Important Update
Everyone can rest assured that preparations are being undertaken to advance our opposition to the Administration's bad decisions, unfair political practices, and back door dealings that will certainly lead to the further, and future, demise of the City of New Albany and the quality of living conditions for the majority of its citizens. Everyone will have opportunities to participate if they wish to, or are able to.
The "Concerned Citizens for Democracy" movement is preparing to spring into action with a plan that will definitely bring positive changes for New Albany. Everyone who supports our mission and our causes, I believe, will be pleased with our efforts. The anticipated affect will be sweeping changes.
For those who think we have no PLAN, there is a plan, there is another way, and there is a better life to be had here. To be against the future survival of New Albany by supporting the Mayor's plans, is tantamount to opening the gates to the vault and calling all takers.
This administration is taking all they can get and running with it folks. Garner knows there is no chance at a re-election, so what makes you think he gives a crap about our collective future? From what I've seen, and what I know, I can pretty well assure you the concerns of most go only as far as their back pockets. The "gang of 4" are wearing the white hats in this town's showdown. We intend to support their efforts
In closing, let me say that there have been so many inappropiate actions revealed, that I simply can't sit back and allow this runaway train to derail the future of our once great city of New Albany.
posted by East Ender at
7:30 PM
74 Comments:
Laura-- we admire your efforts. We hope that your group will demand some
honesty, integrity and concern for
human beings in the City of New Albany.
Many New Albany citizens can not believe the lack of concern for human beings that this City Administation
displays.
By
Anonymous, at 11:07 PM, September 17, 2005
NEED INVESTIGATION REPORT
The Sunday Courier reports on New Albany TAKE HOME cars.
POLICE DEPT. 65 CARS
FIRE DEPT. ? CARS
OTHER DEPTS. ? CARS
MAYOR GARNER VAN FROM FIRE DEPT.
TONY TORAN VAN OUT OF BD. OF WORKS
HOW MANY CARS BY CITY EMPLOYEES?
ESTIMATE WAS 75 TO 80.
COST OF GAS REQUESTED -----
POLICE DEPT. $95,000.
FIRE DEPT. $35,000.
STREET DEPT. $45,000.
OTHER DEPTS. ??????
Can you guess who pays the bill ?
WE, THE LITTLE PEOPLE TAXPAYERS ARE.
By
Anonymous, at 8:42 AM, September 18, 2005
I'm sorry I still don't see what the plan is?? Could you put it in outline form 1, 2, 3 etc.
By
Anonymous, at 10:20 AM, September 18, 2005
You say you have a plan, where is it? Do you have a written document? All I hear is "Jimmy's a crook" and 'we need investigations"
So where is your plan? The most effective critic offer solutions, where are yours?
seems to me all you do is whine about "Jimmy" but dont offer any solutions or alternatives, other than Valla can save us.
So show us what you have, otherwise what's the point of this blog and the citizens for democracy
By
Anonymous, at 10:25 AM, September 18, 2005
In days of old when NA leaders were bold
this was the place to be
but now all we have is two Blogger wanna be's
We have the baylor crowd and the speakoutloud
and neither one has a plan
the Baylorites point out NA's blights
and the speakoutloud just wants a fight
so i say to both of you
and your band of few
where is your plan
This poem brought to you courtesy of your next mayor
Guess Who
By
Anonymous, at 11:01 AM, September 18, 2005
OK, let me guess.
Doug England??
By
Anonymous, at 11:05 AM, September 18, 2005
Good guess Anon, but my money is on Jack Messer, after all he led the charge on getting Scribner Place off the ground.
By
Anonymous, at 11:07 AM, September 18, 2005
I ain't one of the little people. I'm one of the retired people. My vote goes to Mark Seabrook, a steady voice who sounds like a poet.
By
Anonymous, at 11:09 AM, September 18, 2005
the cream always rises to the top, my vote is its councilman cappucino, Coffey for Mayor, the working man's poet!
By
Anonymous, at 11:12 AM, September 18, 2005
HELP--- please direct us to the back-up on an anon quote that Jack Messer got Scribner Place off the ground. What did you hear that one?
If you were really informed about the New Albany scene, you would know that
all Jack Messer really wants is to be
Code Enforcement Officer in addition to his police job and Concilman job.
yes-- that would be 3 NA jobs at one time.
Policeman Messer
Councilman Messer
Code Enforcement Officer Messer
Chief Harl and Messer have really worked hard to give that extra job to Messer, and then, read in the paper that Messer was on police suspension for not following procedure in his police job.
By
Anonymous, at 11:26 AM, September 18, 2005
Are you kidding?
The Police Dept. put Garner in as Mayor to be able to get what they wanted. Now, you are saying that the Police Department wants to elect a Policeman as Mayor (Jack Messer) to REALLY get
all they want in New Albany.
Now they get the best of PAY, HEALTH INSURANCE, TAKE HOME CARS, GASOLINE,
HIGH PAID RETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND
WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER PERKS.
