POPE, FEHRMAN, WYLY, WITTE, CLEARY, AND BLONDELL ON theflypod.com
Greetings Dearborn County Listeners & Subscribers --
We encourage you to listen to the following local political candidate interviews. Of course you can subscribe to all of our shows absolutely FREE -- for loading onto your iPod or MP3 player, just visit our website. It's very simple. However, for the moment, if you have a high-speed internet connection and working speakers connected, simply click on the following direct show-links to listen. If you would like to download your own free copy of any of these shows (for personal use), they are available on our website along with nearly 500 other show selections -- www.TheFlyPod.com
Show #1 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Judge of Dearborn County Superior Court #1 - A second interview with BARB WYLY (D). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11171
Show #2 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Judge of Dearborn County Superior Court #1 - A second interview with TOM BLONDELL (D). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11188
Show #3 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Judge of Dearborn County Superior Court #1 - A third interview with JUDGE G. MICHAEL WITTE (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11189
Show #4 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: At-large candidate for re-election to Dearborn County Council - An interview with CHARLIE FEHRMAN (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11200
Show #5 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Judge of Dearborn County Superior Court #1 - A third interview with JON CLEARY (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11202
Show #6 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate running for Dearborn County Commissioner - An interview with RICK POPE (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11203
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Friday, May 02, 2008
Send Hughes a Message He Can Actually Hear
Send Hughes a Message He Can Actually Hear
published in Register Publications
Most people have responsibilities to their jobs and families that prevent them from following local Dearborn County politics very closely. But every once in a while, an election takes place that will gravely affect our community and should compel us to look more closely at the candidates.
On May 6, voters will have an opportunity to decide whether or not Jeff Hughes should continue in his role as a Dearborn County Commissioner. I’m writing to encourage you to look closely at Mr. Hughes’s record and help ensure this doesn’t happen.
Please don’t misunderstand me. Mr. Hughes is a genial man, and he’ll be more than happy to talk with you after a meeting or invite you to call him in his office. Just don’t expect your words to influence him.
He makes his decisions based on an earnest belief that you should be able to do whatever you want with your property—which sounds pretty inviting, doesn’t it? But, stated in another way, he believes your neighbor should be able to do absolutely anything with his property, too, regardless of the consequences to your property. No matter if your neighbor plans to sell his land to a developer to create a high density subdivision or an apartment complex or a commercial dump. And no matter how such development might affect your taxes, your lifestyle, or the value of your home.
In a recent guest column for this newspaper, Hughes stated that shifting “land use decisions from property owners to the government is a horrible idea,” and certainly, shifting all land use decisions from property owners to government is a horrible idea. But we pay Mr. Hughes our tax dollars precisely because our community, like every single other community in this country, recognizes that it needs a representative government to listen to voters and help us to negotiate where to build low and high density subdivisions, or if it’s OK to build a factory next door to your home, or an adult video store across from a school.
Mr. Hughes’ inability to comprehend this simple premise has made a lot of property owners uneasy, but, as many people who have talked with him know, he’s not going to let it bother him.
For the three and a half years Mr. Hughes has been a County Commissioner, he has demonstrated a constant disregard for the desires of the people of Dearborn County. Most recently, in November, he voted to table the Future Land Use Map, a proposed guideline to encourage smart growth in the county—a guideline to help build our economy without destroying the county’s rural character, creating more traffic nightmares, or greatly increasing our taxes. Concerned citizens throughout the county, including numerous developers and real estate agents, took part in nearly two years of workshops, hearings and negotiations, to formulate a plan that would be in the best interest of everyone in the county.
And yet Mr. Hughes refused to approve it. Why? Although people familiar with Hughes’s voting record might argue it was because a few wealthy developers in the area did not want to see it passed, Mr. Hughes lamely protested that he doubted “the efforts of the planning commission in informing the public about this map.”
There is good reason to doubt he is being honest. Those working on the Future Land Use Map held countless public workshops and hearings, sent postcards to every home in the county, and gave reason for innumerable stories about the subject in this paper. Assistant News Editor Denise Freitag Burdette remarked in a recent editorial that in the ten years she has covered county politics, she “has never seen more effort placed into making a process open to the public,” and that Hughes’s statement “was an insult to the planning and zoning department and to the advisory committee members who have worked hard to put the map together.”
The great irony of Mr. Hughes’ claim to care about community involvement in county politics is obvious to anyone who has stepped foot in a county commissioner’s meeting during his time in office. When he assumed office in 2005, Mr. Hughes and the two other commissioners instituted a new rule for commissioner’s meetings, which made it more difficult for community members to voice their opinions. No longer could you simply attend a meeting and raise your hand to speak. During the tenure of Jeff Hughes, citizens interested in speaking would have to sign up a week in advance. Oh, and if you disobey the new rule, there is now a deputy (not required by Indiana state law) who may be directed to escort you from the room.
The reason for this new rule is evidently that Commissioner Hughes considers it a needless interruption of his meeting to listen to what the community thinks about an issue when he already knows how he’s going to vote.
It doesn’t matter if the Dearborn County Planning Commission has reported that allowing more poorly planned high density subdivisions only results in higher property taxes. Mr. Hughes will continue to encourage them with sympathetic sewer board and planning commission appointments as well as his ultimate approval.
At the last Commissioner’s meeting, for example, without any timely public disclosure of the opening that would invite other candidates, Mr. Hughes joined Commissioner Fox in appointing an Ohio insurance salesman with no relevant education or work experience to the Dearborn County sewer board, to make decisions about our sewers. Citizens may wonder if appointees like this one will be more concerned with the community’s health or their own enrichment.
But such worries don’t influence Mr. Hughes. He evidently believes all he needs is his simple-minded views about property rights, and his own infallible judgment. On election day, Tuesday, May 6, please join me in sending him a message he can’t ignore.
BHG
Lawrenceburg Township
published in Register Publications
Most people have responsibilities to their jobs and families that prevent them from following local Dearborn County politics very closely. But every once in a while, an election takes place that will gravely affect our community and should compel us to look more closely at the candidates.
