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Your opinion is important to us.  Please feel free to submit comments about any story appearing in our newspaper or anything happening in our community.  We reserve the right to delete any comment from the forum, and will block members from commenting if necessary. No slanderous, libelous or malicious entries will be tolerated. Please be aware that IP addresses for all posters on this forum are captured and in the event of intentional misuse can and will be provided to appropriate authorities. Comments will remain for a maximum of 45 days. All comments posted anywhere on this site become the property of the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette and may be published in the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette or the Okarche Chieftain without notification to the author. 


Visitor Comments
 
Submitted By: common sense Submitted: 9/1/2010
D@n has a point...finally.

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 8/31/2010
If Mayor Fina does not plan to run again.. I say I am for whomever will conduct themselves as a professional and will respect the city with grace and poise like our current mayor has done on a daily basis... and as long as their name does not end with Boevers, Cheatwood, Cook or Stout..... They have my vote!!

Submitted By: Jackie Smola Submitted: 8/31/2010
And I believe that these are volunteer jobs sir. Complainers are just that - complainers. How about taking the energy of being unsatisfied, and turning it into something productive and save the rest of us from your pity party. And that, sir, goes to people on ANY side of ANY issue. By the way D@N, I see that you still can not bring yourself to sign your name to your post...enough said.

Submitted By: D@N Submitted: 8/31/2010
In response to Jackie Smola: The taxpayers have every right to "bitch" when they feel that their government doesnt represent their thoughts no matter what side they are on. As far as the difficulty of the day to day job of running the city,....those in the spotlight applied for the job and we are the bosses. When was the last time you told your boss to "quit bitching" If you pay taxes here, you have a right to complain about your representation no matter what side you are on. If you have a bad experience while dining out, would you accept the advise from the manager that if you didnt like the service, apply for a job there and see how hard it is? No, you would just expect to get what you paid for.

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 8/30/2010
Forrest should run. Run Forrest Run!!!

Submitted By: Ed Cook Submitted: 8/30/2010
There seem to be many on here who want to express an opinion but don't want to put their names on it. If you're not ashamed to say something, you shouldn't be ashamed to put your name on it. Having lived in Piedmont for 25 years, I have watched an on going effort on the part of the Fina family...First father George, and now son Mike...to establish themselves as the authority and as those who know what it right for Piedmont. I have watched as they built coalitions that have divided the council and been a party to the battle waged against Phil Boevers by George and Mike and at least one member of another lifetime Piedmont family. I consider Phil Boevers, Cindy Cheatwood and Gary Layton among my good friends in the community, and respect them for what they have always tried to do...which is to improve Piedmont. I have never had reason nor do I expect to have reason to quiestion their honesty. This has been an ongoing struggle against at least one long time family in town who would like nothing better than to see Piedmont just like it was 35 or 50 years ago. However there are enough visionary people around who know that Piedmont will grow, needs to grow, and in spite of those who oppose anything that Phil Boevers proposes, it is going to happen. We need better leadership, and equitable leadership in city government, and to get rid of those with a vendetta against certain people in the community. I vote with my wife...whoever runs again Fina is my candidate. How about it Forest....will you run?

Submitted By: Jackie Smola Submitted: 8/30/2010
I would like to throw out a challenge to all of you arm-chair politicians. Quit bitching, and run for office. If you don't like the way it's done, then be a part of the changing solution, or shut up! You'd be surprised how quickly your attitude will change when you see how things are "really" run. It is a tough job for ALL of them, and at least they have had the conviction to try to make our city better. Whether you agree with the outcome or not, ALL of our councilmen, Mayor and city manager are trying to do their best for our city, and that includes the school board and chamber of commerce as well. Print your name if you are so convicted to your beliefs. Stop being anonymous, because no one takes you seriously, and yes, stop crabbing and make a difference YOURSELF! Just saying...

Submitted By: Art Submitted: 8/29/2010
I am just happy to see that people like Liz, Cheatwood and Boevers haven’t intimidated the mayor or the council who aren’t afraid to stand up to the bullies in this town. I support the mayor and the councilmen who are working to make this town better. Keep up the good work! Too bad we can’t vote bullies out of office and out of town.

Submitted By: Phyllis Smart Submitted: 8/28/2010
Oh, Darrel Booth. You haven't been on your soap box in so long I had hoped we'd heard the last of you. I happen to be one of those mammy/grammie's (very rude expressions) that takes and picks up her grandchildren daily. I do this because I love them and want to know they're safely at school. I have never seen a business drive blocked. We all try very hard to leave these drives open. I do not intend to put my 4, 6 and 8 year old grandson's on buses when I am able to take them and pick them up. We are sitting in one lane of traffic for a short period of time on a street with a 25 to 35 mph speed limit. To my knowledge there have been no wrecks and this traffic situation has been going on for sometime. If you have a better suggestion as to how we can pick up our children, please share you sage advise with us. Heaven knows you are always full of good advise. We're all doing the best we can. I suspect the main problem is this slows down your morning drive to your coffee meetings where all of Piedmont's problems are discussed. And if this is the most serious problem you have to complain about in our town, get a life and let us worry about our own children. I don't think the "less fortunate" or "neglected by parents" was very appropriate either.

Submitted By: Scandle Submitted: 8/28/2010
I have learned that the police department is hiring a new officer. This is good news, however... To those who have applied I wanted to let you know that you are wasting your time. The Chiefs have already promised that position to a friend. Makes Cry. This seems really unfair to people who really try to get a job in law enforcement but aren't even looked at because some people play a friends card. Is the city manager going to let this happen? An answer from the Chiefs or city manager would be nice. To the gazette... Don't keep this comment from posting. Seems like you guys protect the Chiefs as they protect themselves.

Submitted By: Margaret Stout Submitted: 8/27/2010
I hadn't looked at the Forum for a long time. Now I know why. I look forward to the day when enough time goes by and the truth comes out about the dirty political dealings that have led to this Williams grocery situation. I'm with Liz--we need a good candidate to run for Mayor and boot old Mikey outta there. Better be a brave, honest soul!

Submitted By: Jonathan Hisey Submitted: 8/27/2010
common sense - I don't think people are mad at the grocery store/Williams. People will support the grocery store as long as it offers competitive prices. What myself and others are mad about is the way that this whole thing was handled. That includes developers and City Council/Mayor/Staff. This was a giant debacle played out in the Piedmont Gazzette. It's obvious there were a lot of backroom deals and good 'ole boy politics going on. As far as sales tax is concerned, just look at Oklahoma City. All of their road improvements are paid for with bond money. The only way Piedmont will be able to pay to reconstruct some of its roads is with money from ACOG, a federal earmark, or federal grant. Don't get your hopes up either because road improvements are not a priority. Don't you know we're getting a $1.2 million police station?

Submitted By: D@N Submitted: 8/27/2010
Dont get me wrong, when the store is open, I plan to go there. I am just sick of the roads constantly going down the priority list. Again, if we are going to invest (gamble) the roads are a sound investment and should have come first long before now. I dont for a second believe that the grocery store is going to bring in the revenue to fix the roads. There was a time when we had no Dollar General, no Subway, no Sonic, No Chicken and Chops....the roads looked the same then as they do now. Lots of tax revenue from those establishments has poured into the piggy bank and so far none of it has made a pothole vanish and I dont suspect this deal will help either. And, I dont think that "we" are opening a new business, Williams is. WE dont HAVE to front anything but incentives are customary. I think the business should have a bigger worry about their profit margin than the tax payers. If they dont perform, whos going to have to bail them out? The tax payers....because they are too big to fail. Where have we heard that before?

Submitted By: Harold Anderson Submitted: 8/27/2010
The roads in unincorporated Piedmont won't be getting fixed either in the next few years. Looks like Carson is back for another 4 years of sitting on his duff.

Submitted By: Liz Cook Submitted: 8/26/2010
OK...who is going to step up and run for Mayor? If your name isn't FINA, you'll have my vote!

Submitted By: common sense Submitted: 8/25/2010
When will you people understand? The grocery store is an investment in the future of the town. If we don't get more businesses to generate sales tax this town the roads will only get worse. When you open a new business you have to front money with the assumption in the long run the business will turn a profit. If we sit and do nothing, nothing will happen. Don't be fooled by Boevers' campaign. Quit being sheeple and support this store! It's coming whether Boevers wants it or not. Grocery store, roads, and parks has been what people have wanted here for the longest time. We're getting a store and some of you are looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Submitted By: Bury this Horse!!! Submitted: 8/24/2010
You might as well figure it out that Boever's will always put a spin on things to make himself look better or make his deal look better for Piedmont. That's what he's done all along. He's admitted in his letter that when he found out the city was getting Williams to build a grocery store, he decided to take it upon himself to get that deal and make it his own. It's only when they decided they didn't want to go with him that he started trashing Williams. As far as the 10 citizens of Piedmont that signed the lawsuit, I know that at least one of those individuals had no idea what he was signing his name to and it wasn't even notarized in his presence. Kind of like random names mysteriously being signed to another petition they had going around this year. As far as Cheatwood is concerned, I honestly feel like she is a nice person outside of her connections with Boevers. He's got a way of twisting everyone in his little web. Once this store gets here, I doubt anyone is going to remember all this cr@p. I can't wait to spend my money here in Piedmont rather than throwing it at Wal-Mart.

Submitted By: Darrel Booth Submitted: 8/24/2010
Wake up Piedmont!!!! It's "Mammy" (momma) and "Grammie" (granmomma) time of the year. If you are not familiar with this ritual it begins just prior to September and continues off and on until the midlle to late May. Are you starting to get the picture? If not just try driving along Piedmont Road as well as Edmond Road during the hours of 7:30 AM-8:30 AM, Monday thru Friday when you will experience Mammy and Granmammie delivering their precious packages to the Piedmont School. We spend thousands of dollars annually to provide transportation but the only ones who make use of it are the less fortunate or they are "neglected" by parents who trust the dedicated drivers that are hired to do the transportation. Beside sending conflicting social messages it also causes a serious traffic situation that may some day result in a serious accident. Being in mind that this is a state highway and as such is illegal to stop or stand in a traffic lane we find that the signs prohibiting such have been recently removed. Question---- who ordered them removed and why? Some of the doting parents/grandparents even block driveways to commercial busineses and cause some drivers who are attempting to get out the driveway to wait and in many cases have a blind spot when they do attempt to exit. Get this--- the issue was addressed at Monday's City Council meeeting but like a lot of things it was only addressed not resolved. When will we have a solution? Election time? Just my effort to limber up my slightly unused "paddle".

Submitted By: New to Piedmont Submitted: 8/24/2010
I also agree that more needs to go towards the roads. My inlaws have lived here over 20 years and we just moved here. I think of all the places we have lived the roads here are terrible. I believe that if we are paying to live here then roads should get some attention and not just 178th and Piedmont road, All the roads. If newer development is important, then how about the older parts? How about the residents who have been here the longest their cars and their drives are the worse. SO maybe a little less arguing over the little stuff, a little more on what we have and what needs to fixed.

Submitted By: Jonathan Hisey Submitted: 8/24/2010
Perhaps my comments will make it through this time. When is the next mayoral election in Piedmont? Mr. Fina was elected in 2006 according to his bio. Is there not a mayoral election this fall? The term is only 4 years. I personally think Mike wanted Williams and only Williams from the start. I also think he did whatever he could could to make sure he got as much credit as he could for landing them in Piedmont. That included ignoring anything else that might have cost less taxpayer money or brought another store here. I'm sure he'll be front and center at the ground breaking!

Submitted By: Concerned Submitted: 8/23/2010
I'm like D@N, I think Mr. Boevers letter DID raise some questions. Like why are Piedmont taxpayers paying close to 2,000,000 dollars for a building for Williams? If a grocery store wants to locate in Piedmont, let them finance their own building. What happens 2,3 or 5 years down the road when Williams can't make a go of it, and wants to sell out? With this building on the land Willams own, where in the contract does it state what happens to the building then?People you better wake up before it's too late. This isn't a Boevers - Fina war anymore. This is Piedmont's future. Wouldn't 2 Million go a long way on the roads or a nice auditorium for the schools ?

Submitted By: D@N Submitted: 8/23/2010
Mr. Boevers letter did raise some questions. I received a copy of it at home as I am sure many did. I was also curious about parts of the home mailer that seemed to have been edited out here and in the paper or they were added later? I dont know. Doesnt matter anymore. As for enemies of growth in Piedmont, I am one of those. I Dont want anymore growth until the infrastructure can handle what it already has. People move here because they are trying to get away from the big city. We dont want apartment complexes, crunched housing and lights that restrict the nightime view of the country sky. I would prefer a decent road to drive on than having a grocery store. The cost of food is high enough but to drive on our roads to get there makes the problem worse. My grocery budget would be higher if my car repair budget was lower. I dont know who has the guts to buy one of those electric cars and drive them here. The holes in our streets are big enough to swallow one of them up with one wrong turn. I know that repairs take money. Money comes from taxes so you increase taxes by bringing in new business. But if you have to over-extend our line of credit on anything....make it infrastructure, not a single business. More business would come here if what they saw was more appealing. That goes for the roads and the politics. Clean up both and you may get more offers without having to sell our grandchildren's tax money.

