Thayer Taxpayers Association Blog

This should come out Friday.

The Winds Of Change Sweep Through Thayer City Hall.
by John Hutchison

The power of the incumbency and people's natural resistance to change were outweighed Tuesday, April 3, by the enthusiasm of a fired-up grassroots populism as mayor Allen Deckard and two long-time aldermen were swept out of city hall at the ballot box.

The Oregon County Clerk's office confirmed Wednesday that in the mayoral race, Merle Williams received a total of 312 votes. Allen Deckard received only 129 votes, and Gary Clark received 10.

In the race for Ward I Alderman, Joe Barbee defeated Buddy Rogers with a total of 120 votes to Rogers' 93.

For Ward II Alderman, Junior Brewer won with 128 votes, over incumbent Bob Grimes' 91. Although Johnny Jewell pulled out of the race due to plans to relocate, he received 17 votes, and there was one vote cast for a write-in.

The next regularly-scheduled Thayer city council meeting is set for April 10 at 7:00 PM at Thayer City Hall.

Labels: election, grassroots, mayor's race

. . . you will want to note the update at the end of this post about Allen Deckard calling me a dumbass.

Labels: Allen Deckard, mayor's race

Election polls open at 6:00 AM tomorrow.

As Larry the Cable Guy would say,

Labels: election, grassroots, mayor's race

. . . for the big "Candidates' Forum" hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, but a total of about five audience members, all of whom were CoC members and/or Deckard supporters, and one candidate (Deckard) had shown up by then.

I wasn't going to get into a confrontation with him in front of only his supporters, so I didn't ask the question.

I left instead.

But on the way out, I had some fun.

After exiting the building, I put "Vote For Change" flyers under the wipers on all the Missouri automobiles on the way to my car.

I'll try to post pictures of it soon.

UPDATE: See those little white flyers under the windshield wipers on the cars?

They are these:

Labels: Allen Deckard, election, grassroots, mayor's race

It will depend on whether or not the Quill and/or the Allen Deckard Mouthpiece show up to cover the event.

If they do, I'll ask it. If they don't, I won't.

If I ask it, I don't want to cover the forum in the Hill 'n Holler. I'm not comfortable writing articles in which I am a part of the news. It feels too much like conflict of interest and self-promotion.

If they do cover the event, I'll ask it and not cover the event.

Anyway, here's the question:

This question is for the incumbents:

While you have been in office, I have seen Bob Grimes and Allen Deckard team up at a city council meeting to ambush and berate a citizen for having the audacity to talk to his state representative.

I have seen you, Bob Grimes, express a desire for people to "shut up," just because they want to hold their government accountable, and you have told at least one citizen to "get a life" when she tried to hold you to doing only what the council voted to do. Then you whined to her, "Why won't people just leave me alone and let me do my job?"

And you, Mister Mayor, complained about "what kind of people we have [in Thayer]." You have repeatedly called citizens of Thayer "lowlifes" behind their backs, and as recently as yesterday, when you thought I couldn't hear you, you referred to me as (pardon the language, folks; this is the mayor's word, not mine) "dumbass." Again, you did not have the courage to say it to my face.

I have even received an anonymous threat of violence, simply for going to council meetings and letting people know what happened there. And oh, yes, Mister Mayor, I know EXACTLY where it came from.

And you, Buddy Rogers, have been so afraid of making waves that you didn't stand up to them and put a stop to it. That makes you as much a part of the problem as they are.

So my question is a two-parter.

1. What is it about citizens being informed and holding you accountable that makes you so angry?

2. And I remind the three of you that I and other citizens like me are your employers. Now let me ask you -- if YOU had an employee that treated you the way you treat US, wouldn't you fire him?

Labels: Allen Deckard, Bob Grimes, Buddy Rogers, election, informed citizenry, mayor's race, threat of violence

Labels: Allen Deckard, mayor's race

(The following should also appear in this week's Hill 'n Holler.)

March Council Meeting a Three Dog Night

by John Hutchison

The mayor and all aldermen were present for the March meeting of the Thayer City Council, held March 20 in the council room of Thayer City Hall.

James A. Davis of Mammoth Spring was awarded the bid of $1075 to purchase a 1998 Ford police car owned by the city. His was the highest bid of the three received. The other two were for $225 and $210.

