| |
|
Sun Mar 14 12:05:42 2010 - [Oberstar compromises values for Pelosi] By: Charlene |
| Good Morning. You really didn't think Oberstar WOULD NOT vote for Health Reform? He is a puppet through and through, and will do anything the libs tel him to do. Maybe now we can get rid of this man who has done nothing, and I mean NOTHING, for Minnesota. |
|
Sat Mar 13 23:30:41 2010 - [A new franken mascot for DFL Duluth?] By: JBBP |
The senator from Minnesota looks like a franken bullfrog.
I don't usually comment on such things, but he really does resemble one.
Thank you. |
|
Sat Mar 13 18:04:46 2010 - [DFD PAC tops special interest spending!] By: Of Politics and Prosperity |
Friend of DFD, thanks for an absolutely typical, DFL Donny Duluth, politically generic, go no where, avoid the issue, wishy washy, just plain IGNORANT response. We do need change and can no longer afford it to be for the worse! Ya think I shudds where a name tagg wid my aderes ons it, and den bring my dog wid whens I vizet the DFD?
Just try this, Friend of DFD; forget the volunteer fire dept. thing because, THE FACT IS, THE DULUTH DFD WAS AND VERY POSSIBLY STILL IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PER CAPITA DEPT. IN THE STATE OF MINN. Strange in a City that also holds the highest number of low income per capita in the State! Skilled Duluthians are lucky to find a $12.00 hrly with no benefit job not to even dream there are $32.00 plus an hour jobs. It's spelled BIG DFL DONNY GOVERNMENT! Even Daddy Warbucks sidekick from the Chamber of Communists prints these facts on his blog from July 24, 2008. Little Orphan Andy even goes as far as to say the Duluth Fire Fighters PAC spent more than any other special interest group, and the political fiscal involvement wreaks of tyranny! Why are you not contesting these statements? Even the greedy status quo are worried about how fast DFD and AFSCME unaccountability is turning Duluth into a worthlessNe$$, sewerlessNe$$, stink pot hole. In 2008 Duluths' actual expenditures in salaries was $37,731,826.00, employee benefits equalled $14,930,215.00, and retiree insurance cost $7,853,628.00. Add er' up pal and DFL Donny Duluth spent $60,515,669.00 on employees out of $77,908,116.00 in total expenditures. Furthermore Duluth only took in $75,476,178 which is a $2,431,938.00 shortfall. So Friend of the DFD, does this kind of math work in your business or household? Not mine, but then again my conscience and common sense prevents me from voting for those who shamelessly continue to use politics to get a unjust luxury ride on their neighbors backs and from a failing public treasury. Where is the budget for capitol improvements too infrastructure so Duluth might have a chance at a little, St. Cloud, Rochester, type respect and business atmosphere. Nothing is changed here, proposed 2010 budgets are 68 percent employee costs. Sicker yet is that the 2010 proposed budget of $75,375,000.00 depends on approximately $37,000,000.00 plus from LGA. Minnesota has a billion dollar problem and jokers like Reinert are down there panhandling. Donnys' DFL 09 budget had $62,261,900.00 set aside for employees in a $81,347,000.00 budget. The DFD has typically cost the City around $14,600,000.00. $469,500 for Administration, with $391,000.00 in employee cost!? $11,887,600.00 for Operations, with $8,265,400.00 in employee cost!? That's $8,265,400.00 in salaries, damn I guessed pretty close with my swinging at air $32.00 hrly, but $520,000.00 in overtime, and $2,555,800.00 in benefits, I'm 3 million off! And get this, with the DFD wantin' to go into the ambulance business, Building Inspection at $2,253,600.00 with $1,534,800.00 in salaries, $16,500.00 in overtime, $482,200.00 in employee benefits, and $220,100.00 in "other expenses!? Lots of inspectin' with not too many dollars worth of new buildings? Didn't Hermantown out build Duluth in 09?
So to simplify this and past posts just a little let me say: Duluthians, as you are hopelessNe$$ly up to your ass in fiscal alligators, and your initial objective was to drain the economic swamp, don't be stupid enough to continue feeding the $tatu$ quo alligator$ or trusting the DFL folks who's elected job it was to drain the swamp and instead have used your tax money to protect themselves on "special interest platforms" they've corruptly had you pay for!!
P.S.Google has threatened to leave Communist China because of censorship. The DCB may be Duluth's only honest salvation too Google not recognizing the same kind of local government censorship in Duluth!
Thanks DCB and God Bless All
|
|
Sat Mar 13 16:00:38 2010 - [OBERSTAR IS A TOSS UP] By: Larry |
OBERSTAR IS A TOSS UP FOR THE SOCIALIZED MEDICINE BILL!!
CALL AND FAX HIM! YOU BETTER FAX HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM NOW UNTIL THEY VOTE ON THURSDAY. THIS MUST BE STOPPED OR IT IS THE END OF THE U.S. AS WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN IT.
THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK. JUST E-MAILING THE ARTICLES IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU HAVE TO DO MORE OR YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP AT THE MOST CRITICAL TIME.
