Strategic Planners Helping Ford City Keep From Going Bankrupt
Dr. Kerry Moyer and his team hope to have the extensive process - including a financial assessment, a history of expenditures and revenue and demographic analysis of both Ford City and Armstrong County - completed by November.
by Jonathan Weaver
During the next five or six months, Civic Research Alliance officials from Mechanicsburg will work with Ford City Borough officials during Phase One of the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Early Intervention Program.
Dr. Kerry Moyer was the second planned presenter during last week’s town hall meeting at the Latin American Club.
Dr. Moyer – the founder of the company in January 2009 - started talking to council members, Mayor Marc Mantini and Borough officials during the first full week of May.
“All the things that go into a database for us to do the analysis that we have promised to do,” Moyer said. “We’ll come back as often as we are invited, and promise to keep everyone informed.”
Dr. Moyer said Ford City Borough is not alone in this process, even though Ford City Borough received a $62,230 grant for Phase one.
“There are over 2,550 municipal (groups) in Pennsylvania, and every year, about 30-35 are picked for this grant to do this process,” Moyer began. “To be picked, means you have to be proactive and show DCED that you care and that you want to accomplish something – it’s going to be a fairly-large, detailed enterprise as we get going.”
Civic Research Alliance’s final report is presented to not only Borough Council and DCED officials, but also to the public residents.
“It’s called the Early Intervention Program, but over the years, it’s developed into something much broader than that,” Moyer said. “It’s basic purpose is to work with the Borough to make sure financial distress is not down the road; look at what’s going on, what needs to be done (and) how to avoid that distress that so many of your neighbors are experiencing right now – (Ford City) is hardly in this alone.”
Even though Dr. Moyer acknowledged he is not an elected official, he and his team will make recommendations on a five-year implantation schedule without a tax increase to help with Ford City Borough Council’s future decision-making– such as with issues concerning the new water filtration plant that will be designed by Gibson-Thomas Engineering to stray away from Act 47.
Dr. Kerry Moyer - founder of Civic Research Alliance - explained the Early Intervention Program to residents during a 40-minute discussion during a Town Hall Meeting in Ford City on June 22.
“Our job is to look at all the options available to this council and mayor and borough residents – all of those that are legal and can be done. Some of those may be stupid, some of them we may recommend you take a hard look at, but the point is to identify those options that are feasible options,” Moyer said. “And you do that by saying ‘here are the advantages, here are the disadvantages, here are the costs (and) here are the costs if you don’t do it, which is sometimes greater than the cost if you do do it.’”
To get to that point, Civic Research Alliance is under-contract during the next few months to perform six duties, including a financial assessment, a history of expenditures and revenue and demographic analysis of both the municipality and Armstrong County.
“We can take trends from those five years that let (borough council) know how you came to be where you are now and what you may want to address going forward,” Dr. Moyer said. “This is the most brutal exercise any municipality can ever go through – we don’t change anything from 2015, so it’s going to look like you crashed and burned, but it does tell you what needs to happen, how much and where so that prediction never happens. It needs to be done, and it needs to be taken seriously”
Councilman Gene Banks asked that Civic Research Alliance officials also look at updating codes and ordinances.
Dr. Moyer estimated half of Pennsylvania’s municipalities are feeling some variation of distress. Regional communities studied include the City of Jeannette, Wilkinsburg Borough. The most complex Dr. Moyer said the company performed was for Gettysburg Borough.
Dr. Moyer’s wife, Florence Ford, was a former Borough, City and Township manager and explained a management audit – which will include all departments, from administration to public works and utilities. Her discussions with elected, appointed and hired personnel will help her get ideas on how to improve operations.
“I always go with the premise that every employee wants to do a good job – sometimes there (are) barriers in their way that prohibit it. I talk to them up one side and down the other, Ford said.
“I interviewed (Ford City) officials a few weeks ago, and found them to be very, very forthcoming – it seems like they want to get this process going, they believe in it, and they really care about what they’re doing”
Mayor Mantini said that job loss is a key reason why the municipality is where it is, which Borough Councilman Jerry Miklos agreed with but he added that Borough officials failed to adjust to that.
Borough Council officials will hold a special meeting in the Ford City Library at 6PM this evening.
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By jorn jensen, June 29, 2015 @ 7:43 AM
Early intervention? Try back to about 1980 and on back to about 1960.
How you came to be where you are now? The work went away.
How to fix it? Eliminate abusive property taxes and make Pennsylvania a right-to-work state and then start courting business and industry.
One of the things we’re doing right is Lenape Tech. We can supply highly-trained, highly-skilled people if we can keep them off drugs.
If, per the article, half of Pennsylvania is facing this dilemma - New Kensington is a prime example with the departure of Alcoa, as is Arnold with the departure of American Saint Gobain Glass - then it is a statewide problem, not just a Ford City problem, and needs ‘state’ attention.
It is nice that these consultants are doing this, but it is just payroll off the state. We can’t figure this out ourselves?
Are you listening Jeff Pyle and Don White? You guys are in the drivers’ seats.
By Just sayin, June 29, 2015 @ 6:29 PM
It’s nice to see the Council smiling!!!!
By jorn jensen, June 29, 2015 @ 11:02 PM
Don’t forget to tell the consultants about the council that left the million dollar gas lease laying on the table because a few whiners showed up and didn’t want it. That council’s responsibility was for the the greater good of the townspeople and their flawed decision to favor a few whiners cost the town a massive bailout. Add to that, the royalty, which would have amounted to more than the lease, had they drilled. Even the later 180k deal wasn’t taken by council.
By mad-2010, June 30, 2015 @ 5:27 AM
Not sure that Ford City Borough owned mineral rights to all Parcels of property. Correct me if I am wrong……
The 150k or 180k deal was a joke….
By jorn jensen, June 30, 2015 @ 8:22 AM
Mad - sign it and let due diligence take its course. Perhaps someone that reads the KP knows - I do not. It is spilled milk, anyhow.
By jorn jensen, June 30, 2015 @ 8:23 AM
150k or 180k is no joke when when another government body is willing to reduce a fine debt to 60k.
By mad-2010, June 30, 2015 @ 9:43 AM
JJ.. You don’t make a bad deal because another government body is reducing a debt to 60k. That debt could have been paid in payments. The 150k or 180k deal was a joke with no royalty included. I think an earlier offer was 500k.
You can make the hasty deals all day long and I’ll make smart ones and end up with more money to run my town…..
By savvynewshound, June 30, 2015 @ 10:19 AM
$150 - $180 is less of a joke than the $0 we got.
By mad-2010, June 30, 2015 @ 11:57 AM
The debt to the government was reduced to 116k and payments could be made over 3 years..
By Rat_Smeller, June 30, 2015 @ 12:56 PM
Lets not forget the $600,000 that walked out the door and no one knows what happened to it.
By bob, June 30, 2015 @ 11:23 PM
@ mad-2010,
Not sure why you still think the 150k deal is a joke. I’d say the offer was less a joke and more of a gift considering the current state of the natural resource industry here in western PA. Take into account how this 150k could have been used to settle the 580k(?) debt owed to the feds @ the reduced rate of 116k(?), and had the remaining 34k to use towards the 43k(?)in fines owed for the water plant issue. Now, instead of only needing to find 9k for the remaining amount owed in fines, the borough needs to produce a total of 623k to clear out the debt owed for these 2 separate fines. Please explain why you view the 150k offer as a joke when it would have eliminated almost all the 623k fine debt.
