Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Both NABC locations open for business.
As of 12:30 p.m., we're up and running. All the employees were not able to make it to Grant Line, but Kate reports that things are okay. There was a bit of water leakage (an ongoing issue) at Bank Street, but nothing major.
Open thread: August 3 city council meeting.
The woman said she hoped the rain would hold off until her flood insurance became active on August 7.
No such luck. As I'm typing, I hear a drip in a place a drip shouldn't be. It's a sign o' the times.
I've posted the meeting notes, having been denied Internet access last evening, and now I'm opening the floor for comments.
Assuming you're not busy with water removal.
---
Late note: New Albany City Council goes for stormwater increase (Daniel Suddeath's Tribune coverage).
No such luck. As I'm typing, I hear a drip in a place a drip shouldn't be. It's a sign o' the times.
I've posted the meeting notes, having been denied Internet access last evening, and now I'm opening the floor for comments.
Assuming you're not busy with water removal.
---
Late note: New Albany City Council goes for stormwater increase (Daniel Suddeath's Tribune coverage).
August 3 city council meeting notes, part three: Tree board and ordinances, including fee increases.
At roughly 9:20 p.m., a three minute break.
---
We return to an appointment to the tree board to satisfy John Gonder, and the approval of Huncilman's CF1 tax abatement form. Coffey apologizes for keeping him waiting, and the man says he has "enjoyed" it so far. It's about to get better, isn't it?
Ordinances and resolutions
A-09-10 (Gahan 1) EDIT money appropriation for storm water
$75,000 resolution amount becomes $100,000 tonight, because this is the ordinance, by golly, and we rounded up. Council members are still trying to decide where the money is going. Caesar says we have to start doing something now. Price says the rate increase is cart before the horse. Must know where the money is needed first. Price corrects the administration as to the origins of the storm water board, a peculiar obession of his. Coffey wants it stated that the board is three years old. Rate established at inception was to be for five years.
K Zurschmiede clarifies again: From EDIT, not Rainy Day? Rainy Day for future raiding? Gahan says yes, whatever, take it from anywhere. “We want to move as fast as we can.” Kay Garry says because it was advertised as EDIT, must be from EDIT. She could change the newspaper ad if they want to raid Rainy, too.
1st reading: Against … none
For … all of them
---
G-09-14 (Messer 1) Home Rule ordinance to pay for the best interests of New Albany
Garry: State says a line item something or another must have an ordinance, somehow an edict of the state for a specific economic development expenditure. Used for 4H Fair night tickets, etc. Things like that. Only once was the $4,000 already spent. Housecleaning only.
1st reading: Unanimous.
---
G-09-15 (Benedetti 1) user/service fees for storm water
Benedetti expresses favor. Gonder asks whether unpaved roads are subject to stormwater fees (??). Apparently yes.
Price: 5-year-plans back in ’06. Nought six, Anje. I know we had to buy back EMC, etc. Are we paying a secretary $40,000 a year? Who is it?
Kay: Error. She makes $23,000
Price: Shane, what about non-compensating board members? It was in the by-laws. How did that change?
**Kay: The council changed it. “You all passed it and signed it.”
Price votes “no” so often that he can’t remember voting against storm water compensation increases. Now he is silent again. Won't be for long, although if the voters think about it, perhaps Price silence can be permanent soon.
Gahan: Moving the rate without a master plan?
Engineer: Different rates provided to show improvements possible at different monetary expenditures.
KZ wants to see the original budget again. Thinks it is different from the way tonight’s report is set up.
Engineer: A lot went out with EMC.
Not a budget, but prepared by an auditor of sorts. The bottom line is correct, according to the engineer.
Benedetti: Kelly Welsh’s salary? Kay says no, her main salary comes from the sewer department. Kay didn’t get a chance to see it.
Shane: A draft, taking previous numbers and putting them into categories. We can find out exactitude, but this shows you where the money has gone (Messer: “perspective”). It shows what can be used for capital improvements, not a budget.
KZ: “We have to have an actual budget” (where have we heard this?) Kay says it has been given out to them. KZ apparently has forgotten.
Price now uses the word “fictitious,” probably because Barney Fife once said the same word on an episode. Price understands that money is needed, but his concern is accountability.
Price: “They hit us up with code enforcement, and we spent all that money on code enforcement” … stream of consciousness, now he’s talking about mulch and Earth First, “if you don’t think there’s waste, I’m out of here.”
GO GO Go Go Go Steve ... go Steve ... just please go
(someone behind me calls Price an "idgit", and I laugh out loud)
Coffey wants to know why he can’t design the project himself, hell, anyone can do it. Response is that city engineer Tim Marinaro is not licensed to do it and can’t be expected to, but at least we have a city engineer again after many years.
Coffey: “Here’s the biggest problem I have … new people … thing is … told people twict (twice-t)… every time you turn around, I’m not gong to take anybody on face value anymore.”
“Not going to sit here and appropriate more money.”
Messer now calls Coffey out, dramatically: According to the rules of order, which Coffey regularly flouts, Coffey must relinquish the chair if he wants to speak on an issue. Coffey looks annoyed.
Price: “He has a right to speak.”
Coffey: “They can come back and ask for more (money)”
Now some of the storm water victims stand up and begin agreeing to pay extra to make things happen. “I’ll pay that money.”
Storm water president prlomises to watch over increased funds.
Pat McLaughlin now (why?) wants to find out about paving. Plan and master plan for paving was drawn up, and then Spring Street was the first one to be paved, how come?
Kay Garry says: Spring was paved with LRS money, not the $2 million allocated by the council. What any of Pat's thoghts tonight have to do with reality is getting harder to determine. Bet his cell phone was buzzing with Erika mash notes prior to the meeting.
Pat should yet again be the swing vote, although the late arriving Bluegill thinks that Pat will vote yes.
My prediction:
For: BC, JoGo, PM, DB, JM,
Against: SP, JeGa, KZ, DC
Actual vote on 1st reading (passes 5-4):
For: BC, JoGo, JeGa, DB, JM,
Against: SP, KZ, DC, PM
There'll be much chicanery on this one by the time we get to the third reading.
---
G-09-16 (Messer 1) refuse, garbage and yard waste user/service fees
Price: We put the horse before the cart (huh?), it’s called “enabling” … some people have money … people on fixed incomes ... despair and gloom ... trucks running round … guy here will do the whole thing for less …
Does Steve Price have a real job?
Gonder: Bring the price up to break even on the disparity, then the buck fifty’s (got junk oral bid) adds up to less than Ecotech.
Gonder: Why does Ecotech need to be the favored vendor?
Council attorney Stan Robison wants to look it over. Does it have to be bid out again for a whole new service if it's a different service?
Shane: We have a bid of sorts from Got Junk. Must see what is involved and what would be done.
Messer: Can we pass this with no dollar figure in place?
Coffey: Won’t die regardless. It’s only first reading.
Much futile discussion over terms and such. No one knows anything. 9:50 p.m.
Gahan: Let it rip. Messer offered to table. Shane says, now we have a potential solution. Keep the ball rolling, and go from there.
Coffey: “I got a question, irregardless, you’d have to sit there, at that point in time, you’d have to rebid this.”
