2010.07.07
Christiansburg sticks it to taxpayers on shady Terpenny deal
Christiansburg Town Manager Lance Terpenny | By Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times
Lance Terpenny really must have some kind of hold over the current majority on Christiansburg Town Council.
First, they try to assure Terpenny’s continued employment before a new town council takes office in September, by sneaking through a 3-year employment contract for the 14-year veteran manager, who’s never had one before.
That falls through when the cat gets out of the bag and folks realize how weird and wrong it is for them to tie a future council’s hands like that.
Next, council votes to asks for Terpenney’s resignation. And they give him a big, fat going away present: $130,000 severance, equal to about a year’s salary. Those are pretty good earnings for managing a town of 17,000 people.
Today comes word that Terpenny will become Floyd’s town manager, and that he was offered the job after an interview three weeks ago. He accepted the job Tuesday night, the night before Christiansburg Town Council asked him to leave and readied up the unbelievably generous severance package.
Question: who gets a $130,000 in taxpayer-funded severance in return for leaving and taking a new job elsewhere?
That works out to $7.65 for every man, woman and child in Christiansburg. The town could probably hire three cops and pay them for a year for that amount.
It stinks.
Town council is taking taxpayers to the cleaners with this one.
UPDATE: Doug Thompson over at Blue Ridge Muse weighs in, noting that the town of Floyd (pop. 436) recently increased its taxes despite a budget surplus, and wondering if the tax hike was necessary to afford Terpenny’s new but so-far-undisclosed salary.
There was a planned protest on this matter last night… anyone know how that went?
Comment by Lynda K — July 7, 2010 @ 4:26 pm
Dan,
The town is called Christiansburg.
Comment by Big Momma — July 7, 2010 @ 4:51 pm
I’d let them fire me for half that.
Comment by Kristen — July 7, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
#2 Let’s see, it right twice and then an “s” is left out the 3rd time, BM. I’d guess that Dan knows the name of the town.
Comment by gdad — July 7, 2010 @ 5:47 pm
Gdad,
Originally, I’d dropped the ‘s’ in the hed, too.
You folks have NO idea what a rotten typist I am!
Comment by Dan Casey — July 7, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
Dan? Check “Wedneday Open Thread”….you must just be hatin’ on Ses today!
Comment by Kristen — July 7, 2010 @ 6:27 pm
rumers,rumers,rumers…learn your facts Mr.Blogger, before you appoint someone to a position that is not open!!!
Comment by Van — July 7, 2010 @ 7:23 pm
My man Van,
Read the last link before you claim it’s a “rumer.” The mayor of Floyd has confirmed the hiring.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 7, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
I lack roomers.
Comment by Henry — July 7, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
I’m wondering…who knew what and when? If he did indeed interview that long ago and around the same time the idea of a contract was floated…the timing seems very suspect. And then last night he gets the resignation vote and severance deal…and today he announces he has a new job in Floyd? Something here stinks…and it’s not the Chinese food I had for dinner. I bet he gets a nice, shiny new toy with the C’burg taxpayer funded ‘buyout’. Maybe he’ll at least buy it in the Town limits so they can get some of the sales tax from it.
Comment by Other John — July 7, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
Dan,
I did not intend to be an a-hole. I just thought it was important to point out being that I am a resident of the area. Thanks for the correction.
Gdad,
It was wrong at least twice. Dan corrected it. You can go be a father figure to someone else. Dan is a big boy.
Back on topic however, perhaps “Christianburg” (j/k Dan) should have thought of him as a wife. Sometimes it is cheaper to keep her.
Comment by Big Momma — July 7, 2010 @ 9:43 pm
BM.
No offense taken. I appreciate the heads up. The keyboard has been quite challenging today.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 7, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
I know how that goes Dan. My thumb does not always work the way it should when typing. Good luck with your back. Back pain is always an uphill battle.
Comment by Big Momma — July 7, 2010 @ 9:54 pm
At first glance, I thought his severance was a ridiculous sum of money but then I remembered my situation when I left my job with IBM in the early 90′s. This was during their first “downsizing” period, when over 35000 employees were offered a voluntary buyout. I took it and was given a severance package which included almost 2 years salary. I don’t think a year’s salary is unheard of. Maybe, in light of the screwed up situation they put him in… first offering him the contract, then taking it away and forcing him out… they felt it was the right thing to do.
