October 13, 2009
submitted

There is a small group of people who are bent on destroying your present city government, by undermining the normal election process. There was a recent decision by the state legislature having the effect to make it much easier to get enough signatures to force a recall election. Since little attention is paid to local government by a large number of voters who are content with their city government, this leads to a small number of voters going to the polls at an unusual date for an election, giving a decided advantage to those who are activated by statements of the negative people, and leaving those who are satisfied with their current government mostly at home, and unaware of the importance of their vote.

Just last week, this small number of people wanting a council overturn targeted Fernley's Ward 3 successfully. The number that voted for the candidate presented by the negative group was 97 voters, and the voters that supported the incumbent, Monte Martin, was only 58 votes. This totals only 155 ballots cast out of 1,780 registered voters, or only 8.7%. It appears that 91% of the registered voters in the ward were mostly unaware of the election, or chose not to vote.

City Council Recall Video Coverage multi-part series

Those carrying the clipboards around the neighborhoods can say almost anything they want, even a total lie, and collect signatures without much fear of having to answer for what they say. In my Ward 4, the next ward being targeted, statements have been made to neighbors that I have taken my family on trips and charged the whole amount to the city, with one trip that was alleged to have cost $17,000! Of course, none of this is true. I have represented Fernley at National League of Cities conferences, and in congressional offices in Washington, DC, and never have charged a penny for the trip, other than my own travel expenses. I have never asked for, or have been reimbursed for any other costs, and I have always tried to keep the expenses as low as possible, as though I were paying for them from my own pocket. Absolute lies have been told about me on doorsteps, and apparently some people who signed the recall petition have believed them without any proof. The small group of people, (who appear regularly in the public input section of our council meetings with very negative and even venomous comments), are seeking to take over your city. They have spent much time in city offices reviewing travel vouchers and reimbursements, being quite determined to find improper charges but have been totally unsuccessful. They have submitted some 51 allegations against the mayor and city staff to the Nevada Commission on Ethics as of last month, and not a single one was found to be with any merit. Every allegation submitted has been dismissed by the state. But, this has not stopped this small group of negative people and they are now using the recall process in their effort to gain power.

My position with respect to complaints stated on the recall petition:

I am accused of not providing sufficient oversight of a previous treasurer and city manager. In both cases, these city employees are no longer present and we have hired very professional persons currently into these positions. Even though I was a friend of the city manager, I was one of the first council members to call for his replacement when it became apparent to me that a change was needed to give the citizens the professional management they deserved. The treasurer was never found guilty of any serious wrongdoing, but I voted to have a detailed audit prior to making the decision for dismissal.

I have always been careful to respond to my constituents' request for information and action. I believe the small negative group is really saying that I do not simply cater to their demands. Instead, I consider what is best for the majority of Fernley's citizens.

As to the trash hauling franchise renewal, it has always seemed fair to me for every household in the city to be responsible for removing their trash weekly as is required by state regulations, and not letting it stack up in smelly bags until it is finally taken to the transfer station or sometimes dumped out in the desert. I have seen with my own eyes, (and smelled with my own nose), residences in our city where the trash was not promptly removed. Your council, (who voted unanimously on this) was able to save all the citizens of Fernley thousands of dollars per year by not allowing people to pick and choose if they would, or not, have their garbage hauled for them. We have added concessions to allow some freedoms in the process, while still helping to assure that our city and the nearby desert is kept clean. I believe we should all strive for that, and find it strange that this small group of people has fought so hard in the direction opposite good sanitation. Our requirement is very similar to that in most other cities.

Regarding the gravel quarry, it is far from any residences, with only a temporary road that will be used for a short time that passes near some houses. The gravel being collected is not dangerous, as was clearly shown during the council hearings. Fine dust that needs breathing protection is only generated inside the cement plant after processing. This is an example of misstatements being propagated by this small group who always appears to speak against council actions, and in this case, against the continuation of jobs so much needed in our city.

The unused water belonging to the city that was allowed to flow to Pyramid Lake this year is a resource for which we received money, and storage credit for dry times in the future. If it were to continue to flow toward Lake Lahontan, as it has in the past, there is no money received for the city's water, which was allowed to flow for free along the canal in the past. This council is not, and has not, been in support of closing the canal. In fact, it is apparent that we need the water both inside the canal for agricultural and other purposes, and we need the leakage under it to supply our wells. We simply want to be able to receive value for the city's water to our citizen's benefit.

Regarding the water plant, I have always been the council member most pressing for grants, and at times in the past, I have been the only council member asking our staff at that time to go after grant funding. I think most citizens know by now that the requirement for the plant came from Washington without any funding to support the construction. This is a perfect example of an unfunded mandate. I am still pressing for grants, and there is some reason to believe some funds may become available.

I hope our citizens will wake up to what is happening to the government of Fernley. The negative people I have referred to and their misguided followers have already thrown out one city councilman who has always been very ethical in all his dealings. They are seeking to throw me out next, and will likely continue beyond that as they try to take over the council. I was elected by a strong majority of the registered voters last November and no valid charges have been made against me. I feel that the recall process is being misused, in a way that was never intended by the writers of our constitution. There are so many more important issues that your council needs to work on than fighting about trash, recalls, and defending against repeated bogus ethics complaints. I have no special interest connections, and have never acted in any other way than to represent the people of this city in a common-sense manner. I sincerely ask the voters of Ward 4 to listen to the truth and not the twisted statements alleged by a person at their door with a clipboard. I will be happy to meet with any voter who wishes further information regarding the statements I have made. Email me at the city website, or call me at (775) 745-0075.



Curt Chaffin

Ward 4 Councilman

City of Fernley