The Highwayman at city council, 2009: "Romeo, Romeo,-------?"

Lloyd "The Highwayman" Wimp, who sadly left us on November 12, 2010, was an old acquaintance of my 1990s-era pub madness who became a dear friend as the years passed. 

By the mid-Noughts he was a Nawbany homeowner (on Spring Street between Vincennes and Silver) and began attending civic meetings, often with Mark "I Am Hoosier" Cassidy. The photo above shows Mark and Lloyd during The Great Smoking Ban Debate of 2008. 

Lloyd whipped cancer the first time, but lost the rematch. I can't tell you exactly how many reports Lloyd filed for NA Confidential, as Blogger has denied me the tools to calculate, but however many there were, I always encouraged him to do more because he possessed a natural style and an irreverent enthusiasm. As proof, Lloyd's posts at his own View from the Highway blog can still be viewed. 

From February 20, 2009, and a long-forgotten city council meeting, here's a sample of Lloyd's writing. 

---

Romeo, Romeo,-------?

Could it be classic Milton Berle stand up comedy? 

Or perhaps a Shakespearean drama play? 

Maybe even a 21st Century intervention to save a lost soul? 

No, unfortunately it was just another biweekly episode of the New Albany Common Council. But be not dismayed for it contained elements of all the above. 

Shortly after 6:40 PM the comedy began as Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz became the latest member in good standing of the coveted and ever growing Ejaculattee Club for daring to enter the sacred chambers during an Executive Session of the Common Council. It took CM President Coffey less than 15 seconds to inform Mr. Malysz of his evil ways and sent him packing. 

The crowd in the hall (Mark & I) went wild and Cassidy reluctantly caught the evening’s refreshment bill as he lost the pool. 

The truly positive report of the night was given by Ohio River Greenway Project Coordinator Shaunna Graf during the 7PM workshop. Among other things she stated that Clarksville has laid the much of the groundwork and has the funds in hand to complete the connection across Silver Creek to the Floyd County line via the old Penn Central Bridge thru Loop Island. She all but promised that connection will be completed by late 2011 if not sooner, which would result in one being able to go from the river front all the way to Jeff Boat either on foot or bicycle. 

She warned however that the trail on the New Albany would probably still be au-natural as there remained work to be done with various State & Federal Agencies as well as additional funding to hook our end said bridge with our riverfront. But the trail would be passable at least for the hearty travels among us. Hooray!! 

When asked about progress with the K & I opening up, both she and Scott Wood reported that their Louisville counterpart was leading the charge and that it was still a high priority on Mayor Abramson’s to get done list. Scott said that he understood a letter of intent had been sent to the railroad referencing conversations that Louisville was having with various Federal Agencies on the matter. It seems that the railroad's response was that if anyone set foot on said bridge they would either be arrested by the rail police or summarily shot if not both. There was no indication of which order the aforementioned would happen however. 

My immediate red-neck reaction in these times of terrorists and homeland security issues was that railroad police or not, if any fool had the intestinal fortitude to take a shot at a federal official, I wish him the best of luck! So on to the meat of the meeting! 

The first person to take the podium during Communications from the Public was (surprise-surprise) the Operations Director of ROCK. 

Mr. Wickens was out of town on another matter and I speculated that perhaps he was sharing dinner & entertainment with an ACLU member in an attempt to find a way to combine their influence. 

At any rate she reiterated the negative affects on communities of such establishments, complemented the Council for its bravado in addressing this subject matter, and reassured all that ROCK had our backs covered as we move forward.

She was followed by one of the operators of the cabaret in question. He warned the Council they were on a very slippery slope with the legalities of this measure and implored them not to set the city up for a long expensive legal battle by passing the proposal. He continued that all of his employees were set to file individual suits against the City on 1st amendment grounds if necessary. 

I must apologize for not catching the names of either of the speakers mentioned. 

As for Communications from City Officials & the Mayor, Doug England was absent and Carl apparently took his cue from the earlier incident chose to remain silent for the evening. 

There followed a bit of confusion about some pending appointments and after a flurry of activity at the head table that issue got put off to a later day. 

R-09-02 which addressed a tax abatement for Specialty Earth Sciences, LLC received a 7-0 affirmative vote with little ado. Oh, I forgot to mention that CM Zurschmeide was also absent last evening. 

R-09-03 was tabled by CM Gahan for the time being. It concerned ordinance codification issues that he and his committee had not completed their research on and he requested more time to do so. 

R-09-04 was an Additional Appropriation resolution authorizing the parks department to use insurance monies already in hand for repairs of storm damage to city park amenities. It also passed 7-0. 

Ms Benedetti then chose to table A-09-01 which would have required the Sewer Board & Storm water Board to move their meeting times to evenings as opposed to the current 10AM time slot. The ordinance had been prompted by a public outcry from her constituents as they could not get to the daytime meetings and thus felt left out of the process. 

However, CM Benedetti apparently had a change of heart and pulled it from the agenda. She stated that at this point she was unsure whether or not it would be reintroduced at a later date. CM President Coffey stated that even so, she and the Council as a whole was to be commended for hearing the voices of the people. (A disclaimer-that’s a paraphrase)  

Then it got interesting. CM Gahan introduced A-09-01. That would be controversial salary amendment ordinance for the Sewer billing personnel. The 2nd reading vote was called for without preamble and was voted down. 

The 3rd reading was about to proceed when Jeff Gahan interrupted to ask if any discussion of the matter was allowable. CM Coffey answered in the affirmative and CM Gahan proceeded to say that his understanding was these raises had already been approved and put in effect by the Adfarm-near-me/">ministration without Council approval. 

Someone asked how many people received raises and we were informed that three did. Mrs. Dickey got $3K, Ms.Walsh $7K, and Mr. Thompson of the street department received $8K annually. 