Submitted By: bill Submitted: 8/22/2010
I have seen the Gasette's intent to investigate the city of piedmont, mayor, certain council members and all of the cities actions regarding the grocery store. Lets appreciate the folks with Williams they are still here. I however have seen no effort to investigate or report on any of the folks makeing acusations and allegations regarding the city. A community newpaper is an important part of a community. A newspaper can among many things help develop a feeling of pride in a community. Maybe this will help: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. PREAMBLE.The First Amendment protecting freedom of expression from abridgement by any law, guarantees to the people through their press a constitutional right, and therby places on newpaper people a particular responsibiltiy. Thus journalism demands of its practitioners not only industry and knowledge but also the pursuit of a standard of integrity proportionate to the journalist singular obligation. To this end the American Society of Newspaper Editors sets forth this Statement of Principles as a standard encouraging the highest ethical and professional performance. I would like to see the Piedmont Gazette publish that statement of principles. The preamble and the complete Articles I thru VI. These principles are intended to perserve, protect and strengthen the bond of trust and respect between American Journalists and the American People, a bond that is essential to sustain the grant of Freedom entrusted to both by the nation's founders. I would hope the paper would pay particular attention to Article III-Independence. Journalsits mist avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety as was as any CONFLICT OF INTERERST. They should neither accept anything nor PURSUE any activity that might compromise or seem to compromise their intergrity. WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE PROMPLY ADMIT IT AND CORRECT IT.

Submitted By: Piedmont Resident fo 30 Years Submitted: 8/22/2010
Bottom Line>> If you live in the Piedmont area. You and your family need to support local business. This will be the only way for Piedmont infrastructure to improve and attract more business owners. We have the worst roads in the state. Only way to get better roads is from sales tax revenue. Your real estate tax only goes to our school system. Ask yourself? Where do you buy your gas, eat out, wash your car, dry cleaning, haircut, buy your wine, work-out, rent movies, buy your flowers, healthcare provider's, etc. Everybody needs to stop fighting and unite. We need to support our local small business owners. PLEASE SPEND YOUR MONEY IN PIEDMONT!

Submitted By: Concerned Resident Submitted: 8/21/2010
I been gone for awhile and I want to comment on the recent resignations from Cindy Cheatwood and Gary Layton. I am sorry for the city what we all had to go through all of this guff and feel sorry for the members of the chamber that was not part of these embarrassing acts by a few of its current and past members. But with that said I am glad that they will be gone, its been long enough of their reign of bull. Question for Gary; I wish Gary could explain to all of us why he was angry?....as he stated in his letter. What was he angry about? Where is your apology to the Mayor? What was Darrin Owens involvement with the letter and what his role? You two share an office. With this all said I will still pray for each of you that you all may begin your healing process as well the town's people.

Submitted By: Adam A Submitted: 8/20/2010
In response to Phil Boevers novel - Actually the "good" people that have resigned have made the Chamber a much more attractive entity. Much like the incumbant battles across the nation I think many would agree, it's time the old and moldy get out of the way and let others have a shot at running. That is to say, if they haven't already run off everyone of good caliber. And before Marsha Burns says anything, perhaps the reason no one has volunteered as yet is because they were waiting until the proverbial bulldog with lipstick got out of the way. Now that felt goooood!

Submitted By: Brian Vermillion Submitted: 8/19/2010
Once again, it's obvious Phil Boevers is against any deal that he isn't in on. His recent pitiful attempts to reinvent himself as the saviour of the city of Piedmont are simply an indication of how desperate he really is. I say again, and hopefully this time it will be published, he is finally reaping what he has sown over the years.

Submitted By: Phil Boevers Submitted: 8/19/2010
Dear Citizens of Piedmont: After reading the letters to the editors and the letters sent out by a group calling themselves “ Citizens for pro-business growth of Piedmont” (which no one had the courage to sign) I feel I need to respond . For 31 years in Piedmont I have had shots taken at me from a certain group of individuals that want nothing more than to see Me and Piedmont fail regarding growth. This same group has fought me on everything I have tried to bring to Piedmont. This same group has run a lot of good developers out of town however unlucky for these individuals I am a fighter and I have thick skin and usually never respond to all the B.S. But now I need to clarify some things. The letter written by Citizens for Pro-business is inaccurate. My group was NEVER going to receive the same incentives as was Williams Grocery. We NEVER asked our property to be “blighted”. Yes 10 people did sign a letter stating that if the city and Mayor Fina continued the course with Williams which we believed to be illegal. ( and apparently was , since the city received our letter the city withdrew the Tiff District funds). It is very obvious the City knew they were going to lose in court. So the 10 taxpayers and I saved the school district $500,000.00. The citizens for pro-business can thank us for that. The Tiff district funds for the store I am proposing is NOT A PART OF OUR PROPOSAL. Now Mayor Fina and Councilman Robinson, Woods, and Gage want to extend the Williams deal from 25 years to 30-34 years to cover the Tiff district set back of the $500,000.00 they removed from the agreement with Williams. Can you believe the City is going to sell municipal bonds to give Williams upfront money to be paid back over 30-34 years with interest. This is insane. Our proposal was for 10 years using sales tax only. Williams deal is a bad deal as this is still going to cost the City $2,300,000.00 to $2,700,000.00 more than the deal we proposed. Who knows how much more it will cost over the 30-34 year proposal now proposed by Mayor Fina. We even ask for our proposal to be heard at 3 different City council meetings where at the least the City could take proposal from both Williams and my group so that the City could get the best deal for the city of Piedmont, However this too was blocked by Mayor Fina, Councilman Robinson, Lewis, and Woods. You would think that the way to handle this situation was to get proposal from both parties and take the best proposal for the city. This wasn’t done instead the 4 decided they didn’t want to hear our proposal and wanted to spend $2,300,000.00 more of your tax dollars. Mayor Fina Councilman Robinson, Woods, Lewis, and Gage are going to use the City Check Book ( taxpayers money) to Win the so called War against me. This is just wrong for Piedmont. Who cares who gets the store, this has never been about me trying to beat Mayor Fina and others. It has been about what was the best deal for Piedmont. If Williams proposal was the same as ours and the city was not paying more for the Williams store then so be it. We would not be putting up the fight. So we can clear the air let me explain how this came about. I found out about Williams Grocery 8 months after Mayor Fina had been working with Williams. I found out through Leon Myers and I asked Leon why we hadn’t been contracted since we had land and a P.U.D. ready to go. Leon said the deal was in trouble and that he had asked Mayor Fina to call me because I could probably put the deal together. Mayor Fina informed Leon that I was to have no part of this deal that this is Mayor Fina’s Deal. So I contacted Williams directly and in 3 days I had a signed purchase contract with Williams to purchase land only. I had no knowledge of any incentives the City was negotiating with Williams. Then comes the Mayor’s Retaliations. First off trying to break the deal between Williams and us then putting up road blocks on our P.U.D. We negotiated with the City trying to figure out infrastructure for the property and we had agreed finally to bring 1,000,000,00 dollars of water and sewer to the property and the city was to be out no money. All negotiations were with Mayor Fina and not staff ( all other cities you negotiate with staff). This too was blocked by Mayor Fina . In the meantime Mayor Fina and Williams were trying to find Williams another site (even though I had a contract with Williams). Finally Williams called and said he was moving to another site . He said he would close on our property but would build the store south of town. I chose to let Williams out of the contract and look for another store for the S.B.S. Property. I advised Williams at the Time that is what I was going to do. After hiring attorneys to look at the City proposal to Williams we decided that if they are going to give Williams all the money why don’t we try to do the same thing. After further investigation we realize what Mayor Fina was doing for Williams was Illegal and wasn’t going to work. So we made a proposal with out a Tiff District which was $2,300.000.00 Lower than Williams. City Hall had our proposal long before they signed any agreement with Williams or before Williams Closed on Land. Mayor Fina, Councilman Robinson, Lewis, Woods, and Gage have purposely and recklessly not worked in the best interest of Piedmont which will cost the taxpayers millions. We still don’t know how the City is going to make this deal work with Williams. When the City goes to sell bonds for the Williams Store the City has said that the City has no liability if the Store doesn’t make it. We believe in order to sell said bonds the City will have to guarantee those Bonds. Stay tuned. Yes I ran the ads for SBS Development which I signed. The City of Piedmont filed suit against Williams (NOT ME) I have Emails showing Mayor Fina Telling Councilman Robinson, Woods, and Lewis how to vote on the issue, which I believe to be a clear violation of the Open Meeting act. Also Vernon Woods saying he voted against my proposal because it was Phil Boevers. Good job Vernon maybe you can pay the difference! Finally Mayor Fina has divided this community with his politics and his antics of pitting people against each other and then washing his hands and walking away. His Campaign was “unity in the community” maybe he meant “how to divide a community”. and hurt a lot of good people along the way for his political gain. Now there are a lot of good people resigning from the Chamber of Commerce because of Mayor Fina and his antics. A typical Mayor Fina antic can be seen when you read his open door policy in last weeks paper where he spins what didn’t really happen regarding Williams store Tiff district. After 8 months he has a change of heart? I will let you be the judge of that. BEWARE PIEDMONT: Mayor Fina is negotiating with the officials who operated the State Fair grounds stock car race track and is trying to put this in your back yard. This will cause property values to drop. Mayor Fina not only talked about this on channel 9 News it has also been told by the official with the racing group to Andrew Griffin of the Oklahoma Watchdog paper who is on it. Andrew said the official was told by Mayor Fina that he has the votes to get this done for them. Stay Tuned on this one. Once again I do not care if the grocery store goes in on my property, I truly just want to make sure the City of Piedmont doesn’t go with a deal that costs our citizens more money than it should. I still welcome anyone who would like to discuss this issue to come and talk about it because there is a lot more to come and a lot more to this story. Sincerely, Phil Boevers

Submitted By: Bethany Boudreaux Submitted: 8/17/2010
Hi! My name is Bethany and I am the Club Reporter for Canadian County Shamrockers 4-H Club. Most of us live in the Piedmont/Surrey area. I would like to invite everyone to the Martin Park Nature Center, 5000 W. Memorial Rd. this Saturday, August 21, 10:00-5:00 for the Grand Opening of our community service project, an Observation Beehive. Terry Hicks, builder of the hive, will be leading the 4-Hers in an extraction demonstration and honey samples will be available to taste at Saturday’s event. Members of the Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association, along with the President of COBA, Rick Shantz, will be giving “bee chats” throughout the afternoon and will be available to answer questions about beekeeping. The complete story about the new Martin Park beehive will also be available. For more information about this event, contact the Martin Park Nature Center at 755-0676.

Submitted By: David Submitted: 8/13/2010
My wife and I moved to Piedmont in 1985 and raised our family here. I suppose that gives me as much right as most to express an opinion here regarding the grocery store controversy. First, I have found the pissing match between the two parties involved to have been a disgusting display at best, but, on the bright side, it hs exposed both characters, and several others in the community, for what they are. I will allow others to make their own determinations as to whether or not anybody involved acted in a selfless and admirable manner. As to the issue of the property being declared "blighted", I find this very worrisome in and of itself. Could not the Williams project go forward without this? If not, why not? If you go to Google Earth and choose satellite view, I would say that probably 90% of Piedmont would fit this new definition of "blighted". Now, I happen to think of a blighted city as being Detroit, or New Orleans, not Piedmont. I, for one, do not care to have the same label applied to my city as applies to those two examples. In that regard alone, I think the individuals who stepped up to challenge this label may have a higher regard for their city than those who casually chose to label it "blighted". I don't know if anyone is going to come out of this with anything other than a foul odor about them, but I think questions have been raised that won't soon go away.

Submitted By: Jim Submitted: 8/12/2010
Where was Phil? Where was Phil Carson when we were told the existing county jail could not be renovated? We were told a new $25 million jail would need to be built. The truth is for about $200.000, our existing jail was renovated and brought up to state standards. The only problem we have now is with overcrowding. Now Phil Carson is telling us that he understands jails from his experience in the Air Force Reserves. But Phil obviously didn't understand jails when a major tax hike was being proposed. He supported the effort. Why didn't Phil Carson lead the charge when Canadian County had the chance to purchase the prison in Union City for $2 million. A 200 bed jail that would have taken care of our needs for years. Where were you Phil? Now we're sending prisoners hundreds of miles away instead of a few miles to Union City. Phil Carson wants to be county commissioner for one thing: A paycheck. Let's tell him to find a job somewhere else. Quit calling me and asking for my vote Phil. You are not going to get it!

Submitted By: Family been here FOEVER! Submitted: 8/10/2010
Just got the most interesting letter in the mail!! Which I totally agree with! For the 8-10 individuals that have filed a lawsuit, You will no longer have my business and I will most definitely spread the word!!!! The Simpsons have been in this area for ever and a day they deserve some kuddos in this town and you don't!! You 10 people are just pissed because they are making the money and you are NOT!!!