202-225-6211 D.C. OFFFICE
218-727-7474 DULUTH OFFICE
202-225-0699 FAX
|
|
Sat Mar 13 09:44:25 2010 - [DFD valueable but too expensive] By: JS |
| Truthism stop slamming the DFD you pervert. The DFD does a valuable service for the area, their just way too expensive. Show some respect. |
|
Sat Mar 13 09:42:49 2010 - [Will Oberstar sellout again?] By: JS |
| Will Oberstar sell out like he did on Cap and Trade or will Oberstar stay true to his prolife position. I think he has to not support national healthcare with federal funded abortions or he will have big trouble at home, I mean in NE MN. |
|
Fri Mar 12 19:51:53 2010 - [DFD hosing somebody 24/7 ] By: Truthism |
Friend of DFD,
Get back over here to the bunk. Big Iron and I are waiting patiently, but can't wait forever. Pole sliding starts at midnight so we don't have much time. We know the TRUTH!
STARFIRE: Truthism, is this overtime too or just the usual hose job? I mean hose job for the taxpayers.
|
|
Fri Mar 12 15:44:25 2010 - [C + Franken = Bad JuJu] By: Dennis Miller |
Time to lighten up here a bit.
After watching the Franken Answer Man Google thing I started thinking what if Franken and C had a kid; what would it look like? Then I found my answer.
http://www.freakingnews.com/Cutie-Pictures-52091.asp
I too would be ugly if I were a Franken Progressive/Socialist.
|
|
Fri Mar 12 13:40:03 2010 - [DFL Whining Never Ends] By: Cynic |
| Dave, the trouble is up here we only hear the DFL side of the story. When I listen to the legislative report on local PBS it is usually an hour of DFL'ers whining about how the Governor is cutting us off at the knees. Now if we get a DFL governor next time who are they going to blame. |
|
Fri Mar 12 12:29:31 2010 - [How is DFL Duluth working out for you?] By: Dave |
What has happened to the DFL Tribune as of late. They published they wage story on Sunday, and today's Our View, with T-Paw commenting about how Duluth has got more LGA, and not less, marks a really good point. In the article is states 'Starting with Pawlenty’s attempt to debunk the oft-repeated mantra that Local Government Aid, or LGA, has been slashed. Duluth’s LGA, the governor said, actually has increased, by nearly 5 percent, since 2003, from $26.6 million to
$29.9 million.
“You have the state being a really large portion of Duluth’s budget,” Pawlenty said. “So a question might be, ‘Why is that?’ ”
Pressed for how he’d answer, the governor’s political gloves came clean off. Pawlenty said: “We have St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, some other larger cities — some of which are quite prosperous, by the way — getting over half of their entire city budgets paid for by somebody else. So what kind of decision-making does that lead to? In my life experience, if someone else is paying the bill, people behave differently.'
Frankly, he is right, it has to do with the leadership of this city. Spending 80k on office furniture, all the spending on this Google nonsense. Someone needs to send T-Paw a copy of the Sunday's News Tribune. |
|
Fri Mar 12 07:24:17 2010 - [DFD tried taking other union jobs, why?] By: Medic |
It's nice to see the comments about Gold Cross and how they will without question continue to serve Superior residents and Douglas Co, WI.
For some time now, the Duluth Fire department has attempted to put some 27 Gold Cross paramedics out of a job. They have badmouthed us to almost every city official behind our backs in an attempt to sway public opinion when the time came for them to "take a run at our existance".
Our union stood up to them during the recent debates in Duluth and were present at every committee meeting.
It has become clear now that Gold Cross Ambulance can provide the ALS service with great care, speed and cheaper than the Duluth Fire dept. Many citizens have spoken to us about having Gold Cross continue the ALS care in Duluth and have appreciated our service. Likewise, we appreciate serving Duluth and the surrounding area.
I want to make it clear that the Duluth Fire Department made an attempt to take away other union jobs and they did so without hesitation.
I ask the public to look deep into their thought process and ask yourself "why" they would do such a thing. The downturn in our economy and the budget crisis in almost every city has led officials to look at ways to downsize or change operational procedures. These are two subjects the fire department wants nothing to do with.
As a taxpayer living within the city limits of Duluth, I am spreading the word on how we can eliminate outrageous waste in all parts of local government, including the fire department. Stay tuned!
I am a proud union member represented by the Retail Clerks who proudly defended us from a rougue union and it's leadership. |
|
Thu Mar 11 22:22:49 2010 - [FD run ambulance not viable option] By: call Gold Cross |
Mar. 9, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A Superior Fire Department-run ambulance service is not a viable option for taxpayers.
That was the conclusion drawn by five of seven members of the Ambulance Task Force after a three-month review of the fire department's proposal and service already available.
Most members agreed the potential costs to taxpayers made the proposal undesirable.
"From the start of our task force meetings, I was confident that our city's fire department was capable of providing ambulance service," said Superior Finance Director Jean Vito. "The questions I had, though, was the cost, and was there a legitimate reason to change from the current service provided by Gold Cross."
Vito noted several deficiencies in the fire department's proposal, including underestimates of expenses and overestimates in revenues the service would create. Vito concluded the fire department's proposal would result in deficits averaging $542,750 annually with a cumulative deficit exceeding $2.7 million in five years. With restrictions on levy increases, and the potential to cut other services to make up the shortfall, Vito said she recommended the city continue with Gold Cross.
Local taxpayers do not support ambulance service in the property tax levy, and haven't since Douglas County eliminated its government run service in 1996.
The projected shortfall is slightly less than Douglas County's experience during the last five years it operated a countywide ambulance service, which prompted the board to eliminate the service and contract with Gold Cross.
County taxpayers paid, on average, $556,147 annually to fund the county ambulance service during its last five years of operation.
"In some instances I felt that we spent more time asking Gold Cross to defend themselves rather than hearing from our fire department how they would provide a higher level service at a lower cost," Vito said.
