Simplify land-use code for Kootenai – Coeur d’Alene Press: My Turn

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327705929 24 Simplify land use code for Kootenai Coeur dAlene Press: My Turn

As a real estate lawyer, I wrestle with how to justify thecomplex laws governing private property ownership and use inKootenai County. In a republic like Idaho, public policy shouldrequire the law be written so ordinary citizens understand it.Today, ordinary citizens are confused by our land-use law, and mustbe wealthy in order to afford the professionals required to developit. I have seven recommendations for the code developers, andstrongly encourage citizen input mandate recognition andimplementation of these recommendations. My first concern is aboutthe transition. For example, the County Comprehensive Plan mandateslarger parcel sizes than are now allowed, and the old five-acreparcel is doomed. That change is only one of dozens that may resultin regulatory takings of real property with the transition to newordinances. Additionally, there will be claims parcel owners havevested rights in the existing code. Without offering a legaljudgment, the hazards and necessity for litigation to addressregulatory takings disputes can and should be avoided in thetransition.

My second concern flows from my core belief that in a citizenrepublic all citizens should be able to understand the law. Yes,some law is complex. However, a property owner in Kootenai Countyshould be able to review the local codes and understand themwithout hiring an attorney, a civil engineer, or to have to spendhours and multiple visits to the County’s Community DevelopmentDepartment to know what they can build. Many people visiting myoffice believe that the County’s motto is “you bring the money andwe will tell you what, how, and when you can build.” Further,according to the 2010 Census, about 75% of Kootenai County adults25 years and older have a high school diploma or less education.The land-use code should not be biased toward well-educatedprofessionals, but biased toward the intelligence and education ofthe average citizen of the County. Simplicity must be a keyattribute of any new land-use rules.

My third concern is that the land-use code under developmentencourages free riders. This is a term from economics, where oneparty unjustly “takes a free ride” on the fiscal or enforcementstrength of another person or entity. For example, if a neighborwants land preserved on a hillside behind their home, they shouldnot free ride on the law by requiring the County mandate hillsidelandowners not develop; they should step up and buy suchdevelopment rights themselves. It is a moral wrong to have theCounty take the hillside land’s value through rulemaking. One badresult of encouraging free riders is that a primary method ofenforcement of the current land-use codes in Kootenai County is byone neighbor ratting out another to the government. This isdisgusting, and works to erode the social ties that bind a freepeople. Today, Kootenai County is too dependent on neighbors beinginformers, and free ridership must be avoided. My fourth concern isthe trend of creating expansive land-use controls, instead ofsimple land-use rules that prevent nuisance. A pig farm should notbe situated in the center of a residential development, and a loud,industrial use should not be located next to a nursing home orhospital. Caution must be used, because every decision about whatconstitutes a nuisance that is codified into a County ordinancecircumscribes the civil liberty rights of property owners. Further,when the code determines aesthetics in favor of a neighbor’s or acentral planner’s preference, the private property owner isunnecessarily controlled, planned investments are undulyinterrupted, and growth and job creation are stifled. Since allcivil rights are anchored in property rights, simplifying the codeto only prevent nuisances should minimize this local threat to ourrepublican structure and protect our core human rights.

My fifth concern is rooted in the previous concern. Everygeneration makes new laws, but hardly any generation gets rid ofold ones, or purposefully makes them less complex. Over time, thismeans there are inertia and bias toward further restrictions onprivate property rights, and the erosion of all other civilliberties that are anchored by them. The current land-use codedevelopers in Kootenai County only have a ten to twenty-year timehorizon, and cannot consider the subsequent generations for whichwe should be zealously safeguarding our core freedoms. Instead offeeling like Kootenai County, the new codes may make us live likethose in Portland or somewhere in California. What do we plan toleave our children instead of a thicket of laws and rules? Thisquestion should not be ignored. My sixth concern is that the newland-use codes will not favor the property owner’s plans, but willbe biased toward government planners or neighbors. An investment inreal property is always expensive. Government planners andneighbors who have little or nothing at risk should not be allowedby law to tell other private property owners what they can do withtheir land, except as needed to avoid clear nuisances.

Finally, a landowner developing his property today must have themeans to hire an attorney, a surveyor, a civil engineer, anarchitect, and other expensive professionals. This is morallywrong, and an abrogation of the social compact, which relies on thesanctity of private property rights to develop as one choosesbarring nuisance. Further, complex land-use rules require wealth,thus they are biased against those of fewer means. Having to berich to improve your property is not characteristic of a vigorousdemocratic republic. It is important that Kootenai County keep inmind the nature of sovereignty in our system, and that it is amoral good when a property owner’s plans control development. Thesanctity of core civil liberties and human rights must be respectedin the new codes.

Arthur Macomber is a land-use, real estate, construction,and water law attorney practicing in Kootenai County for fiveyears. Licensed in Idaho and Washington, Macomber also teachescontracts to paralegals at North Idaho College, and contractdrafting to law students at the Gonzaga University School ofLaw.

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Construction expo to focus on green building concept

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327704734 36 Construction expo to focus on green building conceptCoimbatore, Jan. 26: 

The sixth edition of Build Intec, an international construction exposition is scheduled between February 17 and 20 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex here.