Submitted By: Isaac Miller Submitted: 8/10/2010
Sorry to interrupt the brouhaha, but I just wanted to step in real quick and welcome the new News Editor Ben Felder to the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette and compliment the look of the August 5 paper. As a former Gazette and Chieftain writer I know what a fun and challenging job working for the papers can be, and I hope Mr. Felder enjoys it. It looks great so far, although I am curious what the PFD were doing assisting the wild Swedish town of Äre according to the headline on 9A (kidding, of course. Typos have always been a problem in the paper, a problem I was just as bad about as anyone). I look forward to seeing Mr. Felder's work, and especially his Meet Our Neighbor column, in the future. -Isaac Miller

Submitted By: Concerned resident Submitted: 8/8/2010
To: Keely Owens, You are right that Cindy Cheatwood did not sign her name as Chamber president on the full page ad against Mayor Fina however if you would go on OKDemocrat.com you will see where Cindy Cheatwood posted and gloated that she is Chamber President of Piedmont and that she stated in that same posting that our Mayor cheated on a golf score card. We all know what she does and who she is and whom she works for, it is certainly not for the good of Piedmont, her actions are screaming loudly. Cindy do us all a favor and resign now!!

Submitted By: Business Guy Submitted: 8/7/2010
Keely Owens, aren't you the partner in the new American National insurance agency that just opened with the Chamber office? I Don't know about science books, but saying you're disgusted with most of the people in Piedmont doesn't seem to be very good business sense to me. Good luck with that start up!

Submitted By: Astounded Submitted: 8/7/2010
Gosh, Keeley, it’s strange that you say that half of the comments concerning CC are ignorant statements based on hear-say. I would think that a full page ad, containing seemingly incoherent rants and raves about a duly elected public official’s non-official actions/non-actions, purchased (still to be proven, and at what cost), and possibly even written by an abetting gullible third party, by CC provides a little more potent comment fodder than ‘hear-say’. The fact is that CC did voice her opinion and elected to moon the citizens of Piedmont, and no amount of collateral spin will ever erase or alter that action. She chose to do this, and the deed will follow her forever. You chide the comment writers by asking what other organizations might feel if the writers wrote about mean and hurtful statements made by their members. Well, Keeley, I guess that means that you actually consider the ad by CC to also be mean and hurtful. Heed your own words, Keeley, and open your own eyes to the fact that there is a selfish cabal operating in Piedmont that does not care one whit about the future of our city unless they are in complete control of the entire operation, and stand to make optimum profits at the expense of the citizens. Those days are over! Say a prayer for yourself too – you really seem to need one.

Submitted By: Ed Cook Submitted: 8/6/2010
I have been a resident of Piedmont for 25 years and my wife is a native. I served as president of the chamber when it was in it's infancy, and was a founding member along with Phil Boevers and many others interested in the well being and growth of Piedmont in the mid to late 80s. I have known Phil since he built our first home here in 1985.I have never met anyone I would trust more to be a man of his word, unlike many politicians that seem to have a sense of great self importance. I have also known Cindy Cheatwood for almost 25 years and while I might not always agree with her totally, I believe that she has the best interests of Piedmont in mind as well. I also know that many businesses probably would have packed up their tents and left town if they had to put up with some of the garbage that is said about them, but Phil Boevers homes continued to build and serve Piedmont, often perfoming projects that went unheralded for the benefit of the community. Having read the requirement for land being blighted in this week's paper, I'm with Phil and company and certainly hope they prevail over the city, as bad I as I would like to see a grocery and other businesses built. The land is basically the same as it was 25 years ago or since my wife was a child... farm /pasture land. Pure agricultural, and certainly not blighted. That's a fast one used by politicians all over the country to provide favors for developers of their choice. For you newcomers like the editor of this paper, you need to get to know all the players as well as many of us do before you start throwing mud.

Submitted By: Walt Perry Submitted: 8/6/2010
There is a dilemma facing the City of Piedmont. Once the Grocery Store War is over and the winner declared, will we be known as Finaville or Boversberg? I, for one, am shredding my golf scorecards. Walt Perry

Submitted By: Cindy Boevers Submitted: 8/6/2010
Attention Piedmont citizens: I have never permitted myself to "trash talk" the other citizens of this town and will not begin to do so now even though the letter writers in the paper and in this forum have always trashed the Boevers. This is my last visit to this forum and have cancelled my subscription to the paper so your comments will now fall on deaf ears. Once again I encourage you to make an appointment with Phil to talk about any of the issues you have concerns about.

Submitted By: Brad Waller Submitted: 8/5/2010
Piedmont Sports Association Girls basketball sign-ups are still going on. Ages 6 through High School. The cost is $45 per player. You can contact Brad Waller at 373-1398 or via e-mail at bwaller1966@sbcgloabl.net.

Submitted By: Keely Owens Submitted: 8/5/2010
As a newcomer to Piedmont I am disgusted by most people in this town. Many of you do not half of what you are talking about. You think you do, but really it is just hear say. I normally keep my comments to myself because I usually don't know the full story either. I do know that Ms. Cheatwood as a resident of Piedmont who pays taxes and is interested in the well being of the city has every right to voice her opinion. Who cares if she is the Chamber President. She did not state that in her letter. Many of you are probably members of organizations as well, how would that organization feel about some of the mean hurtful things you say on here. If you were talking about me like that I would have contacted an attorney already. She is entilted to her opinion just as you all are. Quit being such hypocrytes and grow up! Open your eyes and do something for the good of the town and quit complaining!!! And yes I am Cindy's friend and I am proud to say it. Oh, and I will be adding all of you to my prayer list. That is the only thing that is going to help all of us!!!

Submitted By: MB Submitted: 8/2/2010
My daughter received a call today from a friend who is a former Piedmont resident. She now lives in Texas and still receives the Piedmont Gazette. She wanted to know why our chamber president is taking out full page newspaper adds against the Mayor. My daughter told her alittle background concerning the problems we have been having and told her to get the paper on line and read some of the public forums and make up her own mind concerning Cindy Cheatwood. It is sad that people that live outside of Piedmont are hearing about our dirty laundry from our newspaper adds. It is a shame that the chamber president who is suppose to help attract prospective business can't let things go. Does she have Piedmont's interest in mind or does she have alterior motives.

Submitted By: Jacci Cardwell Submitted: 8/2/2010
@Very Concerned and the rest of the forum...please do not rush to panic over a court document but read the contents first. Here is the link to the actual court document http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/GetCaseInformation.asp?number=CJ-2010-695&db=Canadian&submitted=true The document reflects the City's compliance with the request of the "10 citizens" to have the District Court decide the legality of the redevelopment act as it applies to the proposed Williams site being declared "blighted" or not.

Submitted By: Jacci Cardwell Submitted: 8/2/2010
@Very Concerned and the rest of the forum...please do not rush to panic over a court document but read the contents first. Here is the link to the actual court document http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/GetCaseInformation.asp?number=CJ-2010-695&db=Canadian&submitted=true The document reflects the City's compliance with the request of the "10 citizens" to have the District Court decide the legality of the redevelopment act as it applies to the proposed Williams site being declared "blighted" or not.

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 8/2/2010
Hey Marsha, What do you think of our Chamber President now? For all of the newcomers that are not familiar with Piedmont. Cindy Cheatwood has ran for office on mulitple runs for city council and one run for city Mayor and in each case was defeated badly. In other words, the city of people has rejected her ideals. You bee the judge of her recent actions as chamber president. Personally I think she should resign immediately.

Submitted By: Renter Response to P-Town Bullies Submitted: 8/2/2010
Just a quick note....at least for this "Renter", I, nor did 9 other business persons in this town agree with SBS on the basis of being scared. We have minds of our own and we are concerned about many things our City leaders are doing and it is our right to be able to question. For me at least, this is not about the Mayor personally or Williams or even the Simpsons who own the land. Maybe instead of getting a "good laugh" by reading this gossip column you should talk to people who may be more in the know than you face to face and find out what their view really is. I know several business persons here in town, excluding Mr. Boevers, that would be happy to sit down and discuss anything you wish in a civil manner. Just ask one. J. Weaver

Submitted By: Leslie Doyle Submitted: 8/2/2010
Just a short note to say that I now embarrassed to say that I am from Piedmont - once a statement I said with great pride. Nothing quite as embarrassing as being at a equestian event, asked where you live, saying "Piedmont" and then having people laugh at you and ask if the "town leaders and Chamber leaders will grow up anytime soon." Hmmmmm.

Submitted By: Amber Fields Bickley Submitted: 8/1/2010
My Great Great Grandparents came here in the Land -Run! My Children are Fifth generation in Piedmont!! I feel like I can comment!!!! Enough is enough. Boevers you lost! Get over it! New people in piedmont don't know any better! They will figure it out!

Submitted By: Mary Bell Submitted: 8/1/2010
NOT A MEMBER OF THE YAH YAH CLUB Letter to the Editor, This is one sister that's not a member of the Yah Yah club. The full page ad in last weeks paper is a disgrace and embarrassment to the residents of Piedmont. Is your behavior and language appropriate for the Chamber of Commerce President? Cindy what were you thinking by dragging up an old score card? As you quoted in your ad, so does your actions say a THOUSAND words. The Williams grocery store is coming, and the Mayor's race is over. Pull up your BIG BOY BOXERS and your BIG GIRL PANTIES. Let's progress past all this Junior High talk. Hopefully we have seen all the full page ad's about Williams Grocery store & Mayor Fina from you and Boevers. When you became Chamber President, I'm sure your intentions were to serve the business community and to attract new business's to Piedmont. But your actions are saying other wise. Instead of supporting the new business Williams Grocery by extending the right hand, you and a few chamber members are working against Williams Grocery, with this threat of a ridiculous and unfounded law suit. Is this law suit going to be an expense to the City? Let's welcome Williams Grocery Store with the same enthusiasm we extended to all the new business regardless of who attracted them to Piedmont. In reference to Forrest Wells letter about the Williams Grocery store being built on a Cow Pasture. Lets look at other business that have been built on a former Cow Pasture: Robinson Insurance, Bod co, Java Daves, Los Sabino's Mexican Restaurant, Piedmont Family Care, Pharmacy, Vision Center, Chiropractor, Farmers & Merchants Bank, The Grapevine Wine & Spirits and all other business in Amber Fields. I am very thankful to all the business men & women who decided to locate in Piedmont. Now lets discuss the location of Williams Grocery. I have had several conversation about this with many residents and we are in favor of the location. We feel this location is the safest for our community. The traffic on Piedmont Road & Edmond Road are terrible during school hours. Traffic gets backed up on all four corners and if you have not heard there was an accident Wednesday night on Piedmont Road by Sonic. I'm not sure if anyone was hurt, but it looked really bad. This was not during school hours or a busy time of the day. Just think of a grocery store being located in the same area with all the traffic, bad idea. Enough said! The next time you see Mayor Fina and members of City Council thank them for their service and commitment for the residents of Piedmont. Mary Bell

Submitted By: Concerned Resident (original) Submitted: 8/1/2010
Can't we all just get along? I love this town! I wouldn't want to steer newcomers away due to he said she said nonsense. Get over it people and move forward.

Submitted By: A disgusted resident Submitted: 7/31/2010
As a person who pays weekly to run an ad in your paper, I would like to know if the petty, full page ad by Cindy Cheatwood was paid for by her or someone else or the paper just gave her the space. No where on the page did it say a paid ad. She and her little band of complainers should gather up what pride they have left and turn their energy to something more positive for our community. Shame on all of you. You're acting like spoiled brats that never heard the word "NO". I hope God can bring some peace to all this mess.

Submitted By: This is wrong!! Submitted: 7/31/2010
After reading the pathetic ad in last Thursday’s Gazette, the first thing that came to my mind was the question asked by Joseph Welch of Senator McCarthy, after McCarthy’s continued blatant attempts to disparage anyone who disagreed with him or got in his way, during a Senate hearing in 1952 – ‘Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?’…..I would direct that question to the president of the Piedmont Chamber, and to the entire membership of that body. How long will you let this shame and embarrassment continue?

Submitted By: Liz Cook Submitted: 7/31/2010
I am sick of all the ridiculous childish behavior demonstrated by both sides of the grocery store question. It is embarassing to think that people from outside Piedmont are reading about all the bickering and back-biting on both sides of the question. While everyone is busy lashing out at each other, I can see someone coming in and putting up a grocery store just outside our city limits, so all our tax dollars will go elsewhere. I want a grocery store too, but I just don't see it ever happening in Piedmont. I would love the convenience of a store right here, but it isn't that inconvenient to get to Walmart and we can just continue to give Wally World our tax dollars! Maybe that is what we really deserve.

Submitted By: Very concerned Submitted: 7/31/2010
What is going on !!! The City of Piedmont is suing Williams Grocery. Canadian County case no. CJ-2010-695 filed on July 27th. People wake up before its too late.