However, Steve Panger, a member of the task force representing the Superior Fire Department, said public records attained from the Wisconsin Office of Emergency Medical Services suggest Fire Chief Jim Rigstad's projections are vindicated. Gold Cross reported 2,869 billable runs in 2008, 59 more runs than projected in the final fire department proposal.
The number of runs the fire department would make annually were among the numbers used by Vito in calculating the potential deficit taxpayers would have to subsidize.
"This task force has really dealt with the financial side of the picture really," Panger said. He said the fire department's faster response times and the continuity of care the firefighter paramedics would provide would have distinct advantages for the patient.
The fire department response time is four minutes or less in 90 percent of its runs.
However, county supervisors on the panel continually questioned those response times if the fire department were to respond to rural communities in an emergency, and were not persuaded the fire department would meet the needs of rural Douglas County as effectively as Gold Cross.
Supervisor Kay Johnson said she met with the Towns Association and town officials concerns included what the city-run ambulance would be able to provide and at what cost. She said rural communities need paramedic services like those provided by Gold Cross, and they don't need additional expenses when budgets are stretched already.
Weighing the interests of rural Douglas County, quality and cost, Supervisor Jack Sweeney came to a similar conclusion.
It's a false assumption that because Gold Cross makes money, the fire department would too, Sweeney said. He said while the fire department's Plan B was to raise fees if expenses weren't covered by the service, the reality is the sources of revenue in 50 to 60 percent of the billable runs make that improbable.
Dr. Robert Sellers said he talked to medical personnel and was unable to find any complaints or concerns about the care delivered by Gold Cross. With a price tag of $500,000 placed on taxpayers, and Gold Cross' backing from the Mayo Clinic and state of the art record system, he said the Superior Fire Department's proposal wasn't a "viable option for our community."
The panel presents its findings to the Superior City Council's committee of the whole March 16. Already, some city councilors are considering sending the issue to a nonbinding referendum in November.
Councilor Greg Mertzig, who sought the task force to determine the viability of the fire department-run ambulance service, questioned the panel about the idea after it reached a majority consensus the service would be taxpayer funded.
Warren Bender, councilor and chairman of the task force who was in the minority Monday night, said he thinks the issue should go to the voters. He concluded the revenue generated by the service would exceed fire department projections, making the proposal "feasible."
That conclusion was drawn based on an "egregious" misinterpretation of numbers, Vito said of numbers attributed to her.
"Anything's feasible if you want to pay for it," Sellers said. |
|
Thu Mar 11 22:04:53 2010 - [Emergency care requires network] By: call Gold Cross |
Superior Telegram
0. Main Navigation
Emergency care requires network
Shelley Nelson, Superior Telegram
Published: December 22, 2009 7:11:11 PM CST
When Gold Cross shows up on the scene of a medical emergency, it’s just a small piece of the network that provides emergency transport services in the region.
Matt Will of Gold Cross said there are multiple facets to operating an ambulance service – education, medical controls, quality assurance, communication and information technology, vehicle maintenance, specialized supplies – all contribute to the care patients receive.
Education key
“Medical care is changing on a regular basis; we’re constantly updating our guidelines, updating our supplies,” Will said. “… Our education department has to stay in tune with national and state standards, and make sure we’re always in compliance.”
That education begins where classroom training ends, before a paramedic ever treats a patient.
“You don’t just come out of paramedic school and start with Gold Cross and start taking care of patients,” Will said. “We have a comprehensive orientation program. Once people complete that, there’s a field training program that our team members are placed into. Now, even when they are working for us out there, there’s a scripted program by which they learn about the organization and guidelines.”
Even seasoned paramedics are required to continue their education to keep up with changes in medical care.
“We have a pretty robust education program for our team members when they come into the organization and on an ongoing basis to help them maintain their certifications,” Will said.
Behind the scenes
Mayor Dave Ross said there are a number of shortfalls in the proposal that are cause for concern and could affect the excess revenue the fire department anticipates.
In addition to administration, he said he has a hard time believing some of the numbers, such as a $15,000 expense for medical control.
Gold Cross utilizes a full-time physician to provide medical direction that guides paramedics work in the field as well as developing and reviewing medical guidelines. The medical director is also involved in training programs, quality assurance reviews and practice changes.
Ambulances are highly specialized vehicles and maintaining the vehicles isn’t something that could be handled by a typical dealership or mechanic. Will said. Gold Cross contracts with an outside vendor for the service. That maintenance, in the fire department’s proposal, is anticipated to cost about $6,330 annually.
While the proposal accounts for $721,700 in equipment costs, including ambulances and turnout gear for nine additional firefighters anticipated to be hired, it falls short where electronic recordkeeping is concerned. The proposal includes nothing for computer technology that is a backbone for Gold Cross’ operation.
Will said information technology allows Gold Cross to manage everything from providing patient information to medical facilities and for billing, and allows the company to meet its reporting requirements.
Minnesota and Wisconsin require data on every run Gold Cross makes. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services requires data about the ambulance service, the patient and the care they received.
Resources
With five ambulances manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week – three in Duluth, one in Superior and one in Hawthorne – Gold Cross’ service may appear to come up short against a proposal that would keep two ambulances manned around the clock in Superior.
A proposal by the Superior Fire Department would utilized two ambulances located at the headquarters on Tower Avenue and another in East End routinely. A third ambulance would be maintained in reserve in the event it’s needed.
While Gold Cross routinely mans only one ambulance in Superior, Will said more are available when needed.
“The vehicles move around based on the calls that come in,” Will said. “When there’s a lot going on in Superior, there’s an ambulance that shifts over here, and vice versa.”