Either that or he knows a mighty juicy secret…
Comment by Lynda K — July 7, 2010 @ 10:04 pm
This is actually a very good article, Dan and spot on. This also precisely is why they voted some great new members on the council this past election.
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — July 7, 2010 @ 10:09 pm
#11 It IS possible to send Dan a private message about typos, BM. It’s really simple.
Comment by gdad — July 7, 2010 @ 10:28 pm
Yeah BM, …BUT you should know that Dan cannot seem to send private messages to commenters to call attention to their misspellings. Why, I bet you couldnt even go back a week and find where Dan did that.
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — July 7, 2010 @ 10:41 pm
Gdad,
A private message? Do you really think his feelings were hurt? He is a grown man, in the public eye as a columnist. It was a simple although repetitive typo. He fixed it. I apologized and he said, through a public post, no offense taken.
You seem to have taken greater offense than Dan. Inhale and take a deep breath.
Comment by Big Momma — July 7, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Seriously, MMM.
There are scores of readers putting up 700 comments a week on this blog. I don’t have the time to email everyone each time they drop an apostrophe from its or put one in there when it doesn’t belong.
As for my typos: I’m happy to have them pointed out, either way.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 7, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
To be honest, it was simple. The town was spelled without an “s” in the Title and withing the body of the article. I am sure if it was about “Blackburg” it would have drawn a response or two. Maybe then GrandPa would not have felt such a need to go on the defensive.
Anyway I also felt that we are both adults, Dan corrected the typo and did not display any hard feelings. Then Gdad and his comments made me think perhaps I was out of line and I apologized. However after Dan made known he was ok, then I feel it is over, whatever “it” may have been. It was a simple comment.
MMM,
I have gained an understanding of Dan. I think. I have refrained from posting for awhile or limited my posting to remove myself from getting caught up in emotional responses. It is however funny to take a step back and read the blog without any attachment.
Comment by Big Momma — July 7, 2010 @ 11:04 pm
Gdad,
I expect a private message alerting me of my typo. Please do not point this out in a public forum.
Comment by Big Momma — July 7, 2010 @ 11:07 pm
Dan
I agree. This is great reporting and the citzens of Christiansburg should be outraged.
But where was the outrage when the Wall Street Journal reported last year that the previous Carilion CEO got a SEVEN MILLION dollar golden parachute from our local charity, nonpropfit hospital. That is our community’s money, just like in Christiansburg, and it is a much more obscene gesture of looting the community. Carilion boardmembers, flush with insider deals(also reported in the WSJ), are very generous with other people’s money.
I sense a pattern of selective outrage involving easy, defenceless targets while ignoring major corruption at companies who are in a financial position to cause problems for the Roanoke Times. This leads to a lack of balance and proportion which detracts from these stories.
Comment by terps — July 7, 2010 @ 11:24 pm
Oh I’m sure you can photoshop one in there if needed…
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — July 7, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
BM,
Shall I assume from this that you want me to divulge your email address to to gdad?
Comment by Dan Casey — July 8, 2010 @ 12:50 am
Dan,
I was joking. No disclosure is required.
Comment by Big Momma — July 8, 2010 @ 5:22 am
As a resident of the Town of Christiansburg, I’m still trying to figure out how Terpenny gets any money at all! Before this Tuesday’s announcement, he all but knew he was going to take the Floyd job. So why are we “rewarding” him with $130,000 when he was planning on leaving anyway?!
We got hosed! Which is about par for the course with Terpenny and this Town Council which has saddled us with debt and a very expensive “White Elephant” (aka Aquatic Center) which most folks in C-burg won’t be able to afford anyway, but whose taxes are paying for its construction and upkeep. And for those who can afford it, they will be greatly limited in the times they can use it due to the sweetheart deal Terpenny gave VT for its swim program. Not to mention his complete disregard for the rule of law regarding open government which has fostered a climate of suspicion and distrust.
Good riddance! Terpenny and his “Yes Team” (the Town Council) have allowed developers to do just about anything they want. Just look at the abortion that is the development behind the C-burg Rec Center as well as other areas of suburban sprawl. I just hope Terpenny doesn’t try to turn Floyd into Fairfax-South…like he attempted to do here in C-burg.