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 3:08 AM
Does anyone know the value of the borough property at the time of the offer?
@ Bob.. First, I’m not looking at other debts as a basis of any business deals. What is the percentage that the current market is down? Minus that percentage from the real property value, that would be my starting point in understanding part of the business deal. No deal would be made without royalty, none…..
I have a house valued @ 300k, the housing market is down 50% does that mean that I sell it at 50% below value, NO..
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 3:20 AM
Bad business sense (CDC) and very, very poor management skills (council) are the reasons that you are 500k in debt in the first place. An easy out (letting the bank take back the PPG property). cost you 500k in debt. So, what will another easy out cost you to lose and why are you always on the minus side?
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 5:12 AM
savvy.. The $0 you got was because you did not do the business deal. Not because 150k or 180k is less of a joke….
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 7:40 AM
@ Bob… Let’s say the value of the property was 500k and the current gas & oil market is down 30%. (500k minus 30% = 350k) At this starting point in understanding the business deal would you still think 150k was a Gift? (Without any royalty)? Remember now, this is just a starting point to think about in your business deal. 150k would be less than 50% of value in this example.
To be correct you would have to know the value of the property at the time of the 150k offer for said property. Correct me if I’m wrong….
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 8:34 AM
Hey Rat, You did a good job before on the research end. Do you think you could find out what the old offer was on that property before this latest offer from Snyder. Thanks Very Much…
By jorn jensen, July 1, 2015 @ 9:24 AM
Mad - you must be on/have been on council with your convoluted logic.
When you’re broke, you’re broke. If you couldn’t pay for your $300k place, you’d sell it at whatever you can get or go for bankruptcy - either way, you’d probably lose it but would have time to delay the inevitable.
The million dollar deal - gas drillers make contact and make a lease offer (or respond to a ‘group’ offering acres for lease), negotiations go forth and back, a final lease document is prepared and then signed by both parties, then the gas driller does the due diligence. If you own it, you get the lease check. If you don’t own it, it will be determined in due diligence and then the signed paper is just signed paper, nothing more - you shred it.
You can convolute the scenario all you want - that’s how it works. Been there, done that.
By bob, July 1, 2015 @ 12:19 PM
@ mad-2010,
Realize that when the natural gas industry is bad, they are not signing leases like they were when the market was up. I challenge you to find a property owner who has signed a lease, let alone a generous one in the past 6 months. People who work in the industry are losing work hours or losing their jobs entirely. If I had to bet, I’d say we have 3-1/2 more years of this unless something changes drastically. Do you think the feds will wait for that fine money until the market improves and a more lucrative lease becomes available to the borough? If 150k it was such a great deal for the natural resource company, then where are the other offers from other companies? Companies will pay what the market will bear. Let’s use your 300k house as an example. If the housing market is down by 50% and the best offer you get is 150k, then you decide if you can afford to wait till the market improves. If you need cash, you take the 150k, cut your loses, and kick yourself for not selling when it actually WAS worth 300k.
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 6:53 PM
JJ… What is it that Ford City can not pay for?
The payment on the 116k for 3 years, tell me. Question: Is Ford City in bankruptcy right now?
Got to go well get back to you…..
@ Bob…If the housing market is down by 50% and the best offer you get is 150k, then you decide if you can afford to wait till the market improves. If you need cash, you take the 150k, cut your loses, and kick yourself for not selling when it actually WAS worth 300k.”
“then you decide if you can afford to wait.”
That’s what they (council) did, decided that it was not a Great deal and will wait, and so would I…..
By Just sayin, July 1, 2015 @ 7:06 PM
“The GOOD news is that the oil/gas companies don’t own the sun and the wind.”
By Just sayin, July 1, 2015 @ 7:27 PM
I’m glad the oil drillers didn’t rape our land in Ford City like they’ve been doing around the country side.
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 8:28 PM
JJ.. The offer was to buy the mineral rights out-right and below is what the so-called experts said at that time.
“Despite Ford City’s financial woes, some experts in the oil and gas industry believe the borough should shop around before accepting a Kittanning company’s $150,000 offer to buy the mineral rights on polluted property it owns near Cadogan.”
“They be better off in the long run if they were able to lease,” she said. “If it’s a lease, they have an opportunity to have future income on it. Prudently, leasing is a better option for them.”
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 8:47 PM
If you want to be upset about something be upset that Ford City did not jump on the 116K deal with the payments for 3 years.
JJ.. “If you couldn’t pay for your $300k place, you’d sell it at whatever you can get or go for bankruptcy.” In the so-called convoluted scenario the property is Free & Clear, so I can wait….
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 9:05 PM
“Mad – you must be on/have been on council with your convoluted logic.”
JJ.. You must have run for commissioner and lost to think that you know better than some Experts.
Right back at you there Slick!
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 9:11 PM
Bob… This is what an Expert said: “I would say right now prices for leasing would be down from what they were four or five years ago,” D’Amico said. “But as far as an outright purchase, I’m not so sure. I’d probably be reluctant.”
By jorn jensen, July 1, 2015 @ 9:51 PM
bob - You understand, but it is doubtful that you can help mad. Right now, the economic laws of supply and demand have natural gas prices low and drillers cautious. I heard, today, that Range Resources is pulling out of Yatesboro. And some folks elected a governor that wants to tax extraction (on the down-slide).
I’m involved in two different gas leases, two different properties, and I’ll offer no details other than, right now, nothing is happening. Everything is quiet.
I know of no generous offers in the last 6 months, plus. The last generous one I had was 5 years and 3 months ago - and I signed that.
If mad’s $300k place is ‘free and clear’, then, obviously, wait till something changes for the better and a market value increase That is, unless the taxes on the place bury you beforehand.
By jorn jensen, July 1, 2015 @ 9:54 PM
Wow - mad sure got stirred up.
By mad-2010, July 1, 2015 @ 11:16 PM
No, JJ… Not stirred up at all… The Experts agree with it not being that great of a deal, also… JJ.. Don’t need your help or Bob’s (if indeed Bob would offer any) doing just fine myself..
JJ.. If you hand it out I’ll always hand it right back.
By jd718, July 1, 2015 @ 11:52 PM
@Jensen, Did you really think you could get your sneaky barbs past Mad-2010? Well at least you tried, just like you tried and failed with your commissioner attempt. Oh Well.
By jd718, July 2, 2015 @ 7:57 AM
Is Ford City broke or deep in debt?
By Rat_Smeller, July 2, 2015 @ 12:30 PM
mad-2010 - There was an offer on the table from EXCO resources (a reputable driller in the Marcellus field) in the area of $800,000 that the boro did not act on in time and was taken off of the table. A few people that chose to believe only one side (in lieu of looking at both sides of the argument and coming to a rational conclusion) of the story, showed up and protested, and council ran away with its tail between its legs. By my math, that’s 1.4 million dollars ($600,000 stolen and never recovered + $800,000 blown off because of a vocal uninformed minority) that the taxpayers of Ford City got screwed out of. And people know who stole and what happened to that $600,000 but no one is talking.
http://www.thekittanningpaper.info/2013/08/27/ford-city-council-tables-gas-lease-amid-accusations/39793
These days, with the cubic foot price for natural gas being so low, you will not see an offer in-line with what EXCO offered a few years back. Its really sad that they balked at that offer. If you look back what has happened in FC Boro since PPG left town, it almost looks like the town itself is imploding. $600,000 walks out the door and is never recovered - and no one is ever convicted and punished for the theft. The CDC debacle. Defaulting on the Mortgage for the Foundry property. Defaulting on a grant from the Federal Government. Letting $800,000 walk away without batting an eyelash. Something is very wrong here.