Ambulances staged at the foot of the bridges between Duluth and Superior are common when a call goes out.
In the event of a catastrophic event, Will said Gold Cross can immediately draw from its staff of 60 in the region to operate seven additional ambulances in reserve throughout the region. The company also has mutual aid agreements with surrounding communities to draw on additional resources when needed.
Companywide, Gold Cross has 56 ambulances and more than 300 team members.
“If there’s an incident … long-term we could bring in team members from our operations in Rochester, Mankato, Fairmont, "Minn.
, Will said. “The beauty of our system too is we are one system. Our equipment has the same supplies and equipment in them. Our team members are trained to the same standard." |
|
Thu Mar 11 18:51:01 2010 - [DFD only ones getting hurt ] By: Friend of DFD |
of polictics and prosperity,
The info that I give comes from knowing several firefighters that work for duluth, having seen their contract, and just calling the city or townships with questions. The firefighters want the facts out there, they are tired of the hearsay, stats that are way out of hand, and people who accuse them of things without knowing what has happened. Do I think things could change, sure, things can always change some for the good some for the worse. DFD wants to do the most they can for the city.
As for the volunteer dept. yes it does matter. You are comparing them to a volunteer department that may have 10 time less population, cover half the square mileage, have a small fraction the buildings, far fewer stations, 1/5 the personnel that may or may not be able to show up to the call, and maybe do less than 2 percent of the call volume. Of course they will cost less.
Am I saying every department should be full time, of course not that is impossible, and irresponsible. Volunteers are 100% needed in many communities due to the reasons I listed above. Do I also think Duluth should work more with the surrounding townships to help them and us cut costs, absolutely. By cutting public safety whether it be police or fire and by not working with other townships the only people getting hurt are us.
I encourage you to stop by a DFD station sometime and have them explain what they do and what they can do, it may help you understand. |
|
Thu Mar 11 16:52:21 2010 - [Does Google know Duluth is a dying city?] By: Dave |
Al Franken really must not have much to do in DC. I don't understand how much effort the officials of Duluth are putting into this. Google must not know that Duluth is a dying city.
http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2010/03/10/sen-al-franken-resurrects-duluth-answer-man-to-support-twin-ports-google-fiber-bid/
|
|
Thu Mar 11 16:43:32 2010 - [Oberstar's bitter lobbying fight ] By: Web Hound |
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/86087-fedex-riled-by-pro-union-bi
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), the House Transportation Committee chairman, added the labor provision to the FAA bill. His spokesman said Oberstar has fought for the labor change for the past 10 years.
“Chairman Oberstar wants workers who are doing essentially the same jobs to be treated the same way under labor law,” committee spokesman Jim Berard said.
Berard said Oberstar was “very supportive” and that he would fight to keep the labor provision in the larger FAA bill.
The bitter lobbying fight has been going on for years, with FedEx on one side and UPS and the Teamsters union on the other.
|
|
Thu Mar 11 13:40:00 2010 - [Become a Friend of Duluth, Friend of DFD] By: Of Politics and Prosperity |
I would like to set the record straight. As far as the DFD goes, I have shamefully blogged based on budget hearsay and conjecture. Friend of the DFD states budget and overtime figures, but where did they come from? In DFL union controlled Duluth, who really knows what the DFD cost is to the taxpayers. Ne$$ didn't know how much campaign money he got until caught and he quitely gave some back!? Swinging at air, lets try, with 132 uniformed fire fighters and "support staff", as taken from City of Duluth web page, a Friend of the DFD, acceptable, 40 hour week at $32.00 hrly, including benefits, is a $8,110,080.00 payroll alone. As Friend of the DFD states, maybe they are a "asset" to Duluth. An "asset" in the terms of the common sense twisted DFL unaccountability that propels Duluth towards middle class total economic inability. How else would you provide EMT response several times daily to the "pee in the streets" passed out street inhabitants of Downtown Duluth? Build a Wethouse to allow them to drink themselves to death? Can you say tax paid uthenasia? The DFD has also taken over building saftey? Makes sense in Duluth with the Wethouse housing 70 "chronic judged too society" problem citizens, and all in a 140' by 150' 5 story area!? Pack em' in like sardines as long as their welfare checks and subsequent DFL lobbied tax credits go to San Marcos LLC. This while new skywalks can be TAXPAYER built where the City used to "hide" these folks. Conflicting major industries? The status quo want tourism "clean and green" which they accomplish basically on the taxpayers tab, the unions want more City and social service programs plus benefits on the taxpayers tab to verify their, already unjustifiable in the private sector, highly unproductive, corruptly regulated, costs, and this is all made possible by raping the only real source of support, the private sector middle class taxpayer. So Duluth UnderNe$$ contradicts itself, while the "clean and green" pick up cigarette butts, the number of unproductive, "problem", new, free ride, citizens multiplies in the socialist utopia of the north. This while those asked to really sacrifice for this greed figure out the only smart way is the highway!!!!!!
