Council Obfuscapalooza, Part Two: McLaughlin votes "no" and "yes" on identical TIF resolutions, and Price abuses a sausage patty.

This is the second installment of my notes from last night's council conclave, or as we like to think of it, the coverage you don't get from newspapers.

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INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: READING

R-09-20 Resolution of the City of New Albany Approving an Amendatory Declaratory Resolution and Economic Development Plan of the Redevelopment Commission Of the City of New Albany, Indiana, and Approving An Order of the New Albany City Plan Commission (State Street Parking Garage TIF)

Carl Malysz: This is about folding the Coyle automotive property into the existing State Street TIF so action can be taken (and some bills paid) toward potential future uses. Many discussions already are under way with county and city officials and various boards, etc., about making this area the future governmental complex. Yes, he identifies the property as something “we want to acquire.”

Coffey: Does the resolution include a “million bucks” for acquisition?

Malysz: No, it would still have to be negotiated, and any such move vetted in the future.

Coffey and Diane Benedetti now exchange accusations about who didn’t call the other back. Benedetti seems to be trying to call Coffey out for being “for” this while on redevelopment, and now “against” it after Coffey realized it might actually be good for the city.

Coffey: Says he got “out of it” after it quit being about a flat, clean property.

Coffey: Heck, the Coyles themselves will do the environmental remediation study cheaper than Redevelopment can do it.

Malasz: That’s nice, but maybe we’d prefer professionals to do it for a few dollars more.

Note here that every time Coffey speaks, he is doing so out of turn because as the council’s president, he is supposed to pass the gavel to the vice president before taking part in a discussion. Again tonight, the other council members will tolerate it this, presumably under the only defense they have for their own behavior: We got elected, and you didn’t. Also, know that Benedetti is the council’s vice-president.

Malysz: New facts are relevant. The Coyles indicated a renegotiation of sales terms after it became evident there are brownfield concerns. They might do the clean-up to facilitate the sale; this conversation is still going on. There is a meeting with the Coyles and the governmental committee next week.

Steve Price: “It’s yeralls desire to sit the city services building at the Coyle site?”

Malysz: Well, recall that the idea for the project came to the mayor from members of the city council. It did not originate at City Hall, although most involved feel it’s a good idea for every conceivable government official to be part of the thinking process. In fact, when Coffey was still on Redevelopment – back when he was for acquisition – he suggested that redevelopment had the money to pursue it.

Price: John “Rosenburger” … said … my question is … “have you looked at the cost effectiveness” of the project … Gonder is still for it if it gets torn down first?
It is Rosenbarger. Steve seems to feel that he has no obligation to extend courtesy to people by prouncing names correctly. That's simply buffoonish. I’m not exaggerating when trying to convey Price’s streams of consciousness. They’re genuinely hard to transcribe. Insensibility often is that way.

Malysz: To reiterate, Coffey was the one responsible for Redevelopment’s decision to use TIF money.

Malysz and Benedetti now agree aloud that Coffey was for it, and Coffey violates council protocol by arguing with them, wagging his finger, and trying to bully all those within earshot.

Messer: (Exasperated) We’re actually not considering any of these things. We’re considering an inclusion within an expanded TIF zone no matter what ends up happening there I the future, right?

Gonder: Whomsoever acquires the property will put money back into TIF, right?

Malysz: If cleaned up, or “cleared,” or the buildings are reused, the site increases in value and money goes into the TIF zone.

Gonder: So it isn’t a domino falling for inevitable city ownership?

Price: Our TIFS are too large, and we have too many of them.

Messer: We have them because “TIF areas … keep money in house” for schools and such.

Price: But Indy says we have too many TIFS! Other cities laughed at New Albany, according to saintly former councilman Schmidt, who jsed to attend all them meetings up north.

They may have been laughing at the Max Patkin signaling, Steve.

Malysz: That argument is false. We have numbers to prove it.

Price does not ask to see numbers he doesn’t understand.

Benedetti: At the instructional workshop we attended, the state man said we need to increase our TIF areas and finalize them before they are soon ended.

Coffey: He said, if we’re going to expand it, now’s the time. Doesn’t mean we have to do it.

Jeff Gahan: “What’s so attractive about this partial?”

Partial what? Parcel?

Messer: It isn’t what we’re voting on … but okay, it’s over three acres of prime development ground in the middle of the city, and a valuable piece of property, and we want to capture the taxes from whomever goes in there to help other needs down the line.

Coffey: But if it will be a government building, there’s no tax revenue.

Messer: That’s putting the cart before the horse.

The funny thing about this is that if Coffey wants to make sure there’s no city county building there, he should be supporting the resolution, which makes more sense if the property is NOT used for a government building. But it isn’t about the facts with Coffey. It’s about being against those pergessives who are for it.

Benedetti: (Doggedly pursuing the president) Dan, you said at redevelopment to get the Coyle property in a TIF, didn’t you?

Coffey: Never said that. “I find it tiring” that the city and redevelopment “uses taxpayers for studies on private property.”

Benedetti: But you were in agreement!

Coffey: If Coyle brings the property in “free and clear” with no buildings on it … I’m in. If we leave the building to redo it somehow, no, because that’s just “way more expensive.”

McLaughlin: If this is just about expanding the TIF area, why do we keep talking about the building?

Price: Here’s why – I heard Scott Wood tell someone something that indicated that. He was on the phone.

Malysz: The immediate need is to clean up the accounts so that there are TIF funds to finance the acquisition if and when that time comes. We’re not asking for EDIT funds to buy it.

Gonder: State Street TIF boundaries?

Malysz: Sketches it out. Classic downtown area.

Coffey continually violates protocol again to make his point that the building should not be rehabbed, and if there’s any hint that rehabbing is what his enemies desire, then he’s against doing anything at all in the hope that the next hurricane will knock it down and he can pick through the rubble for rags.

Vote taken.

For: Benedetti, Gonder, Messer, Zurschmiede
Against: Price, Coffey, Caesar, McLaughlin, Gahan

Coffey is the deciding vote against, making the tally 5-4.

R-09-21 Resolution of the City of New Albany Approving an Amendatory Declaratory Resolution and Economic Development Plan of the Redevelopment Commission Of the City of New Albany, Indiana, and Approving An Order of the New Albany City Plan Commission (Old Monon Corridor TIF) … Benedetti

Coffey: Wanna describe it, Carl?

Malysz: Well, it’s the same as the one you just voted against, so it will be interesting to see what you do on this one. It is about the city’s desire to rehab the degraded Hoosier Panel property.

Price: Goes off on a tangent about council members sitting or not sitting on various boards. These boards are appointed, they aren’t elected, and they cannot be trusted. If a council person sits on one of them, that council person can not be trusted to bring the information back to council.

It's a conspiracy, even when directed by himself against himself. TWANG. Price directs a snotty remark to Malysz about the first resolution being defeated, along the lines of nah nah nah nah, and even Coffey is compelled to rebuke his own ventriloquist’s dummy. Price is on edge tonight, spoiling to spoil things.

Benedetti: This one also originated with Coffey when he was on redevelopment.

Copperhead Coffey commences to caterwaul.

Coffey: Why do we want to purchase a property that is corruptefjgkhfkhkdfh …

Sorry, I was taking photos of Coffey while he violated protocol by speaking from the president’s chair. In essence, Coffey says he did what he did then because he had to do it, and now “they’ve” changed everything and he can’t do it.

Malysz: Disputes Coffey’s assertions (made during another violation of protocol) that the EPA has money to spend on remediation.

Vote taken:

For: Benedetti, Gonder, Messer, Zurschmiede, McLaughlin
Against: Price, Coffey, Caesar, Gahan

That’s right – Blevins … oops, I mean McLaughlin … unceremoniously flips, utterly without coherent explanation. That’s a surprise. But wait: The old Hoosier Panel building is in McLaughlin’s own district, and the Coyle building isn’t. Sad. Sad indeed. As with Donnie Blevins before him, McLaughlin apprarently has no core beliefs upon which to derive consistency in his decision making process. Two proposals, same basic argument – one time for it, one time against. Can we really say that he’s been an improvement over King Larry?