This sparked a flurry of activity around the table. When asked from whence the monies came the response by Sewer Board President Ron Carroll was the funds came out of Storm Water coffers. When asked if these raises were retro to January of this year, Ron said yes! 

CM Price almost immediately offered that the Storm Water Utility obviously has an excess of funds at its disposal and proposed that maybe a rate cut for that utility was in order! 

Council Attorney Robison then said that when the discussion had originally come up as to whether or not the Sewer Utility could act independently of council approval he had asked for time to research the subject. He did so and submitted to the adfarm-near-me/">ministration a letter stating that in his legal opinion the matter did in fact have to be voted in by said council. 

He was then informed that it was a done deal and the retro checks were being processed. He requested permission from the council to sit down with City Attorney Gibson to discuss it at length. He was granted it. 

CM President Coffey stated that although there had been much said about working together, this was yet another example of some acting independently regardless, and the council was going to have to look further into the matter. 

We then moved on to the real hot-button issue of the night which was the Adult Cabaret ordinance. It passed 2nd reading 7-0 but the third reading was postponed to give the Council’s Committee time to try to work out an agreement with the Cabaret owners that would be palatable to all parties. 

And along those lines, CM Coffey had earlier encouraged Planning & Zoning Director Scott Wood to move with haste to define a Zoning designation for adult entertainment facilities. He stated he would be glad to but could not finalize such until the Council acted upon the Ordinance before it. 

That ending the official business of the evening. John Mattingly rose to implore the Council not to proceed to the point of this thing going to court. He said he had no desire to get involved in a costly legal battle and would hate for the city to do so as well. 

However, he continued, “I and my partners have spent a significant amount of money on this project and we are not willing to just walk away from it.” He was followed by an encore appearance by the ROCK representative wherein she once again complimented the Council for their due diligence and reassured all in the room that her organization was there to help in any way it can. 

With that the meeting was adjourned and a glance at the clock read 8:10PM. 

My, that went quick! Our very own Mark Cassidy approached the Rock rep and asked her if offering to help the city included raising funds to pay legal costs. 

She very carefully answered that in the past her organization had indeed assisted other municipalities find such and could possibly be happy to do so here as well if needed. Mark was very clear that she refrained from stating exactly what that “assistance” entailed! 

Me, I beat feet for Studios to find both bartenders standing at the end of the bar awaiting my arrival. One had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in hand and the other, holding a room temperature glass! 

And you scofflaws say New Albany has nothing to offer!!

City council meeting, October 3.

New Albany council approves $500K to aid Charlestown Road corridor, because if we don't do something fast, we're gonna lose the McDonald's -- and then where would King Larry drink coffee with his Republican buddies?

Photo credit: Fly on the wall.

REWIND: Council's smoke ban back in the late summer of '08 ...

... and an excuse to publish this photo of IAmHoosier and the late Lloyd Wimp, which I found this morning while going through old back-up discs. I miss Lloyd a lot, but it helps to remember him in his element, as pictured here.

Coffey refuses to name names; pumpkin patch freezes solid; NA council completes another session.

It appears that the Gang of Pour was not represented at last night's council meeting, putting us into the same category of zombie-like irrelevance as every last one of Steve Price's long-suffering, utterly ignored constituents. Fortunately, the Tribune's Daniel Suddeath is well paid to endure the indignities. Here is his report:

New Albany City Council passes $1.7M to balance 2010 budget; Annexation passes while preservation commission abolishment turned away.

... Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti sponsored the measure, and said she did not support the administration’s original proposal because it did not include a repayment of the EDIT funds that would have been spent on public safety.

“I think EDIT — economic development [tax] — needs to be used for economic development,” she said.

The return of Blevinsian neutrality.

Council president John Gonder would like for you to know that in spite of what those pesky anonymous troglodytes say, he's not up the mayor's you know what.

Besides that, there's the perennial council problem with locating the information. It's never there when they need it, it's always being hidden from them, and when on occasion their stopped clocks strike the correct time, the information is ... is ... in code (gasp).

Today's Tribune asks: All the cards on the table for New Albany sewer rates?

If the will of the New Albany City Council coincides with its president, only one of the final two votes on a sewer rate increase will come Monday. Council President John Gonder still has some questions he’d like answered. “If there’s $1 million of excess fat in the operating budget of the sewer utility, why didn’t we know that in the very beginning,” he asked.

Maybe it was a conspiracy. Meanwhile, just as I predicted on Friday, Pat McLaughlin's transformation into Donnie Blevins is so utterly complete that he'll be offering a rote prayer to kick off Monday's council session.

A potential swing vote on a sewer rate increase, Councilman Pat McLaughlin maintained he’s undecided. “I’m just right now so neutral, there’s so many things to look at,” he said.

As you ponder the impact of neutrality sans information, let's turn to a council member who absolutely, positively knows how he'll be voting.

Councilman Steve Price is opposed to both options ... “This decision will have an unbelievable impact,” Price said. “It’s probably the biggest vote I’ve ever had to make.”

If it's the biggest vote the Babe Ruth of "no" votes has had to make, and if he already knows he'll vote "no", in reality, is it a big vote at all?

It's just another nay, isn't it? Price votes "no" the way that some folks say, "you know."

Except, he doesn't.

Is the neighborhood/residential parking ordinance ready for prime time? Weigh in, please.

The agenda for tomorrow's city council meeting has been posted. Take a look at it. See the differences?

Is it really an agenda according to the template provided in the council's own rulebook? For the first time in years? Gads. Am I awake?

