly on the blog? How about more on the recycling issues and the great new speed bumps that were just put in place at C-Point. How about how great the bathrooms and trash are being kept up there as well. Why not more comments on upcoming community events: Yacht Club, 4th of July, Garden Club-maybe they could even hold a class on rain barrels to correspond with your page on recycling and saving the lake.
Let's congratulate the Jackmans on their new arrival.
Anyone paying attention would know the board has struggled for some time with issues regarding cleanup at the CC. The Board was clear in the increase of fees and direction to the CC manager regarding withholds of deposits. My impression is the financial issues of the CC manager are being promoted by one or two individuals (well, add your name to the list), I find it neither interesting nor factual regarding the number folks interested in it.
If you are interested in recycling go to my blog, www.weatherbylakegreen.blogspot.com. I have quite a bit of information there, and to my knowledge, I am the only person at the Lake actively encouraging recycling of plastic and aluminum, at least in cyberspace.
I have been actively involved in City Government for the past 7 years and that is the focus of this blog. I assume you get Weatherby Lake Living? Pat Medill can tell you about the speed bumps and the Jackmans new arrival.
Mike is somewhat right, this is a government blog. There are things on here having nothing to do with government though. That is neither here nor there. I agree the community center needs to be kept clean and looking good. If Ms. Payne is doing such a thing, great. However I too was at the BOA meeting last week and was in attendance in January. I do believe Ms. Redding is right in saying she was not notified for 2 months does seem very odd to me. I do not recall Ms. Payne proving the damages she accused the kids klub of. I too find it of some importance that all of the mishaps have been in the last several months. Why did these individuals not have problems before, and why would Ms. Payne not contact them immediately if she walked in to see such disasters? I was at the Wild Game dinner, I must question how Shawna felt there was 3 hours of cleaning there as well. I know if I let someone use my home and they left it a mess I would be contacting them that minute.( I say this because the grandkids have left a mess and my son was called that evening) I do believe there are those who don't take care of others property, and they should know about it. I too just find the oddity of the whole thing interesting. Okay that's my nickels worth. I would like however Mike to see you infact as others have made comment not so negative when the topic is someone when can see your obvious distaste for.
Facts...
Everyone keeps falling into the trap that this blog is about facts. It was never intended to be about facts but rather, as it's name would imply, "As I see It"--that is, as Mike would see it.
The facts are this...neither John Bugg nor Carol Regan had any issue of their deposits being withheld for cleaning issues. As for John Bugg, his issue was the warning letter he was sent by Ms. Payne. His deposit was not ever withheld but he took issue with the fact he was sent a warning letter for leaving the community center in a mess even though the Regan's, Bugg's, Dobbie's, White's, Chief McMullin, Ray's, Vining's and many others cleaned it thoroughly.
As for Carol Regan & the Irish American Club, her deposit was not withheld either--there was never an issue or question about how the community center was left. However, she asked the board if the amount of her rent for that day could be adjusted because there had to be a lot of cleaning done by her and her crew to get the community center clean for the event. This was due to the fact the community center was under renovation at the time and there was exessive dust and appliances that had to be moved back into place. The board voted to adjust it accordingly.
Ms. Redding's request for mediation of her penalty "withholding deposit" is being considered by the board but only after getting Ms. Redding and Ms. Payne in the same room for a discussion about the charges and event.
So we can continue to respond to how Mike sees this issue or we can realize the facts as they happened and as they stand.
Those are the facts.
Thank you for pointing out the facts. As the saying goes, there is always more to the story. Hopefully this will get worked out so that future problems won't be an issue. As for Ms. Redding.... hard to understand how you can ask other people to report on "positive" things while you yourself are slinging mud.... do you know for a fact that Ms. Payne is having financial problems or are you just trying to cause harm? Would you appreciate people trying to paint the picture that you must be having financial problems since you're trying to get out of paying? How would that make you feel? Instead of asking everyone else to play nice, why not start with yourself.
Have never rented the Community Center. What does Shawna Payne's financial issues (if she even has any) have to do with withholding deposits. Does she keep the deposit money for her cleaning?
I believe Shawna gets paid a monthly salary no matter how many hours worked. So extra hrs worked don't get her anything. If this is incorrect maybe someone can post update if they know the facts.
I also have never rented the CC. This is what I understand to be accurate, however it is not a "fact" just what has been said. From what has been said if she charges out a bill for cleaning she gets to keep the money as she is the one that is doing the "extra cleaning". I have also heard from others that Shawna was having issues. If she did not want people to discuss her finances perhaps she should not have discussed them the end of last year with parents of those her child attends school with. To me common sense would say that someone would know someone would know someone that lived here and it would get back to people. I think Shawna's finaces should be her business unless she is trying to make money off of our community by lying. In the same token she should not air her laundry if she does not want every one to see what it looks like.
Holli Payne, who is a long time resident of Weatherby Lake, took care of our home from time to time. Holli was very conscientious and went to extra lengths to make sure our home was well taken care of. If anything went wrong and she perceived it to be her fault, any issue or repair came directly out of her pocket. I don’t know Shawna Payne, but my guess is she has similar traits to her mother – making sure the community center is kept pristine. And who hasn’t had financial issues at one point or another in their life? Whether you do or don’t doesn’t make one some kind of criminal for mentioning it or that you’re bilking the community for money.
Flip Flop has generated quite a response, with lots of conjecture, and, on the part of a few, wandering off topic into personal finances. Hopefully this will set the record straight. Shawna Payne is paid to clean the Community Center $350 per month (the same as the previous individual who decided to stop providing the service...my recollection is it was not worth the pay to continue). Additionally, she is paid $387.50 a month to manage the CC which includes showings, inspections, etc. Any money charged/recovered from deposits and/or cleaning fees do not go to Ms Payne, they go back to the City and the General Fund.
Mike,
I have trouble believing that any extra money acquired from cleaning fees goes back to the city and not to the person doing "all" the extra cleaning. Why would anyone take a job that would only pay $350 for cleaning when just regular cleaning would I'm sure take several hours a week. Let's just say for arguments sake that normal monthly cleaning is 18 hours a week (toilets, windows, scouring, floor care and all) that would be 60 hours a month at $350 it would come to less than $5.83 an hour(less than min. wage of $6.50). Now lets add in another 10 hours from just the one bad party that month. That brings it down to $5 an hour. How are we to believe that, when we are told at Council meetings we can not have volunteers for anything because we must pay the going rate?? I don't think that is anywhere near the going rate for cleaning (just call a cleaning company), and to ask her to do the "extra" cleaning without pay would then be a volunteer service would it not? To anonymous at the end I have heard what a good job Holli used to do. What does that have to do with this? I was raised in the depression. My children although raised by me, and I can only hope they follow the example I led, are not me. They do not save the way I did, they do not shop the way I still shop. Why? Because they are not me. We do not know why othes do or say what the do, only that it is done.
You can verify with your Alderman or Mayor, I think the info on the pay is correct and no additional money goes to Ms Payne. Your calculation per hour could be correct in any given month, not sure if anybody knows what the average is over a years time, there are monthly fluctuations. Even if volunteers were possible it would be, in my opinion, a nightmare in scheduling and supervision. If you were going to rent the CC for a wedding, my guess your expectations of cleanliness and condition would be high, and why not?
On another note, the City currently has temporary summer hires at the rate of $12 an hour.
Sorry Mike, I know this is way off the subject but to 8:03 AM Anonymous. My children have jokingly complained to me more than once that they have turned out exactly like their mother. It is a wonderful compliment to their mother. Yes, Holli Payne isn't the subject matter here but I would put trust into that family.
Post a Comment