VIDEO: "That's why we're here," Gahan flails amid a pack of lies in this classic footage from last night's Mt. Tabor project meeting.

Thanks to whomever posted this video at YouTube.

There's a reason why the forever agoraphobic Jeff Gahan's handlers keep him secured in the bunker, and it's because the moment any public scenario strays from the script, he cannot improvise. The more he tries, the worse it gets -- and the angrier he becomes.

In this video, observe his petulance escalate with each "that's why we're here," until he's demanding to know why citizens aren't listening to him, even as he insists his Potemkin facade of a meeting was to prove he's listening.


Chins up, Mt. Taborites. Your comments may be "unlikely" to produce change, but in 2019, your votes will help forcibly detach Jeff Gahan from the public teat.

Until the past couple of days, I felt sorry for Larry Summers. Sadly, it's time to get past this, and to get started.

#FireGahan2019

Chins up, Mt. Taborites. Your comments may be "unlikely" to produce change, but in 2019, your votes will help forcibly detach Jeff Gahan from the public teat.

As an aside, has anyone else noticed how short John Rosenbarger's leash has become?

Any time the former Rasputin of Redevelopment becomes part of the public record, city officials hurriedly reel him back in, panic-stricken, as though they're actually aware of Pinocchio's chart-busting toxicity quotient.

Why not retire Rosenbarger -- or does he have copies of the same photos Coffey keeps in a safe deposit box at Birdseye Bank & Trust?

To the overarching point: If one plans for farce and debacle, these are the likely outcomes.

Jeff Gahan does not react maturely to being challenged, and when he is, expect scorched earth. It isn't enough for his opponents to lose. They must be ritualistically and publicly demeaned and humiliated, as with last night's shambolic "public information" meeting.

To his weird sort of credit, city engineer Larry Summers -- pushed to the front to take eyes off Rosenbarger's sneering depravity -- doesn't even try to lie (underlined in the passage below). By Team Gahan standards, this constitutes heroic virtue, and the newspaper's reporter helpfully records every word.

Last night's public information spoonfeeding gave Gahan's functionaries the opportunity to taunt the rubes who stand in the way of auto-centric enrichment. You don't know what's best for your neighborhood.

Dear Leader does. but remember that paybacks are hell -- and 2019 draws ever closer.

Residents voice opinions at Mount Tabor Road public info session, by Danielle Grady (That Jeffersonville Newspaper)

Comments 'highly unlikely' to produce change

NEW ALBANY — A group of New Albany residents got what they had been asking for on Tuesday: another chance for public comment on the reconstruction of Mount Tabor Road. But responses were mixed on whether residents thought the information session would result in change ...

 ... INDOT told the city that it should complete an additional information document and involve the public with its plans again in order to become NEPA complaint, which is a requirement for federally funded projects.

The city could have just completed a memo to file for the public, said Larry Summers, New Albany’s city engineer, but because of the amount of public outreach to INDOT, the department recommended a full information session.

While the city will be taking the public comments made at the meeting, looking over them and submitting them to INDOT with their information document, Summers said it was “highly unlikely” that there would be any changes made to the city’s plan for Mount Tabor Road. Instead, the meeting was more about informing the public about the project’s final details.

“I mean, the city is always looking to hear public comments, but at this point, we’re letting the project in February so the plans are final,” Summers said.

He did add that if there was something “substantial” brought up, the city could make a change.

"City of New Albany Under Fire Amid Accusations of Ignoring INDOT Policies" as Transparency for Mount Tabor group issues scathing press release.

Previously: Here are the questions you can ask at Tuesday evening's meeting about the Mt. Tabor Deforestation and Auto Enrichment Project.

We've just received this press release from Transparency for Mt. Tabor. Take note of tonight's meeting, and best of luck to the insurgents.

---

City of New Albany Under Fire Amid Accusations of Ignoring INDOT Policies

Contact: Transparency for Mount Tabor - Scott Whalen or Kelly Feiock 

New Albany, IN (January 2, 2018) – Another large crowd is expected at the public meeting tonight hosted by the City of New Albany to unveil yet another plan for the Mount Tabor Road Redevelopment Project. The project’s initial goal was to correct erosion problems running along the north side of the road into the creek below. Revisions to the plans will be displayed at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Albany at 7 pm.

In addition to correcting the erosion problems, the original plan in 2013 called for scrapping the current 4-way stop with stop signs and inserting a roundabout into an area that a proper roundabout would not fit. More than 300 residents angrily voiced their opposition to this idea, begging the city to fix the erosion and leave the rest of the road alone.

