Pull up the boot straps and batten down the hatches. Next meeting it's here we go again!!
A meeting presumed by some to be swift and uneventful turned out to be quit a surprise with all CM present. The Communications – City Officials portion of the meeting cooked up some heated discussion.
Cm Gahan labored on with his pursuit for financial accountability from the sewer board. “All I am asking here is for someone to give me a legitimate budget that the board has voted to approve. That’s not asking too much is it?” There was not much discussion at this point. After all who wants to sign on to a budget with that balance sheet?
CM Price brought to the attention of the council a list of possible road/ally closures by CSX for railroad repairs along 15th street. After some discussion council seemed to agree that the work was going to be done to benefit CSX and not the City of New Albany. I understand CSX stands to gain funds from the state if the tracks and crossings are deemed safer. I guess if a large corporation profits in some way it must be bad for someone. On a side bar here, Cm Price definitely made it sound like he was in communication with CSX and that they were working with him on this issue. When Cm Price was prodded for a second time as to who he was talking to and who gave him this information, amidst a few chuckles from a council member or two and a few from the peanut gallery, he confessed Valla Ann gave them to me. Now you all can hate this woman all you want and say what you wish. As for me I always strive to find a positive within everyone. Regardless of how you see her motives, Valla Ann is a “Go-Getter”. May I suggest reading the book by Peter B. Kyne? It is one of my favorites.
CM Coffey brought to council’s attention his concern that EMC is forcing people to sign confidentiality agreements or lose their jobs to prevent dishonorable information from reaching the public. He states again that we should discontinue our relationship with this company. Later in the miscellaneous communications portion, EMC states this is an issue with just one particular employee who is leaving the company and the information EMC wants kept confidential is related solely to the personal issues between the employee and EMC.
Back to the Communications-City Officials portion, CM Blevens jumps on the Gahan band wagon to revisit the sewer board budget. After repeatedly asking why the sewer board has not signed off on this budget CM Kochert finally gave in and said it is because the president of the board (The Mayor) hasn’t presented it to us to vote on!! I think I will give 20-1 odds that the Mayor “WILL” be at the next council meeting!! For those of you who read the Kathy Copas post from this site that the Tribune published, if you know business people looking to check out New Albany by sitting in on a council meeting, have them skip this next one.
Three more properties have been cleaned up at a total cost to the city of just $6,500.00. Of course if we ever collect that money it will go into the general fund where it will be lost forever.
CM Coffey pulled an ordinance to appropriate funds to the storm water dept. He doesn’t like their budget and is sure that they have spent some of the money not yet appropriated to them. This topic is another reason to follow the suggestion from two paragraphs preceding.
Look for some “special” council meetings to be called soon and beware the notice can be as little as 48hrs.
I will miss the next meeting. Hope to see video back in service.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
The Veteran
"The Veteran"Today I was reminded of what time could not eraseAs I walked through the halls I felt a sadness in this placeA building filled with history our books will never seeTheir stories are the pages locked inside their memoryIt's one of many you will find that's scattered everywhereThese people come here hoping to receive the proper careI saw a few in wheelchairs and so many used a caneSome walked just fine but in their eyes was where I saw the painThese Heroes have been marked for life all here surrounding meThey've shed their blood while other's died to keep this country freeI still remember stories of a war my dad went throughEach one was told with Army Pride he called it "World War II"And later "The Korean War" forced troops to say good-byeBecause Korea's North and South could not see eye to eyeThen "Vietnam" decided too raise up it's ugly headLike all the wars, the damage left so many people deadWhen troops came home they had to face another kind of warA "War of Words" that added wounds as if they needed moreThe latest war was televised for all the world to seeCalled "Operation Desert Storm" performed so perfectlyThis war had ended quickly but our troops cannot forgetThey're constantly reminded that the "Storm's" not over yetThese wars do not discriminate religion, sex or raceThe bombs, grenades and poison gas take lives we can't replaceAnd weapons don't have boundaries they claim what's in their wayWhat will it take to stop these wars right here, right now, todayOur troops are thought so highly of when they are called to warBut when it's over they are not remembered anymoreAnd what about the one's still lost are they forgotten too?Is anyone still searching for the one's who fought for youThese men and women suffer more than you will ever knowWhen war is over they still fight a war that doesn't showEach one deserves the very best for what they have been throughYour proof is VA Hospitals I'm sure there's one near youWe all want Peace and Harmony but something's always wrongThese buildings might become extinct if we could get alongMy husband fought the last two wars, which stole the heart he hadHe wears that look of war abuse just like my precious dadI don't have all the answers but I know one thing for sureThe anger has to leave before a healing can occurAmerica is free because of Veterans todayAnd more of them still yet to come will also have to paySo when you exercise your rights remember "Why" you canYou see, I can't forget because I am "The Veteran"© By: Freda H. Babinski 9-2-97Tndeer1@aol.com http://www.geocities.com/fredaheavensent/(Dedication)I dedicate this to every Veteran, past, present and future. "God Bless You"
Momma is a Soldier
Momma Is a Soldier
I woke up one bright morning And I heard my momma say
I heard her telling DaddyThat she had to leave that day
I knew that she'd be gone awhileJust like she was before...
And I looked with love at her smiling face As she walked out of the door
Oh Daddy did the best he could He was so good and kind
I think he tried to make up forWhen momma left me behind
You see she is a soldierShe must go when duty calls
But she doesn't know I don'tunderstand All those papers on the wall
The last time Momma left us My tears begin to fall
She told me not to cry for her To watch the papers on the wall
That she'd be back to love me And we'd laugh and play again
That she'd be leaving messagesUntil we'd meet again...
She loved to serve her country Was so I could be free
My momma was a soldier first And then a mom to me...
Now she is an angel...Her plane crashed in the sea
She won't be coming backTo laugh and play with me
Yes, Momma was a soldier She stood brave and tall
Now all I have to play withIs her medal on the wall...
Author: Jene Lindaman
I woke up one bright morning And I heard my momma say
I heard her telling DaddyThat she had to leave that day
I knew that she'd be gone awhileJust like she was before...
And I looked with love at her smiling face As she walked out of the door
Oh Daddy did the best he could He was so good and kind
I think he tried to make up forWhen momma left me behind
You see she is a soldierShe must go when duty calls
But she doesn't know I don'tunderstand All those papers on the wall
The last time Momma left us My tears begin to fall
She told me not to cry for her To watch the papers on the wall
That she'd be back to love me And we'd laugh and play again
That she'd be leaving messagesUntil we'd meet again...
She loved to serve her country Was so I could be free
My momma was a soldier first And then a mom to me...
Now she is an angel...Her plane crashed in the sea
She won't be coming backTo laugh and play with me
Yes, Momma was a soldier She stood brave and tall
Now all I have to play withIs her medal on the wall...
Author: Jene Lindaman
Remember Me
TO REMEMBER ME-Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or thelove in the eyes of a woman.Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless daysof pain.Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk. If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all prejudice against my fellow man. Give my sins to the devil. Give my soul to God. If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word tosomeone who needs you. If you do all I have asked I will live forever. Robert N. Test
Memorial Day Special Posts
I'll be gone for the long weeekend so, here are some special thoughts for Memorial Day.
A Soldier's Christmas
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,Transforming the yard to a winter delight.The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,Secure and surrounded by love I would sleepin perfect contentment, or so it would seem.So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,and I crept to the door just to see who was near.Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years oldPerhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child."What are you doing?" I asked without fear"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,to the window that danced with a warm fire's lightthen he sighed and he said "Its really all right,I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night""Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,that separates you from the darkest of times.No one had to ask or beg or implore me,I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'NamAnd now it is my turn and so, here I am.I've not seen my own son in more than a while,But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,The red white and blue... an American flag."I can live through the cold and the being alone,Away from my family, my house and my home,I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,I can carry the weight of killing anotheror lay down my life with my sisters and brotherswho stand at the front against any and all,to insure for all time that this flag will not fall.""So go back inside," he said, "harbor no frightYour family is waiting and I'll be all right.""But isn't there something I can do, at the least,"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?It seems all too little for all that you've done,For being away from your wife and your son."Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,"Just tell us you love us, and never forgetTo fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.To stand your own watch, no matter how long.For when we come home, either standing or dead,to know you remember we fought and we bledis payment enough, and with that we will trust.That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.Michael MarksDecember 7th, 2000marksman@patriot.net
A Soldier's Christmas
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,Transforming the yard to a winter delight.The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,Secure and surrounded by love I would sleepin perfect contentment, or so it would seem.So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,and I crept to the door just to see who was near.Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years oldPerhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child."What are you doing?" I asked without fear"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,to the window that danced with a warm fire's lightthen he sighed and he said "Its really all right,I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night""Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,that separates you from the darkest of times.No one had to ask or beg or implore me,I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'NamAnd now it is my turn and so, here I am.I've not seen my own son in more than a while,But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,The red white and blue... an American flag."I can live through the cold and the being alone,Away from my family, my house and my home,I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,I can carry the weight of killing anotheror lay down my life with my sisters and brotherswho stand at the front against any and all,to insure for all time that this flag will not fall.""So go back inside," he said, "harbor no frightYour family is waiting and I'll be all right.""But isn't there something I can do, at the least,"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?It seems all too little for all that you've done,For being away from your wife and your son."Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,"Just tell us you love us, and never forgetTo fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.To stand your own watch, no matter how long.For when we come home, either standing or dead,to know you remember we fought and we bledis payment enough, and with that we will trust.That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.Michael MarksDecember 7th, 2000marksman@patriot.net
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Democrat Council At-Large Candidates In Trouble This November?