By Patzu, July 2, 2015 @ 2:30 PM
You keep mentioning $600,000 that was stolen. Please give me what details or links you have identifying this stolen money. Are you talking about the insurance money for the borough building roof?
By bob, July 2, 2015 @ 6:13 PM
@ Patzu,
I had forgotten all about that insurance money being mentioned a good while ago on this site. I do believe I posted a comment about that. I don’t recall the amount that was mentioned. I think the 600k Rat_smeller refers to happened many years ago. He posted a link on here maybe a few months ago to the article. Maybe he could repost the link.
By bob, July 2, 2015 @ 6:29 PM
@ Jorn,
I agree that he is all stirred up. When I saw the four comment rant I decided it wasn’t worth the energy. All I want to know is who is this D’Amico? The alleged expert being ranted about? Tried searching the name on this site and Googled it and nothing pertinent came up.
By rainman, July 2, 2015 @ 6:44 PM
My real name is Raymond Klukan and I was on council when the gas well lease was at almost $900,00.00, I wanted it and so did Mr. Mohoney, and by the way rat smeller I will not hide behind fictious name. So rat smeller if you are a resident of the town where were you at that meeting? There was nobody and I say nobody was there to support the gas well. Oh by the way, I am running for council again.
By mad-2010, July 2, 2015 @ 8:53 PM
Thanks Rat… Looks like you did a good job, again, Thank You….
By jorn jensen, July 2, 2015 @ 9:44 PM
Ha, ha, ha - sneaky barbs, huh jd718? You afraid of the truth? Perhaps Rat_Smeller can explain it to you and your partner mad.
By mad-2010, July 3, 2015 @ 7:28 AM
800k minus 150k = 650k
If I am 650k off an earlier offer, that 150k is a joke to me. Down market or whatever I’ll wait until the market (3-1/2 years) is better. Ford City will still be Ford City in 3-1/2 years.
I’d like to Thank You Again, Rat… As for the stolen 600k, all I can say is Wow. Something should have been done, what happened?
By mad-2010, July 3, 2015 @ 7:47 AM
I’d say Ford City is not broke. Just deep in debt. Deep, Deep…..
By Rat_Smeller, July 3, 2015 @ 7:37 PM
Patzu - There were two other links from reputable publications regarding the theft of approx. $600,000 from borough coffers.
Admin - Can you explain why the other 2 links I placed in my latest post were left out?
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 5:01 AM
Bob.. There’s no 4 comment rant, I have to work around other things to do these comments. There are other news papers beside this one. Sorry that your research is sub-par. Have you ever read the Trib? That should Help you find D’Amico. Did you think I would make-up a name like that? Don’t forget to tell Jensen that I helped you… It’s still a bad deal (150k).
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 5:05 AM
Raymond Klukan… Would like to know why you are running for council again.. Thanks
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 5:30 AM
JJ.. The Truth is there are no Subjects in America. LOL Also, You lost that Commissioner’s election being cheap ($250.00) campaign. LOL
One more Truth: Hell would freeze over before your Cheap back-side would sell mineral-rights for 150K on a parcel of land that size.
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 6:02 AM
Hey JJ.. “I decided it wasn’t worth the energy.” Could this be the Number One Reason a person would make a bad deal to cover their losses. Perhaps!
By Patzu, July 5, 2015 @ 8:51 AM
I think the $600,000 was related to the money stolen decades ago out if the borough office. I do not think there were any arrests due to the access to the money being so loose. I think the Feds were involved, so it was not like it was covered up.
The insurance claim payout for the borough building roof was very concerning. That just occurred a few years ago. Was this ever looked into? It was identified but was it ever investigated?
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 9:28 AM
In case you need more Help, Bob…..
“According to Lou D’Amico, executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.”
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 9:29 AM
This ones for you, JJ…
“The borough should not jump at the first offer that’s out there,” said Jackie Root, president of Tioga County’s R&R Energy Consulting.”
By jorn jensen, July 5, 2015 @ 9:39 AM
Mad - you state, “I’d say Ford City is not broke. Just deep in debt. Deep, Deep…..” and all the while, you defend councils not taking income opportunities such as the million dollar gas deal and the later $180k gas deal and so forth.
If you admit that the town is in financial trouble and you defend not taking income streams, then, please, pray tell, how will YOU fix Ford City’s financial woes? Truly, the answer is important to all of us, not just to Ford Citians.
I just went back through this article and posts, looking for D’Amico, per bob’s post, and came across 2 posts from Just sayin - here they are: “The GOOD news is that the oil/gas companies don’t own the sun and the wind.” and “I’m glad the oil drillers didn’t rape our land in Ford City like they’ve been doing around the country side.”
And we wonder why this area is in trouble? Why we are so backward?
Just sayin, be specific. Give GPS addresses of these land rapings and I’ll present GPS addresses of sites where the oil/gas drillers do, and have done, everything ‘by the book’. You do a great disservice because the ill-informed may actually believe that BS.
By jd718, July 5, 2015 @ 10:18 AM
@ Raymond Klukan, Where you a councilmen when they (council)allowed that PPG property to go to foreclosure, and if so, how did you vote? Fore or against letting the property go to foreclosure? Also, at that time (if you were involved with the foreclosure vote)did you know the boro would have to repay the renovation grant from the government? If you did not know that repayment to the government must be made, why did you not know?
By jd718, July 5, 2015 @ 10:24 AM
@ Jensen, I’ll bet nobody has to explain that primary election to you, do they? Ha-Ha
By Rainbow Rider, July 5, 2015 @ 1:36 PM
Don’t forget the Jimmy and Connie caper.
Didn’t that result in a loss to FC of $120,000 or more?
By Patzu, July 5, 2015 @ 6:44 PM
I am not sure who was on council on at that time, but if somebody was seated as a council member at that time, I would like to hear an explanation of the foreclosure from them. That council had some questionable, let’s say, personalities on it. They mocked people who told them not to allow the foreclosure.
Who was on council when the insurance claim was paid out for the roof on the borough building? Has that money ever been discovered or trailed?
By Patzu, July 5, 2015 @ 6:55 PM
Not a link from another media source.
This is from FC Borough minutes:
http://www.fordcityborough.com/Image/December%207,%202009%20Minutes.pdf
By wolfin, July 5, 2015 @ 7:46 PM
The insurance money for the roof for the maintenance garage was placed in the wrong account. The accountant found the discrepancy and the money was used to put a new roof on the maintenance building over a year ago. The money was not for the borough office building.
By mad-2010, July 5, 2015 @ 9:54 PM
Ok JJ, All funning aside. I never said anything about the first 900k deal, they probably should have taking that deal. I am sure there was a reason. I’d have to look into why they did not take the deal. The 150k deal just wasn’t right, that’s all I can say. How do you get from 900k down to 150k? I know the market is/was down at the time, but that’s one Hell of a drop.
Not sure how I would fix it because you have to go with the majority vote by council. One thing: Everyone has to be on board for the betterment of the town, period. Where the town is right now you have make sound decisions, again for the betterment of all towns people and taxpayers.
By jorn jensen, July 5, 2015 @ 10:08 PM
So, JD718, how’d your primary results go? At least I ran, offering my services to the informed voters. I’m very proud of my willingness to run and serve.
