Gilkey among leaders with tolling concerns; Ohio River Bridges Project among the topics of mayors’ luncheon, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)
CLARKSVILLE — Before he addressed One Southern Indiana members on the topic, Clarksville Town Council President John Gilkey conceded his take on tolls for the Ohio River Bridges Project would likely keep him from being “the most popular person in the room.”
As an organization, the Clark and Floyd counties chamber of commerce group has endorsed utilizing tolls instead of tax increases to pay for the bridges project. But that didn’t inhibit Gilkey from asserting that tolls could create a barrier for Southern Indiana commerce.
“I have serious reservations about the impact of the tolls on local businesses,” Gilkey said Wednesday during 1si’s “Lunch with the Mayors” event at the Holiday Inn Lakeview in Clarksville.
Being skeptical sorts here at NAC, we've looked past the performance of the attending mayors and focused instead on the current state of temporary/temporary 1Si "leadership" in the absence of permanent/temporary top-salary-garnering:
In a statement on its website, 1si confirms its support of the entire bridges project — which is the construction of two bridges and the reconfiguration of Spaghetti Junction.
The organization states it supports “no increase in taxes, but fair tolls/user fees and variable pricing for frequent customers” to foot the project.
“It is imperative that our citizens understand the facts behind this support,” Matt Hall, vice president of economic development and interim CEO for 1si, said in the statement.
“Like it or not, we have no choice but to build the bridges now for safety reasons and to advance the quality of life and economy here.”
Let's repeat that final comment by the temp/temp, Matt Hall.
“Like it or not, we have no choice but to build the bridges now for safety reasons and to advance the quality of life and economy here.”
This statement represents sneering arrogance of such a high order that it would be embarrassing even if coming from the mouth of 1Si's puppetmaster, Kerry Stemler ... but perhaps it actually did. Did anyone in attendance at the mayoral forum see whether Stemler's lips were moving as Hall spoke?
1Si power indeed seems to corrupt absolutely, but we have a weekly short-time job search to facilitate. Who'll be the next ephemeral 1Si kingpin, that incredibly lucky someone who surely will consult Expedia for flight arrangements back to where he or she came BEFORE reciting the solemn One Southern Indiana oath of office, which invariably precedes the resignation following a hard week on the oligarch's chain gang?
I would like to announce that I have accepted the post of CEO of One Southern Indiana. I regret that I have to step down on Monday. I treasure our time that we have worked together.
This week's selection represents a long-overdue paring of extraneous layers of control. Why have expensive, salaried personnel at their stations on the Sunny Side when you can install the only douche bag who really matters?
That's right: 1Si's next temporary CEO is none other than CDM Smith, formerly known as Wilbur Smith, whose brand was retired, presumably because of frequent errors in tolling predictions, calculations and suggestions. Like it or not, One Southern Indiana has no choice but to bring CDM Smith on board now, for propaganda reasons, and to advance the quality of life and economy at One Southern Indiana ... which after all, always has been the real point of shilling for tolling.
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ReplyDelete"Imperative" says 1SI. For once, I agree with them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is imperative for 1SI to realize that the latest report notes that almost all of the benefits are due to the building of an East End Bridge. Almost of the negatives are due to building the downtown bridge and tolling it.
Why not keep most of the benefits, eliminate most of the negatives and save a billion+ dollars to boot. It is IMPERATIVE to do so for the economic and social well being of Southern Indiana