Wednesday, July 25, 2007

24 July 2007 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

24 July 2007 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

Meeting began at 6 PM- Fehrman had to leave by 9 PM

Present: Fehrman, Chairman, Ullrich, Lansing, Morris, Cheek, Maynard Barrott (replacing Mark Mitter), and Kraus, Sr, (arrived at 7:30 PM)

Also present: Cary Pickens, Auditor and Messmore, Administrator.

1. Probation Dept- Judge Jim Humphrey presenting for Steve Bradley- $487.25 approved to bring computer maintenance account back to zero.
Upgrade for computers used since 1997 using 3 quotes for hardware and 2 for software. PBS is current software provider and will probably be selected due to ease of conversion. Council approved $22-25,000 total with $10,000 from the county funds and $12-15,000 from the Adult Probation funds.

2. Humphrey advised Council of need for new recording equipment in courtrooms as Judge Witte’s system died and both his and Witte’s systems will be unrepairable as of next year. They are considering the county’s system currently in use in commissioner’s meeting room. No money budgeted for this yet.

3. LOIT tax- Jeff Dossett- president of AIC (Ass’n of Ind Counties) also with previous experience as Councilman, Auditor and Clerk in Montgomery County gave an overview of 3 options for LOIT taxes to help offset property taxes. HEA (House Enrolled Act) 1478 allows them to use this by putting it back on COIT or CAGIT. Basically, it’s a way to have COIT taxes increased to decrease property taxes by about 4%. It does NOT lower the school tax, which is about 80% of the property tax bill. This affects low-income families the most.

As Councilman Cheek put it- I’m paying COIT to offset my own property taxes. Liz Morris went a step further calling it a “shell game.”

Only Option B had any degree of flexibility and the taxes are collected by the state and then redistributed. So this would create more bureaucracy and paperwork. [NOTE: Why not just lower the taxes?]

Dossett said his county had a 4 % reduction in property taxes with a 0.1% increase in COIT taxes. Some on Council were noting the percentages as” pay .1% and get 4% back- a no-brainer”- which is NOT mathematically correct. (.1% of your income, which is a larger number (example $40,000) does not = 4% of your property taxes, which is a smaller number (example $3,000.)

4. Andrew Harrison- Schneider Corp- for GIS. Harrison said Pickens invited him to present to Council. Harrison said Schneider is the oldest GIS company in Indiana- since 1962. He showed a list of 10 counties including Dearborn and about 10 other political entities that they serve with GIS. Harrison noted more counties doing this and more pressure to get it done form the public as it saves time and improves access to information both inside and outside the courthouse. The CADASTRAL fabric is what is needed as the foundation to tie our current data together. He estimates about a year to get it all done and about $500,000 or so.

Margaret Minzner noted that it takes about 6 months for a property split to be places on Mylar now. With this system, it could get down to 2 weeks.

Thompson spoke in support as well as letters from P/Z, Assessor, and Auditor’s offices.
Minzner got ordinances approved to establish funds for her part time help hired with GIS grants.

No decision yet on GIS services- perhaps at budget hearings.

5. Frank Kramer- attorney for DCRSD- presented – as Mike Hankins was recovering from medical procedure. Kramer noted that DCRSD serves the unincorporated areas of Dearborn County except for those served by VRUC and LMH. Several years ago a study was done by Woolpert and completed early this year showing critical areas needing sewers: High Ridge Estates, Guilford, Stewart and Cole Lane (discovered later) , and unincorporated area around St. Leon and the West Harrison TIF. There are no sewer lines serving these areas.[NOTE: St. Leon has sewer lines in much of that region.]

St. Leon has a treatment plant in the Longnecker, Barber road SR 52 area with a 300,000gpd capacity. They are looking to expand to 600,000 gpd total and we negotiated to participate in that expansion. This does NOT address the NW Quad area- which is separate in Jackson Township. DCRSD is looking to buy 45% of the 300,000gpd capacity or 135,000 gpd. Financially this was discussed with John Watson also- the attorney for St. Leon. 45% of 5,429,000 = $2,433,000 which is our share of the capacity. We also have 45% of $50,000 depreciation fund= $22,500. We would get a wholesale rate of $3.51/1000gal. Current rates in St, Leon at $52 base rate for first 4000 gal which is $13/1000 gal and $4.72/1000 after that. We stopped discussion with St. Leon- no funding- so if we have funding we could resume negotiations. Watson’s letter indicates St. Leon is ready to talk. Costs are engineering estimates – not construction costs. The operating cost of the plant is $3.51/1000gal.