Comment by Morris Fleischer — July 8, 2010 @ 9:45 am
#21 I don’t have your private e-mail, BM, otherwise I would do so. OTOH, ALL of us can easily obtain Dan’s work e-mail.
Getting a little huffy over this, BM?
Comment by gdad — July 8, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Is no one in Floyd outraged that they will be stuck with rhis incompetent, money-grabbing, Terpenney?
Comment by Jane — July 8, 2010 @ 10:09 am
Not exactly Gdad. I think Dan and I were fine. You were the one with your bloomers wadded because I publically pointed out a typo.
Comment by Big Momma — July 8, 2010 @ 10:40 am
Now my last post allows for you to do the same and we can be even and done with this.
Comment by Big Momma — July 8, 2010 @ 10:44 am
Wow, I see 30 comments and think to myself “self, people sure have a lot to say about the C’burg town manager getting a sweet deal . . . ”
And then I read them, and find out most of it is aobut Dna’s bad typng skilz.
What a disssapointment!
Oh, how swweet it wuld be for this to be #35,000, or whatever number the magic is set for!
Comment by Rick H. — July 8, 2010 @ 2:56 pm
Rick H,
That is exactly what one of my editors told me this afternoon!
Comment by Dan Casey — July 8, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
I never thought I would stoop to posting a comment on a site run by a leftist, socialist, elitist snob rag like the Roanoke Times, but cannot hold back now.
I just hope all the loudmouthed malcontents in Christiansburg are happy. I worry though. Who they will blame for everything – all their problems, real and imagined, now?. According to these folks, Mr. Terpenny was at fault for everything from rain to splinters.
For those of you who fit this description I am glad you are so concerned for the future of Floyd. Maybe you should move over there.
Comment by Cburg Native — July 8, 2010 @ 4:34 pm
Shady dealings are more the norm than an anomally for this little burg!
Comment by Mike — July 8, 2010 @ 4:38 pm
“I never thought I would stoop to posting a comment on a site run by a leftist,”
Why start now?
Comment by Art Hill — July 8, 2010 @ 5:15 pm
Regardless of any shenanigans that may or may not have happened, hopefully this will give Christiansburg the opportunity to re-work how the Town is organized and how it operates to bring it up to state standards for local governments. And hopefully Floyd will also benefit from having new leadership in their ranks. Time will tell, but I wish both localities well…and I’m sort of glad I don’t live in either with the turmoil. I love Pulaski County!
Comment by Other John — July 8, 2010 @ 6:10 pm
A colleague asks, “The bigger question is, what’s going to happen to Floyd, managed by one of the guys who pretty much presided over the commercial raping of Christiansburg?”
You’ve got to admit, C’burg is a hell of permitted uses/zoning.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 8, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
A number of years ago while attending a seminar on executive leadership a long time CEO commented that a successful CEO is one who understands the excitement and potential of a new beginning, but who also understands when it is time to leave.
I don’t know the ins & outs of the situation in Christiansburg, but I will comment that any CEO who has been in place for 21 years carries a lot of baggage with him/her. What troubles me most with this situation is that it appears that Mr. Terpenny negotiated a new deal with the town of Floyd while also negotiating an exit agreement with Christiansburg. That’s a bit beyond the pale in my view.
Comment by Ron — July 8, 2010 @ 6:41 pm
#33
Cburg Native: “I never thought I would stoop to posting a comment on a site run by a leftist, socialist, elitist snob rag like the Roanoke Times…”
Don’t bother. Those leftist, socialist, elitist censoring snobs won’t let you post here anyway.
Comment by AF — July 8, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
Whenever I see a man with a ponytail, my first thought is “What’s wrong with him?” Same feeling I get when a woman wears a ring on any other than her ring finger.
Comment by Suzie — July 8, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
I find it hard to believe that someone making $128,000+ a year would seek out a job that only paid $43,000 to the previous town manager. I would expect that he knew he would be asked to resign from C’burg, and that’s why he wanted the job. I have to wonder, though, if Floyd knew the situation that he was facing in C’burg. If not, are they going to honor their employment offer to someone that was asked to resign by his soon-to-be-former employer because they had lost faith in his ability as a town manager? If so, shame on them for the under-the-table way that it was handled. Either way, I think Floyd has egg on its face at the way that all of this played out. It was disclosed today that they offered Terpenny $50,000 due to his years of experience. After holding a job that paid $128,000+ a year, how long does Floyd expect to be able to hold on to him as a town manager for $50,000? Are they going to be searching for their 5th town manager in a year? For their sake, I hope not. It would seem that with 50+ interested applicants this time, they could find someone a bit less controversial for the position. Floyd is a wonderful town. Why discolor their reputation now?