UNDER VOTES AND WHY THEY COUNT
I have to ask my readers a question. If a candidate is running unopposed and you don’t vote for that candidate, what is the reason? For me, since there is no yes or no vote as with an issue, that would be how I cast a NO vote. I am saying that I am not pleased with this candidate on my ballot and want someone different. Am I the only one here that thinks this way? Please let me know if my thinking is flawed.
The reason I must ask is that using the “coop method” of predicting possible outcomes in the general election coming this November, I see a startling figure. But first, let’s take a look at the averages and compare.
In this primary race in races with more than one candidate, other than council at-large, the average percentage of voters voting “none of the above” is 5%.
Staying within the range that I believe to be acceptable, (under 15%) are two of the uncontested races. Hubbard gets a 6% NO vote and Abersold 8%. Gahan is border line with 20%. Benedetti 23% and Wiseman 27% may find themselves in trouble come November. If 25% of voters in your party are not going to vote for you in an uncontested race in your primary, that should be a concern to you.
Now for the startling figure I lead into. Check out the NO votes or “none of the above” from the council at-large ballots.
Council at-large;
Republicans 25%
Democrats 40%
Folks that is a startling figure!! You can call under votes anything you want but, if you can turn that 40% into something positive for the Democrat council at large candidates, please show me.
I know it’s not a fair comparison to use contested and non contested races in the same context but, humor me. How striking are some of these differences . Below is a list of the percentage of votes lost from their own party in this primary and comparing it with their November counter parts.
England 2%
Hubbard 6%
Wiseman 27%
Hornung 7%
Coffey 6%
??????????
Caesar 6%
Harbison 4%
Price 5%
??????????
Mclaughlin 8%
Abersold 8%
Benedetti 23%
Bliss 3%
Gahan 20%
Stewart 4%
Hollis
Gonder 40%
Messer
Zurschmiede
Berryman 25%
Burks
For entertainment and discussion purposes only. Not a scientific study.
I have to ask my readers a question. If a candidate is running unopposed and you don’t vote for that candidate, what is the reason? For me, since there is no yes or no vote as with an issue, that would be how I cast a NO vote. I am saying that I am not pleased with this candidate on my ballot and want someone different. Am I the only one here that thinks this way? Please let me know if my thinking is flawed.
The reason I must ask is that using the “coop method” of predicting possible outcomes in the general election coming this November, I see a startling figure. But first, let’s take a look at the averages and compare.
In this primary race in races with more than one candidate, other than council at-large, the average percentage of voters voting “none of the above” is 5%.
Staying within the range that I believe to be acceptable, (under 15%) are two of the uncontested races. Hubbard gets a 6% NO vote and Abersold 8%. Gahan is border line with 20%. Benedetti 23% and Wiseman 27% may find themselves in trouble come November. If 25% of voters in your party are not going to vote for you in an uncontested race in your primary, that should be a concern to you.
Now for the startling figure I lead into. Check out the NO votes or “none of the above” from the council at-large ballots.
Council at-large;
Republicans 25%
Democrats 40%
Folks that is a startling figure!! You can call under votes anything you want but, if you can turn that 40% into something positive for the Democrat council at large candidates, please show me.
I know it’s not a fair comparison to use contested and non contested races in the same context but, humor me. How striking are some of these differences . Below is a list of the percentage of votes lost from their own party in this primary and comparing it with their November counter parts.
England 2%
Hubbard 6%
Wiseman 27%
Hornung 7%
Coffey 6%
??????????
Caesar 6%
Harbison 4%
Price 5%
??????????
Mclaughlin 8%
Abersold 8%
Benedetti 23%
Bliss 3%
Gahan 20%
Stewart 4%
Hollis
Gonder 40%
Messer
Zurschmiede
Berryman 25%
Burks
For entertainment and discussion purposes only. Not a scientific study.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
New Albany Council vs Clarksville Council Tonight!!
Clarksville Council has nothing on the New Albany City Council. Well, at least not at election time. In Clarksville type warp speed of 45 minutes and Clarksville like results, 100% passage with unanimous votes, we can be certain election time is near.
On a serious and more positive note, I do favor our council over C-vill for the very reason that they do conduct most of their business on the record and in front of their constituents that are able and willing to attend the open meetings. Could you imagine how messed up this city would be if this council was conducting most of its business privately and off public record. A concept for a Steven King movie Perhaps?
As far as the meeting; Foam Fabricators Inc had their abatement pulled from agenda.
James Jones Popcorn Inc had their abatement pass.
Council voted to amend it's own rules and allow for all three readings of the ordinance authorizing a lease and sublease agreement for the equipping of an Economic Development facility. It passed all three readings.
They passed first reading of the zoning ordinance for Graceland to build ball fields. However CM Coffey had to make sure all the lights are off and the children will be away from the roads, quiet and tucked into their beds by 10:00 p.m. Does anyone know how that race is going? Could he be running behind??
Readings two and three of the sewer engineer/manager passed. There was quite a bit of circular conversation on this one. CM Gahan had some good questions and was concerned with where the pay would be coming from and why there is not a budget to show these facts. CM Coffey is determined to save the city money and get the new engineer/manager to be the City Engineer as well. He can do both jobs if we can pay him a little more money. By the way, does anyone know how that race is going? Could he be running behind??
Appropriations passed 2nd and 3rd readings.
G-06-21 The fire dept ordinance was removed from the table by CM Blevens before the 3rd reading of the tabled ordinance. The reason? The FD union leadership claims that the union membership supports a merit system!! That merit system will contain rules for hiring practices!! So which hiring system will take precedent, the administrations or the FD merit system? I guess we will see if the administration really just wanted a hiring ordinance or if they wanted control. Again, something is going to have to give.
CM Schmidt wants to revisit the notion of councilmen who serve on the sewer board being compensated for that effort. CM Coffey agreed and also wants to see them get full voting rights on the board. Say what?? And from whom?? I am curious; does anyone know how that race is going? Could he be running behind??
Theresa was sure giddy tonight and seemed to be looking toward some kind of a party soon.
On a serious and more positive note, I do favor our council over C-vill for the very reason that they do conduct most of their business on the record and in front of their constituents that are able and willing to attend the open meetings. Could you imagine how messed up this city would be if this council was conducting most of its business privately and off public record. A concept for a Steven King movie Perhaps?
As far as the meeting; Foam Fabricators Inc had their abatement pulled from agenda.
James Jones Popcorn Inc had their abatement pass.
Council voted to amend it's own rules and allow for all three readings of the ordinance authorizing a lease and sublease agreement for the equipping of an Economic Development facility. It passed all three readings.
They passed first reading of the zoning ordinance for Graceland to build ball fields. However CM Coffey had to make sure all the lights are off and the children will be away from the roads, quiet and tucked into their beds by 10:00 p.m. Does anyone know how that race is going? Could he be running behind??
Readings two and three of the sewer engineer/manager passed. There was quite a bit of circular conversation on this one. CM Gahan had some good questions and was concerned with where the pay would be coming from and why there is not a budget to show these facts. CM Coffey is determined to save the city money and get the new engineer/manager to be the City Engineer as well. He can do both jobs if we can pay him a little more money. By the way, does anyone know how that race is going? Could he be running behind??
Appropriations passed 2nd and 3rd readings.
G-06-21 The fire dept ordinance was removed from the table by CM Blevens before the 3rd reading of the tabled ordinance. The reason? The FD union leadership claims that the union membership supports a merit system!! That merit system will contain rules for hiring practices!! So which hiring system will take precedent, the administrations or the FD merit system? I guess we will see if the administration really just wanted a hiring ordinance or if they wanted control. Again, something is going to have to give.
CM Schmidt wants to revisit the notion of councilmen who serve on the sewer board being compensated for that effort. CM Coffey agreed and also wants to see them get full voting rights on the board. Say what?? And from whom?? I am curious; does anyone know how that race is going? Could he be running behind??
