Local group concerned about state attitude toward Work Ethic camp

McCook was the top rated location when the last correctional facilities in Nebraska were built. McCook however was NOT awarded the facility and the hundreds of construction jobs to build it or run it after it was built. Gov. Nelson did pull strings to get SW Nebraska the much, much smaller WEC facility. It seems that now our area is being overlooked again despite the state having the acres and infrastructure already in place to have a cost effective solution to prison over crowding. Please contact those making the decision....some of which include Senators Mello, Adams, our new Governor and attorney general and our Chief Justice, and urge them to expand WEC. The expansion will provide more jobs and opportunities for those in SW Nebraska. More dollars to this area, more people needing housing, more spending in current or new businesses, more children in schools to stabilize enrollment. The report mentioned $199 million in needed expansion. SW Nebraska deserves a far share.

Senator elect Hughes is aware of the efforts of the group's effort to bring development to SW Ne. And was supportive but it would be great to contact him also asking for his help. The more contacts those making the decision receive the better.

I would be really curious as to the overall public support for this effort. It appears that this group is chasing the State of Nebraska's corrections money and once again looking for those grants, etc. to make them look like they are helping grow SW Nebraska. I think everyone should step back and evaluate why McCook was awarded the WEC in the first place. This was after the State decided to build the new prison in Tecumseh, NE and Ben Nelson threw SW Nebraska a bone to quiet them down since he could not get the prison here. Maybe this group should have take a tour of Tecumseh and asked those folks what they think of the big prison now instead of just running to the state to expand this facility just to show they are doing something.

I think that the lack growth to attract more businesses to the area on the part of the MEDC and City is why we are seeing big push for anything that shows growth, including possibly moving more violent offenders into the area and their families. This is not what this area needs and simple logistics will not make this a reality. The reason they need more prisons in Eastern NE is because that is where most of the offenders are due to the larger population centers of Lincoln and Omaha. This area can complain about the lack of state tax dollars not being spent here all they want but in the end the geography of our state doesn't support this. The public needs to really get engaged in this before desperate politicians like "dennis" does something that is really detrimental to our community. Too bad you don't see news stories about this group promoting and attracting business that truly fit SW Nebraska.

Most of the efforts by MEDC and the City haven't panned out so well for one reason or another. Can anyone really explain why the Keystone was built with taxpayer dollars for the tech company 21CSI and then they left 10 months after moving in? It was because their business plan was faulty and was too dependent on increased military contracts, which the current President is downsizing. Anyone with common sense would understand that when you have a liberal like Obama in office, the military will shrink and the welfare state will grow. But the City and MEDC didn't really think that one through now did they?

Yes those that don't like these comments, like "dennis", will say that I don't support southwest Nebraska and I have no plans to grow the economy of this area. To bad he doesn't understand what we are doing with our business to grow the economy but he will attack my business, my family and me directly, nonetheless. That is what you get from someone that has spent his entire life in the government bureaucracy and really has no working knowledge of the business/private sector of this country.

Mr. Cappel has a very good point. No one can really argue with it. Straight and to the point. A very common sense view that is true.

I would like to see dennis run for office in the city since he knows so much about all of our area and the workings of government and the such....... We all hear a lot of talk. No action...

We are an ag based community. Not big city. Wake up people...

If the work camp were to expand the violent individuals would remain in the more secure facilities---Tecumseh and Lincoln. Also the camp inmate population has already been switched a few years ago from what it was orginially designed for. I would think the hundred or so folks that work at WEC appreciate the jobs they have and have helped our area. I also believe that those at Valmont would be thankful that the city and MEDC worked to bring that large ag related industry to SW Nebraska and provide jobs. I would also think that the local businesses appreciate the dollars spent in them that comes from WEC and Valmont and that taxpayers like that the tax based was increased, thus helping provide more services at a lower cost to them. It would appear that regardless what the MEDC and or city does ....or if up they do nothing, some will complain. It is true that most folks live in Eastern Nebraska but about a third live in west/ central. West/Central does not have a third of the prison beds or state jobs. Bringing back to SW Nebraska some of the money we send to Lincoln would seem to be wise. I pray that instead of seeing the glass half empty more would see it half full. I believe working together instead of dividing efforts will benefit all.

Dennis, I usually agree with much of what you say, but I will tell you that thinking the violent people will stay in Lincoln and Tecumseh? You and the folks that think that way need to be educated on this. WEC is a waste of tax dollars, they drive people across the state ALL THE TIME for parole hearings, etc. WEC does not have crews like they used to that help the community, and the inmates get paid to lounge around, play cards, and go to "classes". Thinking that the violent ones stay in Lincoln, etc?? Well to me there is no worse crime than MURDER, and there are those that are guilty of that that have been to WEC.

WEC is just a housing facility, to give inmates something to do to pass time until they are paroled. All the transfering people back and forth across the state is a waste of money. How do you think they get here? Also, WEC has a difficult time hiring staff the way it is.