By jorn jensen, July 6, 2015 @ 7:03 AM
Mad, you’re almost sounding as if you’re coming along and then you step in it. Of course they should have taken the $900k deal (aka the million dollar deal). Then you state, “I am sure there was a reason.” The reason has been explained over and over - a vocal minority, anti-frackers, show up and whine and the council folds. What more news do you need? Read Raymond Klukan’s post and absorb a little.
You seem well-written - I’d certainly guess that you’d understand market forces. The $900k deal was worth $180k, at the time that it was worth $180k because of supply and demand. The horizontal gas drilling had grown so fast and the feeding frenzy was over by the time the lease value went from 900 to 180. The drillers are ‘shopping smarter’ these days. Along with that, along comes Tom Wolf to save the day with taxing extraction and they’ll run like cokroaches when you turn the lights on. They’re running even ahead of Tom Wolf - Range Resources leaving Yatesboro, Halliburton departing for Ohio from over near Indiana - 450 jobs gone from that area. It comes down to what the buyer is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to ‘take’. Simple as that. Both deals would have been good for the town AT THE TIMING OF EACH DEAL.
Agree, you have to go with the majority vote of council - after all, they are your elected officials. And that’s where your responsibility comes in - the responsibility to use your vote wisely and in an informed manner. If you vote the popularity contest, you’re just rolling the dice on what you might actually get.
Wrong, everyone doesn’t have to be on-board for the betterment of the town. Everyone wasn’t behind the few whiners that kabashed the million dollar deal. Your responsibility is to elect the best for the town and they need to make the right decisions for the majority - not for the half-dozen whiners. You need people with knowledge and experience. So the town hires a consultant, or some government agency did. There’s no one more informed than this consultant, in Ford city, to help Ford City out of this mess? Now you’re going to spend time updating a consultant while you could be actively working to solve your own problems.
Sorry, mad, you actually did quite well in your post of July 5th - it is just so frustrating trying to explain something/anything to a liberal.
By jorn jensen, July 6, 2015 @ 7:13 AM
Ya know, jd718, you attack me directly because you cannot disprove any statement that I’ve made on this thread. So, you attack me for the failure to win a primary. 522 people were informed and voted for me - they obviously understand what it will take to ‘bring this area around’. Just the dismal turnout of voters made it necessary to recount votes - that’s how close some of it was. People spending $15,000 to get 2000 votes. What a waste!
Why don’t you put forth the effort to disprove me on any of the points I’ve made in my posts on this thread? Afraid of the truth so you attack the author?
By jd718, July 6, 2015 @ 8:34 AM
@ Jensen, Your kidding, right? “how’d your primary results go?” Well I voted, but more importantly not for you! “At least I ran, offering my services to the informed voters.”
“At least” sounds like a Consolation Prize for Junior high. Given the fact that you spent a whopping $250 on your campaign. How serious could you be? At one point you stated that the commissioners job @60k would be less than you already make, and your campaign effort is $250!
I liken your whole effort to wearing a plaid flannel shirt & a white undershirt with rolled-up sleeves to a board meeting! Ha-Ha… What is there to be Proud of, a one man dog and pony show with an over-extended ego! You should talk to somebody that doesn’t know better, Jensen. Ha-Ha..
By Rat_Smeller, July 6, 2015 @ 11:05 AM
Patzu - There was an arrest and a trial resulting in the acquittal of the defendent. This is the “Jimmy and Connie” caper that Rainbow rider was referring to. Also, I your link to the boro minutes Councilman Klukan asked a poignant question to which there was no answer - what happened to $8,000,000 in grant money?
By Marc, July 6, 2015 @ 1:01 PM
Why would someone continually ask every single person that questions them how their primary results went when they lost in a landslide themselves???
If your campaign plan was to show up to a few events and bash people on a local blog you should have saved yourself the $250.
By Patzu, July 6, 2015 @ 5:03 PM
I posted the link because somebody asked who on council voted to default on the property which is now costing the borough in a big way. Those minutes contain the vote to default.
I have no idea about the $8,000,000 but if it was the grant money that was allotted for Hetitage Park, I believe this was audited and Investigated by the FBI and there was no wrong-doing. I going from memory on this so I could be wrong. If I am incorrect, then maybe could jog my memory of when this money was found to be missing and when it was reported to authorities. Was it investigated?
By jd718, July 6, 2015 @ 9:04 PM
@ Jensen, It seems that it’s perfectly OK for you to say condescending things to other posters. When your poor behavior is thrown back at you it’s somehow an attack against you. Grow up!
By jorn jensen, July 6, 2015 @ 9:08 PM
jd718 and Marc - Let’s discuss Ford City’s problems. You two have any solutions? Any input? Or is your whole world about worrying about the commissioner’s election?
By Rainbow Rider, July 6, 2015 @ 9:26 PM
Ratsmeller J. went to the state pen and $120,000 was still gone
By Rainbow Rider, July 6, 2015 @ 9:30 PM
Jensen. so anyone who didn’t vote for you wasn’t informed? Whatba slap to thousands of voters and a very egotistical way of looking at it.
Others spent more dough and had the support of the party waaaah
By jd718, July 6, 2015 @ 9:49 PM
@ Jensen, “Ya know, jd718, you attack me directly because you cannot disprove any statement that I’ve made on this thread.”
OK Jensen, you Said: “Both deals would have been good for the town AT THE TIMING OF EACH DEAL.” For the 150k deal on boro property an Expert had this to say: “They be better off in the long run if they were able to lease,” she said. “If it’s a lease, they have an opportunity to have future income on it. Prudently, leasing is a better option for them.”
Jensen, Do you have one Expert that you can quote that sides with your position, NO… Ha-Ha again.. Do they have lakes big enough to soak your head in?
By sickofpayingforit, July 6, 2015 @ 10:13 PM
Looking at the slightly larger picture that eludes many is the fact that that 62K grant is partly coming from the money the state of PA rips out of my paychecks, and I don’t get back at the end of the year. So, I am paying the state to give Ford City money to pay this group to save Ford City money. I think I would rather just pay more tax to Ford City and not feed another government fed entrepreneur. I didn’t look into much of this so this could be off base as far as this group being for-profit. Bottom line, I don’t think they are volunteers and some of those guys are being paid like ASD admin, WAY too much for the services provided.
By mad-2010, July 6, 2015 @ 10:17 PM
Wow, looks like Jensen is Stirred-up! Without going through all your Verbal Diarrhea. Let me make this as Simple as I can for you. Two Experts, Two. (“According to Lou D’Amico, executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.”) and (Jackie Root, president of Tioga County’s R&R Energy Consulting.) Agree that the 150k deal was wrong for Ford City (At The Timing Of The Deal.)
Now: Come up with one Expert that sides with your position and we will continue. If not Move-ON. In other words Put-Up or Shut-UP.
By sickofpayingforit, July 6, 2015 @ 10:21 PM
See lots of comments about the campaign and all that. What is a logical amount to spend to secure a 60k a year job at the county level? What are the advantages of spending as much as possible to get that job? These are the questions tax payers should really be asking, no?
By jorn jensen, July 7, 2015 @ 8:08 AM
sickofpayingforit - you get it. I also asked, is there no one in Ford City that can solve Ford City’s problem without bringing in a consultant that you first have to feed history to? You get it on the tax money part - we feed tax money to pay the consultant.
