The best show in Branson on Monday, Nov. 27 just might be the imaginary “Dodink Magic and Variety Show,” to be presented as part of the Branson Board of Aldermen meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. Although not listed formally on the agenda for the meeting, may an Ole Seagull’s overactive imagination suggest that there are three agenda items, scheduled to run back to back at that meeting, that could provide enough excitement, drama, slight of hand, and maybe even a little bit of “song and dance” to meet that bill.
They are, in scheduled order, a presentation by Paul Link on Decorum Rules as required by Branson City Code for all Board of Aldermen Meetings, a presentation by Joe Johnson of Lathrop & Gage regarding the protection of the use of the Branson name by City Council, and the “First Reading” of the of Bill No. 3344 which will authorize the building of a 300 foot skyscraper as part of the “The Point Entertainment Complex” located at 448 State Highway 248.
The more astute reader will note the common thread running through the entire “production” which, an Ole Seagull believes, is being choreographed and produced by two of the city of Branson’s highest paid senior level management employees. That thread is one that appears to be becoming more and more involved with the city of Branson’s “sewing” lately, “legal thread.” The agenda items seem to indicate that the “show” will star the city of Branson’s very own, highly paid senior level management employee, city attorney Paul Link, who, even a casual observer might say, provides the common “link” between all three agenda items.
The first act is a “presentation by Paul Link on Decorum Rules as required by Branson City Code for all Board of Aldermen Meetings.” Obviously no one knows what Link will say but, based on the city of Branson’s past actions regarding public input, it would not be surprising if that presentation was not another attempt by some of the city of Branson’s highest paid senior level management employees, to exert more control over the ability of those seeking to speak publicly at city meetings. In any event the presentation should involve drama and perhaps a little “song and dance” should the decorum of two of the city of Branson’s highest paid senior level management employees at recent board meetings come into question.
The second act, a “presentation by Joe Johnson of Lathrop & Gage regarding the protection of the use of the Branson name by City Council,” will probably be a bit more exciting than the first and should contain some historical drama and a lot of song and dance as the city of Branson, sparing no expense, brings in a guest performer to try to justify their actions regarding its claim to the right to control the name “Branson.” Why it wouldn’t surprise an Ole Seagull if there wasn’t some slight of hand worked into the act trying to convince the board and public that an orange is really an apple.
But, in true showmanship style they have saved the real magic for the last act. Through what an Ole Seagull believes is the failure of two of the city of Branson’s highest paid senior level management employees to do their jobs, the 25 story sky scraper that almost everyone thought had been reduced to 12 stories by the board of aldermen at their Sep. 25 meeting will again, “magically” reappear in all of its original 300 foot splendor. In fact, if an alderman doesn’t make a motion to amend it, and it is approved as presented, Branson could have its very first 300 foot sky scraper. That’s how many stories?
This act could provide a powerful finale to the show involving real drama, a 25 story illusion, a really good song and dance routine, and slight of hand as those involved try to make the simple appear complex. Things could really get interesting if just one alderman asked why the two very high paid city of Branson senior level management employees paid to, among other things, prevent something like this from happening sat idly by and let them pass an legally irrelevant ordinance that didn’t accomplish what they wanted to accomplish.
Of course that won’t happen because, although the agenda items mentioned above are scheduled as presented, their reference to acts in the “Dodink Magic and Variety Show” is but a figment of an Ole Seagulls overactive imagination relating to an obvious fictional show. Perhaps not so obvious however, is the fact that this imaginary show was a puppet show with the strings of the puppets being controlled by a master puppeteer in an effort to take “Branson,” and all that it has built, and use it for the new city of Branson that they are creating in their own image.
