LONG WEEKENDER II: False Hope

The Martin Chronicles must admit that even we are surprised by how quickly Villa Hills’ malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin’s once-heralded “Golden Moment” has elapsed. Upset by what was incorrectly described as “bickering” and “infighting”; voters surrounded Martin with six different council people. These voters carried with them the false hope that all of the turmoil of Martin’s first two years in office was as Martin described it.

While it seems like a long, long time ago now, you surely remember the maudlin Martin’s litany of excuses. Absolutely everything was someone else’s fault. It was as if the micromanaging Martin wasn’t even really sitting in the mayor’s office. It was as if the mismanaging Martin had no control over the persistent problems. It was if the mendacious Martin’s seemingly endless stream of LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE was somehow irrelevant.

Reasonable people are now beginning to realize that their hope for whatever they thought “peace” was isn’t possible as long as a “Mayor” Martin is part of the equation. Even so, these people have no choice but to watch what damage is done to their once-respected town between now and November 4, 2014.

·         Martin has rid himself of long-serving City Attorney Mike Duncan and replaced him with an oddly-still-unnamed attorney whose appointment has already been objected to by some on council. That does not bode well.

·         Martin has hired Koenig Cabana Boy Craig Bohman to serve as his City Administrator, disguising Bohman as the new “City Clerk”. This despite the fact that Martin was always opposed to Villa Hills even having a City Administrator.

·         Martin’s complete lack of budgeting and management ability is leading to ongoing, serious budget problems and more MAXIMUM-ALLOWED-BY-LAW TAX INCREASES.

·         Martin’s SECRET PLAN TO DISBAND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT has been prematurely revealed, causing turmoil at council meetings and uncertainty throughout Villa Hills.

·         Martin has paid himself more than $23,000 OF YOUR MONEY reminding people of the dishonesty that was revealed about his ILLEGAL BUSINESS PRACTICES and led to his CONVICTION OF SEVEN OF NINE COUNTS OF OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT AND NEGLECT OF DUTY.

Oh, and it is going to get worse. Thanks in large part to people the likes of Mike Pope, Jim Noll, the civic club ass clowns, the burgeoning hillbilly voting bloc, local neo-Nazis, Tea Party wing nuts, the heavy drinking men of St. Jokers, the out-of-towners and EDDIE, it’s going to get much, much worse.

[PUBLISHER’S NOTE: There is a riddle going around Villa Hills that actually has deep meaning for the future of that troubled town. It goes like this. “What don’t you have when you do have a malfeasant moron, a vile ancient crocodile, a hagged-out bar tramp and a pothead? Do you know the answer? Don’t fret. Just try to answer it. We will provide you the correct-and important-answer in a future post. Happy Easter everyone.]

LONG WEEKENDER: Stories We're Checking

The Martin Chronicles is settling in for a brief respite from the insanity that is Villa Hills' mental-case Mayor Mike Martin. We are also going to observe Passover and Easter. But we'll still be working on some ongoing and new stories.

What in the heck is it with Martin's new City Attorney? Why such a mystery? The malingering Martin gives outgoing City Attorney Mike Duncan $2 worth of McDonalds coupons as a parting gift and then says nothing. Later, a couple of the new council members announce that they don't agree with Martin's choice for City Attorney-but never mention the new attorney's name. Who did the mortified Martin hire, Jackie Chiles? Damned odd, we'd say.

Speaking of attorneys, we hear rumors that a very well-known Northern Kentucky attorney may be representing the plaintiff in a new lawsuit soon to be filed against the malfeasant Martin. As we reminded you yesterday, Martin has been lusting after some good publicity. This attorney will generate a whole lot of publicity for Martin-but is won't be the least bit good.

We'll have more to report about the odd relationship between vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig and her Cabana Boy-new Villa Hills' City Clerk-Craig Bohman. Plus, will Bohman get his own computer to play Minesweeper and Solitaire? Or will he have to share former Interim City Clerk Sue Bree's computer?

Next assignment: People are speculating why Councilman Brian R. Wischer sat through the riot at the March council meeting with what has been described as a "dopey" grin. Others say Wischer was "stoned-faced". We can only guess that he does inhale. He is good buddies with Jim Noll after all.

We are developing a story that Martin's and Koenig Cabana Boy Craig Bohman's plan to use bilious blowhard Kenton Kounty Boss Steve Arlinghaus' Kounty Kops to serve as his bodyguards for the April NON-SECRET MEETING may have hit a snag. Martin may be forced to recruit some civic club ass clowns to provide security.

The Martin Chronicles will also have the latest developments in the DUI and drug possession case against former-one-term-councilman-failed-State-Senate-candidate-running-police-barricades-with-a-box-of-marijuana-in-his-car Jim Noll. In a word: IDIOT.

When it comes to the malfeasant Martin, there is one thing of which we are absolutly sure. The worst is yet to come.

"Say what, Mayor Martin?!?!?!"





BREAKING NEWS: Dismantling The Police Department

The Martin Chronicles has learned that malevolent Mayor Mike Martin and vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig have conspired in an attempt to provoke Chief Dan Goodenough in to an incident of insubordination.

What happened? Koenig ordered the public works department to REMOVE THE SECURITY DOOR FROM THE POLICE OFFICES. Yes, you read that correctly. Koenig ordered THE SECURITY DOOR REMOVED.

What was Koenig's phony reason? She said she wanted to be able to use the women's restroom in the building. Interesting time for the grimalkin Koenig to begin a new trend, isn't it?

Goodenough asked the miscreant Martin to intercede on behalf of police department security. The chief went so far as to suggest giving Koenig a key to the security door so she could use it to access the bathroom. Martin took the side of the vile ancient crocodile and AGAINST THE SECURITY OF YOUR POLICE OFFICERS. 

Anyone who still has their head in the sand believing that the decision hasn't already been made to disband your police department is fooling themselves. Yes, EDDIE, you are getting exactly what you voted for.

Blessed By Our Enemies

The Martin Chronicles likes to peruse the weekly newspapers across Northern Kentucky before we use them to line our puppy crates. We never know what we might find. Recipes, marriage licenses, prep highlights, obituaries and-oh, yes-letters to the editor. We found a letter-to-the-editor written by the former-one-term-Villa-Hills-councilman-failed-State-Senate-candidate-later-arrested-for-driving-through-a-police-barricade-set-up-in-response-to-a-shooting-incident-while-drunk-and-transporting-a-box-of-marijuana Jim Noll.

First of all, we want to make it abundantly clear that we respect and defend the right of anyone-including substance-abusers, the lamebrained and the woefully ill-informed-to express their opinion. But that doesn't mean we won't comment on their opinions.