Since the libs are stuck on the commissioner campaign, the candidate that worked the hardest, spent considerable dollars, and had lots of support, lost second place by 24 votes on the democrat side. 3rd place, he got, but 3rd place is a zero location in that race. He and I talked - Bobbi and I were invited to his after-election party and we were there. A county of 69,000 people and he lost 2nd place by 24 votes in a competition in the 2000 votes-getting arena. To me, all that shows is voter apathy. The attendance at the ‘get to know the candidates events’ - fairly good attendance at the Manor firehall, but a poor location at best. At the Lenape Tech events, poor attendance, but a good location, PA system, etc. Also, the republican party stepped in poop when they discouraged candidates from attending the Lenape event - effectively stating that they didn’t want the public informed on the republican candidates platform - just vote for popularity - vote for ‘the party guy’. There’s where there are ‘informed voters’ - the ones that showed up for the events and did the research on candidates - they care, they seek information about each candidate - where they stand on issues of concern to the county. So, what was this election? It was a popularity contest. Bid Atwood beat my vote count by 300 and never made a public appearance - he had more signs out than you could shake a stick at, more paper place mats in restaurants & some still being used - don’t know who he is or what his position was on any issue. Independents weren’t allowed to vote. The whole event was poor, at best.
So, again, sickofpayingforit gets it.
I offered my services and my platform was clearly stated. Cut taxes and bring in private sector jobs. The two bottom finishers, on the republican side, Wade Bowser and myself, were the only ones out of 15 to promise cutting taxes. And, most of the people that voted for me knew that I would. I had 250 signs out and Wade had none - I ended up with 10 more votes than Wade. Do the math - 250 signs for 10 votes?
So, what is important to this county? The top finisher, republican side, in one of his mailers, checkpoint 3, “Control county spending and hold the line on taxes” Yes, I keep these mailers. If you’re not cutting taxes, you’re not my candidate - simple as that.
Now, back to the FC gas lease deals - to both hecklers, mad and jd718, both offers were leases - there were no ‘sales’. Both were fair offers at the timing of the offer and the town, being broke, should obviously have taken the million dollar deal. Having failed that, they should have taken the later 180k deal, regardless of what Mr. D’Amico and Mr. Root stated. You see, Mr. D’Amico and Mr. Root are most-likely not broke, Ford City is. At either of those two offers, Ford City was not in a strong negotiating position, being broke & all.
Here’s the way it is libs, you own land with mineral rights (subsurface ownership). Somewhere down there, there might be coal. Further on down there might be shale gas. Someone offers you money for the right to remove and sell those forms of energy, and even offers to share the gain with you in the form of royalty - what do you do? You, with the power of one, have no way to get that good stuff out of the ground, but these people coming along and offering money to be permitted to remove it and share the gain with you do have the equipment, manpower, knowledge and dollars - what do you do? Me, I say, “Let’s Make a Deal!”, but I’m very careful about retaining surface rights - that which I can see, feel, and walk on.
Now, let’s go to Manor Township, home of one of the successful democrat candidates - with what appeared to be millions of signs out. They leased off and collected gas dollars for their township. Manor Township is going strong - apparently well-managed - they fix, maintain and repair their equipment instead of always buying new, new, new. Why don’t you naysayer libs criticize Manor Township’s success with gas leases if you continue to defend Ford City council’s failure to act on the same?
Bottom line - either deal should have been taken at the timing of the offer. Any rational businessperson knows that.
By Marc, July 7, 2015 @ 8:10 AM
Mr. Former Commissioner Candidate,
I have not seen where you’ve outlined a plan for Ford City either. You’ve done nothing but complain and argue about things that have already transpired and cannot be helped at this stage. Rainbow Rider had the perfect comment.
Sickofpayingforit,
I was questioning his work ethic. Most of the other candidates raised their own funds, knocked on doors, used social media appropriately and showed up at community events to promote themselves. If a candidate isn’t willing to do these simple things, what can the taxpayers expect while they’re in office? Food for thought.
By blutoblutarsky, July 7, 2015 @ 10:25 AM
“522 people were informed and voted for me – they obviously understand what it will take to ‘bring this area around’.”
This comment is going over like a turd in a punch bowl. It’s amazing that jensen has the audacity to say that the voters of Armstrong County are uninformed simply because they did not vote for him!
The voters actually did a fantastic job in keeping this type of garbage from being elected! It looks like they are more informed than you think jorn.
By Rat_Smeller, July 7, 2015 @ 12:13 PM
Patzu & Rainbow Rider - I was not aware that J. wound up in the state pen. Its unfortunate that this money was never recovered. I still believe there is more to this story and people that know are keeping quiet to protect others. The honest hardworking taxpaying people in Ford City deserve the truth and they deserve justice.
By Rainbow Rider, July 7, 2015 @ 1:10 PM
Sickof. no that’s not the question we should be asking at all.
If a candidate is seen as a good or viable person for the job they will be able to spend other peoples money. They will get backing from businesses, maybe unions and regular folks who believe in them. Looks like jensen wasn’t looked upon as a good candidate by these folks or his party.
By Rainbow Rider, July 7, 2015 @ 11:59 PM
So jensen used 4 tanks of gasoline putting up and taking down signs and now says he bought 250 signs. Yet he agreed to spend less than $250 on his entire campaign, fuzzy math!
By jorn jensen, July 8, 2015 @ 12:08 AM
Marc - I have given thoughts on the help Ford City needs. I have publicly stated that Gene Banks had the right approach - fill those factory buildings with manufacturers - go court the manufacturers to come here and set up shop.
You still want a plan? Same plan - bring in private sector jobs - to Ford City - to Armstrong County - to Pennsylvania. How to do that? Eliminate property taxes and make Pennsylvania a right-to-work state, and then put the welcome mat out for business and industry to come in.
It is private sector jobs that built the area - it was private sector jobs that left, and it will be private sector jobs that can bring the wealth to rebuild the area. Jobs, you know?
That’s Pyle’s and White’s job in Harrisburg, but it is also commissioners’ jobs in the counties and town councils’ jobs in the towns - to push the state guys to head Pennsylvania in the right direction while they do the right things in their respective areas to bring about the change needed to provide a jobs-friendly environment.
It really isn’t that complicated, but, when you have commissioners and commissioner candidates walking picket lines, the message is clear to any business or industry entertaining a thought of locating here.
By jorn jensen, July 8, 2015 @ 6:59 AM
You know, Marc, it is interesting that you will criticize & attack me and then, in the second breath, ask what my solutions are. I sign my name - you use a pseudonym.
You offer no solutions and I’m sure you’ll criticize mine. You, among the others, and you know their pseudonyms, offer no solutions.
I’ve stated all along - we need to change our mindset in this area or it will merely be more of the same - and we’ll still be in trouble. The Ford City history on the gas leases, that I’ve given, is accurate and none of you naysayers seem to dispute that - yet defending not taking one or any gas deal. Oh well, let’s just attack Jensen, then.
You’re gutless - you can’t sign your name.
By steve, July 8, 2015 @ 9:36 AM
Rainbow Rider, good comment. I don’t think it was that Jensen was looked down upon by his party. I think he just didn’t want to put forth the effort to do all of things you or Marc mentioned. He simply wanted paid while putting forth the least amount of effort possible.
He’ll try to tell you that he was doing something noble by not spending other people’s money. We all know that’s not true.
By jd718, July 9, 2015 @ 6:40 AM
@ Jensen, “Kittanning company’s $150,000 offer to buy the mineral rights on polluted property it owns near Cadogan.”
Both offers were not leases. Do you have Proof that the 150k deal (not 180k like you keep saying over and over) was a lease? Why don’t you have some Expert Quote that backs what you say?