Theresa was sure giddy tonight and seemed to be looking toward some kind of a party soon.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Another Celebration of Life
See I told you all I wouldn't have time to write a blog post. Took my middle daughter to the hospital last night at 10:00pm. We now have a second grandson named Andrew Robert. He is a little one @ 5# 10 oz. & 19". That's two grandsons in four weeks!! OK girls, time to slow down a little. My wife is up a yonder on a cloud somewhere. Never seen her so happy. See ya all later.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Bash & Boom
I will not be attending the council meeting this week. I have the final organizational meeting for our car show this Thursday and I can't miss it. www.britishbash.com Check it out, we are raising money for St. Joseph's Children's Home www.sjkids.org May be I can work out a free pint for you bloggers that visit??
Also with time constraints on getting ready for all our friends and family coming in for Thunder it will be tough to get time to write anyway. Again if you come down look for us. We will be under double blue canopy in front of Colgate clock in the grass. Usually plenty of grub and adult beverages. Introduce yourself!!
Coop
Also with time constraints on getting ready for all our friends and family coming in for Thunder it will be tough to get time to write anyway. Again if you come down look for us. We will be under double blue canopy in front of Colgate clock in the grass. Usually plenty of grub and adult beverages. Introduce yourself!!
Coop
Council Code of Conduct??
Here is a letter my neighbor e-mailed to me in response to the March 7th council meeting. The letter is relevant to past and future meetings so please read it.
Hello, Blogmeister:Feel free to post this if you want. My other post didn't seem to "take"---probably an AOL thing or something. Recently, I attended my first City Council meeting and frankly wasn't sure if I'd made a wrong turn and landed on the set of the Jerry Springer show. Friends, Romans, New Albanians---here's the deal. If I were an industry rep thinking of relocating a major business to this city, and I happened to drop by the meeting I witnessed, I would frankly reconsider the move. (And, trust me, people who are considering doing significant business in a city DO sometimes check out things like how such basic governmental meetings function.) The chair certainly didn't have a handle on the meeting but those garden-variety citizens attending who didn't know how to behave were shameless and many in number. I was inspired to slush back to the office and write a proposed Code of Conduct for these meetings---a covenant of responsibility, if you will, for both the council and the council meeting attendees. I've passed it along to a couple of council folk already and suggested they might want to adopt some version of this. But, maybe we need a groundswell movement! I would simply say that, in my view, an open meeting like the council is in essence a front door to our community. We can choose, as citizens and as a council, what type of front door impression we want to present to the wider world. I just hope we'll all choose wisely and, when in doubt, default to professionalism.KC
CODE OF CONDUCT
NEW ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Thank you for attending this meeting of the New Albany City Council. As so to ensure that our meetings progress smoothly and professionally, we have adopted a meeting Code of Conduct. Your cooperation is appreciated.
As a council, we pledge to:
1. Start our meetings on time.
2. Stick to our pre-published agenda.
3. Follow Robert’s Rules of Order as our meeting protocol.
4. Provide some opportunity for guests to speak.
5. Address each other clearly so that we can be heard throughout the room.
6. Remain individually following meeting adjournment for a minimum for 15 minutes for additional comments and questions from individuals.
7. Provide e-mail addresses where we can be reached until the next scheduled meeting.
As for guests, we respectfully ask that you:
1. Enter and exit the council room quietly and unobtrusively, showing consideration to other guests who are already seated, as well as your council members.
2. Refrain from personal conversations or verbal outbursts while the council is in session.
3. Silence cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices and refrain from cell phone conversations while the council is in session.
4. Refrain from inappropriate dress, disrespectful signage, and other obtrusive visual forms of personal expression in the meeting room and hallway.
5. Not engage in conversations directly outside the meeting room that may interfere with council or guests’ ability to hear the meeting proceedings. Please take these conversations to the perpendicular hallway on the third floor or to the first floor building lobby.
6. Not encounter council members during their five-minute breaks.
7. Refrain from bringing food into the council meeting room.
8. Respect council members’ time prior to and immediately following the meeting.
9. If you wish to speak for up to five minutes, place your request on a note card (provided) and pass it to the chair who will recognize you at an appropriate time to come to the podium.
Thank you for helping our council to serve you better.
Hello, Blogmeister:Feel free to post this if you want. My other post didn't seem to "take"---probably an AOL thing or something. Recently, I attended my first City Council meeting and frankly wasn't sure if I'd made a wrong turn and landed on the set of the Jerry Springer show. Friends, Romans, New Albanians---here's the deal. If I were an industry rep thinking of relocating a major business to this city, and I happened to drop by the meeting I witnessed, I would frankly reconsider the move. (And, trust me, people who are considering doing significant business in a city DO sometimes check out things like how such basic governmental meetings function.) The chair certainly didn't have a handle on the meeting but those garden-variety citizens attending who didn't know how to behave were shameless and many in number. I was inspired to slush back to the office and write a proposed Code of Conduct for these meetings---a covenant of responsibility, if you will, for both the council and the council meeting attendees. I've passed it along to a couple of council folk already and suggested they might want to adopt some version of this. But, maybe we need a groundswell movement! I would simply say that, in my view, an open meeting like the council is in essence a front door to our community. We can choose, as citizens and as a council, what type of front door impression we want to present to the wider world. I just hope we'll all choose wisely and, when in doubt, default to professionalism.KC
CODE OF CONDUCT
NEW ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Thank you for attending this meeting of the New Albany City Council. As so to ensure that our meetings progress smoothly and professionally, we have adopted a meeting Code of Conduct. Your cooperation is appreciated.
As a council, we pledge to:
1. Start our meetings on time.
2. Stick to our pre-published agenda.
3. Follow Robert’s Rules of Order as our meeting protocol.
4. Provide some opportunity for guests to speak.
5. Address each other clearly so that we can be heard throughout the room.
6. Remain individually following meeting adjournment for a minimum for 15 minutes for additional comments and questions from individuals.
7. Provide e-mail addresses where we can be reached until the next scheduled meeting.
As for guests, we respectfully ask that you:
1. Enter and exit the council room quietly and unobtrusively, showing consideration to other guests who are already seated, as well as your council members.
2. Refrain from personal conversations or verbal outbursts while the council is in session.
3. Silence cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices and refrain from cell phone conversations while the council is in session.
4. Refrain from inappropriate dress, disrespectful signage, and other obtrusive visual forms of personal expression in the meeting room and hallway.
5. Not engage in conversations directly outside the meeting room that may interfere with council or guests’ ability to hear the meeting proceedings. Please take these conversations to the perpendicular hallway on the third floor or to the first floor building lobby.
6. Not encounter council members during their five-minute breaks.
7. Refrain from bringing food into the council meeting room.
8. Respect council members’ time prior to and immediately following the meeting.
9. If you wish to speak for up to five minutes, place your request on a note card (provided) and pass it to the chair who will recognize you at an appropriate time to come to the podium.
Thank you for helping our council to serve you better.
Monday, April 2, 2007
"Resolution passes" are you kidding me? Really? Are you sure?
Hallelujah, they passed something that wasn’t an appropriation or abatement. I had to restrain myself from waving my arms in the air and standing to cheer. Actually credit for my restraint should fall upon the shoulders of the “joy sucker” with the gavel. It was like he just knew something good was going to happen. His opening address ended with a command to all of us in the peanut gallery to be restrained and keep our mouths shut during the session. In all actuality I must confess that this meeting was a vast improvement on the president’s part to keep the session on topic and in control. There is obvious room for growth but the effort and improvement shall be duly noted.
The “resolution” that passed was to purchase the 5 new police cars of the 10 the chief needs and asked for. The condition of these cars is said to be so bad the maintenance spending has doubled and the officers and their seats are falling through the floors of the vehicles. Even after all the discussion on the issue Steve (Fred Flintstone) Price voted no for the new cars. If he was the only person making financial decisions for this city we would have to change the name to Bedrock.
Two different resolutions to find more street paving money failed with the help of the Mayor. Wait, I thought he was the one asking, wanting and in need of this money? I have never in my life known someone who ridicules, derides, mocks and chaffs a group of people moments before asking them for something. I have seen him do it on many occasions just this year. I actually believe the paving monies from EDIT Fund had a chance to pass until he spoke to council. (a personal side note to the Mayor. Pick a book title from the list below and I will buy you the book if you promise to read it.)
How to win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Magic of Getting What You Want by David Schwartz
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
How to Make a Habit of Succeeding by Mack Douglas
Caring Enough to Confront by David Augsburger
CM Coffey tabled his FD hiring ordinance to see if anything he likes comes out of committee for the next meeting. NOT going to happen. On a side bar to this issue CM Price warned that if nothing happens in committee he is going to make sure something happens at next council meeting!! You should have seen CM Messer laughing. I thought he was going to fall out of his chair!!