The thrust area of this edition of Build Intec 2012 would be ‘Green Building Concept’ said its Chairman, Mr S. Manivasakam.

Around 200 exhibitors from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala and Delhi and representations from the US and China are expected to participate in this expo.

Building materials and components, building technology, construction materials and equipments would be show-cased in an area of around 3,000 sq m said the Codissia President, Mr M. Kandhaswami.

Curtain raiser

At the curtain raiser event, organised by Build Intec and Codissia, at Hotel Aloft here, the Chairman of the Coimbatore Chapter of Indian Green Building Council, Mr Rajesh B. Lund, said there would be a seminar on ‘Green Building – The Only way’ on February 18, where the focus would be on green houses and conversion of existing factories to green factories.

He said the green building concept was catching up, albeit slowly.

The President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, Dr M. Krishnan, said such events would serve as platforms for showcasing Coimbatore globally. ‘Though the city has grown, we have failed to market the city,’ he added.

Lead Bank Manager, Mr J. Vanangamudi, said there was a slight reversal in trend with bankers now approaching various builders evincing their interest to participate in such fairs. “Banks participation would also help visitors have a fair idea of the product offerings of different banks, make a comparison of the interest rate, and understand the market trend,” he added.

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Symantec’s profits up in calm third quarter • The Register

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327701153 58 Symantecs profits up in calm third quarter • The Register

CEO Enrique Salem stands crisp and smart on the poop deck of the good ship Symantec, looking back at a straight course and ahead to more growth. It’s a pretty unexciting third quarter story really.

Third quarter revenues for the security, storage and server company were $1.75bn – 7 per cent up on a yearly comparison. Profits were $240m, up loads from the $132m recorded a year ago, an increase of 82 per cent actually, which must have made the generally imperturbable Salem feel like whooping with joy.

Symantec said: “Consumer segment revenue represented 31 per cent of total revenue and increased 5 per cent year-over-year on an actual and currency-adjusted basis.

“The Security and Compliance segment revenue represented 30 per cent of total revenue and increased 17 per cent year-over-year on an actual and currency-adjusted basis.

“The Storage and Server Management segment revenue represented 36 per cent of total revenue and increased 3 per cent year-over-year on an actual and currency-adjusted basis.

Services segment revenue represented 3 per cent of total revenue and decreased 13 per cent year-over-year … as expected due to the company’s move to a partner-led consulting model.”

Revenues for the fourth quarter are expected to be between $1.72bn and $1.73bn, increasing 2.8 to 3.4 per cent on an annual basis. Salem is probably encouraging his storage and server business execs to get that growth rate up to consumer and security and compliance segment levels. Hmm, what can they do? Buy CommVault? Get into big data more? Provide cloud storage gateway software to stop Amazon and others stealing the data protection business from underneath their noses?

Symantec’s navigators are plotting the course ahead to find good winds, safe seas and fine anchorages. The rise in governmental and corporate hacks is good news for the security software maker and indicates strong and steady growth ahead. ®

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December ends 3rd poor year for home building

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327699940 69 December ends 3rd poor year for home buildingJanuary 19, 2012 in Nation/World Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — Builders ended 2011 with a third straight year of dismal home building and the worst on record for single-family home construction, despite modest improvement at the end of the year.

The data show that the housing market likely remains years away from full health.

In December, builders broke ground on a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000 homes, the Commerce Department said Thursday. A rise in single-family home construction was offset by a huge decline in volatile apartments.

For the entire year, builders started just 606,900 homes. That’s only slightly better than the previous two years. And it’s roughly half the 1.2 million that economists equate with healthy housing markets.

Single-family home construction rose in December for a third straight month. Still, builders started just 428,600 single-family homes all year, the fewest on records dating back a half-century. In a good economy, builders break ground on twice as many.

Single-family homes are critical to a housing rebound because they account for roughly 70 percent of the market.

Analysts said the final months point to improvement.

“We expect further sustained gains in starts and permits over the next few months; a real recovery is getting started,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.

Most analysts say it will be years before the industry is fully recovered. And it could be bumpy, as last month’s apartment data showed.

Apartment construction plunged nearly 28 percent. That all but reversed November’s big gain.

Sales of new homes last year are likely to be the worst on records dating back half a century. Record-low mortgage rates and plunging home prices have done little to lift the market.

Builders are struggling to compete with deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales — when lenders allow homes to be sold for less than what’s owed on the mortgage.

Though new homes represent just 20 percent of the overall home market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

After previous recessions, housing accounted for at least 15 percent of U.S. economic growth. Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, it has contributed just 4 percent.

Another reason sales have fallen is that previously occupied homes have become a better deal than new homes. The median price of a new home is about 30 percent higher than the median price for a re-sale. That’s nearly twice the markup typical in a healthy housing market.

The homebuilders’ trade group said Wednesday that its survey of industry sentiment rose in January to 25, the highest level since June 2007. Still, any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market. The index hasn’t reached 50 since April 2006, the peak of the housing boom.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Growth Trails Forecasts as Americans Curb Spending: Economy

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327698743 81 Growth Trails Forecasts as Americans Curb Spending: EconomyJanuary 27, 2012, 3:39 PM EST

(Updates with White House statement in 14th paragraph.)

