Speak Out 2/15/15

Downgrade

the manager

Kaplan swoops into town and acts like we could not have survived without him. The first thing he has done is "tick off" everybody in town. You don't make friends by calling our local newspaper a "tabloid" and calling Donna Farley, the reporter, a liar in front of the city council and the TV audience. He downgrades the former council members and administration. (I guess he is one of those who thinks it makes him look better if he degrades others!) I think there is a diagnosis for that.

Remedy the

problem

At the Council meeting last night, Kaplan finished by saying that "Poplar Bluff has the most hateful, mean people he has ever encountered." I have a remedy for him: pack up and GO BACK TO MICHIGAN (ASAP). I'm sure the good people of Michigan will welcome him back with open arms since he has already sent all of our money to them.

Hats off

to Tucker

Hats off to Tucker Davis from the Utilities Board for bringing up the fact that the city needs to collect $200,000 from Becker and stating that he will continue to bring it up. Sure put poor ole Peter Tinsley on the spot and made him squirm, wanting that discussed in closed session and being stupid enough to state, "we have already gotten all of his assets" - $200. What a moron. Every single person in Poplar Bluff is smarter than that. Could it be that Peter is afraid Becker will stop buying his and Pearson's dinner at the Wine Rack?

The voters

will speak

Thanks so much for this anonymous venue of Speak Out to reach your readers. Due to my position, I am reluctant to sign. The current animus against our city manager and elected council is beyond belief. The constant haranguing against them as promoted and sponsored by your newspaper is appalling. It was so obvious from events prior to the election upheaval the council experienced, that something had to be done. The voters spoke! It has been proven our past city manager was laboring under an illegal contract. This was not necessarily his fault; but, everyone would love that type of contract terms. I realize the paper is an amazing force in forging public opinion. In this case, it seems to be in extremely poor taste. I recommend "easing off" and letting Poplar Bluff "breathe."

Stoplights at

PP and Shelby

How many more wrecks do we have to have on PP Highway at Shelby Rd. exit before we get stoplights? Please, put up stop signals. Also, what happened to extending Shelby Road?

Ego vs. future

Suggestions for Twin Rivers: Get rid of the adult egos and start thinking about the future. Quit throwing good money after bad at Fisk. Twin Rivers was consolidated 45 years ago, since that time you have lost 40-50 percent of your student enrollment, but you still hold on to the original configuration of the district. The powers that be "past and present" will not give in to change the status quo. It is time to build eight rooms at Broseley and send the 7th and 8th graders to Broseley. This will free up four rooms at both Fisk and Qulin. Get rid of the "them vs. us" mind set. To pick and choose three or four students from each grade will only create more problems. Thank you.

Manager

or leader

Kaplan is constantly telling us what a great city manager he is with his education and credentials. Note to Kaplan: a piece of paper does not make you a leader. And trust me, you have a lot to learn and a long way to go before you could ever be remotely considered a "leader."