Shane says they’ll be reviewing this in the morning.
Stan: New services have to be rebid.
Actual vote on 1st reading:
For: JoGo, DB, JM,
Against: BC, SP, KZ, DC, PM, JeGa
Does not pass first reading.
---
Z-09-09 (McLaughlin 2 & 3) Sprigler Builders with Krafty John, Coes Lane
Pat McLaughlin says he tabled it and doesn’t know why it has been revived, but Benedetti explains the "becomes law if not considered a certain number of days from introduction" clause, and illustrates that Pat doesn’t know procedure. A bad night for him. He needs something that is a core plitical value. Even Price has it, although Price's is always wrong. Pat wavers because he doesn;t stand for anything.
We leave before it is decided, because it's my brithday, damn it, and I want a beer.
end of report
---
We return to an appointment to the tree board to satisfy John Gonder, and the approval of Huncilman's CF1 tax abatement form. Coffey apologizes for keeping him waiting, and the man says he has "enjoyed" it so far. It's about to get better, isn't it?
Ordinances and resolutions
A-09-10 (Gahan 1) EDIT money appropriation for storm water
$75,000 resolution amount becomes $100,000 tonight, because this is the ordinance, by golly, and we rounded up. Council members are still trying to decide where the money is going. Caesar says we have to start doing something now. Price says the rate increase is cart before the horse. Must know where the money is needed first. Price corrects the administration as to the origins of the storm water board, a peculiar obession of his. Coffey wants it stated that the board is three years old. Rate established at inception was to be for five years.
K Zurschmiede clarifies again: From EDIT, not Rainy Day? Rainy Day for future raiding? Gahan says yes, whatever, take it from anywhere. “We want to move as fast as we can.” Kay Garry says because it was advertised as EDIT, must be from EDIT. She could change the newspaper ad if they want to raid Rainy, too.
1st reading: Against … none
For … all of them
---
G-09-14 (Messer 1) Home Rule ordinance to pay for the best interests of New Albany
Garry: State says a line item something or another must have an ordinance, somehow an edict of the state for a specific economic development expenditure. Used for 4H Fair night tickets, etc. Things like that. Only once was the $4,000 already spent. Housecleaning only.
1st reading: Unanimous.
---
G-09-15 (Benedetti 1) user/service fees for storm water
Benedetti expresses favor. Gonder asks whether unpaved roads are subject to stormwater fees (??). Apparently yes.
Price: 5-year-plans back in ’06. Nought six, Anje. I know we had to buy back EMC, etc. Are we paying a secretary $40,000 a year? Who is it?
Kay: Error. She makes $23,000
Price: Shane, what about non-compensating board members? It was in the by-laws. How did that change?
**Kay: The council changed it. “You all passed it and signed it.”
Price votes “no” so often that he can’t remember voting against storm water compensation increases. Now he is silent again. Won't be for long, although if the voters think about it, perhaps Price silence can be permanent soon.
Gahan: Moving the rate without a master plan?
Engineer: Different rates provided to show improvements possible at different monetary expenditures.
KZ wants to see the original budget again. Thinks it is different from the way tonight’s report is set up.
Engineer: A lot went out with EMC.
Not a budget, but prepared by an auditor of sorts. The bottom line is correct, according to the engineer.
Benedetti: Kelly Welsh’s salary? Kay says no, her main salary comes from the sewer department. Kay didn’t get a chance to see it.
Shane: A draft, taking previous numbers and putting them into categories. We can find out exactitude, but this shows you where the money has gone (Messer: “perspective”). It shows what can be used for capital improvements, not a budget.
KZ: “We have to have an actual budget” (where have we heard this?) Kay says it has been given out to them. KZ apparently has forgotten.
Price now uses the word “fictitious,” probably because Barney Fife once said the same word on an episode. Price understands that money is needed, but his concern is accountability.
Price: “They hit us up with code enforcement, and we spent all that money on code enforcement” … stream of consciousness, now he’s talking about mulch and Earth First, “if you don’t think there’s waste, I’m out of here.”
GO GO Go Go Go Steve ... go Steve ... just please go
(someone behind me calls Price an "idgit", and I laugh out loud)
Coffey wants to know why he can’t design the project himself, hell, anyone can do it. Response is that city engineer Tim Marinaro is not licensed to do it and can’t be expected to, but at least we have a city engineer again after many years.
Coffey: “Here’s the biggest problem I have … new people … thing is … told people twict (twice-t)… every time you turn around, I’m not gong to take anybody on face value anymore.”
“Not going to sit here and appropriate more money.”
Messer now calls Coffey out, dramatically: According to the rules of order, which Coffey regularly flouts, Coffey must relinquish the chair if he wants to speak on an issue. Coffey looks annoyed.
Price: “He has a right to speak.”
Coffey: “They can come back and ask for more (money)”
Now some of the storm water victims stand up and begin agreeing to pay extra to make things happen. “I’ll pay that money.”
Storm water president prlomises to watch over increased funds.
Pat McLaughlin now (why?) wants to find out about paving. Plan and master plan for paving was drawn up, and then Spring Street was the first one to be paved, how come?
Kay Garry says: Spring was paved with LRS money, not the $2 million allocated by the council. What any of Pat's thoghts tonight have to do with reality is getting harder to determine. Bet his cell phone was buzzing with Erika mash notes prior to the meeting.
Pat should yet again be the swing vote, although the late arriving Bluegill thinks that Pat will vote yes.
My prediction:
For: BC, JoGo, PM, DB, JM,
Against: SP, JeGa, KZ, DC
Actual vote on 1st reading (passes 5-4):
For: BC, JoGo, JeGa, DB, JM,
Against: SP, KZ, DC, PM
There'll be much chicanery on this one by the time we get to the third reading.
---
G-09-16 (Messer 1) refuse, garbage and yard waste user/service fees
Price: We put the horse before the cart (huh?), it’s called “enabling” … some people have money … people on fixed incomes ... despair and gloom ... trucks running round … guy here will do the whole thing for less …
Does Steve Price have a real job?
Gonder: Bring the price up to break even on the disparity, then the buck fifty’s (got junk oral bid) adds up to less than Ecotech.
Gonder: Why does Ecotech need to be the favored vendor?
Council attorney Stan Robison wants to look it over. Does it have to be bid out again for a whole new service if it's a different service?
Shane: We have a bid of sorts from Got Junk. Must see what is involved and what would be done.
Messer: Can we pass this with no dollar figure in place?
Coffey: Won’t die regardless. It’s only first reading.
Much futile discussion over terms and such. No one knows anything. 9:50 p.m.
Gahan: Let it rip. Messer offered to table. Shane says, now we have a potential solution. Keep the ball rolling, and go from there.
Coffey: “I got a question, irregardless, you’d have to sit there, at that point in time, you’d have to rebid this.”
Shane says they’ll be reviewing this in the morning.
Stan: New services have to be rebid.
Actual vote on 1st reading:
For: JoGo, DB, JM,
Against: BC, SP, KZ, DC, PM, JeGa
Does not pass first reading.