Can the State of Indiana do something about this?
By
Anonymous, at 11:34 AM, September 18, 2005
The "plan" will reveal itself in due time. Do you think for one minute we're going to advertise it?
Garner doesn't asvertise his plans or intents, he just finds a way to do them, and we get left holding the bill.
Not anymore.
We are going to bring real democracy back to New Albany. We deserve it.
We are not "looking for a fight", we're looking for the truth.
If some people don't understand, then we aren't wasting any more of our time trying to explain it to you.
We would really appreciate it if you could find something else to do with your time rather than harass those of us who do unserstand.
By
East Ender, at 11:39 AM, September 18, 2005
My last posting was directed to the progressive anonymous commentors who asked that I put the plan in "outline form".
By
East Ender, at 11:45 AM, September 18, 2005
Chief Harl is supposed to be enforcing and following the law. Read the paper.
Chief Harl ignored the law and broke it when he appointed a Code Enforcement Officer himself and, DID NOT follow the law on the books for this appointment. The law says,
Code Enforcement Officer to be recommended by Board of Works, then
to be apporved by City council and then, to be appointed by Mayor.
SO WHAT-- CHIEF HARL JUST GOES AHEAD AND DOES WHAT HE WANTS AND IGNORES THE LAW.
WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE DOES THE CHIEF
OF POLICE SET WHEN HE IGNORES THE LAW?
CHIEF HARL'S BOSS IS THE MAYOR. WHY
IS MAYOR GARNER ALLOWING THE POLICE CHIEF TO BREAK THE LAW?
THIS NEW ALBANY MESS GETS WORSE ALL THE TIME.
By
Anonymous, at 11:51 AM, September 18, 2005
you're not revealing the plan because you don't have one
By
Anonymous, at 12:01 PM, September 18, 2005
To the New Albany police and firefighters who have saved our lives (and whose colleagues, in some cases, have given theirs), I can't pay you every penny I have--which is what you're truly worth. How many of you go out everyday putting yourself in harm's way. How many of you go out everyday wondering if this will be you last day. You deserve some perks.
By
Anonymous, at 12:12 PM, September 18, 2005
Amen brother or should I say FOP brothers!
Messer for mayor
By
Anonymous, at 12:16 PM, September 18, 2005
Can someone tell me what's wrong with a person having 3 jobs?? I worked my way through college working as a waiter, delivering pizza and working for the physics department. I now have my own business and work elsewhere at night to make ends meet.
I don't know this Messer fella, but he sounds like a real go getter. Maybe he should run for Mayor
By
Anonymous, at 12:27 PM, September 18, 2005
Yes, Chief Harl & the mayor will, and have, done anything they wish, including circumventing the proper approved procedure for hiring a Code Enforcement Officer.
And who's to stop them?
WAKE UP PEOPLE, WE ARE!!!
This City is in deep financial doo-doo. We all must make some sacrifices and tighten our collective belts to help pay for city needs.
This should include every department cutting expenses as well. More than $200K in gasoline is an expense that can be easily trimmed.
Furthermore, no raises should be allotted until our budget shortfalls are absorbed. Garner already spent the Rainy Day Fund for this year's budget to be propped up.
What will we use for 2006?
Is a 1/2 million dollar loan from the sewer fund still do-able like Garner proposed a few months ago?
By
East Ender, at 1:07 PM, September 18, 2005
I am frightened that now it comes out
LOUD and CLEAR that the Police Dept, and FOP who support Mayor Garner to get what they want are now going to be
pushing Policeman Jack Messer for Mayor to continue to get what they want.
It is sad and frightening for the City of New Albany. Also, Councilman Crump's husband is on Police retirement pay.
Anyone who tries to speak out against the Police Department is sure to get a traffic ticket in retaliation from them.
PRES BUSH IS SO BENT ON CLEANING UP
IRAQ, HE HAD BETTER CONCENTRATE ON
CLEANING UP NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.
By
Anonymous, at 1:50 PM, September 18, 2005
Frightened, you are so right. It sure scares me too.
Even more scary is the fact that you can add the Progressives to the Police
power group who support and take good care of the Mayor and whatever he wants.
Hope that Pres Bush does not spend all of those FEMA federal dollars in Louisiana cleaning up because we are sure going to need a lot of help to CLEAN UP NEW ALBANY, INDIANA
By
Anonymous, at 1:59 PM, September 18, 2005
Signs around town say, CLEAN UP NEW ALBANY. I just realized that those signs have a double meaning.
CLEAN UP NEW ALBANY means clean up the trash.
and
CLEAN UP NEW ALBANY means clean up the political mess in the Mayor's Office.
By
Anonymous, at 2:07 PM, September 18, 2005
How right you are about the clean up NA signs.
By
Anonymous, at 5:27 PM, September 18, 2005
NO-- CHICKEN LITTLE, THE SKY ISN'T FALLING, BUT, IT IS SAD THAT SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AS THE RESULT OF THE ARROGANT ACTIONS BY THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION.