What Volunteer fire dept. did I speak of? Does it matter? These folks give of their time and risk life and limb for a UNCONTESTABLE per capita lesser cost!!!!!!! Their budgets for comparable area protection and dollar value of real estate is also UNCONTESTABLE. Is their training less? Do they have less equipment? Most likely but them, didn't a totally unqualified community minded bystander save someone in Duluth not that long ago? Let's talk about what Duluth can afford to be without truthfully! Apples for Oranges, what can Duluth afford? Not to pick on the DFD, but how do the costs and "reasonably affordable necessary services" get so SHAMEFULLY twisted out of proportion without corruption and greed? So let's stop picking on the DFD, and go where the blame really lies in Duluth, THE CORRUPT GDC CENTERED, CHAMBER CONTROLING, STATUS QUO GREED THAT WANTS IT ALL AND SACRIFICES A GREATER DULUTH FOR EVERYONE KNOWING DFL AND DONNY DULUTH LAZY INDEBTED DUMBNE$$ ENABLES THEM TO EVENTUALLY BUY IT ALL DIME ON THE DOLLAR OR STEAL IT!!!!!!!! IF THIS WAS NOT SO DFL DONNYNE$$ WOULD NO EXIST IN DULUTH TODAY! Maybe someone should list all the "NEW" businesses and their job values in the GDC Downtown Waterfront Business District and the ones that are gone since this GDC scam started. Strange how quietly The City Council just renewed the BID. One would think a $1,000,000.00 commitment over the next five years would have made as of big headlines as the Pawlenty cuts to aid for The City. Donny tried to cut a $100,000.00 of City $200,000.00 annual contribution, but Kristi Stokes easily convinced him of the ultimate importance of a program, he voted for, that is unquestionably uncontstituional, in it's taxation, control, and services! How much could the City cut if EVERYONE in this District were asked to pay the same percentage of market value as all others are required? Never thought of publicly asking that question Donny? Since the BID started how much have those with the $7000.00 unconstitutionally corrupt contribution ceilings saved? Would they have left Duluth or cut their already City padded operations? How many well paid, healthy community building jobs wouldn't exist today? How about these folks with their great "communtity spirit" and economic benefit, step up to the plate they alone now can afford and help the City? Donny Duluth and the status quo can't build skywalks that would truly benefit the "community" so why would they want to "give back" unless what they recieve is far greater?
Become a Friend of Duluth, Friend of DFD, and shoot us some figures dispelling this theory with your "change, looking forward to the future, and thinking out of the box" stuff.
Now, to keep my dog alive, I'll have to move to Sioux Falls.
Thanks DCB and God Bless All
|
|
Thu Mar 11 11:07:51 2010 - [Think about it!] By: Kevin |
| "Good Morning Northland" anchored by Daniel J. Golden? Think about it! |
|
Thu Mar 11 11:02:35 2010 - [Many minority students not graduating] By: Kevin |
| On WDIO.com, Cutie Nordeen reports that an indecent percentage of minority students in Duluth schools are not graduating. The way to resolve this outrage is clearly this: We must bus those "students" to schools of predominantly minority population so this failure is no longer so pointed. |
|
Thu Mar 11 10:49:10 2010 - [Thanks for your support] By: Friend of DFD |
Good morning all,
Cynic,
You are correct. Those programs were put in place to help reduce overtime. There used to be a pool of firefighters on each shift that helped keep overtime at a minimum. Due to budget cuts those pools have gotten very small, hence when a position is open overtime is be needed. The administration and the fire union did sit down and figured out a way to stop the outrageous overtime to the benefit of the city and the employees.
However, from what I am told by the guys i know the vacation sellback ended at the end of 2009. But the savings plan is still in effect. I think it is a good solution. Anytime you can cut overtime is a good thing.
The retirements have slowed and from what I am told there is one more big bunch and then it will be almost none for a long time due to how young the department will be.
Civil Service needs to get looked at as it can sometimes be a very lengthy process and can severely hamper any hiring.
Tara,
Thanks for the support. I try to give the facts that I have from the guys I know that work there. |
|
Thu Mar 11 10:15:35 2010 - [It's so fun to shop with your money!] By: DFL Arrogance |
Published March 11 2010
City bought furniture without council’s OK
Councilors express concern that a required step was bypassed.
By: Brandon Stahl, Duluth News Tribune
This furniture at the Duluth Police Department downtown substation was part of a recent purchase by the city of Duluth. The City Council tabled a decision Monday on whether to approve the purchase, not knowing that much of the furniture was already purchased.
Considering the overall size of the city of Duluth’s budget, should the City Council spend time debating an $80,000 expenditure on office furniture?
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/162585/ |
|
Wed Mar 10 20:27:40 2010 - [Call and write Mr. Oberstar in support] By: Kevin |
| Foxnews.com is identifying Congressman Oberstar as one of the Democrats who is in opposition to abortion and could scuttle "Obamacare." To save yourself and your nation, call and write Mr. Oberstar in support of this stance. |
|
Wed Mar 10 18:11:33 2010 - [DFL Duluth Pride] By: Inspector Clouseau |
| DFL Duluth is being embarrassed again right now on Joe Soucherary's Garage Logic on KDAL radio. |
|
Wed Mar 10 15:48:53 2010 - [Some comments in favor of DFD] By: Tara |
| I think there are people on here in favor of the fire department. Friend of DFD for on adds a lot of good info. |
|
Wed Mar 10 14:20:56 2010 - [Beautiful DFL Duluth, each and every day] By: rusty |
I need help, I am looking for a site called Duluth Citizens Blog, all I find is this one which should be titled.........DULUTH CITIZENS AGAINST DULUTH FIREFIGHTERS BLOG...seriously, things must be good in duluth besides the fire dept.