There is uncertainty in the future- and St. Leon plans another 500,000gpd expansion. We are going to be sure we are not locked into the 2nd expansion if we don’t need it. We want the county to get their money back. Stewart St/Cole Lane pay about $10-11 per month in addition to their bill to pay back the county. This will take 40 years or so to accomplish at that rate. The costs for additional line to the West Harrison TIF are $870,000. DCRSD is asking for 45% of the $5mil to be released.

Ullrich: Is there resolution on the forced hook-up situation?

Kramer: We need a fund to loan them and then put a lien on houses or taxes to pay it back. Of course there are drawbacks to selling homes then.
We would have to establish a county ordinance on tap in fees to repay money to the county.

Cheek: DCRSD was to do High Ridge as first priority- how do you pay for it now?

Doug Baer: I’ll be addressing that next.

Fehrman: There’s $4.5 mil in the account.

Lansing: We’re gaining 135,000 gpd capacity. Woolpert says we need 300,000 for the West Harrison TIF! We keep talking about economic development. If this is for homes then I’m not in favor of it. [NOTE: There are several references to homes vs. businesses using the sewage dollars in tonight’s meeting. It looks like the Council thinks the West Harrison TIF usage might be more of a red herring than the real need for the capacity purchase. If DCRSD is pushing to get sewage around St. Leon and not getting enough capacity for the TIF even- then who exactly will be benefitting from this capacity purchase? There are county developers in that area and it would be a conflict of interest for one of them to be involved in this.]

Richard Butler- Attorney for Greendale (and also for the County Redevelopment Commission) - Greendale gets maligned for being in the way of DCRSD. We think we should sewer the most efficient way possible. We also think that people who already have it should not have to pay for others to get it. Is there a cheaper way to do this? You have fixed costs and depreciation of the plant and incremental treatment costs. The more customers you have to spread the fixed costs over- the better. If it costs $870,000 to put lines in the ground then put it in the ground and say to St. Leon- HERE- they are your customers now. If the county puts $900,000 in pipe in the ground, Greendale would take Guilford’s sewage too.

Your costs at St. Leon figure to $18,000 per dwelling and our costs at SDRSD are at $3,000 per dwelling. That’s a 600% difference.

Fehrman: But the county can be involved- it puts the county legitimately in the discussion.

Rozow: Wish Jim West were here to answer this- sometimes we just have to bite the bullet.
It costs $2.1 mil for a pipe from High Ridge to Dillsboro. Batesville and Ripley County are tearing us up in economic development. They have it all in place.

Thompson: The DCRSD was formed to take care of Cole Lane/Stewart St. and High Ridge. It became a countywide district without any public notice and wasn’t even listed on the agenda of commissioner’s meeting. There was no public input. I have previously talked about the irregularities on Cole Lane and Stewart St and payments there. DCEDI’s website does NOT do anything to promote TIF districts- not like their other properties. I have a problem- how are we to pay for economic development? Existing citizens are paying for those lines. We need a more comprehensive plan- I have advocated a countywide coalition- no warfare on service areas and costly lawsuits. I’d vote NO if this were to service housing- that’s not economic development. The additional pipes operations etc are not in this figure. Look at ALL the factors. IF YOU PUT SEWER OUT THERE, WHERE IS THE REST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE- SCHOOLS, ROADS, WATER, AND EMS ETC.? You need to be ready for it all.

Morris: Are there provisions for them to buy us out if we don’t use it?

Kramer: we’re negotiating that.

Morris: The County is looked at unfavorably from the outside- we need to take some actions on some fronts.

Kraus: Mike Rozow- where is all this Ripley County development going on besides Batesville?

Rozow: Well they have shovel ready sites.

Kraus: They have Hillenbrands, which is better than having Argosy.

Butler: Lend your money to the Redevelopment Commission- get a document- an agreement- that REQUIRES payback. Structure it so that you are certain to get taxpayer’s dollars back.

Morris motioned and Barrott 2nd to approve $2,433,000 for St. Leon Expansion. 2 Ayes (Morris and Barrott), 1 Abstain (Kraus who arrived late), and 3 Nays (Ullrich, Lansing, and Cheek) Fehrman didn’t vote- no tie to break. MOTION FAILED.

Doug Baer presented the option for High Ridge Estates where the county would expand and modify the existing permit at Walston’s Trailer Park owned by Rollins and Noel. This could serve High Ridge, Huesman Road and Walstons. The county would operate the package plant and would use 50,000 gpd of the capacity. They can use the other 50,000 gpd for a transfer station to Aurora eventually. The plant will be designed for 100,000 gpd.
Total cost $1.5 mil with 140 users at $10,750 each.
Kraus motioned for $116,000 for design engineering on the sewer package plant.