Submitted By: P-Town Bullies Submitted: 7/29/2010
I can always count on a good laugh these days every time I open my weekly addition of the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette. The page long ad run by SBS (aka Boevers and the bullies) has grown so tiring. I think I got through about the first 3 sentences before moving onto something more interesting and worth my time. Not to mention the constant gossip and rumor mill from the "town tattler". Honestly, where does she come up with this stuff? The best laugh was the page long accusation regarding the mayor and a 3 year old golf tournament in the newest addition of the Gazette. Really? You're pulling up old score cards from a charity golf tournament to prove the integrity of a person? This lady is grasping at straws and making herself look like a fool! We worry about bullying in the school system, but I believe there's the same bullying going on within the town. Give it up people! Do you have any idea how incredibly stupid you look? I applaud Mayor Fina and several city council members for taking the high road and not going down the road that these individuals are obviously crawling on their hands and knees on. You live in a tangled web of lies. Piedmont now has it's own little version of a gossip and rumor magazine. Never a dull moment! I know I'm not the first to say it, but SBS, please give it up before you really become the laughing stock of the town (except for your renters who agree with you because they're afraid you'll raise their rent).

Submitted By: concerned resident for 33 years Submitted: 7/29/2010
I would like to ask one question? Does Cindy Cheatwood have a personal vindetta against Mayor Mike Fina. Her one page add in the paper is rediculous. Is this add placed as a concerened citizen or as Chamber of Commerce President. Or are you just a sore looser. We need to stop all of the mud slinging and think about our public image. If people from other communities see such trivia in our local newspaper, they may think twice about coming to Piedmont. Another topic. The Williams grocery store is a done deal. Stop the first grade mentality an let's get on the same wagon and support the newest member to our community.

Submitted By: Tommy Humphries Submitted: 7/27/2010
PSA Girls Fall Softball Signups will be held Saturday August 7th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Municipal Building. We will be signing up girls for 8 and under pitching machine and 6 and under teeball. Girls born between 2001 and 2005 are eligible to play. For more information, call or email Tommy Humphries 373-0538 or twhumphries@sbcglobal.net.

Submitted By: MB Submitted: 7/26/2010
Why does the Ad by SBS Development/Phil Boevers still run false and misleading information? Is the City of Piedmont Borrowing money to pay the developers or are they subsidizing a portion of the developer’s investment with future tax revenues on the grocery store? If the City is borrowing money to pay the developer(s), then no future tax revenues should be given to either developer, since they would have already received their incentive. Thankfully, this is not the case. Don’t be fooled, both proposals are ONLY estimates as far as the number of years; it could be shorter or longer than either proposal indicates. One proposal, SBS Development, The City of Piedmont gets NO tax revenue on the grocery store until $1,400,000 is paid back to the developer. The other proposal, Williams, The City of Piedmont receives 50% of tax revenues on the grocery store until $1,900,000 is paid to Williams. We all know the tax revenue shortage the City faces, why would you give it all to a developer? Why not keep 50% and use those funds to begin road repairs immediately and not ten years from now?

Submitted By: Jackie Smola Submitted: 7/26/2010
I am forming a Piedmont/Canadian County 912 Project group. If you think that honesty, reverence, hope, thrift, humility, charity, sincerity, moderation, hard work, courage, personal responsibility, and gratitude are values worth fighting for, please join me. The 912 Project is designed to bring us all back to the place we were on Sept. 12, 2001. The day after America was attacked we were not obsessed with red states, blue states or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the values and principles of the greatest nation ever created. Please join me at our first organizational meeting, where we can come to learn from each other how best we can support our community, state and nation. Email me at dougandjackiesmola@gmail.com if you would like to attend, and I will contact you with the date and time of our first meeting. Please tell your family and friends as well. I hope to see you there. - Jackie Smola

Submitted By: John M Simpson Submitted: 7/23/2010
Excellent letter Mary Bell, I also wondered myself and I am sure many others in Piemdont is asking themselves why the officials from Buy For Less never came out here to Piedmont and never met with the city council or made contact with the Mayor of Piedmont. I know for fact they never came out to any of the chamber meetings or this would of been stated by the town tatttler Cindy Cheetwood in her gossip column. Its a shame that this paper is not asking real questions and doing true investigating journalism like your letter is posing. Too many questions on this mysterious Buy For Less deal. John Simpson

Submitted By: brian vermillion Submitted: 7/22/2010
How come Boevers hasn't responded to Mary Bell's letter? Maybe she's made too many valid points for even Boevers to dodge!

Submitted By: Roy Cassada Submitted: 7/15/2010
I want to thank everyone in the Piedmont business community for welcoming me when I moved to Piedmont 5 years ago. On August 2nd I'm moving and my office be on Main st in Yukon. When I came here I didn't know a soul, and 5 years later I feel a real part of Piedmont. Say what you want about it's crazy politics but there ain't nothin' like a small town. Piedmont's the best place I've ever lived.

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 7/13/2010
You guys need to fact check the town tattler woman. The land where the ramp was built is owned by F & M Bank not by the Phil Boevers.

Submitted By: Mary Bell Submitted: 7/8/2010
Letter to the Editor, It has been exhausting to say the least the past couple of months on how representatives of SBS development have reacted since they lost the grocery deal with Williams Grocery. Everything was full steam ahead when SBS(Boevers) had the deal, earnest money in hand and a signed contract until Williams Grocery pulled the plug on the deal.(I would like know the real reason why they backed out) For the past 4 months we have been exposed to SBS(Boevers) statements on the Buy For Less proposal either through favorable press clippings from this paper or from paid political full page advertisements. During all of this debate of who has the best deal for Piedmont; lets be for sure that there was a viable second deal to review. I have a few questions for representatives of SBS(Boevers). First I would like to know how come we have not seen a copy of the letter that you proclaim to have on the tentative agreement with Buy For Less? Second, how come with your deep connections with the Chamber of Commerce here in Piedmont you have not invited the Buy for Less executives to come out and express their intentions to locate a store here in Piedmont? Third, I would like to know how come the same Buy For Less executives have never come to any of the city council meetings to show good faith that they are serious about Piedmont? Fourth, where is your contract with Buy For Less? Fifth, if you have a contract, where is your lease for your anchor tenant “Buy For Less”? My opinion you will need a lease in hand or no bank will lend money on commercial development in this present business climate. The Williams family (Jeff Williams)has visited Piedmont several times at city council meetings and are committed to build a quality store here in Piedmont. The only people that has spoken in your behalf has been paid attorneys so far. The Williams family has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars with land investment, research and development, traffic and economic impact studies and will soon be spending millions of dollars once construction begins on their premier store. To draw any conclusions on the deal that was struck with Williams Grocery on the tax incentives I am confident Mayor Fina and the City council evaluated what was in front of them and chose the best offer for the city of Piedmont. I think the time is now to put this all to rest and lets all support the new grocery store with Williams. As the towns motto states the Winds of Progress; progress is coming and lets welcome it. Mary Bell

Submitted By: Brad Waller Submitted: 7/7/2010
Piedmont Sports Association will be holding Girls Basketball sign-ups this Saturday July 10th from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm at the Fina Community Center. The cost is $45 per player and a copy of her birth certificate is needed. The Fall league runs from mid-August through mid-November. For more information you can call me at 373-1398.

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 7/5/2010
Thanks but no thanks. I think we should support the Mayor we currently have by offering our honest opinions regardless of what the "town bullies" say.

Submitted By: Tina Submitted: 7/5/2010
Denise really!!... The Fourth of July is a day of celebration! You are so bitter to actually be mad about people celebrating freedom? Sounds like some people have nothing better to do than complain about petty stuff. I saw a lot of the cops in town last night. Maybe they were busy with more important calls than fireworks. Last I checked it wasn't a felony. I'd much rather the police be busier handling more important matters than driving around looking for people shooting off fireworks. This only happens once a year. Go out of town for the weekend if the fireworks bother you that much. My goodness!! Boo-hoo!

Submitted By: A A Submitted: 7/5/2010
I think you're right. You've convinced me. We should wait until the stores want to come here badly enough where we get the deal instead. Dennis Watson for mayor!

Submitted By: Denise Walsh Submitted: 7/4/2010
The last I heard was that it was illegal to discharge fireworks within the Piedmont City limits. It is now 1030 PM on the 4th of July and, it seems, no one knows the law! There are fireworks being discharged by people all over the city. My neighborhood, Old Town, is particularly bad. I see no police presence anywhere. Am I to assume the law is no longer valid? How about issuing tickets and fining the residents who so clearly are ignoring the law? They shouldn't be very hard to find.

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 6/29/2010
My eyes, and I hope the eyes of the people of Piedmont are wide open and I don't like a lot of what I see. To pay this or any grocery store millions of dollars just don't make sense, especially since we don't have it, and the projections for this store are WAY overated. I have seen Williams Groc in other small towns ie (Tuttle and Perkins) and their existance is not going to be a draw to other businesses. What will drow businesses is people. I think it is important for us to be patient. As the population grows, the businesses will come. I too think we need to support our local businesses. This tax revenue is vital to our town. To give millions of our revenue away to any business just don't make sense.

Submitted By: A A Submitted: 6/28/2010
Again, please open your eyeballs. The grocery store is the beginning. Once we have the draw, the other businesses will come. Do you want to stand around and let OKC have the entire tax base of Piedmont, or do you want to take a chance and let Piedmont prosper? If we don't get more businesses in here, the roads will be the least of our problems. Having said that, I strongly suggest Piedmont citizens shop and eat here. Yes, maybe even at that chicken place. Let's keep the ones we have.

Submitted By: D@N Submitted: 6/28/2010
I have read both sides of this debate very well and I have a concern that involves both parties, especially the Williams side because of the 25 year tax repayment schedule. Has anyone considered the very real possibility that a Walmart Supercenter could be on the N.W. Expwy between Piedmont and Morgan rd in the next 25 years? If that happened, both grocers in this debate would be severely affected and estimated tax revenue from either one of these companies would be severely short-changed. Any deal that hinges on a high end guess of tax revenue is a huge gamble for the city for the reason stated above. Im not a scholar on the developement in OKC but 25 years is a long time. I look back 25 years ago and my drive into OKC from Piedmont looks nothing like it does today. The traffic lights are popping up in areas we never thought they would. A Walmart located near Surrey Hills would be a boom to Surrey but would jeopardize any long term deal based on tax revenue from a grocer in Piedmont, no matter who they are, or who brought them here.

Submitted By: Long time Piedmont'er Submitted: 6/25/2010
To all of Piedmont, I am going to keep Piedmont in my prayers and all who lives here. My prayer is that we all can just get behind and support the community and to support the new grocery store Williams Grocery. With its prosperity the town will prosper. And with this vision of new prosperity I can also vision new development all along Piedmont road south to meet and defend our tax base against the ever encroaching OKC to the south. Amen