Jensen is a Classic Liar!
By jd718, July 9, 2015 @ 6:57 AM
@ Jensen, “they should have taken the later 180k deal, regardless of what Mr. D’Amico and Mr. Root stated. You see, Mr. D’Amico and Mr. Root are most-likely not broke”
Jensen, This is the best you can come up with, WOW. So, two experts are wrong, and you are right. Jensen when you are broke you have no money coming into your pocket. Ford City still has monies coming in to their pocket, now what, Jensen? That means they are in debt, not broke.
Here read it again and absorb a little!
(“According to Lou D’Amico, executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.”) and (Jackie Root, president of Tioga County’s R&R Energy Consulting.) Agree that the 150k deal was wrong for Ford City (At The Timing Of The Deal.)
Seems you can’t Put-Up or Shut-Up!
By jd718, July 9, 2015 @ 7:41 AM
@ Jensen, “Root agrees with Mayor Marc Mantini and Councilman Gene Banks, who have said they think leasing the mineral rights may be a better option.” This Quote is from the Trib at the time of the 150k deal. This quote does not support your position, Jensen. If you are so right about everything why not ask the Trib for a Correction to the article? I got even money that says you don’t have the right-stuff (b***s) to do so. Because you are wrong and trying your hardest to B.S. your way out of this argument.
Even your man Gene Banks does not agree with you, Jensen! Is it because Gene Banks is not broke and so he can’t understand like Lou D’Amico, executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association can’t understand?
Give it up. Jensen
By mad-2010, July 9, 2015 @ 8:21 AM
Jensen…. “The Ford City history on the gas leases, that I’ve given, is accurate and none of you naysayers seem to dispute that”
Well it seems that your leases B.S. has been in dispute since June 30, 2015 and it is now the 9th of July and You Can’t Handle The Truth, that you are wrong on all counts!
You Just Can Not Stop, Can You?
By Marc, July 9, 2015 @ 12:26 PM
Jorn, my given name is Marc. It’s not a psuedonym.
You asked me what my solution was to a conversation I was never part of, so I asked you what yours were. You were the one ranting and raving about having a plan. You sound like a lunatic and a massive cry baby. I have no idea how you intended to handle being a commissioner considering you seem like you’re having trouble being a rational human being in a public forum.
I criticize you because you have a big mouth and you treat anyone who disagrees with you with extreme disrespect.
Also, the solutions you provided are general statements. There is no real plan shown. You say jobs are good for a town? No kidding. There are more issues at hand in Ford City than just a lack of jobs.
You must have lost your mind along with that primary.
By Marc, July 9, 2015 @ 12:32 PM
Rainbow Rider also made a very interesting comment about you signing a waiver pledging not to spend more than $250 on your campaign. They’re right. Something isn’t adding up. Maybe you should have had to file a campaign expense form.
By mad-2010, July 9, 2015 @ 2:13 PM
Since when did the comment section of the KP become the solution section of the KP? Does anyone know?
By sickofpayingforit, July 9, 2015 @ 3:15 PM
Rainbow Rider-
Spending other people’s money is a job description for a county commissioner. However on the campaign trail, the taxpayers’ SHOULD pay attention to WHO’S money the candidates are spending. This could be valuable intel when said candidate(s) are in office making decisions, no? My point is valid. What is an acceptable amount to spend on a 60k a year job? My answer to that would be the amount that local citizens donate, as they wouldn’t have any ulterior motives short of the candidates campaign promises.
Who spends a ton of money to get that job? The answer to this is the candidate with the most backing, right? So, what do those backers’ expect in return? This isn’t any groundbreaking revelation here, it is politics in the USA and yes, I still think the taxpayer’s should be asking those type questions.
I will offer the new position Battaglia created as exhibit A, if I am on the defense for my earlier comments…..
By steve, July 9, 2015 @ 3:46 PM
Jorn- Here is a quote of yours from a while back-
“I know who you are! You can’t hide behind that screen name! (That’s one of the games played on this site – guessing who the real person is behind the screen name – like it really matters.)”
So why do people using screen names bother you so much now? I haven’t seen you call sickofpayingforit or worthingtonman gutless lately… actually, ranting under your own name here may have doomed your campaign (along with your lack of true effort of course).
P.S. Maybe Bid Atwood got more votes than you because he’s a nice guy and doesn’t treat people like you do. Do things like that ever cross your mind or do you only have excuse after excuse to offer?
By Rainbow Rider, July 9, 2015 @ 10:00 PM
Sickof about 10 years ago Jim scahill said the job pays $63,000 a year when he was on talk of the town.your concerns about spending money while in office are right but not what originally was said.
You asked what is a logical amount to spend for a 60k a year job at the county level.
Some math. 60k a year times a 4 year term = $240k add to that a benefit package that most of us can only dream of and a pension. Being that the job pays more like 65k this is a conservative number. the successful candidates spent in the area of 15 grand of mostly other people’s money.
I say a near 300k return on a 15k investment is a good rate of return.
The answer to your question then is,
more than $250.
By mad-2010, July 10, 2015 @ 12:45 AM
Good job on the screen name issue, Steve.. We know he just wants to look down on others…. He should stop and just have some good verbal discussions.
By blutoblutarsky, July 10, 2015 @ 10:35 AM
It’s hilarious that jorn wrote a somewhat calm post at midnight and came right back at 7am with whining and name calling. Sleepless night jensen? Marc must have really gotten you wound up! lol
I see your back to talking about picket lines and right to work. What’s next? Burger bots again? You’re getting repetitive in your old age.
By blutoblutarsky, July 10, 2015 @ 10:36 AM
Mad- I’ve got a solution for the solution section of the KP. jorn should take a nap and see if he wakes up on the right side of the bed this time!
By steve, July 10, 2015 @ 12:04 PM
Interesting… Once Jensen’s promise of a $250 campaign came into question he suddenly vanished.
By Patzu, July 10, 2015 @ 6:56 PM
Jorn ran away.
Jorn did not put up a good campaign.
Let’s get back to the topic here.
Who was behind the default on the loan for the federal grant?
What did the FBI investigation entail?
By mad-2010, July 10, 2015 @ 9:02 PM
Bluto… That’s funny.. I hold little hope that a switch in what side of the bed JJ wakes up on will change his poor behavior. I would say he’s pretty much too far gone!
By mad-2010, July 11, 2015 @ 9:41 PM
Patzu… As far as I know the FBI had interviews and went thru a ton of CDC documents. Not sure of the FBI’s findings.
By scott_starr, July 11, 2015 @ 9:55 PM
@Patzu
You seem to be interested in what happened in F.C. It is too important an issue to fall into the trap of these pusillanimous people with some vendetta against someone they don’t even know.
You are correct, what about the loan default and the FBI investigation… what happened ?
By jd718, July 12, 2015 @ 8:41 AM
“Man is not, by nature, deserving of all that he wants. When we think that we are automatically entitled to something, that is when we start walking all over others to get it.”
By jd718, July 12, 2015 @ 8:50 AM
“When you mind your own business you never get caught up in all the nonsense.”
By jd718, July 12, 2015 @ 12:22 PM
@ Patzu, “Greater Ford City Community Development Corp. defaulted on a $1.4 million mortgage held by the bank.” I believe Ford City Council (Boro) had replace or taken over the CDC, correct me if wrong. Tom Shaffer (councilman) at the time was saying that the CDC was not handeling things (rent money and bills) properly.