For the moment, lets's focus on residential parking, truly one of those ordinances out of nowhere, which appeared and was approved on January 4 in two readings before being chucked to a committee that will meet prior to tomorrow's session. To be exact, it's G-10-01, an Ordinance Establishing Individual Resident Only Parking Areas.

G-10-01 was briefly outlined in the Tribune (scroll down for reader comments), and was discussed at greater length by Bluegill here at NAC. Here's a reprint of his thoughts, which are indicative of my own.

The residential private parking permit request is somewhat confusing. I'll try to provide more in-depth analysis in future but, from looking at aerial photos and driving the neighborhood, it appears as though the large majority of property owners in the Uptown area have sufficient room on their properties to accommodate private, off-street parking if they so desire. There are already so many driveways and garages that having private parking, rather than suffering from a lack of it, is evidently the norm. And, again, most who don't have it could.

As an initial question, why would New Albany citizens want to give over the public street space they finance to restricted, private use in order to appease private property owners who are unwilling to give up their own privately held resource for the exact same purpose?

One suggested answer was that providing additional parking for a particular property would increase its value. I can't argue with that. That's why people spend their money to build driveways and garages on private property. But, each time a single property value was increased with an additional parking spot taken from the shared pool on public streets, there would be a corresponding decrease in available parking for surrounding properties, thus lowering their values with little to no compensation for those who chose to invest based on that pool.

Does it make sense to use public funds to marginally increase the value of one house on a street at the expense of decreasing the value of several others? I don't think so. It goes against the very notion of shared resources and public spaces that define city life. That notion is the reason many of us have chosen to live here and is what will attract many more to do the same.

Because several council persons apparently view this as a (purportedly) pain-free means of collecting a bit of revenue, it would seem to have sufficient support to pass. I personally believe that would be a mistake, because with the Board of Works and Police Department both highly dubious, the ordinance as currently formulated looks, at best, like just another unenforced ordinance in neighborhoods that have more important issues to resolve.

But feel free to disagree. What do you think?

Addendum: As an example of what other communities have enacted, go here for Bloomington's program ... and note the many differences.

7th visitation: EDIT for police. Nay to 2nd reading ... but "yes" to the amended (reduced) 3rd reading.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: READING

A-09-09 Additional Appropriation Ordinance from the E.D.I.T. Fund for the Police Department (2 & 3 Zurschmiede)

Well, here it is.

No discussion

No: Caesar, Price, McLaughlin, Gahan, Gonder
Yes: Benedetti, Messer, Zurschmiede, Coffey

Defeated in the 2nd reading.

Messer: Would like to amend the ordinance to $500,000, which would allow for some restaffing.

Benedetti seconds, and a vigorous discussion ensues. Messer mentioned money previously approved but not spent. Coffey says he's been urging to put "police in the pipeline." Coffey compares levels of interest in police, hazardous sites, etc.

Price: Everyone told me 5 wouldn't do it. "I don't play poker ... I don't like politics," when you wait until the last minute to do this ... that's wrong ... "I don't play poker." Upset that he previously asked if 5 would do, but everyone said no. Now he's hurt.

Coffey: "Y'all mind if the chief says something?"

Chief Crabtree: States his case. 13 officers can retire at any moment.

Price: "Hurts the reputation of the department when it says in the paper" that an "officer is eating breakfast" and "I don't even know if it's true ... "

Huh?

Crabtree: Entitled to lunch. Every department allows breaks. "There's no such thing as Robo-Cop."

Haub: "Not an issue of playing politics," but if you remember 2008 and the original presentation, and the DEA's criticism. The city has to grow up and show it's serious about fighting crime. The department has stepped up and followed the DEA's recommendations, but the council has to help meet the other condition: Increased manpower.

Erika and her gnarled friend now stand up and glare toward the chair.

Haub continues. The sheriff pocketed the drug seizure money recently, not the city police.

Price: "If I was a policeman, I'd vote for you."

Haub: Louisville gets money for drug interdiction, NA gets nothing. "I'm not trying to call your bluff."

Price: eyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyfiveeyeydoiteyeyey

Pat McLaughlin: "I don't buy it either."

Acrimony.

Council votes for the amendment: Caesar flips, and the amendment passes 5-4 against.

Final vote on the original wording. Now and only now Caesar asks: Where does the money go if approved.

Now he asks. Before the third reading. Seriously.

Now the council starts talking about when and how the money would be spent.

Price: What is we have to make cuts later?

More acrimony.

KZ: How much notice do the retirement guys have to give?

Crabtree: None.

Coffey: Call for the vote.

Vote, 3rd reading

Caesar flips again from 1st and 2nd readings, and on the 3rd, the council approves the EDIT funding reduced by half. 5-4, Caesar making a majority.

Finished at 10:35 pm. Erika is very unhappy.

Sixth installment of "live" and increasingly "dead" blogging: Resolutions, ordinances and scenery chewing.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: READING

R-09-16 Resolution To Appropriate E.D.I.T Funds To Assist Residents With Damages Caused By Recent Storms And Flooding (Gahan)

Bob Caesar adds his addendum to the Gahan resolution. Because it is a resolution, it can be introduced in modified form.

Coffey: Who enforces this? Answer is: Stormwater Board. Coffey rolls his eyes.

Jack Messer notes that stormwater has a machine for trenching that it is not using and hasn't for seven months.

Kevin Zurschmiede (first comment, 2:15 into the meeting): Accountability! They're not here because we have tough questions for them! Every deppartment needs to be accountable! Namechecks Erika. "There's no accountability." KZ grandstands about accountability, the new mantra.

Caesar: "We have to do something for these people," and "start now, not in nine months."

Benedetti: But we give them money and it doesn't change! How do we change that?

Coffey: Cut 'em, cut 'em.

Price: We had to sue to do something.