Submitted By: adproduction for Phil Boevers Submitted: 6/25/2010
Citizens of Piedmont, Mayor Fina’s Grocery Store Proposal Will Cost you $2.275 million!!!The current debate over the relative merits of the two competing grocery stores deserves the excellent coverage which it has received in your paper. However, the recent letter of Mr. John Mike Simpson serves only to distort the facts and does little to help the public understand the merits of these two proposals. Please permit me to clarify two points. First, Mr. Simpson confuses the costs associated with the two proposals by comparing only the percentage of municipal sales taxes that are captured in each. No one should be misled by his approach. The Town Central Proposal is clearly the less expensive of the two. Mayor Fina is proposing to assist Williams Grocery to the tune of $1,900,000. However, the City does not have that amount of money on hand and so it will have to borrow it. This means that the City will have to repay not only the $1,900,000, but also interest on that amount. Mayor Fina says the City will do that by using 2% of the municipal sales taxes collected by Williams Grocery. However, because the City is using just 2% of the available sales taxes being collected, it will take a very long time to repay the principal and interest associated with the $1,900,000 payment it is making to Williams Grocery. In fact, the most reasonable estimate of the cost of the City’S proposal shows that the City will have to capture almost $4,325,000.00 in sales taxes during the next 25 years in order to pay for the $1,900,000 that will be going into the Williams Grocery. Moreover, based on projections of stores sales for that size store, Mayor Fina’s proposal doesn’t begin to generate enough revenues from the 2% municipal sales taxes collections (approximately $120,000 annually on average) to pay the debt service (approximately $180,000.00 annually) on the Mayor’s proposed financing. This is why Mayor Fina must also utilize money from the Piedmont school district and the other ad valorem taxing entities to make up the difference. However, the Mayor’s proposal still doesn’t even generate enough money from these ad valorem revenues (approximately $21,000 annually) to make up this shortfall (approximately $60,000 annually). One should assume that the City or its public works authority will be obligated to make up the resulting deficit (approximately $39,000) each year, though the Mayor has understandably kept this fact quiet. In stark contrast, the Town Central proposal needs only $1,400,000 (versus the City’s $1,900.000) to attract a grocery store into Piedmont. So in terms of the amounts being provided to the grocery stores, the Town Central plan starts out $500,000 less expensive than the Mayor’s. Further, because the Town Central proposal calls for a much shorter repayment period, the Town Central proposal will capture only $1,950,000 in incremental revenue over a 10 year period as compared with the Mayor’s $4,325,000 price tag. Using the same estimate of store sales as before, the Town Central site will be capturing $240,000 each year, which will be more in dollars than the annual Town Central debt service requirements (approximately $187,500). Therefore, Town Central’s grocery store will generate for the City over $50,000 each year in sales tax revenue which the City does not now receive. Had Mr. Simpson done his math before he wrote his letter, he would have known that the Town Central proposal not only saves the City over $2,375,000, but also generates new revenue from day one for the City’s cash-strapped General Fund. Mr. Simpson goes on from there to conflate two different and distinct phases of the Town Central proposal in an attempt to mislead the public into comparing apples and oranges. The citizens of Piedmont should be clear about the fact that the Town Central project is not proposing to use ad valorem revenues to attract a grocery store to locate in Piedmont. Only the Mayor and some members of the council are proposing to use ad valorem taxes for this purpose! To the extent that ad valorem taxes are mentioned in the Town Central proposal, it is only in connection with the use of development financing assistance to defray the extraordinary costs of developing roads, utilities, parks and other neighborhood amenities in the proposed residential neighborhood areas surrounding the grocery store site. However, representatives of the Town Central project have made it clear that work on these neighborhoods will not start for another year or two. In other words, these neighborhood proposals are not currently on the table, and shouldn’t be used by critics of the Town Central project to confuse the public. (And if Mr. Simpson wishes to debate the overall proposal, then he should, at a minimum, include in his analysis the very substantial sales tax increases (between $1,700,000 and $3,000,000) that would be generated from the sales tax collections on the construction materials associated with the single family homes, assisted living facilities and other structures that are a part of the larger Town Central Project.) Rather than misleading the public, critics of the Town Central proposal should instead be addressing the serious flaws in the Mayor’s proposal. Perhaps they should first explain how the Neighborhood Redevelopment Act (a statute that was written for the redevelopment of decaying residential, downtown and industrial areas) can serve a basis for developing a “greenfield” site. The City Council’s recent finding that there are “blighted conditions” (such as “unsanitary or unsafe conditions”) on the proposed Williams grocery site strains credulity to say the least. More importantly, they should explain where the City is going to find money in the existing budget to make up the revenue shortfall which will result from the City’S proposal (almost $900,000 over 25 years)! There are many other benefits of the Town Central project which have yet to be presented to the public. Unfortunately, the Mayor and some members of the City Council are preventing the Town Central proposal from even going forward for consideration. The citizens of Piedmont deserve to have the merits (and demerits) of both proposals presented to the statutory review committee for their consideration. Let’s hope that the members of the City Council who are preventing this from occurring will recognize that they are making a costly mistake before it is too late. Side-by-Side Comparison of Grocery Store Proposals Amount of Grocery Store Subsidy: Town Central Proposal - $1,400,000, Mayor Fina's - $1,900,000. Cost to Provide Grocery Store Subsidy - City Sales Taxes: Town Central Proposal - $1,950,000, Mayor Fina's - $2,880,000. Cost to Provide Grocery Store Subsidy - Ad Valorem Taxes: Town Central Proposal - $0, Mayor Fina's - $504,000. Cost to Provide Grocery Store Subsidy - Other City Revenues: Town Central Proposal - $0, Mayor Fina's - $941,000. The total of the Town Central Proposal: $1,950,000 and the total of Mayor Fina's: $4,325,000. The repayment period for the Town Central Proposal is 10 years and Mayor Fina's is 25 years. There are 2 other facts that are being overlooked regarding this issue. 1. The Simpsons were not only compensated for the easements for the water & sewer line (believed to be over 400,000.00) which was extended through their property from Oklahoma City, they were give a FREE water and sewer line on their property. YES FREE. Most developers would be willing to grant easements for free knowing that they will obtain millions of dollars in water and sewer line improvement for their property. This again was a poorly negotiated deal for the city. All this can be looked up in the city meeting minutes at city hall. 2. Mayor Fina’s attempts to move the grocery store south of town will have an adverse effect on the other local businesses in town that have spent millions of dollars in this town and that are just trying to survive. Even 90% of the businesses in town signed a petition wanting the store in the central core of town. However, Mayor Fina, Councilmen Robinson, Woods, Gage and Lewis thumbed their nose at the local businesses and chose to spend 2,300,000.00 more to Williams Stores for a grocery store. WE HAD THE BUY 4 LESS DEAL ON THE TABLE WITH CITY HALL BEFORE A DEAL WAS SIGNED WITH WILLIAMS. THE CITIZENS COULD SAVE 2,300,000.00 FOR STREETS IN PIEDMONT. MAYOR FINA CHOSE NOT TO ALLOW OUR DEAL TO GO FORWARD AND TO PAY AN OUT OF TOWN COMPANY OVER 4 TIMES WHAT THE COST SHOULD BE TO PUT A STORE IN. Here is what doesn’t make sense: we submitted our proposal in early March for a grocery store which would have been substantially less for Piedmont. Mayor Fina said “since we have been working with Williams, we are not interested in looking at another proposal even if the proposal is less expensive”. It seems funny to me that on all other items over 7,500.00 dollars, city hall has to have bids taken in order to get the best price for the citizens. However, in this case it is not the case. Fina has said since March that the city had a signed contract with Williams, but in fact after Andy Bass asked him 3 times before he finally gave a response he stated that they in fact didn’t have a signed contract with Williams. Mayor Fina has used and abused his power to cost the citizens of Piedmont 2,300,000.00 just so he can say he brought a store to Piedmont. This is a high price for Piedmont to pay for Mike’s political gain. I have attended meetings where the same mayor and councilmen that voted to pay more for this William’s project have complained about how much the city is spending on tune ups for city vehicles. Something smells in Piedmont. THESE ARE THE FACTS THAT ARE THE TRUE FACTS NO MATTER WHAT THE SPIN DOCTORS TRY TO PUT ON THIS TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE FAVORABLE TO THEM. Dan McMahan, Attorney & Financial Advisor (prepared financial portion of letter) SBS Development LLC • Phil Boevers (prepared remaining portion of letter

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 6/24/2010
To the "original.." and A.A. I appreciate your comments. Are you afraid I will know who it is making these comments? I'm not sure which group you are part of. I have no doubt that you are correct as far as "..that it won't be". Then again, because one don't agree with you doesn't mean you are or it is right.

Submitted By: A A Submitted: 6/22/2010
Dennis, There are two groups of people in the world. The first are those who build, create, and enhance civilization. The second group are those who can't see "down the road" and are non believers. Just because you do not understand how progress is attained, does not mean that it won't be.

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 6/21/2010
TO: Dennis Watson, Your logic does have some merit of being competitive on pricing but your arithametic is off by a quite a bit on the taxes. It is obvious on what you stated in your letter that its not supported by the facts of what has taken place and voted on by the city council and how the mechanics work on the tax collections and how they are re-distributed back to Williams Grocery Inc. I would advise you to go to the city hall and ask questions and you will see where you are wrong on the taxes and the dollar amount on how this will be paid back and how much to Williams Grocery. A note of interest. I see where OKC is paying around a million dollars for the new outlet store complex to be built on I-40 and Council. This is being paid by OKC to help complete that project that has been stalled for the last 2 years due to the slowdown in the Economy. Why would they do that? Do generate and spur tax collections for the city coffers and to bring additional trade and commerce to that area of the city. Big and little cities alike have done this for quite some time and if applied corectly, it will pay dividends for both consumers and cities. But it is always good to ask questions and verify.

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 6/21/2010
To the "original", I too, am very thankful for the hard work so many people have done in this town to make it what it is today! You certainly don't have to shop at walmart. My point is, there are lots of choices within an 8 to 10 mile radius of Piedmont. Williams used to be at a Prime location at Rockwell and 122nd and could not not make it because their prices were not competitive with other stores in the area. Piedmont is offering to pay them close to 2 million dollars to come to Piedmont. What a deal for Williams. Not only will the city of Piedmont not make any money from taxes for the next 20+ years, but Williams Grocery will already have the money in their pocket. Do you really suppose they will care about being competitive? Then there is the issue of 1200 customers per day. Anyone who believes they can come close to half that amount on a regular basis has either not had any grocery experience or is just blowing smoke.

Submitted By: The "original" Concerned Resident Submitted: 6/21/2010
I am thankful to have the sonic, the medical complex, the dollar store, etc. I am on the outside looking in, but I have to say whoever, and for whatever reasons those business were brought here...THANK YOU! On another business note...I can't wait to buy meat at Williams! I hear they have a great meat department...laugh if you want but that wal-mart meat is nasty!!

Submitted By: Cindy Boevers Submitted: 6/18/2010
To Concerned Resident: Just wanted to let you know I am adding you to my "prayer list" tonight. Hoping you will see the light also. There are a lot of people living here that want Piedmont to be the best it can be. It is not up to you to decide which one has the "best" interest.

Submitted By: Jackie Smola Submitted: 6/18/2010
Ahh..., is it not great to live in a country where people can agree to disagree?

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 6/17/2010
I will pray for you Marsha that you may see the light one day on who really has the best interest for Piedmont.

Submitted By: Marsha Burns Submitted: 6/16/2010
Congratulations to Tiffany Tolbert, Miss Piedmont, and Elise Francel, Miss Teen. Your appearance at Miss Oklahoma made Piedmont proud. You both are wonderful representatives of our community.

Submitted By: Marsha Burns Submitted: 6/16/2010
Concerned Resident - The President of the Chamber of Commerce is the one who brought the medical complex, Sonic, Subway, and Dollar General to Piedmont. She received no commission from these businesses at all. What have you brought to Piedmont ? Enough said !!!

Submitted By: A A Submitted: 6/16/2010
Williams won't have 1200 customers a day? Why not? Piedmont's population plus surrey hills. I would rather pay more money than drive to Wal Mart and fight the traffic and people. You would to or you wouldn't be living here! Consider this the citizens of Piedmont speaking up.

Submitted By: bv Submitted: 6/16/2010
I think the problems revolve around apathetic citizens that have left the decision making process up to the good ol' boys who repeatedly get elected and to Boevers who doesn't like any deal that he isn't making money on.The only thing Piedmont is missing to complete the image of a sterotypical country hick town is a sheriff named Buford T. Justice!

Submitted By: concerned resident Submitted: 6/15/2010
The problem for businesses wanting to locate out here in Piedmont is not the city; it is the Chamber of Commerce of Piedmont and who is running it, enough said!!!!

Submitted By: Submitted: 6/13/2010
Dennis, I agree with you. The problem with businesses coming to Piedmont is working with the city. BUT in this case, the city is financing over $1 MILLION dollars for this grocery store to come. What does Williams have to lose ? NOTHING !!!!! The Mayor said he expects over 1200 customers will shop at Williams each and every day. Not gonna happen. How will the city pay their debt when their estimates are so far off. Probably more like 150 customers a day, if that. The citizens of Piedmont better speak up before it's too late.

Submitted By: A A Submitted: 6/11/2010
I think you're right about that, only problem is there's a little problem called Oklahoma City that's coming up H4. If we don't fight to get the businesses in they may locate just south of our border then we have a grocery store all right, but don't get any of the taxes.

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 6/9/2010
Thanks for the response. I was hoping there was a better explanation. I still contend that business will come to Piedmont when the customers are here and we do not need to spend our tax dollars to intice them.

Submitted By: Submitted: 6/8/2010
You will find recorded at RB 3653 Page 491 in the records of the County Clerk of Canadian County a Warranty Deed which was recorded April 30, 2010 for the property where the Williams Store is to be located in favor of Williams Grocery Inc. I'm sure when you ran the records, you just overlooked it. One question, if you knew (even though you were wrong) why ask here?

Submitted By: A A Submitted: 6/8/2010
I'll explain Dennis, You need to look past the horizon. It's worth giving some tax incentives and other benifits to bring businesses that generate tax revenue to our town. For the very reasons you indicated; roads, fire protection, etc. If you think about it, the long term benefits generated by sales tax of a grocery store are worth any negatives. Also, think about the other businesses that will follow the "draw" that a grocery store will produce.(fast food chains, shopping centers, etc.) Now do you understand?

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 6/7/2010
I have to agree with some of the comments I have read on this site especially those that elude to the fact that the politics and back-biting in this town have become laughable as has the reputation of Piedmont. This is the second comment I have submitted and still do not understand why a town that is growing as quickly as Piedmont would pay millions of dollars to have any business come here. With the current needs of Piedmont being what they are ie., roads, fire protection etc., why pay a business to come to town. Just don't sound like a sound business desision to me. Can someone please explain this to me?

Submitted By: Submitted: 6/5/2010
If Williams purchased the land in April, how come it hasn't been recorded with Canadian County ? There records show it still belongs to Simpson and his attorneys.

Submitted By: Dennis Watson Submitted: 6/4/2010
I have lived in Piedmont for just 4 1/2 years. I think it is a great place to live. Like any small town that is facing the problems that come with growth we have our share. I guess I missed something some time back concerning these grocery stores. Yes, it would be great to have a grocery store in town. What happened to the "managed growth" in this town? Why would the taxpayers pay a grocery store to come to this town and make money selling us their goods? If there is enough business to support a grocery store let them come at their own cost. If there is not, then why don't we wait until we do. I'm not excited about seeing Williams Gro. in Piedmont. If you think they will be competitive just take a ride to Tuttle and check out Williams Gro. there. The idea of paying them 1 or 2 million dollars just blows me away. I'll keep driving the 10 or so miles to Walmart. Dennis Watson

Submitted By: Submitted: 6/2/2010
Williams Family Foods owns the land. It was purchased in April.