---
Z-09-09 (McLaughlin 2 & 3) Sprigler Builders with Krafty John, Coes Lane
Pat McLaughlin says he tabled it and doesn’t know why it has been revived, but Benedetti explains the "becomes law if not considered a certain number of days from introduction" clause, and illustrates that Pat doesn’t know procedure. A bad night for him. He needs something that is a core plitical value. Even Price has it, although Price's is always wrong. Pat wavers because he doesn;t stand for anything.
We leave before it is decided, because it's my brithday, damn it, and I want a beer.
end of report
August 3 city council meeting notes, part two: Communications from the mayor and city officials.
My notes as hastily scribbled last night in the absence of a signal, presumably because Dan Coffey jammed it with twine and used Bazooka college degrees/gum wrappers.
---
Communications from city officials
Pat McLaughlin: Very dire need with the water problems. Refers back to decisions to fund police. Thanks the council needs to move on it.
John Gonder: Housekeeping … John Rosenbarger contacted him about the tree board, which could receive a grant if one is constituted. Reads a resolution into the record from the Carnegie Center (regarding the Coyle building). What positive steps can we take to help these people? Mentions e coli, and references residents of long standing noting changes. Moratorium on building permits until the stormwater master plan is completed and judges to be sufficient? Gonder supports something like this. “Put the brakes on.”
Benedetti: Has read the ordinance. In work session, it becomes clear that the ordinance needs to read “under an acre,” meaning that the council would be able to peruse it (I believe) – can’t take away the right of a developer to agree to changes … okay, I don’t know what she’s trying to say.
Gonder and Benedetti discuss lot sizes and who reviews construction, and who should or should not build retention or detention ponds. She scheduled the work session because you “can’t punish every body because some developers do it right.”
Gonder: Take a look at development. Too many variables. We don’t know what it is, so should hold off building new houses.
Steve Price: What struck him was people saying when things got built, it got a little worse. Can you redo things already built, make it better or something? (stream of consciousness, hopscotch, whine)
Gahan: Committees? Tabling things tonight?
Coffey: “We’re going to have to come to grips.” Believes that developers hire engineering firms to tell them what they want to hear, and therefore, the council has to protect people from them.
Coffey: Describes another committee. He has talked to the county commissioners about a joint storm water committee to come up with “concrete” in 30-45 days.
Gonder: Tree board?
Coffey: Under appointments.
Gahan: Wants to bring the county in on a rate change, too, if city council will talk about a rate increase tonight. They need to do it there, too. “We’ve got a mess there.”
Coffey: Maybe we can’t bring them together. Not for any rate increases until we take what we’ve got and get something done in the creeks, etc.
Coffey: Indicates that he cannot support any rate increases of any sort.
Mayor’s communication
England: (To Coffey) I see what your vote is, so now I don’t have to bother …
England: Describes the stormwater utility takeover. Has assigned engineers, not political. Educated people who know what they’re doing. “What we’ve got is picks and shovels.” We’re trying. It’s not anyone’s fault, but it’s all of our fault because the rate is too low. It cannot be done with what we’ve got. Must raise the fee to have enough money to get something fixed. Taxes barely pay for police and fire. Absence of gas money meant paring the street department back. A couple of these rates have not been raised for six to eight years.
No new taxes, no new fees. Fees for services, not taxes. It is a service, not being paid for out of taxes. No new fees, but raising them to where they are effective. Erika spouts off in the rear. She was out front smoking before the meeting.
Work on the creeks wasn’t done. Give us a chance and give us the tools to do something.
Feisty old dude again: “We give you the raise … when are you going to start cleaning them? The guy before you and the woman before that didn’t do anything."
Engineer says he has the documentation to prove they’re working.
Woman says nothing is being done behind her house.
England: Only been on it for a couple months (since EMC was canned). “I resent” some of the things I’ve heard, you can’t “scare me politically.” Faces to the FOX news woman and says that he won't be intimidated by news teams.
England: “You can kick all our asses out in two and a half years.”
Describes the garbage fee disparity. “I didn’t bid these contracts, I inherited these contracts.”
“There’s no free lunches.”
“Think about what’s right for the city.”
Coffey: Giving up a new parking garage is called a “priority.” Always back to the new parking garage. “You don’t take away from another fund.”
England: (sarcastically) “Let’s keep on doing it your way, Dan.”
Benedetti: I had a phone call today from an elderly woman who didn’t understand the fees for the garbage. Would something be able to be done for fixed income people who don’t fill their cans up? Like color the cans differently depending on use?
England: Colored cans, a great idea. Could happen if we make things self-supporting.
Much other talk but I got bored. It transpires that a rep from Got Junk is in the room and says his company can pick up all the yard waste and junk for $1.50 a month. England seems delighted and says they'll look into it.
(end part two)
---
Communications from city officials
Pat McLaughlin: Very dire need with the water problems. Refers back to decisions to fund police. Thanks the council needs to move on it.
John Gonder: Housekeeping … John Rosenbarger contacted him about the tree board, which could receive a grant if one is constituted. Reads a resolution into the record from the Carnegie Center (regarding the Coyle building). What positive steps can we take to help these people? Mentions e coli, and references residents of long standing noting changes. Moratorium on building permits until the stormwater master plan is completed and judges to be sufficient? Gonder supports something like this. “Put the brakes on.”
Benedetti: Has read the ordinance. In work session, it becomes clear that the ordinance needs to read “under an acre,” meaning that the council would be able to peruse it (I believe) – can’t take away the right of a developer to agree to changes … okay, I don’t know what she’s trying to say.
Gonder and Benedetti discuss lot sizes and who reviews construction, and who should or should not build retention or detention ponds. She scheduled the work session because you “can’t punish every body because some developers do it right.”
Gonder: Take a look at development. Too many variables. We don’t know what it is, so should hold off building new houses.
Steve Price: What struck him was people saying when things got built, it got a little worse. Can you redo things already built, make it better or something? (stream of consciousness, hopscotch, whine)
Gahan: Committees? Tabling things tonight?
Coffey: “We’re going to have to come to grips.” Believes that developers hire engineering firms to tell them what they want to hear, and therefore, the council has to protect people from them.
Coffey: Describes another committee. He has talked to the county commissioners about a joint storm water committee to come up with “concrete” in 30-45 days.
Gonder: Tree board?
Coffey: Under appointments.
Gahan: Wants to bring the county in on a rate change, too, if city council will talk about a rate increase tonight. They need to do it there, too. “We’ve got a mess there.”
Coffey: Maybe we can’t bring them together. Not for any rate increases until we take what we’ve got and get something done in the creeks, etc.
Coffey: Indicates that he cannot support any rate increases of any sort.
Mayor’s communication
England: (To Coffey) I see what your vote is, so now I don’t have to bother …
England: Describes the stormwater utility takeover. Has assigned engineers, not political. Educated people who know what they’re doing. “What we’ve got is picks and shovels.” We’re trying. It’s not anyone’s fault, but it’s all of our fault because the rate is too low. It cannot be done with what we’ve got. Must raise the fee to have enough money to get something fixed. Taxes barely pay for police and fire. Absence of gas money meant paring the street department back. A couple of these rates have not been raised for six to eight years.
No new taxes, no new fees. Fees for services, not taxes. It is a service, not being paid for out of taxes. No new fees, but raising them to where they are effective. Erika spouts off in the rear. She was out front smoking before the meeting.