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) — Restrained spending by consumers held growth in the U.S. economy to a 2.8% annual pace in the fourth quarter, slower than economists forecast while still the fastest pace in more than a year.

Gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced, climbed at a 2.8 percent annual pace following a 1.8 percent gain in the prior quarter, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 79 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a 3 percent increase. Growth excluding a jump in inventories was 0.8 percent.

Federal Reserve officials this week said they were concerned about the economy’s lack of vigor two years after the recession ended, prompting a pledge to keep interest rates low at least until late 2014. The biggest gain in GDP since the second quarter of 2010 shows that the world’s largest economy has so far withstood the effects of the debt crisis in Europe.

“We’re recovering, but it’s a very long, slow, drawn-out process,” said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts, who correctly forecast the fourth-quarter figure. “Relatively speaking, the U.S. is one of the few areas where we would expect to see growth in 2012 better than 2011.”

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.2 percent to 1,315.65 at 1:56 p.m. in New York. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.91 percent from 1.93 percent late yesterday.

Survey of Economists

Projections in the Bloomberg survey ranged from 2.4 percent to 4.5 percent. For all of 2011, the world’s largest economy grew 1.7 percent, less than 3 percent a year earlier.

“Recovery is reasonably well established,” Larry Summers, a former director of the National Economic Council under President Barack Obama, said in an interview at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

“Is escape velocity — at a sufficient rate to get us back to full employment in a reasonable interval — yet established?” he said. “I think one would have to say the answer to that question is ‘No.’”

A gain in consumer confidence reported today may help fuel further spending. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment climbed to 75 in January, the highest level in almost a year, from 69.9 at the end of December.

The U.S. is likely to outperform Europe and Japan this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. The IMF this week kept its U.S. forecast for 2012 unchanged at 1.8 percent. It predicted a 0.5 percent contraction in the 17-nation euro area and a 1.7 percent expansion in Japan.

Reports today from Spain and Japan underscored those forecasts. Spain’s unemployment rate rose to 22.9 percent, the highest in 15 years. Japan’s retail sales grew at the fastest pace in more than a year as consumer spending rebounded.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, speaking in Davos, said it’s “realistic” to expect the U.S. economy to grow about 2 percent to 3 percent, adding that “We still face tremendous challenges as a country.”

The White House used today’s GDP report to renew its call for an extension of the payroll tax cut to boost growth and put more Americans back to work.

“While the continued expansion is encouraging, faster growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the recent downturn and to reduce long-term unemployment,” Alan Krueger, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said in a statement.

U.S. consumer spending rose 2 percent in the fourth quarter, little changed from the 1.7 percent gain in the prior three months, today’s report showed. The median forecast of economists surveyed projected a 2.4 percent increase.

Spending rose 2.2 percent in 2011 after an increase of 2 percent in 2010, the weakest two-year performance of any expansion since World War II.

Americans dipped into savings to finance their purchases. The savings rate decreased to 3.7 percent, the lowest level since the last three months of 2007, from 3.9 percent in the third quarter.

“Final demand was pretty soft,” said Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York. “The need for consumers to rebuild savings may be a headwind, but at the same time, we’re not seeing a collapse.”

After-tax income adjusted for inflation increased at a 0.8 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2011 after falling 1.9 percent in the prior period. It fell 0.1 percent over the past four quarters.

Spending at retailers lost momentum each month in the fourth quarter, slowing from a 0.7 percent gain in October to a 0.1 percent increase last month, according to previous Commerce Department reports. Merchants, including Macy’s Inc., Gap Inc. and Target Corp., cut prices to attract more business during the holiday shopping season.

Inflation took a smaller bite out of Americans’ wallets. A measure of prices tied to consumer spending advanced at a 0.7 percent pace last quarter, down from 2.3 percent in the prior period and the smallest gain in more than a year. That compares with the Fed’s long-run goal of 2 percent.

Government agencies struggled last quarter as they cut spending at a 4.6 percent annual rate, the fifth straight decline. For all of 2011, government spending dropped 2.1 percent, the biggest drop since 1971.

Stockpiles were rebuilt at a $56 billion annual pace, adding 1.9 percentage points to growth.

Business investment remained a bright spot. Corporate spending on equipment and software rose at a 5.2 percent annual rate last quarter. While down from the prior period’s 16 percent gain, recent reports indicate it will rebound early this year.

Orders for durable goods like computers and machinery climbed more than forecast in December, a Commerce Department report showed yesterday.

“For many products, demand has been above our ability to produce,” Mike DeWalt, director of investor relations at Caterpillar Inc., said on a conference call with analysts yesterday.

While the world’s biggest maker of construction and mining equipment has invested in factories to boost production, DeWalt said his company is, “still very tight on many products and are currently quoting extended delivery times for them.”

Homebuilding also picked up, adding to signs the industry is stabilizing. Construction of residential real estate climbed at an 11 percent annual rate, the best performance since the second quarter of 2010, when a government tax credit boosted demand. For all of 2011, the industry shrank 1.4 percent, the smallest decline since 2005, the last year homebuilding grew.

Fed officials said this week their benchmark interest rate will stay low until at least late 2014 and they forecast unemployment, which registered 8.5 percent in December, will “decline only gradually.” The previously had vowed to keep rates low until at least the middle of 2013.