Council Obfuscapalooza, Part One: Rote recitations through CF1 Forms.

In the ongoing absence of live blogging capability, which I'm assured is being examined by the city's IT man, notes from the September 17 meeting now begin. This is part one.

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Them people, them same words every other week.

THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CIVIL CITY OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, WILL HOLD A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IN THE THIRD FLOOR ASSEMBLY ROOM OF THE CITY/COUNTY BUILDING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 AT 7:30 P.M.

As we await the beginning of the meeting, we see CM Coffey urgently petitioning fellow councilman Kevin Zurschmiede in the corridor. Talk about a nasty appetizer.

CALL TO ORDER:
Are they ever in order?

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Pledge led by high school kids, who surely don’t realize what’s about to happen. Not democracy in action, but cowardocracy?

ROLL CALL:
All present – even the dead ones, which begs the question: How does one distinguish?

APPROVAL OR CORRECTION OF THE FOLLOWING MINUTES:
Next time, says the city clerk. Not ready this time.

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC:
1. Billy Stewart … political chieftain from Georgetown tribe. Speaks about what is fair for the city and the town and urges passage of the sewer ordinance

COMMUNICATIONS – CITY OFFICIALS:
John Gonder leads off. He has been talking with the Animal Shelter about a bad strain of rabies coming from the East. He wants to know how to commence a request for $3,000 (county to match it) for rabies vaccines for the shelter’s staff. Gonder doesn’t know how to proceed but believes the expenditure is worthwhile. Gives breakdown of the vaccine schedule and costs in response to Pat McLaughlin’s question. Coffey says: Ask Kay Garry. He seems to think that the shots are post-infection, not vaccination.

Coffey also will check to see if any shelter staff might be linked to progressive factions, and if so, change his vote to “hell no.”

McLaughlin: Still a pressing issue of unsightly drainage from garbage trucks, which was brought up two times ago by Mr. Berryman, who Coffey stage-managed ahead of the queue in violation of council protocol as the others sat on their hands and permitted it.

McLaughlin now reports on similar incidents in his district, and everyone merrily ignores the Board of Public Works. Jack Messer says that he was told that “leaky hydraulics” are the culprit. Overwhelmed by larger issues, McLaughlin seems increasingly content to micro-focus on inanity.

COMMUNICATIONS – MAYOR:
Mayor England not present. He is preparing for neck surgery.

APPOINTMENTS:
None to botch.

APPROVAL OF CF-1 FORMS:
None.

At 7:40, ordinances begin. Ye Gods … that’s fast.

Still being blockaded.

No live blogging tonight. Some day, the city's IT guy will answer my e-mail. Until then ... Friday morning coverage.

Today's Tribune column: "The Ballad of Mortimer Snerd" -- but wait! Read now and receive a free council meeting preview!

Well the E.P.A.'s got a chopper in the air
I wake up screaming like I'm back down there
I learned a thing or two from King Larry don't you know
You better stay away from Copperhead Road
-- with profound apologies to Steve Earle

It's back to the council chambers tonight for the second of two September exercises in underachievement. Indeed, it looks like the beatings will continue until morale improves, and if you're an inveterate masochist like me, you'll be there at 7:30 p.m. as the Coffey Youth leads the crowd in various paeans to flags, deities and barbecued bologna.

For the official program, go here. For the newspaper preview and my column today, keep reading -- and remember, progressive pints before council makes a man healthy, stealthy and suitably benumbed.

G’town hoping New Albany council says yes to sewer deal tonight; Still no vote set for possible Coyle property purchase, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

“I want to see everything in black and white where what’s on paper cannot be construed to be something else,” Coffey said. “Something [Georgetown] agrees to and everyone else. That’s not been happening.”

It's tremendously ironic that Coffey chooses the underlined word in these comments. I used it in today's column, too, and we didn't even discuss it first.

BAYLOR: The Ballad of Mortimer Snerd

But it was only the newspaper. Seems that a rumor was going around that City Hall might again try to put ordinance enforcement on the front burner — and what did Cappuccino think about that?

“Like I’ve said before, when it comes to the law, we have to be extra careful to avoid things that might be conscrewed as discriminatory. There’s a higher principle involved for these fine, tee-totaling, church-going, taxpaying folks who’ve made Westendia — I mean, New Albany — their homes. They have a right to expect a certain level of respect for their lifestyles.”

How's that for irony?

Wick's has an ATC hearing and will open on October 7 ... and an excellent LEO review for the Windsor.

According to the legal notices in Tuesday's Tribune, the owners of Wick's have a spot on the agenda during the next local alcoholic beverage board meeting on Tuesday, October 6.

HD2226179 RETAILER - BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR NEW STATE STREET WICKS LLC, 225 STATE ST, NEW ALBANY D/B/A WICKS PIZZA & PUB

I'd have predicted an October 7 opening date, but the newspaper's Daniel Suddeath beat me to it on Twitter earlier this evening.

In other downtown news, the Windsor Restaurant and Garden scored a great review by veteran food writer Robin Garr in Wednesday's LEO Weekly.

Young co-chefs Justin McMillen and Cory Cuff were barely old enough to legally sample their own wine list when the classy dining room and bar, with its lovable New Orleans-style patio, reopened in the old New Albany Inn last year.

Their style belies their age, with a sophisticated and consistently well-prepared evening menu and a fine, simpler set of soup, salad and sandwiches at the noonday hour.

It’s well worth the trip, even for Hoosier-wary Kentuckians.

Finally, it appears that Liquidz, a bar projected for Main Street, is not to be. I learned Wednesday night that the prospective operators have been unable to secure financing, and the sign pictured here back in June is gone. According to the rumorama, the plan had been to ask for permission to paint the building flagrant purple and open a gay bar. Maybe some day.

Previously at NAC: Toast on Market sez: Open September 29.

Playing it coy this time. Read between the lines. Nudge, nudge -- wink, wink.

336 Pearl Street is the former home of Treasure Mine Mall, and for many years before that, the Fashion Shop.

We were walking past it one night last week and stopped to chat with the nice folks who were busily working on preliminary cleaning, with plans to use it the space, hopefully soon.

I'm hesitant to make this a matter of public record for fear of jinxing the project. All I'll ask is this: Are any readers interested in the best Mexican food in the area being available in the heart of downtown?

(photo courtesy of the Hoagland real estate firm)

Kozarovich tackles anonymity in today's "Jeer," while somewhere, a dog barks and Erika sharpens a crayon.

The Tribune's publisher comes down hard on anonymity, and doubtless will receive an anonymous letter or two in return.

TRIBUNE CHEERS & JEERS: Sept. 16, 2009

... My initial reaction was to toss it in the trash with the direct mail ads. But I stopped because in addition to it being futile and infantile I also view it as a needless affront to the principles of America, the land of Free Speech. Don't’ be afraid to say what you have to say. Take responsibility for your actions — and your words.

Uncouncilman Price abstains as Plan Commission overwhelmingly recommends riverfront redevelopment plan.

Considering the fact that the riverfront redevelopment plan described below has been considered by both the redevelopment and plan commissions, and that council persons are assigned to sit on both, isn't it the case that council president Dan Coffey's twaddling about not being informed of it is disingenuous even by his colossal standards of dishonesty?

At any rate, attendee Dan Chandler left the following comment on yesterday's post, "Plan Commission considers the riverfront redvelopment masterplan tonight," and it seems the ideal response to my request for readers to provide coverage of a meeting I couldn't attend. The Wet Knob, was good, though.

Tonight was just a vote by planning commission to recommend to council. This is a land use plan. It's only a tweaking of the existing comprehensive plan with regard to an area along the levee. It is not, nor would be an affirmative vote by the council, be authorization to fund a parking garage/plaza that is envisioned as a part of the plan. The financing needed to implement the plan, except as noted below, was not discussed tonight.

There were maybe 70 people in the audience. Architect Larry Timperman, who developed the land use plan, gave a brief description. Next, Jack Bobo’s architect Mose Putney described the $30M Bobo project. Mose noted that they had a potential tenant interested in taking 80,000 square feet.