Crime is on the rise around S. Ellen Jones Park. I urge my readers not to frequent this area between the hours of 1- 4 a.m.
For those of you getting in some early spring swimming and fishing via your living rooms, the Storm Water Board meetings have changed for this month. They will be meeting on the 13th and 27th . Mr. Deatrick agreed to me to make the top 6 priority spots public but, didn’t say when or where he would do this. Now that the money is there to fix the top six, lets see what happens.
The “resolution” that passed was to purchase the 5 new police cars of the 10 the chief needs and asked for. The condition of these cars is said to be so bad the maintenance spending has doubled and the officers and their seats are falling through the floors of the vehicles. Even after all the discussion on the issue Steve (Fred Flintstone) Price voted no for the new cars. If he was the only person making financial decisions for this city we would have to change the name to Bedrock.
Two different resolutions to find more street paving money failed with the help of the Mayor. Wait, I thought he was the one asking, wanting and in need of this money? I have never in my life known someone who ridicules, derides, mocks and chaffs a group of people moments before asking them for something. I have seen him do it on many occasions just this year. I actually believe the paving monies from EDIT Fund had a chance to pass until he spoke to council. (a personal side note to the Mayor. Pick a book title from the list below and I will buy you the book if you promise to read it.)
How to win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Magic of Getting What You Want by David Schwartz
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
How to Make a Habit of Succeeding by Mack Douglas
Caring Enough to Confront by David Augsburger
CM Coffey tabled his FD hiring ordinance to see if anything he likes comes out of committee for the next meeting. NOT going to happen. On a side bar to this issue CM Price warned that if nothing happens in committee he is going to make sure something happens at next council meeting!! You should have seen CM Messer laughing. I thought he was going to fall out of his chair!!
Crime is on the rise around S. Ellen Jones Park. I urge my readers not to frequent this area between the hours of 1- 4 a.m.
For those of you getting in some early spring swimming and fishing via your living rooms, the Storm Water Board meetings have changed for this month. They will be meeting on the 13th and 27th . Mr. Deatrick agreed to me to make the top 6 priority spots public but, didn’t say when or where he would do this. Now that the money is there to fix the top six, lets see what happens.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Council meeting again met my expectations for entertainment. I’ll give my review and opinions a little later as I am running right now on less than 2hrs of sleep.
I had to leave the council meeting last night to welcome in my new grandson. 7lb 14oz, 21” Tyler Anthony.
After 20hrs of labor, mother, father and grandparents are doing fine but very, very tired.
I will post more after some much needed sleep.
I had to leave the council meeting last night to welcome in my new grandson. 7lb 14oz, 21” Tyler Anthony.
After 20hrs of labor, mother, father and grandparents are doing fine but very, very tired.
I will post more after some much needed sleep.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
New Albany Smoke Free Air Act, May It R.I.P.
Has G-07-02 known as the New Albany Smoke Free Air Act really put to rest? If so may it Rest In Peace!
This is one ordinance that I am happy to see get tabled and go to committee (Also known as the Bermuda Triangle, cyber space, and the black hole). Not that I have very strong opinions one way or the other, which happens to be true also for the citizens of New Albany. It seams the only people interested enough in this ordinance to call the council members to voice concerns are the non-profits that are pushing this issue nationwide.
The reasons I am glad to see this issue R.I.P are two fold. The first is that this is not going to be an easy issue to even get out of committee. There are so many ways from special exemptions to being all inclusive that this could be written. If council had nothing else to work on it would take 6 months to get this out of committee. How long do you think it would take to get it discussed and passed by the sitting council? This could prove to be another one of those please everybody votes where a certain council member could find himself voting yes, abstaining, and then voting no to the first, second and third readings of the same ordinance!! Enough of that stuff already. There are much more important issues where the city council needs to spend valuable time.
The second reason is this. There is so much pressure from the non-profits on the state and federal legislature that this issue is getting handled by them. Did you know that at least 22 states have initiated smoking bans? These are not states that have towns and cities that have passed bans. These are states that have statewide state initiated smoking bans. Here are the ones that I have found, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IDAHO, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEVADA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, PUERTO RICO, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, & WASHINGTON.
So sooner or later the state of Indiana is going to pass something. Let the state legislature handle this complicated process for us. That’s way they make the big bucks. If we don’t like what they give us I would hope our council could handle tweaking that.
Sorry it has been so long inbetween posts. I have been spending all my daylight hours putting two water gardens in my back yard.
This is one ordinance that I am happy to see get tabled and go to committee (Also known as the Bermuda Triangle, cyber space, and the black hole). Not that I have very strong opinions one way or the other, which happens to be true also for the citizens of New Albany. It seams the only people interested enough in this ordinance to call the council members to voice concerns are the non-profits that are pushing this issue nationwide.
The reasons I am glad to see this issue R.I.P are two fold. The first is that this is not going to be an easy issue to even get out of committee. There are so many ways from special exemptions to being all inclusive that this could be written. If council had nothing else to work on it would take 6 months to get this out of committee. How long do you think it would take to get it discussed and passed by the sitting council? This could prove to be another one of those please everybody votes where a certain council member could find himself voting yes, abstaining, and then voting no to the first, second and third readings of the same ordinance!! Enough of that stuff already. There are much more important issues where the city council needs to spend valuable time.
The second reason is this. There is so much pressure from the non-profits on the state and federal legislature that this issue is getting handled by them. Did you know that at least 22 states have initiated smoking bans? These are not states that have towns and cities that have passed bans. These are states that have statewide state initiated smoking bans. Here are the ones that I have found, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IDAHO, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEVADA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, PUERTO RICO, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, & WASHINGTON.
So sooner or later the state of Indiana is going to pass something. Let the state legislature handle this complicated process for us. That’s way they make the big bucks. If we don’t like what they give us I would hope our council could handle tweaking that.
Sorry it has been so long inbetween posts. I have been spending all my daylight hours putting two water gardens in my back yard.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
New Albany City CouncilCommittee on the Ambulance
From meeting March 5, 2007
Since the Tribune actually did a good job of covering the council meeting, I will not go into great detail. I will try to fill some gaps, give insight, and ask some questions I have personally.
From the top, for those of you attending the meetings, we have some date changes. The Tribune reported the March 15th change to March 22nd. August 16 to the 23rd, and November 5th a Monday to November 1st a Thursday are the other changes.
Time and time again I have talked about the lack of communication between council members between meetings. These council meetings could be over in an hour if just half of the discussion time used during the meeting were done off public record. When a council person introduces an ordinance that finds heated circular discussion for an hour then gets tabled by the sponsor is just asinine. If you know your going to table your ordinance or put it back in committee (which has happened in more than one case this year already) then do so before you waste your time (and ours) arguing for an hour over something you know you are not going to vote on.
A prime example of this is the confusion over the pulling of FD ordinance. How much time could it have possible taken to make a couple of calls to make sure that since you were going to be absent from the meeting that the ordinance would still be on the agenda to be read? Of course there was no reason for it to be pulled in the first place, but how much time and headache could have been saved for a few minutes of communication? This is not an attack but, sincere questions Mr. Blevens. You work two jobs and serve on city council. Do you have a family also? You’re spreading yourself pretty thin. Do you honestly think you are doing as well as you should on all fronts?
A pat on the back for Mr. Zurschmiede, Blevens and Gahan for making sure Mr. Kochert understands what can be pulled from the agenda and how. All ordinances must be read 3 times unless, pulled by sponsor, voted to be tabled or put into committee.
Mr. Coffey blamed the previous controller for the city not having any money to spend. Could it be that all this trouble really only falls on those shoulders?
It will be very interesting to see if street names are actually brought forward into the discussion of street paving. The mayor repeatedly mentioned Market St. as a priority.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
One thing that impressed me was the fact that the rule about not making comments of a personal nature was not broken until after 9:00 p.m. I believe the previous record this year has been 8:15. Of course those involved made up for the lack of an early entry with vivid display of running down the hall, jumping up and down, finger pointing and defending yourself by pointing your finger at someone else and accusing them of something completely off topic. The Mayor succeeded in a surprise attack, as he re-entered the room of council chambers through the back door firing insults as with a Tommy gun at Mr. Messer.
I have a few comments about the committee on the ambulance report. I would like to thank Mr. Blevens for providing me with a copy. I was a fireman/EMT-A for 10 yrs so I can relate somewhat to this topic.
Fact#2-“How many” firefighters are waiting to be trained for the ambulance and how long have they been waiting? Does there probationary period end in a years even if they don’t take the test? B-Training can and should be done in house. How much is outside sourcing of this training instruction costing us?
Fact#3-This is a serious charge. The public needs to know the names of the firefighters who were threatened and who made the threat of disciplinary action.
Fact#4-Who made the decision to use the $80,000 for the locator system the chief does not want to use? His actual response was similar to, “I will use what I want when I want.”