William C. Dudley, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said today that the fourth-quarter’s growth pace in the U.S. is unlikely to be sustained.

In a speech in New York, he cited “uncertainty as to how events in Europe will unfold,” as well as “more contractionary” fiscal policies and a “depressed housing market.”

John Olin, chief financial officer of Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc., said he was concerned about the outlook for sales in Europe. In the U.S., sales rose 12 percent in the quarter ended Dec. 31.

“We feel great about where we see retail sales in the U.S., but certainly remain cautious as we look forward, given the tentative nature of the overall economy and consumer confidence,” Olin said during a Jan. 24 conference call. “We are more concerned about retail sales in Europe, given the fact that they may already be in recession or may slip into recession.”

–With assistance from Kristy Scheuble and Roger Runningen in Washington and Erik Schatzker and Simon Kennedy in Davos, Switzlerland. Editors: Christopher Wellisz, Carlos Torres

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Kowalski in Washington at

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz in Washington at

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Gentry collapses during State of the County address

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327697571 63 Gentry collapses during State of the County address

Williamson County Board Chairman Brent Gentry collapsed during his State of the County address Friday.

He was giving the speech at the Marion Senior Center when, at approximately 10:20 a.m., he collapsed.

Paramedics were able to revive Gentry and he was acknowledging those present as he was removed by ambulance.

Gentry called Daily Repubilcan reporter Tom Kane within a half-hour of the incident. He said he has been fighting a cold and was feeling weak. He believes there is nothing more serious behind his collapse.

The Daily Republican published portions of his speech transcript in Friday's Daily Republican. The transcript was provided by Gentry prior to the speech because of deadline issues.

Not all of the quotes used in the print edition story were said due to Gentry's speech being interrupted by his medical emergency.

The Daily Republican regrets any confusion this will cause for our readers. The entire speech transcript that Gentry planned to present is posted below with his permission:

 WILLIAMSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT “STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS” JANUARY 2012

I would first like to thank each one of you for taking the time to be here today.  I am pleased to be standing before you issuing the annual State of the County Address.

You may be wondering, “What exactly is a State of the County Address?” This is our way, as your county government officials, of updating the public on some of the county’s accomplishments over the past year, as well as some of the goals we are planning to achieve in the future.

The first ever State of County Address was given in 2007. In past years, the address was presented at a local high school or Chambers of Commerce. But today, we’re breaking the tradition and I am really excited to be presenting here at the Marion Senior Citizens Center.

Personally, I feel blessed to live in Williamson County, because we are one of the fastest growing counties in the southern part of the state.  In fact, the latest census results show that we have recently topped 66,000 residents.

As Commissioners, we work for you and the rest of the residents who count on us to keep the county functioning and financially sound. We have a mutual belief regarding the financial planning for Williamson County government.

I would like to take a moment to speak on behalf of the entire board.  Each and every year, our focus and goal for this county is a balanced budget.  It’s that simple.  

Williamson County Board Chairman Brent Gentry collapsed during his State of the County address Friday.

He was giving the speech at the Marion Senior Center when, at approximately 10:20 a.m., he collapsed.

Paramedics were able to revive Gentry and he was acknowledging those present as he was removed by ambulance.

Gentry called Daily Repubilcan reporter Tom Kane within a half-hour of the incident. He said he has been fighting a cold and was feeling weak. He believes there is nothing more serious behind his collapse.

The Daily Republican published portions of his speech transcript in Friday's Daily Republican. The transcript was provided by Gentry prior to the speech because of deadline issues.

Not all of the quotes used in the print edition story were said due to Gentry's speech being interrupted by his medical emergency.

The Daily Republican regrets any confusion this will cause for our readers. The entire speech transcript that Gentry planned to present is posted below with his permission:

 WILLIAMSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT “STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS” JANUARY 2012 I would first like to thank each one of you for taking the time to be here today.  I am pleased to be standing before you issuing the annual State of the County Address. You may be wondering, “What exactly is a State of the County Address?” This is our way, as your county government officials, of updating the public on some of the county’s accomplishments over the past year, as well as some of the goals we are planning to achieve in the future. The first ever State of County Address was given in 2007. In past years, the address was presented at a local high school or Chambers of Commerce. But today, we’re breaking the tradition and I am really excited to be presenting here at the Marion Senior Citizens Center. Personally, I feel blessed to live in Williamson County, because we are one of the fastest growing counties in the southern part of the state.  In fact, the latest census results show that we have recently topped 66,000 residents. As Commissioners, we work for you and the rest of the residents who count on us to keep the county functioning and financially sound. We have a mutual belief regarding the financial planning for Williamson County government. I would like to take a moment to speak on behalf of the entire board.  Each and every year, our focus and goal for this county is a balanced budget.  It’s that simple.   We believe that we must treat county funds with a great deal of care.  In other words, we absolutely CANNOT spend more than we bring in. Even in some of the worst of economic times, we still hold true to this belief – to plan and ensure that the county remains fiscally responsible.   In our current economy, many people are struggling to live within their means.  Just like you, our county government has obligations and bills to pay.  The past few years our county’s annual budget process has been challenging at best and our collective decisions have not been popular with every appointed or elected official within Williamson County Government. To be blunt, we are not in office to win any popularity contest .  We are in office to do what’s right and make good solid business decisions.  That is what the taxpayers expect from of us.  This is the standard that all elected officials should be held accountable to. Sometimes, for county’s financial health and well-being, our board has to say “No” to some budget requests.  The key is to set politics aside and work together as one unit.  As Commissioners, we have to take each of our individual beliefs about what is right and form a collective decision. Don’t get me wrong, this board is no different than other Government boards and there are many times we don’t see eye to eye. You see, that is what’s great about America, we can all have different opinions and ideas, but we are still able to work together for the betterment of the people.      I have been in office since 2004 and I can tell you from my personal experience that being an elected official is not always the easiest job in the world, but it is a great honor.  We each ran for office so that we could make a difference by helping and serving the people who make up this county. As county commissioners, we oversee the county’s business; and just like any other business manager we learn to wear many hats.  You may be surprised to learn that we handle a variety issues far beyond a county budget. There is no typical day for a county commissioner.  It’s not unusual to be handling a major budget issue in the morning and later in the day be dealing with county road issues, stray animals, employee matters or even a roadside litter problem. My biggest Pet Peeve is the complaints I receive of county eye sores such as extreme high weeds, run down houses and trailers or even excessive junk in a person’s yard.  How would you like to live by that? In my eyes this is unacceptable and I will continue to do everything under my power to bring this to an end by working closely with Bi-County Health Dept. Being an elected official, we realize there are those critics out there. We realize that it is impossible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time.  We also know that there are some people that you can never please that will always criticize just because they can.  I think that people need to get more involved in their government and understand why decisions are made. I personally welcome constructive criticism and discourage destructive criticism. We want you, our residents, to know that we do not take our job lightly. We stop and listen to the requests of our residents. We take the time to educate ourselves on the issues, we analyze and research topics before taking any action. We realize that our decisions can affect the future of our children and grandchildren who choose to live in Williamson County. One accomplishment from this past year that I am very proud of is the new Williamson County Jail and Sheriffs Department.  For at least the last 20 years this county has clearly needed a new jail facility.  We have letters from the Department of Corrections stating we must either 1) build a new jail, or 2) transport and house our inmates at other locations or they could shut us down because the old jail was dilapidated and not passing the required inspections.   We determined that transporting and housing inmates at other locations would definitely be more expensive in the long run than it would be to build a new facility to deal with the county’s growing inmate population. The old jail, which was located on the third floor of the courthouse, had countless flooding incidents.  Malfunctioning or broken plumbing in the jail with water and sewage pouring down into the offices below and those incidents cost thousands dollars in insurance claims and out-of-pocket expenses to make the necessary repairs after each occurrence.   Simply put, the old jail was inadequate and unacceptable. Jail staff members were at risk for harm and the county was at risk for lawsuits due to the inadequate facility. While it may have seemed an overwhelming task, we decided to take on the challenge of building a new jail and accomplishing what had been needed for at least 20 years, but politics always seemed to interfere. During our decision-making process, we took various elected officials and the media through our old jail to give them a first-hand look at the facility. I remember one of the Mayor’s saying “This place should be condemned.”  He was correct. A big thank you goes out to the local media for helping us get the message out about how dilapidated our old jail was.  I think the majority of the taxpayers understood the issues and concerns at hand, however, there is always the question, “How in the world are we going to pay for it?” During the planning phase, which began in 2007, the county board began building a line-item in the General Fund in anticipation of growing the line-item to a large enough amount to cover the annual debt service. We started the line-item with $200,000 in the first year.  Then, each year after that, we added approximately $200,000 to the line item and watched it grow.  Then, when plans were made to begin building the new jail, we were financially prepared. The best part of preparing it this way was to prevent ANY new tax increase.  The timing of the project could not have been anymore perfect. The initial bids came in $2 million dollars lower than projected and we also qualified for approximately $400,000 per year of Stimulus money towards our interest payments, which we will receive each year for the life of the debt service. I’d also like to mention that after reviewing our financial status and financial planning principles, Williamson County Government received a high AA- rating from the bond rating company. That enabled us to receive a very good interest rate. I can assure you our state and federal government could only wish to have this high of a rating. An added benefit of the new jail is that it created hundreds of construction jobs for local labor as well as the hiring more correctional officers. I am proud to say it was a team effort that gave us our new Williamson County Jail and Sheriff’s Dept. Make no mistake about it that getting this project from the drawing board to brick and mortar has been an uphill climb. Past county boards have expressed doubts the achievability of this goal, but we were able to bring this jail to fruition and now have a state-of-the-art facility to show for it. The outcome of the new county jail is a prime example of what our county government can accomplish when we work as a team. This was a well-planned project, which benefitted the taxpayers with more jobs and added public safety. We will soon be having the official opening for the new jail and everyone is invited.  Our events begin on February 18th with a fundraiser for Crime Stoppers called “BBQ in jail”, you may even get the opportunity to stay in a jail cell during this event. On Feb, 19th, we will have our jail dedication and there will also be tours provided.  I hope you can join us to see how far we have come. I’d like to touch on some of our other accomplishments during 2011: We continued to make further strides in our transition away from our old Workers’ Compensation and Liability insurance company – ICIT.  In 2009, we began working with a new insurance company, and have just this past year began seeing a reduction in the number and severity of our Workmen’s’ Comp and Liability claims.  The new insurance company has an increased emphasis in safety and training in order to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring.  The result has been a decrease in insurance premiums due to an overall improvement in claims. This means that taxpayer dollars can be put to better use. We have been successful with MARS grants the past few years, MARS stands for Mobility Accessibility Rehabilitation Services. The grant is basically for people with mobility impairments. The type of rehab work includes construction of ramps or handrails, installation of handicap bathroom and kitchen facilities, widening hallways and parking improvements. Williamson County, Marion and Herrin have received a total of 12 of these grant awards. For more information you can contact our Economic Development Office. Let us not forget our Spring, 2011 flood victims. This was a tragic and traumatic event for the county residents affected. As a county, we were depended upon to reach out to IEMA and FEMA in order to communicate our county’s residents need for help. Our EMA Director, Steve Land, proved invaluable during this natural disaster and I thank him for his efforts. Also, our Highway Department responded to the clean-up needs and provided assistance to many.  A big thank you goes to the Greg Smothers, our Highway Superintendent and the entire Highway Department as well.  Recovery and clean up from the Spring, 2011 floods is still on-going.  We will continue to help where needed. We have also worked hard over the last several years to beautify our County by offering Free Trash Dump days, Adopt-a-county road program and by offering recycling opportunities to our residents.  This past year we set cameras up at popular illegal dumping areas and the first ten days we caught two people and they were arrested and prosecuted.  We plan to add more cameras to other illegal dump sites and my message to those people is time is on our side and we will catch you.  Keeping the County clean and beautiful is important to us and we know it is important to you as well. On an administrative note, we developed and implemented increased controls over our fixed assets.  Some examples of our fixed assets are squad cars, computer, printers, copy machines, etc.  Taxpayer dollars or grants are used to purchase these items for us.  We need to be accountable for their use and location at all times.    We realize that change is not always popular, but at times it is necessary.  We thank the appointed and elected officials for their current and future cooperation with our internal policy changes.   This is just a snapshot of our accomplishments over the last year.   In the future some of our goals are to: Discuss implementing some type of County Building Permit.  Simply put, if you need one inside the city limits why not in the unincorporated areas? A building permit would assist residents in ensuring that structures are built to current building codes and that all residents are properly assessed and taxed for real estate tax purposes to where everyone is treated fair. Continue to improve our County roads with on-going maintenance, Implement a smooth transition into our new jail facilities, In light of construction projects coming to a close, some offices will move around our complex.  We will discuss the best use of vacated spaces so the citizens can receive the most services in one location. In closing, I’d like to take this time to remind everyone that this is your county – your government. As a resident, you have both a right and an obligation to help care for it. Every day, through programs such as neighborhood watches and roadside trash clean up, our residents have demonstrated what communities can accomplish. Williamson County is a shining example for the rest of the state. We are fortunate to have a financially sound county government, business and industry, good schools, a beautiful scenic landscape and residents who truly care and take pride in their community.     Thank you for coming today and May God continue to bless Williamson County government and all of our residents. Brent Gentry Williamson County Board Chairman  

