Newspaper's Morris aims for Gahan's political jugular: "We seem to have a power struggle going on here and the only way to solve it is to have a unified government."

Unity, not uni-gov. Or maybe not unity, either.

Revolt of the stenographers?

If this city-versus-county is a reprise of North and South Korea without nukes, it's hard to decide who is playing the role of Donald Trump, as opposed to Kim Jong-un.

Hmm.

Me thinks a journalist just isolated himself from the politicos, although in fairness, it isn't like the city's governing clique ever intended to confide useful information to him -- or, that there ever was any intention on his part to ask deep and probing questions.

Why is an anchor the new city seal when circled wagons are so much more eloquent?

By the way, the councilman in question is my 3rd district's Greg Phipps.

MORRIS: Stop the bickering and work together, by Chris Morris (Where Tom May Roams)

We have so much here in Floyd County of which to be proud. It's such a beautiful area, and we are just 10 minutes from Louisville, which also has many offerings.

But the best entertainment may be the way New Albany and Floyd County governments go at each other. What was once a few jabs from time to time has turned into a regular free-for-all. It's definitely an US versus THEM mentality.

If you attend city government meetings, or scroll through social media posts, you can tell immediately the perception some have about just how bad county government is and how it is not to be trusted. Recently, a New Albany city councilman even said he would never again agree to enter into an agreement with county government. EVER! It seems like county government is pure evil, only doing things like dumping hazardous materials in the city’s impound lot and elsewhere, and not paying its bills.

snip

We seem to have a power struggle going on here and the only way to solve it is to have a unified government. This county is too small to have two governments not able to work together. We, the taxpayers, don't need duplicated services like two parks departments, two planning and zoning departments and two communication centers. And there is a possibility we will have a city hall separate from the City-County Building.

Unified governments work, cut unnecessary expenses and provide better services for the residents. While there will always be disagreements, there will no longer be the US versus THEM mentality.

It may take a few years, but I think unified governments are the future. There is just not enough tax revenue to go around, and sooner or later the people, who are the voters, will get fed up with all the bickering and lack of cooperation.

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Trowel in hand, CM Phipps demands city-county wall.

At the April 2 city council meeting, my 3rd district councilman splashed ice-cold water on the very notion of city-county cooperation.

(Mr. Phipps) explained that he is vehemently opposed to a merger (of 9-1-1 call services) because of the horrible track record that the county has with every venture they have entered into with the city. He stated that as long as he is on the council, he is not even willing to entertain a discussion with the county on merging any type of services. He added that whether Dr. Knable intended it to or not, it did bring that issue to the forefront and he appreciates that they can be civil about it.

Filled with the caliber of satirical zeal that comes from years spent in proximity to political underachievement on the part of the councilman, the Green Mouse has learned that Councilman Phipps is set to propose a definitive solution to the problem of county government perfidy.

"I will build a great, great wall on our western and northern border, and I will have Mark Seabrook pay for that wall. Mark my words."

Of course, if Seabrook won't pay, there's always TIF.