Comment by Just wondering — July 8, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
@Ron….Mr. Terpenny happens to be the President of VML (Virginia Municipal League). I would think that his negotiating a deal with a potential employer while negotiating a deal with his current employer would violate ethics. Maybe not HIS ethics. But there should be an ethical code amongst members of VML. If I were Floyd, I’d have to wonder if he wouldn’t do the same to us, especially when they’ll not pay him nearly as sweetly as C’burg.
Comment by Just wondering — July 8, 2010 @ 8:01 pm
“Whenever I see a man with a ponytail, my first thought is “What’s wrong with him?””
Your daughter loves to have men’s long hair gently rubbed all over her naked body!
Comment by Blue John — July 8, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
So much for the Internet and social media contributing to informed, constructive dialogue and debate. As usual, most everyone spews forth opinion and allegations in a vaccuum of factual information and actual insight. Christiansburg, while not perfect, certainly doesn’t have the problems of many localities and enjoys much more potential than most. The manager is always the lightening rod for criticism, but he/she is not the one that makes the decisions. I’m all for accountability, but not for taking cheap personal shots at any public figure. If you don’t know all the facts, you shouldn’t speculate and spout judgements as if you do.
Comment by Dan — July 8, 2010 @ 8:48 pm
My question would be whether or not Floyd’s Town Council knew what was going on between Terpenny and C’burg. If not, is Floyd going to honor the offer made to him? I guess we will find out next Thursday when a Council meeting is held and the vote for his employment is made. If they did know, shame on them for the under-the-table deal made with him. Either way, I think that Floyd has egg on its face. Are they really so desperate for a town manager that they would be okay with the suspicion and shame brought about by these events? Certainly they HAD to wonder why he would apply for a job knowing he would make a whole lot less than his current salary. Maybe he did like the thought of a more laid-back job in Floyd, instead of the more stressful C’burg. But, come on! You can’t tell me that they think he was WILLING to take an $80,000+ a year cut in salary? You also can’t tell me that with 50+ people interested in the job, that they could not have chosen someone with a less tarnished reputation. Floyd is a great town. It’s a shame to watch these events unfold and bring any kind of discoloration to their reputation.
Comment by Katy — July 8, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
“I don’t know the ins & outs of the situation in Christiansburg’
you dont know enough about it to comment,stick to your historical facts.
Comment by Jack Mcguire — July 8, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
Earlier in this thread “Katy” posted as “Just Wondering.”
Katy/JW: Welcome! Here on the blog, we stick with one anonymous ID. Things are less confusing that way.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 8, 2010 @ 9:39 pm
“So much for the Internet and social media contributing to informed, constructive dialogue and debate.”
Whew!! For a minute there I thought you were referring to my tasteless post!
Comment by Blue John — July 8, 2010 @ 9:49 pm
Dan, stop whining. I’ve been reading the blogs of cry babies all day. It’s sickening.
It is not unusual for a manager with Terpenny’s experience and tenure to 1) have/want a contract, 2)have a severance package. Every major organization has payroll guidelines for such events. This is a firestorm of ignorance led by political dry brush like you.
Comment by Glenn M — July 8, 2010 @ 9:59 pm
Oh, Suzie, #43. One of your more telling comments. You, though, are the butt of the story.
My best friend, who lives out in Nevada, has worn a pony tail almost ever since he got back for a 13 month USMC sponsored tour of ‘Nam, as a grunt, during which he earned many kudos for bravery, and made lifetime friends. He’s been a productive citizen during the time he’s worn his ponytail, in fact, for all that time, and has raised a bright and helpful son.
He does have one major fault, though: he’s a Republican. Fortunately, he’s not a neocon, but thinks about issues and candidates before he votes.
