Mt. Tabor Road euphemism project: If City Hall looks bad, that's only because it's doing the damage to itself.

Colin Receveur is to be commended for pursuing every legal mechanism in an effort to compel Team Gahan to practice transparency.

It isn't just that those federal 80/20 construction grants are like crack. It's that to Team Gahan, openness is like Ebola.

'Bune snoozes and IL gets the scoop: "City of New Albany, residents head to court over road improvement project."

The Indiana Public Access Counselor has affirmed that the city of New Albany has unlawfully denied public records to a landowner who is pushing back against the city’s use of eminent domain in a Mount Tabor Road expansion project.

"We've also reached out to the city of New Albany and have yet to hear a response."

Really? Is Mike Hall on spring break?

Land owners complain about upcoming changes to Mt. Tabor Road in New Albany, by Amber Powell (WAVE-3)

People who own property on Mt. Tabor Road in New Albany are concerned about planned construction that will change the size of the road.

'Bune snoozes and IL gets the scoop: "City of New Albany, residents head to court over road improvement project."

We have all been here before, haven't we?

Shane Gibson is unaccountable yet again as "City of New Albany Withholding Public Records in Mount Tabor Road Land Grab."

The Indiana Public Access Counselor has affirmed that the city of New Albany has unlawfully denied public records to a landowner who is pushing back against the city’s use of eminent domain in a Mount Tabor Road expansion project.

I'm happy to see Insider Louisville step up; meanwhile, over yonder lies Hanson's 'Bama Folly, scooped once again. Apparently the N & T is delighted to receive tips about New Albany stories, just as long as they can't be traced to NA Confidential.

Remind me again: Why have I been sending website traffic to their advertising clickers in good faith these past 12 years?

Verily, you can trust those corporate types ... they'll ALWAYS let you down.

City of New Albany, residents head to court over road improvement project, by Caitlin Bowling (IL)

The city of New Albany is trying to use eminent domain to secure land from more than a dozen property owners for the Mt. Tabor Road Restoration and Pedestrian Safety project, but some property owners have raised concerns about the plan.

Earlier this month, the city filed complaints in Floyd County Circuit Court against 17 property owners asking the court to rule that the city can take ownership of a portion of their properties that run along Mt. Tabor Road. The property will allow the city to reconstruct nearly 1.1 miles of road, install full curbs and gutters, and build sidewalks on both sides of the road.

SNIP

 ... In a letter to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Dennis Feiock, who owns property at the corner of Mt. Tabor Road and Klerner Lane, said residents don’t oppose improvements to the road, but adding two sidewalks is superfluous and would create more impervious surfaces in an area with flooding problems.

“From all the discussion on this subject over the past 4 years, it has become apparent that the only person supporting dual sidewalks at this location is the Mayor of New Albany,” Feiock wrote in the email ...

Shane Gibson is unaccountable yet again as "City of New Albany Withholding Public Records in Mount Tabor Road Land Grab."

(6:00 p.m. update: Typo has been corrected in banner)

(6:30 p.m. update: Receveur has launched a web site where you can read all the documents pertaining to this case: New Albany Land Grab)

Following is a press release, courtesy of local businessman Colin Receveur. Municipal corporate counsel Shane Gibson's cavalier disregard for public information requests is legendary. I'm delighted to him snared in arrogance of his own making. But just remember that taking metaphorical bullets for the mayor is why Gibson gets the big money -- the really, really big money. Jeff Gahan's the one who should be answering for this, isn't he?

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City of New Albany Withholding Public Records in Mount Tabor Road Land Grab

New Albany, IN — The Indiana Public Access Counselor has affirmed that the city of New Albany has unlawfully denied public records to a landowner who is pushing back against the city’s use of eminent domain in a Mount Tabor Road expansion project.

Colin Receveur — a local business owner, entrepreneur, and land developer — had sent three formal requests for the city of New Albany to supply building permits, curb cut, and driveway permit for two of his properties, 815 and 819 Mount Tabor Road. These are two of the many properties being affected by the city’s long and winding $6.5 million federally funded project to repair drainage and erosion issues and provide sidewalk space.

All of Receveur’s requests for public records to the city were denied without cause. Luke H. Britt, Indiana’s public access counselor, has found that those denials have put the city of New Albany in violation of Indiana Public Records Access Act.

“The city has switched gears and project proposals more times than I can count, and the property owners affected by the project are being left in the dark,” Receveur said.

“This recent decision to keep public records out of the hands of property owners makes it plain to see that the city is expecting landowners to cough up their properties in exchange for unjust sums and virtually zero documentation.”

Receveur appealed to the Indiana Public Access Counselor after outright public record refusals from New Albany City Attorney Shane Gibson, members of the New Albany City Council, and members of the New Albany Board of Works and Safety.

Receveur isn’t the only New Albany landowner upset with the city’s handling of the Mount Tabor Road project. Residents have packed city councils meetings to oppose the project, and Receveur has compiled 117 pages of complaints.

“It’s unfortunate that the city is ignoring such a large portion of its constituents,” Receveur said. “This has been a boondoggle from start to finish. It’s a project that is said to help erosion issues on the road, but the city’s tactics have eroded the trust between local landowners and our local government.”

Receveur’s chief concern is the fate of his apartment building at 815 Mount Tabor Road. The city’s proposal will snatch all six of the available parking spaces for the apartment residents. The plan brings a dangerous change to Receveur’s tenants and his business.

He worries that his business will not be able to operate under the proposed road changes. Even worse, he said his current tenants will not have access to available parking and may have to park their vehicles across Mount Tabor Road or the busy Grant Line Road.

The city has informed Receveur that those parking spaces at 815 Mount Tabor Road are unpermitted but has denied document verification. Receveur said he hopes the Indiana Public Access Counselor decision helps other local residents who have also been denied records or explanations from the city.

“Our goal here is to have the city provide adequate documentation, transparency, and just compensation,” Receveur said. “Right now, the city of New Albany is asking us to forfeit our land but is slamming the door in our faces when we request documentation that we are legally entitled to see.”

For more information, contact Colin Receveur at 502-443-1082 or creceveur@gmail.com