MODERATOR: rusty, my public sector employee friend, we have a lot of good things happening right now in DFL Duluth. We have a $300,000.00 unfunded health care liability that the Mayor would like us all to forget about, for starters. He has done nothing to address the problem, but the bill has not gone away. Add to this another $437,000,000.00 for new schools, while the enrollment is continuing to decline, as tax paying citizens vote with their feet and head out. Their replacements moving to the city, not only don't contribute in any meaningful way to paying taxes, they actually move here so that those citizens who haven't left yet can pay for these newcomers too. Then we have 100 year old infrastructure within the city that can't be paid for because the public employee unions are gobbling up all the money that they can with help from their bought and paid for politicians. With a one party political system and decades of decline, you should expect more of your "good news" DFL Duluth toughy feely BS in the future. Remember that all those public employee contracts are only as good as the ability of the taxpayers to make good on paying them. Want to see where Duluth is heading? Watch California and learn a little something. Oh, how beautiful DFL Duluth really is, huh? We will all see who gets the last laugh!!! Spend your money wisely, you are going to need it, or maybe not. |
|
Wed Mar 10 10:17:08 2010 - [Any truth to it or more DFD Kool Aid?] By: Cynic |
Here is something from BUZZ Duluth that was written about DFD overtime. I don't know if the person knows what they are talking about or not but it could be one explanation.
Quote: "You question why the fire department's overtime was so low in comparison to years past- here is an explanation.
#1. The hiring process with civil service is very lengthy. A few years ago, there were many retirements, and it took a great deal of time to get new hires to replace them. Because of both public safety and fire fighter safety mandates, minimum staffing requirements caused for a great deal of overtime.
#2. The administration and the fire union negotiated for a couple of different programs. The first is a healthcare savings account. This allows banked vacation to be rolled into an individual health care savings account at the end of each calendar year. This has reduced the number of vacation days taken, and therefore reduces overtime.
The second program was a vacation sell back program. If a person was on vacation on a given day, and the labor pool was exhausted, requiring an overtime shift, the person on vacation could give back the vacation day, to be either put into the bank to be rolled into health care savings, or to be paid at straight time. Either way, the city has a significant savings over paying overtime.
I believe that the fire administration and the union deserve a lot of credit for a huge reduction in overtime expenses from the past few years. There are still ways we can make improvements, like streamlining the civil service process. The current process can take several months to generate a hiring list and then hire a fire fighter. Because of this lengthy process, overtime costs can soar when the fire department is short-staffed."...
Posted by: staffer on 3/09/2010 10:08 AM |
|
Tue Mar 9 22:30:08 2010 - [Outsiders listening to DFD insiders ] By: call Gold Cross |
| Ok Friend of DFD you are right again. Got it, outsiders listening to insiders then make an objective decision. Neutral players hmmmmmmmmm ya that's it neutral players. People from outside the area yessser that's it. |
|
Tue Mar 9 21:15:29 2010 - [Spend your money anywhere but DFL Duluth] By: Ben Dover |
I have to laugh at all the DFL Assclowns who are currently controlling the City of Duluth. It is such an act. They pour Kool-Aid so much that even they have been blinded by its side effects. DFL Duluth is nothing but a well planned show meant to steal more and more money from the unknowing hard working people of Duluth.
Does anybody really think that Stalhalinski's timing on his recent article on City of Duluth AFSCME corruption was an accident? Consider that the timing followed a supposed hard fought contract settlement between Donny Boy Ness and AFSCME. Once again, Ness will be screwing the taxpayers over and he will call this making hard choices. How can a mayor sign a deal with a criminal gang and then turn around and call this a fair settlement? Fair for whom? Ness reminds me of the story of Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple when Kool Aid Jim raped a young girl in the back of the bus he used to travel through the U.S. and all the time he was raping her he told her that he was doing it for her, not for him. That he was getting nothing out of it. This is a perfect analogy of what Ness is doing to Duluthians who pay the bills. Now he agreed to a new contract allowing his AFSCME buddies to continue to steal as much as they possibly can for at least another year. I would be willing to bet that this Fall we will hear the Boy Mayor telling us that because of cuts in LGA that taxes must be raised or police and fire will have to be cut. He will fail to mention that he agreed in March, 2010 to give the farm away to his AFSCME friends.
Do yourself a favor. Buy nothing in DFL Duluth. Shop online, in Cloquet, in Superior as AFSCME leaders do, and don't feed this animal anymore money. They will continue to steal what they can through property taxes, but you can help by not spending any money here. Hopefully, because of the decades of the DFL ruining the City of Duluth, the new census will reflect that the population decline means a redistricting of Congressional borders. This could bring in a larger group of non DFL Kool Aid drinkers and a good chance to start putting an end to this DFL corruption that has ruined Duluth.
Should Duluth have the lowest wages, highest poverty, worst health, worst infrastructure, worst roads, most expensive fire department, highest utility rates, and most padded and stolen overtime hours in the entire state?