Thompson noted that 50,000 gpd will be for Gabbard Estates and that high Ridge residents haven’t paid their fees for the past 12 years. High Ridge owns their own distribution lines. [NOTE: If there are 100 homes in Phase 1 Gabbard Estates Development that would average 310 gpd each = 31,000 gpd of the 50,000 excess capacity in the treatment plant.]

Cheek 2nd the motion. 3 ayes (Cheek, Kraus and Ullrich) and 3 Nays (Lansing, Morris, and Barrott) Fehrman broke the tie and voted Aye- Motion Passed.
Morris told Fehrman that she voted Nay because this was for houses- not economic development.


6. Phil Weaver- Clerk- $54,000 approved for voting machines for the visually impaired. 46 machines cost $290,000 and this is what is left for county to pay.
$35,000 was approved from the clerk perpetuation fun (which contains $45,000) to use for imaging equipment to get all court documents digitized for computer storage and eventual microfilm. CSI will furnish the software.

7. Will Stevens for Camp Chazon in Dillsboro requested $3300 from Youth Services fund (which normally only grants $1,000 per year to each requester) for chemicals to treat duckweed blooms on 2 fishing lakes. The Camp is primarily a church camp which also serves Boy Scouts, Respect for Law, and other groups. They have spent $1800 treating the surface problem and bow need $3300 to get at the root of the problem. Approved. Fehrman abstained as he has directed the camp in years past. Stevens noted that he first met Cary Pickens’s daughter, Amanda, when they were both at Camp Chazon.

[NOTE: WOOSH! - That’s the sound of taxpayer money being flushed. Duck weed is next to impossible to eradicate. Some people use it as fertilizer or livestock feed. Perhaps the scouts could consider that project when it grows back.]

8. Aurora Lions requested $1000 from Youth Services for Farmers Fair activities. Approved.

9. Auditor- Cary Pickens- requested $25,000 in legal fees on bankruptcy cases and PSEG appeals. Approved. $26,000 for PERF increases approved. $5,000 from Perpetuation Fund for Minute books approved. $54,000 from old 203 fund ($93,000) in it) for 3 recording systems for judges at $18,000 each. Approved. (See Humphrey’s request for background on this above)

10. Highway- Todd Listerman- Triple Whipple let in Oct and $260,000 transferred into the account to cover this. 80/20 with the state and most will be reimbursed to us later. Approved.
Transfer $100,000 approved from MVHA on equipment insurance that was reduced this year to use for repair and maintenance. Line striping has to be advertised to be transferred for next meeting.

Listerman announced his hiring of Tim Grieve as ass’t hwy supervisor for $39,000 instead of the $54,000 for previous position.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township

101 comments:

Anonymous said...

A note on duckweed.

I treated a heavily duckweed infested 1 acre pond 6 years ago with a product called Sonar. It cost about 250 dollars to treat and it has remained duckweed free for the last 6 years.

Order the chemicals direct from Aquatic Control, located in Seymour, they have a website also:

http://aquaticcontrol.com/

I used half the recommended amount and it still worked great.

Anonymous said...

Oh! I'm glad to see that common sense is prevailing in this County and we are not referring to proposed subdivisions as "shovel-ready sites!

They are just entities that want the rest of us to subsidize their sewers!!!

Anonymous said...

Rozow: "Wish Jim West were here to answer this- sometimes we just have to bite the bullet."

WE being the TAX PAYER, which neither Rozow or West are, considering they do not even live in this County and, if my memory serves me, they do not even live in this State!

Maybe, just maybe, a few Developers could start to bite a few "bullets!"

Anonymous said...

Barrot seems ready to jump right in- has he been at Council meetings before?

Anonymous said...

"Fehrman: But the county can be involved- it puts the county legitimately in the discussion."

$2.4 million to get in the discussion? That's a lot of money with no plan to pay it back to the citizens to just get to talk. Especially if it serves housing!

Who is Mr. Fehrman representing?

Anonymous said...

"Who is Mr. Fehrman representing?"

Fehrman just wants to play "BIG SHOT" with "OUR" money!

His ego has completely taken over his reasoning skills!

Anonymous said...

"Batesville and Ripley County are tearing us up in economic development. They have it all in place." This freom our boy Rozow. So the question arises what has all the economic development and the SHOVEL READY SITEs, done for Ripley County?

Anonymous said...

Has anyone counted the jobs created by the new hospital expansion?

Anonymous said...

