CRYSTAL COAST TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
MAY 3, 2011
Meeting held at Golden Corral, Morehead City, NC
Meeting called to order at 6:04pm by President BOB CAVANAUGH
Pledge of Allegiance led by WAYNE WILLIS
Invocation by PEGGY GARNER
Number of Attendees – 23
Comments were made on Osama Bin Laden’s death. Rumors of ACLU and/or United Nations possibly wanting to conduct an investigation against the Seals involved, for killing an unarmed man. Will Obama give credit to Bush for making this event possible?
BOB reminded us of the Republican Men’s Club meeting with Congressman W.B. Jones as guest speaker, Monday, May 16, at 6:00 pm. He said he has a few tickets left.
EULA PARKINS spoke on HB640 – (Only American laws to be enforced – No Sharia laws can be used.) Mrs. Parkins said she had lived in Greece for three years (years ago). Told us an account of her housemaid’s arranged marriage. She had left the house one day and when she returned she told them she was to marry a man she really did not know. She did find out that he had divorced his first wife (thus forcing her, the first wife, to either become a prostitute or a slave as her reputation was destroyed). The next meeting with the man she found out he had already stabbed two men to death (which was justified by Sharia law) and the third meeting she was told she had to go behind the veil. She had to completely hide behind a burka and veil. Here is where she rebelled. She enjoyed her high heels, panty hose, dresses, etc. and did not want to give them up. Mr. Parkins decided to step in and help. He asked if the maid had any family that lived a long way away where the arranged husband could not find her. She had an uncle that would hide and help her, so Mr. & Mrs. Parkins arranged to have her travel out of the area to a safe place. Mrs. Parkins said we do not want anything to do with Sharia law. It is bad. They believe in justifiable homicide/honor killings. We should check out Jehad Watch on the computer. 1% of the North Carolina population is Muslim. George Cleveland, ranked as top conservative in North Carolina, has introduced this bill, since he is very concerned about Sharia/Jehad laws getting into our laws.
O’NEAL FIELD (Marlin’s park) – ERIC BROYLES had BOB read an email ERIC had sent to Randy Martin, Morehead City Manager in which he had requested information on the Park, again; saying he had not received a reply to his questions as promised. He had informed him of the TEA Party’s interest and his appointment as chairman of this fact-finding committee and this email was a follow-up on the questions our members had that Mr. Martin had been unable to completely answer at their meeting. Listed below are high-lights of his outstanding requests:
1) The original projected cost for the development and building of O’Neal Field was
$900,000.00; which the Morehead City taxpayers would be financially responsible for $400,000.00 of the cost. The latest cost figures/expenditures show that the amount spent by the city has ballooned to over $2,700,000.00 in the development and building of O’Neal Field, which does not include the cost of the 6 to 12 employees working full time at the location for the better part of 6 months to complete the project. Why has the expense tripled in the development of this project; which has now cost MHC taxpayers over $1.9 million dollars? Considering the level of expense to the taxpayer; why was this project not done under a bond referendum where the citizens of MHC would have had to vote directly for its approval and funding?
2) Was there an income/economic feasibility study conducted prior to the
development and building of O’Neal Field? If a study was conducted, was it ever published in the local newspaper? If a study was conducted, has the income projections been met? (We would appreciate copy of said study, including name of the company, as well as an income statement showing all income and expenses for the O’Neal Field for the past 3 years.) Please include the cost of all city employees’ time worked on the field, since they are paid employees of the MHC taxpayers.