In all, there were maybe 5 speakers, each of whom only took a few minutes. Mike Kopp spoke, noting that if he had 10,000 square feet of leasable space, a woman’s apparel retailer from Chicago would move in tomorrow, but that space currently is not available. If these developments took place, that space would be available. Carl Malysz told the commission that the plan has the Mayor’s full support.

There were only a couple questions from the commission. One member asked for clarification on the “high rise” portion of the plan. Steve Price asked Carl if this was the time to discuss costs. Carl estimated the public costs of the parking garage roughly at $12M (800 parking spaced at $15,000/ea.). He noted that if Bobo’s project and the New Horizons project both went in, there would be $70M in direct private investment from those two projects alone. How the $12M would be financed was not discussed (TIF, etc.). Price did not ask a follow-up question.

At one point, a speaker asked for a show of hands of those in favor of the project and virtually everyone in the audience raised his or her hand. No one spoke in opposition to the plan.

The commission voted in favor of recommending the plan to the common council. All votes were in favor, except for Steve Price who abstained. No one voted against.

The commission moved to the next topic and virtually the entire audience exited the meeting.

8664's Tyler Allen announces his candidacy for Mayor of Louisville Metro.

This not unexpected announcement comes to us from the 8664.org mailing list. Tyler becomes the only Louisville mayoral candidate whose number is saved in my cell phone's memory.

One sentence strikes me: "(We have) painted a bold vision for a better solution. Unfortunately, we have also been thwarted in our attempts to get a true conversation started." There's something very close to home about that.

Dear 8664 Supporter,

I wanted you to be among the first to know that I will be stepping aside at 8664.org and announcing tomorrow that I will be a candidate for Mayor of Louisville Metro. I leave 8664.org in the able hands of co-founder JC Stites and a committed advisory board who I would like to thank sincerely for their unwavering support of this critical issue.

These last four years have been an interesting time for our movement. We have raised awareness of the ill-conceived downtown portion of the Ohio River Bridges Project and painted a bold vision for a better solution. Unfortunately, we have also been thwarted in our attempts to get a true conversation started. Even as recently as this summer when it appeared that our Metro Council would be positioned to hold such a conversation, powerful interests seemed to influence them to rubber stamp a new unelected Tolling Authority that will keep this process away from the public.

My experience with 8664 is one of the primary reasons I have decided to seek elected office. It has taught me that many of the most important issues facing this community are deeply connected and the solutions require creativity and commitment. I intend to bring to government the same vision and passion that are fundamental to 8664.

As I move on to a new campaign, be assured that my commitment to 8664 and the vision it represents for the future of this great city will be as strong as ever. As the campaign takes shape, you can learn more about me and take part in the conversation about other issues critical to this city and region at http://www.tyler4mayor.com/.

I look forward to seeing many of you in the months to come. Take care and thank you for your commitment to 8664.

Peace, Tyler

Plan Commission considers the riverfront redvelopment masterplan tonight.

I'd love to attend this plan commission meeting, but it simply can't be done. NABC has a visiting dignitary coming today, and it's also the release of this year's Wet Knob Hop Harvest Ale, celebrating the founding hop farming mothers and fathers in Floyds Knobs.

In other words, beer drinking duty calls. Any available pinch-hitters? Professor Erika has already published her response: Don't you take my cigarettes away, Doug England..

New Albany hopes planning makes perfect; Public hearing on New Albany’s downtown masterplan is Tuesday night, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

It’s been kicked around development and city staff circles, but today will be the first time the public will have the opportunity to weigh-in on New Albany’s Scribner Place phase two plan.

It’s a blueprint designed to steer the city’s future development from East Sixth Street west to the Sherman Minton Bridge. Potential investors, city planners and organizations such as Develop New Albany have been involved in formulating the plan, and the measure was approved by the city’s Redevelopment Commission in July.

The Plan Commission gets its shot at the masterplan at 7 tonight in the third-floor Assembly Room of the City-County Building. A hearing will precede the vote, allowing residents to state their concerns or ideas.

It's one option, but ...

... I hope Cappuccino didn't use a novelty lighter. That's illegal.

Toast on Market sez: Open September 29.

The good news is that Toast on Market will be open soon. The bad news is that I (still) can't take good photos.

The sign says: "Open September 29, 7:00 a.m." That's a Tuesday.

There is a phone number to call for those interested in employment: "Apply within 9 am - 2 pm, or call 812-941-8582."

The hours are just barely visible to the left on the door: Closed Monday, open 7:00 a.m. otherwise from Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

I haven't heard any recently updated scoops on Wick's Pizza, to be located in the building that formerly housed the Speakeasy, although my assumption is a first Tuesday of October date with the state's alcohol regulatory authorities and an opening soon thereafter.

Better hurry, before Papa Cappuccino does the copperhead shake and takes away the riverfront development district. Perhaps he plans on swapping it for an autioneer's license.

Tribune editorials address downtown development and the new Spring Street bike lane.

Two Sunday Tribune editorials for the price of one:

• TRIBUNE EDITORIAL: Keep downtown menu diverse; many businesses but one message

• TRIBUNE EDITORIAL: The beginning of a beautiful bike ride

Not exactly groundbreaking stuff, but there are useful points in both pieces.

As for the first, a unified promotional effort definitely is needed downtown, as is some way to gently push some of the longtimers into grasping the utility of traveling to the next level in the sense of uncovered windows, upstairs living and (perhaps not so gently) the use of their buildings according to code.

With regard to bike lanes, the editorial team asks some very good questions. It still isn't clear how the southern-side Spring Street lane is meant to be used, and given that lately my primary issues as an everyday cyclist have had to do with other cyclists, it is the city's obligation to make a statement of principle addressing bike use overall.

Gotta go - time for a ride. Thursday's column already is finished, the Wizard isn't going to like it, and knowing this gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

Nation's capital invaded by transgendered academics.

Professor Erika intended to blog "live" from the Flat Earther teabagging in DC, but she couldn't find a rotary dial phone to attach string to.

Yes, I ended it with a preposition. File a restraining order against me if you don't like it.

A wonderful day: Historic Home Tour and snacks afterward.

My wife Diana's friend, Amy, has been looking for a house to buy here in New Albany. She met us at the house this morning around 10:30 a.m., and we promptly embarked on the historic homes crawl. It was time well spent, although I'll leave the photos to someone more talented than me. Ted?

The three of us began by walking to the Farmers Market to register and receive our maps, then adjourned to the new apartments above Studio's.

The firehouse on State was to be saved until last, so we continued on foot: East on Main, north on 13th to the church, Cardinal Ritter house and Cedar Bough, then east again to complete a loop that included properties on Ekin, Elm and Spring.

The Sears Roebuck catalog house on Ekin opposite the national cemetery will be remembered as the find of the day. $4,398 in 1928, and quite well planned and executed. Amazing stuff, indeed.

We strolled back to the 1117 East Spring Street Neighborhood Association and took the car to the firehouse before ending at River City Winery to redeem the tasting tickets included in the tour programs and to relax with appetizers and wine.

It was our first chance to try the hummus, crabcakes and chees plate at RCW, and all were good. The crabcakes may well become a signature dish, as are Chef Josh's scallops at Bank Street Brewhouse, which were Friday night's dinner prior to the Carnegie Center fundraiser:

(Gotta give props to my man, too)

The Carnegie fundraiser seemed quite successful, and we had a great night at BSB. The atmosphere was laid back but festive on Bank Street last night.

The evidence is beginning to accumulate that a corner has been turned. The only point of dissonance I heard in the past 48 hours was a rumor that an unnamed councilperson would be seeking to overturn the riverfront development ordinance approved by the previous council -- the one that makes possible the three-way alcohol permits prefacing several downtown start-ups.

Why would anyone so much as contemplate killing the goose that continues laying golden bureaucratic permission slips? Is it because there might be too many bars downtown?

Or is it because there's too much progress downtown?

And: When is the last time progress was even an issue?

If the rumor is true, I hope it's Steve Price. Any further effort of his to squelch economic growth within his own council district should be sufficient for us to purchase a few garlic-encrusted coffin nails come 2011.

"Music on the New Albany Riverfront tonight" and Historic Home Tour tomorrow.

Submitted.

NASH: "Maybe Coffey is the problem."