Be realistic, you make some good points. However, remember that the community seemed to be very supportive....and later mad...to seek the facility that is now in Tecumseh which we knew would house the highest risk people. If I remember correctly, the reason was to provide jobs to SW Ne. It was to have jobs available that would attract new families to the area. (I do not know of any murders that have been at WEC but if they were they must not have been a problem). I know first hand that the DOC by law can not send folks to WEC if they have been convicted of "serious" crimes like murder and rape. Again, good points on transportation, still I would like to have more state jobs here than all in the East.

Be realistic, you make some good points. However, remember that the community seemed to be very supportive....and later mad...to seek the facility that is now in Tecumseh which we knew would house the highest risk people. If I remember correctly, the reason was to provide jobs to SW Ne. It was to have jobs available that would attract new families to the area. (I do not know of any murders that have been at WEC but if they were they must not have been a problem). I know first hand that the DOC by law can not send folks to WEC if they have been convicted of "serious" crimes like murder and rape. Again, good points on transportation. The state could implement video conferencing and eliminate the transportation and save taxpayers money. Still I would like to have more state jobs here than all in the East.

Todd..... if you didn't confront EVERYTHING that the City does..... it would seem as though you have a valid argument. To me it just seems as though you have a bone to pick and every time the word "City" is printed in the paper, you intend to throw your words around.

There was a story that's linked to such activity..... what was the name of it? OH! The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. After a while, everyone just quit listening to him and when it mattered..... he wasn't heard.

I don't agree with Dennis myself often, BUT, if I jump on EVERY statement he makes, it just looses impact.

Pick your battles.... the result will have more bang for the buck.

Are you suggesting, "Nick", that taxpayers need to just shut up and not speak out? It appears you are in the camp that taxpayers cannot hold public officials accountable for their statements. "dennis" comments on most everything on these blogs, including stories that feature him. I think that is a little strange but to each his own. I do feel that under the leadership of "dennis" as mayor of McCook that there has been some slide of hand and misdirection on taxes and spending. I have spoken out on three main areas that I disagree with "dennis" on, taxes, spending and propping up phony politicians. "dennis", now the former mayor of McCook, uses these blogs to promote all three. If that is EVERYTHING the city does as you say then yes I am commenting on EVERYTHING they do. As the mayor of McCook "dennis" used these blogs to be cheerleader number one to help people feel good about taxes and government spending and spin it as a positive. Great, it is his right to do that but I find it strange when he could have done more interviews with this publication or write a weekly column to communicate this information that but he chose the blogs instead.

On taxes he keeps up this line that the city property tax levy hasn't been raised under his leadership. OK, but then why has the city budget exploded under his leadership? He claims now all state and federal grants the city has successfully applied for and won is the reason for the huge increase in spending. OK, where does the money come from to fund them? State and Federal TAXES.!!! Yes he is bringing it back to McCook, like Ben Nelson did, but he fails to mention that it was taken from this area first by those agencies therefore it hurts out local economy and by the time it gets back here it probably has lost half of the initial value had it not been taken at all. I don't recall "dennis" being an strong advocate for those agencies to take less of our money. Imagine what our local economy would look like if our area's most successful individuals and business didn't need to send 39.6% to the feds and 6.84% to the state for income taxes and then be redistributed through agencies that award these precious grants that "dennis" is so pleased to win back for McCook? The problem is then politicians like "dennis" would have less influence and power. This story regarding the Nebraska department of corrections not including the WEC in their plans to expand the corrections system is no different. "dennis" wants to win another grant from the state to help bring our money back to the area and I disagree with this process especially when it comes to expanding WEC. Yes this could potentially mean more jobs at WEC, but state jobs that can go away quickly with a shift in the leadership in Lincoln. I prefer developing and growing local business that don't need or depend on the state or feds first because then the chance of success is much higher. Look at what happened to the software company 21CSI as an example? It appears most of the time that state and federal grants are the first targets focused on by the MEDC and the City to expand our local economy and it will not work.

I feel like I have picked my battles just fine with regards to matters I comment on and I don't comment on everything "dennis" posts on the blogs, just the ones that I feel need a different view point. You feel that I hit on everything the city does and that is your opinion. "dennis" just happens to be the loudest cheerleader for city policies on the Gazette blogs, that is all. It seems that when "dennis" needs help on the blogs, you show up and help him out, and that is fine, as "dennis" needs a lot of help making these arguments for increased government spending and higher taxes. I do find the timing interesting and I don't hide my identity and let people throw it back at me directly but you need to be more elusive for whatever reasons.

If your theory is correct about me as the "boy who cried wolf" then you and "dennis" have nothing to worry about, now do you?

City spending has increased. The increase comes from the revenue the citizens voted for in sales tax and from grants from the State, Feds and gifts from private sources like the McCook Library Foundation. Without those large increases the street improvements would not have been made, the library improvements completed, the walking trail expanded,..and other such improvements. I believe the increase in improvements on property and building of new property did increase the revenue by around $8,000 this last year.

WOW Todd, that's a lot of information. You've turned me around. I will say that I am NOT an advocate of Dennis. I too speak out when I feel it necessary, and can you honestly say you don't look through the blogs and comments looking first for Dennis' name? Be honest, even if it's just to yourself, no need to reply. We all know that, that's the first thing you scan prior to reading on.