Messer: This administration hires people who won't work. Need different contractors, new people. They're not working.

Benedetti: Something about Ron Carroll hiring or paying too much to someone. Now they're getting tired and mumbling all at once.

Coffey: Bob wants to hire college kids for creek cleaning, and Kay Garry found out that the stormwater slackers already allotted money for this! We'll approve the $25,000 requested by Caesar for cleaning up cricks. Where to take it from?

Marcey: Kay and I figured it out. Explains the part-time scheme. It would take about $23,400.

Discussion about how to pay them.

Messer: Corrections people?

Paul Haub: "Use community service people." They could do it for free.

Coffey: The other $75,000? Where? To the people?

Gahan: The stormwater board makes that decision.

Benedetti: "What do I say to the people who come up to me" and can't afford the repairs?

Gahan: Stormwater and sewers make these decisions every day?

WE HAVE NOTHING REMOTELY RESEMBLING A RULING CLASS IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE SPENT AS MUCH TIME ON OLD GRIEVANCES TONIGHT AS ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE THIS IS ISSUE IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING SOLVED BY DISBURSING MONEY TO THE FLOODING VICTIMS. THIS IS OF A SCOPE THAT ELUDES THEM ALL.

Coffey: Attorneys will swarm if some people get money and others don't.

They're arguing about the terms of a city-wide bailout.

Shane Gibson speaks: We try to determine on a case by case basis. Sewer claims have a $25,000 deductible. Most of the current crop would go past deductible. No specifics, but never this many problems. Many of these claims will be handled by the insurance company.

Gahan: Still a council issue, because "we have to come up with the big fix" and tackle the problems presented tonight.

Really? THEM?

Coffey: "Why do we need this $75,000?"

Gibson: The extent of this problem is for the insurance company. The deductibles owed by the city will come from the sewer utility, as it has done in the past. Now getting claims. No idea of the total cost when all is said and done.

***Gibson: "We still have to determine if the city is liable." Not comfortable just throwing money out because it can't be policed ... because it would not lend itself to accountability. Recommends it be specifically earmarked for the emrgency stormwater.

But that would run counter to Coffey's aim of kneecapping stormwater.

Vote: Price hems, haws, squawks and votessssss yes. Messer abstains. Zurschmiede now speaks up about water in his building, abstains. Coffey abstains. 6 yes, three abstain, I think.

Bizarre.

R-09-17 Resolution Concerning Statement of Benefits For VTI of Indiana Door, Inc, DBA Ideal Door Division by the Common Council (Gonder)

Marcey Wisman reads amendment to transform the abatement to five years for equipment. Unanimously approved.

R-09-18 Resolution to Fund the City Portion of a Fire Department Grant to Purchase a Multi-Task Emergency Vehicle (Gonder)

This is what the fire department is here to discuss. Poor guys. They got a grant for most of it, need $47,000 as the department's share. Coffey hates to turn it down because some other grants don't require matches. The chief explains. Vote by hand: Unanimos in favor.

Coming back for the grand finale.

Part Five: Yes, we are at the end of public speaking time. Bailouts, anyone?

COMMUNICATIONS – CITY OFFICIALS

Jeff Gahan begins by reading a letter about drainage written by a Savannah Drive resident, condemns "a recurring theme" unchecked development. Reads another letter: "Just do something." $75,000 isn't enough. Open to how it's handled, whether it comes from EDIT or where. Doesn't matter, as long as "we address it." must take some action tonight."

Benedetti: "My heart goes out" to all the victims. Are we opening something that could be open-ended? We had asked for people to fill out tort claims for the lawyers to examine. "We know 75's not enough," but the lawyers should come back after examining the tort claims to tell us what is and isn't coming.

Gahan: Asks whether anyone from storm, sewer or EMC is present. Nope. He doesn't want it to be direct reimbursement to people, because Benedetti is afraid that it will turn into direct reimbursement.

Price: Every time we throw out money ... stormwater wasn't supposed to be paid in the beginning ... raises, promotions ... "we're in a depression" ... "code enforcement, whatever it is, tired of money going in someone's pocket."

Not his, though.

Gahan wants the crowd to return and monitor the votes. Tonight a resolution.

Price: Isn't it going to open up ... mumble ... "everyone in New Albany has had some kind of problem." ould be a "major tort claim." Coffey refuses to gavel the discussion so that he can determine how best to interject himself into it.

Gonder: Shouldn't we put a moratorium on building and development in the affected areas?

Coffey: Maybe everywhere?

This is fractured and the give and take is fast. Hard for me to keep up. Who gets included? How many are here? Aren't? Procedures? Who to thrash?

Coffey: "I'm going to call a spade a spade -- the people who let this happen" are still there. Wants to have an executive session. Coffey urges Stan Robison to take part in the many meetings to come. Coffey in essence says that the council has to take over all planning and zoning decisions.

Robison: Some developers favored. "Smart-ass" engineer came in and said it was an act of God; problems with enforcement and accountability. The administration shouldn't be dismissive. "Moral more than legal" problem. Council doesn't decide liability, but it controls purse strings. Stormwater raised all those salaries in spite of the council's preference; remember that during budget time. "People have no relief" in spite of raised pay.

COMMUNICATIONS – MAYOR

Not here.

APPOINTMENTS:

Police Merit Commission – Bob Dusch -- approved very fast.

Coming back with more.

Council Thursday "live blogging, 4th installment, with the theme now being a new dawning of Coffey-inspired accountability ... and Erika!

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC, continued

12. Sherry Dallman - "I know who owns" the retention lot to buy; there should be no building at 912 Mellwood until drainage is addressed in the area. She's been through this before, and it gets worse. "Keep this lot open." Benedetti chimes in, but I can't hear her.