SPOILER WARNING: The mirror would crack.

Matt has been a wonderful addition to the Tribune's guest columnist roster, but don't take my word for it. Just consider the many anonymous threats (likely emanating from one or two poison pens) to "drop my subscription" because of writers like Matt, and you'll see just how effective his pieces have been in promoting discussion.

In many ways, Matt has it worse than me when it comes to rocking the world of New Albany's entrenched obstructionists. After all, I'm an "outsider," having been raised a whopping eight miles away in Georgetown before moving to New Albany 17 years ago. Matt is under closer scrutiny from the mad-as-hell wannabeens because his is a local political family, and to some, primarily Democrats of the "In Name Only Sans Any Discernable Coherence Whatsoever" variety, he quite simply is a traitor to his political class.

So, to repeat: If "King Larry" Kochert is against you, you have the luxury of knowing that your position is probably viable, sane and representative of thought, not biochemical processes approximating habitable brain plains.

And, consider my own two choices next Thursday: Go to the Public House, drink progressive pints, and attend the second gathering of the Louisville Area Skeptics, or go to the city council meeting, remain bone dry, and watch Dan Coffey make a mockery of law while his seatmates yawn.

I'm a masochist ... and a working journalist, to boot.

Does that give you a clue as to my probable choice?

Take it away, Matt. And thanks.

NASH: Maybe Coffey is the problem

When I decided that I would try to write this column for The Tribune a few months back, I had in mind a few things I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to have fun, I wanted to entertain and I hoped that we could all learn something from what I had to say. It was never my intention to become part of the story. That all changed drastically on Aug. 20 when I decided to attend a New Albany City Council meeting ...

... As I was leaving Mr. Coffey cited “the rules” for not allowing me to speak. What are these rules that he speaks of? Why are only people he disagrees with subject to these rules? Why are his supporters and district constituents given special exception of “the rules”? Why am I subject to his rules but he is not subject to the constitution of the State of Indiana and its rules on proper redistricting?

Say hello to the Steve Price Memorial Bike Lane: Version Two.

Say hello to the Steve Price Memorial Bike Lane.

And all it cost for this most revolutionary of acts in recently recorded New Albanian history was paint. Nickels and dime: That's what we're talking about, Steve.

Today's Tribune column: "Tempest in a tinhorn’s teapot."

Dan Coffey's encourages his council to blithely ignore Constitutional imperatives until backed against the wall, then advocates protecting seatholders first at the considerable expense of fair electoral districts. Dan Coffey deploys his council's rules of order selectively, generally for his own self-aggrandizement. Dan Coffey sees nothing wrong in using his gavel to squelch the speech of those who disagree, or in attempting to physically throttle a taxpayer at a public watering hole.

Dan Coffey hurts New Albany, not helps New Albany. But a larger question remains, and it won't go away in spite of the Wizard of Westside's eternal caterwauling, his bullying, and his political embarrassments.

Why does this council permit its name to be dragged through the mud by its "leader?"

One can only surmise that the others enjoy being dirty by association, or else they might do something about it. Can there be any other conclusion?

BAYLOR: Tempest in a tinhorn’s teapot

Malaprop theatrics like these matter because they violate the council’s own rules of order, which prohibit the president from joining in a discussion before first passing the gavel to a colleague, but because reticence would not suit Coffey’s view of the council president as ringmaster of a flea circus, he seldom observes protocol and frequently flaunts it. Apart from a solitary recent instance, his fellow councilpersons seem content to acquiesce in their workplace being governed by the ward heeler’s whim.

Wheee! Bike lanes, redistricting and commentary from the city council's A#1 barbecued bologna vendor.

Tribune reporter Daniel Suddeath returns from his holiday to the first of two big stories.

CHANGING LANES: Section of Spring Street now featuring bike paths, two lanes

Spring Street is a little bit safer for cyclists, as Mayor Doug England confirmed Wednesday bike lanes will be finished along the New Albany route this week ...

... The way it looks right now, the lane changes are confusing, City Council President Dan Coffey said. He feels the bike lanes were added to appease a certain segment of New Albany. “The mayor is going to do anything he can to help the progressives out because he figures they’re going to help get him re-elected,” Coffey said.

Suddeath then turns to story number two, an old saw back in the news:

2007 redistricting plan used for new city boundaries

A few precincts have been shuffled, but there’s still plenty of controversy surrounding a redistricting ordinance that’s being used to file New Albany’s voting boundaries.

Floyd County Clerk Linda Moeller announced the changes Wednesday, as six New Albany precincts have been moved as ordered in a December 2007 City Council ordinance. In a news release, Moeller stated the Floyd County Election Board had to request the changes through the Statewide Voter Registration System, or SVRS, in Indianapolis.

Unfortunately for Suddeath, he seems to have spent quite a lot of time on the phone with Coffey, who is capable of being just as, er, "creative" with facts when it comes to counting voters as he is when chasing bicyclists on his big blue tricycle.

“The council gave this group an opportunity, they actually drew their own map, but they had no support from the public and no support from the council,” Coffey said.

Seems to me that our Cappuccino is becoming unsettled. Wonder why?

NABC Wet Knob Hop Harvest Ale: Early release date is Tuesday, September 15.

NABC’s Wet Knob Hop Harvest Ale will return to the taps at both Grant Line (Public House & Pizzeria) and the downtown Bank Street Brewhouse on Tuesday, September 15.

This triumphant unveiling comes at least three weeks earlier than we anticipated, and therein lies a story.

Wet Knob has evolved. In 2006, NABC’s brew team of Jesse Williams and Jared Williamson formulated a recipe to be fermented with the California Common yeast normally used for Mt. Lee and Kaiser. The occasion was New Albany’s Harvest Homecoming, and specifically, the late and lamented Bistro New Albany’s parking lot gala planned for the annual local festival’s “booth days” in early October.

The beer was called Homecoming Common, and was greeted with enthusiasm.

In 2007, the NABC downtown Harvest Homecoming gig moved to Connor’s Place, and the Homecoming Common beer was brewed a second time and dispensed at the initial Connor’s location on Main Street. Again, the response was favorable.

Harvest Homecoming in 2008 offered NABC a very different set of variables. For one, we were in control of the building that was being remodeled for the Bank Street Brewhouse, and with a parking lot of our own for erecting a tent and booking music, we came up with the idea of Fringe Fest, a celebration of our own to run concurrently with the three primary “booth days” of New Albany’s civic fest.

Just as joyously, several of our employees and friends started raising hops at their farms in what we call “the Knobs,” those hills on the horizon that mark the end of the Ohio River floodplain and the beginning of the rolling terrain of the Southern Indiana uplands.

Our longtime office manager Colleen Abston and her husband Matt started Abstonia Farms, and worked at learning the hop game along with Tabbatha Elble (for many years an NABC server at Grant Line) and her husband Travis, whose property is close by the Abstons’ land.

Consequently, there was an opportunity for NABC to brew genuine “wet hop” ale using freshly harvested and unprocessed hops in the fashion of similar seasonal ales brewed for many years in hop-growing areas on the West Coast. The recipe was recalibrated for use with the house strain of London yeast, as many hops as possible from the first year’s harvest were used for aroma, the name was changed to Wet Knob Hop Harvest Ale, and it was designated as the official ale of Fringe Fest.

Now it’s 2009, and as noted, we’re ready to begin serving this year’s batch of Wet Knob a full three weeks before Fringe Fest. Why?

We’re being faithful to the fundamental concept of wet hop ale. The idea is to brew while the hop harvest is underway, and this year, the harvest was completed by the Abstons and Elbles much earlier than in 2008 because of the mild and wet summer growing season.

NABC's Wet Knob Hop Harvest Ale was brewed concurrent with the harvest, and it’s now it is finished, fresh and ready to drink. We propose to drink it now, at its peak, rather than wait for Fringe Fest.

Beer’s a natural thing, and this is the natural way to drink it.

So, the taps open on Tuesday, September 15, and the batch is split between Grant Line and Bank Street. Jared brewed this year’s Wet Knob at Grant Line, so that comes to eight kegs in all, so expect it to go very quickly. Senior management has done taste tests, and trust us: This one is superb.