Work on the creeks wasn’t done. Give us a chance and give us the tools to do something.
Feisty old dude again: “We give you the raise … when are you going to start cleaning them? The guy before you and the woman before that didn’t do anything."
Engineer says he has the documentation to prove they’re working.
Woman says nothing is being done behind her house.
England: Only been on it for a couple months (since EMC was canned). “I resent” some of the things I’ve heard, you can’t “scare me politically.” Faces to the FOX news woman and says that he won't be intimidated by news teams.
England: “You can kick all our asses out in two and a half years.”
Describes the garbage fee disparity. “I didn’t bid these contracts, I inherited these contracts.”
“There’s no free lunches.”
“Think about what’s right for the city.”
Coffey: Giving up a new parking garage is called a “priority.” Always back to the new parking garage. “You don’t take away from another fund.”
England: (sarcastically) “Let’s keep on doing it your way, Dan.”
Benedetti: I had a phone call today from an elderly woman who didn’t understand the fees for the garbage. Would something be able to be done for fixed income people who don’t fill their cans up? Like color the cans differently depending on use?
England: Colored cans, a great idea. Could happen if we make things self-supporting.
Much other talk but I got bored. It transpires that a rep from Got Junk is in the room and says his company can pick up all the yard waste and junk for $1.50 a month. England seems delighted and says they'll look into it.
(end part two)
August 3 city council meeting notes: Work session, public hearing and public communications.
As written last evening.
---
I could not get wireless access tonight in the council chambers. The diagnostic showed that I was connected with the city, but the city wasn’t connected with the Internet.
There’s something poetic about that.
I can fully envision the Verizon Wireless man shrugging and saying, “yep – it’s a dead zone,” and fleeing for more hospitable climes.
The work session was in progress at 6:45 p.m. when I walked in. Mrs. Benedetti was chairing in Dan Coffey’s absence, but then he came in, as did Pat McLaughlin.
President Coffey said that there must be something in place to “guarantee” (his words) that any new development won’t result in things going wrong in existing developed areas.
7:15 pm: Jeff Gahan scolds Coffey when Coffey begins the public hearing on the EDIT funding proposal for stormwater by asking whether it was to reimburse flooding victims. Gahan urges him aloud to “read it … check it out.”
Gahan explains that the bottom line is that the stormwater had no money but the Rainy Day fund has $1.3 million, so it should go to projects.
But he immediately contradicts himself (“I stand by that”) that certain “special” cases could still make the case to the board for cash. He does not provide criteria. Gahan repeats that he wants funds to go to projects and also that prime sufferers not be forgotten.
Benedetti: Tort claims will go to insurance company.
Gahan says he knows that, and now twists again to say that he wants corrective project money only, to the storm board, and that the council won’t have control over its use.
Confusing, indeed. Apparently the council is to have its political cake and eat it, too, which is par for the course.
Meeting begins at 7:33 p.m.
Minutes approved without complaint.
Peggy Baas from the Kentuckiana Celtic Foundation appears first to discuss the pre-concert portion of the festival on August 22, a flyer for which was handed out.
Public communications
This week, I’ll skip over the public speaking details because so many of them are going to be similar to what we’ve heard the past few meetings. If someone says something out of the ordinary, or for noteworthy quotes, I’ll list them.
“We’ve had willy-nilly development.”
“We have to control the run-off and the development.”
Ooohh ... Fox-41 arrives to sensationalize the proceedings.
Speaker three gets emotional.
“The problem’s gotten worse … I’ll sell my home cheap, and you can use it for a catch basin.”
Speaker four cries, too. This could get maudlin quickly.
“It’s not fun … we need help.”
Television camera captures the emotion, the work session discussion, which was fairly earnest and constructive. That's the way it works, and there is plenty of emotion for capturing.
Question: “Can we use FEMA funds for these areas?” (Translation: Can the Federal government bail us out?)
Mayor England: “We’re doing it now.”
Speaker number five says a study is not needed, and he takes about ten minutes to make the point: “I’m willing to help, and I won’t charge them a nickel.”
(Voice behind me says, “no more building above us)
“We put England in there, and England ain’t no better than he (Garner) was.”
He now explains his garden and that of his neighbor, featuring green beans and ‘maters. Rather charming, almost Mayberry-like. Steve Price is enamored.
(Coffey interjects: “The bottom line … EMC had the contract … in fairness to the mayor, he went and got the contract back so the city could do the work again.”)
Jason Hublar, the fellow who has been chatting with the FOX camera girl, has started the Falling Run Creek Group, and says that the mayor’s office first told them it was the people’s fault for throwing things into the creek, at least until the television crews began coming out. He graphically describes the sort of sewage debris that oozes up. It's disgusting, for sure.
“The city has enough money that this sort of health concern should have been taken care of the first time it happened.”
“I don’t even like to let my dog outside. It has to be made a priority.”
Describes what will happen when they contact the EPA, not to describe flooding, but to describe human waste all around. Compelling.
“I’m standing here talking right now … if it doesn’t change after this, we’re going to keep going with it.”
Speaker number 7 describes the possibility that e coli bacteria is in her dirt. How can a test be done?
“What’s in our yards?”
“We’re depending on you …” And she doesn’t care about previous governments and their records. She teaches elementary school and makes the point that we can petition government. She’d like to tell her kids that everything worked out.
We’re at about 30 minutes of public speaking time. Speaker number eight reads two letters from people who couldn’t attend.
Mrs. Baird: Does not agree with a tax increase. She likes Steve Price’s idea to charge more to pick up large items of trash. Confirms downtown growth and an impending increase in the tax base. Take a deep breath and wait it out. Says that the city’s taxpayer’s don’t want a tax increase. Several people behind me mumble disagreement with this. I disagree, too. She hears what she wants to hear, and from those she chooses to listen to.
Next guy brings his child to the podium and speaks about how his children are losing their childhood, and the council should do something about it.
I believe we’re at number 10 and 11.
A woman along Green Valley (I think) says that erosion threatens venerable trees, and she has a erosion report that shows the destination for these falling trees to be the creek, which will flood people behind it. Trees are on the edge of the creek, and they used to be 15 yards away.
Says that no one from the city has come in spite of promises to do so.
8:28 ends public input.
Coffey addresses the crowd: “A real eye-opener” … grandstands to the crowd and doubts whether we need new city hall and “parking garages” – shameless display of pandering. “We can’t allow this to go on now that we know.”
One of the classic Coffey pander-thons.
Coffey now begins blathering about accountability and forming new committees to insure accountability. The talking point for the Luddites will now be that we cannot move forward on any front until we can “guarantee” no further damage to these people, as opposed to “them” people.
Exactly how can Coffey "guarantee" anything?
Another speaker comes forward to get emotional and say that never before has water been an issue. Twice within a month she was surrounded by water.
“Pray to God it doesn’t rain hard until August 7” (when flood insurance kicks in).
(end part one)
---
I could not get wireless access tonight in the council chambers. The diagnostic showed that I was connected with the city, but the city wasn’t connected with the Internet.
There’s something poetic about that.
I can fully envision the Verizon Wireless man shrugging and saying, “yep – it’s a dead zone,” and fleeing for more hospitable climes.