Price: When you see someone building something, "call us." It "hurt to tell us," because someone told hikm once that "unchecked development would be the ruination of New Albany." He says: "I won't vote for it" (development).

Coffey: "Let your council members know," and call anyone, not just the district representative ...

... because after all, we can't butt in unless we get all the information. The grandstanding tonight is as sickening as I've ever seen it. These people are well-meaning, and Coffey is doing the imperial shuck and jive. He's having "Papa Dan" dialogues with these people.

Coffey: "We depend on what people tell us, but what we've seen tnight and been told it totally different."

Times Coffey has promised a new era of accountability: 4 so far that I remember.

She asks: Who is responsible for these things here:

Coffey: "Well, it's the planning commission."

Stan Robison: "Meaning nobody."

Malysz dispassionately outlines the varying responsibilities of the commissions.

Coffey blames developer payola for something, and he and Carl argue. Coffey checks himself and we lurch forward.

13. Vicky Denhart - She's "president of Citizens for Accountability" and lives on Country Club Drive. "Sewers, sewers and stormwater" the problem. $60 million spent on sewers ... "we still got problems." In December, $5 million in EDIT. $3 million left ... "give it to them people" to fix their homes (she gestures to the crowd). "You have the power, you have control over the money." She mentions the elderly. "It's time to use it" (money in EDIT and TIF). "There's no reason why New Albany is having the problems" with sewers that it's having. She calls out Gahan and flashes a stack of papers: "Every department is in the red." Says: "I'm not against the police." Addresses the council again: "You guys hold the money -- they're just the mayor and deputy mayor." She almost cries at this point. "This is a moral issue."

Gloom, doom ... populism ... performance art -- gimme a hankie.

14. Cliff Staten - back for more from last meeting (Woodfield Drive), about drainage. "You" (council) need to make the "tough decisions", and "act." Neighbors will be watching.

15. (missed name) - she lives near falling Run Creek, perhaps near apartments. Has photos: "Not just cleaning out the creek." Denounces new development. Mentions Ohio, Mississippi and the ocean as being unable to hold the rainfall. Now there is current to overflow, and children could be washed away. They could be in the river. "No way to fix this with a new drain pipe."

Coffey, Robison and the speaker argue over whether it used to flood. Coffey notes that he was always against development in the vicinity. Robison calls out Carl. This is getting borderline testy.

Why am I here again? Is there cold beer at my house? It would have helped to enforce the time limit tonight, but it would not have suited Coffey's grandstanding notions. Note that after almost two hours, we haven't had a serious discussion yet about the police funding.

16. Greg Burden - Woodfield Drive. Will install a check/shutoff valve and has the money to do it, but not everyone does. 90-year-old woman next door wouldn't be able to handle it. Paid $8,000 for the last clean-up of sewage damage.

17. Officer Miller - captain and commander of second shift. Been there forever. Most demanding shift. Has only 7 of the 10 people he needs right now. "We run and chase our tails 90% of the time," and not much time to cruise the neighborhoods. "If you haven't been the victim of crime in the past few years, you will be soon," because there's too much to do to go out in the neighborhoods and cruise. Goes on a bit, describing his days.

Coming back for city official communications.

Part three of "live" blogging: Drainage complaints ongoing, escalating, with matching grandstanding.

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC, continued

I'm trying to get names right. Difficult from the cheap seats.

6. Mrs. Pfeiffer - lives on Brentwood (near Castlewood) and has seen boats on her street. She's gone to industrial tile instead of carpet. Needs help on Brentwood, too; much worse since 2006. Haven't been to the stormwater board, but came straight here tonight.

The year 2006 keeps coming up.

Her husband speaks: It is going to get worse. Thinks the foundation of the house will be shot soon.

7. Mark Cassidy - "Six months since I was last up here," and a respite from the water problem. To address EDIT funds for police: Wants to wait and see even if he gets associated with us progressives (he he he). Annexation is never a given. Counsels caution. Wait until the budgets come back.

8. Tanya Boley - lives on Larkwood Drive. Same problems as Castlewood. "Not something we enjoy," including sewage from time to time. They'd love garage water instad of what they get now. Nothing's been done, and no one has come to haul away their junk, where possums now inhabit. Expresses disdain for garbage and wreckage pickup. She is a realtor, with calls from people wanting to sell their houses, but she can't even sell hers. Her tax money is benefiting someone else but not them. Her house value has stayed the same. Kessans not a help to anyone. Rather "nasty." Lost $50,000 in the last five weeks. Her side of the street is universal in terms of damage.

Kessans is taking some hits tonight. Coffey: "When I was a child, I used to trap muskrats" in the area. Why'd "they" let 'em build there, anyway?

She blames "poor decisions."

9. Kent McDaniel - wants to talk about the police. Diane Benedetti helped him when other would not. Asks the crowd if would agree with a 5% LOIT tax increase to pay for police, but Coffey warns him he should speak to the council. He agrees, then ignores him and turns to face the crowd again. Decries bad driving and traffic. Hoped for a public hearing -- "I may be off base" -- to see what's needed.

10. Jameson Bledsoe - main concern is the EDIT money for police. Feels good and safe that we have good police officers. Two bikes stolen, cars illegally entered, diapers stolen. Bullet dents in the hood. Stopped people stealing gutters in his yard. Despite all this, the money going to the police is a "reactionary" policy. Quotes a policeman as saying that putting one away will simply bring another criminal to fill the void. Jail overcrowding, or buy the troubled properties and tear it down or rehabilitate a house for a single family dwelling, and do that, then we won't need officers or code enforcement officers. Must change the physical characteristics" of these properties. The $1 million could clean up the decrepit properties and also solve the drainage issues being addressed tonight.