Ripley County is "tearing us up" with all their MuzzleLoading extravaganzas!

We need MuzzleLoading parity with Ripley County!

Anonymous said...

I'm feel glad the council had enough sense to turn down DCRSD for the big money...But $116,000 is not "chicken feed". The DCRSD needs to be desolved...NOW!
They are circling like buzzards over the council chambers looking for any scraps they can get.
Wasting time and money is an understatement when it come what DCRSD has accomplished.
Desolve the DCRSD....NOW!

Anonymous said...

Charlie Fehrman works for Maxwell Development. Just ask him. He really does.

Anonymous said...

"Charlie Fehrman works for Maxwell Development. Just ask him. He really does."


The "double-dealing-double-dipping" that takes place in this County is just unbelievable!

Anonymous said...

People can't even take a crap without you people have some issue with it.

Anonymous said...

"People can't even take a crap without you people have some issue with it."

We just want the crap to flow away from our families.

But in order to subsidize you crooks, that may be a problem.

Now, if we could just flush away you development "at any taxpayer cost" FLOATERS!

Anonymous said...

"People can't even take a crap without you people have some issue with it."

Problem being:

We do not want to have to get a loan for you to use the "facilities!"

Anonymous said...

"Has anyone counted the jobs created by the new hospital expansion?"

You only hear there is no development; but, we actually have some high level development! DCEDI and Council seem to be conveniently ignoring that!! WHY! So they can cry about 'no shovel ready sites and no development' so they can beg, borrow and steal more taxpayers money?

Anonymous said...

"Desolve the DCRSD....NOW!"

Amen! Throw the bums (and their flunkies Benning -Secretary and Baer -Executive Secretary) out! Do it now before they squander more taxpayer money on Brett's subdivision.

Anonymous said...

"before they squander more taxpayer money on Brett's subdivision."

What about 'free ride' Dennerline? He already got his! He needs to pay the County back and be gone!

Anonymous said...

"People can't even take a crap without you people have some issue with it."

It matters when they are spending our money to do it! It they only spend their own who would care?

Anonymous said...

From the DCRSD July 19, 2007 notes:
"They tried to do as an investment in the future; but, the TIF districts could be a flop. How will they pay it back then. "DCRSD will be holding the barrel." " Without customers, there is no sense spending the money."

If there is no sense spending money, why are they asking council for the money? Who benefits? Doesn't Maxell have land and developments up north?

Anonymous said...

”Do it now before they squander more taxpayer money on Brett's subdivision.”

But for a few co-conspirators, Brett is loosing even a semblance of those who would even, reluctantly, feign to be one of his “kindred spirits!”

Brett has proven to be what many have had reason to believe he is all along!

Now, lesser scoundrels, are putting “real estate” between them and dimwitted Brett!

Brett has spoiled the environment for all other, more honest, honorable and upright developers and realtors in this community, for some time to come!

Anonymous said...

Butler: Your costs at St. Leon figure to $18,000 per dwelling and our costs at SDRSD are at $3,000 per dwelling. That’s a 600% difference.

Fehrman: But the county can be involved- it puts the county legitimately in the discussion.


The County cannot be involved with Brett Fehrman, Maxwell, Dennerline, Hankins and Benning anywhere in the mix.

Brett Fehrman, et al, have no intention on saving the taxpayers any money nor inconvenience.

The only bank account the above group protects, is their own, regardless the cost to the rest of us!

Anonymous said...

Rozow: Well they have shovel ready sites.
Shovel Ready is the new slogan, the intelligensia of the tax and develop crowd all use it

Up here in the NW Quadrant we've got plenty of shovel ready sites.
Boys and girl of the C of C and the DCEDI simply come on up here and bring your #10 scoops. Pick out whose cow barm or stable that you'd like to work in.

Anonymous said...

Show me a person who uses the term "shovel ready site" and I will show you a simpleton lost amongst and amid his many empty and lazy "catch phrases!"

Anonymous said...

"Show me a person who uses the term "shovel ready site" and I will show you a simpleton lost amongst and amid his many empty and lazy "catch phrases!"

Would that it was that simple. Unfortunately the person using that catch phrase is more likely trying to rob the taxpayers!

Anonymous said...

Crooks are always giving simpletons a bad name!

But at least most members of the DCEDI have two wells to draw from!

Anonymous said...

Ralph your saying and has always
been, not in my yard.

fokes look at his back yard what do you see?

Anonymous said...

Ralph your saying and has always
been, not in my yard.

fokes look at his back yard what do you see?



No Einstein...