A few months later Mayor Jeff Gahan reversed his stance, visiting three of the homes on Christmas Eve, which are located on the intersection of Mount Tabor and Klerner Lane, personally telling the residents that his official response to the public hearing and the Categorical Exclusion (CE) was that the intersection would remain the same. It was possible to change to a traffic signal in the future, but it would be in a separate project if or when that happened. He followed up with mailing a letter to all affected residents stating “I recently decided to eliminate the roundabout from the project. The plan is now to retain the 4-way stop.” Gahan continued by saying “This decision was based upon the public comments and concerns received from the surrounding neighborhoods.”

Fast forward three years to June 2016. Residents begin receiving letters notifying them the project was moving forward, appraisers would be visiting homes and acquisition offers to buy land would follow soon after. Yet, when the Right of Way (ROW) Agents presented the offers to residents, they showed plans marked “preliminary.” And when residents asked for a copy of the plans that actually said “Final,” they learned the plans were not yet final. Gossip swirled as neighbors began to speculate that the City of New Albany was going to change the plans again.

Unable to obtain answers from Gahan’s employees, residents turned to INDOT for answers, as INDOT must sign off any federally-funded projects. In December 2016 INDOT confirmed the 4-way stop was now to become a signalized light, and the two lanes of traffic would now insert a left turn lane. Once again residents are furious with Team Gahan. Some had already signed contracts selling portions of their land, believing the atmosphere of a 4-way stop and two lanes of traffic would remain the same. Others, who refused to sign fearing the neighborhood was about to change, have been sued and their land obtained via eminent domain. Approximately 50% of the residents are refusing to give in, and are now going to jury trial against the city.

Resident Scott Whalen kept questioning INDOT officials about policies, and asked shouldn’t residents have seen the final plans before properties were appraised, contracts signed or eminent domain granted? How can damages be calculated when the appraiser doesn’t know the end result? Finally, INDOT agreed that the residents were to be notified of the changes. Residents didn’t just want to know about the changes – they want to know how INDOT signed off on a major change of scope, and not be aware that the residents didn’t know.

Lack of communication has been an ongoing issue between city officials, INDOT and residents. INDOT requires the city mail surveys to residents for a noise analysis – but the surveys were never mailed. INDOT requires any reasonable requests be considered during negotiations - but the ROW agent didn’t tell the city about the requests. The city told INDOT that an increase in traffic warranted the change from a 4-way stop to a traffic signal – but it didn’t tell INDOT that the two traffic analysis it ordered were done when parallel streets were closed and traffic was rerouted though Mount Tabor Road. In fact, a traffic study has never been conducted while all roads are open and no traffic rerouted, so there is no base line as to the average daily amount of cars to travel Mount Tabor Road.

The last straw came when residents received a letter from the city stating trees were to be cut down along Mount Tabor Road, beginning tomorrow, January 3. With so many questions and no answers, the issues have escalated to state officials who will be discussing the project today prior to the public meeting. State Representative Ed Clere plans to speak with INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness with hopes that INDOT will finally become accountable for the project that it approved, yet doesn’t know anything about.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help is located at 1752 Scheller Lane, New Albany, IN 47150. The public is encouraged to bring written comments or questions they would like answered and filed on public record with INDOT.

Here are the questions you can ask at Tuesday evening's meeting about the Mt. Tabor Deforestation and Auto Enrichment Project.

There's an important meeting on Tuesday night with regard to the grandiloquently (read: "inaccurately") titled Mt. Tabor Road Restoration and Pedestrian Safety Project.

December 22:
Comments on the pre-determined Mt. Tabor deforestation and auto enrichment outcome can be given on Jan. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (1752 Scheller Lane).

December 28
Team Gahan swears its engineering contractor will listen to your comments about the Mt. Tabor deforestation project at the mere formality on January 2.


Kelly Feiock is one of the neighborhood community leaders involved with reformatting the malign Rosenbargerization of the project, and she made this comment on our post of the 28th.

It's important to note that residents may write down specific questions they have but New Albany refuses to answer. The City and engineers must answer each question in writing and submit to INDOT.

Written questions and comments may be given to the engineers of Beam, Longest and Neff at the meeting Tuesday, or if residents will not be able to attend the meeting the letters may be sent to the engineers within 7 days of the meeting:

Brian Shaw
c/o Beam, Longest and Neff
8126 Castleton Road
Indianapolis, IN 46250
bshaw@b-l-n.com

Following are a few examples of the points being made to City Hall and INDOT by those neighborhood residents contesting the project's parameters.