What an embarrassment this city has become under DFL control. |
|
Tue Mar 9 21:10:20 2010 - [Getting paid to sleep is a tough gig] By: Friend of DFD |
Of politics and prosperity,
Where does this 75,000 quarterly come from I am not sure what you are refering to. Also what local FD are you talking about. I spoke with the 3 surrounding duluth and found some interesting facts. Are you talking about 1 that does so few calls they barely exist or one that actually has some calls. And I would actually like to know what you think the pay should be for a fire fighter in duluth realisticly. |
|
Tue Mar 9 20:41:46 2010 - [Neutral to DFD is all bought & paid for] By: Friend of DFD |
call gold cross,
I said nothing of a conspiracy, just that duluth and superior should have used people that were neutral and had no connections to these cities to get an unbias result. Regardless of the results it should have been a neutral committee with only information being given by the locals to get a true decision of whats best. |
|
Tue Mar 9 20:05:04 2010 - [DFL Duluth heading down, Superior up] By: Of Politics and Prosperity |
No confusion Friend of DFD, I would say you were DFL Donny himself with your "looking forward to change, thinking outside the box, and moving forward towards the future". Yep, in Duluth the only thing that has changed in the last 35 years is that the degree of corruption in City Government is now outrightly criminal, and 20,000 people left. The AFSCME Self Assisting Duluth Government Group continues to far exceed it's value by cost ratio. In the private sector the way Duluth is run would not work. They "skillfully" think outside of the legal box and seek no solution to their inability to successfully move Duluth into the future. Like our Federal lobby laiden government, it has stopped moving forward and now, just like Duluth has permanently become, hopelessNe$$ly dug deeper in economically irreversible and irresponsible debt! Duluth needs to break the unions, offer $24.00 hrly. including benefits, to start with, 1/2 hrly pay over time for firefighters until they can find qualified people who will sleep for 1/2 pay. Not what they pay now. I may have been incorrect about monthly overtime, but even with your figures, it equals $75,000.00 quarterly and that still exceeds what I know for fact is the total annual budget of a nearby volunteer fire dept., that answered a family emergency in 7 minutes, middle of the day, 5.5 miles from the hall! This volunteer fire dept. has also set aside $20,000.00 towards a new truck within this budget! Solid core services grow from Community Pride and that grows from RESPECTFUL treatment of Governmnet resources. It's hard to be proud of Duluth for just that reason, as for the common, private sector, working stiff, taxpayer it is all about cutting all his living costs not just some union contract language!
Corrupt greedy people and politicians have given away too much to too few in Duluth and now DFL Duluth handpicks, with the silent direction of the status quo, it's future because not even a qualified leader, can get past those who have no Community Concern and continue to vote themselves LARGENE$$ from the public treasury! Superior's Mayor Ross IS moving Superior into the future, take a look!!!!!!! |
|
Tue Mar 9 19:36:27 2010 - [Common sense called conspiracy by DFDer] By: call Gold Cross |
| Ok Friend of DFD you are right of course it is a conspiracy by the leaders of Superior. |
|
Tue Mar 9 18:46:07 2010 - [Drulz, another fine product of ISD 709?] By: 66RULZ |
| Moderater get off the dfd backs an accept yoru role bithces. I support the borthers and sister dfd and its time you shut up and leave the bloging to these that make this city work your headline sucjk are so full of right wringer shit juss shut this descrace dbd down or give it up loosers. Your all gelous but cold not organize a 2 truck convoy let alone what werking brothers ans sisters do every day for you ungratful keybord basterds. read the name and weap cause the brothers and sister now whats best fir all yuo cry babys. fuk off gop dcb an pay your fare share6! |
|
Tue Mar 9 18:18:29 2010 - [DFD - Someone has to be in charge] By: Friend of DFD |
Moderator,
Common sense in your eyes will never come to this city, unless you mean the kind of common sense that only agrees with you and never challenges. You are looking for your way or the highway. Someone has to be in charge, the majority has elected who they felt was best. It was not your canditate. DFD didn't buy all the entire city as you seem to suggest. They did what they thought was best and so would you. I try to provide the best info that I can on what I can about the DFD. However it seems no matters what is said you will not look outside the box, either even though you call for it to be done.
|
|
Tue Mar 9 17:08:57 2010 - [DFDer knows a lot about hand picked] By: Friend of DFD |
Call Gold Cross,
And did you notice that the mayor of superior, who is totally against a switch, hand picked the task force. I think that the deck was stacked against superior before they even got started. They needed a panel of neutral persons, maybe from other communities, that could have objectively looked at the situation. This subject is too politically hot for anyone from around here to look at it for what it is and not what someone might think, or the mistakes of the past.
MODERATOR: Friend of DFD, you can't imagine how comical it is to read how a DFDer like you can call another city's mayor out for hand picking anyone or anything. You are way too funny! Duluth corrupt politics wrote the book on hand picking politicians. And we all know that nobody knows hand picked better than DFD as they hand picked not only Mayor Ne$$, but also Hartman, Gardner, Anderson, Cuneo, Gauthier and Boyle. Keep up the hand picking if you want to keep yourselves as the most expensive FD in the USA. If common sense ever comes back to Duluth, your hand picking days are all over. |
|
Tue Mar 9 16:46:09 2010 - [No wonder Duluth is in trouble] By: dishwashers |
| yes sir it is critical that dfd stay in the group of 2 rather than the group of 800. ya got me on that one friend of dfd. oh boy now wonders duluth is in trouble. |
|
Tue Mar 9 15:59:52 2010 - [Keep FD in the bunk, not in ambulance] By: call Gold Cross |
| Did anyone notice the task force in superior voted overwhelmingly to keep their fire department personnel the hell out of the ambulance business. DOA just like in Duluth. |
|
Tue Mar 9 15:52:30 2010 - [Droves of people move to Duluth for DFD] By: Friend of DFD |
Of Politics and Prosperity,
I think you have me confused with someone else. I look foward to change, thinking outside the box and moving toward the future. What bothers me is when someone picks out 1 thing that they think is the problem and then looses all focus on anything else. We can cut all that we want but if we don't have any business or people living in the city eventually we won't have anything to cut. What are the things that bring people and businesses to a city, solid core services, not parking ramps for non-profits, and programs to fund everything you can think of. We need to look at how we spend, but the answer isn't always to cut it may be to change or redirect how we spend it.