3) It is our understanding that the city has signed a contract with Riverfront Sports and
Entertainment that we have questions concerning:
a. What type of usage fees does MHC earn each time the field is used by RSE?
b. Under the existing contract, can RSE hold other types of events (i.e. music festivals, etc) other than baseball?
c. What type of income do we earn from ticket sales at RSE events?
d. What type of income do we earn from concession stand sales at RSE events?
e. What type of income do we earn from the many forms of advertising and signage at RSE events? (i.e. field signage, calendars, t-shirts and caps, PA announcing advertising, game sponsorship, beer sales, tents, etc.)
f. Who provides and pays for the care and clean up of the field, concession stands, bleachers, etc at an RSE event?
g. Does the city hire and provide employees at taxpayer’s expense for anything related to an RSE event?
h. Who provides and pays for the insurance to cover spectator injuries at RSE events?
i. How long is the contract that has been signed with RSE?
j. Can the Crystal Coast TEA Party Patriots get a copy of the profitability analysis and income statement only outlining income expenses associated with RSE events?
4) What other profit/income making events have been held at O’Neal Field? (i.e.
concerts, music festivals, sports, etc) Can we get a profitability analysis and income statement on those events?
5) What future profit/income making events (excluding RSE events) are scheduled to
be held at O’Neal Field for the next 12 to 24 months?
6) At the time the city acquired or closed on the property for the O’Neal Field, what
was the appraised value of the property versus what MHC paid for it? What is the currently assessed value of the property?
7) There has been a lot of concern expressed by the residents living within the vicinity
of O’Neal Field about noise after 10:00pm from events. What is MHC doing to respect the wishes of these residents?
8) There have been some concerns expressed by the residents living on streets leading
to O’Neal Field about the increase in traffic flow and trash being discarded from vehicles. Will MHC be putting in bumps along residential streets (like N. Yaupon Terrace) and providing street sweeping clean ups the mornings after each game or event? Furthermore, will MHC be responsible for any increase in street maintenance or road repair/replacement cost due to the increase in traffic along roads leading to O’Neal Field?
9) There have been some concerns expressed about the increase in number of drunk
drivers being on the road after an event because of beer sales. Will there be an increase in police patrols and surprise drunk driver check points in areas surrounding O’Neal Field during and after each event? Will the event holder (RSE, etc) be responsible for the additional cost for police presence in the area? We all know that if one person gets killed as a result of beer being sold at an event, then the O’Neal Field project was not worth doing!
10) Can businesses and groups (like the Crystal Coast TEA Party Patriots) hold events
(i.e. company baseball games, or rallies) at O’Neal Field for a nominal fee?
11) Can MHC charge Non Morehead City residents higher ticket fees or maybe an event tax to help cover the cost of the field that the MHC residents paid for?
At the meeting ERIC had held with Mr. Martin, Martin had told him that it will take some time to get all the information that ERIC had requested, but would attempt to answer what he could at their brief meeting. He admitted some city employees had been used, but not on a full time basis, only as needed. The alcohol issue has not passed nor has the contract either. Still under negotiation. Project was started about 5 or 6 years ago and some of the ones involved then are no longer a part of the project. The power bill is nominal due to new lighting efficiency. The fencing was updated to accommodate the security of anyone (especially kids) getting hurt. The O’Neal Field committee has gotten so much heat that the public will now probably be involved. When ERIC asked about property taxes, Mr. Martin said due to property values being dropped, they hope to get back to revenue neutral. Some will get a tax increase and some will get a reduction. Articles will be placed in the local newspaper informing procedures to be used for establishing taxes.
ERIC hopes to have answers to the above 11 questions at our next meeting.
ROMA WADE wanted to know if this issue will affect him in Beaufort. He was told not at the present time. Since we are the Crystal Coast TEA Party, then anything that affects any of the citizens/tax payers in Carteret County is of importance to us and we should get involved.
BOB thanked ERIC for the good job he has done so far; to keep up the good work. He understands that David Horton also has voiced his concern over the Field and has questions also. BOB would like to invite him to come and discuss the issue with us.
BOB said he had been talking to Frank Clements with Americans for Prosperity in Jacksonville, and had invited him to attend one of our meetings. Mr. Clements would appreciate any help we can give in getting his organization renewed, re-established, and rolling again. BOB asked us to put on our thinking cap and see if we can come up with any ideas.