Judging by the sheer size of the mailing list, my guess is most residents who need this information already have received it, and so I've edited it into bullet points. If you would like to peruse the details, let me know and I can forward the e-mail I received.

Examples of deficiencies to share with INDOT:

1. Indiana Department of Transportation Traffic Noise Analysis Procedure was not followed.
2. Acquisition of real property for federal and federal aid projects was not followed.
3. The City and its engineers claimed an increase in traffic, yet failed to provide a reasonable and valid traffic analysis warranting the replacement of the current 4-way stop with a signalized intersection.

Point #3 has its own list of conceivable questions.

• Instead of saying "I don’t think there is enough traffic on Mount Tabor Road to warrant a traffic signal," ask them how many cars travel Mount Tabor Road on a daily basis now that Rainbow Drive and McDonald Lane are open, and no traffic is being rerouted on Mount Tabor.
• Ask them to provide the document stating that this project requires sidewalks on both sides of the road.
• Ask them to provide the document stating that the sidewalks must be five feet wide.
• Ask them for the documentation stating the five foot grass buffers improve the safety of pedestrians.
• Ask them for a detailed planned to replace the trees that were cut down.
• Ask them to provide a detailed plan of replacing the trees that were cut down…. How many? What kind? How big?
• Ask them who they hired to maintain the grass and sidewalks in the new ROW.
• Ask them who should we call if the snow plow hasn’t cleared the snow in the ROW blocking access to our driveway.
• Ask them what money is being used as the 20% local match.

Team Gahan's doctrine of inflated self-importance typically causes it to react harshly to grassroots activism. As such, it's crucial for concerned citizens to keep pushing and attend this meeting. NAC hopes to be able to swing by and observe.

Team Gahan swears its engineering contractor will listen to your comments about the Mt. Tabor deforestation project at the mere formality on January 2.

Taken BEFORE Gahan's NAHA putsch.

Way back on December 22, we provided fresh news (thanks S) about an unexpected chance for the public to play its part in fulfilling the city's legal obligations, so the Mt. Tabor Deforestation and Campaign Finance Enrichment Project might finally begin.

Comments on the pre-determined Mt. Tabor deforestation and auto enrichment outcome can be given on Jan. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (1752 Scheller Lane).

The Bookseller immediately issued an appropriate reminder.

As you well know, a "public information meeting" as run by this administration will not allow for any public comments by the citizenry. These are so far removed from "public hearings" as to be from different planets. I hope you will use your platform to remind the mice how such meetings go - first with divide and conquer breakouts where one might ask a question of a single official, but no opportunity to publicly address concerns.

Five whole days later, the News and Tribune somehow meandered around to the story, including an half-assertion this meeting will be different; this time around, there'll be some down-home, old-school listening going on.

Uh huh. Does anyone have a grain of salt the size of size of Jeff Gahan's ego?

Meeting scheduled to discuss Mount Tabor Road project, by Chris Morris

NEW ALBANY — It looks like residents will once again have an opportunity to voice their opinion on the proposed changes and improvements to Mount Tabor Road coming in 2018 ...

... Because the project is federally funded, the city must follow the National Environmental Policy Act. According to Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Manning, the approved environmental document shows the project will involve a four-way stop, which is what exists now as previously reported by the News and Tribune. INDOT reviewed documents submitted by the consultant at the request of Mount Tabor Road and Klerner Lane residents. State officials discovered that while the city changed the intersection design, the NEPA documents don't reflect this change ...

... At the meeting representatives from the engineering design firm Beam, Longest and Neff, LLC will be available to answer questions from concerned residents.

This is amazing.

It's been so long (2013) since this project was minted that it actually predates the time of HWC Engineering receiving all such contracts. Let's hope Beam, Longest and Neff have been updated on cash-stuffed envelope protocol since David Duggins hit the pay-packet lottery at the New Albany Housing Authority.

Hilariously, although probably inadvertently, Morris recycled previous thoughts from John "Pinocchio" Rosenbarger, still merrily denying culpability in ignoring this "final public hearing" requirement, and still just as happily suckling on the government's teat after all these long, wasted years.

John Rosenbarger, New Albany Public Works projects supervisor, said in a previous interview the city intends to build a signal as planned. He thinks a signal will work best at that location and will improve traffic flow. "You can time signals ... You can control flow with a signal. You can't with a four-way stop," he said.

As an aside, it's instructive to understand that deep down inside, Wile E. Rosenberger has his own embittered and self-serving complaint, which might be explained like this: he's chronically under-appreciated.

Such a tragedy.