On May 6, voters will have an opportunity to decide whether or not Jeff Hughes should continue in his role as a Dearborn County Commissioner. I’m writing to encourage you to look closely at Mr. Hughes’s record and help ensure this doesn’t happen.
Please don’t misunderstand me. Mr. Hughes is a genial man, and he’ll be more than happy to talk with you after a meeting or invite you to call him in his office. Just don’t expect your words to influence him.
He makes his decisions based on an earnest belief that you should be able to do whatever you want with your property—which sounds pretty inviting, doesn’t it? But, stated in another way, he believes your neighbor should be able to do absolutely anything with his property, too, regardless of the consequences to your property. No matter if your neighbor plans to sell his land to a developer to create a high density subdivision or an apartment complex or a commercial dump. And no matter how such development might affect your taxes, your lifestyle, or the value of your home.
In a recent guest column for this newspaper, Hughes stated that shifting “land use decisions from property owners to the government is a horrible idea,” and certainly, shifting all land use decisions from property owners to government is a horrible idea. But we pay Mr. Hughes our tax dollars precisely because our community, like every single other community in this country, recognizes that it needs a representative government to listen to voters and help us to negotiate where to build low and high density subdivisions, or if it’s OK to build a factory next door to your home, or an adult video store across from a school.
Mr. Hughes’ inability to comprehend this simple premise has made a lot of property owners uneasy, but, as many people who have talked with him know, he’s not going to let it bother him.
For the three and a half years Mr. Hughes has been a County Commissioner, he has demonstrated a constant disregard for the desires of the people of Dearborn County. Most recently, in November, he voted to table the Future Land Use Map, a proposed guideline to encourage smart growth in the county—a guideline to help build our economy without destroying the county’s rural character, creating more traffic nightmares, or greatly increasing our taxes. Concerned citizens throughout the county, including numerous developers and real estate agents, took part in nearly two years of workshops, hearings and negotiations, to formulate a plan that would be in the best interest of everyone in the county.
And yet Mr. Hughes refused to approve it. Why? Although people familiar with Hughes’s voting record might argue it was because a few wealthy developers in the area did not want to see it passed, Mr. Hughes lamely protested that he doubted “the efforts of the planning commission in informing the public about this map.”
There is good reason to doubt he is being honest. Those working on the Future Land Use Map held countless public workshops and hearings, sent postcards to every home in the county, and gave reason for innumerable stories about the subject in this paper. Assistant News Editor Denise Freitag Burdette remarked in a recent editorial that in the ten years she has covered county politics, she “has never seen more effort placed into making a process open to the public,” and that Hughes’s statement “was an insult to the planning and zoning department and to the advisory committee members who have worked hard to put the map together.”
The great irony of Mr. Hughes’ claim to care about community involvement in county politics is obvious to anyone who has stepped foot in a county commissioner’s meeting during his time in office. When he assumed office in 2005, Mr. Hughes and the two other commissioners instituted a new rule for commissioner’s meetings, which made it more difficult for community members to voice their opinions. No longer could you simply attend a meeting and raise your hand to speak. During the tenure of Jeff Hughes, citizens interested in speaking would have to sign up a week in advance. Oh, and if you disobey the new rule, there is now a deputy (not required by Indiana state law) who may be directed to escort you from the room.
The reason for this new rule is evidently that Commissioner Hughes considers it a needless interruption of his meeting to listen to what the community thinks about an issue when he already knows how he’s going to vote.
It doesn’t matter if the Dearborn County Planning Commission has reported that allowing more poorly planned high density subdivisions only results in higher property taxes. Mr. Hughes will continue to encourage them with sympathetic sewer board and planning commission appointments as well as his ultimate approval.
At the last Commissioner’s meeting, for example, without any timely public disclosure of the opening that would invite other candidates, Mr. Hughes joined Commissioner Fox in appointing an Ohio insurance salesman with no relevant education or work experience to the Dearborn County sewer board, to make decisions about our sewers. Citizens may wonder if appointees like this one will be more concerned with the community’s health or their own enrichment.
But such worries don’t influence Mr. Hughes. He evidently believes all he needs is his simple-minded views about property rights, and his own infallible judgment. On election day, Tuesday, May 6, please join me in sending him a message he can’t ignore.
BHG
Lawrenceburg Township
Many Candidates Means Hope for Dearborn County
Many Candidates Means Hope for Dearborn County
This was previously published by Register Publiations
This year Commissioners and Council have several candidates from both parties vying for positions.
It is a clear indication that the public is not satisfied with the performance of their elected officials.
I am not satisfied either.
The tone of the Fox/Hughes administration was set just before the first commissioner’s meeting in January 2005 when Jeff Hughes and the not-yet- appointed county attorney unceremoniously fired the county administrator right before the meeting. Lack of civility continued, requiring paid police officers at commissioner’s meeting to enforce the new rule: Public comment is not allowed at meetings unless you get on the agenda a week in advance.
By March 2005 Commissioners shut down expert witnesses and attorneys at public hearings for zone changes. To top it off they told police officers to usher the crowd out at the end. One brave soul likened it to Nazi Germany and the county attorney berated her for her comment.
Members of the audience snickered, just before the Pledge of Allegiance at the 19 June 2007 Commissioners meeting, when a citizen whispered, “This is the only time the citizens are allowed to speak.”
Even when citizens are on the agenda their reception is variable, depending upon their opinion of development issues in the county.
Jeff Hughes attempted to open up public discussion in a letter to the editor, but later backed down to just staying after the meeting to listen to anyone wishing to speak. Who changed his mind?
I wonder why commissioners need police protection but the Plan Commission, which has the most contentious issues in the county, has never resorted to that?
Since 2005, Fox and Hughes have taken a strong pro-development stance. They approved nine zone changes - seven of them were residential. (Maxwell -4, Tucker-1, Kent-1, and Rohe Development-1) Commissioners approved three TIF (tax incremental financing) districts with minimal PUBLIC discussion.