Looking at qualifications for jobs is another thing. This blog complains about the qualifications of our mayor, then in the same breath they complain about the DFD wanting to keep the high requirements that it takes to get hired there. Yes maybe only 2 departments out of 800 require this test, maybe these 2 departments are looking for the best candidants that they can find for these jobs. You say that the DFD makes the big bucks, so why not get what we pay for, the most qualified candidate that can give the city the most bang for the buck. Just because not everyone is doing it doesn't make it a bad thing. Remember when no one had cell phones, now everyone has them and they strive for newer and better all the time. Maybe this is the equivilant of the cell phone for the fire service. Someday everyone will require it and we were one of the leaders not the followers.
Also, you have no idea what volunteer fire departments cost. Their costs well exceed what you have said of the 25000 i spoke of earlier. Departments in the metro cost millions to run and provide less service than the DFD. Even local vol. departments cost more than that. |
|
Tue Mar 9 14:03:47 2010 - [Superior doesn't want to be tied to DFL] By: Dave |
Why pay for the DNT, when you can read it free online.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/162421/
Looks like Superior doesn't even want to be tied with DFL Duluth. Gotta love when the real Dave Ross, says we are heading in a different direction. |
|
Tue Mar 9 13:04:02 2010 - [Most expensive FD in USA without OT!] By: Slippery Slope |
| Thanks for the info Friend of DFD. Glad to hear DFD costs us mere pennies in overtime. |
|
Tue Mar 9 11:30:18 2010 - [The DFL Duluth problem is UNION GREED] By: Of Politics and Prosperity |
Friend of DFD blogs about City cuts. Cut this and cut that.
It isn't "negative bloggers" like Dodge Street that have made Duluth smaller and less attractive. It's the spend way too much, teach way too little, no vote allowed, school district, that hurts Duluth. It's millions in DEDA and TIF gifts to the status quo that create too few and only poverty to low income jobs, that hurts Duluth. It's the way too high a cost and size of the DFD, that has a monthly automatic overtime price that is greater than the annual budget of most volunteer depts., that hurts Duluth. It's not the cuts in the City Utilities Dept. but rather greedy political, union, and unaccountable public treasury bought, manuvering that controls hiring and takes advantage of what in the private sector is considered insane overtime contract language, that hurts Duluth.
Duluth is a City where, status quo corruption, and a unconstitutionally, back pocket owned, public treasury buys a majority of same mindset, pulselessNe$$ puppet politians, time after time. This mindset can afford to plumb for their fish but not for the people, with Watergardens, Wethouses and Aquariums but not sump pumps or sewer systems! Having the status quo and unions being the sole beneficiaries from the only allowed industries of tax dollar subsidized tourism, big government, and social welfare, is why creative and independence seeking people leave or will not move to Duluth. Because of either lies too cover up or just plain greed, folks like Friend of the DFD, despite the progressive rosy picture they are fiscally still able to paint, it is the reason Duluth will and just keeps getting economically smaller and physically less attractive. Soon just the status quo will benefit and their economic iron fist rule by silence will own it all in Duluth!!!!!!!!!! If Friend of the DFD thinks the status quo will still make room for DFL progressivism, with their unaccountable waste and welfare, we need just look at who has walked away the tallest on a Federal level, really just the status quo have kept what they rightfully deserved to lose while middle class working America lost to them what was rightfully theirs still deserved to keep!!!!!!! The wealthly move to intentionally create unsustainable economy crushing debt and a huge competative, non-union, low income, workforce for themselves, just like how it works with Socialism!!!!!!!!!!!!
The solution has become obvious in Massachuetts, now the question is can those in DFL Donny Duluth, like Friend of the DFD, see the facts and start working to be part of a long term better for all solution rather than part of the short term better for some situation?
|
|
Tue Mar 9 11:22:47 2010 - [How do you sleep and wash dishes?] By: dishwashers |
| Did ya all read where dfd hired two new dishwasher and they each had years of experience as volunteer fire fighters. Then today a story on how the city council would not change some language so the city can hire fire fighters without a certain test that is only required in 2 out of 800 fire departments in the state duluth being one of those 2. ya gotta love it only in dfl duluth where the dfd buys the best councilors money can buy. |
|
Tue Mar 9 10:25:58 2010 - [Who needs OT when we get paid to sleep?] By: Friend of DFD |
Good mornig all.
Slippery Slpoe,
I don't have the exact these are rough numbers but I did some digging and found out that each firefighter that can get it averages about 5 times a year. At 4 hours of 1/2 time @ 20 per hour is 40 dollars total per time or 200 dollars per year. About 120 firefighters are elegible so that is about 24,000 in 1/2 time per year for the whole department. So 200 dollars per year is not going to put them on the major OT list. Now this is an average so it could be a little more some years and a little less others. Also, the way I understand it it is not something that the union or the city can just write out of the contract it is federally mandated for the 56 hr work week.
Anything else???? |
|
Tue Mar 9 00:36:39 2010 - [Keep paying DFD, AFSCME obscene salaries] By: Big Iron |
| Color me shocked that you're not going to do anything except cry and whine, Cynic/Barney/Used To Be/Still Wannabee. Your secret MIGHT be safe with me. |
|
Mon Mar 8 22:15:50 2010 - [Not too far off] By: Ms E |
Hi my Darlings
think about wat i said, it'd not too far off, i could put it all together for U n Cynic, when can we meet?
Moderator: You could also email or post the info on here. |
|
|
|
|