The work session was in progress at 6:45 p.m. when I walked in. Mrs. Benedetti was chairing in Dan Coffey’s absence, but then he came in, as did Pat McLaughlin.
President Coffey said that there must be something in place to “guarantee” (his words) that any new development won’t result in things going wrong in existing developed areas.
7:15 pm: Jeff Gahan scolds Coffey when Coffey begins the public hearing on the EDIT funding proposal for stormwater by asking whether it was to reimburse flooding victims. Gahan urges him aloud to “read it … check it out.”
Gahan explains that the bottom line is that the stormwater had no money but the Rainy Day fund has $1.3 million, so it should go to projects.
But he immediately contradicts himself (“I stand by that”) that certain “special” cases could still make the case to the board for cash. He does not provide criteria. Gahan repeats that he wants funds to go to projects and also that prime sufferers not be forgotten.
Benedetti: Tort claims will go to insurance company.
Gahan says he knows that, and now twists again to say that he wants corrective project money only, to the storm board, and that the council won’t have control over its use.
Confusing, indeed. Apparently the council is to have its political cake and eat it, too, which is par for the course.
Meeting begins at 7:33 p.m.
Minutes approved without complaint.
Peggy Baas from the Kentuckiana Celtic Foundation appears first to discuss the pre-concert portion of the festival on August 22, a flyer for which was handed out.
Public communications
This week, I’ll skip over the public speaking details because so many of them are going to be similar to what we’ve heard the past few meetings. If someone says something out of the ordinary, or for noteworthy quotes, I’ll list them.
“We’ve had willy-nilly development.”
“We have to control the run-off and the development.”
Ooohh ... Fox-41 arrives to sensationalize the proceedings.
Speaker three gets emotional.
“The problem’s gotten worse … I’ll sell my home cheap, and you can use it for a catch basin.”
Speaker four cries, too. This could get maudlin quickly.
“It’s not fun … we need help.”
Television camera captures the emotion, the work session discussion, which was fairly earnest and constructive. That's the way it works, and there is plenty of emotion for capturing.
Question: “Can we use FEMA funds for these areas?” (Translation: Can the Federal government bail us out?)
Mayor England: “We’re doing it now.”
Speaker number five says a study is not needed, and he takes about ten minutes to make the point: “I’m willing to help, and I won’t charge them a nickel.”
(Voice behind me says, “no more building above us)
“We put England in there, and England ain’t no better than he (Garner) was.”
He now explains his garden and that of his neighbor, featuring green beans and ‘maters. Rather charming, almost Mayberry-like. Steve Price is enamored.
(Coffey interjects: “The bottom line … EMC had the contract … in fairness to the mayor, he went and got the contract back so the city could do the work again.”)
Jason Hublar, the fellow who has been chatting with the FOX camera girl, has started the Falling Run Creek Group, and says that the mayor’s office first told them it was the people’s fault for throwing things into the creek, at least until the television crews began coming out. He graphically describes the sort of sewage debris that oozes up. It's disgusting, for sure.
“The city has enough money that this sort of health concern should have been taken care of the first time it happened.”
“I don’t even like to let my dog outside. It has to be made a priority.”
Describes what will happen when they contact the EPA, not to describe flooding, but to describe human waste all around. Compelling.
“I’m standing here talking right now … if it doesn’t change after this, we’re going to keep going with it.”
Speaker number 7 describes the possibility that e coli bacteria is in her dirt. How can a test be done?
“What’s in our yards?”
“We’re depending on you …” And she doesn’t care about previous governments and their records. She teaches elementary school and makes the point that we can petition government. She’d like to tell her kids that everything worked out.
We’re at about 30 minutes of public speaking time. Speaker number eight reads two letters from people who couldn’t attend.
Mrs. Baird: Does not agree with a tax increase. She likes Steve Price’s idea to charge more to pick up large items of trash. Confirms downtown growth and an impending increase in the tax base. Take a deep breath and wait it out. Says that the city’s taxpayer’s don’t want a tax increase. Several people behind me mumble disagreement with this. I disagree, too. She hears what she wants to hear, and from those she chooses to listen to.
Next guy brings his child to the podium and speaks about how his children are losing their childhood, and the council should do something about it.
I believe we’re at number 10 and 11.
A woman along Green Valley (I think) says that erosion threatens venerable trees, and she has a erosion report that shows the destination for these falling trees to be the creek, which will flood people behind it. Trees are on the edge of the creek, and they used to be 15 yards away.
Says that no one from the city has come in spite of promises to do so.
8:28 ends public input.
Coffey addresses the crowd: “A real eye-opener” … grandstands to the crowd and doubts whether we need new city hall and “parking garages” – shameless display of pandering. “We can’t allow this to go on now that we know.”
One of the classic Coffey pander-thons.
Coffey now begins blathering about accountability and forming new committees to insure accountability. The talking point for the Luddites will now be that we cannot move forward on any front until we can “guarantee” no further damage to these people, as opposed to “them” people.
Exactly how can Coffey "guarantee" anything?
Another speaker comes forward to get emotional and say that never before has water been an issue. Twice within a month she was surrounded by water.
“Pray to God it doesn’t rain hard until August 7” (when flood insurance kicks in).
(end part one)
Monday, August 03, 2009
But they say they're America's local drug store.
Photos courtesy of NAC's intrepid roving reporter, Anwar Brown.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Diogenes in New Albany ... whatever.
On Friday night, a Bank Street Brewhouse customer asked one of our servers to explain the owner’s political orientation in light of the red stars and socialist tags on the brewing equipment.
Our man made a game effort to interpret, and the customer wrote this on his charge card receipt: “Tell your Commie boss to share the wealth.”
I’m circulating a memorandum to the employees on the topic of what to say when someone asks a question like this. The proper answer is: “I don’t know – we don’t have political indoctrination lectures here.”
But I like this one better: “We don’t care what sort of ‘ist’ he is, just as long as he keeps signing the paychecks.”
Yawn.
Our man made a game effort to interpret, and the customer wrote this on his charge card receipt: “Tell your Commie boss to share the wealth.”
I’m circulating a memorandum to the employees on the topic of what to say when someone asks a question like this. The proper answer is: “I don’t know – we don’t have political indoctrination lectures here.”
But I like this one better: “We don’t care what sort of ‘ist’ he is, just as long as he keeps signing the paychecks.”
Yawn.
The ultimate in masochism.
Monday, August 3 is the occasion of the next city council meeting. In addition, it's my birthday.
Tempting to skip it ... might be time for a flask.
For a meeting preview, visit Daniel Suddeath's Tribune coverage: New Albany Council to take first votes on fee hikes Monday.
Tempting to skip it ... might be time for a flask.
For a meeting preview, visit Daniel Suddeath's Tribune coverage: New Albany Council to take first votes on fee hikes Monday.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" at Bank Street Brewhouse, noon to 3:00 p.m. tomorrow (August 2).
Verily, man does not live by craft beer alone -- even if I've tried for years to prove otherwise.
By virtue of its three-way license, NABC's gastronomical brewpub project is inclusive of spirits, and from the beginning we've elected to eschew the majority of mixed drinks in favor of selected distilled products served neat or on the rocks.