Council and Commissioners consistently appoint pro-development board members-some with obvious conflicts of interest. Taxpayers ended up paying for plans and infrastructure, which clearly benefited some appointees.
Special interests do not have to get on the agenda in advance; sometimes they are not on the agenda at all! Lehner, attorney for DCEDI (Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative), came in August without being listed on the agenda and got a service contract signed for DCEDI, a loophole designed to eliminate public oversight of their organization. She did it again in November for DCRSD (Dearborn County Regional Sewer District) and, without any public discussion, it became a COUNTY WIDE SEWER DISTRICT! She sent over wording in June 2006 to amend the November meeting minutes to show discussion.
Discussion? What discussion? DCRSD and DCEDI failed on many levels and the costs keep growing.
On 7 February 2006 Brian Messmore, the County Administrator, mentioned getting requests for qualifications for COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES, which is a fancy title for some company getting a cut of all the projects they manage. After the meeting I asked what the company name was. He said Vieste and he “thought” they were from Indy. Citizen research began on Vieste.
By July 2006, Messmore was talking about “partnering” with Vieste and Level 5 Engineering. In late August, Vieste presented to Council with NO public input, and on 5 Sept 2006 Messmore presented their contracts to commissioners for signing “after much debate.” There was NO PUBLIC DEBATE!
By 16 Jan 2007, the public outcry on this process filled the commissioner’s room as word of the plans for the NW QUADRANT became “public.” Public testimony revealed two realtors and DCEDI’s president sought sellers without advising them of the true scope of the commissioners’ plans. How did DCEDI and realtors find out ahead of the public?
By June 2007, Commissioners signed (with Hughes lamenting the loss of economic development) the final termination contract with Vieste with taxpayer expenditures of over $300,000 plus an additional $300,000 given to DCEDI to acquire land. What did the taxpayers get?
The County Master Plan passed in 2004. The future land use map amendment to that plan received a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission in October 2007.
Commissioners tabled it in November and it remains tabled. At that meeting, Commissioner Fox asked me, “Do you mean I can’t sell it (land) and get development price? I might have to wait ten years?” In February 2007, he wanted willing sellers in the NW Quadrant- at low prices. By November, he was worried about getting the full equity out of land ASAP. Fox, his brother Randy, and their spouses own almost 90 acres. The adjoining 150 acres land on Bonnell by Collier Ridge was purchased by RTR, LLC – the tax bill is mailed to developer Tom Kent’s address. Does Fox have personal land development plans?
When Commissioner Thompson asks Fox and Hughes to address forced sewer hook-ups, opening the meetings, or requiring resumes for appointees, he gets lip service and little action. It will take two commissioners to change this pattern and open up the meetings.
When Fox and Hughes limited public debate, it led to poor decisions, poor acceptance by the public, wasted tax money, and a lack of publicly determined goals.
I hope this election changes that.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
This was previously published by Register Publiations
This year Commissioners and Council have several candidates from both parties vying for positions.
It is a clear indication that the public is not satisfied with the performance of their elected officials.
I am not satisfied either.
The tone of the Fox/Hughes administration was set just before the first commissioner’s meeting in January 2005 when Jeff Hughes and the not-yet- appointed county attorney unceremoniously fired the county administrator right before the meeting. Lack of civility continued, requiring paid police officers at commissioner’s meeting to enforce the new rule: Public comment is not allowed at meetings unless you get on the agenda a week in advance.
By March 2005 Commissioners shut down expert witnesses and attorneys at public hearings for zone changes. To top it off they told police officers to usher the crowd out at the end. One brave soul likened it to Nazi Germany and the county attorney berated her for her comment.
Members of the audience snickered, just before the Pledge of Allegiance at the 19 June 2007 Commissioners meeting, when a citizen whispered, “This is the only time the citizens are allowed to speak.”
Even when citizens are on the agenda their reception is variable, depending upon their opinion of development issues in the county.
Jeff Hughes attempted to open up public discussion in a letter to the editor, but later backed down to just staying after the meeting to listen to anyone wishing to speak. Who changed his mind?
I wonder why commissioners need police protection but the Plan Commission, which has the most contentious issues in the county, has never resorted to that?
Since 2005, Fox and Hughes have taken a strong pro-development stance. They approved nine zone changes - seven of them were residential. (Maxwell -4, Tucker-1, Kent-1, and Rohe Development-1) Commissioners approved three TIF (tax incremental financing) districts with minimal PUBLIC discussion.
Council and Commissioners consistently appoint pro-development board members-some with obvious conflicts of interest. Taxpayers ended up paying for plans and infrastructure, which clearly benefited some appointees.
Special interests do not have to get on the agenda in advance; sometimes they are not on the agenda at all! Lehner, attorney for DCEDI (Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative), came in August without being listed on the agenda and got a service contract signed for DCEDI, a loophole designed to eliminate public oversight of their organization. She did it again in November for DCRSD (Dearborn County Regional Sewer District) and, without any public discussion, it became a COUNTY WIDE SEWER DISTRICT! She sent over wording in June 2006 to amend the November meeting minutes to show discussion.
Discussion? What discussion? DCRSD and DCEDI failed on many levels and the costs keep growing.
On 7 February 2006 Brian Messmore, the County Administrator, mentioned getting requests for qualifications for COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES, which is a fancy title for some company getting a cut of all the projects they manage. After the meeting I asked what the company name was. He said Vieste and he “thought” they were from Indy. Citizen research began on Vieste.
By July 2006, Messmore was talking about “partnering” with Vieste and Level 5 Engineering. In late August, Vieste presented to Council with NO public input, and on 5 Sept 2006 Messmore presented their contracts to commissioners for signing “after much debate.” There was NO PUBLIC DEBATE!
By 16 Jan 2007, the public outcry on this process filled the commissioner’s room as word of the plans for the NW QUADRANT became “public.” Public testimony revealed two realtors and DCEDI’s president sought sellers without advising them of the true scope of the commissioners’ plans. How did DCEDI and realtors find out ahead of the public?
