Investigation Underway

Isn't it interesting the way some things work out?
Just as we were beginning to wonder if there was a sane mind left in New Albany, the EPA sends in the man from their Criminal Investigations Division.
We believe there must be probable cause at hand to have initiated questioning of Council Memebers, Sewer Board members, and the City Comptroller, Kay Gerry.
We believe they he is here to investigate the use of a State loan of Federal money that was used in the $44 million plant capacity expansion.
Because it was Federal dollars that were spent in order to "fix" the failing Sewage System, and the system wasn't fixed, it still doesn't work, they might be wanting to know what happened to that money.
Don't forget that the EPA has been 'negotiating' with the City of New Albany for about 12 years now. We've been given opportunity after opportunity to comply with signed agreed orders for specific repairs, yet one administration after another has chosen to ignore the real problems and instead spend massive amounts of money to simply expand the capacity of the plant.
Meanwhile, raw sewage was being dumped straight into the Ohio River, by the City of New Albany, at enormous rates. System overflows have caused enormous amounts of raw sewage to spill into the streets and pollute springs and groundwater.
Now, the sewers really do need fixed.
Perhaps now the EPA is going to come in and do it for them.
More importantly, the administration will be held accountable for the millions of dollars that have been used from the Sewer Utility funds to support, and in some instances outright pay for, other City services and associated costs.
The proposed rate increase will be halted, and the financials associated with more than 38 checking accounts will be examined.
We asked for an investigation into the audit. We asked many times.
Now, an investigation into the money is what the Federal authorities are here to do.
Does this little problem of ours now warrant the top of the priority list?

The citizen's advocates, often referred to as New Albany's Potty Police, who have worked diligently to follow the bouncing politicians who have had hold of this issue over the years, and who have tread where most of us would fear to tread, are due our sincere gratitude.