HAVE A LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO ARE BEING HURT IN NEW ALBANY.
By
Anonymous, at 7:52 PM, September 18, 2005
33 police cars leave the city to go home and these are the ones we should be concerned about. City taxpayers should not be subsidizing the county to deter crime in their area of authority. I, for one,do not mind the take home cars for city officers that are going home in the city. I think this does deter crime and I have no problem with this. But to send them to the county and beyond is something else.
By
Anonymous, at 9:03 PM, September 18, 2005
east ender: Well the wanna be's are back. I guess there trying to lay the little path for Baylor. Like I said before.....Bring it on!!!!
Concern Taxpayer
By
Anonymous, at 10:05 PM, September 18, 2005
Correction please, on anonymous quote on drainage project in West End. The approval for the drainage project was given by the full Council Committee at a Drainage Committee meeting prior to a Council meeting.
The flood of drainage from Silver Hills which is in Mr. Schmidt's District #2 flows down toward that area in Mr. Coffey's District which is District #1.
Mr. Coffey and Mr. Schmidt have been
working on this problem for several
years and agreed to combine their efforts to help the residents in the
area.
The residents have all suffered from
flood damage flowing down the streets and into homes and garages.
In fact, a senior handicapped lady
who lives on West Ninth Street was
trapped in her chair as her house filled with flood from this overgrown ditch. The Fire Dept was
called to rescue her and they got her out and saved her.
The actual work on this drainage is being done on a vacated street called Boiling Springs which is City property.
Mr. Coffey and the residents will tell you that the re-construction of
Scribner School and blacktopping there has resulted in additional run off of rainwater to this area.
Residents on West Ninth Street have
suffered the loss of belongings due to the floods there.
Mayor Garner can tell you that the
ditch running down Silver Hills has
needed repairs due to increase of
water flowing down from Silver Hills to Cherry Street and that flow of water crosses the street and ends up in the area now being repaired.
I suggest that you call Mr. Schmidt or Mr. Coffey to get the real info on the drainage project.
By
Anonymous, at 11:44 PM, September 18, 2005
I have 110% confidence in Mr. Schmidt's integrity.
He and Mrs. Schmidt are true public servants who care about the integrity of the city of New Albany, and the welfare of the people who call it home.
Right now, Mr. Schmidt is the only CM who is tracking the real numbers for sanitation costs, and how much funding was lost due to no delinquent dollars collected for the sanitation dept. for the last 3 years.
C'mon people, how can we continue to condone such mis-management and listen to lies about it all?
By
East Ender, at 2:47 AM, September 19, 2005
Anonymous
I know several Police and Fireman in New Albany. My family members employed by Police & Fire Dept. And yes they do save lives and property. They take a chance every day. And I can make my comments based on alot of conversations. And none I speak with support Mayor Garner in his actions or lack of actions. Their might be a few supporters of Garners but not as many as you claim. So stop blowing smoke Anonymous. And get your facts right about FOP SUPPORTERS NOW!
By
Anonymous, at 6:38 AM, September 19, 2005
Laura: You mentioned unpaid or
delinquent sewer and garbage bills.
Why haven't these delinquent bills been collected?
We pay our bills each month, and others are able to get by without paying their sewer or garbage bill.
This is upsetting for us.
I hope that you and your group will work on this city problem.
By
Anonymous, at 8:23 AM, September 19, 2005
What city department is responsible for collecting the sewer and garbage bills?
By
Anonymous, at 8:26 AM, September 19, 2005
Anonymous
"You have NOW went from Build it and they will Come." To Hail to the Chief Garner and now your Supporting Jack Messer and Roger Baylor for Mayor. So glad to know now that your recent comments and post is also nothing but a pipe dream! lol...
Jack Messer had to kiss to many asses to get elected. And also made the wrong statements to the people. (Voters) Claiming to be the defender and a voice of the People. Well...when you make those promises to the voters and end up in the Mayor's pocket and does what Jack does. He will be lucky to retire as Police Officer.
Because the people are to aware now what is really going on. Jack's mistake has been he's new at this? Well Mr. Messer you have sure not listening to your former supporters....
With Jimmy's mental state of the "I don't know disease." And The Chief of Police Harl who breaks the Law. And thinks he's above the law!
Then you have Rumpy dumpy "Councilwomen Crump" who is only looking out for her Husband best interest. And the New Albany Police Dept. Cause I sure don't think she's even smart enough to read. Cause her decisions is not based on facts but political favors! let alone does she research anything she is voting on?
On Roger Dodger for Mayor! And believe me what he writes on his blog does not sit well with Potiential voters.
Cause he truly has no clue to what is really going on in this City.
So when he supposely runs for Mayor when he knocks on a persons door and gets rejection. "I am supporting someone else for Mayor" What is he going to do? Take a picture of their house. And put it on his blog as "Look at this Property" It has cat do doo on the porch and should be demolished!