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Multaq Lawsuit

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327696348 15 Multaq Lawsuit

Multaq Lawsuit : Amoxici 11 i n-cl avu 1 an ate (Augmentin). This antibiotic has been used clinically for more than two decades to treat numerous types of bacterial infections. It has also been implicated as one of the most common causes of drug-induced liver injury worldwide.

Amoxicillin-clavulanate-related DILI may develop during or shortly after completion of the course of treatment, and most drug- induced liver injuries are mild and self-limited, even for patients who develop jaundice. There have been very rare instances, however, in which a patient develops severe hepatotoxicity and requires a liver transplant.

Isoniazid or INH (Nydrazid). This medication is used to treat tuberculosis, and anyone taking it should be concerned about hep- atotoxicity. As many as 10 to 20 percent of patients taking INH will develop a mild degree of AST/ALT elevation. Typically, these elevations are noted at the beginning of treatment, since doctors keep a watchful eye for liver toxicity. Most patients who develop mild liver-enzyme elevations will adapt to the medication and the enzymes will return to normal even when patients continue to take the medication. It is estimated that only about 1 percent of patients over age 50 will develop significant liver injury while undergoing treatment, especially if this treatment is combined with other medications to treat tuberculosis, such as rifampin or pyrazinamide. Other variables that may increase a patients risk of developing drug-induced liver injury include alcohol abuse, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, or HIV infection.

More information on Multaq Lawsuit:

Minocycline (Minocin or Dynacin). Thousands of people across the United States take minocycline on a daily basis to treat acne. Most people take this medication without any problem or experience of toxicity, although the drug has been shown to cause several different types of hepatotoxicity. The most striking reaction occurs when a chronic hepatitis develops that mimics chronic autoimmune hepatitis. Most patients who develop this condition are young people who have taken the medication for months without a problem.When a patient taking minocycline suddenly develops or is diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a hepatologist should be consulted. The consultation is crucial, as both treatment and nontreatment can lead to further problems if not managed appropriately.

Lipid-lowering agents or statins (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor).