Submitted By: Submitted: 5/27/2010
Thanks to all who have given insite to the possibility of a new grocery store in Piedmont. My question is "who owns the land where the new Williams store will be located?"

Submitted By: Another Concerned Citizen Submitted: 5/26/2010
Cindy Cheatwood needs to stop what she is doing. It is wrong, useless, and definitely not the behavior of a true Christian. Your tactics are childish and bordering illegal. Allowing your bruised ego to navigate your behavior is unhealthy to you and your community. I pray for you.

Submitted By: Concerned parent! Submitted: 5/14/2010
Go to the Piedmont School Website and look at this statement under special services. It is important for parents to be aware of some things. Continue to Read. #1: Piedmont Public Schools has several services of which parents need to be aware. #2: We wish to ensure that all handicapped individuals (0-21) be identified, located, and evaluated. #3: We also provide identification, location, screening, and evaluation activities throughout the year in coordination with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. My opinion on the matter is to be revised to include: #1 We not only should parents be aware, but services will be provided for the students. You left that part out. #2 Whether you call the students handicapped is semantics, if the student is under an IEP, then following the law, they are students with a disability. The correct language should be a student with a disability to describe the student. #3 You state that you identify, locate, screen, and evaluate. Ok. Again you should include; and to provide all service plans in accordance with the OK Department of Education. That does not leave the schools off the hook. I do not like that this statement is worded with the intent to sound as if Piedmont schools do not have to provide services. Thank you for reading the whole message.

Submitted By: the banker's son Submitted: 5/14/2010
The Brisket at the Barn yesterday was a huge success! Thank you Piedmont! The bank served over 1,400 plates of brisket, over 700 snowcones, and countless smiles! Hosting the Brisket at the Barn is the least the bank can do for a community this great! Thank you to all who attended the event. A special thanks goes to Mac Thompson and my dad for cooking the best brisket in the state, my mom for organizing the rest of the food, the Piedmont Football players that helped with parking, the 20 plus Piedmont Cheerleaders that painted countless faces, our Piedmont royalty representatives wearing crown and sash, the Piedmont Band Percussionists for performing, everyone’s favorite local clown, Chester and his charioteer artist friend, Ralph Reich for driving the trolley train, Kevin at Piedmont’s Sonic for helping with the buns, City Stop for helping with the 50 plus bags of ice, our local Boy Scout Troops 374 & 734 for helping with trash and recycling, and to all the F&M Bank team members that worked very hard that day – and kept the bank running too!

Submitted By: Ron Cardwell Submitted: 5/12/2010
Thank you John Mike Simpson for your comparison of TIF for the Williams store and the SBS Development. I have confidence in our City Staff to recognize a good deal that is a win-win proposal for the City (Citizens) and any prospective developer and one that is not. I wish there was a way that information like you presented could be provided prior to council meetings. It seems to me that the general public is not as informed as they could be on improtant issues like this could be provided priot to council meetings. If this information were provided ahead of time to the general public, I believe citizen involvement at council meetings would be more productive and less emotional.

Submitted By: Leslie Submitted: 5/11/2010
Nicely said Cindy. This is a town that when you are parked on the side of the road with your horse trailer loaded and your truck hood open, people stop and offer to help. Or you are $.78 short at Dollar General and the person behind you whips out their change and says "No problem, do it for someone else." Can't find that too many places. Thanks for the reminder that this really is a great place.

Submitted By: Cindy Boevers Submitted: 5/9/2010
Just noticed the forum header states to comment on anything happening in our community and it seems we should also comment on the positive things going on in the community....so here goes. Congrats to Max Heckl, also cheers to the Piedmont Service Center for giving our seniors a ride, a big shout out to the Odyssey of the Mind team and to the Piedmont track, golf, baseball and tennis teams - job well done!! We should take an extra minute to read and look at the pictures of the kids in our town. They make us proud and they are the future of our community.

Submitted By: Concerned Resident Submitted: 5/7/2010
I understand now, thank you John M Simpson.

Submitted By: A Mom Submitted: 5/5/2010
Hey two quick questions....isn't it illegal to have the semi truck advertising chicken and chops parked on NW Expressway? And what was going on at Chicken and Chops on Monday night with the Fire Truck and Ambulance?

Submitted By: John Mike Simpson Submitted: 5/2/2010
If you didn't get a chance to go to the city council meeting last Monday on the 26th, I can give my perspective of what took place on the meeting and proposal from Phil Boevers representing SBS development on his TIF and Master TIF proposal. After the explanation from SBS attorneys we found out that Mr Boevers proposal would starve the city of any sales tax revenue for 15 to 20 years. The SBS attorneys stated and was confirmed in the poorly written TIF proposal that would require all 4 cents from sales tax collections from the proposed Buy 4 Less site. Which means that all the tax collected money would go first to Mr. Boevers to pay back his investment with no tax revenue for the city. However; the Williams Grocery would allocate only 2 cents of the 4 to pay back Mr. Williams investment, however with the early estimates that would take approximately 25 years to pay back. But the good news is during that repayment schedule the city would not be starved from tax revenues and would have a continual income stream of 2 cents on the tax base generated from the Williams Grocery. Now to compare the ad valorem tax based on property values. The TIF agreement with Williams Grocery only affects the 5 acres that was sold and is part of that TIF with Williams Grocery. The property owners that sold the property to Mr Williams did not participate in the TIF. So the remaining tract of land will have no affect on ad valorem tax collections and that money will continue to flow to the school district. What we found out in the city council meeting that the Master TIF proposal that Mr Boevers is proposing is not only talking about the grocery store and its location, but Mr Boevers and SBS whats the entire PUD to participate in the Master TIF proposal. I am talking about the entire 292 acres of land behind F & M Bank. The SBS attorneys did say that the Master TIF may allow for the city to participate in future financing for the infrastructure needs to the PUD proposal and its development by Mr Boevers. This Master TIF proposal may allow for the ad valorem taxes to be diverted away to the PUD for continued improvements and to be paid by the tax payers of Piedmont through financial instruments encumbered by the city. This could affect future taxes to be taken away from our school on the valuations from the PUD. To me there is no comparison of which is the better proposal for the city. The Buy 4 Less proposal will give nothing back to the city in tax revenue for 15 to 20 years but the Williams proposal will have immediate dividends paying back to the City which is a win win deal for all. The city of Piedmont is now going to get a quality and Oklahoma based grocery store in Williams grocery.

Submitted By: Concerned Citizen Submitted: 5/1/2010
I think every citizen in Piedmont should read the comments on OKDemocrat.com

Submitted By: Phil Boevers Submitted: 4/27/2010
It appears that some people have not received the correct information on all the issues. I would be happy to meet with anyone between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm to discuss the facts. Plese feel free to call my office for an appointment.

Submitted By: Cindy Boevers Submitted: 4/27/2010
Hey John Mike I feel I should respond to this one. It was also my idea to add other items to the menu. We had too many customers asking if we could add some items that were not fried for people that could not eat these things due to health reaons, etc. We are not trying to compete or take away from other businesses just a little something extra on the menu for those that can't eat the fried. City Stop is still where you would think of going for pizza or Sonic for burgers, etc. If you viewed the restaurant reports you would see the vast majority of sales is still the fried chicken and chops...it is still the reason people come to eat at chops. As far as the beer, we were selling 3.2 beer before the wine bar even opened. The wine bar is 6 point beer and a full service bar. It works out well for both parties. Some people go to the wine bar after dinner for a drink and some people have a drink at the wine bar and then order dinner at chops. As far as a bank or a pharmacy, the town is not yet large enough to support more than one. Most likely they would struggle to survive.

Submitted By: Concerned Resident Submitted: 4/27/2010
Well nice to see the articles directed for 'the other grocery' to attend the city council meeting didn't make it in the paper until after the meeting was over hmmmmm coincidence....I think not!

Submitted By: Stephanie Hinton Submitted: 4/27/2010
I am so disappointed by the recent behavior displayed by Mr. Boevers and one of his employees, Cindy Cheatwood. They were all for Williams coming to Piedmont, until things stopped going their way, now all of a sudden, they claim that bringing Williams to Piedmont is an awful move. It all seems very immature to me the way they have handled the situation. Including a very inappropriate display to embarass our mayor at last nights city council meeting, they are stooping pretty low. Honestly, you get what you pay for. I would much rather pay a little extra money and get a nicer store like Williams than have our first grocery store to be a Buy-4-Less. In fact, if because of Mr. Boevers and his fit throwing, the deal with Williams falls through, I will be boycotting any grocery store that comes to Piedmont by way of Phil Boevers. He does not have Piedmont's best interests in mind, he is looking out for #1. I would encourage all of Piedmont's citizens to write to the owners of Williams to encourage them and let them know that Phil Boevers and his friends do not speak for all of Piedmont. Thank you.

Submitted By: Ron Cardwell Submitted: 4/26/2010
Imagine a fire department that had a budget based upon property valuation. It is more stable than sales tax and the sales tax percentage could return to where it was previously (or possibly a smaller increase could be used fro road improvements). That can happen if the fire department would put to the vote of the people a proposal for an property tax assessment. (I am pretty sure that they would need to obtain signatures from a certain percetange of property owners in Fire Protection District (City Limits) to get it on the ballot.) Property outside the City limits is already taxed at $7 per 1,000 taxable valuation. If this occurs, the fire dept would not be a "Municipal Fire Dept" but a true Fire Protection District. Refer to OSS 11-29-102, 105,110 etc. Also refer to OSS 19-351 The fire dept. would function just like the school district. The would have a governing board etc. The Fire dept. would contract with the City to provide their services. 90% of all calls by the fire dept are residential in nature. Doesn't it make sense that their funding grow as residential development grows? Canadian County assesses property outside of the City Limits $7 per assessed thousand. My rough estimation of funds from this property tax (outside the City limits) is approximately $50,000 per year. I calculated the the funds generated from the same $7 assesment could generate approx. 300,000 to 350,000 per year from property valuation within the City limits. I provided this information to fire chief so he could find out more information about County Assessment. Many "Fire Districts" in the US and in Oklahoma operate under the structure of property assessments. I am of the opinion that the demands on the Fire Dept. due to residential calls will outpace the service they can provide if funded by sales tax growth. Now that the fire department will be operating as a paid department under the management of the City, maybe they can work out a solution to develop a funding structure based on the value of property within their district.

Submitted By: john mike simpson Submitted: 4/23/2010
hypocrites among us; I need Mr. Boevers to explain this to me and the general public. He stated that his grocery store proposal would NOT compete with any local businesses in the city of Piedmont, ie. such as a bank, pharmacy and a deli. I understand part of this argument but the last time I checked the county records, Mr. Boevers is not an owner of a bank, pharmacy and/or deli. He does however co-own a restaurant called Chicken & Chops with one of our city councilmen Hoss Cooley. Please explain to all of us readers and good people of Piedmont Mr. Boevers how this business is not in direct competition with the other businesses that spent $100,000's to invest in our city. If you take a look at the ugly banner signs that are dotting the state highway in front of your establishment, you would see that you, Mr. Boevers and you Mr. Hoss Cooley are in direct competition with other small business owners in Piedmont. In retrospect, I thought you started your business only selling chicken and chops as your logo states. Why are now advertising and competing with new menu items such as pizza (which competes with City Stop) and coney's and hamburgers(that competes with Sonic and the Piedmont Diner). And not to mention the beer you are selling. Are you not competeing with the Wine Bar as well??? I would not bring this up to our faithful readers but you fired the first shot in a previous news article. I am just following up on your words of wisdom since you have so many well loved and highly spirited followers. Please try to explain how you are any different from those you accuse of competing with said businesses. Special note to Roger Pugh, if you have any "balls" as our illustrious Chamber President Cindy Cheatwood would say, you would print this entire letter verbatim.

Submitted By: Submitted: 4/23/2010
I have lived in Piedmont for just a few years and I wonder why there is so much bashing on this site??? This is my first (and last) time to visit this site and I don't know how long people have been posted this about our town and it's people but please, Get a life other than running down your neighbor on a message board. the banker's son is right, we need to be positive about Piedmont. Bashing everyone who serves our town?? Making fun of the chamber members?? At least they take time to serve their community. It is good for a laugh until you realize that this is a town with obligations and responsibility and not the jr high lunchroom.

Submitted By: Annoyed by the politics Submitted: 4/22/2010
I would like to respond to the people who oppose supporting the fire department financially. The comment was made that the firemen would just be sitting there twiddling their thumbsand the funding is not necessary. Like any agency, the place does not run itself! There are governing agencies and licensures that are required to have a fire department. "Someone" has to take the time out of their jobs, lives and families to keep these current. "Someone" has to attend the proper training to be able to save your life or your property. "Someone" has to take care of all the maintnence tht is required of this type of equipment. "Someone" has to miss the first day of kindergarten for their child, Christmas morning, sporting events, etc, in order to provide the services they do. For many years these men and woman have been willing to do this without pay. Their true concern now is that someday that phone will ring and "Someone" will not be available. Are you willing to be that "Someone" who is sacrificing time with their family and pay from their job to do these things? As a citizen, I want "Someone" to respond when I call, due to our growth, it is time for a paid department. Let's give them what is needed!