Comment by Charlie Self — July 8, 2010 @ 11:33 pm
@ Lynda K: “When you left IBM” you didn’t have a choice. You were downsized. And that was a private corporation, rather than tax money.
@ Terps: Again, private corporations, not tax money. And further away. ChristianSburg residents trying too hard to keep homes, jobs to raise a big ruckus. Bigger question is why Terpenny got to swim away before the town drowns in the Aquatic Center. Better to shift where you invest, yet you can’t not pay taxes. Even in Town of Floyd, which raised them although they had a solid surplus. In the ‘burg, however, meals taxes are supposed to fill a $2.2 million deficit. Check back in a year on how that went, since taxpayers can choose not to spend in Christiansburg or at all. What will the impact be to jobs, business license and real property values then?
@ Katy: It isn’t a -$80,000 paycut if you walk out the door with one year’s future salary in your pocket, untold thousands in “unused” vacation and what else. One can only hope it all hits in the 2010 tax year.
@ Cburg Native: You sound like a loudmouthed malcontent. Is membership open to anyone, including all those new homeowners in the 5000 new residential dwellings recently built on steep slopes without adequate infrastructure?
@ Just Wondering: Wanted the Floyd job, or the best/least inconvenient option if a multiyear contract wasn’t successful? As to being president of VML, see comments about private organizations. Ethics? How antiquated. It all comes back to strings attached to wallets.
@ Dan: This Town Manager did just what all those elected officials told him to do, or allowed him to do, for 21 years.
@ Glenn M: There wasn’t a contract. Duh. That’s why the manager left (because he couldn’t get his elected officials to agree to his demands).
Comment by NRV Citizen — July 9, 2010 @ 12:30 am
Jack,
Your lack of knowledge on issues hasn’t stopped you from making inane remarks on this thread. While I’m sure where you can stick it, I’m not sure what you have sufficient knowledge of to let me advise you to stick to something.
Comment by Ron — July 9, 2010 @ 5:47 am
“I never thought I would stoop to posting a comment on a site run by a leftist, socialist, elitist snob rag like the Roanoke Times, but cannot hold back now.”
Oh, sure you can. Try harder.
Comment by Kristen — July 9, 2010 @ 7:57 am
I’m always hearing how the Democrats are made up of uneducated people and those on welfare. Then those same people turn around and call anyone who’s a democrat, elitist and snobbish. Since when has being uneducated and on welfare been considered being an “elitist snob”?
Comment by Magpie — July 9, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Magpie,
There are two groups of Democrats. One group is uneducated and dependent; the other group consists of professional academicians who they know what’s best for everyone, and pretend all their make-work paper-pushing and high-sounding rhetoric are the same as real accomplishment.
What the two groups have in common is neither produces anything.
Comment by Suzie — July 9, 2010 @ 10:47 am
Oh, and I forgot. There is a third group which is hybrid between the first two. They are the uneducated wannabe faux-elitists. Kristen falls into that category as did her hero Peter Jennings.
Comment by Suzie — July 9, 2010 @ 10:52 am
#55 All right, it’s social scientist troll!!!
Comment by gdad — July 9, 2010 @ 11:10 am
Is it bad manners to push a mutt humping your leg off before it’s finished?
Comment by Kristen — July 9, 2010 @ 11:38 am
“It’s like trying to find gold in a silver mine
It’s like trying to drink whisky from a bottle of wine”
The troll’s knowledge of Democrats is about as informed and accurate as her self descriptions and delusions of grandeur coupled with her revised history of the Republicans she so admires. That level of willful ignorance, fantasy and delusion is truly a mental illness. Truly.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 9, 2010 @ 12:14 pm
#51… I DID have a choice when I left IBM. Everyone had a choice to take the buyout or not. I wasn’t forced out or asked to leave. Everyone in the company was given the option… that’s why I think the severance packages were so big… they knew they had to offer us a sweet deal to encourage us to leave.
Maybe the same is true for Terpenny… To get him to leave quietly they “gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse”. Whether it’s tax payer money or share-holder money it’s all money that the powers-that-be decide how to spend.
IBM’s motives were clear… to eliminate jobs.. I’m not so sure the motives in this case are clear at all.