Collectively called statins, this class of medications is used to treat elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. All statins work in similar ways, but the individual varieties may have differing degrees of potency. These medications have received extensive attention because they are widely used and have a propensity to cause elevations in liver enzymes (AST/ALT). It is estimated that 1 to 3 percent of patients taking statins will develop significantly elevated enzymes (greater than three times the upper limit of normal).

As the treatment guidelines for lowering cholesterol have become more aggressive over the past decade, the number of people taking these medications has increased substantially, leaving many clinicians (usually primary care providers) unclear about whether these medications should be used in patients with underlying liver disease and when to stop if liver enzymes become abnormal. These questions have not been fully answered, but statins seem extremely safe and should not be avoided by patients with underlying liver diseases if the statins are indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol or triglycerides. This is a clear case of the benefits outweighing the risks.

Information from other sources on Multaq Lawsuit:

Most patients who develop an increase in liver enzymes during therapy with statins will have only transient and mild elevation, which will resolve if the medication is stopped.

Ezetimibe (Zetia). This is another cholesterol-lowering medication, but it is not in the statin class of drugs. This medication inhibits the intestinal uptake of cholesterol and is often used with a statin when cholesterol cannot be lowered by a statin alone. In extremely rare cases, reports have connected it with drug-induced liver injury, but it is regarded as having an excellent safety profile. However, it is currently undergoing réévaluation of its effectiveness in preventing heart disease and stroke.

Our use of the term or terms Multaq Lawsuit is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

To keep up to date on Multaq Lawsuit visit our site often.

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LS Power a step closer to building electric plant in West Deptford, Gloucester County, N.J.

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327692737 47 LS Power a step closer to building electric plant in West Deptford, Gloucester County, N.J.Environmentalist says $2 billion in state subsidies for 3 other plants unnecessary BY TOM HESTER SR. NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

LS Power Group announced Wednesday that West Deptford Energy Holdings has completed financing for the construction of its 738 megawatt natural gas-fired electric generating facility which is expected to go into operation in the Gloucester County Township in 2014.

Construction will begin early next year. LS Power Group states the plant will utilize state-of-the-art combustion turbine technology with advanced emission controls.

“This is an important project in many ways,” Tom Hoatson, LS Power project development director, said. “We will add a clean and cost efficient power generation resource in New Jersey, while supporting the local economy. It is also the culmination of years of development effort, good commercial execution and strong support from key stakeholders.”

In a statement released by Gov. Chris Christie‘s office, the governor said, “I am pleased LS Power will be opening a new gas fired electric generator in West Deptford which will create hundreds of construction jobs and provide another source of electricity for New Jersey. We support the development of in-state, natural gas-fired electrical power, not only to reduce New Jerseyans’ energy costs, but also to protect our environment by eliminating the need for power from coal states, and by accelerating the decommissioning of older, dirtier, and less efficient coal and oil-fired electrical generation plants in New Jersey.”

Reacting to the announcement, New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel spoke of LS Power’s ability to complete financing without the aid of the state government.

“The LCAP legislation, signed by Governor Christie in January, offers $2 billion in subsidies for the construction of three new natural gas plants,” Tittel said. “The West Deptford facility was not selected for the program. Instead the funding will go to plants in the Ironbound section of Newark, Old Bridge and Woodbridge.”

It was LS Power that initially sought the subsidy legislation.

“The LCAP bill has been put on hold by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission because they believe the LCAP legislation violates the competition clause in the National Energy Policy Act,” Tittel said. “The $2 billion in ratepayers subsides is currently on hold because of this and the West Deptford plant will be built with private funding before the other plants selected for the LCAP subsidies.

“This shows that Governor Christie’s policies are wrong,” Tittel said. “Cutting back on renewable energy to subsidize fossil fuels plants is bad policy. This announcement shows the public should be investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency and let the private market take care of natural gas plants and determine if there are needed or not. The whole point of deregulation is competition. Governor Christie tried to interfere with that competition through the LCAP bill but today’s announcement proves that if these plants meet New Jersey’s energy needs then the private market can and should pay for them.”

Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester)said, “This is a great day for Gloucester County. The construction of this facility means 650 construction jobs and $107 million in PILOT payments. I have been pushing for jobs legislation at the state and in Gloucester County we are doing it. We need to get people back to work and keep taxes under control.”

Sweeney said that pushing for environmentally sound power projects that will drive down the cost of electricity for all consumers and businesses is what is needed to help lead our region out of this period of high unemployment.

“We have to push ahead for jobs,” the senator added. “We are in a highly competitive market, but we have the geographical advantage, skilled labor and we are proactive in working with industry so they want to invest here.”

LS Power is a power generation and transmission group. The company has been involved in the development or operations of electric plants throughout the United States.

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Lake County News

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327691532 95 Lake County NewsRFQ and RFP for Preconstruction Services and Construction Management at Risk Services with a Guaranteed Maximum Price for Design and Construction of the New Lakeport Courthouse

RFQ/P No.: OCCM-2011-17-BR

The Administrative Office of the Courts seeks to retain the services of a qualified Construction Manager (CM) with expertise in all phases of preconstruction and construction of public buildings as described herein, for the Lakeport courthouse project.

Subject to the conditions prescribed by the AOC and provided herein, the AOC is hereby soliciting Qualifications and Proposals for furnishing Preconstruction Services and Construction Management at Risk Services with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMAX) for the Project, as described in this RFQ/P.