Noll's headline? "Villa Hills doesn't need police force". One does not have to read too far in to Noll's manifesto to detect vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig's clawprints all over the content. Why? It's chock full of half-truths and flat-out lies.

Noll repeats several of Koenig's false lines of attack that have also been parroted by malfeasant Mayor Martin, the dim-witted HBM-I, various neo-nazis and other pinheads:

• Police Chief Goodenough's monthly activity reports are filled with confusing, redundant and often meaningless codes (especially if you read them after spending an hour or two smoking pot).
• VHPD doing more work and responding to more calls in other cities (Noll is evidently unfamiliar with the concept of mutual aid and the fact that Crescent Springs' outsourcing experiment has been a miserable failure).
• Detective got paid more than chiefs and commissioners in New York, Chicago and San Francisco (because the mendacious Martin completely mismanaged the City Budget and was-and still is- conducting a malicious vendetta against the Detective).
• Martin's "outsourcing" would lead to foot and bike patrols in Villa Hills (given the terrible police coverage provided to other Northern Kentucky cities who have "outsourced", this is evidently another belief that stems from spending an hour or two smoking pot).

Noll goes so far as to make fun of police activities like the annual "Shop With A Cop" for underprivileged children. Noll's version of that activity? "Getting Stopped By A Cop" while drunk driving and transporting a box of marijuana through a police barricade. That explains quite a bit.

Jim Noll, the malevolent Martin's poster boy for "outsourcing".



What's The Buzz?

The Martin Chronicles remembers the quaint little front page article in the local paper back in late December 2012. You may remember it too. While other Northern Kentucky mayors were hoping for relatively important things to happen in their cities in 2013, Villa Hills’ malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin expressed his desire for “some good publicity”. Setting aside the self-centeredness of it all, we have to wonder how Martin could possibly think that his early 2013 actions could generate any of his coveted “good publicity”.

First of all, his well-over-two year SECRET PLAN to destroy the Villa Hills Police department was outed quite by accident. He has been caught in LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE about how he has handled his plan to finally rid himself of the two men he incorrectly blames for his 2007 FORGERY ARREST, Chief Dan Goodenough and Assistant Chief Joe Schutzman. What’s the buzz? Except for the civic club ass clowns, neo-Nazis and Tea Party fanatics who helped get him elected in 2010, people are none too pleased with this “happy accident” of a revelation. 

Heck, Martin accidentally admitted that “The decision has been made” to disband the police department to WCPO. Again, check out YouTube by searching "Martin lying? Decision has been made 3.20.13" and hear Martin’s words for yourself.

 

Then there is the astounding revelation that Martin has paid himself a virtually UNDOCUMENTED $23,000-PLUS OF YOUR MONEY. What is his claim? That he is being reimbursed for his personal attorney Toad McMurtry’s seemingly excessive legal fees. What is the problem? The scant documentation Martin did provide leaves more than $13,000 unaccounted for. And that amount is giving Martin a huge benefit of the doubt. Why? Because the mendacious mayor refuses to provide any canceled checks or credit card receipts that would prove he paid any of Toad McMurtry’s invoice.

Oh, there’s even more that is interesting about Martin’s $23,000-plus TAXPAYER FUNDED WINDFALL. The mendacious Martin says he “didn’t ask to reimbursed” for his legal fees. So does he want us to believe that Toad McMurtry “went rogue” when he filed a LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU for the money? Nonsense. You know better than that. Martin authorized a LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU to essentially blackmail the outgoing council to vote to approve his $23,000-plus TAXPAYER FUNDED PAYOUT.

Lastly, there is the absolute debacle that took place at the March 20 council meeting. Martin ran absolutely roughshod over the free speech rights of several residents who wanted to comment about the malevolent mayor's SECRET PLAN to destroy the police department.

Martin went so far as to demand that a teacher from River Ridge Elementary School be forcibly removed from the meeting. Police Chief Dan Goodenough risked his job, refusing to remove the teacher. Why? Because she had done nothing wrong-except for dare to ask Martin a question about his SECRET PLAN TO DISBAND THE VILLA HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Martin’s crazy actions are rich. He justifies his ongoing SECRET MEETINGS by saying people should attend them. Why? Martin isn’t going to allow any of what he thinks are “dissidents” and “radicals” talk about their concerns anyway. Martin hypocritically spoke of “transparency” during his 2010 dirtbag mayoral campaign. What a cruel joke on the residents.

There are 587 DAYS until the fanatical Martin stands for re-election.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Witnesses at the Crescent Springs Easter Egg Hunt tell us that the mortified Martin continues to refuse to talk to residents about his SECRET PLAN TO DISBAND THE VILLA HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT. We are told that Martin was using his unfortunate granddaughter as a human shield to deflect every question.]



But At What Cost?

The Martin Chronicles research staff is scoring some major points with our beloved publisher. They found a Patrick Crowley Kentucky Enquirer story from Sunday, June 22, 2003 titled, "Bohman scored points with GOP, but at what cost?" Crowley's story provides some insight on what to expect from Martin's newly hired City Clerk-vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig's Cabana Boy-Craig Bohman.

Crowley wrote about then-Covington City Commissioner Bohman's pathetic pandering to the pinheads with the Kenton County GOP (READ: Toad McMurty, MAdam Koenig, Milburn Drysdale and a host of other nitwits. We aren't sure whether bilious blowhard Kenton Kounty Boss Steve Arlinghaus had yet flip-flopped to the GOP.) by proposing the elimination of 20 essential jobs allegedly to pay for some ephemeral tax cut. To his credit, then-Covington Mayor Butch Callery reminded the "pander bear" Bohman that his obligation was to the people of Covington-who he was elected to represent-not the Kenton County GOP.

But Bohman didn't seem to care too much about what Mayor Callery thought. Or too much about his Covington constituents either, for that matter. You see, Mary Koenig's Cabana Boy was then planning to run for State Representative or some other, higher office. Crowley correctly called Bohman's cynical move "political expediency". There is nothing better to whip a bunch of RINOs in to a frenzy of support than a BOGUS tax-cut scam.

Can you see it? Past is prologue. Perhaps as a result of a little coaching from Bohman (who sources tell us has been coaching Martin for many months now), we now hear Martin repeat his BIG LIE that he is "saving money" over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Make no mistake about it. Bohman's two dreadful terms on the Covington City Commission and his ticky-tack track record on the Northern Kentucky Area Development District point directly to the fact that his role is to carry Martin's water in the malfeasant mayor's effort to DISBAND THE VILLA HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT. How? He will provide the numbers-albeit BOGUS-that indicate that "outsourcing" will-let's use Martin's childish phrase-"save a whole bunch of money".