Fact#5-If there are officers on the FD that are not being paid at their salary position, who are they and how many are there?
Fact#6-It is my understanding that there are 85 firefighters. Not less than 15 will put the percentage around 20%. I think you are going to get a 20% disgruntled employee range in about any business or profession. However if constantly moving these people is costing the city money we have the right to know why it is a constant.
Fact#8-I also run a business and if I only collected 60% of the money for my products and services I would be bankrupt in 2 yrs. What is the fee for an average ambulance run? Do we need to raise the fee to compensate for those that can’t or won’t pay?
Fact#9-The Mayor and chief jumped all over this one. I would think now that this has been made public the mayor would want to here from the chiefs subordinates as to their opinion of the chief’s leadership. The chief should actually say “bring it on” if he is confident of his leadership. This vote would actually clear up the entire charge of this committee.
Fact#10-Use your favorite cliché here but this was not a good decision. Just put the firefighter’s shoes or your feet. If the only people you could officially complain to about your supervisor were the supervisor’s son or the person who appointed your supervisor to that position, how would you feel about your job?
I agree with Mr. Coffey that the city council should not micro-manage the city’s affairs.
For the city council to find areas of concern in possible mismanagement and possibly bad fiscal responsibility is not micro-managing. To do as Mr. Coffey suggested and offer solutions to these concerns would indeed be micro-management. These concerns have been made public (though not in enough detail) so it is now the administrations job to address them and relieve doubt.
To end on a lighter note, the funniest thing to see that night was Dick Stewart and Tonye Rutherford playing tug of war with a folding chair. If only my camera would go from standby to taking a pic in 5 seconds!! Damn!!
Since the Tribune actually did a good job of covering the council meeting, I will not go into great detail. I will try to fill some gaps, give insight, and ask some questions I have personally.
From the top, for those of you attending the meetings, we have some date changes. The Tribune reported the March 15th change to March 22nd. August 16 to the 23rd, and November 5th a Monday to November 1st a Thursday are the other changes.
Time and time again I have talked about the lack of communication between council members between meetings. These council meetings could be over in an hour if just half of the discussion time used during the meeting were done off public record. When a council person introduces an ordinance that finds heated circular discussion for an hour then gets tabled by the sponsor is just asinine. If you know your going to table your ordinance or put it back in committee (which has happened in more than one case this year already) then do so before you waste your time (and ours) arguing for an hour over something you know you are not going to vote on.
A prime example of this is the confusion over the pulling of FD ordinance. How much time could it have possible taken to make a couple of calls to make sure that since you were going to be absent from the meeting that the ordinance would still be on the agenda to be read? Of course there was no reason for it to be pulled in the first place, but how much time and headache could have been saved for a few minutes of communication? This is not an attack but, sincere questions Mr. Blevens. You work two jobs and serve on city council. Do you have a family also? You’re spreading yourself pretty thin. Do you honestly think you are doing as well as you should on all fronts?
A pat on the back for Mr. Zurschmiede, Blevens and Gahan for making sure Mr. Kochert understands what can be pulled from the agenda and how. All ordinances must be read 3 times unless, pulled by sponsor, voted to be tabled or put into committee.
Mr. Coffey blamed the previous controller for the city not having any money to spend. Could it be that all this trouble really only falls on those shoulders?
It will be very interesting to see if street names are actually brought forward into the discussion of street paving. The mayor repeatedly mentioned Market St. as a priority.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
One thing that impressed me was the fact that the rule about not making comments of a personal nature was not broken until after 9:00 p.m. I believe the previous record this year has been 8:15. Of course those involved made up for the lack of an early entry with vivid display of running down the hall, jumping up and down, finger pointing and defending yourself by pointing your finger at someone else and accusing them of something completely off topic. The Mayor succeeded in a surprise attack, as he re-entered the room of council chambers through the back door firing insults as with a Tommy gun at Mr. Messer.
I have a few comments about the committee on the ambulance report. I would like to thank Mr. Blevens for providing me with a copy. I was a fireman/EMT-A for 10 yrs so I can relate somewhat to this topic.
Fact#2-“How many” firefighters are waiting to be trained for the ambulance and how long have they been waiting? Does there probationary period end in a years even if they don’t take the test? B-Training can and should be done in house. How much is outside sourcing of this training instruction costing us?
Fact#3-This is a serious charge. The public needs to know the names of the firefighters who were threatened and who made the threat of disciplinary action.
Fact#4-Who made the decision to use the $80,000 for the locator system the chief does not want to use? His actual response was similar to, “I will use what I want when I want.”
Fact#5-If there are officers on the FD that are not being paid at their salary position, who are they and how many are there?
Fact#6-It is my understanding that there are 85 firefighters. Not less than 15 will put the percentage around 20%. I think you are going to get a 20% disgruntled employee range in about any business or profession. However if constantly moving these people is costing the city money we have the right to know why it is a constant.
Fact#8-I also run a business and if I only collected 60% of the money for my products and services I would be bankrupt in 2 yrs. What is the fee for an average ambulance run? Do we need to raise the fee to compensate for those that can’t or won’t pay?
Fact#9-The Mayor and chief jumped all over this one. I would think now that this has been made public the mayor would want to here from the chiefs subordinates as to their opinion of the chief’s leadership. The chief should actually say “bring it on” if he is confident of his leadership. This vote would actually clear up the entire charge of this committee.
Fact#10-Use your favorite cliché here but this was not a good decision. Just put the firefighter’s shoes or your feet. If the only people you could officially complain to about your supervisor were the supervisor’s son or the person who appointed your supervisor to that position, how would you feel about your job?
I agree with Mr. Coffey that the city council should not micro-manage the city’s affairs.
For the city council to find areas of concern in possible mismanagement and possibly bad fiscal responsibility is not micro-managing. To do as Mr. Coffey suggested and offer solutions to these concerns would indeed be micro-management. These concerns have been made public (though not in enough detail) so it is now the administrations job to address them and relieve doubt.
To end on a lighter note, the funniest thing to see that night was Dick Stewart and Tonye Rutherford playing tug of war with a folding chair. If only my camera would go from standby to taking a pic in 5 seconds!! Damn!!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Meet The Candidates Night
Well it was a great turnout of candidates tonight hosted by the Uptown Neighborhood Association.. I counted 24. The weather was not at its best so the public turnout was quit dismal. Just in case you want to know who took the time to be there, here is a list of the candidates that caught my eye. If I missed your favorite candidate and you know they were there please say so, and be sure they were not left off the list intentionally.
Mayor; Doug England, Mayor Garner and Larry Scharlow
City Clerk; Lisa Curry, Jennifer Mayfield, & Marcy Wisman
Council at Large; Richard Berryman, Valla Ann Bolovschak, Jack Messer, Kevin Zurschmiede, Tonye Rutherford and Shirley Baird
Council District #1 Theresa Timberlake
Council District #2 Pete Lyons, Harry Harbison and Bill Schmidt
Council District #3 Maury Goldberg, Steve Price and Charlie Harshfield
Council District #4 David Aebersold, Pat McLaughlin
Council District #5 Jameson Bledsoe
Council District #6 Jeff Gahan, Dick Stewart and Sam Anderson
Of all the candidates that I met for the first time tonight, Theresa Timberlake made a very good first impression. She seems to be honest and sincere. She was very friendly and a good conversationalist. Running against the incumbent Coffey, she will have to grow some thicker skin.
Mayor; Doug England, Mayor Garner and Larry Scharlow
City Clerk; Lisa Curry, Jennifer Mayfield, & Marcy Wisman
Council at Large; Richard Berryman, Valla Ann Bolovschak, Jack Messer, Kevin Zurschmiede, Tonye Rutherford and Shirley Baird
Council District #1 Theresa Timberlake
Council District #2 Pete Lyons, Harry Harbison and Bill Schmidt
Council District #3 Maury Goldberg, Steve Price and Charlie Harshfield
Council District #4 David Aebersold, Pat McLaughlin
Council District #5 Jameson Bledsoe
Council District #6 Jeff Gahan, Dick Stewart and Sam Anderson
Of all the candidates that I met for the first time tonight, Theresa Timberlake made a very good first impression. She seems to be honest and sincere. She was very friendly and a good conversationalist. Running against the incumbent Coffey, she will have to grow some thicker skin.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Miss Cleo Where are You ????
After my successful prediction of the police to be needed to remove people from a New Albany City Council meeting, (again thanks Roger) my daughters suggest I should continue to make more predictions. I think they just have a need to prove to themselves that it was purely luck that the first one came true. I hope it is not the case that they want to see their dad fail at something. So, for the entertainment of my children only, here are a few from the not a mystical shaman (Miss Cleo) Mr. Coop.
Before Derby Day 2007 we will see;
New Albany city council will pass a “non” all inclusive smoking ban for the city.