By Patzu, July 12, 2015 @ 6:39 PM
Did the CDC default on the loan?
I see in my link above of a sitting council voting to default on the loan?
So, there were two defaults on the loan?
Why would you automatically default on this loan if you were council before recognizing the consequences?
From what I am reading, the people who voted for the default as an acting council should be the ones held responsible.
It was done so systematically without much discussion.
By jorn jensen, July 12, 2015 @ 7:43 PM
Sorry, steve, I was on a wilderness hike for 4 days and no internet. I’m back. You happy? Now, what, again, is your problem with the $250?
By jd718, July 13, 2015 @ 7:22 AM
“One must be leery of people that claim to be sanctimonious.”
By Marc, July 13, 2015 @ 4:16 PM
I’m not sure the reason, but it seems like Scott tries to be the Prep H on the swollen blood vessel that is Jorn on this site.
By scott_starr, July 14, 2015 @ 8:00 AM
Actually, Marc,the issues at Ford City are too important to be sidetracked by attacking someone who has nothing to do with the issue. What’s happening in Ford City could easily be replicated by most any of the surrounding towns.
Then again, I wouldn’t expect you to understand how serious the issue in Ford City is, the town had a great opportunity with the PPG and Eljer properties, nothing really substantive happened and it was passed off as mismanagement and / or incompetence, now the town is going through other issues with different actors.
An investigative journalist could launch a career connecting the dots on this tragedy.
Thanks for the compliment, Preparation H can be a lifesaver.
By steve, July 14, 2015 @ 10:36 AM
Did you cut the hike short because you couldn’t handle being away from the KP site that long? Anyway, I was not the original poster of the question regarding you possibly spending over $250. I simply thought it was a valid question and noticed you hadn’t answered it. Rather than single out just one of the commenters, please simply read above to see what the issue is and answer the question that was asked about your campaign.
By steve, July 14, 2015 @ 10:44 AM
Scott, Unless the information hits a courtroom I doubt anyone ever knows the details of any FBI investigation other than the FBI.
By jd718, July 14, 2015 @ 11:51 AM
By scott_starr, February 19, 2015 @ 6:09 PM
jd718, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. (quoted from Billy Madison)
“One must be leery of people that claim to be sanctimonious.”
By Marc, July 14, 2015 @ 4:38 PM
Well Scott, consider these two things-
A. If the FBI wasn’t able to pinpoint any wrongdoing, you can be certain the posters of the KP site won’t be able to either.
B. The information you’re looking for is in the past. It won’t help solve the current problem(s).
That being said, I think Jorn is a big boy and he can be expected to handle all of the “attacks” that he causes by his trolling.
By jd718, July 15, 2015 @ 12:19 AM
Do patron saints use snide remarks?
By scott_starr, July 15, 2015 @ 12:38 PM
Marc:
Take a look at JD718 trolling. ( but I guess that’s OK to you?)
It is trying to goad me into a battle of wits, but fortunately for JD718 I don’t fight the unarmed.
On to your points:
1. We are not sure if the FBI found wrong doing or not. As far as I know there has never been any conclusion. And I guarantee, that a local poking around would be able to find someone willing to talk ( if there was something to talk about).
2. It may not help current problems, but it may help avoid future issues. History repeats itself.
This started out as an interesting thread with a couple of new commenters, and devolved into a Bash Jensen party. Just my opinion, but this bashing caused a couple of interesting commenters to leave.
It normal to razz posters on a blog, everyone does it; however it does become monotonous when it continues on and on and get real close to crossing a line.
I own my comments,anyone can call me out on them in person because I sign my name to them. However other alleged pillars of the community don’t have the courage to put their name on what they say. It’s cowardly in my opinion.
By jd718, July 15, 2015 @ 9:27 PM
Is that the best you have ?
You know exactly what I meant.
Hahahahahaha..
Your nothing but a troll
By jd718, July 15, 2015 @ 9:34 PM
“His hypocrisy insults your intelligence.”
By jd718, July 15, 2015 @ 9:44 PM
“Hypocrisy has its own elegant symmetry.”
― Julie Metz, Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal
By jd718, July 15, 2015 @ 10:24 PM
Take a look at Jensen trolling. ( but I guess that’s OK to you?)
“His hypocrisy insults your intelligence.”
By jorn jensen, July 16, 2015 @ 8:52 AM
jd718 - No, I have not gone away, just departed from this topic as pseudonyms, like yourself, Marc, and possibly others (I haven’t gone back to read the garbage) wish to attack the person, rather than the topic of the story.
Four posts of garbage and childishness, in a row. What are your solutions for Ford City’s financial dilemma? Let’s see, call Jensen a troll, a hypocrite. Yep, that really helps Ford City’s financial dilemma.
Somewhere, up in this thread of comments, I stated what I believe could help Ford City’s dilemma. Private sector jobs. They left this area. What do we do to get some back? Let’s see - eliminate property taxes and make Pennsylvania a right-to-work state. Can Ford City council do that? Probably not. So, what can they do? Land in Jeff Pyle’s and Don White’s offices and demand action on the state level. What can commissioners do? Land in Jeff Pyle’s and Don White’s offices and demand action on the state level.
The problem in Ford City is not just Ford City - it is up and down this river valley - jobs gone. It is a Pennsylvania problem that affects Ford City. More taxes does not make anything any better - it just fattens government and increases dependency on government.
We need action, on the state level, to make Pennsylvania competitive in the private sector jobs market. Land in those guys’ offices and demand action.
Jorn Jensen jorn@consultjensen.com 724-954-8270
By fotrabla, July 16, 2015 @ 1:40 PM
You couldn’t be more right Scott. Lots of Trolls just looking to pick a fight but not talk about the issues. Before FC can move forward successfully they need to determine who should be held responsible for the decisions that got them where they are today. And then let those people know that their services are no longer required. Then again, the problem with that is who is going to step up to the plate and make those hard decisions that will need to be made to get FC back on track?
By Marc, July 16, 2015 @ 4:25 PM
Scott,
Are you really tattling on JD?? Maybe Mr. Croyle can mail you an award for that to go along with your badge of courage for signing your name to your comments. (just a little “razzing”)
I’m interested to hear who/ when a line was crossed? If anything, I would think it was when a candidate for public office called people diseased for their choice in political party.
Let’s be honest here… The likelihood of someone turning to the this site’s comment section to prevent their town’s financial collapse is slim to none. You just want some local gossip.
P.S. You aren’t curious if Jensen broke a campaign rule? I thought that was an interesting question that someone else asked…
By jorn jensen, July 16, 2015 @ 9:41 PM
fotrabla, to your question of “who is going to step up to the plate and make those hard decisions that will need to be made to get FC back on track?” The one square mile of people that comprise Ford City surely can produce enough qualified people to run the town correctly & responsibly. Surely there’s ten people that can do so without having to run a popularity contest. Maybe that is what the consultant will come up with.
By jd718, July 18, 2015 @ 7:13 AM
@ Jensen, That’s funny you call the posts childishness. Some of the posts happen to be copies of Scott Starr’s! Looks like you stepped in it Jensen, Ha,Ha.. It was done to show Scott’s hypocrisy. Worked quite well I might add! Ha-Ha…..
By jd718, July 18, 2015 @ 7:23 AM
@ Jensen, Would you call this post childish?
By scott_starr, February 19, 2015 @ 6:09 PM
jd718, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. (quoted from Billy Madison)
This is Scott’s post to me after I said “he did not get it.” It happened to be my 2nd post on the KP. So much for his comments about chasing away new posters. More Hypocrisy!
