Our sources are telling us that some of Villa Hills new council members are already deeply discouraged. Why? Because it has become presently clear to them that their new council can't fix the mounting problems of malfeasant Mayor Mike Martin's troubled town. This realization comes only six months in to what voters desperately hoped would be Martin's "Golden Moment". Instead? Just more of the same-or worse.
We bet you can guess what hasn't changed. New council members are dismayed by Martin's almost reflexive habit of telling LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE after LIE. And when Martin isn't LYING? Well, he simply isn't replying to any of their huge back log of requests for information.
The conclusion? The election that will be held on November 4, 2014 is the next, best hope to get the once well-run City back on track. That can only happen if the voters show the mismanaging Martin the exit.
Why the frustration with Martin? There are many examples. Let's look at just one.
You don't have to drive more than 100 feet to pass a "Keep OUR Villa Hills Police Department" yard sign. Even still, Martin is pressing full speed ahead with his radical plan to disband the Villa Hills PD. He has stocked all of the relevant committees with his hillbilly cronies and hate mongers, guaranteeing that he will hear nothing but support for his reckless radicalism.
The malevolent Martin has taken several provocative steps designed to squelch public opposition to his plan as well. He signed an Executive Order giving him sweeping, unprecedented power to have people arrested at meetings. He has his TAXPAYER-FUNDED GOON SQUAD issuing threats against employees, employee's family members, elected officials and residents. The abuse of power is astonishing.
There is also the question of the "audited" police payroll numbers that are being circulated around town. It seems that the only people who can't get a copy of those payroll numbers are the same people on council who came out strongly opposed to Martin's radical "outsourcing" plan at the recent public hearing. That seems very strange.
There is also some question about who actually gathered the payroll numbers. Those council people who seem to be supporting some version of "outsourcing" are claiming it was one of the other council people who supports "outsourcing". Why are these people suddenly running from the numbers that they have been distributing all over town?
Some are theorizing that these council people know the numbers aren't accurate. Were the numbers compiled simply to get the residents upset with the police department? It's unclear if we will ever know the answer to that question.
As one observer recently commented, "If Martin was telling the truth about outsourcing to save money, why did he just hire a City Administrator and another public works employee? Why did we (EXPLETIVE) money away on a stupid FUNFEST? This is a vendetta, plain and simple". We agree.
Even if the demise of the current police department is-as Holly Menninger-Isenhour has been telling anyone who will listen-"a done deal", the strong show of public support for the department should continue. In fact, many more people should get involved.
Unlike the new council who have already grown weary of dealing with the dishonest and inept Martin, the public must stay engaged. They must continue to work hard all the way until Election Day, 2014, when they can give Martin the final boot he has long-deserved.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: How ironic that Villa Hills wasted SEVERAL THOUSAND TAXPAYER DOLLARS co-presenting a "FUNFEST" with Crescent Springs. First, how many other Kenton County Cities actually subsidized the "FUNFEST" for the Kenton County 911 Memorial with taxpayer dollars? Second, a 911 Memorial generally honors the bravery of First Responders. You know, like police! Crescent Springs Mayor Jim Collett has already ditched his local PD and the mismanaging Martin is well on his way to disbanding the Villa Hills PD. Boy Howdy!]
