Comments on: vNET Subsidy: Did City Lose $1 Million?

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:17:58 +0000

Mar. 3: I see that Beierwaltes is now saying he doesn’t have to repay a penny, now that he’s taken all that money and washed his hands of the enterprise. If that’s true, then residents ought to call for the firing of responsible staff. And we ought to recall the Council members who gave it the ok.

By: Winston

Winston — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:37:00 +0000

Hey, unless you have a picture of Donna Rice in a bikini on that boat you are off the topic.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:35:24 +0000

I know this isn’t the topic but I just read the McWhinney yacht story on the bottom of page 1. Anyway I was wondering about that fundraiser for Chris Cox the guy who ran the SEC when all the scandals went undetected on Wall Street.

As a Loveland taxpayer who helped pay for Chad and Troy McWhinney’s massive personal yacht through so many tax subsidies — can we also get a ride?

Better yet, that invitation gives rank to wealthy contributors based on their contribution list for some political fundraiser. I demand that i be at least a Captain and be allowed to board with the other paying guests.

By the way do you know what Chiron stands for?

C – City’s
H – High-roller
I – Investment
R – Ride for
O – Outrageous
N – Nincompoops

By: Neil 2

Neil 2 — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:55:32 +0000

The editor of The Reporter-Herald should be fired. The City of Loveland should clean house and so should The Reporter-Herald.

Speaking of Lehman Communications Corp – what’s the story behind three of their newspapers going out of business?

By: John

John — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:12:23 +0000

Money Magazine did have an interesting article about how high-tech

companies choose where to locate. #1 was where the CEO wants to live

and #2 was local tax rates but mostly utilities and property taxes

depending on the type of company. Many manufacturing companies

consume lots of utilities like water or even electricity for air conditioning.

Incentives are a gimmick that often are provided AFTER the company

knows they want to locate in an area and they just want maximum

return for their dollars.

A smart community growth plan that focuses on quality (like enforcing

minimum setbacks from the street and controlling the ascetics of a town

through sign ordinances) makes it a quality place where sophisticated

people want to live.

We need to raise the level of discussion and get away from the name

calling I see even here about anyone who questions whether an

incentive is right or not. The newspaper has red bated the only two

councilors willing to provide the due diligence necessary before these

incentives are paid out.

Time to raise the level of discussion and focus on the issue and stop all

the name calling. The RH editor should set the example instead of red

bating anyone who asks good questions.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:28:12 +0000

What is the big deal? Tim is trying to do what others don’t have the balls to do. Get that kid out of the race so he doesn’t take any votes from serious candidates.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:44:35 +0000

Article XI, Section 2 of the State Constitution reads “Neither the state, nor any county, city, town, township, or school district shall make any donation or grant to, or in aid of, or become a subscriber to, or shareholder in any corporation or company or a joint owner with any person, company, or corporation, public or private, in or out of the state . . .” Mr. John Duval argues that this section of the State Constitution doesn’t apply to the City of Loveland when it gives money away in situations like this because of some ‘exception’ that has morphed over time in the court system. Looks like the writers of the State Constitution might have had our best interest in mind. . .

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:19:43 +0000

It’s funny but I remember watching that Council meeting, when Solt argued for more of a “clawback”, and he & Gutierrez voted against the risky “incentive” for V-Net. The trouble was, it was them against 7 others, among whom were friends of Beierwaltes.
And I also remember well the Reporter Herald editorial, when they attacked Solt and Gutierrez for voting against the V-Net subsidy, and for seeking to “make the City whole” by getting the entire amount back if V-Net failed to deliver. The R-H editorial staff might be walking around with eggy faces now; though that would only be the case if they had some degree of conscience or integrity.

All I can say is thank goodness those 2 men were at least able to make it enough of an issue to get SOME protection for the taxpayers through the “personal guarantee”. Hopefully, Council will now act to get back whatever they legally can; and they should hire outside counsel if the City Attorney is incapable of so doing (as I suspect).