By the way, you used to call me "The Nick" whatever happened to that, I rather enjoyed the stigma.

Just trying to help you drive your points home "Todd"..... you might even say I'm supporting you...... in some deep and extended way.

Wow, Mr. Cappel, you sure seem to have a burr under your saddle when it comes to "Dennis" and his comments. I have not read every comment by Dennis, but the ones I have, I have never seen one time that he has actually said he was the mayor. Perhaps "Dennis" is someone that enjoys posting comments to make it look like they are coming from the mayor, or then again I might be wrong and missed him admitting he is the mayor. There have been times when I wondered if it was actually the mayor because of misspelled words, etc. Of course that happens to everyone, once in a while, but since he is a professional educator it made me wonder if it is actually the mayor. If he is an imposter he sure must have a big smile on his face.

By the way Mr. Cappel, Mr. Berry is still the mayor until Monday night, until then he is the mayor, not the former mayor.

One more thing, Mr. Cappel, when you lived within the city limits, I felt your comments were justified about city property taxes, and on some of your arguments I agreed. Now,since you no longer live within the city limits, not so much.......Just saying.

fit2btied and Nick

I do stand corrected "dennis" is still the mayor and offer my apologies for that misstatement.

You could say that there is a history between "dennis" and myself, aka Dennis Berry, aka the current mayor of McCook. I know that "dennis" is Dennis Berry because I called him on the phone after he posted incorrect information under his screen name "dennis" about a local business and after that conversation he posted a correction under the same screen name. But most of this started when I published an open forum letter in 2007 asking the city why they were not looking for budget cuts in the face of selling more sales taxes as the solution. The story was that if the residents of McCook didn't support raising the sales tax for all of the crazy projects that came out of a new sales tax meeting that property taxes would have to go up. I was critical of that process publicly, and the very day that first letter ran in the Gazette, I received a phone call from the mayor of McCook, Dennis Berry, telling me that he agreed with some of what I said, but would have preferred that I come to him privately with my concerns instead of writing an open letter in the paper. Ok that was his feeling on the matter at that time, but I ask you what type of leader does that? That you could say was the first burr placed under my saddle, when the acting mayor of McCook tried to intimidate me with regard to voicing my opinion publically. He obviously was a big supporter privately of increasing in the sales tax and didn't want anything to negatively affect the chance of it passing. Publically he appeared to be neutral and I think we now understand why.

I feel that the city has done some things that I don't agree with regards to their openness on spending and taxes. I am not a resident now so I cannot vote on things like the sales tax and that is the way it works. It doesn't mean I cannot speak up and have an opinion as I do pay the sales tax when I shop in McCook. I have taken shots from "dennis" on these blogs that my business exists outside the city limits of McCook to avoid paying their sales tax and therefore he has called into question my support for McCook. Let me tell you, I have employees that spend their paychecks in McCook and we are growing our business every year and will need more employees. I would say that my business is a big supporter of McCook when it comes to paying their sales tax. Furthermore, "dennis", the expert in ideal business locations, doesn't even understand what we sell and do, but yet he can call into question our support for this community just because I don't agree with him politically.

Speaking of politics, I have talked to people that served on the airport advisory committee and the majority was opposed to the renaming of the airport to McCook "Ben Nelson" Regional Airport but the council, with "dennis" as mayor, changed the name anyway because of all the good Ben Nelson did for McCook with the state and federal money he steered this way. What type of leader does that? I think it is the type that likes the backroom deals and maneuvering so a politician can get their name on buildings and landmarks. I also feel that those types of political maneuvers need to be discussed in a public forum and exposed.

These are just some of the reasons I speak out against dennis. It may look like I have an ax to grind and I do as a taxpayer a watching politicians like him engaged in the same behavior that has this country going in a direction I disagree with.

Mr. Cappel, yes it is your right in a free country to speak out on things, and people you disagree with, that is what makes this country the best in the world.

I just seemed like, and as you said, it seemed like you had an axe to grind with him. Glad you explained the problem.

I do not agree with you on the sales tax issue, without it there would be so many streets and other projects that would never get done, or else the property tax would be much higher. It helps the residents that decide to remain in McCook.

Although I agree that some of the projects could have been delayed or not done, I think infrastructure repair and improvements are badly needed, and without the sales tax it would probably be delayed like the federal government has done, all in the name of tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations. I'm sure you fix and repair anything that needs it in your business, like it should be, yet the government delays repairs all in the name of not raising taxes, so repairs are delayed and we have bridges collapsing and people dying. My point being I guess is that at least some of the people who decide not to live within the city limits at least help pay for these repairs by paying the sales tax, when they are often in town and using the very infrastructure that needs repaired.

I feel that the new mayor, whoever it might be, and the new council and city manager need to do another study, (in house) and decide if it would advantageous to the city to annex the subdivisions that ring the city. Just my opinion.

Actually annexation was already being looked at but put on the back burner when the previous city manager left. Look for that discussion to surface this next year.

Actually the annexation study was already being discussed but was delayed after the previous city manager left. Look for that topic to surface after the first of the year.