The Thayer-Mammoth Spring Saddle Club sought and was approved for a 2007 lease of the city's arena. The terms will remain the same as the 2006 lease, with the exception of the addition of another lot south of the arena. The council was assured that the additional lot would not interfere with the walking trail. The lot will be for a specific series of events, and all equipment for the events will be removed each night after the event.

The council instructed the city clerk to send out letters regarding delinquent real estate taxes, and set the date of August 27 for the sale of delinquent properties unless the taxes for those properties are paid before then.

The council looked over offers for a bucket truck for the city. Alderman Steve Alford suggested that council members inspect any truck before buying. He will be inspecting a particular truck in Wentsville in the coming days. Should the truck be satisfactory, a special meeting of the council will be called before buying it.

Two traffic ordinances, updating and modernizing city laws regarding driver's licenses and seat belt usage, were passed.

A request for a kennel license from a resident wishing to own four dogs, which she described as Shih-Tzus and poodles, was denied due to opposition from some people in her neighborhood. Current city law allows a maximum of three dogs without a kennel license.

The council voted to advertise openings at the city pool for pool manager and lifeguards, although the leak in the pool, detailed to the council at the February meeting, has not yet been repaired or even inspected.

Questions regarding the city's lack of a 9-1-1 system were brought up. Police Chief Frank Bernard advised residents to call the police department directly because calling 9-1-1 might result in getting a dispatcher from adjoining counties that are unfamiliar with Thayer addresses.

The council then went into closed session.

The next regularly scheduled Thayer City Council Meeting is April 10 at 7:00 PM at Thayer City Hall.

Absentee voting for the April 3 Thayer city elections has already begun. Contact the Oregon County Clerk for details on early voting.

Labels: mayor's race, Thayer City Council

1. The Thayer City Council meets tomorrow night at 7:00 at Thayer City Hall. Come witness the monkeys.

2. Early voting for the April 3 mayoral and aldermanic elections is already going on, although the Thayer radio station has made no mention of it, even though I asked them to.

3. I am hearing that Johnny Jewell pulled out of the race for alderman. Again I have heard nothing about this from Thayer's illustrious radio station. If true, that would leave Junior Brewer and incumbent and sometimes meeting attendee Bob Grimes as the only candidates, although I have to believe ballots are already printed, due to early and absentee voting. So Johnny Jewell might win anyway.

Labels: election, mayor's race, Thayer City Council

Submitted for your consideration:

Remember the threat of violence I received back in March '06?

Take a look at a few excerpts, paired up with some excerpts from Cory Deckard's weblog.

Cory Deckard, I remind you, is the [supposedly adult] son of current Thayer mayor Allen Deckard.

First, our mysterious anonymous threatener misuses the word "along" when he means "a long."

This city has come ALONG way while under Gary Barton and Allen Deckard

Cory Deckard also misuses the word "along" when he means "a long."

It took me along time to get here but now I have to do it alone I see.

Next, let's look at our mysterious anonymous threatener's use of the word "then" when he means "than."

That whole road has been dug up MORE then once and replaced, other then
that, THEY are the only ones with problems

Now, let's look at Cory Allen Deckard's use of the word "then" when he means "than."

I have been spending more time in Memphis then at home

Next, let's look at the mysterious anonymous threatener's use of a comma, not a period, to end one sentence and start another:


b

That whole road has been dug up MORE then once and
replaced, other then that, THEY are the only ones with problems, it's in their
lines and the city if only responsible for the sewer to the start of the
property line, or better yet, the sewer main in the middle of the road.

Now, let's look at Cory Deckard's use of a comma, not a period, to end one sentence and start another:

I stayed the entire week in Thayer this last week, wow how it reminds me of
HOME.

"bobby and his clan"
the reference to my "uncle"

Labels: intimidation, mayor's race, threat of violence

Desperation must be setting in, because those campaign signs didn't get up and walk away by themselves.

Labels: mayor's race, theft of signs

In the coming days, look back here for new information regarding the threat of violence I received for my political views.

I've got a feeling somebody's little house of cards is about to crumble...

Labels: mayor's race, threat of violence