There'll be an exception or two, and Sunday Bloody Sunday is the first. It is the brainchild of John Campbell, whose explanation is below. Once we've done the necessary tasting, SBS will remain a Sunday staple, with an everyday Bloody Mary recipe available during other times.
By virtue of its three-way license, NABC's gastronomical brewpub project is inclusive of spirits, and from the beginning we've elected to eschew the majority of mixed drinks in favor of selected distilled products served neat or on the rocks.
There'll be an exception or two, and Sunday Bloody Sunday is the first. It is the brainchild of John Campbell, whose explanation is below. Once we've done the necessary tasting, SBS will remain a Sunday staple, with an everyday Bloody Mary recipe available during other times.
Sunday Bloody Sunday - A Soft Opening of the New Albanian Bank Street Brewhouse's Bloody Mary Bar
Tomorrow (August 2) from noon to 3:00 p.m. -- hosted by NABC Brand Manager John Campbell.
This was originally set to be an unannounced practice run for the introduction of our "official" Sunday Bloody Mary Bar beginning on Sunday, August 16, but what's a trial session without a fair amount of test subjects? So, here's a last minute invite to pop in for pint (of sorts).
Please join us tomorrow, August 2, for an inaugural run of our premium Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar and construct a cocktail tailored to your personal sense of culinary adventure.
Select the spices and ingredients that you'd like to add, watch as it'sprepared and served over ice in a 20 ounce pint glass rimmed with your choice of Celery Salt or Smoked Sea Salt, and finish it off with a skewer of garnishes chosen from a wide variety of unique olives, pickled and fresh vegetables, and more!
Main ingredients include such items as Whole French Tarragon, Eqyptian Basil Leaves, Fresh Minced Garlic, Horseradish, and a variety of spices from Chef Josh Lehman's kitchen.
Sauces include Tabasco, Worcestershire, Pickapeppa, and Sontava Habanero, for starters.
Garnishes include Pickled Asparagus, Pickled Beans, Thick-sliced Barrel Pickles, Cocktail Onions, Traditional Onions (pickled in vinegar and barley malt extract), Prosciutto and Mozzarella Stuffed Olives, Anchovy Stuffed Olives, Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, Fresh Vegetables, and more.
$7 per pint. Made with Hangar One Vodka. Hangar One is a pot-distilled viognier wine vodka blended with a column still wheat vodka at an independently-owned, American Craft Distillery. www.hangarone.com
Progressives provide the audience, but the performer would rather sing to an empty house.
We went to the library book sale this morning, followed by a visit to the Farmers Market, where we enjoyed a bountiful selection of vegetables and herbs. Tickets were purchased for the forthcoming historic home tour, which again this year includes entry into upstairs apartments in downtown that for decades simply did not exist -- until very recently.
The market was crowded, which is a clear testament to the hard work of so many people during the past few years. Interestingly, the more one gets to know them, the more one realizes that they're are not in lockstep agreement on every facet of life, and yet they work together and are succeeding in pushing back against the forces of inertia and oppositionist sentiment that have characterized New Albany for so long. They share an interest in restoring a notion of community to an undervalued part of the city, something that benefits the entire city by using it to its best effect.
They're saying "yes," and many people are starting to listen.
Some still say "no," which brings us to today's Farmers market musical attraction. It was karaoke, with councilman/musician/nay sayer Steve Price performing classic rock, pop and soul vocals to lush backing tracks.
There's no doubt that he's a good singer. No one should question his credentials as a musician, even if we frequently disagree with his customarily incoherent but numbly repetitive political philosophy of "no," repeated as often as possible whenever conscious, and accompanied by the sound of a stringless guitar when it comes to offering alternatives to the progressive agenda.
To look back through five and half years of CM Price's council votes and positions pertaining to downtown revitalization is to see an overwhelming majority of actions (or more commonly, inactions) that taken together, as a whole, define Price's consistent, mind-numbing opposition to the very conceptual basis of all that has been done by the people mentioned above to bring downtown back to some semblance of life.
The majority of the council's deliberations on revitalization have punctuated by Price's denigration of such efforts. He has lacked any discernable grasp of the concepts involved, and when flustered, can be relied upon to express contempt for the decisions that have resulted from "yes" votes, these being the "yes" votes that have led to there being a crowd of locals to listen to his karaoke this morning. This morning, without the efforts of "them people," he would have channeling Steve Perry and John Fogerty to crickets and tumbling tumbleweeds.
I know my councilman does not possess the ironic gene. He's not alone in that. I know that never in a thousand years would he fathom the pure hypocrisy involved, understand how his positions and votes have been against the interests of his own council district, or see that this morning's Farmers Market was thriving in spite of his political career, not because of it.
I know why he is invited to sing, and I don't deny that as a musician, he's talented.
But why do we work so hard to provide an audience for a performer who advocates the abolition of the audience?
The market was crowded, which is a clear testament to the hard work of so many people during the past few years. Interestingly, the more one gets to know them, the more one realizes that they're are not in lockstep agreement on every facet of life, and yet they work together and are succeeding in pushing back against the forces of inertia and oppositionist sentiment that have characterized New Albany for so long. They share an interest in restoring a notion of community to an undervalued part of the city, something that benefits the entire city by using it to its best effect.
They're saying "yes," and many people are starting to listen.
Some still say "no," which brings us to today's Farmers market musical attraction. It was karaoke, with councilman/musician/nay sayer Steve Price performing classic rock, pop and soul vocals to lush backing tracks.
There's no doubt that he's a good singer. No one should question his credentials as a musician, even if we frequently disagree with his customarily incoherent but numbly repetitive political philosophy of "no," repeated as often as possible whenever conscious, and accompanied by the sound of a stringless guitar when it comes to offering alternatives to the progressive agenda.
To look back through five and half years of CM Price's council votes and positions pertaining to downtown revitalization is to see an overwhelming majority of actions (or more commonly, inactions) that taken together, as a whole, define Price's consistent, mind-numbing opposition to the very conceptual basis of all that has been done by the people mentioned above to bring downtown back to some semblance of life.
The majority of the council's deliberations on revitalization have punctuated by Price's denigration of such efforts. He has lacked any discernable grasp of the concepts involved, and when flustered, can be relied upon to express contempt for the decisions that have resulted from "yes" votes, these being the "yes" votes that have led to there being a crowd of locals to listen to his karaoke this morning. This morning, without the efforts of "them people," he would have channeling Steve Perry and John Fogerty to crickets and tumbling tumbleweeds.
I know my councilman does not possess the ironic gene. He's not alone in that. I know that never in a thousand years would he fathom the pure hypocrisy involved, understand how his positions and votes have been against the interests of his own council district, or see that this morning's Farmers Market was thriving in spite of his political career, not because of it.
I know why he is invited to sing, and I don't deny that as a musician, he's talented.
But why do we work so hard to provide an audience for a performer who advocates the abolition of the audience?
Friday, July 31, 2009
They're here.
Yesterday morning, the little (6" x 6", tops) paper signs went up informing residents on our section of East Spring Street that it would be illegal to park along the street from Monday to Monday, as I recollect my only glance at one of them, and while there may have been exact dates, I don't remember them. The first hard rain of the morning yesterday effectively removed most (probably all) of the signs from view.I'm not sure whether the sanitation contractor or the street department will be charged with cleaning the remnants, which litter both sides.
