Doubt About Stout?

Six-term Springdale City Council Alderman, Bobby Stout has announced he will run for re-election this fall.

Stout claims he has done a wonderful job for Springdale over the years. He credits himself with building up the funds the city is surviving on in these lean times. He also claims he has been diligently working on implementing a trail system for the past ten years. Funny, I don't recall him mentioning trails before...

Stout was recently quoted as saying, “We need to work closer with people like the Chamber of Commerce to increase the city’s revenue."

If increasing revenue is his goal, why did he side with Jim Phillips' attorney trying to block Macadoodles from getting a liquor permit transfered to Springdale? Stout was the ONLY councilman to vote against the transfer.

Rick Culver, President of the Rodeo of the Ozarks board of directors is said to be running against Stout.

Yee Haw Davis

Lane Adams, Director of Account Services at CJRW Northwest presented a proposal to the Springdale Advertising and Promotion Commission on Tuesday to purchase a list of 1500 names to conduct a telephone survey to increase attendance to the 2011 Rodeo of the Ozarks.

Total cost of this survey? Twelve thousand, three hundred fifty dollars or nine dollars per surveyed caller.

Adams didn't say who they would be purchasing these names and numbers from and when asked who would be conducting the survey, Adams talked in circles about a third-party vendor without ever answering the question.

That leaves it wide open for me to guess the money will either end up back into the lining of Perry's pockets or the traveling Mullikin's.

Lance Eads is the chairman of this commission, but it's clearly Perry's playpen.

I've got to tell you, I was impressed with the guy with the accent. Roger Davis, from the Holiday Inn and Convention Center. He was paying attention. Davis pointed out that the A and P budget will be close to $25,000 in the hole by year end and maybe a survey wouldn't be the best use of said hole.

"It's not advertising and it's not promotion," said Davis.

Thanks to Davis speaking up, the vote was postponed until the next A and P snoozefest allowing him time to do some homework and find out how the rodeo board wants their money spent .

Stay tuned...

The Booze Brothers

Liquor permit denials for two Walgreens stores in Springdale a couple months back produced little more than yawns from the locals. Macadoodles finally opened so I guess nobody noticed at the time.

Representative Jon Woods, R-Springdale, has reportedly been spotted carpooling to Little Rock with none other than Springdale Liquor Association (SLA), Prince Jim Phillips. The purpose of their road trips? To attend ABC Board Meetings and object to liquor permit requests for Springdale businesses like Walgreens and EZ Mart. This isn't the first time these two have been spotted behaving in a suspicious manner.

In an interesting side note, Woods made the Top 20 list of lawmakers pocketing the most per diem, mileage and expense reimbursements in 2009. I guess we know who pays for the gas.

It is apparent that it's not the liquor Woods is fussing about. He doesn't object to permits for restaurants and bars. Maybe he doesn't want to rock the boat at establishments his band may play at one day.  No, it seems pretty obvious he is only objecting to businesses that could be competition for his traveling companion.

ABC Director Michael Langley said almost every Arkansas Walgreens located in a wet county was granted permission to sell beer and small farm wines.

Woods is not working for Springdale. Email him at woodsj@arkleg.state.ar.us and let him know.

Disturbing Discovery

Springdale police arrested William Cannon, 43, after discovering a room full of pictures of children.

The Springdale Fire Marshal found the pictures while inspecting the E-Z Credit Auto. After entering a room at the back of the store, police said he discovered nude images of children on the walls and disturbing posters with sayings like "I eat little boys" and "boy sex."

Police say Cannon had turned his room into a violent and disturbing shrine to little boys. They seized more than a dozen printed or photocopied images of nude or partially nude children from the room. In addition, police said they discovered missing children's posters, toys and even children's underwear.

Cannon told police he considered everything on display in his room to be works of art.

Employees at the store said Cannon worked there as a security guard. They said Cannon kept his room locked at all times and they knew nothing about what was inside.

The Next Best

CNNMoney.com has ranked Rogers, Arkansas number 10 on their list of the 100 best small cities to live in 2010, based in large part to Wal-Mart headquarters, which is actually located in Bentonville.