Roger some advice here: Stay sellin beer and wanting to be one of the "Wanna Be's." Your not Electable Material!
Baylor claims - Speak Out Loud NA. And Concerned Citizens for Democracy is nothing but a bunch of troglodyte Ghetto.
So Bayloe this is my message to you:
There are too many cans of whoop ass already open right now!
So sit back and watch from the sideline and realize your not quite ready to play ball with us big boys!
Concern Taxpayer
By
Anonymous, at 9:19 AM, September 19, 2005
Concern Taxpayer
This is truly one of the best posted comments I have EVER read.
Other then when you do take on Mayor James Garner.
In fact our entire office reads this Blog. And we do email and fax this to all of our family and friends. As we feel we are being given more facts on the many real issues that affect everone of us. Keep writing Concern Taxpayer. You got our Attention.
By
Anonymous, at 10:25 AM, September 19, 2005
Let's shift off the blame game. First of all, the state of affairs in New Albany did not happen overnight. Let us look to the past to see where we are today.
Mayor Real - Caretaker
Mayor England - Progressive, but always about me.
Mayor Overton - Who knows what the heck she did.
Mayor Garner - Gets all the blame for all the past troubles.
Also, in my opinion the City Council has (2)members who are worth a crap. The others are worthless.
By
Anonymous, at 10:34 AM, September 19, 2005
DELINQUENT SEWER AND GARBAGE BILLS?
HOW MANY DOLLARS ARE THERE IN THIS LIST OF UNPAID GARBAGE BILLS? WHY CAN'T YOU TELL US? WHO KNOWS?
IT SURE IS NOT FAIR IF I AM PAYING MY GARBAGE AND SEWER BILLS EACH MONTH AND OTHERS ARE ALLOWED TO SKIP THEIR PAYMENTS.
LAURA, I HOPE THIS IS AN ITEM ON YOUR COMITTEE LIST TO INVESTIGATE.
By
Anonymous, at 11:45 AM, September 19, 2005
City Council meeting minutes. Where are the August Council Meeting minutes? Can't find them on the City
Clerk web page.
Anybody know how to find the minutes?
By
Anonymous, at 11:51 AM, September 19, 2005
concern taxpayer , the only whoop ass I see from your quarters is a coward who takes pot shots at the progressives and shows no respect to the office of mayor by continuing to call him Jimmy, those famous words ''Jimmy you work for me"
and now you have added to your mastery of poetic insults with rumpy dumpy crump.
So bring it concern taxpayer, we dont consider you a political force more like a political farce
By
Anonymous, at 11:54 AM, September 19, 2005
I'm with you Ceece. For example, I thought "Little People" was polite term for midgets and dwarves, not a political group.
By
Anonymous, at 3:43 PM, September 19, 2005
I would like to echo the comment about Police take-home cars. I too think that those who live outside the city limits should leave the cars in the city when they are off shift.
There is just no reason we should be paying for New Albany Police cars to be anywhere but in the City of New Albany.
Furthermore:
Roger Baylor for Mayor?????????
I don't think so. Look again at reason #10, and laugh with me.
He is the rudest most unkind man I have ever encountered...and I've never met the man.
As for the sewage and garbage bills (and recycling fee), are all billed with our water under Indiana American Water Corp.
We intend to determine what department they send fees for City Services to, and how those fees are distributed from there. We know that when they collect delinquent payments, it all goes to sewer fund.
By
East Ender, at 4:56 PM, September 19, 2005
This adminstration needs to admit they have made drastic mistakes. And level with the people of New Albany. Instead of blaming others. This Mayor knew when he went in office as the New Mayor it was a mess and again he done nothing then and does nothing now. He should resign.
By
Anonymous, at 6:42 AM, September 20, 2005
Anonymous
Why attack Concern Taxpayer for telling the truth. What has the Mayor done for the people of New Albany?
By
Anonymous, at 6:48 AM, September 20, 2005
Anonymous
Concern Taxpayer doesn't have to tell any of us who he/she is. Besides who cares who they are. They seem to be educated and has alot of facts. I like the common sense, logical, talk to the people and tell it like it is attitude. And many of us are thinking what Concern Taxpayer writes. Keep on writing Concern Taxpayer. Proud to be one of the Educated Little People.
By
Anonymous, at 8:02 AM, September 20, 2005
I agree he is not fit to be called "MAYOR." I got better names for him other than Jimmy!
Concern Taxpayer seems to be holding he/she's own ground on any subject. CT Your doing a great job. I sure don't respect him either. The last I heard Respect was suppose to be earned and not demanded? Just ask the people who voted for him what they really think now?