It's Friday, the pavement stripper's at work outside my window, and the hardhats are going door to door trying to find the owners of the cars still parked along the street. I can see the bare wooden stakes where the sodden strips were attached, at least briefly.
The most wasteful aspect of all this is that we're paving Spring Street without it being part of a comprehensive two-way steet conversion. It will be nice to have a freshly paved street in front of my house.
It would be better for all of us if the street ran both ways and was part of a street network that made sense for a revitalizing urban area. For reasons as yet unknown, apart from a simple absence of political backbone, City Hall climbed down from its principled campaign promise of two-way streets.
The disappointing climbdown, one precipitated but not necessitated by the city council's semi-literate Luddite dithering, becomes part of any future political equation, doesn't it?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wick's debut in New Albany to be slightly delayed.
An extended excerpt, and for one reason only. See below.
Here's the confusing part for me: I spent a good twenty minutes this morning reading the Indiana code (something I wouldn't recommend to anyone interested in preserving his or her sanity), and I still cannot see the relationship between the number of permits (10) permitted in a historic district defined by fairly esoteric criteria (the presence of an opera house?), and the subsequent passage detailing the riverfront development area guidelines.
The riverfront development passage does not refer back to the historic district description, and by my reading, I can't see that there is a limit on the number of three-ways. But I don't doubt that City Hall is on top of it, either. Perhaps this is the reason why the Brewers of Indiana Guild retains an attorney to interpret, although I don't want to squander the retainer asking him the answer because it doesn't matter that much.
It's my guess that by autumn, downtown is going to somewhere near a practical limit for establishments vending alcoholic beverages. Maybe not, and there's still room for a martini bar and port lodge.
I know we have lawyerly readers, and if you're one, are you reading the Indiana codes the same way as I am?
These seem to be the relevant passages:
IC 7.1-3-20-16
Airport restaurants; restaurants in certain economic development areas; redevelopment projects or districts, historic river vessels, cultural centers, historic districts
IC 7.1-3-20-16.1
Municipal riverfront development project; alcoholic beverage permit requirements
Wick’s Pizza opening in New Albany pushed back to fall, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).
The owner of Wick’s Pizza Inc. said it will likely be the end of September when the Louisville-based restaurant chain opens its New Albany location.
Getting a state liquor license has been the holdup, according to owner Michael Wickliffe, as he originally eyed a late summer opening date for a New Albany Wick’s.
The restaurant will fill the former Speakeasy bar and jazz club building at 225 State St. Located within a historic district, Wick’s is eligible for alcohol permits designated for the riverfront area, of which there are only a certain number allotted for New Albany.
The Speakeasy’s permit was voided after it closed. The permits cost $1,000 plus an annual renewal fee.
Mayor Doug England said administration helps restaurants seeking permits by petitioning the state on behalf of the establishment.
“What we’re trying to do is spur the economy,” England said, adding that when New Albany’s permits run out, he plans on asking the state for more than what was originally portioned, similar to Clarksville.
Here's the confusing part for me: I spent a good twenty minutes this morning reading the Indiana code (something I wouldn't recommend to anyone interested in preserving his or her sanity), and I still cannot see the relationship between the number of permits (10) permitted in a historic district defined by fairly esoteric criteria (the presence of an opera house?), and the subsequent passage detailing the riverfront development area guidelines.
The riverfront development passage does not refer back to the historic district description, and by my reading, I can't see that there is a limit on the number of three-ways. But I don't doubt that City Hall is on top of it, either. Perhaps this is the reason why the Brewers of Indiana Guild retains an attorney to interpret, although I don't want to squander the retainer asking him the answer because it doesn't matter that much.
It's my guess that by autumn, downtown is going to somewhere near a practical limit for establishments vending alcoholic beverages. Maybe not, and there's still room for a martini bar and port lodge.
I know we have lawyerly readers, and if you're one, are you reading the Indiana codes the same way as I am?
These seem to be the relevant passages:
IC 7.1-3-20-16
Airport restaurants; restaurants in certain economic development areas; redevelopment projects or districts, historic river vessels, cultural centers, historic districts
IC 7.1-3-20-16.1
Municipal riverfront development project; alcoholic beverage permit requirements
Today's Tribune column: "Sign o' the rabid times."
BAYLOR: Sign o’ the rabid times
This is the year my family reunion came to town. Annual hosting privileges rotate between the cousins, who are the sons and daughters of my mother and her seven brothers and sisters, five of whom now have passed on. With my oldest cousin nearing 70 and only a handful younger than me, it appears that a passing of the torch is imminent. Until then, we soldier on.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Hopback ... and brewing back downtown.
This is the view into the hopback. After the boil, the hot wort pours through these "finishing" hops in route to the chiller and the fermenters, where yeast performs its magic.Yesterday, Dave and Jesse put the brewing equipment through the paces to make a yeast feeder batch, which means that there is yeast multiplying in each of the four fermenters. Today, they brewed a 15-barrel batch of Beak's Best. Tomorrow comes Elector, and on Friday and Saturday there'll be Hoptimus. Bob's Old 15-B Porter follows on Sunday, at which point the fermenters will be full, nature's way will be in full swing, and the crew will decamp to Wisconsin next week for the annual Great Taste of the Midwest. With several intermediate steps yet to come, during the week of the 10th there'll be beer for shipping to the wholesalers.
It's relief to the max. Thanks to every one for waiting so patiently.
Photo credit: Jesse Williams.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Dueling Grounds coffee shop (at Destinations Booksellers) and a downtown status report from Mike Kopp.
Randy Smith at Destinations Booksellers provides this look at progress toward completing the store's coffee shop project (both at 604 E. Spring St.) Contact Randy with questions.
Coffee Shop UpdateMike Kopp, local realtor and president of Develop New Albany, recently circulated the following to DNA’s mailing list.
There's a certain amount of madness, or as one local political aspirant would say, a "curtain" level of craziness going on right now. If you haven't visited recently, you will have missed the new construction work, but that's nothing compared to what's in store over the next two months.
I'm trying to run the store (luckily, we've hired some great new employees to work with Mark and Sophie) while planning a full kitchen build-out and we've just about finalized all of our equipment selections for the new coffee shop. It will be called The Dueling Grounds Café at Destinations Booksellers, and despite previous conjectures, we're going to incorporate the shop into the bookstore building. Next year, we'll probably build a deck out back for al fresco dining where you can enjoy your hot or cold beverages, soups, sandwiches, and desserts.
We're trying to get our final plan drawings completed in the next few days so we can submit them to the state building inspector's office and then we can begin the construction of the kitchen and coffee bar. You smarties who've discovered the rear parking lot may want to avoid the back entrance for awhile, though. We'll be sealing off everything south of my office while the build-out takes place.
While I'm committed to roasting our beans on-site, the capital expenditure right now is enormous, and we are giving strong consideration to sourcing our roasted beans from one of the fine local roasters until next year.
It's official: HobKnobb Coffee will be landing downtown at the former Joy's Coffee Nook on State Street (near State and Spring). Owner Barb Fischer will offer basically what she has at her other location in Floyds Knobs, and I think it will be a welcomed establishment with a good product.
