Read Online One Night Burns (The Vampires of Livix, #1) by J Gordon Smith - Free Book Online

everyone as you continue home and business improvement projects this summer, be sure and sign in with the building department. Pleasant and helpful. We’ve been trying to get out of the dark ages and work with you in partnership. My part, for me personally, is that it’s not about the petty ‘revenue’ or darkness of ‘taxes’. We greatly understand our obligation to reduce costs and increase services. We’ve been striving for that goal.
    “I’m introducing Gordon from Velocity Motive Consulting. He’s been working with our government offices applying Lean Manufacturing techniques to the processes and methods we use. He’s using knowledge that he honed in manufacturing plants around the globe and it works! You can go to our town’s website and see as many arts and charts you care to on how he’s been helping us reduce the need for taxes.”
    Gordon stood and tipped his hat to the crowd. Ribbons fluttered in the wind and medals sparkled on the front panels of his long coat as he sat back down.
    The Mayor turned, “We have the same number of office and field workers but we are handling three times the workload we did two years ago.” he leaned forward, almost crushing the little podium, “See I told you this town is growing. And my office and field workers find it’s easier to get the job done right and ahead of schedule without the red tape and delay our old methods caused.”
    Approving whistles issued from the Mayor’s office staff on the podium.
    Garin whispered to me, “This is good. We’ve used Velocity Motive teams at some of our struggling plants we invested in. Those are making money now. A lot of money. They have a knack. They say they Fast Forward Your Business (TM) and they do.”
    The Mayor’s voice boomed, “So we’ll be refunding your taxes this year –” he crashed his hands like drums on the podium, ba-dum-bum! “– Ok, we’re not doing that but we ARE cutting them. Significantly. And you won’t be waiting for the State of Michigan assessments to roll through and slim it down through future years. We are doing this now – you’ll see the reductions in your summer tax bills getting mailed this next week.”
    The crowd cheered.
    “That’s what I like!” He beamed in his famous elect-me smile, “The other part of the money saved we are putting into some school projects since they keep you rooted here, property values up, and that maintains a growing and strong workforce which encourages more companies to locate in our town. More growth for our downtown retailers. A virtuous cycle. With that money we are also sending the same consulting teams that worked with us to – let’s face it –” he leaned forward on the podium, “for a lot of reasons our education system hasn’t changed much in fifty years. I’ve been challenging our Board of Education,” he nodded to the other people sitting on the stage, “that we’re expecting to get more done, with the existing people, easier, than ever before. We’re already seeing student test scores rise.”
    The crowd cheered although not as loud as for the taxes statement.
    “Now here is Dr. Theron Aravant, Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of Draydon, to say a few nice words. Oh, and before I forget, remember me on election day next year!” The Mayor gave an exaggerated wink, his big politician smile, and an artful arm flourish with his tall hat to the next speaker.
    Dr. Aravant stood and approached the podium. His dark wool three piece suit fit him with perfect tailoring, his head topped with a matching bowler hat. Sharply groomed black hair streaked with white swept back under the hat. Dressed like a Victorian Banker he put his hands on the podium like a professor. A vivid blue thin tie sparkled in the sunlight as the only color about his body.
    “Thank you, Mayor,” he spoke with a studious European accent, “I don’t have such wonderful news as giving tax money back. But that is indeed a theme of my talk. Everyone here