New Albany City Council will pass hiring guidelines for the Fire Dept.
New Albany City Council will approve the purchase of at least 5 new cars for the Police Dept.
New Albany City Council will pass an ordinance to allow for the collection of new construction site plan review and inspection fees.
Go ahead and laugh but remember it is an election year.
OK, how about the Oscars tonight? Sure why not, after all I do watch a lot of movies.
Best supporting actress; my pick-Adriana Barraza, Academy picks-Jennifer Hudson
Best supporting actor; my pick-Eddie Murphy, Academy picks-Same
Best Leading Actress; my pick-Helen Mirren, Academy picks-Meryl Streep
Best leading actor; my pick-Peter O’Toole, Academy picks-Forest Whitaker
This is so weird I have to make a comment first. This is the first year in recent memory that all the nominated films are actually deserving of best film. Usually there are one or two garbage films nominated just because they’re a Hollywood “message” movie. All five of these movies are very good and that makes this a very tough choice.
Best Picture; my pick-Little Miss Sunshine, Academy-The Departed
Enjoy the show if you can stay up that late. I am going to give it a shot.
Before Derby Day 2007 we will see;
New Albany city council will pass a “non” all inclusive smoking ban for the city.
New Albany City Council will pass hiring guidelines for the Fire Dept.
New Albany City Council will approve the purchase of at least 5 new cars for the Police Dept.
New Albany City Council will pass an ordinance to allow for the collection of new construction site plan review and inspection fees.
Go ahead and laugh but remember it is an election year.
OK, how about the Oscars tonight? Sure why not, after all I do watch a lot of movies.
Best supporting actress; my pick-Adriana Barraza, Academy picks-Jennifer Hudson
Best supporting actor; my pick-Eddie Murphy, Academy picks-Same
Best Leading Actress; my pick-Helen Mirren, Academy picks-Meryl Streep
Best leading actor; my pick-Peter O’Toole, Academy picks-Forest Whitaker
This is so weird I have to make a comment first. This is the first year in recent memory that all the nominated films are actually deserving of best film. Usually there are one or two garbage films nominated just because they’re a Hollywood “message” movie. All five of these movies are very good and that makes this a very tough choice.
Best Picture; my pick-Little Miss Sunshine, Academy-The Departed
Enjoy the show if you can stay up that late. I am going to give it a shot.
SHARK ATTACK CLAIMS 18 IN NEW ALBANY, INDIANA
I took about 45 minutes of my Saturday morning and cleaned up my neighborhood. The sign shark was on a feeding frenzy. I have a fish tank in my living room that adds to the quality of my life. I must admit, by comparison this shark attack was much more exciting.
As the first sign came down a (we buy houses) post, the taste of fresh blood was in the water. At first with the vertical reach of 6’6” I had doubts about getting up to the 12’ height of the posting. 12’ was no problem for the shark.
Those that posed the most trouble were Rick’s Lawn Care and Little Creations Daycare. They both have very heavy signs and use large head nails. The shark head however is very heavy for just plain knocking the sign from the pole, or as in the case of the daycare sign, sharks have teeth. (See below)
The shark seemed to be a little frustrated that some of the sign was left behind. Upon further review, to see what’s left of your sign, teeth marks and all, should provide a vivid reminder that your street spam will not survive at that location!! (Slate Run & Beharell)
All in all we claimed 18 victims in little over a half an hour.
Photo of the shark attack of victims of Sat. Feb. 24th 2007
As the first sign came down a (we buy houses) post, the taste of fresh blood was in the water. At first with the vertical reach of 6’6” I had doubts about getting up to the 12’ height of the posting. 12’ was no problem for the shark.
Those that posed the most trouble were Rick’s Lawn Care and Little Creations Daycare. They both have very heavy signs and use large head nails. The shark head however is very heavy for just plain knocking the sign from the pole, or as in the case of the daycare sign, sharks have teeth. (See below)
The shark seemed to be a little frustrated that some of the sign was left behind. Upon further review, to see what’s left of your sign, teeth marks and all, should provide a vivid reminder that your street spam will not survive at that location!! (Slate Run & Beharell)All in all we claimed 18 victims in little over a half an hour.
Photo of the shark attack of victims of Sat. Feb. 24th 2007
If you know anyone who owns or operates one of these so called businesses please ask them to advertise in another manner. They will be wasting their time and money if they post in District 5!! The signs will come down!!
FYI, private property owners and business managers were contacted before any sign was removed. They also will have my number should any more pop up. If you see this trash posted in district 5, e-mail me and it will be handled.
FYI, private property owners and business managers were contacted before any sign was removed. They also will have my number should any more pop up. If you see this trash posted in district 5, e-mail me and it will be handled.
Friday, February 16, 2007
New Albany Council Meeting Feb 16th
Thanks for the Memories
I have been attending New Albany City Council meetings just since the first of the year. I am just beginning to figure out some of the characters, with others I am still completely lost. However the entertainment factor never seems to waver. I can’t wait to get home to tell my wife and kids how much fun I had. If my memory serves me correctly there hasn’t been a meeting where I failed to come home and say, “I can’t believe they don’t have security there incase they need to break something up.” Well tonight when I got home my wife asked if I had fun at the council meeting. “OH YEH!! It was great, you should have been there,” I said. I ran in the house told my girls how much fun they missed, and that the police actually had to remove two people from the meeting. Since I had been somewhat predicting that, now my kids think I am smart or something. THANKS ROGER!!
Here is another first for a public meeting of any kind which I have attended. With Roger sitting to my right and Dick Stewart in front of me I just knew this was going to be good. Next thing I know I hear a comment from my right that lead me to believe Pee Wee Herman was sitting in the row in front of me and we were watching a movie. There I was stuck in the middle with the person to my right a foot taller than me and the person in front nearly 100 lbs heavier. I have to admit I “DUCKED.” THANKS ROGER!!
I actually witnessed a council man stick to his guns and force an issue to the end with Larry Kochert. Councilman Messor fought to the finish to see that yet another ordinance was not tabled. To his credit it was councilman Gahan who brought the issue up more than once tonight, but it was council man Messer who delivered the knock out blow to the business as usual “let’s table it method.” THANKS JACK!!
The funniest comment came from a unexpected source. Now this may not be as funny to you as it was to me but, when you’re 5’ 4” and a woman who is about 6” shorter than you calls someone a “sawed off little sh*t,” that’s just too funny. THANKS BEV!!
First impressions can be wrong, but I have always considered myself a pretty good judge of character. With all the bickering, name calling and just down right dirty politics that goes on in that council room, there was a bright light tonight. He took his shots from council and made his points in a manner that I had not seen from any other public officials. A man of stature, a man of integrity. THANKS CHIEF HARL
I have been attending New Albany City Council meetings just since the first of the year. I am just beginning to figure out some of the characters, with others I am still completely lost. However the entertainment factor never seems to waver. I can’t wait to get home to tell my wife and kids how much fun I had. If my memory serves me correctly there hasn’t been a meeting where I failed to come home and say, “I can’t believe they don’t have security there incase they need to break something up.” Well tonight when I got home my wife asked if I had fun at the council meeting. “OH YEH!! It was great, you should have been there,” I said. I ran in the house told my girls how much fun they missed, and that the police actually had to remove two people from the meeting. Since I had been somewhat predicting that, now my kids think I am smart or something. THANKS ROGER!!
Here is another first for a public meeting of any kind which I have attended. With Roger sitting to my right and Dick Stewart in front of me I just knew this was going to be good. Next thing I know I hear a comment from my right that lead me to believe Pee Wee Herman was sitting in the row in front of me and we were watching a movie. There I was stuck in the middle with the person to my right a foot taller than me and the person in front nearly 100 lbs heavier. I have to admit I “DUCKED.” THANKS ROGER!!
I actually witnessed a council man stick to his guns and force an issue to the end with Larry Kochert. Councilman Messor fought to the finish to see that yet another ordinance was not tabled. To his credit it was councilman Gahan who brought the issue up more than once tonight, but it was council man Messer who delivered the knock out blow to the business as usual “let’s table it method.” THANKS JACK!!
The funniest comment came from a unexpected source. Now this may not be as funny to you as it was to me but, when you’re 5’ 4” and a woman who is about 6” shorter than you calls someone a “sawed off little sh*t,” that’s just too funny. THANKS BEV!!
First impressions can be wrong, but I have always considered myself a pretty good judge of character. With all the bickering, name calling and just down right dirty politics that goes on in that council room, there was a bright light tonight. He took his shots from council and made his points in a manner that I had not seen from any other public officials. A man of stature, a man of integrity. THANKS CHIEF HARL
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Dear John Letter
Dear John, (Alton)
I was hoping to meet you at the last Meet-N-Greet. Thanks for reading my blog and replying. I will be responding to your reply from top to bottom so I hope it still makes sense the way it will be laid out. To avoid miss quoting your comments (in red) they will all be copied and pasted to this article.