Remember: While enjoying this marvelous ale, please salute the hop growing pioneers in the Knobs. They’re creating sustainable local business out of nothing, and deserve big kudos for doing so.

Here is Jared’s ingredient list and notes.

Malts:
Simpsons Golden Promise, Simpsons Caramalt

Hops:
Pellet Cascade (bittering/flavor), wet Cascade and Chinook in the hopback (for aroma, used in under 24 hours from the time of harvest)

Yeast:
House dry English (1st GL batch of ale brewed using Bank Street yeast)

ABV: 5%

IBU: 51

Photos from top to bottom: Abstonia hops; harvest duty with Matt Abston; Jared Williamson on brew day. All photo credits are John Campbell's.

Journalists are not to be excluded.

There are too many work meetings and too many overall obligations this week. It makes me crazy, and I'm beginning to suspect that I'm overextended. However, with a bit of time to kill, I found this interesting material from the Knight Citizen News Network. In local terms, being a citizen journalist at public meetings would be far easier if consistent access to the Internet was provided. I'd be too busy ... never mind.

The Citizen Journalist's Guide to Open Government

Generally, when meetings are open to the public, the press may not be excluded. The same goes for bloggers and citizen journalists.

The ability to attend public meetings is protected under state and federal open-meeting or “sunshine” laws.

Today's golden Gomez moment: "Get Myself Arrested."

This one goes out to all my dear friends at CFA. I changed a few words in the lyrics.

Because I can.



I wear the same shoes as anyone
I get the same blues as everyone
So try and call me, I'm immobile man, yes I am

Got a haircut, got a new wall, gonna get myself arrested
Got some friends in my Ford F-150, tryin' to get themselves arrested

I suck the same lines as anyone
I do the same time as anyone
Dont try and call me, I'm immobile man, yes I am

Got a haircut, got a patio, gonna get myself arrested
Got some friends in my Ford F-150, tryin' to get themselves arrested

He only grows for guys he knows and me
He only grows for guys he knows and me

Well alright

Dont try and call me I'm immobile man
Dont try and call me I'm immobile man, yes I am

Got a haircut, got a nice big laugh, gonna get myself arrested
Got some friends in my Ford F-150, tryin' to get themselves arrested

Got no time for the selfish me and yous, tryin' to get myself arrested

Louisville Area Skeptics return to the Public House on Thursday, September 17.

NABC is very pleased to host monthly gatherings of the Louisville Area Skeptics. Here are the details for the group's next gathering on September 17 in the Prost wing (Public House entrance).


When:
Thursday, September 17, 2009 7:00 PM

Where:
The New Albanian Brewing Company (formerly Rich O's Public House and Sportstime Pizza) 3312 Plaza Dr New Albany, IN 47150 -- (812)949-2804

Please join us for our second Skeptics in the Pub! We have another fascinating presentation scheduled. This month, sports conditioning coach Jamie Hale will cut through the media hype to give us the scientific facts behind nutrition. Once again we'll meet at the fabulous New Albanian Brewing Company.

About September's Presentation:
With so much conflicting nutrition information and advice, how do we know what's right and what's wrong? Jamie Hale's "Nutrition: Fact or Fiction" lecture has the answers. Jamie Hale is a sports conditioning coach, author, lecturer, outdoor enthusiast, and fitness and nutrition consultant. He is the owner of MaxCondition Training and MaxCondition Nutrition. He has contributed to numerous exercise and sports publications (nationally and internationally) and has authored six books. Jamie is a member of the World Marital Arts Hall of Fame in recognition of his conditioning work with martial artists. He is the founder of HNE Research Group and a member of KASES. Jamie is currently working on a new book How We Know: A Guide To Reason with Brian Jones (Author, University of Louisville Professor). Check out Jamie's websites: Maxcondition and Knowledge Summit.

To RSVP, see the full listing. Thanks! See you there,

Laurie
Contact Organizer -- Louisville Area Skeptics

Labor Day screeching, and Labor Day reading.

The first part of the transgendered professor's Labor Day screed are the words of Samuel Gompers, and as we've come to expect, Ms. Denschak makes no effort to attribute them.

Just for the fun of it, here's a section of the Wikipedia article on Gompers.

He joined Local 15 of the Cigarmakers' International Union in 1864, and was elected president of Local 144 in 1875. He was elected second vice-president of the international union in 1886, and first vice-president in 1896. He served in this capacity until his death. In 1877, the union nearly collapsed. Gompers and his friend Adolph Strasser used Local 144 as a base to rebuild the Cigarmakers' Union, introducing a high dues structure and implementing programs to pay out-of-work benefits, sick benefits, and death benefits for union members in good standing. He told the workers they needed to organize because wage reductions were almost a daily occurrence. The capitalists were only interested in profits, "and the time has come when we must assert our rights as workingmen. Every one present has the sad experience, that we are powerless in an isolated condition, while the capitalists are united; therefore it is the duty of every Cigar Maker to join the organization. ... One of the main objects of the organization," he concluded, "is the elevation of the lowest paid worker to the standard of the highest, and in time we may secure for every person in the trade an existence worthy of human beings."

Whoa -- sounds damned near Commie to me.

The New Albany Bicentennial Public Art Project: Outdoor sculpture interpreting the city's history and heritage.

The overall theme of the art project is "The River" (Bruce Springsteen, anyone?), and sub-themes include early settlement, glass/industry, steamboats/ferries/bridges, underground railroad, floods, markets downtown, and taverns/breweries.

Schweitzer brings art for the city’s sake, by Dale Moss (Courier-Journal).

(Julie) Schweitzer directs the New Albany Bicentennial Public Art project, an effort to spread story-telling sculpture through downtown. Proposals are being accepted for five pieces to be put up before the end of April.

However, the columnist Moss fails to note that one proposal already has been rejected:

Not that he actually wrote it, mind you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to intimidate the elderly.

City council president Dan Coffey took to the Tribune yesterday in an effort to explain why his political opponents are the source of the council's inability to take substantive action on virtually anything -- except, of course, Coffey's personal jihad against his political opponents.

Incidents not first time for vocal group at City Council meetings

After reading Steve Kozarovich’s opinion in the “Cheers and Jeers” column Aug. 26, I felt I needed to respond so the people in our community would know what happened at our City Council meeting.

NASH: "Creative planning needed for new youth shelter."

Matt, let me help you: It's because that's what Philistines do!

NASH: Creative planning needed for new youth shelter

Their first plan was to destroy the former Floyd County Home, also known as the North Annex, a historic building constructed in 1878. Their latest plan is to destroy an integral part of Sam Pedan Community Park. Can the people in charge of building this new facility do so without destroying something that is important to many of the citizens in our county?

Looks like children are being left behind ... by their parents?

Well, well. A legally elected President of the United States, Barack Obama, will give a "back to school" address to the nation’s youth, and this address is being denounced by our friends across the aisle as "brainwashing"?

Note: I suspect the following is not satire.

Grant Line Elementary Will NOT Broadcast Obama

I had the chance this evening to talk with Mr. Lang, the principal at Grant Line Elementary where I have three students attending. He assured me that the school will not be showing the attempted indoctrination of our youth (my words, not his) next Tuesday. This came as a great relief to me as I was prepared to take a day off of work and keep my children home so they would not be exposed to this thinly veiled attempt at brainwashing.

Have you contacted your children's elementary school? You can opt out of this ridiculous show. You can and should stand up for your sovereign rights as the ultimate educator of your children.

Again, I ask: When a right-wing fanatic begins foaming at the mouth over the impending threat of listening to the undisputed winner of a fair election, how much saliva can he lose before dehydration sets in – and who pays for the ambulance run?

Readying for the weekend festivities at Bank Street Brewhouse.

And Hoptimus is back on tap ...



Disc golf will be the sporting pretext for the coming weekend's Bank Street Brewhouse tent party.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 6-11
Mick Sullivan
Adventure

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 6-11
The Outfit
Blood Turns Brown

Open to the public ... no cover charge.

September 3 city council notes, part two : "I can’t in good conscious support this."

