Community Awards-Community Conspiracy by the DI?

Dear Readers,
Recently, the DI has touted various community organizations for the excellence they have achieved in their various Industries. First, SSUSD was lauded for one of the few public agencies to exercise in local public financial leadership by having the Sierra Sands Board approve its First Interim Financial Report within State & County Superintendent Guidelines. The RidgeBlogger Editorial Team also applauds the Management Staff and the Board of SSUSD of achieving this difficult objective in this financial enviroment.

The Hospital is lauded in the DI on 16-Dec-2008 for receiving a "no deficiencies award". This is much like in a financial audit receiving an "Unqualified Opinion". It sounds strange...but it means you have done everything right to meet all the requirements of the certifying agency. This makes 10 straight years of such certification for the hospital. Bravo for the RRH Board, Doctors, and Staff!

Another recent story was the Historical Society receiving a prestious award for their work on the restoration of the City of Ridgecrest's former property known as the Old USO Building. Kudos to the Historical Society and to the visionaries on the City Staff (Economic Development/Community Development Departments) and the City Council.

Dear Readers now here comes the rub. Why is it then that year after fiscal year, starting with the work, a legacy it can be said, with the former Administrative Services Director James Winegardner, that the City of Ridgecrest went from financial obscurity to state and national prominence because of the work of Mr. Winegardner and notice was largely ignored? He brought three (3) three State Awards and (4) four national awards to this City. He is also responsible for increasing the RDA's & the City's credit rating viz Standard & Poors not once but twice. (Check out the City's web site).Yet I watched the DI and the budget process and was basically ignored by the DI.

Further, during budget time he was lead by a lamb to the slaughter having to fight tooth and nail to keep existing staff, and a small budget year after year. Finally, due to politics and internal pressure he become the invisble Department Head. We all know the consequence of his abesence --- the out-of-balance-balanced-budget.....Where was the DI in all of this I ask any of you?

If this doesn't generate some comments then y'all are politcal eunchs.

<---The RidgeBlogger Team--->