Submitted By: They know who I am Submitted: 4/21/2010
I posted another comment regarding the high school and administration a couple of days ago. I guess I offended someone at the paper because my submission didn't make the cut. I do not see what Piedmont sees in the High School principals. Neither of them are worth a dime. These guys think they run their own country and the "officials" allow them to behave this way. They even dictate what the police dept does if they feel like it. I am very pleased with many of the teachers and faculty at all the schools but these two guys are a laughable piece of work. Very laughable. I see lots of talented teachers that would probably gladly accept the post as asst prncupal or principal, preferably both. Sure as an authority figure you must be firm but let's face it, it's all in the delivery. Having a hillbilly bang bang shoot em up kind of attitude n a town that hosts many affluent resdents is absurd. I'm not sure what this guy has on the city, the police dept and the administration but it MUST be good. Thing is man you still fall under the guidelines of the state. Here is what is probably going to happen. Someone will bring a petition, call for an emergency meeting at the state level, or they will finally attract the attention of persons outside their jurisdiction. Then these two and the other bafoons under their spell will blow that whistle and all kinds of news will break loose. Come on Piedmont if you have issues with these people you need to speak up. If our high school higher ups aren't being honest with you how the heck do you think they are handling your children? And to all you teachers who are secretly awaitng the removal of these laurel and hardies.... You are welcome! My pleasure! And to those of you that find them responsible, a good example etc. I ask you to kindly wipe the brown from your noses it s not very attractive and to the ones he puppeteers, it's tme to cut the strng and be strong! I'll be back!!

Submitted By: Jim Weaver Submitted: 4/21/2010
As a local business owner and resident of Piedmont, I am just as concerned as many others in the direction this city is going. From closed door meetings and negotiations by the Mayor, to the new sales tax increase possibly not going toward the Fire Dept. as it was promised, to not looking seriously at another grocery proposal that could save our small town $500,000.00 in a time when the city says revenues are way down. Nearly 100% of business owners signed a petition to give to the city stating we would much rather have the store location further north, which was the original proposal, to draw more people to the area which would help all businesses which of course would generate more tax dollars instead of having it a mile away from everything. As for those who remain nameless and have a problem with Mr. Boevers let me ask you these questions. Have you ever met the man or are you basing your opinions by what others tell you? Would you rather have a person who has lived here most if not all of his life and donates generously to the community build and develop here or would you rather see an outside developer who knows nothing about the community move in? I thought a person went in business to make money; this seems to be taboo when it comes to Mr. Boevers. Mr. Boevers is not a crook as some of have called him. He has built two houses for me and I continue to have business dealings with him and have never had any problems. It is time that we get past the personalities, grow up and work together, city leaders and citizens alike, to get this town moving forward or we may never see our infrastructure improve or our town prosper. If you truly are interested in the way your city is run and what goes on here then I would encourage all of you to go to council meetings and let your voices be heard and you can start by going to the next one on the 26th of April.

Submitted By: A Alan Submitted: 4/21/2010
"twiddle their thumbs?" You would just let them bust their tails for free forever? You voted for Obama didn't you?

Submitted By: knows more than to much Submitted: 4/21/2010
knowstomuch(change your name please), To say that you are happy about the council thwarting the plan for paid fire that the citizens voted yes for( not by a small margin, I might add), is to say "I want the city to make decisions for me and my vote shouldn't count." You really want the city to have the power to change what the people voted for? outrageous!! The bottom line is that the people of this town voted for a paid department, and the city is going to say, no I think we'll take advantage of this 1 cent thing and spend the money on something else. The debate for the 1 cent vote is over. The question is, what did we vote for if it's not a paid dept.?

Submitted By: Concerned Resident Submitted: 4/21/2010
So, now what does council plan on doing with the money? Are these people held accountable for anything they do? The Mayor, Mr. Fina has enough issues to deal with apparently. For starters, I definitely want the roads fixed! The roads in Piedmont have been a huge deal with me for years and they are only getting worse. I do however, want and believe, our fire persons should be paid. I constantly apologize to people coming to visit about our roads and try to have them take the long way around so they don't tear up their cars. Morgan, Sara, the Piedmont portion of Mustang, 150th, 164th are all a joke...sometimes I'd rather have dirt! You have to "fish" for a good spot all over the entire road. What is it going to take? Does someone have to die from avoiding a pot hole to then run head on into another vehicle who is avoiding another pot hole? What if it were one of your family members killed, city council members? (God forbid, I'm just sayin)I wonder how quick the roads would get fixed, or get a stop sign put up? The roads to the primary\high school are great as well. High school kids avoiding a pot hole for their “new ride” late, texting, with the primary on their way so our littlest cats take a chance of getting hit. (God help them and God help you if it's one of my children) The sports programs for the most part, have to be self sufficient because there isn't any money (which I know is a school board issue, but again I am just sayin). The roads can't be fixed because there isn't any money. We are fighting over a grocery store, small lots, a county jail, apartments (don't get me started), water, blah, blah, blah. I have a million and one questions. I can't even begin to understand all that city council members do, and I know you can't make everyone happy all of the time. I am just mad, darn it, and I want answers! I want to see what you are doing and in laymans terms all of the reasons, choices, votes put in the paper or quickly added to the city page for viewing by us, your constituents I want to know you are doing what is honestly best for Piedmont. I want to know your working for me, who am I? Well, let me tell you who I am in case you forgot....I am a God Fearing, Tax Paying, Full Time, Hard Working, Parent, Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunt, Uncle, Future Parent, Coach, Brother, Sister, Friend, Neighbor, Pastor, Teacher, Voter. I tried reading past meeting notes so I can better understand, but I am not a lawyer, therefore can barely understand all the legal mumbo jumbo. Speak in layman terms so we, the little people, the folks who elect you can understand. To 'they know who I am'... I would love to get involved honestly. I have thought about it over and over but I am no one. I don't have enough money or education to have anyone listen. I just live in this town and I have kids that go to school in this town. I know a lot of people just by reading the paper, and as always, the rumor mill. I try to stay out of it. I am thankful for this outlet but, I am honestly afraid to get involved because I see how others treat those that speak up and demand answers. I see what they do to coaches who don't direct things the way they want them to go, even while winning big. I have kids who play sports in this town, who have to grow up here. I see how they treat wealthy land owners, home builders, business owners, teachers, fire, police etc. I plan on being here for a long time. I try to make my voice count by voting. We see how well voting does, in all aspects of our government elected officials. We should have the power to vote these same people out who continually prove they can't handle their positions. I don't care what Joe Bob farmer wants! I respect Joe Bob Farmer but, I want what is best for this town. My fellow Piedmonites, city council is working for Joe Bob farmer and it isn't working. I hate to use the word 'change' but, change is inevitable people. Piedmont is a popular growing community. Change will happen whether you like it, vote against it, or scream about it. You might as well pull up your boot straps and get busy in helping make Piedmont the best Piedmont we can be! I challenge you all to be at the meeting Monday April 26th at 7:00 PM and show city council who will be running "P-Town" if they don't straighten up and give us some answers!

Submitted By: KnowsToMuch Submitted: 4/21/2010
I hope they take the operational funds for the fire department out of that 1 penny sales tax. Why pay fulltime firefighters to just sit in the firehouse and twiddle their thumbs? We need our roads fixed first and foremost more then we need anything else. This whole 1 penny sales tax was the most ill conceived idea to be thrust upon the unsuspecting cititzens of the City of Piedmont. I drive almost all these roads on a daily basis and it makes us the laughing stock of Oklahoma. If the City Council is really gonna do this then I say KUDOS!! to them for finally using some common sense.

Submitted By: no more corruption please Submitted: 4/20/2010
Everyone in this town and who visits here is now paying 1 cent more on sales tax. The people in this town voted for this with the knowledge that there would soon be a paid fire dept. Guess what? City officials are thinking about revoking the current fire dept. budget because of the 1 cent. What's this mean to you? No paid fire dept. Basically, the city transferred the cost of running the dept to you and wants to spend the budget money on other stuff. I'd call someone if I were you.

Submitted By: They know who I am Submitted: 4/19/2010
Dear concerned, Good for you to bring your concerns to a more public forum. Of course people wonder why the council would choose a store that is 500k more and pass up the local contractor with their deep rooted local ties and loyalty to the community. If more people would speak up for what they know is wrong and hold the city officials responsible for irresponsible decisions and behavior then we just might have a chance of stopping the insanity before it's too late. Take a chance and challenge them to be accountable.  If you rally together as a community and expect answers with checks and balances along the way I'd expect the bottom feeders to expose the higher ups and we will see the preverbial poo roll uphill. Otherwise the officials and decision makers who are supposed to better our community will bring much heartache to the citizens. If you are reading this chances are you have a need to know what is going on in your community. You care about local news and have a desire to see how people react to decisions. It's tough to challenge but in the long run it will be rewarding! Go on and get to the top and confront the elected officials. It is their job to answer to you and you have every right to expect answers. Put everything in writing n case they have the selective hearing and memory problem. Thank you for speaking up. Encourage your neighbors, friends and co-workers to write and demand the same. These people are ridiculous. Stand up and be counted. You will be very happy you did. Good night

Submitted By: local resident Submitted: 4/19/2010
To respond "concerned resident". Why didnt Phil say a $1,000,000 dollars instead of the $500,000 in his full page ad in the Gazette, that is just a number pulled out of the air. Boevers had the contract with Williams Grocery and he lost it. Why??? Because he gambled and used the grocery store as leverage to get his PUD amendments changed with his application with the city. The PUD amendments had nothing to do with the location of the grocery store and it could of been built with the denial of the PUD changes. Boever gambled and it backfired. With the changes to his PUD he also wanted the City of Piedmont to pay for the sewer and the water to his store and to take off $550 per building lot of impact fees for the hookups to the 250 builing lots he has in that PUD. Sounds like the $500,000 was the same amount if you add up the sewer, water and the demanding of the impact fee's waiver that Boevers was wanting from the City.

Submitted By: they know who I am. Submitted: 4/19/2010
Some one should look into the policies or lack of policies of the high school principal and his unrealistic approach to discipline and punishment. He has a distorted sense of thinking he "is the law" when in regard to goings on in the Piedmont High School. Drugs are a serious issue in our community and especially in our schools. He has made it his mision to "clean up the school" In doing so he has enlisted the help of the Piedmont Police Department. He picks and chooses what the punishment is according to his own criteria. There are no written administrative guidelines. If there are, then I can assure you that the guidelines are not followed. There have been several allegations of students in possession of illegal substances at our local Piedmont High School. You will be glad to know that these incidents are handled on a case by case basis. This means that if a child brings a bag of pills to school, a needle, a bag of marijuana, or some cocaine that the punishment is not decided by the Piedmont Police Officer who is on site and to the best of my knowledge his salary is split between the school and the City of Piedmont.. but the decision is made by this principal who does not have a degree in law enforcement. So parents rest assured that if your child is walking through the halls of the high school and is handed some illegal drugs then it is sometimes okay and sometimes not depending on who handed it to him, their parents position in the community, and a variety of other reasons that are decided on the school level. Yep, you heard me right. If little Betty Sue shows up with a bag of weed fresh off the bus it is probably because the local high school dealer is the off spring of a deeply involved or well known citizen. If Bobby Jo comes home from school with a box of razor blades and a fresh bag of coke be sure to know that it was likely approved by your local principal. This guy is a joke and really a sad sad leader. If you have heard of instances where the school has looked the other way for some and not for others I encourage you to contact your local Piedmont Police Department. The school might have their own rules but lets face it folks the school is smack dab in the middle of Piedmont and not a true city or as they would like to think "country" standing on its own. Its time that the Piedmont Police Department stand up for what is right for all concerned citizens. Who is running this town? geeez. It could seriously take a person many, many days to get a straight answer out of these people. It is not the right of a high school principal to decide who is sent home to their parents and who is detained by the local authorities. It should ALL be reported to the authorities. If you have a child at Piedmont High School who suffers from a drug problem there is a very good chance that this child was handed drugs at school. Your child was probably handed drugs at school by a child that was released to their parents in a previous incident. If you have a child in Piedmont who has been arrested for possessing drugs at school then I encourage you to challenge the school, the school board and the local authorities. Piedmont has their own law enforcement officers and it is not the schools. I have heard that school leaders sometimes accompany these guys on drug busts after hours. That is crazy. Why are they there? Here is one for you and I'm begging you to write on here. If a child is caught at school with drugs by the principal and/or vice principal and is released to their parents. WHAT DOES TODD DO WITH THE DRUGS? Simple question. If you find drugs at school and you make(and you have made it several times)the decision to release the kid with drugs to their parents. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE DRUGS? If the officer who is on duty at the school is present then doesn't he have a responsibility to arrest these children? Aren't street drugs illegal at school? Aren't they illegal all the time? huh? Yes, they are. They are even more illegal on school property my friends. If your child has been removed from school for possesion of drugs be aware that it is not all for one and one for all at this place. It is pick and choose and what their temperature is that day, etc. Go ahead and write on here, let the city council know, tell your local representative, call your congressman, take out a billboard. Until the school leaders are held accountable in their positions, we all as parents should expect to see a rise in the abuse of drugs by our children. I'm afraid for our children and I'm afraid of the power that this guy thinks he has EVEN OVER OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. That is absulutely absurd. It is okay to question "authority" if you are misinformed by the people claiming to possess the "authority". It is right to expect answers from our school board from our police department from the people we elect into office. It is right to demand that there be a written policy which is readily available for all parents to view. It is right to expect if your child is released to you when they have drugs that all kids are released to their parents when they have drugs. This is not the case. Drugs are an epidemic and we are not immune here in Piedmont. Ask the principal to see his policies on drug offenders. Ask the Piedmont Police where the drugs go that are confiscated by school official. If the Piedmont Police have knowledge that school personnel found a child with drugs, isn't it their responsibility to us to answer the questions? Isn't it your right to know?? Some kids life will be destroyed by the use of drugs, some kids life will be destroyed by having the drugs and some kids will be released to their parents and will offend again and again at school. It is those decisions that I find frighening and very disturbing. It is the reputation of a high school at stake here and the reputation of our town. Piedmont is growing. With the addition of a new elementary school one can expect that these children will go on to high school. Don't let these people at the high school level ruin all the work of our previous teachers, your own efforts at home and ruin the good name of the community. Ask any school official how many drug instances were reported at school and then ask them how many were reported to the police? ask them, I promise you the canned answer is "I don't recall" and then of course there is always the plain old "I don't know". What? Come on Piedmont, home of million dollar homes, don't be a laughing stock of the local media who are researching this at this very moment. Be responsible and demand answers. I guarantee you won't get a straight one, but if enough people stand up and voice their opinion then perhaps we might be able to change for the better. Change is coming, whether you like it or not. Change is a fact of life. If you piss enough people off and I'm sure you have then you will eventually be held accountable for your decisions. I have seen instances where kids have been released to their parents when they are possessing marijuana but then in the same school year a kid is suspended because his pants are sagging. what? that is ridiculous. I know you all have thoughts on this. Lets rally together and demand the answers we deserve. If high school counselors and principals can't answer the questions then I ask you to direct them to your local elected school board. Be sure to set aside a couple of days as they are so very busy and can not return calls on a prompt and timely basis. Guess what? they can't answer any of these questions either. Don't live in the dark ages and allow these people to have control over our children. Lets take our city back!!! what do you say?