By
Anonymous, at 8:22 AM, September 20, 2005
CONTACT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER
Donnie Blevins
944-4856
Jack Messer
949-9638
Mark Seabrook
944-9644
Dan Coffey
949-1262
Bill Schmidt
945-7386
Steve Price
941-9032
Larry Kochert
945-7652
Beverly Crump
948-2603
Jeff Gahan
949-9314
By
Anonymous, at 8:50 AM, September 20, 2005
How many sewer rate increases are you people willing to put up with?....how much is too much to change your mind about saving a failing deparment?....is a sewer rate hike every two years acceptable?....because this is the path you people are promoting....second administration in as many years resorting to a rate hike....we had better not hear one single little person complain about their sewer bill if system doesn't get changed....
By
Anonymous, at 9:16 AM, September 20, 2005
PLEASE TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE "CAGIT" (County Adjusted Gross Income Tax) MONIES...
Having checked with the County Auditor; knowing how much money we pulled down in CAGIT for the last six months of '04 ($2 million) -- I asked the STATE where is the CAGIT listing in the year-end financial listing for 2004. The State said it HAD to be in the year end report for 2004 under the "General Fund". Having asked Council and having been told by the Controller this money was included in the 2004 year end -- folks, we were $2 million in the red for the General Fund for 2004 -- does that mean we were really in the red $4 million? AND, nobody can tell us from the Council where this money is and what is being done with it. Check with the County Auditor and she will tell you how much the City has drawn from Edit, Cagit, tax draws, etc., and when (last year and this year). It's a lot of money, and it's our money.
Thanks for letting me have another avenue to ask questions and try to get some answers -- answers we all need, including the Council members.
By
Anonymous, at 9:33 AM, September 20, 2005
Anonymous
Great job on CAGIT! Tell us more on this issue. What is the council doing about this?
By
Anonymous, at 12:00 PM, September 20, 2005
I don't care who you support, whether you are big, little, CCD, CFP, or whatever: This is a horrible, horrible idea. What an insane waste of money, especially given our need for code enforcement. Is this what it is going to take to "save" the sanitation department?? Bleeding the rest of the city dry?? I Councilman Schmidt said we weren't losing that much per year on sanitation?
I don't care how many perks you cut, you're not going to make up the money that's about to be wasted in the next 3 months.
I'm curious to see what the people here think about this plan, because the people here seem to care about being fiscally conservative.
(taken from the courier):
Transferring $137,000 from economic development income-tax funds that had been committed to the Scribner Place project to a fund created to operate the sanitation department. Earlier this month the City Council reduced its commitment of $400,000 a year for Scribner Place to $263,000.
Transferring $142,338 from the rainy-day fund to the newly created sanitation fund. The money, which hasn't been spent, was in the 2005 budget for a paralegal employee, a code-enforcement officer, two building inspectors and City Council legal fees.
Transferring $223,000 from the Caesars revenue-sharing fund to the sanitation fund to make payments due this fall on the city's garbage trucks and bins.
Transferring $20,500 from the city street department to make up for payments attributed to the sanitation department that actually were used to pay for a secretary in the street department.
By
Anonymous, at 1:55 PM, September 20, 2005
CAGIT is new to me and to a lot of others in New Albany. Please keep us informed. Where do you think the
$ 2 million dollars went?
By
Anonymous, at 2:48 PM, September 20, 2005
CLARIFICATION ON TRANSFER of FUNDS REQUESTED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO SANITATION.
1. The transfer of funds in 2005 budget is from funds not used this year for Para-legal and Code Enforce.
Those positions were not filled and the funds not used. The funding for the balance of 2005 for those salaries will remain in the budget to pay those salaries. Also, the funding for those positions are included in the proposed 2006 budget
and hopefully will be approved Thurs.
2. The $137,000. transfer to Sanitation from EDIT is possible as
the County has now pledged an annual
$137,000 for the Scribner Project.
The City pledge of $263,000 plus the
County $137,000 will equal the
$400,000 needed for Scribner Project.
3. The recording secretary of the
Street Department was paid out of
Sanitation funds in error for 2003-
2004-2005. The request is that the
$20,500. be returned to Sanitation to correct this error.
Hope this information is helpful.
By
Anonymous, at 3:04 PM, September 20, 2005
Now i see the gang of four wants to take rainy day funds, EDIT funds and who knows what else to save a department that is a monetary black hole.
This department doesnt deserve to be saved, do you Little People also have short term memories? Did you forget that just recently they were caught on film dumping trash with recycling?
So now you expect us to sacrifice our future development, like Scribner Place for a bunch of lazy, slacker garbage men just because they should have a good time at the Harvest Homecoming and continue to suck our tax money dry?
It is long overdue to privatize thsi joke of a department, Bravo mayor Garner!
By
Anonymous, at 5:10 PM, September 20, 2005
I don't agree with anonymous above, there, BUT:
WE NEED THAT MONEY FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, ETC. NOW! NOT NEXT YEAR! Who is responsible for not having building inspectors, not hiring a code enforcement officer,and not giving them the proper money and staff to do the job?? BOTH the Mayor and and Council, but ESPECIALLY the council!