Coffey: What do you do with the gangs? You can't tell a person he can't buy a house? Gangs?

Coffey, visibly annoyed, goes in for the kill.

Coffey: We've had work sessions all year. NA a focal point of meth. How do you intend to adddress that? Usually I don't like to question speakers, but "I haven't seen you at these meetings."

Bledsoe: Didn't come because he was "unaware" that meetings were open to the public. Wished he could have seen the police presentation. Gangs? In NA, 30% make under $15,000 ... not to generalize, but this is a socio-economic problem, and these people probably contributing to it. Talks about a house in his neighborhood somewhere (?) that was a 6-plex given away by lottery to reputable developers who cold fix it. If it's a $200,000 house, the crack addicts and gangs can't afford to live there. It's a "comprehensive" solution. "I do see where the police are trying to help."

11. (missed the name) - house on a hill, no flooding in the house. Lives on the corner of Mt. Tabor and Klerner, and has been there for 62 years. Gets 11 feet deep behind his house nowadays, this coming since development in the 1970's. Provides a lengthy history of his area. Condemns unrestricted development as the culprit. Advocates retention ponds. Calls out Tony Schueler, who showed a house during Home-a-rama with the basement door locked because there was six feet of water. Has photos. He was annexed 50 years ago, but still doesn't have storm sewers or sidewalks: "Annexation didn't bring us anything except more sprawl." Denounces the amphitheater before sewers and infrastructure!

Note: Time limits not being enforced tonight. Imagine that. It's almost 9:00 p.m., and this is threatening post-meeting happy hour. I'll be back with another chapter shortly (please).

We're somewhat "live" with the council ... part two, and members of the public are queuing to tell drainage horror stories.

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC

Council kingpin Dan Coffey takes care to prep the public: Limit the time, don't repeat what others say.

I'll try to get the names right; apologies if I don't.

1. Dawn Money - Lives off Green Valley Road on Glen Mill. She's been dealing with water for nine years, and she has pictures. Says they lost pretty much everything last time out, have borrowed $50,000, since flooded four times. They have no more money. They'e stuck. Help is needed. Bad, bad tidings - probably worse overall than last meeting's stories. She provides contact information so council members can do someone else's job and check into it.

Crowd buzzes as they remark on their own experiences. This has become a forum for everyone who has had a drainage, sewage or flooding issue. Coffey mentions that people can be fined for clogging drains and not clearing debris. The crowd giggles. Code enforcement? What a concept.

2. Debbie Easton - lives off Audubon Drive for 30+ years, flooding has been a constant, and she has pictures. Veritable rivers of water for more than three decades. She has tried to talk to Brad Kessans. He "likes to put me off." Tired of it. Too old to clean drains.

Diane Benedetti is taking a major role in this discussion, as she did last meeting. Carl Malysz enters the room.

3. A woman crosses herself off the list. Will be represented by the Castlewood group.

4. David Ayres - lives near the 4H Fairgrounds for 45 years. Things started getting bad in the 1970's. Mentions blockage in the creek, including willow trees with debris hanging on them. Cleaned last time 15 years ago by big machinery, which resolved it for about ten years. Then it grew back. Has a photo of a sizeable log that is hung up. Go in and cut down the trees, and the problem will go away for a while. He takes a matter-of-fact approach, also points to new construction leading to run-off problems nearby. That's the big thing.

Do we have a stormwater board?

5. Castlewood group (5 of them) - bad problems since 2006. Nowhere near a creek, but the street becomes a lake.

Coffey asks if he can keep the photos ... crowd gets a laugh when Mr. Ayres says he has more, including one of a person foating down the flooded creek, presumably in a kayak or something.

Speaker has taken on water 5 times since May, 2009. Has half her drywall on the wall in the basement; has quit trying to repair it. So, she can't use her basement at all. She thinks Jeff Gahan has a proposal to save the day. They've been going to stormwater board and public works meetings.

And become mayor in the process?

She believes that a recently constructed new house took the space of what had been acting as a catch basin. Why was a permit issued for it? Another vacant lot off Mellwood (we heard about this one last time) is the last catch area in the neighborhood. Don't keep adding houses!! They've been told that work is supposed to be done in the fall. Realtors now taking hits for selling houses to people without telling them they get flooded.

Say it ain't so ... say it ain't so.

Stevie of Mayberry says: Did you come complain when that last house got built?

She says no, and Coffey explains that fill-ins like that don't have to come back to him (er, the council) for approval. Coffey now threatens to close the purse strings for boards that don't help him grandstand in situations like these:

"We don't get this information ... we didn't know about these problems." Coffey blames those who come and ask for money, but don't go and clean the ditches and streams.

One of the best grandstands ever: Coffey now demands that the council see to it that these things get done? SINCE WHEN, Dan? Redistricting? Ordinance enforcement? When have you ever said this before now?

Coffey: "This council is going to start holding people accountable."

Direct quote, folks. Coffey begins appeasing the Castlewood group by suggesting that perhaps the city should buy homes.

The speaker agrees: Buy two, demolish them, and reconstruct the environment for catch basins. Her foundation and concrete are now deteriorating. There is psychological damage, and she would like to move if possible. But who would ever buy the house in this case?

Now the citizens want to know: We came to a meeting, and they want to spend money on 15th Street. Why, when no one lives down there?

Umm, well, actually people do live downtown ... this has turned into a whale of a scrum.

Coffey: People should know that we're sensitive to this ... "we ARE going to hold people accountable in this city."

Continued in a few minutes ...

Ammonia, Indigent Flushers, & Politics

What do all three have in common? They stink!!!

I was present for most of last night's council workshop on Georgetown's sewer rates.

