The Jeff Gahan Money Machine, Part 3: Eight-year donor Terry Ginkins and a consistency of beak-wetting.

Previously: The Jeff Gahan Money Machine, Part 2: Of fire stations, amphitheater studies and Axis Architecture and Interiors of Indianapolis.

Some people watch ballgames for fun, but during the coming weeks we'll be plucking highlights from eight years of the Committee to Elect Gahan's CFA-4 campaign finance reports. Strap in, folks -- and don't forget those air(head) sickness bags.

From 2011 through 2018 Terry Ginkins (T.A. Ginkins Construction Company LLC) contributed $8,525 to Jeff Gahan's campaign finance larder. He's one of the few Gahan "old reliables" to have maintained a perfect record, donating all eight years.

Coincidentally Ginkins has gotten contracts from numerous city departments. In 2014, Redevelopment Commission minutes show these two projects; curiously, T.A. Ginkins was the only bidder. Another coincidence?

The Binford Park work was part of the $19.6 million parks buildout/TIF bonanza.

And Board of Works claims in 2014 and 2015.

And two 2017 entries from the Sewer Board claims docket.

Back to the Board of Works in 2017. These "subdivision entry" upgrades were a pet project of then-redevelopment chieftain Duggins, presumably to be pre-determined at the Roadhouse over a light lunch before approval at BOW.

Apr 11 2017: "The (Board of Works) approved a $29,000 contract for T.A. Ginkins Co. to replace the Watkins Prairie entrance way. The city will continue to replace subdivision markers this year.

January 10 2018: "The New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety approved a proposal from T.A. Ginkins Company LLC Tuesday to improve the median landscape and lighting on Shelby Place. The plan, which is for $39,447, calls for the removal of existing trees and shrubs which already has taken place and to install new landscaping."

Well, we know what they say about icebergs. It's probably reasonable to suggest that Ginkins' specialty over the years has been to put his company in place for smaller projects like these, presumably ones (a) easier to rig, or just as likely (b) far under the radar for those larger contractors with economies of scale, eyeing bigger paydays. 

Let's close by conceding this much: at least in Terry Ginkins' instance, the business is indisputably local, and not one located in Indy or Lexington KY.

For Deaf Gahan, that's a rarity. He really believes these special interests love him for who he is -- as opposed for what he allows them to take.

Rebuttals are welcome and will be published unaltered -- so don't forget spellcheck. If you have supplementary information to offer about any of this, please let us know and we'll update the page. The preceding was gleaned entirely from public records, with the addresses of "individuals" removed.

Next: The Jeff Gahan Money Machine, Part 4: The Estopinol Group and Cripe Architects are just two facets of River Run Waterpark's fertilizing effect.

Post-clearcutting cycle of nourishment: "Shelby Place median in New Albany to get facelift."

Just one Gahan campaign donation from 2015.

2016 Democratic visionaries.

"It looks like Shelby Place soon will be getting a facelift."

Not a probing question asked, not a spade of earth disturbed. Just take their word for it, and move on. Steady rivulets under the radar are how beaks come to be wetted, but it's nothing to a journalist, right?

Fourth Estate?

Let me know if you spot it. It's been missing so long that I fear the worst.

Shelby Place median in New Albany to get facelift, by Chris Morris (Stenographers of the World Unite)

The New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety approved a proposal from T.A. Ginkins Company LLC Tuesday to improve the median landscape and lighting on Shelby.

The plan, which is for $39,447, calls for the removal of existing trees and shrubs which already has taken place and to install new landscaping. The proposal is for new trees, shrubs, soil and brick chips, which was submitted to the city by Grantline Garden Center last July. New lighting and posts will also be added to the median which separates both lanes of the street.

A brick/stone entrance wall facing Vincennes Street, engraved with Shelby Place, also will be installed.

"This will make it 100 percent better. The neighbors are behind the project," City Controller Linda Moeller told the board after reading the proposal.

Terry Ginkins said the planting of the new landscaping, which will be done by Grantline Garden Center, is weather related. He said the entrance will also include an historic designation marker.

"It's going to be a nice little project," Ginkins said. "I think it will look good, but it's right across from New Albany High School so it should look good. A lot of people visit the school."

Your turn, Shelby Place: City Hall's insatiable Husqvarna envy claims a few more trees before year's end.

ASK THE BORED: A footnote about wetted beaks.

An an addendum to the historical record, we see David Duggins discussing a subdivision marker (huh?) improvement contract with the Board of Public Works on Tuesday, April 11.

At roughly the same time, Ginkins was being appointed to the New Albany Housing Authority board in preparation for Jeff Gahan's annexation.

I'll just leave this here for posterity's perusal.

With hilarity, #OurNA: Now Democratic donor Ginkins is added to Gahan's NA housing authority yes-board of lickspittles ... but is Riverside Terrace off the demolition schedule?

Ever since Susan Ryan's column was published in the Jeffersonville newspaper, prominent local Democrats have been even more deathly silent than usual.

It's #OurNA, all right: "New Albany attempting to purge itself of the poor" ... so, are local Democrats finally catching on to the Gahan shell game?

"To tear down someone’s home then send them off with a voucher hoping they will move to another city as was expressed publicly, is just plain cynical and cruel. There is already a waiting list for voucher approved housing. If we cannot accommodate everyone on that list, why would we add several hundred families to that list?"

The Green Mouse reports that uber-important, highly-placed Democratic donor and local contractor Terry Ginkins (they're all coincidental, mind you) has been placed on the New Albany Housing Authority (NAHA) board to further ensure a "favorable" outcome for Jeff Gahan's "screw the poor" NAHA putsch.

At the same time, the Green Mouse has been told that all isn't peachy keen with the mayor's war on those unsightly folks who stand in the path of luxury.

Hired gun consultant Rod Solomon evidently has been redlining the city's demolition wish list, with certain Redevelopment Commission members named Irving Joshua responding by huffing, puffing and threatening to ... to do what, exactly?

Hold his breath until the pool opens?

According to a source, among the sites removed from the bulldozer target list is Riverside Terrace. Solomon allegedly pointed out that David Duggins' tagging of the area as "brownfield" was ludicrous, and federal criteria for demolition could not be met.

"Theater of the absurd" seldom gets better than this.

Gahan artlessly lied to the newspaper when pleading ignorance about months passing without necessary board housing board appointments being made. Duggins (performing Mr. Spock on acid to Gahan's reverse James T. Kirk) and the mayor were informed several times, but waited for the propitious moment to pack the board for putsch duty.

There still isn't a resident commissioner, a position intended as liaison between board and tenants. City Hall has delayed constantly in making this appointment.

Pathetically, a mayor unwilling to dirty his hands with public housing is allowing minions like Duggins, a Clark County resident, to run interference for him.

The newspaper interview with Duggins – "who came off crowing like he just negotiated the Marshall Plan"* – unsurprisingly alarmed both residents and staff. Many attended the NAHA board meeting following publication and expressed questions and concerns, which Duggins brushed aside with his usual frat boy condescension.

Yo, local Democrats: Still feeling good about your commitment to social justice? Still delusional about Gahan's embrace of the same?

Isn't one Trump at a time enough?

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* What makes this statement so funny is that Team Gahan doesn't know what the Marshall Plan was. Let's put it this way: Gahan isn't Harry Truman, is he?