AND, WHY DOES IT TAKE $137,000 OF EDIT MONEY WHEN I THOUGHT WE WERE ONLY LOSING $30 SOMETHING THOUSAND?
I HOPE Concern Citizens gets to the bottom of this one too!!!
By
Anonymous, at 5:24 PM, September 20, 2005
Unlike the EDIT tax we all pay, the CAGIT tax can be used to pay salaries. The County passed the tax to help alieve our property tax bills, and then we, the City, get a portion. When I saw we received $2 million the last six months of last year (first time collected), the state said I would find it in the General Fund's 2004 year-end financial statement. When I questioned Council, I was told it was included in the 2004 General Fund line item in the legally published financials.
We have made more draws this year, and I have asked Council if they received their Budget Worksheets (prescribed by the State) that shows "Miscellaneous Income". They're not sure they received that worksheet, and we as citizens are still trying to figure it out. If the Council can't get the info, I don't know how to without seeing all budget worksheets to see where the monies are to be allocated. Council is probably as much in the dark as we are. My family feels we paid it last year, and we have paid it all this year. We know the County enacted it to help relieve property taxes, but what is the City doing with their share? They don't do anything but collect their share of our property taxes. This will take more investigation, but thanks for caring enough to ask.
If you remember, Edit was to come off (based upon County promises) in 2006, when the jail is paid off. Because of the City pledging Edit out so many years, County cannot rescind Edit. They can lower it, but can't rescind it. Now Cadgit, that's a horse of a different color, because legally it can be used for salaries or development. AND, we need those monies! We'll keep asking.
By
Anonymous, at 11:52 PM, September 20, 2005
east ender
Seems like the progressive is loose again...Not only that they are trying to mislead everyone with sending emails from Greg Roberts as reported by the Main Street snobs. But they again are spreading false rumors on Councilman Schmidt. In fact flat lies. Because Mr. Schmidt is trying to save 26 jobs. You got your damn code enforcer. So why don't you all just shut up! In stead of trying to slander Mr. Schmidt.
By
Anonymous, at 1:02 AM, September 21, 2005
Seems like the progressive idiots are trying to turn the spot light on Bill Schmidt. Instead of facing the facts on this Adminstration. And this so called Mayor. So if your ready now we can take off the gloves and really sling facts on mismanagement by this Mayor. You all need to have all the facts on the flood problem on Cherry St. hill run off.
By
One voice, at 8:00 AM, September 21, 2005
Anonymous-- Blame game? Garner knew what was going on before he was elected Mayor. You all seem to refuse to put the blame where it goes. He sat on City Council and voted for many of Overton's request. He knew there were two sets of books. So why not blame him for his part in this mess. He was so dumb not to CYOA and call for an audit then. So why not an Audit now...What does he have to hide.
By
Anonymous, at 8:15 AM, September 21, 2005
Great comments Yvonne on CAGIT fund. We need to coninue getting the real facts out.
By
Anonymous, at 9:04 AM, September 21, 2005
BTW---As an addition to my post from two days ago----the 200,000 in drainage funds is divided among the 6 districts-----Mr. honesty has already used all of his portion and more on his neice's property----Also any transfer of funds is not going to save sanitation------the only hope is to possibly extend funding to the end of the year and see if something can be done----but unlike what Mr.Honesty said the debt is around 800,000 and there will have to be a way to come up with these funds EVERY YEAR---not short term.
By
Anonymous, at 9:08 AM, September 21, 2005
And now the real story is coming out.....Schmidt and Coffey....Albert and Costello.....spending money not approved through the proper channels and now Coffey is turning on Schmidt.....like Jackals.....Hollywood writers couldn't come up with better drama than this.....
By
Anonymous, at 9:25 AM, September 21, 2005
EXCUSE ME, but we don't have a fulltime, properly staffed code enforcement office. We have a reassigned police worker (doing a good as she can) because the government here wouldn't take action and fill the position they created. Now they want to strip the money away for the rest of this year instead of doing the right thing.
AND, can someone please tell us why we need so much money to keep sanitation this year?? I thought it was only $30,000 per year loss??? You can't dodge this question forever!!!!
Where is concern taxpayer when we need her?
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Anonymous, at 9:29 AM, September 21, 2005
Open Letter
To: Councilman Bill Schmidt
Thank you Councilman Schmidt for working so hard to help save our Sanitation Department and those 26 jobs.
Isn't it a Coincidence that the Mayor has an article in the Courier "Blasting" Councilman Schmidt on the day after Councilman Bill Schmidt announced his plan to help save Sanitation?
Shame on you
James Garner!
Concern Taxpayer
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Anonymous, at 10:16 AM, September 21, 2005
Laura -- like your blog. Haven't been blogging until today, and it's wonderful you have provided this forum for those of us who have attended meetings and have watched the goings on in this town for years.