Due to health issues of the past few days I couldn't stay for the entire show but I did hang in long enough to gather that this whole debacle is being drawn out for political gain on all fronts.

As I understand it the core issue is that duly elected Georgetown officials from days gone by entered into an agreement with New Albany' Sewer Board.

(Note Sewer Board ... NOT the City of New Albany nor it's Common Council!)

At the time all the legal minds were in agreement that it was a statutory legal agreement.

Georgetown dictated the terms and although our Sewer Board offered longer time periods, G'town's leadership seemed confident with a four year gig.

Now the time has come & gone. In fact it has been extended numerous times and still no discernable action on Georgetown's part to build their own plant.

Meanwhile even given their best efforts to treat it on their end, G'town's effluent is costing more for us to treat due to it's chemical composition than does our own sh@#.

In addition, that same chemical composition is eating away at our lines, pumps, & infrastructure more so than is normal.

So our Sewer Board after much deliberation elected to call in their marker.

Georgetown's new leaders are now crying FOUL!! And they're pulling out all the stops.

"Our fixed income citizens who are living on $600.00 a month can't afford to flush!"

"It cost us $84 to $100 thousand per month to maitain & operate our ill conceived antiquated system!"

"The Floyd County Government blocked the original plant site and we had to start over!"

And my favorite of all:

"The agreement in place will not stand up in court!" May I see your legal degree please?

So now enter the politicos.

Floyd County in conjunction with citizen lawsuits successfuly blocked the Edwardsville area site because of currying favor to potential future developers for that area.

Now they are trying to rectify that move and curry favor with Georgetown voters by offering to pay for another site on the west side of G'town contingent on the County securing Federal funds.

Said funds are at least a year out, by the way.

Then comes our very own Common Council leadership to weigh in on another community's business.

"We can't just let 'em go broke!"

"We gotta do the right thing!"

Meanwhile our Sewer Board is saying "It's not a fine, it is just what you, via your duly elected officials, agreed to do!"

So if G'town wins and our Council chooses to saddle us and our system with the burden for perpetuity, does this mean I can cry foul and walk away from my legal financial obligations as well??

Who really wins/loses here?

Inquiring minds want to know!!

Open thread: Council and city hall's fingerpointing tango, and Dan Coffey's latest bluff.

Last night, after the special city council meeting, heated words were being exchanged in the corridor.

In a predictably flaccid effort to be cheerful, the council president observed that the meeting was over, and everyone should be pleasant in the aftermath. I replied that it's difficult to be cheerful when watching his twice monthly antics.

He responded by wagging that famously pudgy finger and warning me that while I may not realize it, I'm going to be held responsible for all that I've blogged. He seemed to be implying that he would take action in an as yet undefined legal sense. It was a threat, to be sure, and another example of hundreds offered here during the past five years as to his temperamental unsuitability to serve in office, whether here in New Albany or at the most isolated outpost in outermost Mongolia.

I then noted aloud that I've signed each and every one of these hundreds of posts, and will continue to do so, this being more than can be said for the anonymous obstructionists who take their post-meeting cues from the president's cell phone, and I told him so, urging him to bring it on and take whatever steps he feels necessary to try and make the truth as reported here go away.

Not yet, said the president: "It's better to wait," he replied, snarling in a way that's coming to be regarded as boilerplate.

Wait like a coiled copperhead snake, Dan?

Like waiting to redistrict, and waiting to pave, and waiting to find reasons not to pursue economic development, and waiting to fund public safety, and waiting to interject yourself into any legislative issue so as to preserve an appearance of omniscience?

Just remember this, councilman: It isn't libel if it is true.

Your anonymous supporters are the ones writing untruths, not this blog, so if you have the goods, please bring them to bear.

If not, then let it go and desist with the now commonplace bullying routine. Not only is it tasteless, but it's increasingly tedious, too.

If anyone else reading would like to comment on last evening's antics, please do so. I have a Bank Street economy to help develop.

Ennui, come by honestly.

I've spent the morning rummaging through guttural vicissitudes, seeking to faithfully reenact the lingering consequences of council meeting attendance. Thus far, I have failed.

I suppose that makes this an open call for candidates.

Romeo, Romeo,-------?

Could it be classic Milton Berle stand up comedy?

Or perhaps a Shakespearean drama play?

Or maybe even a 21st Century intervention to save a lost soul?

No, unfortunately it was just another biweekly episode of the New Albany Common Council. But be not dismayed for it contained elements of all the above.

Shortly after 6:40 PM the comedy began as Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz became the latest member in good standing of the coveted and ever growing Ejaculattee Club for daring to enter the sacred chambers during an Executive Session of the Common Council.

It took CM President Coffey less than 15 seconds to inform Mr. Malysz of his evil ways and sent him packing. The crowd in the hall (Mark & I) went wild and Cassidy reluctantly caught the evening’s refreshment bill as he lost the pool.

The truly positive report of the night was given by Ohio River Greenway Project Coordinator Shaunna Graf during the 7PM workshop.

Among other things she stated that Clarksville has laid the much of the groundwork and has the funds in hand to complete the connection across Silver Creek to the Floyd County line via the old Penn Central Bridge thru Loop Island.

She all but promised that connection will be completed by lat 2011 if not sooner which would result in one being able to go from the river front all the way to Jeff Boat either on foot or bicycle.

She warned however that the trail on the New Albany would probably still be au-natural as there remained work to be done with various State & Federal Agencies as well as additional funding to hook our end said bridge with our riverfront. But the trail would be passable at least for the hearty travels among us.

Hooray!!

When asked about progress with the K & I opening up, both she and Scott Wood reported that their Louisville counterpart was leading the charge and that it was still a high priority on Mayor Abramson’s to get done list.