...Ralph is saying not to add insult to injury by forcing him and the rest of us to pay, via enforced sewer hook-ups, to subsidize your need to develop your backyard...

...crook!

Anonymous said...

Ralph may very well be a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).

But Brett Fehrman cannot make a profit without utilizing FOPS (From Other Peoples’ Savings)!

Anonymous said...

what is thelocation of the

Gabbard Sub ( back yard einstein)

Anonymous said...

Who do you want to force onto your substandard sewers to subsidize your subdivision?

You all always want to avoid speaking to your plan to force sewers to buffer your profits, why is that?

It is your petty larceny that has led to such a backlash against your mode of development in this county.

Now, are you for developers paying impact fees to pay for the sewers they so desire to pack more people in and on their properties or are you for sticking it to the existing homeowners and farms, no matter the cost to them, just so you can make a profit?

What is your stance on the "No Forced Sewer Hook-up" letter?

And who is on the DCRSD Board pushing sewers to develop his properties?

Speak up Einstein!

Anonymous said...

If these so-called developers cannot afford their projects without forcing their neighbors to get loans to help these developers profit, then they should not be developing. It would seem they are in the wrong line of business. A change of their respective vocations would save the rest of us a lot of money and headaches! Of course, it is always easier to be a BIG TALKER while using someone else's money!!!

Anonymous said...

what is thelocation of the

Gabbard Sub ( back yard einstein)


I don't think you have an understanding of the phrase NIMBY, it does not mean "literally" the backyard. But your side has proven to lack cognitive skills.

It does not matter if it is the Gabbard estate or the Conaway estate, or any other property, they are all considered in OUR backyard and you crooks are still trying to FORCE us to pay for your developments!

Anonymous said...

Elections! Elections! Elections!

May the current flunky crowd carrying the water for their "Development At Any Taxpayer Expense" goons have many sleepless nights!

Anonymous said...

touched

Anonymous said...

touched

Just as long as we are not getting touched in our wallets!

Anonymous said...

These realtor/developers/bankers/lawyers...

...view our taxes...

...and forcing us onto inadequate sewers...

...as an investment in their futures!!!

Anonymous said...

Isn't the DCRSD's cost to projected utility customers some 600% more expensive than what Greendale can offer?

Just whose interests is the DCRSD looking out for?

Anonymous said...

Have you ever used a realtor, developer, banker, or lawyer? A realtor to sell a piece of land for your child to live on, to develop a home for your child to live in, or to have financing for your child, or to have a lawyer handle the legal work for the transfer of a property to your child?

I find it hard to believe you never used one of these indivduals one time or another.

It is plain and simple you need to move somewhere else where your not so upset.

Anonymous said...

Your ability to not comprehend the "real" issue here, which is "FORCED SEWER HOOK-UPS," is quite telling.

No one has a beef with realtors or developers or bankers or lawyers (at not at least more than the usual beef with lawyers)who are not presently trying to STEAL from the rest us to subsidize their personal projects.

FORCED HOOK-UPS!

FORCED HOOK-UPS!

FORCED HOOK-UPS!

Get it now?

Do you think these FORCED HOOK-UPS are fair?

Especially if imposed by Board members with patent conflicts of interests?

Anonymous said...

Speaking of and attorney who is not looking out for our interests:

How is lawyer Ewbank coming with that no enforced sewer hook-up letter?

Anonymous said...

And before we hear the old bromide once again from development crowd, that the State is forcing this upon us, the State is not "imposing" any such thing.

The State has left the issue to the discretion of the local boards. With the thinking that the local boards will have the best interests of all the citizens, not just the developers in mind.

Since our County government has been hijacked by development interests, you can see whose interests they are looking out for!

Anonymous said...

Let us not forget how the additional costs for existing homes of hook up, excavation, pumps and electrical service, are going to have to be added to the selling price of our homes.

So, not only do we have to subsidize these new homes the developers want to build, it is going to make it next to impossible to sell our existing homes if we want to move away from these blasted subdivisions!

That is, like the developers, if we want to recoup our investments in our homes!

Anonymous said...

I find it hard to believe you never used one of these indivduals one time or another.

When we did use the services of these "individuals" it was during an arms length transaction, not being forced, by operation of law, to support either of the parties business dealings!

Anonymous said...

"How is lawyer Ewbank coming with that no enforced sewer hook-up letter? "

That "forced hook-up" letter will be a looong time coming. If lawyer Ewbank writes the letter it will be anti DCRSD. Remember Frank Kramer and Bob Ewbank are law partners.
It's purely a conflict of interest to have Bob Ewbank write this letter.

Anonymous said...

I am tell you it is all one big conspiracy.