It seems that from the start of Rosenbarger's career as veritable Rasputin of Redevelopment, those politicians for whom he has toiled, and the voters who placed them in office, both are irretrievably stupid.

They simply have not ever grasped the sheer grandeur of Rosenbarger's professional essence, and because of this, while he forever and always has possessed the very best and most brilliant Wile E. solution to any problem, seldom was he allowed to bring these solutions to bear -- because, had he undertaken to argue for what is correct from a sense of deep and abiding principle, the single worst outcome of all might have occurred.

This being that Rosenbarger might have been fired -- sacked, cashiered, terminated, made redundant, discharged, tossed, dismissed, axed, given a pink slip, kicked out and sent packing.

In turn, this means that the only deep and abiding principle Rosenbarger ever possessed was personal job security. If you're not already hugging a commode in revulsion, there's more here: Ranting on John Rosenbarger's fundamental contradictions in the aftermath of an atrocious day in the neighborhood.

#FireGahan2019
#FireHimToo

Comments on the pre-determined Mt. Tabor deforestation and auto enrichment outcome can be given on Jan. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (1752 Scheller Lane).

The Green Mouse received a message.

It looks like the city is posting the notice for the Mt. Tabor project today - they are trying to skirt open public comments again. They are also cutting out half of the project citing money issues. Maybe if they would leave the intersection alone, they could do their sidewalks all the way.

Indeed. I don't suppose any of this will prevent the deforestation slated to begin the following day.

Gahan Doublespeak Blues (Husqvarna Mix): Say goodbye to your trees, Mt. Tabor Road residents, because it's time again to "improve the tree canopy" by flattening a few hundred of them.

Egg meets Pinocchio Rosenbarger's scowling visage as city delays Mt. Tabor clear-cutting until January 3.

Here's the latest ultimatum.

Source: News and Tribune
Category: Public Notices
Published Date: December 22, 2017

Notice Details

Notice of Public Information Meeting 

The City of New Albany will hold a public information meeting on Tuesday January 2, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. for the reconstruction of Mt. Tabor Road between Grant Line Road and Charlestown Road. The public information meeting will be held in Wagner Hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, located at 1752 Scheller Lane, New Albany, Indiana. 

The purpose of the public information meeting is to present additional information on the Klerner Lane and Mt. Tabor Road intersection, development of long-term slope stability solutions and overall project limits. The presentation will afford interested persons an opportunity to become better informed and provide written comments. 

The purpose of the project is to reconstruct Mt. Tabor Road between Grant Line Road and Charlestown Road, implement intersection improvements at Klerner Lane, construct curbs and gutters for storm water control, and provide pedestrian pathways. The total project length is approximately 1.1 miles and follows the existing horizontal alignment of Mt. Tabor Road from Grant Line Road to Charlestown Road. 

At the Klerner Lane and Mt. Tabor Road intersection, a four -way stop controlled intersection was proposed. As part of the final design, the four way stop controlled intersection was revised to a signal controlled intersection, based on a formal Traffic Signal Warrant Study and Capacity Analysis that was completed. 

In addition, as part of the final design the project limits were revised to more closely match the allocated construction funding. Final plans were developed to reconstruct Mt Tabor Road from Grant Line Road to approximately 200 feet past the proposed signalized intersection with Klerner Lane (Project 1). The remainder of the project from 200 feet past Klerner Lane to Charlestown Road is now anticipated to be constructed in a future project (Project 2). 

Written comments will be accepted at the public information meeting and for seven (7) days after the public information meeting is held. Representatives from the engineering design firm, Beam, Longest and Neff, LLC, will be available to address questions. In accordance with the "Americans With Disabilities Act", if you have a disability for which the City of New Albany needs to provide accommodations, please call Mr. Brian Shaw, of Beam, Longest and Neff, LLC at (317) 849-5832, or send an email to bshaw@b-l-n.com by December 29, 2017. 

Egg meets Pinocchio Rosenbarger's scowling visage as city delays Mt. Tabor clear-cutting until January 3.

It seems that concerned parties failed to receive their warnings, and Pinocchio neglected to satisfy INDOT.

Looking at the bright side, the delay will allow the propaganda commissariat to ejaculate another round of SEE HOW CHAINSAWS HELP US SAVE THE URBAN TREE CANOPY, or as it is known at the Roadhouse, "Do that sweet Husqvarna to me, Daddy Geppetto."

See posts with label Mt. Tabor Road Restoration and Pedestrian Safety Project.

As condescending as ever, Pinocchio Rosenbarger presumptuously alters Mt. Tabor-Klerner intersection plans, is called out by INDOT, and blames everyone except himself.