Yes, Bohman's job will be to spice-up the fanatical Martin's crap sandwich with just enough imitation "money-saving" flavoring to ram through the mendacious mayors' SECRET PLAN to disband the police department. The goal will be to whip enough of Martin's hillbilly lynch mob, Civic Club ass clowns, Tea Party fanatics and local gun-nuts in to a frenzy to force "outsourcing" to a vote.

But at what cost? 





"The Decision Has Been Made."

The Martin Chronicles’ beloved publisher let it be known that he is extremely proud of his research staff. Why? Because of the piece of video evidence they uncovered. What is it? Well, Villa Hills mendacious Mayor Mike Martin slipped on his “Freudian” when he was nervously trying to LIE his way through his post-council meeting interview with WCPO.

Martin was attempting to excuse his trampling of meeting attendees’ free speech rights when he let slip, “The decision has been made”. What decision is that? The decision to disband the Villa Hills Police Department and contract with another agency for (LESS SAFE) protection. Don’t just take our word for it. See it for yourself. Due to some snow-related technical difficulties we are going to have to kindly ask you to - - -  

 

Please go to youtube and search "Martin lying? Decision has been made 3.20.13"

You see it now. Martin has been LYING, saying that other agencies had approached him about providing police coverage. This despite the fact that we have reported to you that these other agencies have told us that the talks were initiated by Villa Hills’ miscreant Mayor Martin. We now have further corroboration.

On the condition of anonymity, a Villa Hills patrolman confirmed to The Martin Chronicles the details of a “chat” he had with the malfeasant Martin. In a stroke of good fortune, Martin told the patrolman that he sent RFPs (request for proposal) to Kenton County and other cities for police protection “several months ago”.

Additionally, another media outlet reported that Martin has now admitted that he “may have approached other decision-makers at a mayor’s group meeting”. There is no “may” about it. The mayor of Ft. Mitchell is now also on the record confirming that Martin’s previous version of events is a LIE.

Here is how it has all transpired:

• ·         Sources confirm that Martin and former Councilman Mike Pope approached Erlanger about the possibility of providing police protection to Villa Hills during Martin’s 2010 dirtbag mayoral campaign. So, this effort was underway even before Martin was elected.

• ·         Vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig’s Cabana Boy Craig Bohman approached Martin roughly a year ago to explain how he could nuance bogus numbers to make “outsourcing” falsely appear to provide a financial windfall for Villa Hills. It is important to note that Koenig’s Cabana Boy has just been hired as Villa Hills’ City Clerk to begin his “nuancing” in earnest.

• ·         Sensing an opportunity to present himself as his hometown’s “white knight”, bilious blowhard Kenton Kounty Boss Steve Arlinghaus began to appear at Villa Hills’ council meetings to profess that Special Counsel Phil Taliaferro’s investigation into Martin’s corrupt endeavors was nothing more than a “witch hunt”. The detestable Arlinghaus now has nothing to say about the fact that Martin was found GUILTY of seven of nine charges of OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT and NEGLECT OF DUTY.

• ·         Martin’s plan was disrupted when he was accidentally forced to admit to another media outlet that the effort to disband the Villa Hills Police Department was already underway. He LIED to the reporter by answering, “As I have been saying all along”. The TRUTH? Martin had been denying the effort all along.

• ·         Martin trampled on the free speech rights of residents opposed to “outsourcing” on March 20. He used the bogus excuse that public hearings would be held about “outsourcing’. The reality? Martin has Koenig, HBM-I and Wischer ready to present him with the opportunity to cast the tie-breaking vote for “outsourcing”. The first reading would occur at one of Martin’s monthly SECRET MEETINGS and the deciding vote at the council meeting just a few days later.

Make no mistake about it. The malfeasant Martin was convinced that this was all a “done deal”. He was ready to wrap it all up. He was ready to finally get his revenge against Chief Dan Goodenough and Assistant Chief Joe Schutzman-who he falsely blames for his 2007 FORGERY ARREST. Know that the civic club ass clowns are still encouraging Martin to carry out his plan. But know there is still a chance to prevent Villa Hills from disbanding its police department.

Koenig, HBM-I and Wischer provide Martin a strong hand. YOU will have to make the difference. Consider this a “holding action”. Encourage council members Cahill, Baehner and Balson to remain strong in their defense of the police department. There are procedural ways those three can stave this off. Make your voices heard.

Then you must throw Martin out on November 4, 2014. This time FOR GOOD.

WEEKENDER: The Ongoing Misadventures Of Jim Noll

The Martin Chronicles guesses former one-term Villa Hills council member, failed State Senate Candidate and police barricade-running while intoxicated and transporting marijuana in his car Jim Noll still thinks he is somehow relevant. A normal person in Noll's position might decide this is a great time to "run silent, run deep". But it seems Jim Noll thinks he is no normal guy. You know what? We agree.

Perhaps Noll still thinks the fact that he was the top council vote-getter in 2010 means something. But a lot has happened since then. Not much of what has happened has been good. Let's take a quick trip down memory lane.

• Councilman Noll is accused of sexually harassing a Villa Hills City employee in 2011.
• Councilman Noll announces that no amount of evidence against malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin will lead to a vote to remove Martin from office-even before Noll sees one stitch of the evidence.
• Shortly thereafter it is discovered that Martin's loud-mouthed wife Janet is actively involved in Noll's failed State Senate campaign.
• An already-forty-five-minutes-late Noll is seen dressed in only his black bikini underwear in the parking lot of River Ridge Elementary School on the final night of Martin's removal hearing.
• Noll condemns the "war on drugs" during his disastrous, failed State Senate campaign. Of course that all now makes perfect sense.

All in all, not a stellar track record. And yet Noll feels compelled to offer his opinions on Martin's SECRET plan to destroy the Villa Hills Police Department and replace it with (LESS SAFE) coverage from another agency.

Witnesses tell us that Noll told WCPO that "Dan Goodenough should be Villa Hills' last police chief" immediately following the council meeting where his pal Mike Martin ran roughshod over the free speech rights of several residents in attendance. That's bad enough. But it gets worse.

On Thursday night Noll tweeted that Martin should fire Goodenough and Assistant Chief Joe Schutzman. Why? Well, Noll accuses the two long-serving public servants of disobeying Martin's orders and defrauding the public.

While we aren't in the habit of offering advice to people we don't like, we will anyway.

Mr. Noll, shut the f#%k up.