Comment by Lynda K — July 9, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
Suzie… As I see it, there is only one group of Republicans:
Those who believe the white, male, Christian God should be the only object of worship on the planet… that power and wealth should remain in the hands of 1% of the world’s population while the remaining 99% starve… that health care should be privatized so the poor can’t afford basic medication… that a rape victim, living on welfare, should be forced to care for a baby she didn’t even ask for… and that America is the only legitimate country on Earth and all others should bow to our will.
Comment by Lynda K — July 9, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
Lynda, you have some facts and figures that show that 99% of the world’s population is starving? … or are those just some liberal talking points that you have taped to your monitor?
Comment by Marked Man (Mark) — July 9, 2010 @ 2:23 pm
I should probably add a category D. These are people who should know better, but believe the illusion that Democrats really want to help and liberalism works.
Group A: Sandi, Gdad, Dave, Steve, OG
Group B: Ron, Dan, Blossom
Group C: Kristen, Poodle, Warlock, AF, Debbie, Lori
Group D: BJ, OJ, Lynda
Comment by Suzie — July 9, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
Magpie hovers between C and D. Morris is probably D. Forgive me if I’ve missed anyone.
Comment by Suzie — July 9, 2010 @ 3:09 pm
As a native of C’burg, I’ve always wondered why people accepted complacency and lack of vision in our town government. It seems like the tide is changing and the good ol’ boy network is breaking up, and I like that (even though I no longer live there). If Terpenny and the town council of old had demonstrated even half of the spice, engagement in our town’s issues, and passion for improving Christiansburg of those who have posted comments on this article, my hometown might be healthier and more vibrant right now. But perhaps things are turning the right direction?
I wonder if Terpenny wanted to negotiate a 3-year contract, hoping to get an even bigger buyout when he did exit for Floyd (which may have been in the works prior to the Christiansburg contract negotiations). Did he want the lower-paying, lower-stress Floyd job without sacrificing his C’burg income and the lifestyle it allows in the NRV? A salary of $130,000 a year goes a long way in the NRV, but especially in Floyd. In other words, Terpenny could use the almost $400,000K of C’burg money (3 years of salary in a buyout) to subsidize his job income there in Floyd, which ones assumes would be lower, until he was able to retire. Thoughts?
Comment by C'burg native — July 9, 2010 @ 3:34 pm
One other question… How does the $130,000-a-year salary compare to managers for similarly sized towns in Virginia?
Comment by C'burg native — July 9, 2010 @ 3:37 pm
I’m not quite clear on when Terpenny is eligible to begin collecting his state retirement. But if it yields 40 percent of his C’burg salary ($52k per year), and he’s earning $50k managing a town of 436 people, one day he’ll be earning something close to his old salary.
I only hope the town fathers of Floyd didn’t take a spin through C’burg and decide that is what they want for THEIR town. Because Floyd is one of the most charming towns in all of Western Virginia — and C’burg is a monument to bad planning. It’s a monstrosity that by far is the ugliest place I’ve visited in Western Virginia.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 9, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
Suzie, you really shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Even a little self-confidence would do wonders for your disposition. Since the rest of the people in category D probably have a college education too, that means (if you really do have a degree also) you’ve just called yourself an “uneducated wannabe faux-elitists”.
Mark, I think you said you had a couple of degrees, so you get a double-whammy. That’s ok, I like your company, along with everyone else she listed… well maybe not the unintentional one she named.
Comment by Magpie — July 9, 2010 @ 3:53 pm
I agree, Dan. Floyd is a very charming town that has alot of character. It is a major stop on the Crooked Road. I hope for Floyd’s sake that the Crooked Road is the only thing crooked that residents and visitors will have to talk about in the future.
Just from the little that I know about Floyd, the private parties/developers there care about the character of the town. I highly doubt that they would allow the town government to do anything to hurt that character. I just hope I am not proven wrong.
Comment by Katy — July 9, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
Suzie
Thanks for the ill informed classification system. As an elitist snob
yourself, Im’ sure you are well qualified to recognize types and make
those observations. But just for your info, Ill match my education,
business credentials, and community credentials with yours any day of the week. And in case you don’t have one, I’ll loan you a shovel to use
so you can bury that load of b——t you joist foisted upon this blog
before the stench of it kills everybody here.