All people want to do is screw you over.

Anonymous said...

Conflicts of interests should be part of the DCRSD's charter!!!

If it was not so painfully real, you would swear that the DCRSD's Board is some crazy Monty Python skit on governmental corruption!!!

Anonymous said...

I am tell you it is all one big conspiracy.

All people want to do is screw you over.


And the development lackey skirts the "enforced hook-up" question once again.

These shills can do nothing more than call their criminal acts, a figment of everyone else's imagination.

Forced hook-ups?

Answer the question dear!

Anonymous said...

Don't worry too much about the DCRSD.

In just a few election cycles, it will die a natural and deserving death.

Anonymous said...

The DCRSD was formed to fix the problems of High Ridge Estates.

That was just a ruse.

The emphasis of the Board went immediately to the needs of the Board members themselves.

To the point, that they are now suggesting the taxpayer buy out High Ridge Estates, because their problems are getting in the way of the Board's personal profit agendas!

Anonymous said...

"Remember Frank Kramer and Bob Ewbank are law partners."

Have these folks even opened up the Yellow Pages to "Attorneys?"

Their is a glut of attorneys in this county!

And these governmental boards and commissions cannot find an attorney that is not partners with another board's attorney?

The corruption is simply beyond entrenched in our Development controlled local government!

Anonymous said...

It is a great big conspiracy that homeowners are being told to get loans to pay for the development of others!

Just a conspiracy!

Ain't happening!

No Sir-eeeee!

By the way, on the way out, DO NOT LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN!

Anonymous said...

All persons connected to, or profit from, the DCRSD, need to take a class in remedial ethics.

Anonymous said...

I think the sewer boards were happy that the Gabbard project came about because they were going to have a developer help pay for sanitary line that was needed in that area. It is not the developers fault that the utility companies are forcing hook ups. The developer pays for the lines they put in and they also pay for taps.
The areas along US 50 are not being forced to hook up to help out a developer.
I am not sure how I feel about the sewer hook ups, but I do think that people need to go to the sewer boards of this county if they are not happy with the forced hook ups. The utility companies are the ones making the money off the hook ups not the developers.

Anonymous said...

The "Utility" Company is populated with Development interests.

TGIF, you are a complete and transparent fraud!

Show us all, most knowing one, how a septic system located on 50 is somehow polluting the environment?

Now, please, quit acting like you are some disinterested observer!

Anonymous said...

Poor tgif, she seems to think that politics, as well as life, exists in some sort of vacuum.

Has she not focused on the characters that inhabit entities such as the DCRSD?

I think she has!

But she has been blinded by her quest for profits at the expense of her fellow citizens!

Anonymous said...

I am not sure how I feel about the sewer hook ups...

You, as well as the rest of us, know, how you feel about sewer hook ups!

Peddle your goods somewhere else!

Anonymous said...

Hey TGIF, If the development is going to pay for the sewers, then why all the forced 'hookups'? A DCRSD member said it. The more people that are forced on a system the lower the cost each. That means that developer gets to save more money on each house they build. They save money, they make more profits!

Anonymous said...

"Hey TGIF, If the development is going to pay for the sewers, then why all the forced 'hookups'? "


We are beyond the point where these development types can even pretend that "forced hookups" are about public health.

"Forced hookups" are just a vehicle to provide the sewer service that profit motivated developers need for their respective projects.

Those being forced to "hookup" are just the coerced non-profit sharing partners of the developers.

The DCRSD is for, about and only interested in the well-being of development interests, at the expense of the rest of the citizen/taxpayers of this once honest County!

Anonymous said...

A guess since I am a citizen who doesn't believe the same things you do makes me a fraud. Sorry that you can't beat me down with name calling.
I am not sure of the name of the street the along US 50 that was having septic issues. It was west of the Gabbard property and Aurora was going to build a line out to the house to eliminate the septics for these houses.
I am not a disinterested observer...I have never said I was. I have only stated that I am not a developer or a realtor but a citizen who believes that this County needs economic development.
I don't think that life exists in a vacuum. I just don't the world should revolve around just me like some others do. I don't profit from any citizens. I pay my taxes just like everyone else and I am concerned that they will continue to rise if we don't have some more tax producing businesses in this county.
I don't know how I feel about sewer hook ups because I don't know the entire true stories. I live on a septic system. So I couldn't tell you were I stand because I haven't gone through it or known anyone that has.
You need to ask the sewer boards why they have forced hook ups. It doesn't mean a developer would save money the more people that are forced to hook up. You could say that about anything when someone is trying to save money, in any type of business.
I think you people just have a problem with developers because you need to find a simple reason to be mad at someone. If it wasn't for developers you wouldn't have a place to shop.