Draw Your Own Conclusions

The Martin Chronicles thinks that any reasonable person who has been paying attention to the ridiculous twists and turns of the past three months will come to the same conclusion we have. What is that? Well, the electorate surrounded Martin with an entirely new council hoping there would be whatever they thought “peace” might be. Instead, we are seeing Martin’s “Fools-Golden Moment”.

As we wrote in a recent post, we have forensic accountants trying to make sense of the paper trail left in the wake of Martin receiving a TAXPAYER-FUNDED payment of more than $23,000 of YOUR MONEY. We are preparing a line-by-line report to present to you in the next few days. But let’s hit on a number of the important issues.

First, the City Purchase Order that was issued to generate the $23,000-plus taxpayer-funded payment to Martin was approved by the signature of, well, uh, Mike Martin himself. We understand that Villa Hills’ City government is small. But Martin approving such a large taxpayer-funded payment to himself at best doesn’t look good. At worst? Draw your own conclusions.

Second, a careful review of the invoices from Martin’s then-personal attorney Toad McMurtry does not indicate that the $23,000-plus fee was ever paid-in-full. We will report how the documents leave an amount of more than $13,000 -how best to say it-a mystery. So what does this mean? Draw your own conclusions.

 Third, we are told that Martin refuses to produce any canceled checks or credit card receipts documenting that what he owed to Toad McMurtry was indeed paid-in-full. His reason? Martin says he won’t produce the documentation because it is “personal”. That defense is the proverbial bucket without a bottom. It won’t hold a single drop of water. Why? Because when THE TAXPAYERS foot a bill of over $23,000 It is certainly not “personal”. The meaning of Martin’s refusal to provide thorough documentation for the TAXPAYER-FUNDED $23,000-plus payment? Draw your own conclusions.

Fourth, we suggest you compare Toad McMurtry’s bill to that of Special Counsel Phil Taliaferro’s invoice for services rendered to the City of Villa Hills. While you are doing that comparison, keep in mind that Mr. Taliaferro and others in his firm worked for well over a year leading up to the October, 2012 removal hearing. Toad McMurtry? Well, Martin hired him in September, 2012 and the invoices indicate that he billed Martin into January, 2013. The math? Far less than half the time Taliaferro and his staff tried to sort out Martin’s Official Misconduct and Neglect of Duty. Our suggestion? Draw your own conclusions.

 Fifth, the rumor mill is suggesting that Martin is about to bring on his former personal attorney Toad McMurtry to replace outgoing City Attorney Mike Duncan. That same rumor mill is suggesting any number of possibilities. Our advice to you? Draw your own conclusions.

 Finally, ever since Martin’s 2007 FORGERY ARREST, through his dirtbag 2010 mayoral campaign and during the entire dreadful first two years as mayor Martin has made it a routine habit of suggesting other long-serving public officials have committed all manner of wrongdoing. We aren’t telling you what to think about Martin’s $23,000-plus cash windfall. We are suggesting something else. And that is? Draw your own conclusions.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are working on an in-depth report in to Martin's hiring of vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig's CABANA BOY Craig Bohman as City Clerk. Stay tuned.]

 

[PUBLISHER'S NOTE: A long time observer of Northern Kentucky political corruption recently quipped, "How is it that the Butler County, Ohio prosecuter was able to indict the GROUNDHOG and the overly-ambitious Rob Sanders fumbled Mike Martin's FORGERY indictment? Pitiful, pitiful, pitiful."]

WEEKENDER: The Ongoing Misadventures Of Jim Noll

More On Martin's Meeting Mayhem

The Martin Chronicles is all-too-well aware of Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's profound stupidity. Some of our reporters believe that law enforcement, the court system-and the civic club ass clowns-have cut Martin a large piece of slack because they feel vaguely sorry for him. You know, "Run Mikey, Run!!" Well, The Martin Chronicles has no sympathy for Martin. Absolutely none at all.

Martin's flagrant disrespect for all of the residents who simply asked for the opportunity to express their concerns for his SECRET plans to disband the police department is unforgivable. Yes, Martin is STUPID. But with all the respect we can muster-and it ain't much-he is a very, very BAD guy as well.

Speaking of STUPID, Martin actually told WCPO that his SECRET plan to disband the police department is not "a public safety issue". Huh? Seriously? So then what the f*&% is it? Yes, Martin is an IDIOT. But, c'mon man!

Fortunately for the city-we think-Martin's SECRET plans were revealed before he could ram them through. Here is his original plan. STEP ONE: Cue up the first readings to disband the police department and contract with another agency for (LESS SAFE) coverage during his monthly SECRET meetings. STEP TWO: Ram through the votes at the monthly NON-SECRET meeting just a few days later. STEP THREE: Paper over the whole sordid mess by repeating over and over and over and over and over again that he is "saving money". Then let the pillaging and plundering begin.

Speaking of plundering, we have forensic accountants reviewing Martin's incomplete records of his legal bills from high-priced whore Toad McMurtry. We will be reporting our findings soon. Here's a tease. Did you know that Martin actually signed the purchase order to pay himself more than TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS OF YOUR MONEY. Oh, it gets much worse.





Council Meeting Mayhem

The Martin Chronicles watched the disgrace unfold in the Villa Hills Council chambers last evening with a mixture of revulsion and rejoicing. The revulsion was for the town’s thin-skinned tin pot dictator, the malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin. Martin refused to allow residents to express their opposition to his SECRET plan to disband the police department and contract with another agency for (LESS SAFE) protection. How could we possibly rejoice? Because no further evidence is required to demonstrate that no permutation of new council people could possibly fix the problem in the mayor’s office. Martin’s reprehensible actions clearly proved that he is the one and only person responsible for the turmoil that has marked his dreadful twenty-seven months in office.

Martin not only refused to allow anyone opposed to his SECRET plan to speak, he threatened to remove and even have those asking for the opportunity to speak to be ARRESTED. It was a truly shameful spectacle.

Yes, Martin presides over council meetings. He is not legally obligated to allow anyone to speak. But why is he afraid to do so? Remember that Martin allowed several members of his hillbilly lynch mob to berate council people who were guilty of nothing more than wanting the mayor to obey the same laws the rest of us must obey in a meeting last fall for more than forty-five minutes. What does that tell us? His blind followers get a free pass. All others must remain silent. So much for his phony promise of “transparency”.

Police Chief Dan Goodenough demonstrated great courage in declining to remove a woman who was engaged in a discussion with Martin. We admire Goodenough’s bravery but we are concerned that Martin will use that level-headed refusal as a trumped-up excuse to terminate the Chief and use it as his crazy “rationale” to disband Villa Hills’ police department. That is how bad it is.

The vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig is also a willing participant in this travesty. She used Detective Joe Schutzman’s report to council as a phony excuse to charge that the detective was “condescending”. Why? At least in part to provide the miscreant Martin with an excuse for also terminating Schutzman. Truly disgusting. Truly Koenig.

There was good news. Many new faces came to the meeting to voice their concerns. Perhaps the public is finally engaging. Maybe they finally understand the terrible mistake that was Martin’s 2010 election. Only time will tell if this flame cooks up to a raging fire that finally cleanses Villa Hills of Martin for good on November 4, 2014.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: WE ARE ALSO GOING TO REPORT ABOUT THE CONTINUANCE OF SECRET MEETINGS, MARTIN’S PAYING HIMSELF $23,000 OF YOUR MONEY INCLUDING HIS REFUSAL TO PROVIDE ABSOLUTELY ANY DOCUMENTATION FOR HIS CASH WINDFALL AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. STAY TUNED.]

Tonight's Bellwethers

The Martin Chronicles is awaiting tonight's hillbilly hoedown otherwise known as Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's monthly NON-SECRET council meeting. The whole three-ring circus is televised and Villa Hills very own Pepe Lobo will be serving as the ridge-running ringmaster. Oh, Mary, you should know that we'll also have snitches everywhere.

We will be looking for certain bellwethers (for the ass clowns from the civic club, "bellwethers" are signs that predict the future. Oh, "predict" means to say what is going to happen in the future. Yeah, "future" means time that has yet to come. Okay, so a "sign" is something that indicates or expresses the existence of something else not immediately apparent. Hmmm, "existence" is being. Uh-huh, "apparent" means . . . never mind, fellas. Just order another Old Milwaukee Light and relax).

So anyway, we are going to learn a little bit about the degree of difficulty the mindless wrecking ball Martin will face as he carries out his SECRET plans to destroy YOUR police department:

1. Will hillbillies from the lynch mob show up expressing support for Martin's SECRET plan?
2. Will sane people show up asking serious questions about Martin's SECRET plan?
3. Will anyone on council talk about Martin's SECRET plan?
4. Will Martin himself reveal anything more about his SECRET plan? Or, will he hide behind the FALSE PREMISE that he is in the middle of negotiations?

We'd also like to know:

1. Will Martin once again hand council a bag of financial snakes and then tell everyone what a great job $47.50 per hour, crony-hire, bucket-headed bookkeeper Cordelia Schaber is doing?
2. Is someone going to ask Martin if he also tried to negotiate a discounted TAXPAYER-FUNDED fee for the work provided by his high-priced whore Toad McMurtry?
3. Will Martin beat his chest and announce that the voters elected him to destroy their police department in order to "save" money?
4. Will Martin be prepared to justify why he intends to RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES BY THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED BY LAW?
5. Will Martin be able to explain how he can justify hiring yet another full-time clerk (when one now does nothing every day but play Minesweeper and Solitaire on her computer for 8 hours), retain three public works employees who no longer do any street repair work, buy a new, expensive dump truck AND YET STILL REFUSES TO BRING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROPER STAFFING LEVELS?
6. Will there be cake and ice cream for the departing City Attorney Mike Duncan? Maybe a plaque? Plaques are always nice.
7. Will we get a chance to meet Martin's new City Clerk? Will she get an immediate pay raise to keep pace with the multi-year pay raises received by the "Queen of Solitaire and Minesweeper", Sue Bree? Will she get a plaque?
8. Will yet another of Martin's hack council members try to toss a (surprise) hand grenade at an unsuspecting city employee only to fumble it in to their own foxhole and blow themselves up? (YES, Holly Boo-Boo. That was YOU at last month's meeting.) Gee, we hope so. We might even give someone a plaque if it happens.

Yes, we'll be looking out for all of these things and much, much more tonight. Will you?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: As always, The Martin Chronicles will provide you THE BEST COVERAGE of tonight's meeting tomorrow morning, complete with our in-depth analysis of the events that impact YOU.]

Bellicose Bell Cows

The Martin Chronicles continues to hear from its sources about Villa Hills' malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's ongoing covert plans to destroy YOUR police department. It's funny how new council people who express concern about what they describe as "LEAKS" continue to spout off in places where we have many, many, many eyes and ears. Don't get us wrong. We aren't complaining. Just truly amazed.

Vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig was tripping the light fantastic at an event recently. She had her ineffectual RINO son mAdam Koenig in tow. Several tipsters tell us that Fraulein Koenig was almost "giddy" about being back on council. Why? Because she said "we can finally get some things done".

Don't kid yourself. Koenig has nothing positive in mind. This is the woman who witnesses tell us sat at a breakfast with other elected officials at a Kentucky League of Cities convention the first year she served on council back in the last century. Koenig belligerently explained her planned struggle.

She checked off her list of intended targets (much like the miscreant Martin does as he entertains the civic club ass clowns with the litany of people he is going to "pick off one at a time). Observers say they were shocked as-between stabs of her sausage-Koenig said,"WE'RE IN CHARGE NOW. Here's what comes next. Denny Stein-GONE! Bob Kramer-GONE! Sue Kramer-GONE! Corky Brown-GONE!" Ain't it funny how history repeats itself? If for no other reason than a few too many voters are little more than sheeple.

You know what? Koenig darn near pulled it off last time. Worse yet, she is in far better shape to get what she wants this time. Why? Because she has a mindless, pointless wrecking ball in the mayor's office and a couple of clueless puppets (HBM-I and Wischer) in her hip pocket.

More On Martin's LEAKS

While we're on the subject of "leaks", we've learned some things from last night's finance meeting:

• Martin persists in his odd game of "keep-a-way" with what he is doing with YOUR MONEY. Jim Cahill, Amy Balson and others continue to ask legitimate questions about that twisted bag of snakes referred to as the City Financials. $47.50 per hour crony hire clerk/bookkeeper Cordelia Schaber sends them to Martin and Martin keeps telling the questioners that he'll "look in to it, he-he-he-he-he". Given the fact that there are those still waiting for answers from Martin for questions asked in 2007-good luck.
• Budgets are the ultimate representation of a person's PRIORITIES. While Martin contends that safety is his "first priority", his budget proposal betrays that claim as another of his many, many LIES. At least for the moment anyway. How so? No funding for the eighth police officer. When you add the untalented Cordelia Schaber in to the mix, YOUR tax dollars are funding as many administrative and public works employees as police. In a city facing a skyrocketing crime wave-that makes absolutely no sense.
• We hear that while Martin plans to INCREASE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES BY THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED BY LAW, he hasn't quite worked out the "spin" on his justification for doing so. Other than of course that HE CAN.