By June 2007, Commissioners signed (with Hughes lamenting the loss of economic development) the final termination contract with Vieste with taxpayer expenditures of over $300,000 plus an additional $300,000 given to DCEDI to acquire land. What did the taxpayers get?
The County Master Plan passed in 2004. The future land use map amendment to that plan received a favorable recommendation from the Plan Commission in October 2007.
Commissioners tabled it in November and it remains tabled. At that meeting, Commissioner Fox asked me, “Do you mean I can’t sell it (land) and get development price? I might have to wait ten years?” In February 2007, he wanted willing sellers in the NW Quadrant- at low prices. By November, he was worried about getting the full equity out of land ASAP. Fox, his brother Randy, and their spouses own almost 90 acres. The adjoining 150 acres land on Bonnell by Collier Ridge was purchased by RTR, LLC – the tax bill is mailed to developer Tom Kent’s address. Does Fox have personal land development plans?
When Commissioner Thompson asks Fox and Hughes to address forced sewer hook-ups, opening the meetings, or requiring resumes for appointees, he gets lip service and little action. It will take two commissioners to change this pattern and open up the meetings.
When Fox and Hughes limited public debate, it led to poor decisions, poor acceptance by the public, wasted tax money, and a lack of publicly determined goals.
I hope this election changes that.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Thursday, May 01, 2008
WSCH POSTS CANDIDATE NIGHT AUDIO CLIPS
Candidates Night Draws Nearly One Hundred Citizens
Candidates Night started promptly at 6 PM at the North Dearborn Library organized by Bob Bissett who served as moderator. Sixteen candidates were present. Rick Fox and Casey Finnegan did not come. Charlie Fehrman sent an email with regrets due to a family problem at his church.
Bissett’s opening remarks stated that he wanted to learn more and thought he’d help the community in the process. Bissett was originally from PA and his wife is from Dearborn County. They live in Kelso Township. The Bissetts met at Mount St. Joe, where he received his degree at age 46 and he completed his masters at Ball State at age 57. He was concerned that SD school were $90 million in debt, that a comprehensive capital plan was proposed with a $70 + million price tag, that there were major issues with St. Leon sewers, and tax assessment seemed to be an on-going problem.
Bissett outlined the rules- 6 minute each and 3 minutes for questions. Candidates were not allowed to go after each other. He outlined the Commissioner and Council jobs and asked Judge Witte to do the same for the Superior Court 1 position. Candidates would speak via random draw with preschooler Bridgette (sp?) Blondell pulling the names.
WSCH’s Mike Perleberg (FM 99.3) covered the event and has posted a summary online as well as airing clips of candidates statements during their news broadcasts on Thursday. http://eaglecountryonline.com/
(Register Publications also has Tues and Thurs papers this week with comprehensive interviews of candidates in opposing elections as well as ads from all candidates for more information.)
Rather than summarizing their statements- I think the best way to get a flavor of each of these people is to actually HEAR them in context.
Mike Perleberg of WSCH has graciously agreed to post the 2.5 hours in 4 clips of a little over a half hour each. Go to the website http://eaglecountryonline.com/
I think you will learn enough to vote intelligently this Tuesday.
And my personal thanks to Mike and WSCH for this service to the citizens.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Candidates Night started promptly at 6 PM at the North Dearborn Library organized by Bob Bissett who served as moderator. Sixteen candidates were present. Rick Fox and Casey Finnegan did not come. Charlie Fehrman sent an email with regrets due to a family problem at his church.
Bissett’s opening remarks stated that he wanted to learn more and thought he’d help the community in the process. Bissett was originally from PA and his wife is from Dearborn County. They live in Kelso Township. The Bissetts met at Mount St. Joe, where he received his degree at age 46 and he completed his masters at Ball State at age 57. He was concerned that SD school were $90 million in debt, that a comprehensive capital plan was proposed with a $70 + million price tag, that there were major issues with St. Leon sewers, and tax assessment seemed to be an on-going problem.
Bissett outlined the rules- 6 minute each and 3 minutes for questions. Candidates were not allowed to go after each other. He outlined the Commissioner and Council jobs and asked Judge Witte to do the same for the Superior Court 1 position. Candidates would speak via random draw with preschooler Bridgette (sp?) Blondell pulling the names.
WSCH’s Mike Perleberg (FM 99.3) covered the event and has posted a summary online as well as airing clips of candidates statements during their news broadcasts on Thursday. http://eaglecountryonline.com/
(Register Publications also has Tues and Thurs papers this week with comprehensive interviews of candidates in opposing elections as well as ads from all candidates for more information.)
Rather than summarizing their statements- I think the best way to get a flavor of each of these people is to actually HEAR them in context.
Mike Perleberg of WSCH has graciously agreed to post the 2.5 hours in 4 clips of a little over a half hour each. Go to the website http://eaglecountryonline.com/
I think you will learn enough to vote intelligently this Tuesday.
And my personal thanks to Mike and WSCH for this service to the citizens.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Beating Back the Haters of Free Speech
With my apologies to those who post thoughtfully and responsibly, until such time as the Library of Congress chooses to stop posting the Declaration, Magna Carta and other such notable (and lengthy) missives in the comments associated with this blog, a blogger account will be required for all future posts.
I could wish for a better, less heavy handed solution, but this is what Google provides. I could fix the problem by moderating comments or by simply continuing to carry out the trash (all due consideration to Mr. Thomas Jefferson and company), but I simply haven't the time.
Therefore, sign up for a blog account (they are free and can be anonymous) using an associated e-mail account (they can also be free and anonymous) and post away. But behave yourselves, or I will ban you from the site.
The Management
I could wish for a better, less heavy handed solution, but this is what Google provides. I could fix the problem by moderating comments or by simply continuing to carry out the trash (all due consideration to Mr. Thomas Jefferson and company), but I simply haven't the time.