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

R-09-19 Revitalization Area/Statement of Benefits for Chalfant Industries … Messer

Resolution. Has to do with Servicemaster locating somewhere. Diane Benedetti asks if they’ve been stormboarding, or waterboarding, or something; I haven;t been able to hear her tonight.

Matt Chalfant says yes. Dan Coffey asks: Acreage? Reason: Greater than an acre requires some measure of detention (stormwater, I guess).

Chalfant says no paving on additional site. Scott Woods is now asked by Jeff Gahan to explain something about the second house on the property. There is a discussion about the mechanism in the context of a distressed area. Coffey tries to have a show of hands, but it collapses, so he changes his mind and asks for roll call.

Vote: Bob Caesar, Jeff Gahan, Coffey against (why?), remainder for. Resolution passes.

---

A-09-11 One Time Cost of Living notion thingy … introduced by the ever elusive Caesar.

Non-bargaining city employees haven’t had a raise for about three years. With mayor’s help, Caesar broke down lengths of service to help figure out a bit of a “morale boost” in terms of a one-time award! Those under union contracts already boosted. Fairness. Morale. Questions?

Caesar: Less cost for the city to do it this way.

Price: We already lost an ambulance … firehouse .. layoffs … union employees remunerated and non-bargaining not, BUT I’ve seen it all over the country where there are furlough days … uncomfortable … personally “the whole thing would need to be looked at” and salaries, insurance, everything out of proportion. Gloom, despair and agony on me … deep dark depression, excessive misery (does he ever twang that song?)

Vote, 1st reading: 8-1 in favor. Only one against: Price. All else for.

---

G-09-18 Ordinance to Impose and Enforce a Moratorium

Gonder wants to discuss, but will bow to consensus for tabling his pet ordinance. Grudgingly admits that there may be a problem. When will the work session be scheduled? Coffey feels that it will take time and wants a committee, but Benedetti wants it to be a group grope. Coffey warns of legalities. Carl Malysz says that the city is available to take part in whatever group grope is determined.

Coffey: Caesar, Kevin Zurschmiede, Gonder, Tim Marinaro (stormwater engineer), developer Scott Adams and another developer (Scott Thomas of Lynn Homes) and both city attorney and city council attorney should get together and hear all sides of the story.

Gonder gets to be chair … wheee.

Stan Robison advises that such a meeting should be after hours. Coffey now also wants a group grope, but a smaller group. Apparently he’s not into watching anything except the burbling of barbecued bologna. Yum.

Yes, it is being put into committee. Coffey now ignores a member of the public who thought she’d get to speak but signed the wrong sheet. Last time Coffey changed the speaking order to suit his purposes, this time not. I hope the succinct minutes being taken accurately reflect his legerdemain.

Gonder doesn’t want the developer bias on the committee. Coffey says that this is the way the county got their plan – cutting bait, being inclusive (guffaw) and getting something done by having reps from all parties on board.

Gonder wants to know if people outside the council get to vote on the final shape. Coffey says nope, I want a fact-finding committee. “We gotta do something,” although Coffey doesn't say what. Might something include impeachment? Gonder wants a citizen presence. Coffey says, well, do the fact finding and then have a public hearing.

It sounds as though Coffey was saying that he did not want the public taking part. Interesting, and in effect, not a direct quote: “We’ll only get this done behind closed doors.”

Caesar tries to contribute by saying the public is aware, but city government is not. Purpose of the ordinance is to push people into getting something done. But as always ... not just yet.

---

G-09-19 Ordinance to Get All Technical with Georgetown

McLaughlin: First reading.

Coffey: Come hither, Stan: Wording?

City attorney Shane Gibson steps forward to comment. There is no rate increase in this wording format. It is about applying Indiana code in the ordinance’s reference to Georgetown. That explains the wording. All other language mirrors previous rate language. Nothing hidden here.

Price: How much less will Gtown pay?

Gibson: None. Yearly increase over five years until Gtown is off the system. If an increase is approved by the city council, then Gtown pays more. Fine against Gtown is still there.

Stan Robison notes that he has advised to keep the council out of this, so why must the council be involved at all? Why is the council considering this? Why must the council give an explicit authorization to the sewer board to get technical with Gtown?

Gibson: Ordinance expresses council authorization to proceed, and a technical change in cleansed language. No contract approval necessary. This authorizes the sewer board to get technical.

Gonder: How many houses on the system in Gtown?

Gibson: 1,200

Gonder: Originally 750? And numbers of houses above that to pay?

Gibson: Doesn’t know. Agreement dealt with metered volume of flow from Gtown, not numbers of houses on line. Original agreement was the result of mediation.

Pat McLaughlin: Does Gtown citizens pay 50% less than NA citizens?

Gibson: Not sure, but can guess.

PM: What impetus for this huge price break? Quality of sewage?

Gibson: Speculation, but they have their own collection facility. The system is Gtown’s, and they “pre-treat.” Cost difference: NA not responsible for the collection system, therefore costs for processing pre-treated sewage much lower.
Vote, 1st reading:

Abstain: Price (maybe it was a no)
No: Gonder, Price, Gahan, KZ, Coffey, PM
Does not pass. Up in flames.

---

G-09-17 Economic development Revenue Bonds (Christian Academy) – Price, 2 & 3

New twist: Robison asked again about 2nd and 3rd reading rules. Has been researching. It has been done a certain way since 1962, but here’s the upshot: Council can vote to do all three readings in one night, and they can do 1st and 2nd in one night, but not 2nd and 3rd in one night. Law says that after the 2nd reading, an ordinance must automatically go back to a committee for something approximating buffing and polishing.

Meanwhile, this ordinance is a cheaper interest rate refinancing measure.

Vote: 2nd only. All of them (9-0) for it – 3rd comes next time.

---

Z-09-10 Vacation of an Existing Easement (Holiday/Goodman)

KZ, 2nd reading only. Vote: Unanimous in favor.

---

G-09-16 Refuse, Garbage and Yards Waste Fees

Messer, 3rd reading. Already rejected twice. Messer offers motion to amend the ordinance to a $2.00 increase, and Benedetti seconds.

Gonder: What does the $2.00 cover?

Messer: By terms of the EcoTech contract awarded during the garner years, EcoTech is allowed increases in the city's cost. $2 would meet the extra expense and “bring us up to where we should be.”

Gonder asks what the original $5 was about?

It was about EcoTech not being responsible for yard waste pickup, and if $2 brings us even, the extra $3 pays for junk and yard waste pickup, not currently in the contract.

Benedetti: That's where the Consumer Price Index (CPI) comes in.

Price: I thought when we got stormwater back, we’d have people and money for this? No time for limbs now?

Gibson: The state of Indiana cut the street department fund, necessitating layoffs or a solution, so these people were transferred to stormwater to keep their jobs, leaving inadequate numbers in the Street Dept. It's no one’s fault (except the state).

Why don’t the Pricers direct their ire toward the state’s cutting of funds for things like this? Because it would make them, Democrats, and though they register that way, they are not Democratic – that’s why)

Gibson requests a committee to address a solution on a long-term basis beyond the $2 increase this time around.

Benedetti agrees with Mayor England that the solution to junk collection needs to be put out to bid.

Gibson: CPI index now requested to tie cost of living increases to future fee increases. Allows the utility to stay in the black, and when the contract expires, council and administration can address modifications, new bids, etc.

Caesar: CPI should be put in on almost every contractor fee we have. Took care of his own street, by golly. Had my son do it. What about falling leaves?

They're dilatory but eventually hit the ground. Rather like Bob's council career.

Gibson: Leaves not part of this contract. Street department used to do it, not now, like just explained.

Coffey now comences to pick nits (and his teeth) between different federal and state CPI’s. Might have found it on the Internet. Brings up Social Security for some arcane reason. Presumably someone aged is in the room.

Gibson forced now to explain CPI factors.

Messer duly amends the amendments. Must include "CPI: Miami" … or wait, just plain CPI in the amended ordinance. $2 increase plus CPI yearly adjustment. Specific, says Shane. Not a fudge-able thing. Messer rereads to reflect this.

Vote on the amendment: For it except for Price, McLaughlin and Gahan, but then Coffey has to ask for the vote total before agreeing to cast his vote for the amendment, only.