Last November, Bloomberg Businessweek claimed Springdale was the best place to raise a family and listed Tyson Foods and Arvest Ballpark as the big draw. Of course, the Springdale Chamber of Commerce took out a half-page newspaper ad crediting themselves with the achievement, but that's another story.

Now if JB Hunt gets Lowell named the best of something else, we'll really be onto something.

Graffiti

It is interesting that there were 400 cases of 'graffiti' reported last year in Springdale compared to 133 in Rogers and 28 in Fayetteville. However, I don't think what is being reported as graffiti really is. What I have seen is tagging - you know a name or letters spray painted on something. That's not graffiti.

That being said, to combat the vandalism problem, Springdale recently purchased a power wash graffiti removal system that will cost the city about $50,000 a year to operate. In order to fund it, businesses will pay an extra dollar each month on their water bill.

Springdale is also considering updating their current graffiti ordinance, making it illegal to purchase spray paint if you are under the age of 18. This is a common practice in other places, however, I question how effective it can be without limiting the access to paint also.

In any event, while pondering all of this I came up with a few alternate ways to fund the new power washing program.
 1 ... 2 ... 3

Good Samaritans Stimulate the Economy

Television station KNWA reported police broke up a large, underage drinking party last Thursday at the faith-based Samaritan Community Center Thrift Store in Springdale's Mathias Plaza.
 
A clerk at neighboring business, Take Two Video called police when she noticed numerous people going in and out of the thrift store after hours with the lights turned out.

Times sure have changed. It used to be when police broke up a teenage party, they would just call the parents to come get them. I have been told that every teen present at this party was arrested and charged with minor in possession of alcohol and possession of drug paraphernalia for the hookah.

Springdale may have come up with an efficient new way to stimulate the local economy. Just think of the huge boost to revenue collected from fines, increased business for local attorneys and conserving fuel in the squad cars all at the same time.

The Warehouse District

The June 8 Springdale City Council meeting was about more than the lame excuses for how the Chamber of Commerce spends our tax money. Try debating whether or not putting up metal warehouse buildings in a residential area is good economic development.

Alderman Bobby Stout needs to put down the pipe. Patsy Christy spent fifteen minutes explaining all changes to the Land Use Plan. When she is finished Stout wakes up and says, "Now what all changed?" Seriously.

The Planning Commission recommended they review the area around Wagon Wheel, Silent Grove and Apple Blossom again in two years and hopefully they would have more information about the 412 northern bypass at that time.

Perry Webb took to the podium claiming that companies have been contacting him like crazy. BIG companies with billions...repeat (Webb does) BILLIONS of dollars in potential projects. These mystery big spenders are just begging for this spot of land despite the fact that it will not have an exit for interstate access, does not have city sewer and the Planning Commission has twice recommended to the city NOT to change the land use for this area.

Resident David Gilbert said, "We've heard Mr. Webb tell us about business, business, business...well, we live there."

Springdale Attorney Jeff Slaton who lives in the area that would be affected said it is highly unlikely the northern 412 bypass will be built within the next nine years. Slaton, like others was asking the council to wait and see what develops with the bypass.

Slaton also invited Webb to share the information he has with us about who wants to build there. We will anxiously await his reply.

I've heard the whispers that if the property owners last name were something different, this would not be an issue.

The Fox

After a pledge, prayers, boy scouts and a photo-op, the June 8 Springdale City Council Meeting got underway.

About 6:20 minutes into the video, Mayor Sprouse tells us it is time for citizen comments. As a citizen, the mayor's traveling companion, Perry Webb takes the podium and tells the audience how the mayor had asked him - that very morning - to supply the council and the city with invoices of the chamber of commerce economic development activity for the first five months of the year. Maybe some people had been complaining or something.

The excitement didn't last long. Once again, the city is allowing this elusive and exclusive group to do whatever they want - including nothing - without any accountability. If you find economic development activity anywhere on page one let me know. Don't waste your time looking any further than that because the other months are just a photocopy of the first.

As a steward of the taxpayers' money, the mayor should be ashamed.