Therefore, sign up for a blog account (they are free and can be anonymous) using an associated e-mail account (they can also be free and anonymous) and post away. But behave yourselves, or I will ban you from the site.
The Management
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
JONATHON CLEARY CLARIFIES JUDGE CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUE
Ronald Reagan once said to his opponent “There you go again.” Here, the incumbent had to make just one more negative personal attack. He now states he “would never accept an $8,000 campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before him.” And neither would I.
Numerous local attorneys have told me that they strongly support me and will vote for me, but they were very concerned about possible retribution to them and their clients if they made a campaign contribution. However, one local defense attorney did make a $5000 contribution to my treasurer and my treasurer accepted and deposited the donation. I had my treasurer return the full $5000. The attorney then gave a lesser total contribution of $3000, not $8000 as my opponent states. All of this occurred in 2007 and was accurately and openly reported in my campaign finance documents, which were publicly filed four months ago.
It is amazing my opponent claims contributions to me buys influence while he defends the multiple contributions he accepted from at least five local attorneys who currently practice before him. I hope and pray that no contribution, from anyone, in any amount, would ever influence any decision in the administration of justice. It certainly will not with me.
Jonathan N. Cleary
Republican Candidate for Judge
Numerous local attorneys have told me that they strongly support me and will vote for me, but they were very concerned about possible retribution to them and their clients if they made a campaign contribution. However, one local defense attorney did make a $5000 contribution to my treasurer and my treasurer accepted and deposited the donation. I had my treasurer return the full $5000. The attorney then gave a lesser total contribution of $3000, not $8000 as my opponent states. All of this occurred in 2007 and was accurately and openly reported in my campaign finance documents, which were publicly filed four months ago.
It is amazing my opponent claims contributions to me buys influence while he defends the multiple contributions he accepted from at least five local attorneys who currently practice before him. I hope and pray that no contribution, from anyone, in any amount, would ever influence any decision in the administration of justice. It certainly will not with me.
Jonathan N. Cleary
Republican Candidate for Judge
Kathy Scott Listens to Concerns at Women of Dearborn County Social
Kathy Scott and the Women of Dearborn County - April 20, 2008 Meeting/Social Notes
provided by Helen Kremer, Logan Township
Kathy Scott introduced herself to the women at the Tate Center. Kathy stated that she has lived in the county for 15 years, and came here because of the rural area. She also explained that when she attended meetings before the Plan Commission and Board of Commissioners, she witnessed, or was subject to, bad experiences. Kathy informed the women that she investigates issues, knows the codes and ordinances, and decided to step-up to be a candidate. She told the women that this meeting was for all of them, and she wanted to hear about their concerns.
The concerns of the women at the meeting are as follows:
1. Problems with density. Overcrowding in the schools, roads are too busy, there is a drain on emergency services.
2. Sewer issues and their ramifications, especially for the rural areas of the county. The 300 feet from property line for hook-ups was discussed, and the fact that grinder pumps are a poor choice. One woman shared that a friend of hers had to install a new grinder pump and it cost her $1,200.
A discussion followed regarding LMH, and some believed, in the beginning, the lines were not adequate. Those who use that sewage system believe rates are set, and all this hooks into water bills. Many women did not think that IDEM inspects as thoroughly as they should.
3. The fact was discussed that Jeff Hughes believes in the rights of the property owner. But the opinion of those involved with issues before the Board of Commissioners was that Jeff Hughes supports seller's rights, not owner's rights. The consensus was that public officials should know that neighbors of the sellers have rights too.
Kathy explained that she believes too often zoning, and other issues are voted upon too fast. People on these boards can agree to disagree, and they should let some of these issues sit for awhile. She believes in a good process. She works three nights a week, and will have the time to study the issues.
The women continued with their concerns:
4. The issue of Vieste was discussed and the fact that the entire issue was known by realtors and economic development people before the land owners. The plan for the Northwest Quadrant was decided behind closed doors. There was a lot of money paid out to Vieste, and for what?
5. A brief discussion was held regarding the hiring of Kinnett to take over the position from West. The women noted that Kinnett and Rozow of the Chamber of Commerce, inferred in one of the local newspapers, that they had a more realistic vision (map?) for the County.
6. The issue was brought up regarding Rick Fox and Jeff Hughes not signing-off on the Land Use Plan stating it wasn’t representative of the people in the County.
Mark McCormack and the Planning and Zoning Office worked very hard to make the entire process public with mailings and announcements. But there was a group who did not want the Land Use map which was voted upon and chosen by the Advisory Group.
Kathy said that is an example of manipulative behavior.
Discussion continued regarding the concerns of the group.
7. The general consensus was that the entire process for zoning changes, Tech Review meetings, and Plan Commission presentations, need to “tighten up”. The fact is that developers work on a project for months before a new project, or a proposed zoning change comes before the Plan Commission, after being reviewed by the Technical Review Committee. People living next door to these projects, or the neighbors in the area, are not aware of what is being planned. If you live right next to the property, you receive a certified letter about three weeks before the project goes to the Plan Commission. But others are affected too! Should there not be a process where neighbors, and those living next to the area, are informed earlier than three weeks?
8. Many people are not aware they can attend Technical Review Meetings. At these meetings, very often not all the members attend. The suggestion was that all members of this committee should attend all meetings. Also, it has been noted that the developer, or whoever is there at the meeting with a project, sometimes does not have all the information together, or it is not complete. Often the Tech Review members table the issue. The women at the meeting today believe that in all cases, if all the information is not there, the members of the Technical Review Committee should end the meeting, tabling the issue, and inform the applicant that everything needs to be in order.
The women believe that a “no-nonsense” attitude would reinforce and demonstrate the professionalism of the Tech Review Committee. That would put to rest the fear of many people in the county, who believe that because developers and public officials work with the same issues and are often together at the Administration building, the “playing field” is not equal.