“I was born and raised in New Albany. I graduated from New Albany High School in 1972...how about you? I didn't just come on the scene 15 years ago.”
I truly hope you are not a person who believes that the person who lives here the longest must know more, or be the only person who can make a difference in the community.
“The Montessori school is in New Albany on St. Joseph Rd. You may have seen, either on the internet or in a phone book, Floyds Knobs for the city.”
John, you underestimate me. My source is the 2005 Cities and Towns, U.S. Census Boundaries Map. According to this source the city limits crosses Charlestown Rd. near the intersection of Payne Koehler Rd. It follows C-town Rd north to the exit ramp from 265 east. It follows 265 West to the Klerner Ln. overpass. Follows Klerner Ln. to Grantline Rd. Goes north on Grantline Rd to just north of Timber Pike Dr. and just south of Bald Knob Creek, then it goes west. That leaves the area west-north west of the Grantline Rd-Klerner Ln. intersection “out” of the city. I believe this to be a reliable source but, if you can prove “them” wrong since I used them as my source I will apologize.
“For a city that says it's always broke, it always seems to be able to fund millions for new medical buildings.”
If a city council spends money they don’t have on a project that will generate more in revenue than their initial outlay I would consider that an investment. It is, other than raising taxes, fees and cutting spending, nearly the only way for a debt ridden city to work itself out of debt. However if the money spent is not going to generate the return, we agree!!
About the $1.00 donations, I was seriously complementing you. That was a great idea. My comment as to the kids doing it instead of the government, that was directed at the school for going to NA Council instead of the kids and parents working the sidewalks, not at you. Sorry.
“I've noticed in your postings on here that you're quick to criticize everyone else,”
Are you kidding me? I went back and reread my posts. I found four instances where I would consider myself to have been very critical. If you are reading Roger’s posts and others on NA Confidential and the sites links, and you are calling “me” critical. I must be missing something. By the way here are a couple of yours;
“somebody take Mr. Price to Bizers or American Eye Institute he needs his "vision" corrected a little bit.”
Does anyone on council have a vision?
“Larry Kochert… the exulted one.”- “one worn out Council President.”
I said he was arrogant and not a good leader.
“and no incumbent on the current City Council is willing to offer up any inkling of an idea, and no incumbent is willing to take the time to look for alternate funding ideas,”
Sounds like they’re inept to me.
“ to get caught up in "party politics", with everything being absorbed into a party platform which usually winds up producing what...NO change at all, and this goes for either party.”
I agree!
“for me choosing not to run for the 4th District seat as a Democrat is that nobody knows me except those of you who read these blogs, word of mouth, and those who actually know me.”
You and I have the same problem. I have only lived in NA for 15yrs. So I digress to your opening statement without a clear understanding as to why. “First of all, I was born and raised in New Albany. I graduated from New Albany High School in 1972...how about you?”
I was hoping to meet you at the last Meet-N-Greet. Thanks for reading my blog and replying. I will be responding to your reply from top to bottom so I hope it still makes sense the way it will be laid out. To avoid miss quoting your comments (in red) they will all be copied and pasted to this article.
“I was born and raised in New Albany. I graduated from New Albany High School in 1972...how about you? I didn't just come on the scene 15 years ago.”
I truly hope you are not a person who believes that the person who lives here the longest must know more, or be the only person who can make a difference in the community.
“The Montessori school is in New Albany on St. Joseph Rd. You may have seen, either on the internet or in a phone book, Floyds Knobs for the city.”
John, you underestimate me. My source is the 2005 Cities and Towns, U.S. Census Boundaries Map. According to this source the city limits crosses Charlestown Rd. near the intersection of Payne Koehler Rd. It follows C-town Rd north to the exit ramp from 265 east. It follows 265 West to the Klerner Ln. overpass. Follows Klerner Ln. to Grantline Rd. Goes north on Grantline Rd to just north of Timber Pike Dr. and just south of Bald Knob Creek, then it goes west. That leaves the area west-north west of the Grantline Rd-Klerner Ln. intersection “out” of the city. I believe this to be a reliable source but, if you can prove “them” wrong since I used them as my source I will apologize.
“For a city that says it's always broke, it always seems to be able to fund millions for new medical buildings.”
If a city council spends money they don’t have on a project that will generate more in revenue than their initial outlay I would consider that an investment. It is, other than raising taxes, fees and cutting spending, nearly the only way for a debt ridden city to work itself out of debt. However if the money spent is not going to generate the return, we agree!!
About the $1.00 donations, I was seriously complementing you. That was a great idea. My comment as to the kids doing it instead of the government, that was directed at the school for going to NA Council instead of the kids and parents working the sidewalks, not at you. Sorry.
“I've noticed in your postings on here that you're quick to criticize everyone else,”
Are you kidding me? I went back and reread my posts. I found four instances where I would consider myself to have been very critical. If you are reading Roger’s posts and others on NA Confidential and the sites links, and you are calling “me” critical. I must be missing something. By the way here are a couple of yours;
“somebody take Mr. Price to Bizers or American Eye Institute he needs his "vision" corrected a little bit.”
Does anyone on council have a vision?
“Larry Kochert… the exulted one.”- “one worn out Council President.”
I said he was arrogant and not a good leader.
“and no incumbent on the current City Council is willing to offer up any inkling of an idea, and no incumbent is willing to take the time to look for alternate funding ideas,”
Sounds like they’re inept to me.
“ to get caught up in "party politics", with everything being absorbed into a party platform which usually winds up producing what...NO change at all, and this goes for either party.”
I agree!
“for me choosing not to run for the 4th District seat as a Democrat is that nobody knows me except those of you who read these blogs, word of mouth, and those who actually know me.”
You and I have the same problem. I have only lived in NA for 15yrs. So I digress to your opening statement without a clear understanding as to why. “First of all, I was born and raised in New Albany. I graduated from New Albany High School in 1972...how about you?”
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Another fine mess....Ollie
As I noted in my very first post on my blog, and others in there response as well, it is voting along party lines that has given us what we have for council.
If voting Democrat is the only way you are going to vote then I guess you’ll just have to live with what you’re voting in. If this Mayor and Council is what the party has to offer I feel sorry for you. There are 8 members of council and the Mayor from the Democratic Party. Do you think they could agree on just one major issue? Not only can they just not agree on any major issues they actually fight and bicker over everything like elementary school kids. Oh wait!! The common elementary school kids aren’t throwing F-BOMBS and accusing each other of being thieves on public record.
So do I believe the answer is to vote republican? Nope!! I do not like partisan politics at this level of government. Neither party across the board is going to have the best people for every job every election. If voters are going to vote for local politics they need at least to be forced to look at issues and individuals before voting. I have seen it work well.
City Council, the Mayor, City Law Director and City Finance Director are all non-partisan positions. Anyone with enough signatures on a petition runs in the primary. Three top candidates run in general election. If you cast a party vote at the top of your ballot you will not be voting for these seats. The voter must read the local candidates names and mark the choice.
This gets the candidates to the people. Party affiliation will not get them elected by it’s self. People who care about the community will at least make an effort to know the candidates.
Now I am not saying the system in New Albany is broke, but the system is perfectly designed to get the results it is getting!!
If voting Democrat is the only way you are going to vote then I guess you’ll just have to live with what you’re voting in. If this Mayor and Council is what the party has to offer I feel sorry for you. There are 8 members of council and the Mayor from the Democratic Party. Do you think they could agree on just one major issue? Not only can they just not agree on any major issues they actually fight and bicker over everything like elementary school kids. Oh wait!! The common elementary school kids aren’t throwing F-BOMBS and accusing each other of being thieves on public record.
So do I believe the answer is to vote republican? Nope!! I do not like partisan politics at this level of government. Neither party across the board is going to have the best people for every job every election. If voters are going to vote for local politics they need at least to be forced to look at issues and individuals before voting. I have seen it work well.
City Council, the Mayor, City Law Director and City Finance Director are all non-partisan positions. Anyone with enough signatures on a petition runs in the primary. Three top candidates run in general election. If you cast a party vote at the top of your ballot you will not be voting for these seats. The voter must read the local candidates names and mark the choice.
This gets the candidates to the people. Party affiliation will not get them elected by it’s self. People who care about the community will at least make an effort to know the candidates.
Now I am not saying the system in New Albany is broke, but the system is perfectly designed to get the results it is getting!!
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Inept New Albany Council?