Comment by dave — July 9, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
I can’t go to Group D there, I despise the Democrats about as equally as the Republicans. My voting history is along the following lines: 40% Republican, 35% Libertarian/Independent, 25% Democrat. I have no illusions that both Democrat and Republican politicians can talk up a good game about wanting to help, but I know that they only very rarely mean what they say and plan on actually following through with it. I also have no illusions that a one-sided philosophy is a magic cure-all for all the ills that we face.
Comment by Other John — July 9, 2010 @ 4:26 pm
Sorry, I was still shaking my head in disbelief at Suzie’s latest attempt at logic and mixed the categories. That should be category “C” not “D”. Mine may only be in business, but I’m pretty sure even if it were a degree in engineering, I’d still have trouble trying make sense of most of Suzie’s posts.
Comment by Magpie — July 9, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
The immature comments that are littering this page are why I usually don’t comment on blogs or news stories. Instead of having a real discussion about the story, it seems to turn into grade school antics, leaving a comment board full of fly-speckers and nit-pickers. If you want to know what hose expressions mean, look them up at http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nit1.htm.
I think there should be some RULES laid out for anyone that wants to comment. Common sense and common courtesy are DEFINITELY sorely lacking in this world — and especially on this comment board. If you are a full grown adult, act like one. If you are not, then don’t comment until you know what you are talking about.
Comment by Katy — July 9, 2010 @ 4:51 pm
#63 So how’s that whole Rush’s website is read by lots more people than huffingtonpost thing going Suzie? Has Rush caught up those 5,000 places yet?
Has the oil spill killed more than a few fish and a couple of birds yet?
Comment by gdad — July 9, 2010 @ 4:59 pm
The real faux-elitists are the ones making less than a million dollars a year who carry the water for, and identify themselves as, Republicans. Do you really believe the party of filthy-rich wrinkled old white men gives a whit about you other than your vote to help keep them in power? To REAL Republicans, you wannabes are nothing more than worthless plebeians deserving of the dung-heap.
Comment by Art Hill — July 9, 2010 @ 5:02 pm
“And I, I walked over to the, to the bench there, and there is, Group W’s where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the army after committing your special crime, and there was all kinds of mean nasty ugly
looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father rapers! Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me!”
Comment by gdad — July 9, 2010 @ 5:06 pm
Yes, because troll’s opinion and credibility are so valued. Yawn.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 9, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
Suzie… I actually belong in Group “Double D” ….
Comment by Lynda K — July 9, 2010 @ 5:12 pm
OJ, it doesn’t matter that you and I are Independents, and that I’ve actually voted Democrat even less than you. In Suzie’s unusual world (it sounds like it’s similar to the LSD videos they used to show us in health to scare us away from drugs) we are considered Democrats. Anyone who does not have a creepy tendency to stroke her ego is considered a Democrat. Since I don’t have have a creepy tendency to stroke even my own ego, I shall happily remain a Democrat in her little world.
Comment by Magpie — July 9, 2010 @ 5:15 pm
Girl wins every argument, ya know.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 9, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
Poll party at Lynda’s tonight!
Comment by Dan Casey — July 9, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Vile propaganda, those LSD videos. . .
Comment by Dan Casey — July 9, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
Katy, we are no doubt among the dregs of actual conversation and discussion boards and new people coming in will certainly see that quickly. Try the RoundTable or Voices of the Valleys for more constructive, better controlled by the moderator discussions. It can be done.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 9, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
Sorry, Katy, but this is the (almost) anything goes blog.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 9, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
#66. “One other question… How does the $130,000-a-year salary compare to managers for similarly sized towns in Virginia?”
The salary for the Front Royal Town Manager – pop 13,589 = 122,000 (2007)
In contrast:
The salary for the Glasgow Town Manager – pop 1040 = 45,000
The salary for the city Manager of Virginia Beach – pop 433,746 = 215,000 (2008)
Comment by Lynda K — July 9, 2010 @ 5:32 pm
Lynda, those “Double D’s” are a blessing according to the best husband on the planet!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 9, 2010 @ 5:35 pm
You know Katy… I find that being able to unleash some of my pent up anger here… at people I will probably never meet… has helped me be a better wife. Now, I only make him sleep in the basement ONCE a week!
Seriously… it does get nit-picky and juvenile, and when it goes over the top, I walk away. There is a good group of people here, who all have pretty strong opinions. C’mon in…. get your feet wet. It’s addicting! Before you know it, you’ll be calling someone you don’t even know a pompous douchbag! Oh the fun!