Doing the Math

A recent request for documentation showing what a check the Springdale Chamber of Commerce paid to President/CEO Perry Webb's daughter was for leaves more questions than answers.

First, we received the copy of the check back with "answered phones" written on it. Okay, that sounds reasonable enough.

Second, we were provided a weekly time record with somebody's name scribbled out and that of Sarah Gordley written in above it - in two places. Okay, that seems a little weird.

According to my calculator, Ms. Gordley was paid $22.222222222222222222222222222222 per hour for four and a half hours in order to equal the hundred dollar paycheck she received. This doesn't even take into consideration the fact they claim the work performed was in October and the check wasn't written until December.

Another explanation from the local CoC, that just doesn't add up.

Business Intelligence Report

In an effort to look like you're getting something for your money, the Chamber of Commerce is now distributing what they have deemed "The Business Intelligence Report" to their dues-paying members.

President/CEO Perry Webb takes credit for each new business license purchased in Springdale while claiming this new publication is FILLED with quality data gleaned from local research as well as from some of the nation's top business resources.

I'm trying to keep a straight face.

The Iconoclast: The Soul of Springdale - January 9, 2009

They're tomatoes, officer...

Jimmy Rutherford, 42, of Springdale was arrested Wednesday and charged with manufacture of a controlled substance, marijuana.

Rutherford claims he was growing vegetables in his backyard to sell at the farmer's market. He also claims some plants just sprouted up on their own and he thought they were tomatoes.

The value of the tomatoes that grew all by themselves was estimated by police to be worth $138,000.

Police conducted the search of Rutherford's home after receiving an anonymous tip.

Today's lesson is always be nice to your neighbors.

Chamber of Horrors

A membership in the Springdale Chamber of Commerce automatically gives you membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - whether you want it or not.

Editorials and columns noting that the US Chamber is damaging its reputation and credibility include BusinessWeek, PRWeek, Fortune Magazine's Marc Gunther, Newsweek , LA Times, and the Washington Post.

While many large companies and local chambers are distancing themselves - as far away as possible from the US Chamber and their lobbying antics, Springdale is still endorsing them and sending them your money.

The US Chamber is fast becoming known as the current political mafia with their biggest area of influence being state and federal elections. They vastly outspent every other lobbying group in 2009 with a budget surpassing the spending of BOTH the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee.

How long will it take for Springdale businesses and the local chamber to catch on that the US Chamber is driving down the wages of the customers that patronize the businesses of their members?

Conversations With A Stump

Asking the Springdale Chamber of Commerce for copies of invoices or receipts for their expenditures isn't much different than having a conversation with a stump.

This is a list of checks (marked with a yellow highlighter) that we requested to see receipts showing their purpose. These particular checks were chosen because they seemed to be written to many of the individuals also involved in a lot of the traveling going on.

In what has become typical fashion, we received nothing of the sort. What we did get was a few pages of their general ledger with lots of things blacked out.

It seems to me the more they hide their real spending, the more suspect it becomes. If these were legitimate expenses truly used to promote the economic growth of Springdale, wouldn't they want to prove it?

and the survey says....

In January of 2008, a company called Research Dynamics, Inc. out of Memphis, Tennessee prepared a marketing research study of Northwest Arkansas consumers for The Mullikin Agency.

Page 15 advises us to leverage the positive perception of our local fire, police and school systems. The report also mentions very negative criticism of the city government, city council and the financing of the baseball stadium.

Even after being read a description of what the Chamber of Commerce purportedly does, 45% of all respondents had NO opinion of them. How can that be when they claim to be responsible for every new business in Springdale?

Survey of Northwest Arkansas Consumers

I want to see a copy of Jeff Collins' study they have kept hidden.

The Fayettevillage Voice: Revenues Down Across the Board - March 23, 2009

Another Springdale Volunteer Coach Arrested

For the second time in less than a month, a volunteer coach in the Springdale School District has been arrested.

Christopher Wayne Foster, 27, of 14055 Wolf Drive in Rogers was  arrested Wednesday in connection with felony aggravated assault, kidnapping, promoting prostitution and theft of property.

Foster was an athletic volunteer at Central Junior High School.