Submitted By: Concerned Resident Submitted: 4/17/2010
Ok so now I know for a fact Piedmont Politics are in your face for real and no one seems to have the balls to do anything about it. I am shocked and appalled at the removal of Coach Morgan as head wrestling coach! Why would the school board do such a thing? Now the grocery store, While I am NO FAN of Phil Boevers I am going with the 500K less grocery store proposal, so should the rest of you, and the council. I find it odd they didn't don't you? Sales tax revenue is down so why wouldn't they go with a cheaper, local bid? I want the roads fixed! I would also like a sports complex for these kids! I want to be able to compete with schools like Deer Creek, etc. I am tired of our sports programs being the laughing stock all over town. We are getting our butts kicked in just about everything. Hello school board were you paying attention? Coach Morgan's wrestling program is winning! The Football and Baseball programs can't say that, but are you going to release those coaches? I guess if you don't rub some folks the right way your quickly blackballed. Frankly I can't imagine why Phil has stayed in this town as long as he has when it is so obvious what is going on.

Submitted By: Wayne Kimberling Submitted: 4/12/2010
I wanted to throw my 2 cents in about Mr. Boevers. He built my home as well and I have no complaints. He was always up front and direct about things which I respect in a person. I think his intentions are good and wants what is best for our community. He is leasing our new Piedmont Soccer Club 10 acres to use as a soccer complex something he offered out of the blue to do for our community asking nothing in return. I read some comments and I think we need to take what Carrie said to heart. We are all people, fathers and mothers, parents etc and we should think about what we publish before making it public. There are other constructive ways to make a point. Just my thoughts.

Submitted By: Submitted: 4/5/2010
I have to say this forum is always good for a laugh. Whether it is people putting others down or someone not know what the heck they are talking about it is like sitting in the lunch room of a junior high shcool. I mean really people, after someone told me the kind of crap being said on here I had to take a look for myself. Grown ups acting this way! What a good time for a girl who is bored at work!!!

Submitted By: Scotty Submitted: 4/1/2010
Here's my question. With a council election on the 6th, Why did council rush the 48 hour notice at last nights meeting? Are they expecting the TIF (Telecommuni-cations Infrastructure Fund) board could affect the outcome? Why the hurry all of a sudden? If there are 2 bids, and there is a huge difference in the bids, and if the board chose the more expensive bid, just one citizen would be able to file mal feasance of sales tax use and would more than likely prevail. C'mon Gazette, there is more to this than you have uncovered to this point. Also, pay close attention to who those outside board members are. One of them is trying to impose a 1/4 sales tax increase to build a county jail. Very suspect I say.

Submitted By: KB Submitted: 3/27/2010
I agree that the idea of two grocery stores in Piedmont is crazy. It's kind of like the people proposing the Buy 4 Less are saying, "well we didn't get OUR way, so we're going to do this instead so we can still get our hands in the pot". Reminds me of a group of mean kids at school who always want their way regardless of how ridiculous it may sound or look. Time to grow up people! The Buy 4 Less on NW Expy and Portland is a nice store, but come on, it serves a huge population for OKC, so they have the means to have a nice, well stocked, clean store. If you look at the other stores throughout the city, you will see that they are dirty, run down and gross. Anytime I visit the store on Council, I have to check the due dates because they are often past date. There is also a layer of dust on many of the items. The thought of purchasing meat from their meat section makes me cringe. Plus, their prices are not that great and compared to Wal Mart, they charge a lot more on many of the items. I have never had any problems with the other store in question wanting to build in Piedmont. In my opinion, Williams has always been clean with fresher items. This hasn't turned out to be what's best for Piedmont, its become whats best for the big-headed developers and what they can get out of the deal. As stated before, it's time to grow up. My husband and I both grew up in Piedmont and now our children are doing the same. Change is inevitable, it's going to happen whether we sit by and watch or speak up and try to help with the changes. I can't wait to have a grocery store, but lets do it the right way.

Submitted By: KnowsToMuch Submitted: 3/27/2010
2 grocery stores? I have yet to see any traffic impact studies done on either store site. Putting one in the area of Piedmont Rd and Edmond Rd is lunacy. Edmond Rd would need to be 4 landed back to Mustang Rd and a stop light put in at the intersection of Piedmont and Edmond Road. Then going west on Edmond it would need to be 4 laned up past Golden Hills. And the developer who is in this business solely to make money needs to pay for this. If this towns really needs a grocery store it just needs ONE. And it should be a quality store.  And as for anonymous postings I say party on. Some of us occupy positions in the community where we can't speak publicly. An anonymous posting allows us to do that. It also keeps the bullies in the community from launching personal attacks.

Submitted By: Stacy Calvert Submitted: 3/25/2010
So now we are going to have 2 grocery stores? I am thankful and happy to have one but 2, really....I don't think "P-town" can support both. We will then be left with a big ugly Green and Yellow building sitting empty....great idea! Not only that but buy 4 less wouldn't have been the quality of stores I would have picked for our town....what the....!?

Submitted By: piedmont lady or man Submitted: 3/22/2010
Marsha, Please point out what the chamber does and why members should join. I think we'd all like to know. Please explain how I'm wrong about the info on the folks heading up the chamber as well. Start with yourself. Tell us where you work/business you own, and where you live. Also tell us how you've contributed to Piedmont businesses in the bazillion years you've been in the chamber. Tell us why your opinion matters and what difference it makes if I put my name on my posting.

Submitted By: Marsha Burns Submitted: 3/21/2010
To the Piedmont lady or man (who refuses to submit their actual name)concerning the information given on who heads up the Chamber of Commerce is all wrong !!!!! Maybe you need to get involved and do some good for the city like the Chamber does or better yet become a member.

Submitted By: JT Submitted: 3/18/2010
"Cindy Cheatwood will look you up and get you!!! and the fact that she has "balls" is a little disconcerting too." Best post evah!

Submitted By: the banker's son Submitted: 3/17/2010
Let’s start thinking positive Piedmont. Keep your head up. Things generally are not as bad as you think they are. If you do not like the way something is happening – get involved – make it better! We can make our community prosper – together. Prosperity breeds prosperity - - and the inverse is also true. Help your neighbor succeed and you too will benefit. If you see other folks succeed – let their success motivate you to succeed. We have had many negative conversations floating around in our town lately. Quit that crap. Start smiling more. Start waving to other cars like we used to do all the time around here. Start appreciating what we do have in our community – and what makes us special. Piedmont is a great place to live and do business. We need to start acting like it. No more negative comments in this forum without backing it up with something positive.

Submitted By: Piedmont lady Submitted: 3/12/2010
My question is why do we have heading up our Chamber of Commerce people that don't know anything about business? We've got 1 fella who's daddy owns a bank, a photographer?, a guy who's daddy owns a roofing company, a realtor who works for someone else, a lady who doesn't even live here or own a business here or even work anywhere, a receptionist at an insurance company who's previous business failed, and the owner of the Piedmont Gazette. My point is that you've got a bunch of folks who have never been successful at their own business, running an organization that's primary function is to promote business! No wonder we're having trouble with promoting commerce in Piedmont! Shouldn't the chamber have something to do with this grocery business? What does the Chamber do? I asked around, No one knows!

Submitted By: Piedmont lady Submitted: 3/12/2010
My question is why do we have heading up our Chamber of Commerce people that don't know anything about business? We've got 1 fella who's daddy owns a bank, a photographer?, a guy who's daddy owns a roofing company, a realtor who works for someone else, a lady who doesn't even live here or own a business here or even work anywhere, a receptionist at an insurance company who's previous business failed, and the owner of the Piedmont Gazette. My point is that you've got a bunch of folks who have never been successful at their own business, running an organization that's primary function is to promote business! No wonder we're having trouble with promoting commerce in Piedmont! Shouldn't the chamber have something to do with this grocery business? What does the Chamber do? I asked around, No one knows!

Submitted By: a alan Submitted: 3/9/2010
I'm a little disappointed that a person can't leave a comment without getting threatened with a lawsuit. I don't blame people for not using their names in the forum. Cindy Cheatwood will look you up and get you!!! and the fact that she has "balls" is a little disconcerting too.

Submitted By: Jacci Cardwell Submitted: 3/9/2010
With regards to Marsha's questions, good for you for speaking your mind. It is a trait that many citizens in Piedmont have and I think the town is all the better for it. Just for the record, the council and the mayor (who has no voting powers) met behind closed doors to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to enter into negotiations with Williams. They did not complete any negotiations so you need not worry what deal was made or that the citizens would be harmed. As for Mr. Boevers, there is no doubt that he has done plenty for Piedmont. I don't think that is really the issue here nor do I think his personal character is the issue. In fact, he is only a partner of the development team that was denied change to the PUD and therefore the grocery. There are other partners in that team. Also, for the record Marsha, that development team was not paying the whole bill to have Williams come to their PUD site. They asked the city to pay $95K for water and $85K for sewer - a total of $180K of our taxpayer dollars. They also asked for the waiving of impact fees of $550 per residential lot - if you assume 100 lots for easy math then that is also a loss of revenue for the city of $55,000. Personally, I'm just excited we are getting a grocery. I think way too much drama has been created. For all those who remain concerned - get involved in the process and go to the City Council meetings...continue to let your voice be heard.

Submitted By: Marsha Burns Submitted: 3/4/2010
I am responding to Ron's question about Davis & Cooley voting NO on a TIF for Williams. Could it be no one but the council and mayor knows what was negotiated behind closed doors. The public didn't get to hear what type of deal was made or who is paying for what. What about the utilities to the property? Who pays for that? Boevers was paying for the utilities to connect to his property, it wasn't costing the city anything!!!! Are they possibly hiding something from the citizens for this to be handled in private? Davis and Cooley may have been the only ones looking out for the citizens best interests.

Submitted By: Mitch Green Submitted: 3/3/2010
In 1998 I hired Phil Boevers to build my home in Piedmont. Since I make my living in the commercial construction field, I'm probably a bit more demanding than the typical homeowner. I inspected the work almost every evening because I wanted to be sure the workmanship and materials were acceptable. But I had very few problems or conflicts. When there was an issue, Phil was reasonable and responsive. The overall quality of the work was very good. A year after the house was out of warranty I had some problems with some of the flooring materials. Phil helped me get the problem resolved to my satisfaction despite the fact he had no contractual obligation to me at that point in time. I have no personal opinion about the issues surrounding the grocery store because I have no first-hand knowledge of the situation. But I know that I have been comfortable reccomending Phil Boevers to several of my friends who were looking for a homebuilder in Piedmont. I told them that he might seem gruff and abrupt at times, but if I ever decide to build another house in Piedmont I'll want to hire Phil again.

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