9. Bringing information to the Plan Commission – often citizens have information that is pertinent to the application, and they bring the information the night the Plan Commission is going to vote on the issue. Often, time is given to read the information, but not all members read it thoroughly, and they honestly do not have the time to think of all the consequences. When meaningful information is brought before the Commission, the suggestion is they should table the issue and give it the thought it deserves.
10. Also, there are often many conditions placed upon an approval. The Planning and Zoning office has this responsibility. But this is a monumental job—most approvals have a list, and it is important that these lists be kept and all conditions met. Discussion was made that perhaps a citizen group could be formed to make sure all the conditions and issues are solved as intended by the Plan Commission.
11. One of the women attending has property with serious drainage problems from a development, and so does one of her neighbors. Soil Conservation was called but the problems continue. Her question was, what happens when they discharge water into Tanners Creek?
12. Issues of no sidewalks, or no shoulders on roadways, as well as roads without room for two cars were of great concern to many at the meeting.
13. Variances are another issue. Many times a developer can’t get what he/she wants, or plans poorly--then a variance is given. Variances are to be given only in special circumstances.
14. When the Tech Review Committee gives an unfavorable recommendation to The Plan Commission, each member of the Plan Commission should give their individual explanation of why they are approving a zone change, ignoring the recommendation of the Tech Review Committee.
The same should be with the Board of Commissioners. If the Plan Commission recommends or does not recommend a change, each Commissioner should give an explanation based on ordinances, and facts stating why they did not follow the recommendations.
Kathy Scott interrupted to say that the process should be followed, and exceptions not made. An example is the road issue. There is a list of road repairs which has been recommended by the County Engineer, but Rick Fox has changed the list, and placed other road issues ahead of the roads that Todd Listerman wanted to repair first.
Discussion followed regarding public officials responsibility to all of the people.
15. One member of the group lives in Lawrenceburg, and has contacted numerous city officials concerning homes next to her. The issues are slum lords, drugs, and vandalism. She has contacted the police, one policeman did help her. But she has been threatened by neighbors, and has had no response from city officials regarding her issues. She has been contacted by the slum lord to sell her property, at a very low price, but she does not want to move. She has invested money into her property and has made her home here.
The suggestion was made that she schedule an appointment with the Mayor of Lawrenceburg at one of the “see the Mayor sessions”, and also go to the Lawrenceburg Council. Many in the group offered to attend any meeting with her.
The allotted time ran out, and Kathy Scott thanked all of the women who attended. The women shared their personal contact information. Kathy gave everyone extra handouts to pass along to those who couldn’t attend, and business cards.
Everyone thanked Kathy Scott for running for Commissioner, and for the opportunity to share their concerns and issues of importance.
Helen Kremer
Logan Township
provided by Helen Kremer, Logan Township
Kathy Scott introduced herself to the women at the Tate Center. Kathy stated that she has lived in the county for 15 years, and came here because of the rural area. She also explained that when she attended meetings before the Plan Commission and Board of Commissioners, she witnessed, or was subject to, bad experiences. Kathy informed the women that she investigates issues, knows the codes and ordinances, and decided to step-up to be a candidate. She told the women that this meeting was for all of them, and she wanted to hear about their concerns.
The concerns of the women at the meeting are as follows:
1. Problems with density. Overcrowding in the schools, roads are too busy, there is a drain on emergency services.
2. Sewer issues and their ramifications, especially for the rural areas of the county. The 300 feet from property line for hook-ups was discussed, and the fact that grinder pumps are a poor choice. One woman shared that a friend of hers had to install a new grinder pump and it cost her $1,200.
A discussion followed regarding LMH, and some believed, in the beginning, the lines were not adequate. Those who use that sewage system believe rates are set, and all this hooks into water bills. Many women did not think that IDEM inspects as thoroughly as they should.
3. The fact was discussed that Jeff Hughes believes in the rights of the property owner. But the opinion of those involved with issues before the Board of Commissioners was that Jeff Hughes supports seller's rights, not owner's rights. The consensus was that public officials should know that neighbors of the sellers have rights too.
Kathy explained that she believes too often zoning, and other issues are voted upon too fast. People on these boards can agree to disagree, and they should let some of these issues sit for awhile. She believes in a good process. She works three nights a week, and will have the time to study the issues.
The women continued with their concerns:
4. The issue of Vieste was discussed and the fact that the entire issue was known by realtors and economic development people before the land owners. The plan for the Northwest Quadrant was decided behind closed doors. There was a lot of money paid out to Vieste, and for what?
5. A brief discussion was held regarding the hiring of Kinnett to take over the position from West. The women noted that Kinnett and Rozow of the Chamber of Commerce, inferred in one of the local newspapers, that they had a more realistic vision (map?) for the County.
6. The issue was brought up regarding Rick Fox and Jeff Hughes not signing-off on the Land Use Plan stating it wasn’t representative of the people in the County.
Mark McCormack and the Planning and Zoning Office worked very hard to make the entire process public with mailings and announcements. But there was a group who did not want the Land Use map which was voted upon and chosen by the Advisory Group.
Kathy said that is an example of manipulative behavior.
Discussion continued regarding the concerns of the group.
7. The general consensus was that the entire process for zoning changes, Tech Review meetings, and Plan Commission presentations, need to “tighten up”. The fact is that developers work on a project for months before a new project, or a proposed zoning change comes before the Plan Commission, after being reviewed by the Technical Review Committee. People living next door to these projects, or the neighbors in the area, are not aware of what is being planned. If you live right next to the property, you receive a certified letter about three weeks before the project goes to the Plan Commission. But others are affected too! Should there not be a process where neighbors, and those living next to the area, are informed earlier than three weeks?
8. Many people are not aware they can attend Technical Review Meetings. At these meetings, very often not all the members attend. The suggestion was that all members of this committee should attend all meetings. Also, it has been noted that the developer, or whoever is there at the meeting with a project, sometimes does not have all the information together, or it is not complete. Often the Tech Review members table the issue. The women at the meeting today believe that in all cases, if all the information is not there, the members of the Technical Review Committee should end the meeting, tabling the issue, and inform the applicant that everything needs to be in order.