Comment by Lynda K — July 9, 2010 @ 5:41 pm
” I actually belong in Group “Double D” ….
“
Come sit beside me…
Comment by Art Hill — July 9, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
“Your lack of knowledge on issues hasn’t stopped you from making inane remarks on this thread.’
Ronnie,the only remark Ive made on this thread is about you,an out of stater making comments on a subject you admit you know nothing about.
Comment by Jack McGuire — July 9, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
Yes Jack, and that was the definition of inane! Ron may “live” out of state, but he has a son in the area, travels to the area, and he has been blogging here longer than you. In addition to all that, his post was still intelligent, relevant and informative, You certainly cannot say that, not in this thread and not in any other. Leave Ron alone, you are so far out of his league it is comical and it will bring you more grief than you are going to want to handle from Ron’s Gonzo supporters.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 9, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
#86 Sandi… And don’t they make great personal flotation devices??
Comment by Lynda K — July 9, 2010 @ 7:09 pm
#73- Katy, you’re right. I usually try and steer clear of it, but I fell in with some of those “immature comments” today. The debates may get heated at times, but most people don’t go too far overboard or will apologize if they did. I’m glad you posted, it’s always nice to meet new people who want to discuss issues or share their point of view.
Comment by Magpie — July 9, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
Jack,
I see you got my message!
Comment by Ron — July 9, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
Thanks Sandi! Hope you have a good weekend.
Comment by Ron — July 9, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
‘Ron may “live” out of state, but he has a son in the area, travels to the area, and he has been blogging here longer than you’
wow,so blogging time gives you more credentials,wow and hes got a son in the area..well I got pimples on my ass,but Im not a butt expert.
Comment by Jack McGuire — July 9, 2010 @ 8:36 pm
Dan,
Was that a “poll” party at Lynda’s or a “pool” party??
Comment by Ron — July 9, 2010 @ 9:22 pm
I dunno Jack/Tony. I think you may be a butt expert, after a fashion.
Comment by Dan Casey — July 9, 2010 @ 10:02 pm
Not a “butt expert”, just a butt! Of course the length of blogging here does not give you credibility, the troll proves that. However, the length of blogging here allows people to judge what kind of person you are and when some new butt like you proves their colors, it is easy to choose which side to be on and whom to defend. Ron is a class act on levels you cannot even grasp. Stop digging, you are seriously gonna chafe.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 9, 2010 @ 10:41 pm
“Was that a “poll” party at Lynda’s or a “pool” party??”
Freudian slip…
Comment by Art Hill — July 9, 2010 @ 11:15 pm
99
““Was that a “poll” party at Lynda’s or a “pool” party??”
Freudian slip…
That didn’t make sense, Poodle. Maybe the Mad Dog hasn’t kicked in yet. Or maybe it has.
Now if Dan had said “pole” party at Lynda’s, THAT would have been a freudian slip. Or maybe it wouldn’t.
Comment by Suzie — July 10, 2010 @ 8:08 am
“well I got pimples on my ass,but Im not a butt expert.”
Don’t sell yourself short, babe. You just might be.
Comment by Kristen — July 10, 2010 @ 9:10 am
Lynda 78
“Suzie… I actually belong in Group “Double D” ….
Hate to break it to you, babe, but when you’re middle aged, Double D usually isn’t a good thing.
Comment by Suzie — July 11, 2010 @ 9:42 am
I guess it all depends on who you ask…
Comment by Lynda K — July 11, 2010 @ 10:42 am
97.”I dunno Jack/Tony. I think you may be a butt expert, after a fashion.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, babe. You just might be.”
Takes one to know one.
Comment by Jack McGuire — July 11, 2010 @ 11:18 am
For those interested, the next Floyd Town Council meeting is this Thursday, July 15 at 6:30. That information is per a call to the Town of Floyd offices. Previously, the time was given as 7:30, but that is incorrect. Please make sure you show up on time!
Comment by Katy — July 13, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
“well I got pimples on my ass,but Im not a butt expert.”
Jack, with your head stuck there as much as it is, you certainly should be an expert by now.
You must be a slow learner.
Comment by Steve C — October 24, 2010 @ 2:32 pm