That's right. He wouldn't vote for an amendment to an ordinance he publicly opposes until he has confirmation of the vote total. Do you see what we in the gallery have to put up with?

Amendment masses 6-3 with requisite Coffeyite subterfuge.

Messer now asks to table the whole thing until next time so the council might understand what it means.

Fat chance, Jack. You'd have better luck asking them to read poetry in Basque.

The obviously sandbagging Gahan finally speaks: Before we talk about raising rates, should head toward completely new contract negotiations. Bids, bids, bids.

Messer: But this council can’t do that.

Price: I hear people say “we can do it cheaper” … so “why should we continue to pay for other people’s mistakes?”

The way the 3rd district must pay for yours?

Benedetti points out that we take money from sewers to balance this.

Gahan pounces: They need to take the time and make the effort to take bids.

Gahan naturally doesn’t mention the council's EDIT fund robbery to subsidize sewer rates. He never does. Presumably, that’s okay. Hypocrisy anywhere? Or everywhere?

Coffey does an unctuous grandstand: I only voted for the amendment! Not the ordinance! "I can’t in good conscious support this."

Gonder: Two different issues.

It is tabled.

PUBLIC SPEAKING ITEMS

1. Mellwood Drive resident. References the building permit issued for the vacant lot two weeks after she complained about it. Permit temporarily rescinded. Man wants to build there, and she is thankful that the builder will wait a bit. Supports the moratorium. Wait and see if the fix works before we let people build again anywhere in the city.

2. David Ayres – by the 4H Fairgrounds. The crick needs to be cleaned out – the willow tree’s still there. Coffey excuses the council from culpability. They can’t make these orders to stormwater. Caesar wants to talk to Ayres afterward.

3. Vicky W. – Lot of water. House runied. 1512 E Spring Street. Vacant lot next door, not sure where her business is located (hair salon). Talking about a sink hole … putting pressure against her building? Fairly disjointed testimony. It would be on the south side of the street. Says there is raw sewage on 15th by the railroad. Coffey begins blaming city engineers for not coming to see her … smelling like the fix is in somewhere here.

Coffey and Vicky are doing the shimmy. No doubt that she’s telling the truth about her despair and pain, but it’s so rambling that it isn’t easy to tell.

Carl comes into it. Vicky stands pat as Carl also tries to talk sense. Not sure what the sinkhole is doing to her lot. Chaos erupting. What can the city do about another private lot? Vicky interrupts. Carl doesn’t know. Price butchers the city engineer’s name. Tim Marinaro will come and look.

Price: “He’s more expertise at it.”

Vicky continues to yell.

Benedetti yells at Carl, Carl tries to speak, Coffey speaks the obvious, Coffey grandstands … does she get 10 minutes, 20 minutes? Do we have a time limit? Is order enforced? It is when I try something like this. It looks like back stage at a Brooks & Dunn concert. Vicky makes it clear: She doesn’t want to be in any historical area. Bartender, just give me a pint of what she's having.

A the very last minute, with all of us about to bolt, Robison reports that the Messer garbage ordinance was tabled improperly. Benedetti now withdraws her seconding, and the ordinance is referred to finance committee.

Benedetti now takes up something with Coffey while Vicky carries on behind us.

And another exercise in futility draws to a fumbling conclusion. Studio's up next. I hope Trish has Sierra.

September 3 city council notes: “It shows what the council has been putting up with.”

In the absence of connectivity, here are city council meeting notes for Thursday, September 3.

As opposed to the city clerk's obligation to record minutes a certain way (see below), I have no statute or precedent to follow when making these observations (usually in italics and red text).

Accordingly, I'll begin with a reminder.

Our current council members were elected according to plainly illegal districts owing to the previous council's refusal to do its statutory duty and fairly redistrict. The previous council sat just as illegally as the current one sits now, owing to the refusal of the preceding council to do the very same thing.

Councilpersons like Jeff Gahan continue to believe that none of this matters, and I heard him say it aloud after the meeting last night.

I continue to believe that it does, and the Constitution should in fact matter to one elected to uphold it, and furthermore, I believe that citizens should not have to earnestly beg their representatives to perform custodial tasks that are part of their job description from the beginning.

When such omissions occur, and when representatives muddy the waters by yawning through continual and flagrant displays of illegality (and poor taste, which although indicative of the Open Air Museum is not illegal) from the person they have conspired to select as president of the council -- when council actions at each and every meeting are tainted by the president's biases -- we must likewise expect that all nine of our council members will become tainted by association, and if someone like CM Gahan happens to be a part of this group, he should expect to be asked periodically: Exactly how is any of this synonymous with leadership by any coherent definition of leadership?

And, if someone like CM Gahan is unable to answer this question of leadership in a satisfactory manner, according to accepted definitions of qualities that pertain to "leadership" and similar concepts ... well, then he shouldn't expect someone like me to gaze in his general direction and say, "job well done, sir."

Because: It isn't being done, and isn't being done well.

The rest of it I explained to him in person early this morning. But I thought this public reminder is appropriate. I can point to dozens of unelected community members who are proactively leading, not merely regressively reacting. Many of them reside in my district, where we have nothing approximating representation. I'm still looking for a council member who fits this description of leadership.

The lamp is held aloft, but it is illuminating dead air.

Now, on to the notes.

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Will someone please find me a rabbi, imam or dervish?

ROLL CALL
They’re all here, much to the chagrin of fair-minded people everywhere who feel that fair electoral districts are a prerequisite of fair elections.

APPROVAL AND CORRECTION OF MINUTES

Proceeding apace ... but there is some question (Diane Benedetti, in very low tone of voice) about the proper detail expected in minutes. Something about arguments at the last meeting and the language used. Seeing as the council president voiced the desire to exclude peope like me on a permanent basis, maybe these low tones are so I can't hear to take these notees.

Clerk Marcey Wisman notes that meeting minutes are taken a certain way, as a succinct overview of events, and that the actual audio recording is on file and available to the public. Dan Coffey wants it to be detailed word for word in the written record.

Coffey: “It shows what the council has been putting up with.”

Roger: (to myself) "It also shows what I've had to put up with."

Price would like to see meetings videotaped and showed on local access television, but doubts that we afford it. How, um, unusual of him to make that point.

Jack Messer: “Is it part of the agenda that conflict between the public – does conflict between the public have to do with the council?”

Council attorney Stan Robison agrees with the clerk insofar as what she says is required in minutes for the historical record. “Minutes have to be brief and to the point, and they are,” says Robison.

Mrs. Benedetti still wants to probe this, but they approve minutes as written. Matters still being conducted in a whisper, probably cause Price won't let us afford repairs to the sound system.

Chicanery is afoot, but I’m not sure to what extent. Blatant cowardice has a way of encouraging that, but of course, IMHO.

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC
Coffey immediately notes that the controversial building permit moratorium will be tabled tonight. Save your breath, peeps.

1. Scott Adams – has millions of dollars of investment that will be harmed by the proposed moratorium. Shining star in a recession is one of his developments, where 12 brand new homes sold this year. Great thing for the economy: “We have momentum.” Second phase of their current project could be “damaged significantly.” Urges the council to reconsider the whole idea. The moratorium is not the answer to the specific problem.

I know it's difficult for Scott to come before the body that abused him so badly during King Larry's reign of error.

COMMUNICATIONS – CITY OFFICIALS
Carl Malysz has three messages from the mayor.

a. Report on EcoTech's "amnesty" on junk and yard waste: 243 tons of “stuff” picked up by EcoTech during August, which comes to three times more weight than was picked up during recent storm events.

b. Building permit moratorium: A serious thing. There is basic information that the city staff would like to share with the council before the moratorium details are fleshed out, as well as Shane Gibson’s concern about certain legal issues to share. A workshop is needed.

c. Memo from the mayor: Recommendation that the council approve appointments to the tree board.

One other thing: G-09-16 … Shane to provide information on the garbage fee ordinance third reading tonight.

Coffey once again reminds the gallery that the moratorium will be tabled.

John Gonder is concerned about globs of asphalt on the sidewalk. Someone twisted his ankle, whether drunk or not, and complained to him about it. Is Spring Street paving complete? Gohmann should clean up the sidewalks either way.