The women believe that a “no-nonsense” attitude would reinforce and demonstrate the professionalism of the Tech Review Committee. That would put to rest the fear of many people in the county, who believe that because developers and public officials work with the same issues and are often together at the Administration building, the “playing field” is not equal.
9. Bringing information to the Plan Commission – often citizens have information that is pertinent to the application, and they bring the information the night the Plan Commission is going to vote on the issue. Often, time is given to read the information, but not all members read it thoroughly, and they honestly do not have the time to think of all the consequences. When meaningful information is brought before the Commission, the suggestion is they should table the issue and give it the thought it deserves.
10. Also, there are often many conditions placed upon an approval. The Planning and Zoning office has this responsibility. But this is a monumental job—most approvals have a list, and it is important that these lists be kept and all conditions met. Discussion was made that perhaps a citizen group could be formed to make sure all the conditions and issues are solved as intended by the Plan Commission.
11. One of the women attending has property with serious drainage problems from a development, and so does one of her neighbors. Soil Conservation was called but the problems continue. Her question was, what happens when they discharge water into Tanners Creek?
12. Issues of no sidewalks, or no shoulders on roadways, as well as roads without room for two cars were of great concern to many at the meeting.
13. Variances are another issue. Many times a developer can’t get what he/she wants, or plans poorly--then a variance is given. Variances are to be given only in special circumstances.
14. When the Tech Review Committee gives an unfavorable recommendation to The Plan Commission, each member of the Plan Commission should give their individual explanation of why they are approving a zone change, ignoring the recommendation of the Tech Review Committee.
The same should be with the Board of Commissioners. If the Plan Commission recommends or does not recommend a change, each Commissioner should give an explanation based on ordinances, and facts stating why they did not follow the recommendations.
Kathy Scott interrupted to say that the process should be followed, and exceptions not made. An example is the road issue. There is a list of road repairs which has been recommended by the County Engineer, but Rick Fox has changed the list, and placed other road issues ahead of the roads that Todd Listerman wanted to repair first.
Discussion followed regarding public officials responsibility to all of the people.
15. One member of the group lives in Lawrenceburg, and has contacted numerous city officials concerning homes next to her. The issues are slum lords, drugs, and vandalism. She has contacted the police, one policeman did help her. But she has been threatened by neighbors, and has had no response from city officials regarding her issues. She has been contacted by the slum lord to sell her property, at a very low price, but she does not want to move. She has invested money into her property and has made her home here.
The suggestion was made that she schedule an appointment with the Mayor of Lawrenceburg at one of the “see the Mayor sessions”, and also go to the Lawrenceburg Council. Many in the group offered to attend any meeting with her.
The allotted time ran out, and Kathy Scott thanked all of the women who attended. The women shared their personal contact information. Kathy gave everyone extra handouts to pass along to those who couldn’t attend, and business cards.
Everyone thanked Kathy Scott for running for Commissioner, and for the opportunity to share their concerns and issues of importance.
Helen Kremer
Logan Township
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC FROM JUDGE G MICHAEL WITTE
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC
An editor’s mistake in the April 29 Journal Press article titled “GOP primary hot for commish, judge” contained the following misquote:
“Witte said, unlike his opponent, he would not accept a campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before him.”
The actual quote submitted in writing to the Journal Press was:
“I would never accept an $8,000 campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before me. My opponent has. Again, this highlights the inexperience of my opponent.”
By editing the phrase “$8,000”, the entire context of my statement incorrectly changed. I have accepted contributions from 5 local attorneys – none exceeding more than $250. Lesser contributions like these are not going to compromise any judge.
The newspaper has the original submission. You may contact the newspaper to verify their mistake.
Judge G. Michael Witte
Dearborn Superior Court No. 1
An editor’s mistake in the April 29 Journal Press article titled “GOP primary hot for commish, judge” contained the following misquote:
“Witte said, unlike his opponent, he would not accept a campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before him.”
The actual quote submitted in writing to the Journal Press was:
“I would never accept an $8,000 campaign contribution from an attorney who would practice before me. My opponent has. Again, this highlights the inexperience of my opponent.”
By editing the phrase “$8,000”, the entire context of my statement incorrectly changed. I have accepted contributions from 5 local attorneys – none exceeding more than $250. Lesser contributions like these are not going to compromise any judge.
The newspaper has the original submission. You may contact the newspaper to verify their mistake.
Judge G. Michael Witte
Dearborn Superior Court No. 1
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
28 April 2008 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
28 April 2008 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
Present: Hall, Chairman, Kraus, Jr., Laws, Lehman, Nelson, Lansing, Thompson, and Beiersdorfer.
ABSENT: Held
Also present: McGill, Attorney and McCormack, Planning Director, and Listerman, County Transportation Director.
Kathy Scott- Candidate for D-1 Commissioner was present in the audience
The agenda was rearranged to accommodate the citizens present for 2 of the items.
1. Corrections to Sheet 1 of the Zoning Maps- Washington, Hogan, and Center Townships.
All errors were in Washington Township. Two corrections were made as supported by the records of meetings and files: One was to parcels 16 and 17 of Section 3 Washington to Ag grandfathered in a Residential zone. The other was to Section 10 of Fairmeadows Subdivision, which stays as B-2 with footnote on the map.
Section 12- the Legge property is tabled for more research to bring back in May.
Nine citizens from the area were present for the meeting and had all been notified.
2. TBS Development addressed the Plan Commission to discuss the motion from July 23, 2007 meeting. TBS owns Lot 156 of Sugar Ridge and UCB Bank (Bill Ritzmann and EG McLaughlin) were also present as holding the mortgage for lot 157 which is currently in foreclosure. Lot 157 depends upon an easement thru 156 for access to Augusta Drive.
Restrictions placed on them are impossible to accomplish due to Macke bankruptcy. Macke’s lands are going to banks and insurance companies. Bonding is not in place. There are 3-4 HOAs and 20-30 sections of the Sugar Ridge PUD. Two roads are public- Augusta Drive and Oakmont.
