If Darin Coddington is without the "skill set," then what about the voters who chose him to be auditor?

The C-J's Grace Schneider outlines the departing Darin Coddington's predicament as scapegoat for the county's budget crisis, as nary a Republican can be found who'll publicly go to bat for Coddington.

Perhaps this scurrying might be taken as a sign of emerging political maturity, except for the fact that ever since Coddington took office, word on both left and right sides of the street has been that his glaring absence of applicable experience meant that he barely knew what he was doing.

Of course, the seeming tumult in Dave Matthews's GOP ranks might be diversionary, too. Is Coddington's convenient springtime abdication also the metaphorical washing of hands by commissioners Bush and Seabrook, v.v. the auditor's willingness to pay Keith Henderson's legal fees without examination?

It's a legitimate question, right?

Floyd County auditor resigns amid budget crisis

Floyd County Auditor Darin Coddington resigned Friday, effective May 3, after county leaders acknowledged that a series of missteps during the past year have led to a major budget emergency.

Coddington, a Republican who was elected in 2010, had told fellow county leaders that he was resigning for personal reasons. An after-hours number for him could not be found Friday.

John Schellenberger, a Republican and current chairman of the Floyd County Council, acknowledged in an interview that the financial crisis — an estimated $2.4 million budget deficit discovered about eight weeks into the new year — was a factor.

“If a person doesn’t have the skill set, it’s a really stressful job” serving as auditor, Schellenberger said.

Weatherford: "Statements such as Mr. Schellenberger’s are divisive and not constructive."

He's a Republican, right? Hell, if all us city folks would just be good and REPUBLICAN, we wouldn't have to use a youth shelter at all.

Shucks.

City, county should be one big family (letter to the editor of the News and Tribune)

I wanted to express my overwhelming concern at one of the statements that I heard at the Floyd County Council meeting on April 10. During the discussion on the ordinance for the New Albany-Floyd County Parks Department, elected county council member John Schellenberger stated that “city kids” were the majority in the Youth Shelter that was recently purchased and being remodeled by Floyd County.

I have lived within the city limits of New Albany since June 2009, and as far as I know I have been a resident of Floyd County the exact same amount of time. I consider myself a part of both, as I am sure that most of the population of the city of New Albany does.

In reply to Mr. Schellenberger’s statement, children are children. There should be no distinction between “city kids” and children that live outside of the city limits. The Youth Shelter may have a large percentage of children that live within the city limits, but 100 percent of those children live within Floyd County.

There was much discussion about the tension between the city council of New Albany and the county council at the same county council meeting. I have attended many city council meetings, and there is not a time that I remember that such a huge amount of time was spent on discussing the tension between the councils, not even the 911 merger.

It pleases me very much that the two councils were able to vote on the New Albany-Floyd County Parks Department. This is a step forward for our community and it is going to take time and learning on both councils for the merger to be effective.

Statements such as Mr. Schellenberger’s are divisive and not constructive. I hope that the councils can continue this trend when it comes to future mergers and work on building a better community that is 100 percent Floyd County, Indiana, and the city of New Albany.

— Amy Weatherford, New Albany

County council's Schellenberger finds someone else to blame for his own body's proclivities.

Earth to John Schellenberger: There's no need to blame the newspaper and/or the parks board for "misinformation" in the case of Community Park, not when Ted Heavrin (and Larry McAllister before him -- they were the Martin and Lewis of the County Council, remember?) -- spent the past decade making hints about sell-offs, strip malls and "our way or the highway through it."

John, if you want your furniture shredded, get a cat, and if you want 1940's-era thinking, keeping letting the same two dudes run your council. It's that simple.

Meanwhile, the reporter Morris does his job well and locates the best quote of the night, from council youngster Brad Striegel:

“This is a quality of life issue. Funding will be tough on both sides, but we have an obligation to meet. I’m tired of hearing how the [David] Camm trial is going to hijack quality of life in this area.”

Me, too. Someone buy that man a cigar.

Floyd County OKs parks deal; City Council will take final vote on measure April 19, by Chris Morris (Pop-Up Reproduction Laboratory)

... However, before the final vote, county Councilman John Schellenberger had several questions for NA-FC Parks Board President Scott Klink and Director Roger Jeffers. After those questions were answered, Schellenberger said he didn’t think it was fair to make threats in the newspaper about closing a particular facility or trying to make the county council look like the “bad guy” during the process.

“Why would you say you would close Community Park and not other parks. That misinformation gets people stirred up,” Schellenberger said. “I feel like we are being used as a pawn in all this when it’s a bigger issue. It bothers me that something lands in the Tribune and gets people all stirred up. People read it and think we are going to close Community Park.”

Candidates Kraft, Schellenberger against tolls; Sellersburg Town Council may follow suit.

Add two candidates to the no-tolls contingent, and the strong possibility of another local governing body.

Sellersburg: A source tells NAC that barring unforeseen circumstances, the Sellersburg town council soon will vote on a resolution expressing opposition to tolls on current bridges to pay for building the overall Ohio River Bridges Project, and advocacy of a more gradual approach, i.e., building the east end bridge first. The council’s regularly scheduled October 25 meeting appears to be the target date, and bi-partisan agreement will be sought.

Schellenberger: In a comment yesterday, reader Karen wrote: "For the record, I received a visit from John Schellenberger, current 4th district County Council running for re-election. Had a conversation about tolls with him, and he stated he's against them as well and thinks we only need 1 bridge. He did say he won't have say over that, but I told him we need people in government who will work to influence the unelected Bi-State Bridges Authority. He also was under the impression that 1Si is against tolls, and I corrected him on that front. I did mention that in the Freiberger vs Grooms race, Freiberger is unequivocally against tolls while Grooms 1) wants to 'wait and see' and 2) thinks tourists and truckers will pay them without regard to how much we will be hit with them. It was a good conversation."

Kraft: Paul Kraft (D), candidate for Floyd County Commissioner, had this to say in a message to NAC: "My personal position is no tolls. I do believe the people’s voice matters. I would also like to see ‘outside the box’ thinking with more options in this bridge project such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and a light rail system. There needs to be a combination of alternative options and service for public transportation in conjunction with this project."