This statement may sound a little silly to some of you but, I don’t think this council puts things off intentionally. My case in point; the fire dept. ordinance is discussed intently by everyone in the know except the fire chief who was intentionally left out of the meeting by the council. The chief and council cannot discuss this matter even in public without name calling and rock throwing. The most of which councilman Kochert catches square between the eyes. The councilman who sponsors and co-authors the bill doesn’t even vote for it. Mrs. Crump who is one of four on the FD committee doesn’t even know who is on the committee. The ordinance is so poorly written Zurschsmied doesn’t believe it to be definable or enforceable. Sill more council members voted for it than against it. The Mayor calls it a good ordinance, though it has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese. The chief however admits that it is just better than what we have now.
In regards to the smoking ban, once again the council member that sponsors the ordinance to council states she will vote against it as it reads. She motions to table the issue and create another committee.
My point is I guess, that I don’t believe they debate, argue and table-debate, argue and table on purpose. I think they are just inept.
On a lighter note, as much fun as it is to watch the Mayor and Kochert spar and to see Chief Toran and Blevens tongue whip each other, I have an idea. Let’s get the Rock’em Sock’em Robots and have a boxing night, Kochert vs. Garner and Toran vs. Blevens. The way these four go at it I am sure there would be a winner take all grudge match for the main event. We could charge admission to a smoking room, sell pints and have Para mutual betting. Proceeds will go to pay for ambulance runs of the underprivileged that can’t pay their bill.
In regards to the smoking ban, once again the council member that sponsors the ordinance to council states she will vote against it as it reads. She motions to table the issue and create another committee.
My point is I guess, that I don’t believe they debate, argue and table-debate, argue and table on purpose. I think they are just inept.
On a lighter note, as much fun as it is to watch the Mayor and Kochert spar and to see Chief Toran and Blevens tongue whip each other, I have an idea. Let’s get the Rock’em Sock’em Robots and have a boxing night, Kochert vs. Garner and Toran vs. Blevens. The way these four go at it I am sure there would be a winner take all grudge match for the main event. We could charge admission to a smoking room, sell pints and have Para mutual betting. Proceeds will go to pay for ambulance runs of the underprivileged that can’t pay their bill.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
TYPICAL NEW ALBANY POLITICS
TYPICAL NEW ALBANY POLITICS
I have always considered myself a fairly humble person, so I will ask a question instead of making generalized statement.
Are NA Confidential and Freedom of Speech both missing something here? Sure there were racial comments and derogatory statements made during the last council meeting, but none of it should have happened. Can I be the only one that noticed I sat for an hour listening to 3rd grade level banter of a topic that was not on the council’s agenda? Typical New Albany politics of personal attacks, power and control is what the meeting was about. Race was just a hovering thick fog throughout the room.
The total ineptness of Kochert to be a leader however, shone through the fog like Rudolph’s magical takeoff on Christmas Eve. By allowing Duggins (white) to speak on a tabled issue then blowing the pastor (black) from the podium in a method reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina, (we saw it coming but weren’t ready for the aftermath) ineptness was bright and clear. Then without even a paltry attempt at an apology for his ineptness, stupidity or maybe just arrogance reared its ugly head as Kochert shoots down the next few daring souls to venture to the podium to discuss the already discussed tabled topic.
The display of arrogance and the need to display power and control continued as the Fire Chief and Mayor used their power of city officials to reopen the discussion on the tabled-discussed-tabled ordinance. From this point I actually lost count the times rule 2 which happens to be in bold print “Be courteous at all times. All comments should address issues and should not be personal in nature.” was made to look like the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. The only time the gavel was so embarrassingly used was when Kochert’s own feelings were hurt. And then it was directed at the audience more than the speakers and council!!
Here are some questions for someone with rules knowledge to research. When a tabled ordinance is discussed, does that re-table the ordinance? Can communications-city officials and communications-mayor discuss tabled ordinances?
When after a one hour circular discussion everyone involved comes out a loser, you have a serious problem!! Although there were a couple who came out of this unscathed by simply sitting back and watching the shock and awe. These two obviously have learned a golden rule (if you don’t have anything good to say about a person, keep your mouth shut.) Kevin Zurschmeide and Jeff Gahan left the fight to fight another day.
I have always considered myself a fairly humble person, so I will ask a question instead of making generalized statement.
Are NA Confidential and Freedom of Speech both missing something here? Sure there were racial comments and derogatory statements made during the last council meeting, but none of it should have happened. Can I be the only one that noticed I sat for an hour listening to 3rd grade level banter of a topic that was not on the council’s agenda? Typical New Albany politics of personal attacks, power and control is what the meeting was about. Race was just a hovering thick fog throughout the room.
The total ineptness of Kochert to be a leader however, shone through the fog like Rudolph’s magical takeoff on Christmas Eve. By allowing Duggins (white) to speak on a tabled issue then blowing the pastor (black) from the podium in a method reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina, (we saw it coming but weren’t ready for the aftermath) ineptness was bright and clear. Then without even a paltry attempt at an apology for his ineptness, stupidity or maybe just arrogance reared its ugly head as Kochert shoots down the next few daring souls to venture to the podium to discuss the already discussed tabled topic.
The display of arrogance and the need to display power and control continued as the Fire Chief and Mayor used their power of city officials to reopen the discussion on the tabled-discussed-tabled ordinance. From this point I actually lost count the times rule 2 which happens to be in bold print “Be courteous at all times. All comments should address issues and should not be personal in nature.” was made to look like the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. The only time the gavel was so embarrassingly used was when Kochert’s own feelings were hurt. And then it was directed at the audience more than the speakers and council!!
Here are some questions for someone with rules knowledge to research. When a tabled ordinance is discussed, does that re-table the ordinance? Can communications-city officials and communications-mayor discuss tabled ordinances?
When after a one hour circular discussion everyone involved comes out a loser, you have a serious problem!! Although there were a couple who came out of this unscathed by simply sitting back and watching the shock and awe. These two obviously have learned a golden rule (if you don’t have anything good to say about a person, keep your mouth shut.) Kevin Zurschmeide and Jeff Gahan left the fight to fight another day.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Community Montessori, John Alton vs City Council
After 15yrs of living in New Albany, I can’t believe I ‘am actually defending the actions of city council. I must do so in response to John Alton’s editorial (Jan. 11). I agree with council on not hearing the Montessori resolution.
Mr. Alton, you started off by stating council “quickly” became champions of no action” by not allowing the school to be heard. I am sorry but, I have to ask, where on God’s green earth have you been for the last 15yrs!! Mr. Alton you stated that by not hearing Montessori the council violated their civil rights. Jeepers, buy kids books and send them to school and they come back with stuff like that! You stated, asking for funding from the city a school is located in is only natural. Is Montessori located in the city? What kind of precedent is set when you ask a city that is in “the red” to hand out $25,000. Hey kids, ask your parents what happens if they write a check to someone when they know there is no money in the checkbook. Let’s see, paying attention in class, civics/government, geography, and economics. All covered by Mr. Alton in his article. I hope he is not a product of Montessori. That would be called bad press.
But wait, he did have a grand idea. That is to ask the people of New Albany if they would be willing to donate $1.00? $1 per household would build the new building? Mr. Alton you’re a genius! However, that would be the schools job not the government. Hey kids, I am not very hard to find. Stop by the house and I will give you your first dollar. Stop by on a sunny weekend and I’ll even hit the neighborhood with you. Wait till spring when my checkbook looks a little better and we may even be talking “tax deductible donation”. Just don’t ask the government to do what you can do better. You have my best wished for success.
After 15yrs of living in New Albany, I can’t believe I ‘am actually defending the actions of city council. I must do so in response to John Alton’s editorial (Jan. 11). I agree with council on not hearing the Montessori resolution.
Mr. Alton, you started off by stating council “quickly” became champions of no action” by not allowing the school to be heard. I am sorry but, I have to ask, where on God’s green earth have you been for the last 15yrs!! Mr. Alton you stated that by not hearing Montessori the council violated their civil rights. Jeepers, buy kids books and send them to school and they come back with stuff like that! You stated, asking for funding from the city a school is located in is only natural. Is Montessori located in the city? What kind of precedent is set when you ask a city that is in “the red” to hand out $25,000. Hey kids, ask your parents what happens if they write a check to someone when they know there is no money in the checkbook. Let’s see, paying attention in class, civics/government, geography, and economics. All covered by Mr. Alton in his article. I hope he is not a product of Montessori. That would be called bad press.
But wait, he did have a grand idea. That is to ask the people of New Albany if they would be willing to donate $1.00? $1 per household would build the new building? Mr. Alton you’re a genius! However, that would be the schools job not the government. Hey kids, I am not very hard to find. Stop by the house and I will give you your first dollar. Stop by on a sunny weekend and I’ll even hit the neighborhood with you. Wait till spring when my checkbook looks a little better and we may even be talking “tax deductible donation”. Just don’t ask the government to do what you can do better. You have my best wished for success.
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