Discussed getting a TEA Party established in the western end of the county. KEN LANG said he had checked with just about every restaurant in the area but they are concerned about our impact on the tourist trade. It was suggested that we look into the VFW and/or Rotary in Swansboro. The Community Center charges $20.00 for non-profit organizations. For us they charge by the hour. KEN is considering looking into use of churches areas. We all feel that if we can get a group started in the western end of the county (have excellent member possibilities) then we probably can also draw from eastern Onslow County. LYN BAKER recommended we look into the use of fire departments, since Havelock/New Bern meets at a fire station.
NANCY BOCK brought in copies of TEA Party Review, a monthly magazine she subscribes to. Costs $35.00 yearly.
BOB said the main discussion for the Web-a-nar that he participated in last night, was on re-districting…’packing’, ‘cracking’, ‘stacking’ and ‘hi-jacking’.
“Cracking”… for example: If the Democrats are in power and find a county that is strong Republican, then split it up and place in various other districts.
“Packing”… This is just the opposite. You combine the strong Republican area districts into one and then make more Democrat districts.
“Stacking”… Here if you have for example three strong Republican areas with strong incumbent leaders, then you stack them all into one so they have to run against each other, reducing their power and influence.
“Hi-Jacking”… Force someone to run in an area in which he is not known.
WAYNE WILLIS wanted to know if we had heard the mix-up of Obama and Osama’s names this week after the death of Osama, when some of the reporters were reporting on Obama’s death. He said we should all watch the news for bloopers and funny events and report on them at the meetings.
JERI GEURIN asked that we all take time out Thursday, National Day of Prayer, to pray for our country. Several churches in the area will be open.
NANCY BOCK reminded us of the Honor Flight coming in tomorrow in New Bern. Would be nice to have a good group there to meet them.
TOM AUSTIN said he will run off copies of topics of interest and bring them to the next meeting for us to review and determine if we are interested in following up on.
BOB said that the essay contest “What the American Flag means to Me” has selected the winners. Two winners were from Morehead Middle School (I believe I understood right) and J. Tuckey, an 8th grader from Gramery Christian School won third place.
TREASURER’S REPORT. NANCY reported we have $725.00.
JULY 4TH PARADE. PEGGY GARNER reported that neither Morehead City nor Havelock have parades. Only Beaufort has one. It is conducted by the Beaufort Business Association and Martha Barnes is in charge. Mrs. Barnes was out of town, so I spoke to Micah Sheppard, who helps Mrs. Barnes. I explained to Mr. Sheppard who we are “The Crystal Coast TEA Party Patriots”; while some consider us an arm of the Republican Party, I explained that we are a very conservative group and our main objective is what we feel is best for our country, whether Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent. Would there be any problem with us having a float in their parade? He said no, he didn’t think so, but would mention it to Mrs. Barnes when she returns and I could talk to her then. I asked if they allowed tables to be set up along the route, so we could hand out our pocket Constitutions. He said no, but if we knew someone with a home along the way, and they okayed us setting up, then it was fine with the BBA committee. He said we could walk the parade route and pass out the pamphlets. The parade starts at the east end of town, goes down Front Street and then turns down Turner Street to the Courthouse.
I will try to contact Mrs. Barnes this week.
I suggested another idea for a float, of a tea pot cut out of plywood, pouring out pieces of a puzzle of the Constitution, which members, in TEA party t-shirts and caps, would be placing on a large sheet of plywood. ‘Restoring the Constitution’ as the theme. Tom said the 4th was about the Declaration of Independence not the Constitution. BOB suggested we get a coffin and a hearse, but even though a funny idea, not an idea for impressing potential members; so hope someone else can come up with an acceptable idea.
BOB introduced a new attendee ERNIE GUTHRIE, from Salter Path.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25pm.
Minutes submitted by PEGGY GARNER