The selected CM will apply their expertise to all aspects of the Project in collaboration with other project participants to produce a court facility that provides notable value to the state judicial system. Selection will be made on the basis of a combination of qualifications and price.

The AOC intends to award the CM at Risk contract and issue a Notice to Proceed in a timely manner following the selection process.

Written proposals must be received no later than 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Hard copy proposals must be delivered to:

Judicial Council of California

Administrative Office of the Courts

Attn: Nadine McFadden – OCCM-2011-15-BR

455 Golden Gate Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

Further information regarding this solicitation is set forth in RFQ/P No. OCCM-2011-17-BR.

The request for qualifications and proposals is here: courts.ca.gov/16289.htm .

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Boosters want to update ‘embarrassing’ facilities at KM High

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

1327690329 99 Boosters want to update ‘embarrassing facilities at KM High

A nonprofit group dedicated to meeting the needs of Kings Mountain High School’s athletes wants to undertake a $1.3 million project.

The Kings Mountain Touchdown Club presented a plan to Cleveland County Board of Education members Monday night. The proposal is for a new fieldhouse, concession stand and press box at the high school.

School board members voted Monday to approve the fundraising campaign.

The Touchdown Club provides supplemental funding to improve athletic facilities and equipment at Kings Mountain High and has invested $150,000 in various teams since it was founded in 2008.

The club raises funds through memberships and a golf tournament.

David Brinkley, a member of the club, said the current fieldhouse is outdated and does not adequately provide for both male and female athletes. He called the facility “embarrassing.”

“We have a big need at Kings Mountain High School athletics,” Brinkley said.

A building plan has been drawn and Brinkley said when designing the building, things such as security, the privacy of athletes and maintenance were all considered.

The sports facilities at the school were built between 1967 and 1971.

Since then, many more sports teams have been added.

Brinkley, a former coach at Kings Mountain High, said the original washing machine from when he began coaching in 1978 is still in use.

The Touchdown Club is proposing a new 12,000 square-foot fieldhouse which would accommodate a variety of sports and offer coaches space for offices.

New bathroom facilities, a press box and concession area would also be constructed.

The club is planning to raise the funds itself and did not request financial assistance from the board.

Brinkley said the money will be raised through a three-year pledge program.

He said First National Bank would finance the project for 36 months if a third of the cost is paid before the groundbreaking.

If the club cannot raise the entire down payment of $400,000, it will start on the construction of the fieldhouse — which carries an estimated cost of $850,000 — first.

Brinkley said it is the club’s intention to be 100 percent funded by the community.

“We want to make the community proud and attract people to campus,” he said.

Brinkley said the first stage of the project is the fieldhouse, which he hopes will be started in 60 days.

If everything goes according to plan, groundbreaking will happen this summer and the facility will be completed by October.

The second stage involves the press box, which will be torn down this year and construction on its replacement is scheduled to start in 2013.

Other issues discussed during Monday’s meeting:

Board members approved a laptop replacement project that would replace laptops at Shelby and Kings Mountain high schools with new Apple computers.

The cost of the project is $116,650.

David Lee, Cleveland County Schools finance director, said there is a replacement cycle that designates when the new computers are purchased.

Surveillance cameras bought

The school board approved the purchase of video surveillance equipment, software and services from Smartcore. The cost is $101,964 and will provide for the replacement of the surveillance cameras at Shelby High School.

Tablet computers coming

The purchase of interactive tablet equipment for exceptional children’s programs around the county was approved.

The school system will provide iPads, MacBooks and carts for the EC department’s interactive tablet initiative from Apple Computer. The total cost is $446,506.

Five extra school days

The board approved the 2012-13 school calendar as recommended by the calendar committee.

The calendar will have 185 instructional days, as required by law, which is an increase of five days.

That increase will mean additional cost to the school system.

Superintendent Bruce Boyles said transportation alone will cost an extra $20,000 a day, not counting the cost of non-certified salaries and other expenses.

The 185 instructional days must fall between Aug. 27 and June 10.  

Fewer Smart Start slots?

Bonnie Beam, Head Start director and assistant director of the Office of School Readiness, made a request to board members to reduce the enrollment in Head Start from 244 to 224 in order to have a maximum class size of 16 in each classroom instead of 18.

Beam said the Head Start program is requesting to keep its current level of funding since the number of classes will not be reduced, just the class size.

Beam said during meetings with parents, the proposal was well-received and there was no opposition to the reduction.

Board member Richard Hooker asked how the decrease in slots would affect students on waiting lists.

Beam said typically, there are a number of children served by the program who do not meet the poverty income eligibility guidelines.

She said 28 children were served last year who did not meet the criteria.

“I feel very confident that the children most at-risk who qualify will be served,” Beam said.

Board signs off on street name

A request to rename Academy Street on the campus of Shelby High School was approved. Alumni of former Principal Wayne Caudill requested the street be named Wayne Caudill Drive, in Caudill’s honor.

The city of Shelby will also have to approve the change.

Renovations at 2 schools

Two proposed capital projects were approved. Shelby Intermediate School will renovate its auditorium, which was converted into instructional areas, back into an auditorium, and Kings Mountain High School will have work done on the softball field.

Reach reporter Rebecca Clark at 704-669-3344.

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