Don't get me started on the delayed striping, John.

Steve Price offers public thanks to the city for its help -- on behalf of Ken Pyle and the recent Dewey Heights neighborhood clean-up effort.

That's a good one. Those who took part in the clean-up commented that Price did nothing except buy weenies. Is any district in the city under-represented to the extent of the 3rd? It's doltification without representation.

COMMUNICATIONS – MAYOR
Not here tonight.

APPOINTMENTS
Motion moved and seconded: Unanimous approval of tree board appointments. I guess this means we can begin cutting down the trees.

(to be continued)

Until the city decides to intervene ...

... there'll be no live blogging. Best I can tell, the Internet connection disappears at night.

I'll post notes later.

Klezmer.

Readers, if you know of a good klezmer band available to play an event on the evening of October 3, please let me know at the e-mail address listed at my profile.

Today's Tribune column: "Yes, we can; in fact, we are."

I'm wondering whether to bring a growler with me. Does it say anywhere that no alcohol is allowed?

BAYLOR: Yes, we can; in fact, we are

The bread crumbs were right there where King Larry left them, and they guided me past the spot where Gene and Tom used to enjoy their daily cigarettes with Duck. Across the weirdly fresh pavement and up two flights of stairs, and finally, exhausted, I spied the crayon-encrusted welcome mat. Lurching through doors reminiscent of 1960s interior design theory in Sofia, Bulgaria (damn Commies!), I landed in a crowded room, providentially locating a seat near the bar, and scanning my immediate surroundings with an eye toward strong drink.

Meanwhile, I may have solved the issue of jamming -- not musically, but in terms of the WiFi signal at the city county building. Thanks, R.

The agenda for this evening's city council meeting has yet to be posted. If it is, you can view it here. We know that CM John Gonder's building permit moratorium is on the agenda, and that it is likely to generate much discussion.

As stated here earlier in the week, I believe it is a well intentioned but potentially harmful measure that threatens to throw the economic baby out with the storm water unless drastically revised to reflect specific geography, and should be carefully phrased in such a manner as to keep "emergency" dictatorial powers for planning and zoning out of the hands of a council that has yet to show it is professionally qualified to review procedures for boiling water to make tea, much less to judge those that require genuine knowledge beyond the head honcho's Bazooka Joe university degree programs.

Why do I say this? Because the current council's intellectual laziness is ongoing and flagrant, and also because Dan Coffey's chosen grandstanding wedge in recent months has been the populist viewpoint that final decisions on all planning and zoning matters should come within range of his power-hungry fingerprints.

If I'm permitted to remain in the room, I'll deploy my suggested WiFi solution and blog live from the chamber. If not allowed to remain there, I'll drink beer elsewhere.

Think of it as a lose/win situation for me.

The Deep End. I'm not at all sure. Can I go there any longer?

I received the following on Facebook:

Message to the members of Southern Indiana United for Change.

Subject: URGENT: Thursday Morning

Tomorrow, Thursday September 3rd, Republican National Chairman, Michael Steele will be in Floyds Knobs speaking against health care reform. Let's welcome the Chairman to Southern Indiana with a smiling group a health insurance reform supporters.

When: 9am--Sept 3rd

Where: Physician's Association of Southern Indiana
800 Highlander Point Dr
Floyds Knobs, IN

I know this is 12 hours notice so if you're seeing this touch base with your friends to make sure they're aware of this before they turn in tonight.

Thanks!
Bethany

Longtime NAC readers will recognize this medical practice as that of Healthblogger, who formerly blogged about medicine, and now generally (and very often with outright virulence bordering on malice) savages Barack Obama to gleeful applause from the right.

I offer this information with a sense of bemusement ... and profound sadness. Those of you who know me well will understand what I mean by it. I'm standing at a crossroads, and to be honest, the proper path isn't clear.

Gee, who'd ever think that an atheist like me could be suffering through such a profound moral quandary?

Muffins with a sprinkling of nuts.

A bakery is headed downtown to Spring Street...

Sweet Stuff Bakery moving to downtown New Albany, by Chris Morris (News and Tribune).

Sweet Stuff Bakery, located at 605 Silver St. since 2002, will soon be moving to downtown New Albany.

Due to “steady, consistent growth” according to its husband and wife owners, Tom Raatz and Diane Christopher, Sweet Stuff was forced to look for a bigger location with more parking.

The new location will be at 325 Spring St. A grand opening is scheduled for the first week in October.

and the Redevelopment Commission voted to purchase the former Coyle auto dealership property nearby only to have some council members question the move. Coffey says he was for it but may be against it now, Caesar says the existing buildings would all have to be demolished, and Gonder says there shouldn't be a dime of funding unless the main dealership building is reused.

Commission OKs Coyle purchase, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

The New Albany Redevelopment Commission recommended Tuesday the city purchase the former Coyle Dodge property for $1.1 million, property that could one day hold city and county offices.

As part of the package, the city would be responsible for between $250,000 and $350,000 of environmental cleanup at the site, which is located at 411 E. Spring St.

The environmental cleaning was recommended by the firm Specialty Earth Sciences following two rounds of assessments.

Also, the commission suggested the City Council provide funding to buy approximately five separate pieces of property near Coyle Dodge. Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz said the money for the purchases could come from Economic Development Income Tax funds, for example.

More on the building permit moratorium, with a demolition chaser.

Don't forget: Develop New Albany's "First Tuesday" at Dzine Communications, September 1, starting at 5:00 p.m.

---

The discussion continues: Is John Gonder's proposed moratorium on building permits the best way to address drainage problems, or in this effort to mollify flooded homeowners, is he unwittingly providing Dan Coffey and Coffey's obstructionist council faction the opportunity to usurp the roles of the various boards and commissions, and try to bring all economic development decision-making "into" an underachieving council woefully unequipped to make such judgments?

I encourage readers to visit CM Gonder's blog and read the comments made yesterday, including one excerpted here by Dan Chandler that addresses a different, but similar ongoing issue:

Dry Out Time Out (comments section)

I’m not taking a position on whether a moratorium is the best way to address permitting issues. I do want to note that problems with permits are not limited to sewer issues.

For example, two weeks ago the city issued a demolition permit for a building on E. Market St. The problem is that the building is a contributing structure in a local historic district, or was, until it was demolished several days later. The Historic Preservation Commission neither received an application for, nor approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the century-old structure.

Disc golf will be the sporting pretext for the coming weekend's Bank Street Brewhouse tent party.

Bank Street Brewhouse will be staging a parking lot party this Friday and Saturday, September 4 and 5. Both nights, there'll be a tent, live music, and outdoor grill for burgers and brats, and plenty of NABC's progressive pints.

The important part: The public is invited to come take part in the fun. The actual reason for all of it requires a more detailed explanation.

The New Albanian Charlie Vettiner Open for disc golfers takes place this coming weekend. It's described as Louisville's first A-tier disc golf event, and NABC is sponsoring it along with FADE Gear, LLC.

Tournament action takes place at courses in Louisville and Lanesville, with the players coming to Bank Street Brewhouse to register on Friday night, September 4, and then returning on Saturday night, September 5, for the official tournament shindig.

I suppose that makes it a private/public party of sorts. We expect Friday night to be more laid back, with Saturday's the bigger crowd. I'll be at NABC Grant Line (in Prost) on Friday night doing this year's Lambic by the Glass seminar (you're invited to that, too), but hope to see friends, countrymen and fellow travelers on Saturday. It will be our third big weekend in a row, with the annual Carnegie Museum fundraiser across the street coming on Friday, September 11 (after-party at BSB), then a few weeks of relative peace until Fringe Fest 2009.

We're seriously considering starting Fringe Fest on Satuday, October 3, at the conclusion of the Harvest Homecoming parade, and running it continuously for almost eight days (maybe one day off) through Saturday, October 10 -- the final full day of booths. There'd be different formats for different days, with something happening constantly. It's completely insane, and because it makes so much sense, it isn't certain that the state of Indiana will permit us to do it, but we're checking.

Stay tuned. I just don't understand why my uncouncilman always talks about a "depression" when there's so much exhilaration going on.