READY OR NOT: Here It Comes

The Martin Chronicles has been warning about this for more than a year and a half. We have talked to our sources deep inside the bowels of bilious blowhard Kenton Kounty Boss Steve Arlinghaus’ Court House. We have talked to informants we have developed in Erlanger, Ludlow, Park Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Crescent Springs and several other municipalities and organizations in Kenton County.

What is it we have been warning you about? Villa Hills’ malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin’s covert plan to finally rid himself of the two men he incorrectly holds responsible for his 2007 FORGERY ARREST. Namely, Villa Hills Police Chief Dan Goodenough and Detective Joe Schutzman. In the surprising event that you don’t know why we write “incorrectly”, let us explain. The only person who is responsible for Martin’s 2007 FORGERY ARREST is Martin. Martin was the one who cashed someone else’s checks after improperly signing that someone else’s name on the check.

The judges who tossed out Martin’s bogus lawsuit against Goodenough and Schutzman wrote in their opinion that what Martin did “was the very definition of FORGERY”. Just because a small majority of voters believed Martin’s LIES doesn’t make Martin’s FORGERY any less true.

So now the residents of Villa Hills are standing on the edge of the cliff, staring into the abyss. The voters went so far as to compound their problem by tossing out the councilmen who would have stood in the way of that dreaded euphemism Martin has adopted to describe his vindictive plan, “OUTSOURCING”. Rest assured that if a vote was held today to disband the Villa Hills’ Police Department and contract with a another entity for (LESS SAFE) coverage, the vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig and her two puppets HBM-I and Wischer would provide Martin the opportunity to break a tie vote and complete his vengeful mission.

Oh, and that vote is coming. Several sources describe how the plan may unfold. The first step was Martin using YOUR money to hire an attorney to rewrite the Employee Policy Manual, stripping away even the basic protections. Then it was Koenig, HBM-I and Wischer conspiring with Martin to remove the straw-man "obstacle" of Civil Service protection.

 

As we have reported, Martin will soon bring in a hatchet man to serve as his City Attorney. Maybe it will be sparked when  Martin-and others-will “tweak” the police department schedule for the sole purpose of forcing Chief Goodenough to protest. Then Martin will terminate Goodenough for insubordination. Everything else will fall in to place. No one will be able to stop it at that point. No one.

If you still have your head in the sand thinking this isn’t possible, you are deluding yourself. We have talked to a number of people with other police departments who confirm that Martin has been working with them for some time to iron out the details of “outsourcing”. When it happens, it will happen very fast. Martin will say he is “doing it for the residents”. That will be another LIE in what has become a very long list of Martin’s LIES. 

If you support Martin’s efforts to destroy Goodenough, Schutzman and the rest of the police department, sit back and enjoy his show. If you believe Villa Hills is a city that should still protect itself, you had better get out of the La-Z-Boy and let your elected officials know how you feel. Before it is too late. The next meeting is this Wednesday night beginning at 7pm.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: It should come as no surprise that EDDIE has landed the role of JUDAS ISCARIOT in the upcoming PASSION PLAY at St. Jokers. In EDDIE’S case, it wasn’t 30 pieces of silver. EDDIE sold out the police department he falsely professes to love for the bargain basement fee of $55 worth of Martin’s ILLEGAL ELECTRICAL WORK.]

WEEKENDER: Backstabbing Backlash

The Martin Chronicles has already posted about Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's TAX backstabbing. Jivin' about "saving money" while jackin' your taxes to the maximum amount allowed by law two years in a row. A brazen lie that betrays Martin's complete dishonesty and lack of respect for the residents of the city he is destroying.

But before we say bye-bye to Ides of March backstabbing, we need to remind you of Martin's ultimate betrayal. Do you remember Martin's LIBELOUS dirtbag 2010 mayoral campaign? "Safety is my first priority?" You may have actually believed his LIES. But what a complete load of S#%T! The truth? "Revenge is my only priority."

So now we know that Martin has been asking other municipalities and Kenton County to provide (LESS SAFE) police protection since before his mayoral election. Martin wants to disband YOUR police department and leave you more vulnerable in the middle of a surging crime wave. His sole motivation is ruining the careers of Chief Goodenough and Detective Schutzman.

Suddenly the residents seem to be paying a little more attention. They seemed to be mostly fine with Martin's MISCONDUCT, NEGLECT OF DUTY and ETHICS REPRIMANDS. But chatter around town is that people are not at all fine wth Martin's ATTACK on the police department.

We want to offer those concerned a word to the wise. Get out of the LA-Z-BOY and get your butt to the Wednesday, March 20 council meeting. BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Some people are wondering why EDDIE was chosen to give inert Interim City Clerk Sue Bree her "Backstabber of the Year" Award on April 1. Well, EDDIE is the kind of guy who tells police officers he supports them-to their face, but then helps enable the lunatic who is hell bent on destroying those police he falsely claims he supports. Sure sounds like a BACKSTABBER to us.]

Happy Backstabbers Day!

The Martin Chronicles reminds you that modern politics was actually born on this day 2,057 years ago. The Roman Senate wrapped up a sharp disagreement with Julius Caesar by stabbing him to death on this date-known as the Ides of March-back in 44 B.C. Not surprisingly, the tradition of backstabbing continues to this day across America, even in malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's Villa Hills. Let us explain.

First, do you remember what you were told by the politicians in Washington DC at the end of last year? You know, that taxes were only going to rise for the top 2% of wage-earners? Those "evil rich"? Better yet, the politicians told us this with a straight face.

While successful, most of you fall outside of the 2% of those "evil rich". So weren't you disappointed when you opened your first 2013 paycheck to see that-oddly enough-your take home pay was less? Why? Because despite what the politicians told you, your taxes did increase. Sure, it wasn't your income tax. It was the payroll tax. Whatever you call it, you now receive less on payday.You may have even felt that you had been stabbed in the back.

Not all political backstabbing takes place inside the DC Beltway. Yes indeed, it is happening right in the heart of strife-torn Villa Hills.

How so? Well, you are barraged with a steady stream of chest-beating by the mendacious Martin, claiming he is "saving money". He is "saving" on paper towels. He is "saving" on toilet paper. He is "saving" on car washes. He is "saving" on postage. He is "saving" on band aids. He is "saving" on tooth picks. He is "saving" on Post-IT Notes. He is "saving" on paper clips. He is "saving" on kite string. Sounds great, right?