Previously: Since 2013 (and before), the Mt. Tabor Road beak-wetting boondoggle is a large millstone hung around Jeff Gahan's neck. Mayor overboard?

Stop me if you've heard this one before: City Hall unresponsive.

Great work, Scott Whalen. The Green Mouse believe that when it comes to the mayor's list of enemies, you're number two with a bullet.

INDOT tells New Albany officials Mt. Tabor Road project change requires more public input, by Elizabeth Beilman

City officials intend to build signalized intersection

NEW ALBANY — The city of New Albany must seek additional public involvement before it can move forward with reconstruction of Mount Tabor Road — something for which a handful of residents have been asking for about a year.

Last year, city officials changed the plans for the intersection of Mount Tabor Road and Klerner Lane from a four-way stop to a signalized intersection with turning lanes. The project will result in an entirely reconstructed 1-mile portion of the cracking road as well as new sidewalks.

Because the project is federally funded, the city must follow the National Environmental Policy Act. According to Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Manning, the approved environmental document shows the project will involve a four-way stop, which is what exists now.

INDOT reviewed documents submitted by the consultant at the request of Mount Tabor Road and Klerner Lane residents. State officials discovered that while the city changed the intersection design, the NEPA documents don't reflect this change.

"I feel vindicated," said Scott Whalen, who lives on the corner of Mount Tabor Road and Klerner Lane. "I've been saying this all along throughout the process, there's been no finished plans available, nothing formal that is saying it's changed to a signalized intersection with turn lanes" ...

Council frivolity, slice of the second part: "Gahan Cares More About Concrete Than People."

Thanks to Mr. B for these photos.

John Rosenbarger sat at his desk. Outside his door, the clamor of the peasantry could be heard amid the clatter of pitchforks.

He spat, then threw back his last shot of fiery sarsaparilla.

“The grandeur of my physique, the complexity of my worldview, the decency and taste implicit in my carriage, the grace with which I function in the mire of today’s world – all of these at once confuse and astound the buffoons at Mt. Tabor and Klerner Lane."

Rosenbarger gazed at his reflection in the framed portrait of Robert Moses.

"But Jeffie's got my back, bro."

New Albany residents concerned road construction will lead to more flooding; Council passes resolution to support NAFC Schools referendum

NEW ALBANY — Residents in neighborhoods near Silver Slate Creek have concerns that upcoming road construction will make flooding issues much worse.

Nearly 20 New Albany residents turned out at the New Albany City Council meeting Thursday to voice their concerns over a project that will widen Mount Tabor Road. New storm grates would mean drainage would go directly into the creek in the residential area.

Harvey Hamilton, who lives on Creek View Circle just in front of the creek, said he's been there 34 years and only started seeing issues four to five years ago.

“Silver Slate Creek starts right behind our house,” he said. “There's about a six or eight-foot pipe there that dumps where the creek starts. Now we've had five trees that have lost roots and washed across the creek. The cable people and the electric people moved their boxes up on the street.

“We're losing ground and losing trees. We appreciate anything you can do for us.”

For one resident, Team Gahan's congenital secretiveness has made the problem worse.

“It was my knowledge that plans for such projects have to be public, located somewhere within the county building where people who were affected could come and take a look at them and to my knowledge these people have said they've had trouble locating said plans."

6th district councilman Scott Blair, who helped the neighborhood slay the nasty Rosenbarger Roundabout back in '13, assured his constituents that he'd sponsor an openness resolution in council -- though he'll need to consult his Mutable Principles Book to see whether he can vote in favor of his own idea.

(Blair) wants to initiate a public meeting with the project engineers to keep the people updated on any changes that have been made and to refresh anyone's memory on the project that was initiated three years ago.

Bankers; you can't trust 'em, and even North Korea won't take 'em off your hands.

Unsurprisingly, the CoffeyCopperHead did not hesitate to strike: That hi-falootin' wee-fee dunnit.

“I still go back to $600,000 for WiFi for downtown. How far would that go to help this problem and that only goes to benefit very few people.”

Yes, "them people" again.

The summary:

The roundabout was removed from the plan in 2013, and the sidewalks are needed, but not unless the overall intent is narrowing lane widths and slowing traffic. These people rightly fear that road "improvements" will attract further traffic and make their drainage issues even worse. It's hard to argue against this point of view, but Jeff Gahan -- perhaps NA's least communicative mayor ever -- doesn't even try.

Hence the signs, and the pitchforks. If only we'd start using the latter.

(Part One)