Memories of my husband and I going to our first City Council meeting are flooding back. There was only one Councilmember in the Council's chambers; the rest were in the City Clerk's office with then City Clerk Regina Overton. They were loud and clear coming through the walls - so loud and clear that my husband asked the lone council member if we were in the right room for the City Council meeting or was it in the room behind us. He answered "it sure sounds like it, doesn't it?" From then on, we knew Councilman Schmidt was a person who stood on his own; with integrity and a firm grasp of what the laws are in New Albany (those enforced, anyway).
As far as our family is concerned, the Schmidts work as hard for me as they do the people in their district. Personally, we don't really care what people say about them, because we know it not to be true. Bill and Anna recognize it goes with the territory of being an elected official, but it has to be hard on them.
As a person who has tried to find drainage minutes and monies for the past 10 years, it was nice to see the Council's entire drainage committee vote on this project, and there are minutes to back Bill Schmidt up. They have to do more work now and put a bigger pipe in further down -- maybe that's the problem. Having witnessed what happened on Cherry St when citizens were washed out was horrible. I think more will be coming out about this issue that was not printed in the Courier Journal (like who all knew about this project and who all voted for it).
The stories about the lack of a code enforcement officer are downright sad. We have been trying to get enforcement of building codes for over ten years...that's how my husband and I got involved with our local government. We know the laws are on the books and who is suppose to enforce them. I would assume that if someone brings the Board of Works recommendation to the Council, they will be appointed as the Code Enforcement Officer, per the law.
We have a building on Main St which is in violation of State and City laws. We have waited on this City to enforce the variances granted since September of last year. We have jumped through all of the hoops, met with the Mayor, etc. We have now received a letter from the City Attorney's office they are not going to enforce the laws, because they are waiting on the State to finish their investigation. The owners of the property in question told the City they may have to add on to their back porch to meet ADA requirements and that might ruin any landscaping they do and hurt any paving they do -- but, they installed a three-tiered fountain in the back yard, right after they told the City they can't do what is required by law. We maintain the State violations have nothing to do with the City's violations and the City's Historic Preservation Commission's violations. So, if we went jumped through all the hoops and minded our p's and q's for months, only to be told (by letter) the City Attorney has decided not to enforce the laws -- what good is that Code Enforcement Officer going to do? Will they have more authority than the City Attorney? People really need history lessons about what, when, where, and why these things are happening. For those of us who have attended mind-numbing meetings for over ten years, we have learned the hard way to keep things public and to take our lumps for trying to do the right thing.
As far as the Sanitation Department is concerned, the same video was made under Overton's administration. These guys have a supervisor (suppposedly) and did not decide on their own to dump recycling with our regular waste. That was the supervisors' answer to buying trucks that doubled the route times and didn't fit down alleys or on other streets. I guess you had to have been at the meetings when they talked about those big red monster trucks and why they needed them, etc. We have a law on the books that if people didn't have a lid on their trash cans, Sanitation was to not pick it up -- but that was one of their reasons for purchasing these monsters. They actually stood up at these meetings talking about the room the "rain" took up on the old packers. Well, excuse me, but when you compact the trash after dumping it, liquid does come out. What I never could figure out is how they knew it was rain; could it be the juice or grease I put in my garbage? And, if it was compacted, the water (or whatever) was squeezed out. I guess you had to have been there to hear the arguments made for this insane issue approximately 4 to 6 years ago. And, call Eric Zaeger with Channel 11. He's the one that made the other video for us that we couldn't get aired under Overton's administration. I hope sanitation workers will hold their heads up and know there are alot of people supporting them.
Anyways, thanks again Laura for letting me speak. There are alot of people figuring things out, or are already in the know, so hang in there Bill and Anna. Kudos for all your hard work.
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Anonymous, at 11:08 AM, September 21, 2005
Garner needs thrown out of Office. Thanks Mr. Schmidt for help trying to save sanitation.
By
Anonymous, at 11:37 AM, September 21, 2005
A GREAT VICTORY
TODAY FOR
THE "LITTLE PEOPLE"
OF NEW ALBANY!
By
Anonymous, at 12:36 PM, September 21, 2005
wake up Yvonne, that video showing the garbage being mixed with recycling was as fresh as morning dew, just call Steve Burgin to find out.
Looks like the lazy garbage bums have duped you too.
Do yourself a favor come drink some good beer with us progressives instead of that Little people beer and you might start getting things right
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Anonymous, at 12:53 PM, September 21, 2005
Shirley, it's pretty obvious that last anonymous comment wasn't written by a "progressive." Reads like a Deatrick post to me. In fact, I bet 90% of people claiming to be this person or that is actually 2 or 3 people trying to stir the pot. That's the problem with anoymous posts. Oh well.
