Friday, January 29, 2010

Who owns KSID radio?

Publisher's Note: Several people have commented since this post, that Ibs doesn't really have anything to do with the day to day operations for KSID radio. That is beside the point. As the owner, Mrs. Young benefits from advertising revenues garnered from the profits of a media enterprise. The point I was making, was to simply illustrate Mrs. Young's propensity to use letters to the editor in a different venue, and that the nature of her letter was to characterize some unnamed individual in a manner she chose not to use on the station's website. The tone of her message was not in keeping with her standing in the community, no matter how right she may have been to criticize the use of an anonymous letter (which I agree with her on that premise).

This post is only here to clarify some email I have received from someone who identified himself as Cliff  Vanders.  I post my response here for everyone's benefit to avoid future confusion.

A couple people have told me that Elizabeth Young was no longer the owner of the radio station known as KSID. They have said that I shouldn't be including the radio station in my comments in my responses to Ibs Young's lambasting of the so-called "Sidney Citizen."

Looking at the ownership information maintained by the FCC, a license renewal application from 2007 shows the station owner to be Elizabeth Young with a PO box located here in Sidney. The document continues to be filed every 2 years. Since this is a public record, it should be sufficient to put that question to rest.

KSID Radio, Inc.
File number BOA - 20070122ABT
Registration number 0003747623

KSID, KSID-FM Sidney
100% Elizabeth Young, Sidney, President/Treasurer


Application for license renewal filed by Elizabeth Young on January 17, 2007 for a Biennial renewal period. 


Michael Rowland

Thursday, January 28, 2010

What is not covered in the Open Meeting Act of Nebraska

Someone is complaining that the message Dave Wiederspon gave at Council Meeting on Tuesday on the process for discussion of the City Manager/Economic Development coordinator position outside of council would be a violation of state law governing open meetings. I did some digging into what constitutes a meeting in the state of Nebraska and here is what I have found thus far.

Anonymous letter seeks to further stir mistrust

Publisher's Note: If you want to post on this site or have your comments taken seriously, you must be known to me in a manner that allows communication and verification prior to posting. Comments which add substance to the debate are permitted, which those which foment hate and discontent will be rejected.

The sentiment of Tuesday night's council meeting expressed by many in attendance was that anonymous comments don't deserve to be aired in public. I generally agree the sentiment, but also believe that opportunities must exist to bring up legitimate complaints, backed by evidence and not supposition. It is appropriate and necessary to remain silent on the revelation of your name, when revealing it, along with details of a crime or unethical conduct would expose the revealing person to loss of employment or community standing. When people seek to be anonymous in furtherance of stirring the pot or besmirching another in support of their own agenda, I find that action more than a little underhanded.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Anyonymity behind a penname

The publication of a recent letter penned by someone called, "The Sidney Citizen" has caused an outrage among many citizens who feel that if you cannot mention your name, you don't deserve consideration for any idea you may want to bring up. I am going to agree with that assertion, with one caveat.

Follow up on Council and City Manager Questions.

Last night a standing room only crowd once again came to the Council Chambers to listen to a light agenda of items. I presented my questions during the public comment section and after some cajoling by citizen's present, everyone agreed to address the questions I synthesized from the circulated letter, "The Sidney Citizen." It was clear from the tone of those who participated in the discussions that certain council members are not trusted and that an undercurrent of this distrust continues to permeate the community.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Open letter to the City Manager and the City Council members and staff

Lady and Gentlemen:

I write today to inquire about several questions which I hope can be addressed either in writing or in person. I have stayed largely out of the dustup over Gary Person's dual role in the city government and I intend to reserve further comment pending the budget discussions later this year.  I would like the contents of this letter entered into the council minutes as public comment and respectfully request council to do so.

Dual roles aside, I think that the writer of the letter has a few valid questions with respect to:
1.    Were there specific questions as to professional conduct, of either illegal or unethical nature that led to the resignation of the Chief of Police?
2.    Are city employees forbidden to talk to council members without approval of the city manager to any such conduct?
3.    Does the council code of conduct forbid/discourage the conduct of Councilman Gaston as expressed at last council meeting (as reported in the, "Sidney Citizen?"
4.    Does any city employee have knowledge of a financial shortfall due to a planned economic development refund requests by local business(es)?
5.    What is the nature of the relationship between the city attorney, the City Manager and the City Council? Who represents the interests of the City Manager, and why must City Council must retain external council to address specific concerns.

I am not asking questions with a particular agenda, I just have questions and I respectfully ask that the City Council and City Manager address each question in public.

Respectfully,

Michael Rowland

Comments on the site.

This site is open to all persons who wish to participate. Though I will not require you to list your names in your post, you will be required to register as a blog user, which will identify you to the publisher. Your name will not be made public unless you wish, but your content must be accurate and if you cite facts, you must cite sources.

This posting is due to Julie Young who posted material to promote another service with two articles as a better alternative. Whether they are, or not is a question for the readers.

Michael Rowland

KSID radio owner attacks "Gutless Coward's" of reform

KSID radio owner Ibs Young let loose with a tirade in today's Sun-Telegraph. She obviously received the same letter I wrote about over the weekend and she calls into question the character, morals and general standing of such an individual or group.

I have news for Ms. Young. The letter neither proves nor disproves anything. It is a series of questions that the writer(s) felt are deserving of reply, not by Ms. Young or members of the media, but by the City Council members and/or the City Manager. Despite the request of others last week to simmer down and have a civil discussion, Young has brought out the rusty WWII vintage flamethrower to light up the skies. 

Monday, January 25, 2010

Political Lords of the Flies

Democrats have created a national political firestorm out of their positions on health care reform, energy, labor and other measures. In their arrogance, the have lost governor's races in two states that went for Barack Obama and the oldest Democratic Senate seat, held by a Kennedy since 1953. Now it is the Republican Party's turn.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Conan O'Brien targeted by Sun-Telegraph

Saturday's Sun-Telegraph took a rip at the divorce settlement between Conan O'Brien and NBC. The tone of the piece brings into question whether talent such as O'Brien should get that kind of money when a relationship goes sour.

In a word, yes.