Anonymous said...

Tgif still pushing her nonsense.

Anonymous said...

Have you run out of things to bitch about?

Or is the good debate finally making you think about who is the real issue behind forced hook ups.

Anonymous said...

Who is so strung out on this forced sewer hookup issue?

When I read this blog it seems like everything centers around this issue.

Get over it.

Anonymous said...

Yeah!

We should just all lay down for development interests in the county!

As long as a few developers are making money, it should not matter if the rest of us have to get loans to subsidize their projects!

Anonymous said...

good debate

FUNNY!!!

A broken record, all development is wonderful, even if the rest of us have to pay for it shill, thinks her nonsense is debate!

Tell us again how it is just beyond you that development interests have not hijacked our local government?

Anonymous said...

Who is so strung out on this forced sewer hookup issue?

How about anyone who is forced to get a loan to hook up to substandard pressurized sewer lines and grinder pumps, for no other reason than a realtor/developer wants to put a subdivision on a parcel of farm land they purchased on the cheap?

Anonymous said...

"Get over it."

So says a developer who wants the rest of us to insure his profits!

Anonymous said...

I don't think that development interest have hijacked our local government because there is no development going on in this county.

If you would look at how many projects have been approved over the past few years, the numbers are going down. So if the developers rule the government tell me why there isn't one or two projects approved each month in Dearborn County.

Anonymous said...

tgif...you are are not even worth the effort to respond.

Anonymous said...

Read the papers slick, development is down across the entire country.

In fact another mortgage bank hedge fund just went belly up this week!

Or was this mortgage bank failure caused by the few folks in Dearborn County who refused to hook up to one of your developer friend's sewer lines?

Anonymous said...

The local developers are desparate, that is why they are doing their best to extort the rest of us, via forced sewer hookups, to subsidize their failing asses!

When they should be looking into job training in another vocation!

Anonymous said...

Development is down everywhere...

...so let us give our local developers...

...a license to steal from our neighbors!!!

Anonymous said...

Development is down everywhere?

So that is OK to you, that there is the potential for job loss?

What is Chistine going to do now?

Anonymous said...

"So that is OK to you, that there is the potential for job loss?"

So we should let you steal from your neighbors to keep your jobs?

And why is your job more important than the next fellow's job?

We all have experienced downturns in our lifetimes.

Stealing is never the answer!

Anonymous said...

We learned from this blog that a product called Sonar will kill Duckweed.

My question is:

WOULD IT KILL THE DICKWEEDS IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRYING TO STEAL IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT?

Anonymous said...

WOULD IT KILL THE DICKWEEDS IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRYING TO STEAL IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT?

A jury of their peers would do away with most of these DICKWEEDS!

Anonymous said...

"What is Chistine going to do now?"

I think she will diligently carry on with her so far successful march to clean up the County, removing the likes of you from County Government as she goes!

Anonymous said...

"So that is OK to you, that there is the potential for job loss?"

What about the good, decent and church going people you are forcing to get loans to pay for sewers to somehow save your construction jobs?

That is OK?

As long as you don't have to get a loan to tide you over during your employment down cycle?

Anonymous said...

tgif said:"I don't think that development interest have hijacked our local government because there is no development going on in this county.

If you would look at how many projects have been approved over the past few years, the numbers are going down. So if the developers rule the government tell me why there isn't one or two projects approved each month in Dearborn County."

Answer: Because the developers have enough to keep afloat right now in the market downturn. They aren't bringing much in.
It's the economy.
It's the economy.
Did you hear me now?
IT'S THE ECONOMY!

Anonymous said...

Yes I read the paper and listen to the news. I wasn't just talking about this year. There hasn't been much approved in the last several years and that has nothing to do with how the economy is right now. So if over the last several years there hasn't been much approvals for development, I would ask again how you feel the developers have hijacked the government.

Prior to the economy of today, if the developers had control of the government development would have been fast growing, which has not been the case.

Anonymous said...

How much development do you want?

Do you want all the zoning laws thrown at the window?

Do you want subdivisions everywhere a realtor/developer can get a good price on farmland?

I have seen many new homes built in the past years!

I have seen 50, between Greendale and Aurora explode!

Dearborn County is not the mess that Northern Kentucky is and thank God for that!

If you want to live like that, it is just short drive and a bridge away!

You will not be happy until developers get unrestricted license to do what they want, where they want and anytime they want!

Sorry! Ain't going to happen!

The law of supply and demands applies here!