Also official: The vacant building at 501 Pearl Street (formerly the John Vernia & Son Monument Co at the corner of Pearl and Elm) has sold and chances are if you drove by today you will see improvements already being made. This space is being prepared for office occupancy and may be completed by the end of October with a new tenant.
Though we have not closed on the building, there is a new owner coming to spruce up the service station at the corner of Oak and State Streets (former known as EZ Auto). This will be a new look, and it is planned for an official NAPA Auto Center. They, too, will be a U-Haul center but the new owners plan to provide fresh landscaping, renovation and a new look for the entire building, including resurfacing the parking lot and all new lighting for property as well. This will be noticed by September 1st.
A major retailer has downtown New Albany in its sights, so we're still in the running. These folks are out of Chicago and will need 5-10k square feet. They are an “apparel and more” retailer. This will not happen until after the first of the year, should I be successful in convincing them this is where they belong.
Liquidz Bar and Grill will be opening soon at the former Russ's Tavern on E. Main Street (between Pearl and Bank), and 211 E. Main (formerly Ermin’s and B & B, next to Studio’s) is the new location for the Redmens Club as Steinert’s moves in to their new location at 401 E. Main, which had been constructed by the Redmen in 2005.
The Parthenon at 203 E. Main continues to get a facelift as the columns are being repaired, and is it being made ready for a new tenant to be announced. There are new tenants at the southeast corner of Pearl and E Main (Merchants National Bank building). It is a spa of some kind, and that’s all I know, as I did not do the deal. The people from Louisville’s Green Building hope to meet with the city this week, as we have requested an appointment. They have their eyes on the Baptist Tabernacle Church (318 E. 4th) and the Reisz Building on Main Street.
Be sure to participate in one or all of the happenings in downtown. Great things continue to be said about our Farmers Market and the new activity on Fridays at the Amphitheater. Help clear up a few things: Both Wick’s Pizza in the former Speakeasy building on State, and Toast on Market on E. Market will be open soon, and both will have liquor licenses.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Eastern Parkway's "Road Diet" explained.
Stretch Of Eastern Parkway Going On ‘Road Diet’, by Branden Klayko (Broken Sidewalk blog).
A “road diet” is a relatively new technique that enhances the overall functionality of a road. Transportation officials admit is seems a little counter-intuitive to make a better road by removing lanes, but that the idea generates support over time. Officials point out that without a turning lane, traffic is hindered at turning movements and intersections, effectively transforming a four lane road into a two lane road as one lane is blocked.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Still saying it: It's about community.
I met Rory Turner in Bloomington when I was nineteen. He was working on a PhD and I was working on becoming a human being. He was and continues to be a teaching assistant in that endeavor, even though the titles may have changed. His is a way of being heavy without being hard to carry.
When I wrote what was for me the first collegiate piece that I felt went beyond rote academic exercise, it came back from Rory with a letter grade and a three-word addendum: "Say it, man."
Eighteen years later, he and some friends have started blogging and it's nice to return the favor, in response to a short introductory treatise that we'd all do well to consider.
When I wrote what was for me the first collegiate piece that I felt went beyond rote academic exercise, it came back from Rory with a letter grade and a three-word addendum: "Say it, man."
Eighteen years later, he and some friends have started blogging and it's nice to return the favor, in response to a short introductory treatise that we'd all do well to consider.
Communitas and social value
May 18th, 2009 by Rory Turner
Community is one of the great mysteries of human experience. In what ways are we or are we not connected with other people, and other being, animate and inanimate? The notion of communitas proposes that a sense of fellowship is primary to human beings, that through the gifts of presence, resonance, and sharing, we can and do find deeper relationship with one another. A key element of cultural sustainability is to foster that urge to come together in culturally meaningful ways to share through play and other forms of cultural performance, a place to discover and feel communitas. What are some of the ways that you have been able to witness or participate in communitas? What moved you about the experience? What impact did these experiences have for your life?
I believe that such experiences are defining of human life, culture and community. I believe that by helping encourage the human capacities and condition that make communitas possible, we significantly improve the quality and value of life.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
With the family.
This is the year the family reunion came to town. Hosting privileges rotate between the cousins, who are the sons and daughters of my mother and her seven brothers and sisters, five of whom now have passed.
Roughly 40 people turned out for today's finale at the house. They came from as far away as Boston MA, El Paso TX and South Florida. We had pizza from NABC Grant Line, then held the annual family meeting. Because a few attendees were interested in checking out the Bank Street Brewhouse, I agreed to escort them. To my mild surprise, they wanted to walk, and so walk we did. The few grew to around 20, and presently we were examining the brewing equipment and indulging in a scientific sample or three.
Ninety minutes later, and back at the homestead, things began winding down just before the rainfall around 8:00 p.m. The missus joined me on the porch as I smoked a cigar to celebrate a successful conclusion to a familial obligation that I'll not be revisiting until some time around 2017, when I'll be ... a bit older than I am now. Who'll be there then, and who will not?
There's no way to know, and that's why we play the game.
It went very well, overall, and I have no real purpose in writing this beyond marking the event for the historical record. After all, it's my personal blog, too, even if it serves numerous other purposes. I'm exhausted at present, and there's much to put back into place on Sunday. But surprisingly, I feel invigorated by the experience, something that I've not always felt after past gatherings. The belatedness of the sensation can't be explained, although it's appreciated.
Roughly 40 people turned out for today's finale at the house. They came from as far away as Boston MA, El Paso TX and South Florida. We had pizza from NABC Grant Line, then held the annual family meeting. Because a few attendees were interested in checking out the Bank Street Brewhouse, I agreed to escort them. To my mild surprise, they wanted to walk, and so walk we did. The few grew to around 20, and presently we were examining the brewing equipment and indulging in a scientific sample or three.
Ninety minutes later, and back at the homestead, things began winding down just before the rainfall around 8:00 p.m. The missus joined me on the porch as I smoked a cigar to celebrate a successful conclusion to a familial obligation that I'll not be revisiting until some time around 2017, when I'll be ... a bit older than I am now. Who'll be there then, and who will not?
There's no way to know, and that's why we play the game.
It went very well, overall, and I have no real purpose in writing this beyond marking the event for the historical record. After all, it's my personal blog, too, even if it serves numerous other purposes. I'm exhausted at present, and there's much to put back into place on Sunday. But surprisingly, I feel invigorated by the experience, something that I've not always felt after past gatherings. The belatedness of the sensation can't be explained, although it's appreciated.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Marginalized, congenital obstructionists and an embittered wannabeen have their C-J day.
Group distributes signs opposing New Albany tax hikes, by Grace Schneider.Typically, Kochert didn't think of it, and that's the primary reason for a council career bereft of achievement.
A group of New Albany residents has formed a committee to challenge what its leaders contend is a freewheeling tax-and-spend mentality in the city government ... Larry Kochert, a former council member, praised Denhart and the Martins, saying he also has become increasingly concerned about how little “backbone” is being shown by city leaders to rein in spending.
Denhart and others “are doing a good job,” Kochert said. “I wish I'd thought of it myself.”
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