By
Anonymous, at 2:05 PM, September 21, 2005
Laura-Please consider this posting as a pledge of our family's public support to help in anyway we can with your efforts and the Citizens for Democracy. If I may, I would like to quote some of an article I read in a local paper about Democracy. It will be hard to make it short because the whole darn thing is excellent! Here goes bits & pieces:
The title is "Who'll win the battle to halt erosion of our inalienable rights?" and published in the Louisville SNITCH on May 25, 2005 - and I quote from some:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Familiar words, aren't they? You've heard them a thousand times before growing up in America. Some folks even think they are words of law, but they aren't. They are from the Declaration of Independence, which expressed the sentiments of why the American Revolution had come about, but the preamble was never passed into law. It was a statement of intent. ...Our Founding Fathers were certainly familiar with a fascist - King George - and they wanted a government whre the people could be free from ARBITRARY rules and rulers, so they wrote the Constitution. The government of the US was meant to be small and non-intrusive in the lives of the people. People were recognized as their own sovereigns, capable of making their own decisions on a day-to-day level and in the most private aspects of their own lives.
In order to protect the rights of the individual against both an intrusive government and a tyranny by a majority of other citizens, the founders constructed our country as a republic, with our representatives within the government elected by the democratic process of voting. As a republic, we citizens possess the right of individual sovereignty no matter if a majority of our fellow citizens take a vote to deprive us of our "inalienable rights". And you have a right to protect your sovereignty by whatever means possible, including a healthy reliance on the Second Amendment.
When Benjamin Franklin was leaving Philadelphia after the Constitutional Convention, a lady called out to him, "Mr. Franklin, what kind of government have you given us?" He replied "A Republic, my dear, if you can keep it. Later, when asked to explain the difference between a democracy and a republic, he said "A democracy is when two wolves and a sheep take a vote on what's for dinner. A republic is when the sheep is well-armed and can beg to differ with the result."
In fact, those drafters of the Constitution distrusted government so much - including their own - that they added the Bill of Rights to protect the people from their own representatives and used exact language in Amendments Nine and Ten to say that if the federal government was not expressly given a power by the Constitution, then it didn't have it and the states and the people did. ...
What is left of the founders' original vision of a citizen's "inalienable" birthrights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Are they now just empty terms? Bygone rhetoric? Quaint historical references?
Or can they be resurrected by our own present-day actions, individually and collectively, to once again reflect the mindset that human beings are entities to be celebrated and rewarded by our form of government. Color me naive, but I'm putting my money on the Constitution, me and you to pull it off." ME, TOO -- ALL OF US TOGETHER.
Thanks for reading this -- so much of the article I left out, but to me this speaks to the very core of what needs to be and happen.
Thank you Laura, and let's do what we gotta do.
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Anonymous, at 2:24 PM, September 21, 2005
To Anonyomous who thinks that tape is fresh, I again ask you to call WHAS and speak with Eric Zaeger, who did tape the same thing, and the police were called on him for following sanitation around. Steve Burgin's tape is "fresh", I guess, but Eric Zaeger filmed the same under Overton and so did a former City employee -- but you're allowed to not know what's happened in the past. Shame I know who's house was used in Eric Zaeger's film and the ex-City employee who has a tape, also. Again, call Eric Zaeger about it. My comment stands. But, thank you for your comments.
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Anonymous, at 2:31 PM, September 21, 2005
Bravo Tim!!! But don't you think that, in the long run, privitization would be a better solution????
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Anonymous, at 6:21 PM, September 21, 2005
Ceece-
I can appreciate your frustration and agree completely that the ugly name calling and attacks are non productive and a waste of time and space.
I have admonished many, over time, to refrain from personal attacks and stick to the ISSUES.
Unfortunately, many are too insistent on trying to distract people's attention away from the real concerns we are trying to address by inciting anger with assinine & malicious comments.
They do this in a pitiful attempt to discredit this blog and the mission we have to bring issues out in the open for discussion and to inform the public to the best of our ability.
We will continue down this path because it offers the only means by which people who have access to the information can distribute it without having to reveal their identity, thus jepordizing their jobs and/or safety.
Anonymity indeed has inherent drawbacks, but in this situation it serves us best in our efforts to expose corruption and mismanagement.
Additionally, it is a forum for sharing ideas and finding positive ways to enhance our community.
So, although it requires a thick skin to take the jabs and assults I still believe it's worth it.
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East Ender, at 6:21 PM, September 21, 2005
Tim-
That is an ugly comment you just made. It just goes to show the underbelly of blogging that Ceece has expressed concerns about.
You could have made your point without the personal critisism.
Do you even know her?
Your point regarding mismanagement is probably on target, but you had to go and finish with a personal attack.
Why?
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East Ender, at 6:30 PM, September 21, 2005
errrrrrrrrr...he's really sorta just an ass a lot of the time. Fortunately, he has good moments.
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Anonymous, at 11:53 PM, September 21, 2005
Council Meeting tonight and it should be very interesting! Seems like the Mayor is starting to see you got to do things legally? Or was it because Certain things would come out he didn't want people to know? Time will tell...
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Anonymous, at 8:23 AM, September 22, 2005
Careful, Ceece, he's a serial abuser.
By
Anonymous, at 11:58 AM, September 22, 2005
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