Mayoral Shakedown!
June 10, 2026
Mayor Goes Bat-Shit
Crazy; Sends Threatening Letter
After the primary election loss by the village to enact a
new levy, the mayor went on a tirade threatening the
villagers. This was in the form of a letter posted on social
media on May 13, 2026. Blame was passed around to all but
the mayor himself. And, delusional and false suppositions
were mixed throughout the dispatch.
Let's digest this letter and see what we turn up. In the
first paragraph he says 'we have done more work in the last
four months than the previous administration have done in
two terms.' The mayor and council work hand in hand and the
work of one is dependent on the other. The implication is
that the previous mayor and council was deficient. Melanie
Haswell and Bob Gorrell were parts of those terms. Is he
implying a lack of focus by them previously. Melanie, care
to comment on your implied ineptness???
The mayor's third item in his list actually is a deterrent
for the levy. He states that the village received 'over
$800,000' from oil leases. The original levy was not renewed
because of this. The levy provided approximately $100,000
per year. That $800,000 would have provided 8 years
equivalency. On top of that, he stated that the village
receives $20,000 to $30,000 per month royalties. That would
be $240,000 to $360,000 per YEAR extra on top of the
original payment. That royalty is equivalent to 2 to 4
times the yearly income from a levy. It looks like the mayor
wants his cake and eat it too. He appears to be going on a
spending spree like a man in a tool store. Spend! Spend!
Spend! Many forgot this extra cash cow when the levy was
voted on. I felt sorry for the village and did not vote
against it. But, now realizing this bonus cash cow has
changed my mind against any new levies. Appears the mayor
shot him self in the foot with this disclosure.
Now, as to the election and the votes, we have to look at
recent times a levy has been decided.
In this primary, 416 people out of 774 voted against the levy. 54% voted no and 46%
(358) voted yes. 2400 people were registered to vote.
Approximately 30% of those registered voted in the primary.
More voted in this election than in surrounding towns.
The village tried this same levy last November. In last
Novembers general election, the levy was defeated for the
first time it was voted upon. Again, there were
approximately 2400 registered voters and 40% voted (again
more than nearby towns). The levy went down 325 for and 621
against with a total of 980 registered voters. 63% said no
and 33% said yes. There was over 200 more voters than this
time, however the 'Yes' votes were approximately equal (325
to 358).
During that same election, two renewal levies passed by
ratios of 55% for to 45% against. This is standard for
levies in Shadyside. Levies generally pass in town by a
60/40 ratio, but this one failed by nearly the same ratio.
Of course
every excuse for the failure was listed (other
levies, Forgotten past levy, etc.) Past years
also ranged in the 55-65% for and 35-45% against. So, this
election is not an abnormal amount or ratio. And, more
Shadyside voters vote in the elections than voters in surrounding towns and
cities.
We've had threats throughout the years of what will happen if we don't
cave to the demands of both the village and the school.
Schools have threatened consolidation with others (Bellaire,
Powhatan, etc.) The village has threatened absorption into
Bellaire and the opposite with the Police being taken over
by the Sheriff. Both, village and schools, have used the
income tax threat but immediately back down when the voters
counter with failed future campaigns and levy defeats.
Council will never see another dollar or re-election vote if
they foolishly follow Meintel in this endeavor. Just look
what has happened to cities like Bellaire and Martins ferry
when they enacted income taxes.
Meintel claims that he is a 'good steward of the people's
money.' Apparently, not that good if he can't work
with the levy moneys and the oil money. Money from levies
are equivalent to other towns around us. And the large
amount of oil money is not enough for him. The man needs to
work within his means. The previous mayor felt that the
village had enough, and allowed the past levy to retire. The
village lived within it's finances previously and should
still be able to if the mayor stops spending like a woman in
a shoe store. This shows me that the coming levy in November
needs to be defeated.
What Meintel has done in his time as mayor is cover up the
main problems. Chasing poor retirees with his 'Nuisance
Code' and fining those without financial means. This
ordinance is to benefit one person who will gobble up all
these foreclosed properties. Notice that during the
'Nuisance Code' that nothing was mentioned about preventing
certain people from taking advantage of the calamity. More
slum housing was the main benefactor of the ordinance. All he has
done is 'put lipstick on a pig' with the ordinance. Businesses still leave, no
real companies are looking at us. And, don't mention the undrinkable
water on Facebook or you will be chastised. Many times
Meintel and his two flunkies has stated that they were not
discussing water.
The actions and words of this mayor is that of a deranged
power hungry dictator. He has, from before the beginning of
his reign of terror to today of a man that is power hungry.
He bullies everyone, including council members, with his
words of his way or the highway. He harasses the poor and
elderly with his 'Nuisance Codes' with the threat of
excessive fines that are difficult to fight against. He acts
exactly like a HOA executive with too much control. This
man is like a sexual abuser. No means No. He said he will
not let 416 voters dictate what he wants. He was told No
twice so far. He's coming back for a third attempt this
fall. And, if he doesn't get what he wants, he threatens the
taxpayers of this town to silence them with income taxes,
etc. Like an abuser that tries to bully the victim into
submission.