“One must be leery of people that claim to be sanctimonious.”
By jd718, July 18, 2015 @ 7:39 AM
Businessman Dick Wakefield and planning commissioner Tyson Klukan would be Great additions to Ford City council. Both Ford City natives from good families….
By jd718, July 18, 2015 @ 8:29 AM
@ Jensen, “jd718 – No, I have not gone away, just departed from this topic as pseudonyms, like yourself, Marc, and possibly others (I haven’t gone back to read the garbage) wish to attack the person, rather than the topic of the story.” Jensen, I don’t care if you are here or not! If follow the thread that comment was made by someone else.
You said: “Surely there’s ten people that can do so without having to run a popularity contest. Maybe that is what the consultant will come up with.”
I think it’s an insult to the voters of Ford City to think that they vote on popularity alone. What would a consultant have to say about local elections anyway? What the heck are you drinking?
By mad-2010, July 18, 2015 @ 12:15 PM
Looks like a systemantic justification for being sanctimonious going on in this tread. LOL
I think that Richard Wakefield would be a good fit for Ford City council. Seems he was vice president of a $2 billion dollar company. I knew a guy named Chuck Wakefield growing up, good people.
By mad-2010, July 18, 2015 @ 3:03 PM
“Before FC can move forward successfully they need to determine who should be held responsible for the decisions that got them where they are today.”
Not sure what you mean by this statement? Most, if not all of the people on council and cdc are no longer in local government positions. Now what? The Grand Jury and the FBI investigation came up with nothing that would lead to a conviction of wrong-doing. Now what? I’m sure most of them know their services are not wanted any longer.
By Rainbow Rider, July 18, 2015 @ 4:37 PM
jensen seems to have changed his wrapper again. for 4 years he was an antagonist. then he runs for office and becomes mother Theresa. things don’t go well and he becomes a schoolyard bully. now he seems to have become mister fix it. look for him to run a write in campaign come fall
By Rainbow Rider, July 18, 2015 @ 9:11 PM
forgot to add crybaby to jensens list which he became after he lost. he probably still has some of that $250 left to run a write in campaign this fall’ lol
By jd718, July 19, 2015 @ 7:31 AM
@ Jensen, I found this comment, also. Would this comment be childish by Scott?
“Now stop posting under jd718 and use your real nom de plume , or better yet grow a set and use your real name.”
Again after my 2nd post on the KP! How would he know I’m not a female? Childish, right?
“One must be leery of people that claim to be sanctimonious.”
By jorn jensen, July 19, 2015 @ 10:00 PM
Nah, Rainbow Rider, I’m still the same me. I’ll tell you the things you don’t want to hear - like, we need to change our mindset around here. We are backward. On elections, keeping on voting for more of the same and you’ll have more of the same. One front runner for commissioner, with the party backing, stated in his mailers that he’ll hold the line on taxes - that is a zero goal. And people take it hook, line and sinker.
On another thread on the KP, on the ASD fields being real or fake grass, a poster mentions backward logic - some people get it - some people understand. Meanwhile, some just want to continue to attack me and offer no solutions - attack away.
By mad-2010, July 19, 2015 @ 11:05 PM
Good posts rainbow rider and how true…
Look for old JJ to loss again in the fall if he runs a write in campaign. His Jig is Up! We don’t need this kind of person….
By bob, July 19, 2015 @ 11:37 PM
@ mad-2010,
What I heard is that there were no convictions after the FBI did their investigation because of the statute of limitations. And although none of the people involved are on council currently, I believe one of were on about 4 or 5 years ago.
By bob, July 19, 2015 @ 11:54 PM
@ jd718,
Tyson Klukan would definitely be a good choice on council.He is young enough to believe he can effect positive change in the borough, and we need people like this. I am not positive I know Dick Wakefield, but if it’s true that he was vice president of a 2 billion co., then he knows a bit about handling money.
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 5:47 AM
What’s Next? Jensen Spamming his Business email address in the (Comment Section) of the KP!
“Spam in this sense is sort of like the electronic equivalent of unsolicited junk in a Comment Section.”
By jorn jensen, July 20, 2015 @ 8:42 AM
Mad, you were coming around and then you dropped the ball. Let me remind you of your comment, above, 9:54 PM, July 5, 2015: “they probably should have taking (taken) the the deal.” “How do you get from 900k down to 150k?” Supply and demand - look it up. “Not sure how I would fix it” , so, let’s attack Jensen.
I propose solutions and I see no debate on those solutions - just attacks on the presenter. I’ll repeat - we need to change our mindset in this area.
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 8:52 AM
Bob.. You and I both know, all too well, who the people are. Never read anything about the statute of limitations. My point was hold them responsible for what and how at this point in 2015?
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 9:00 AM
“I’ll tell you the things you don’t want to hear – like, we need to change our mindset around here.” Donald Trump: sound alike… Good job Jensen…. Humor has it’s place….
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 9:21 AM
Bob…
Richard Wakefield, 66, is the semi-retired owner of The Pizzeria in Ford City worked for 22 years with a large computer manufacturer, Digital Equipment Systems, which was later purchased by Hewlett Packard.
By jd718, July 20, 2015 @ 10:52 AM
@ Rainbow Rider, Did you notice Jensen now posts his business email address at the bottom of his posts? Could it be that Jensen is soliciting for his write in campaign? Should you be allowed to post your business email address in the comment section, I wonder?
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 12:01 PM
JJ… You called out jd718′s posts for being childish only to find out they were copies of your boy Starr’s then you curled-up and slide under a rock somewhere and went dead silent!
“Your integrity still Stinks” I will also tell you things you don’t want to hear, works both ways.
More Hypocrisy!
By blutoblutarsky, July 20, 2015 @ 5:04 PM
“Meanwhile, some just want to continue to attack me and offer no solutions – attack away.”
Everyone should remember this quote next week when jorn starts his apparently unavoidable trolling act and Scott and the old boy cry AGAIN after people respond to his nonsense.
Speaking of Scott, JD found some interesting posts of his. How’s that pot meet kettle saying go again? lol
By steve, July 20, 2015 @ 10:22 PM
Jensen keeps saying “We need to change our mindset”, then continually repeats his same three talking points on a weekly basis.
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 10:22 PM
Bluto… You can Never Trust a man that will play favorites (Scott) over the Truth. No Integrity at all from Jensen, None!
By mad-2010, July 20, 2015 @ 10:32 PM
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E….. JJ, your not the leader of my band. There are other people who post that I can respond to as Marc said: “Let’s be honest here… The likelihood of someone turning to the this site’s comment section to prevent their town’s financial collapse is slim to none.” Besides I dislike your Hypocrisy!
By jd718, July 21, 2015 @ 7:06 AM
@ bob, I think Mad put out the bio on Mr. Wakefield. Would be nice to see what someone with his background can bring to the table, for sure.
By jd718, July 21, 2015 @ 7:10 AM
Hope that the comment section of the KP remains the same and doesn’t get turned into the solution section lead by Jorn Jensen. There are lots of things to comment on without being directed.
By Marc, July 21, 2015 @ 7:41 AM
“Just my opinion, but this bashing caused a couple of interesting commenters to leave.”
Interesting statement Scott, considering how you’ve treated other new posters to this site (see above).
By mad-2010, July 21, 2015 @ 2:12 PM
If only the Jensen Fiefdom would stop!