And as it stands we have far too great of a supply of realtor/developers than the demand for realtor/developers!

The less sucessful need to look into diferent careers!

Anonymous said...

Tgif, you must love the way the VRUC has sued its own members because its members did not want to fund the VRUC Board members' private developments!

You seem to be all for forcing others to subsidize your interests!

Anonymous said...

Greendale already has "shovel ready sites" and no one is busting doors down to commercially develop it.

Whose fault is that?

Our whinning local developers will not be satisfied until the taxpayer takes all the risks for their developments!

Anonymous said...

Developers have hijacked the government by taking a disproportionate number of seats on several boards. Some personally as on the DCRSD and some by proxy with their "hand-picked" members. And in the latest commissioners race it wasn't enough to have 2/3 seats on that board. Development intersts wanted the whole board. Where is the voice, where is the choice in that?
Squelching all opposition sounds more like a totalitarian regime than the USA.

Anonymous said...

cc said...

Developers have hijacked the government by taking a disproportionate number of seats on several boards.


Tgif, read what cc has to say, and then remember that development has it tentacles so deep in county politics, it was able to persuade the local "republican" leadership to run a "democrat" in the general election because the republican "development choice" lost in the primary.

Does Linkmeyer ring a bells for you, tgif?

Anonymous said...

Did it not go as far as a local "republican" attorney “big-wig” in "republican" politics flat out told his fellow "republicans" that not to vote for the "democrat" in the general would lead to political repercussions for such "republicans?"

Anonymous said...

you must mean Ewbank?

Anonymous said...

"you must mean Ewbank?"

Why, were you one of the "republicans" on the receiving end of a condscending lecture from Ewbank?

Anonymous said...

Ewbank?

Isn't he the law partner of Frank Kramer, who is the Board Attorney for the DCRSD?

Sounds kinda of fishy!

Anonymous said...

Kramer?

Isn't he the law partner of Bob Ewbank, who is the Board Attorney for the Dearborn County Commissioners?

That sounds equally fishy!

Anonymous said...

How best to corner the market on inside info?

Anonymous said...

Only in Dearborn County, would attorneys, who were "forced" to study legal ethics in law school and in whatever continuing legal education they are required to fulfill, would this type of arrangement be countenanced!

Anonymous said...

If only it were just in the county- it's at all levels of government. BUT- as it has been said- all politics is local- and that's where the cleanup needs to start- in our own backyards.

Anonymous said...

"the cleanup needs to start- in our own backyards"

Exactly. The primaries are coming on sooner than we realize. We've got to find decent candidates who the puppeteers such as the Dcedi and the C of C don't control. They've got to be ready to take on the question of conflict of interest which can be a real problem for those involved in it. They've got to get the United States Attorney's office interested in looking around Dearborn County for violation of the Federal Honest Service Statute. There's a commissioner in South Florida who is getting 5 years of three squares a day, clean undies and a clean orange suit for messing with violating that one.

It's going to take work on everyone's part and MONEY. One can imagine that the 5k donors of the DCDEI and the same people in the Lawrenceburg Chamber of Commerce will pull out all the stops this time to get their way. They may have become desperate.

Remember Thompson won by only 26 votes. We've got to do better.

Since the local Republican party helped DEFEAT Sodrel through their deplorable electioneering by favoring Mr. Linkmeyer against their own candidate one wonders how to start a reform ticket. Should it be a reform Republican party, should it be simply a big tent party?

Anonymous said...

"Remember Thompson won by only 26 votes. We've got to do better."

And yet, no one requested a recount.

Were they afraid that an honest and impartial recount would find more votes for Thompson?

Anonymous said...

The way he brags you would think he won by 1,026 votes

haha

even we get tried of his bragging.

Anonymous said...

alan freemond said:
Batta did get so lucky he didnt get
orange suit and 3 squares just a slap

see see

Anonymous said...

Thompson beat two corrupt political machines!

Next election, after the development lackeys lose the primary, the republican development crowd will run a democrat, a communist and a national socialist against the rank and file chosen republican candidate...

...and they still will lose!

Anonymous said...

"...even we get tried of his bragging."

Vera lost and she still acts like pompous ass!

Anonymous said...

Mention Vera's name to residents of Farmers Retreat and Dillsboro and you would swear those folks just chewed on a bag of lemons, rinds and all!

Anonymous said...

alan freemond said:

Batta did get so lucky he didn't get orange suit and 3 squares just a slap

Nope I didn't say that. Perhaps we ought to worry about the reading ability of various products of the local school system.

BTW Batta is a friend of mine!!!!!