To the Editor:
So let me get this right. The taxpayers in the Town of Troutman have the privilege of paying for a community park that is not accessible to them by vehicle because there is no parking. (See related article HERE.) Instead, the park is a bailout for the deadbeat homeowners who allowed the park to fell into disrepair. This smells like another dead-fish-in-the-room political decision. Could this be a “deal” for a friend of a friend?
This is infuriating. Wake up, taxpayers!
Dan Hester
Troutman
Of course it’s a “deal” for a friend of a friend. It’s the town manager’s neighborhood. Ron Wyatt lives in this neighborhood of deadbeat homeowners who are getting a bail out from the taxpayers.
If that is true, this needs to be investigated.
The town manager lives on the street adjoining Georgie St. Not sure if he’s in the HOA, but he is close proximity to the park And is included in the neighborhood within walking distance to use the park.
The rest of us taxpayers are considered “outsiders” and excluded from this “pocket park.”
It’s not his neighborhood.
Who will fund the continued upkeep of the Troutman Country Club park? If over 1/2 acre it’s not considered a pocket park and requires restrooms (handicapped accessible) and parking.
So the Troutman Country Club which at one time two thirds or more of the council lived in wants the Troutman taxpayers to pay for them to have their very own private park. Even though you are helping pay for it you can’t use it unless you live in the community. Also it can’t be over 1/4 acre. Who will fund the upkeep?
It seems to me someone other than the town should be responsible to pay the back taxes. Why were taxes let go unpaid for so long? Who was responsible for paying them? My other question is will the park be open to all residents?
Once again Troutman has found away to frivolously spend our tax dollars. When is it the taxpayers’ responsibility to buy property from a failed HOA that will only benefit the neighborhood of said failed HOA? Here’s an idea: try spending our tax dollars more wisely. This smells bad, real bad.
Either the taxpayers in this town are too sleepy, or are too scared to say anything. Spending $80,000 to bail out an HOA, that was already in tax arrears to the Town, and making it nearly inaccessible to the residents, smacks of corruption. Perhaps the Town should use the same tactic to complete all the unfinished subdivisions that they gleefully annex into the city limits, while never compelling the developers to complete the construction. Corruption?
Most people believe that their tax bill went up because the County did a revaluation. The real reason the taxes went up is because the County disbursed to Troutman it’s share of the county tax, and the Town immediately declared that they were keeping it to initiate a fund to build a new municipal center for themselves, rather than applying the windfall to the Town budget. The bottom line is; … they spend too much!
Has the sleepy tax payer not noticed an increase in crime and traffic, reduced water pressure from your faucet, increases in their water and sewer bills, more unenforced ordinances? (unless of course you’re viewed as a political enemy) All while floating a $1.25 million loan to build another ABC store. Just wait, … The ISS school is asking for an increase to their annual operating budget of over 14%.
There comes a breaking point. Hopefully the sleepers will wake up and take action!
Wish more people would get this and show at municipal and county meetings. No reason they couldn’t have brought rates down to or closer to revenue neutral and put bonds forward for the county/town citizens to vote for or against. County level certainly didn’t have an issue pushing forward the term referendum to the ballot which people foolishly voted for.
Matt, the reason people don’t show up to town meetings is because they are made to feel disrespected and unwelcome, and their concerns are ignored. The town manager uses name calling and bullying to anyone who presents a problem or an issue if he disagrees. (Remember when he called someone a “moron” on a public radio show!) Citizens are intimidated by him, and the council is afraid of him.
Citizens have only three minutes to speak at council meetings, and they never get a response from the council. So why bother?
One recent example: An out of town businessman, who owns property in Troutman, made several trips to council meetings over a three-month period from November to January. He presented valuable research that could have been helpful for correcting some of the flaws in the Future Land Use Map. At the January council meeting he asked if a committee could be designated to study the map and possibly amend it. He previously had attempted to schedule meetings with members at their convenience to discuss it. Not one member of the council, nor the mayor, has yet to respond to his question! Their “failure to communicate” goes beyond disrespect and rudeness; it’s abuse of power!
The mayor and the council work for us! They need to pay attention to us, and they are accountable to us for how they spend our money.
This “pocket” park bailout is an abuse of power! Maybe a better name for it would be “parkgate.”
As a life-long resident of Troutman and a taxpayer, I’m fed up with this “ole boy” mentality that is turning Troutman into a trucking community of low-paying warehouse jobs and plastic houses. Please take notes friends. Our town government needs a housecleaning.
Unreal…so let me get this straight if a neighborhood who has an HOA is unable to maintain its own property it’s the tax payers problem? Tear it down and plant grass or some much needed trees . Just because there was a park there at one time does not mean another one needs to be put back in its place.
This is just an invitation for other neighborhoods to think they can do the same by getting a bail out by the tax payers. We have enough to worry about that should be a priority over this.
Sell the property to someone who wants to build on it and put the money in the general fund for rainy day expenses.
Why does the town manager still have a job? He has done nothing but create one disaster after another and waste taxpayers’ money. This “park” is an HOA issue. The neighborhood can pass the hat to fund the project or donate the land. I hope the neighbors are prepared for the town residents to show up to take advantage of their new investment!
Folks, plan your weekly beer parties at this park. (Bring your own potty or find a tree)! Teenagers, what a great place to hang out and smoke. ( Bring your own bongos)!
How do we rank such ongoing dumb decisions made by the council? This one ranks pretty close to the top! Isn’t it time to schedule a “training” for the council members about the use of taxpayer money?
You are officially on the planning committee. When is our first gathering?
Avery, our first beer fest at this park will be to celebrate the firing of the town manager for misuse of taxpayer funds! Date TBD by the council 🙂
Using taxpayer money to bail out a deadbeat HOA is setting a dangerous precedent! What happens when residents of other developments decide to allow their HOA parks and clubhouses to become derelict?
Yes, this smacks of corruption! The town manager lives in this neighborhood on the street adjoining Georgie Street. The Director of Parks is married to the Chief of Police, who allegedly got the job because he was a friend of the town manager. (This was after the town manager forced the previous chief to resign). And the “ole boy network” goes on and on!
Troutman taxpayers, are you taking notes for the next election?