But something doesn't make sense. Where are all of those "savings"? Does it mean that your local tax burden will be decreasing? No, it doesn't. You'll feel the same sharp pain in your back you felt when you saw your first 2013 paycheck after you open your Villa Hills' property tax bill later this year. You'll quickly discover that Martin has RAISED YOUR PROPERTY TAX BY THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED BY LAW FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

Go ahead and wince. People often do when they're STABBED IN THE BACK.

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Insiders tell us that Insubordinate Interim City Clerk Sue Bree has been voted "BACKSTABBER OF THE YEAR" by her fellow Villa Hills City Employees. We have learned that Backstabber Awards Emcee EDDIE will present the prestigious award to Bree at the First Annual Corrupt & Incompetent Government Awards Show broadcast live from the Villa Hills Civic Club on April 1. HBM-I hopes the new popcorn machine is delivered in time for the awards ceremony.] 

Puppets And Their Masters

The Martin Chronicles believes that perhaps the only person less qualified than Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin to supervise a police department-or a small paper bag for that matter-is new councilbumbler HBM-I. We suspect that is precisely why Martin asked Holly Boo Boo to serve on the Safety Committee. Why? Because she will unwittingly serve as Martin's human shield as he continues to dismantle the police department. It will be fun to watch the malicious Martin blame HBM-I for everything.

The vapid Holly Boo-Boo has already enraged a number of residents by describing the calls made by their police officers as "fluff" less than a week after many of those officers were involved in a shooting incident. Sources tell us that she has done and said many other things that betray her disregard for Villa Hills' police officers. More on that soon.

But who is really pulling Holly Boo Boo's strings? Insiders think the real culprit there is the vile ancient crocodile Councilman Mary Koenig. Sure, Martin has had a vendetta against the police department since the day the arrest warrant for forgery was issued for him in 2007. All a reasonable person has to do is judge Martin by his retaliatory actions-not his false words-since his libelous, dirtbag 2010 mayoral campaign. It has been so bad that Martin has triggered lawsuits over his retaliatory behavior.

Even still, the loathsome Koenig has her own even-older score to settle. She never liked the City's first full-time police chief, the late Corky Brown. There is an e-mail trail that proves that and more. Koenig was the prime mover in the unlawful termination of Chief Brown that led to the resignation of the vile ancient crocodile's hand-picked mayor, Steve Clark.

Making matters worse for the current police department, Koenig sees Police Chief Dan Goodenough and Detective Schutzman as significant reasons for Clark's early exit.Why? Because Goodenough and Schutzman cooperated with the Special Counsel investigating Clark back in 2001. Koenig fully intends to get her revenge.

She has been more than willing to wait.

[PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Every now and again we hear people say, "You're opposing Martin because you don't like him". Well, they are partially correct. We don't like Martin. Not even a little bit. But we oppose him because we don't like what he does.]





NEWSFLASH II

The Martin Chronicles has learned that Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin has been nominated for the 2013 PEPE LOBO LEADERSHIP AWARD.

We think he has a solid shot.

BREAKING NEWS: The Winters Of Our Discontent?

The Martin Chronicles has learned that the those posting odds on Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's pick to replace very-very-very-very-soon-to-be-jettisoned City Attorney Mike Duncan were pretty smart. We reported yesterday that Bob "They Only Come Out At Night" Winters' odds were 2-to-1.

Several sources confirm that legal documents for the many, many, many, many, many lawsuits against the taxpayers the meatheaded Martin has generated through his misconduct and mismanagement are no longer being forwarded to the departing Duncan. They are being given to Winters. A clear sign that he may be Martin's new City Attorney. Or, as a few speculate, one of two or three City Attorneys Martin hires. What the heck? It's only YOUR money.

We asked insiders to give us their initial reaction to Winters. The "back of his baseball card" if you will. Here's a sampling of what we heard.

". . . hack hatchet man . . ."

 

". . . a real jackass . . . "

 

". . . that motherf&*#^% will do anything for a dime . . . "

 

". . . dumber than a mud fence . . . "

 

". . . a sexist pig . . . "

 

" . . . would sell his mother for a peso . . . "

All-in-all, a perfect pick for the miscreant Martin.

Risking Redneck Reprisal

The Martin Chronicles understands the concerns of the sane members of the current Villa Hills City Council. They saw what happened to the last councilmembers who had the raw nerve to expect malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin to actually obey the same laws and follow the same rules as everyone else.

The growing hillbilly bloc in Villa Hills wasn't smart enough to understand the root cause of the tumult and unrest. Instead of sharing the previous council's expectation that Martin should actually obey the law, the ridgerunners railed against the council for "bullying" and "blaming". The hayseeds bought in to Martin's bizarre explanations that council forced him in to a long list of acts of misconduct and neglect of duty.

So, the current council is trying to be extra-careful. But at some point they will realize what everyone who has dealt with Martin over the years has learned. He is LYING to them. He will continue to give them the run-a-round and offer up half-baked excuses about why he can never keep his promises. Then the council will have to decide what to do.

We don't blame the new council for not wanting to see Martin's (NON-RESIDENT) sister-in-law showing up at a council meeting wearing some goofy hat with a stupid sign on it. We are sure that the new council doesn't relish the thought of some swirling simpleton issuing threats of gun violence from the podium in the council chambers. We understand why the new council is already dreading the thought of answering loaded questions offered up by Martin's (NON-RESIDENT) step-daughter at the next rigged civic club "candidate" night sham. What sane council member would want Martin to demand their resignation at a council meeting because they didn't have an occupational license, despite the fact that they aren't required to have an occupational license? We get it. We honestly do.

But if council ever wants to get the financial records repaired, the police department restored and answers to an already long list of so far unanswered questions they may have to take a different approach.

The new council can't ask all their questions at Martin's monthly SECRET MEETINGS. They can't send all their requests in essentially-private e-mails. They can't simply fuss and fume amongst themselves or on Facebook about Martin's evasiveness and dissembling.

The new council's respectful questions and concerns should see the light of day. They need to expect Martin to provide answers in a public setting. Despite the risk of redneck reprisal.

Because otherwise Martin won't lift a finger to work with them.







The Rumor Mill Is Grinding Yet Again

The Martin Chronicles has been listening closely to malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's Villa Hills' rumor mill lately. Stories flying around the troubled town range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Let's take a sampling of the latest.