Back in April Brett Wayne Foster, 21, of Fayetteville was arrested in connection with two counts of first-degree sexual assault. He allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old student who was a member of the Har-Ber High School track team.

It is unknown at this time if the two are related.

Springdale Athletic Director Annette Scogin needs to take a long, hard look at the screening process for volunteers. The current method is not working and is putting our children in serious jeopardy.

Another Earthquake

For the second time in less than a month an earthquake has been reported in Benton County.

The 2.6 magnitude quake hit near Cave Springs.

Happy Anniversary!

One year after Brian & Melonie Moore's exotic honeymoon holiday in paradise, they took what can only be described as a $10,436.88 anniversary trip to Istanbul, Turkey, paid for by the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.

I don't have any anniversary pictures, but I did manage to entertain myself somewhat on a virtual trip.

The downside to traveling this way was not getting the opportunity to stay at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida before boarding the cruise ship. The cost was not included in the payment to Norwegian Cruise Lines. It was $1,333.84 extra.

Joy to the World

In November 2009, the Springdale Chamber of Commerce paid for Joy Heuer, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and Eric Edelstein, Naturals General Manager to fly to Denver, Colorado for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Less than a month later, the chamber paid for another jaunt so these two could spend the Christmas holiday in sunny Orlando, Florida.

Edelstein admits they were a couple, making it even more unlikely these were actual business trips promoting the economic development of SPRINGDALE.

Flooding

Photo by Sarah Bentham
http://www.nwaonline.com/

Traffic backs up moving northbound on Thompson in Springdale as water floods the dip in the road due to heavy rains on Friday.

Definition of Deductible

–noun
the amount for which the insured is liable on each loss, injury, etc., before an insurance company will make payment.

Perry Webb scribbles "write checks" and it is done. If I am reading this correctly, the chamber reimbursed some employees in 2010 for their 2009 deductible.

Apparently, I am doing something wrong. I have to pay my own health insurance deductible. Do you?

Maestri's Succumbs to Tax Man

Among the oil paintings and Maestri family photographs, are the likenesses of Henry Mancini, Joe DiMaggio, Newt Gingrich, George Bush, and many others.

Maestri’s grandmother prepared meals in the restaurant over a wood burning stove, and diners ate by candlelight. Mary Maestri’s eventually added modern conveniences, but the food was still made with her original recipes.

Sadly, After 87 years in business landmark Italian restaurant Mary Maestri's in Tontitown has been shut down by the Department of Finance & Administration for failure to pay sales tax.

The owner hopes to reopen the restaurant soon.

UPDATE
Mary Maestri’s likely is permanently closed after owner Daniel Maestri on Thursday dropped his lawsuit against a state agency pursuing back sales taxes.

A real estate “for sale” sign near Mary Maestri’s indicates the land on which the restaurant sits is for sale.

Update

The Chamber of Commerce meeting minutes from October (pg. 2) says thirteen 'volunteers' went to San Francisco for the "I AM" campaign. The minutes do not disclose who actually was in attendance or what they volunteered to do while they were there.

In the January 2009 (pg. 3) Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, Bill Rogers stated that three volunteers had qualified for trips to San Francisco. Specifically, Brian Moore, Randy Mullikin and Derek Gibson.

The July American Express statement shows Paul Lawrence, Kevin Cortez, Dwayne Flynt, Randy Mullikin, Kim Umber, Derek Gibson, Heath Ward, and Rhonda Hughes purchasing travel packages to an unknown destination which may or may not be connected.

http://foiaspringdale.blogspot.com/2010/04/toast-on-coast.html
http://foiaspringdale.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-shelf-at-fishermans-wharf.html

Pet Food Bank

The Fayetteville Community Services Division has created a community Pet Food Bank called Ranger’s Pantry in an effort to assist families in financial distress to keep and provide for their pets.

Donations can be made at 2650 City Lake Road in Fayetteville.

Smile, You're on Camera!

The website for the City of Springdale recently added video coverage of many of their meetings including City Council, Advertising & Promotion, Planning Commission, etc.

Now you can see and hear for yourselves the truth about who said what instead of relying on Steve Caraway's sanitized versions.