Scott said that he understood a letter of intent had been sent to the railroad referencing conversations that Louisville was having with various Federal Agencies on the matter.

It seems that the railroads response was that if anyone set foot on said bridge they would either be arrested by the rail police or summarily shot if not both. There was no indication of which order the aforementioned would happen however.

My immediate read-neck reaction in these times of terrorists and homeland security issues was that railroad police or not, if any fool had the intestinal fortitude to take a shot at a federal official, I wish him the best of luck!

So on to the meat of the meeting!

The first person to take the podium during Communications from the Public was (surprise-surprise) the Operations Director of ROCK.

Mr. Wickens was out of town on another matter and I speculated that perhaps he was sharing dinner & entertainment with an ACLU member in an attempt to find a way to combine their influence.

At any rate she reiterated the negative affects on communities of such establishments, complemented the Council for its bravado in addressing this subject matter, and reassured all that ROCK had our backs covered as we move forward.

She was followed by one of the operators of the cabaret in question. He warned the Council they were on a very slippery slope with the legalities of this measure and implored them not to set the city up for a long expensive legal battle by passing the proposal. He continued that all of his employees were set to file individual suits against the City on 1st amendment grounds if nesessary.

I must apologize for not catching the names of either of the speakers mentioned.

As for Communications from City Officials & the Mayor, Doug England was absent and Carl apparently took his cue from the earlier incident chose to remain silent for the evening.

There followed a bit of confusion about some pending appointments and after a flurry of activity at the head table that issue got put off to a later day.

R-09-02 which addressed a tax abatement for Specialty Earth Sciences, LLC received a 7-0 affirmative vote with little ado. Oh,I forgot to mention that CM Zurschmeide was also absent last evening.

R-09-03 was tabled by CM Gahan for the time being. It concerned ordinance codification issues that he and his committee had not completed their research on and he requested more time to do so.

R-09-04 was an Additional Appropriation resolution authorizing the parks department to use insurance monies already in hand for repairs of storm damage to city park amenities. It also passed 7-0.

Ms Benedetti then chose to table A-09-01 which would have required the Sewer Board & Storm water Board to move their meeting times to evenings as opposed to the current 10AM time slot. The ordinance had been prompted by a public outcry from her constituents as they could not get to the daytime meetings and thus felt left out of the process.

However, CM Benedetti apparently had a change of heart and pulled it from the agenda. She stated that at this point she was unsure whether or not it would be reintroduced at a later date.

CM President Coffey stated that even so, she and the Council as a whole was to be commended for hearing the voices of the people. (A disclaimer-that’s a paraphrase)

Then it got interesting. CM Gahan introduced A-09-01. That would be controversial salary amendment ordinance for the Sewer billing personnel.

The 2nd reading vote was called for without preamble and was voted down.

The 3rd reading was about to proceed when Jeff Gahan interrupted to ask if any discussion of the matter was allowable. CM Coffey answered in the affirmative and CM Gahan proceeded to say that his understanding was these raises had already been approved and put in effect by the Administration without Council approval.

Someone asked how many people received raises and we were informed that three did. Mrs. Dickey got $3K, Ms.Walsh $7K, and Mr. Thompson of the street department received $8K annually.

This sparked a flurry of activity around the table. When asked from whence the monies came the response by Sewer Board President Ron Carrol was the funds came out of Storm Water coiffures.

When asked if these raises were retro to January of this year, Ron said yes!

CM Price almost immediately offered that the Storm Water Utility obviously has an excess of funds at its disposal and proposed that maybe a rate cut for that utility was in order!

Council Attorney Robison then said that when the discussion had originally come up as to whether or not the Sewer Utility could act independently of council approval he had asked for time to research the subject.

He did so and submitted to the administration a letter stating that in his legal opinion the matter did in fact have to be voted in by said council. He was then informed that it was a done deal and the retro checks were being processed.

He requested permission from the council to sit down with City Attorney Gibson to discuss it at length. He was granted it.

CM President Coffey stated that although there had been much said about working together, this was yet another example of some acting independently regardless, and the council was going to have to look further into the matter.

We then moved on to the real hot-button issue of the night which was the Adult Cabaret ordinance. It passed 2nd reading 7-0 but the third reading was postponed to give the Council’s Committee time to try to work out an agreement with the Cabaret owners that would be palatable to all parties.

And along those lines, CM Coffey had earlier encouraged Planning & Zoning Director Scott Wood to move with haste to define a Zoning designation for adult entertainment facilities. He stated he would be glad to buy could not finalize such until the Council acted upon the Ordinance before it.

That ending the official business of the evening, John Mattingly rose to implore the Council not to proceed to the point of this thing going to court. He said he had no desire to get involved in a costly legal battle and would hate for the city to do so as well.

However, he continued, “I and my partners have spent a significant amount of money on this project and we are not willing to just walk away from it.”

He was followed by an encore appearance by the ROCK representative wherein she once again complimented the Council for their due diligence and reassured all in the room that her organization was there to help in any way it can.

With that the meeting was adjourned and a glance at the clock read 8:10PM. My, that went quick!

Our very own Mark Cassidy approached the Rock rep and asked her if offering to help the city included raising funds to pay legal costs. She very carefully answered that in the past her organization had indeed assisted other municipalities find such and could possibly be happy to do so here as well if needed.

Mark was very clear that she refrained from stating exactly what that “assistance” entailed!

Me, I beat feet for Studios to find both bartenders standing at the end of the bar awaiting my arrival. One had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in hand and the other, holding a room temperature glass!

And you scofflaws say New Albany has nothing to offer!!

YAAWWWNNNNN!!!!

Short night followed by a hard sleep! Not to worry though.

A report of last eveing's activities within the hallowed halls is forthcoming as soon as I get the cobwebs out of my head!