Oddsmakers have identified the two prohibitive favorites to replace soon-to-be-jettisoned City Attorney Mike Duncan. The line on Toad "The Wet Sprocket" McMurtry is 3 to 2 and Bob "They Only Come Out At Night" Winters is 2 to 1. Oddsmakers don't give the other candidates much of a chance. Some touts are privately telling our reporters that former top-vote-getting-council-candidate-failed-state-senate-candidate-arrested-with-a-box-of-dope-in-his-car-while-running-a-police-barricade Jim Noll could still be a real "sleeper" surprise pick. It doesn't look like will have to wait much longer for the big announcement.

In a related story, some are saying that landing the job of the malfeasant Martin's City Attorney may end up being more like a booby prize. Why? Virtually everyone who has come in contact with Martin has ended up seriously tainted. Blemished. Tarnished. Besmirched. Sullied. You know. A lot like Martin. There is no reason to expect that to change.

Some eagerly await the appearance of the groundhog on February 2. Others anticipate the miracle of the annual return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano. What happens in strife-torn Villa Hills? Well, folks are standing by for the first false police report filings by Martin and his loudmouthed wife Janet. Their annual rite of felonious behavior is a sure sign that spring has sprung!

Insiders tell us that Martin used Craigslist to conduct the search for someone to replace inert Interim City Clerk Sue Bree. Some are hoping that Martin finds his own Richard Beasley of Toledo, Ohio. We have no comment. A chuckle. But no comment.

Local quipsters joke that the hiring of a new City Clerk will free-up even more time for Bree to play Solitaire and Minesweeper on her taxpayer-funded computer. One wag responded, "the only way Bree could find more time to do nothing and get paid for it is if she worked overtime". That makes sense to us.

There are dozens of rumors swirling around about exactly why erstwhile-menacing-fire-bug-temporary-city-clerk-who-took-cash-but-offered-no-receipt MARY HARDMAN has left town for good. We took a poll of our staff. Absolutely no one gives a tinker's dam why MARY HARDMAN is gone. Everyone is just glad she's gone.

Informants in four other Northern Kentucky cities are reporting that their mayors are feeling a lot of heat.Why? It seems that their city councils want to know why these mayors approached Martin about providing (FAR LESS SAFE) police protection without at least consulting with the councilpeople first. We are told that all four mayors have assured their city councils that "Martin is LYING about that". Is anyone surprised? Even a little bit? We didn't think so.

HBM-I has so far been (PUBLICLY) unsuccessful in convincing the rest of the council to funnel SEVERAL THOUSAND OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS to the civic club to underwrite some version of the defunct Fire In The Hills celebration. We're looking in to the summer festival rumored to be under development by the ass clowns from the civic club. The theme? THE VILLA HILLS CIVIC CLUB: FIFTY-TWO YEARS OF KIDS AND BEERS. We are also trying to confirm reports that the event is being co-sponsored by Little Tikes Toys and Anheuser Busch. 

So . . . Which Is It?

The Martin Chronicles can spot a con job from many miles away. That's why we have such a good read on Villa Hills malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin. You see, the last twenty-seven months of Martin's embarrassing Reign of Error have been a non-stop con job.

One of the biggest con jobs Martin has pulled on the taxpayers is hiring his long-time crony Cordelia Schaber. He pays her an outrageous $47.50 per hour of YOUR MONEY allegedly to track the City's finances. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the results have been appalling. In the rare instance that financial reports are presented to council, they are virtually indecipherable. Inside sources confirm that the problems are only getting worse.

But Martin uses the poor auditor who does the annual review of the City's books as a human shield to defend Schaber's incompetence. How? Well, Martin is fond of saying, "The auditor says Cordelia is doing a good job. He does. He really does. Yeah. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. He-he-he-he-he".

So Martin thinks the auditor's opinions are sacrosanct? As if Moses brought them down, chiseled in stone, from the mountain top? Is that right? You don't say. Interesting.

Because if that were true, why is Martin ignoring another key piece of advice from the auditor? You would think Martin would pay more attention. After all, Martin has asked the council to approve yet another budget amendment. Martin is also asking council to RAISE YOUR TAXES again this year. Why? Because the little fella has COMPLETELY MISMANAGED THE MONEY HE HAS TAKEN FROM YOU.

What auditor advice might help? Well, the auditor has opined that the hiring of an EIGHTH POLICE OFFICER WOULD SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS.

So, let's see if we have this right. Martin squanders $47.50 per hour of YOUR MONEY on someone who can't do the job because the auditor says so. But he continues to flush HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF YOUR MONEY down a rathole despite what the auditor says. So do we trust the auditor . . . or not? Which is it?

We were supposed to learn Martin's reasons for his refusal to bring the police department to correct staffing levels more than a year ago. Remember? Martin promised to go door-to-door to explain his reasoning to the residents. He decided to distribute a mud-slinging, libelous letter blaming everyone else for his many failures instead.  

Because that is all he really knows how to do.





WEEKENDER: Why So Secretive?

The Martin Chronicles has been doing a whole lot of digging. We've interviewed dozens of people. We've sat through endless boring hours of council meeting replays. We've read a huge archive of articles. And do you know what? We did not find one, single, solitary example where Villa Hills mendacious Mayor Mike Martin said anything at all about his ongoing efforts to disband the Villa Hills Police Department and contract with another City for (LESS SAFE) police coverage. We found ZIP. NADA. ZERO. BUPKIS.

That is of course until he was finally outed by the lamestream media a few weeks ago and launched into his brazen, "As I have been telling everyone all along" NONSENSE. The TRUTH is that Martin has been initiating meetings with other police agencies since the summer of 2010. In other words, before he was even elected. The TRUTH is that every time he was asked about his desire to outsource the City's police protection during his dirtbag mayoral campaign and during council meetings after his election, HE STRENUOUSLY DENIED IT. In other words, Martin LIED.

Well here's the problem. If Martin truly believes that having an agency headquartered outside of the City limits providing protection is such a wonderful idea, why has he been LYING about his secretive planning? Given his unjustified penchant for telling all of us how wonderful he is, why didn't Martin announce in advance that he was going to:

1. Take a serious look at outsourcing police coverage;
2. Form a committee comprised of people from many backgrounds to conduct the examination;
3. Give the committee three to six months to conduct a thorough study;
4. Report the findings to council and the public;
5. Hold hearings to take public input; and
6. Take a formal decision on whether or not to proceed.

In other words, why didn't Martin take a professional approach for a matter as serious as disbanding his police department? Instead, he has been scurrying around in the dark like a cockroach collecting information that he hopes will somehow justify doing what he is already hell bent on doing-getting rid of the police department.

If you oppose Martin's secretive efforts to disband your police department, you had better speak up about it. Or forever hold your peace. And lock your doors.