Dazzled by the Kay Jewelers retail anchor at River View, council acts to enlarge the Bicentennial Commission.

Following the work session, the council convened its regular meeting.

By my count, amazingly there were seven 2011 election "losers" among tonight's peanut gallery attendees:  Bagshaw, Bledsoe, Burks, Rutherford, Stumler, Wilkinson and your humble correspondent.

Happily or otherwise, we're all staying involved. Just like King Larry, Erika's man of the year, who declined to show up tonight.

During city official speaking time, Greg Phipps of the 3rd asked whether there had been any follow up to ordinance G-11-30, which was passed in October, 2011, addressing CHAPTER 130: OFFENSES AGAINST MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS (it appears that 2011 updates to the on-line code have yet to be made). This initiative would seem to have originated with the Board of Works in May, 2011.

All I can tell you for sure is the ordinance addresses illegal signage (street spam), and apparently mentions the possibility of citizen appointees or council persons themselves doing the job of uprooting illegal signage. When asked, Kevin Zurschmiede admitted that no, nothing about the ordinance had been pursued any further, and he appealed to city attorney Stan Robison to follow up. Robison agreed to do so.

Street spam sharks everywhere, including me, began salivating. At long last, we get to start pulling down signs with a seal of approval. I simply can't wait.

The only other significant order of business tonight was this ordinance:

G-12-02 
Ordinance Amending the City of New Albany Ordinance G-09-06 Concerning the Bicentennial Commission Membership, Zurschmiede 1st & 2nd readings

The measure passed unanimously on its first two readings. Although no one knows exactly who serves on it now, the Bicentennial Commission (known colloquially as the Flying Crutchfield Circus) will be enlarged by up to four members if the 3rd reading is successful. Zurschmiede pointed out that after canvassing all and sundry, "There is a need to expand this body,” to get new warm bodies and help "energize" this group and "move it forward."

I was sure he intended to "reach out," but gratefully, it didn't come to that.

The current self-appointed arbiter of all things Bicentennially Ours, council person Bob "CeeSaw" Caesar, said that he was down with all of it, before adding that no matter who makes the selection, mayor or council, David Barksdale should be appointed to the commission.

Caesar inexplicably failed to add, "That's not a request," although I'm confident he was thinking it.  Maybe he needs to reach out more often.