UCB- Ritzmann- stated that they were holders of the Lot 157 mortgage and viewed TBS as “innocent victims” in all this.
McGill’s personal and not legal opinion was that the county let the bonds lapse and will end up with paying for top surface on the public roads and also the stoplight.
TBS and their attorney, Pat Mobves of Ft. Wright, argued to end the moratorium on building as their losses are accumulating at $15,000/month and they will end up in foreclosure if this keeps getting tabled.
Hall said: Your client knew this was a problem area.
TBS: Not until we got to the Plan Commission- after we’d bought it.
Nelson: There is a tier of people who come after TBS- the condo owners- we have to protect also. What if they get more problems as this is NOT fixed? What about UCB trying to get their road?
There is no moratorium on development- but the variance is dependent on conditions that have not been met. The Plan Office is issuing permits on single family homes.
Nelson motioned and ?? seconded to let the TBS condos proceed conditioned upon:
1. Posting a $20,000 bond toward the overall development cost of finishing part of Augusta Drive (Total cost to finish approx $ 150,000 per Listerman)
2. Provide acceptable agreements with Lot 157 owners for acceptable access.
3. Statement that you will not resist being part of a TIF if they get one to finish the PUD.
4. Agree to become part of a single master HOA for the PUD.
(Delete the HOA on paper now and use this condo HOA as a “master template” for the rest.)
All ayes. Passed.
Thompson and Nelson also stated they wanted all the property owners etc. listed for the next meeting. McCormack to get that.
3. Proposed amendments to DC Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance.
Both items were tabled for more research after 1.5 hours of discussion.
Items were on sectionalizing and phasing major subdivisions- tabled for more research on condo subdivisions, and dead end streets, turnarounds and emergency accesses. The discussion on cul de sacs went on at length.
Listerman told the board that every road we accept is a loss because of low road funding. He said Hidden Acres off Sneakville had 92 homes off a single access point. If 2 cul de sacs were joined that would have dropped to 40 and if a couple houses were moved it would drop to 20. Harley Springs and Dogridge had similar issues. Listerman urged them to make it work with more accesses and NOT base it on a market strategy. Morgan’s Ridge is better and they are working on accesses there.
McCormack said research shows we have the HIGHEST HOUSE COUNT and LONGEST LENGTH for any cul de sac ordinance. Typically lengths are less than 1000 ft. Ours in 1200. Our ordinance was taken from Boone County’s ad they never intended theirs to be 1000 ft per branch- it was to be total number of feet from the main road – including branches.
Emergency accesses were discussed with respect to EMS finding them even and also 15% grades being difficult for fire trucks. Maintenance will be from HOAs preferably.
Tabled till May.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Bond report passed out. Park Place and Eden Gardens finishing up. Tucker’s subdivisions will get no more permits if he doesn’t get his bonds in. Villages of Sugar Ridge in bankruptcy.
2. Copies of new Zoning books passed out.
3. Records are being digitized and stored in two locations. Bought a good scanner and doing this in-house to avoid excess costs. [NOTE: Also a good productive use of employee time with the lack of development projects now.]
4. Doing inspections thru 2004 and found about ½ with problems. Subdivision inspections are next.
5. Fiscal Impact study with OKI – met May 23 and told them what they expect and we will get data to them for the model. We hope to be done by Nov- Dec.
6. US 50 Collaborative met and will meet in June again. They will try to work with some businesses using info from the Gateway Study and Strand Study to get ROW access and preliminary design work so as not to wait until 2016 when INDOT money is available to start.
7. The Building Dept has suspended all commercial inspections because of the state. Greendale is OK as they do their own inspections, but all other cities and towns depend on us for this and have to wait for a stat inspector now per Thompson.
8. Trying to set up a working session in June for working on redoing the Ag districts and Residential per the comp plan. McCormack urged PC members to contact commissioners to get the Comp plan approved so this can proceed.
9. May meeting moved back a week due to Memorial Day.
Meeting adjourned 11:25 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Hall, Chairman, Kraus, Jr., Laws, Lehman, Nelson, Lansing, Thompson, and Beiersdorfer.
ABSENT: Held
Also present: McGill, Attorney and McCormack, Planning Director, and Listerman, County Transportation Director.
Kathy Scott- Candidate for D-1 Commissioner was present in the audience
The agenda was rearranged to accommodate the citizens present for 2 of the items.
1. Corrections to Sheet 1 of the Zoning Maps- Washington, Hogan, and Center Townships.
All errors were in Washington Township. Two corrections were made as supported by the records of meetings and files: One was to parcels 16 and 17 of Section 3 Washington to Ag grandfathered in a Residential zone. The other was to Section 10 of Fairmeadows Subdivision, which stays as B-2 with footnote on the map.
Section 12- the Legge property is tabled for more research to bring back in May.
Nine citizens from the area were present for the meeting and had all been notified.
2. TBS Development addressed the Plan Commission to discuss the motion from July 23, 2007 meeting. TBS owns Lot 156 of Sugar Ridge and UCB Bank (Bill Ritzmann and EG McLaughlin) were also present as holding the mortgage for lot 157 which is currently in foreclosure. Lot 157 depends upon an easement thru 156 for access to Augusta Drive.
Restrictions placed on them are impossible to accomplish due to Macke bankruptcy. Macke’s lands are going to banks and insurance companies. Bonding is not in place. There are 3-4 HOAs and 20-30 sections of the Sugar Ridge PUD. Two roads are public- Augusta Drive and Oakmont.
UCB- Ritzmann- stated that they were holders of the Lot 157 mortgage and viewed TBS as “innocent victims” in all this.
McGill’s personal and not legal opinion was that the county let the bonds lapse and will end up with paying for top surface on the public roads and also the stoplight.
TBS and their attorney, Pat Mobves of Ft. Wright, argued to end the moratorium on building as their losses are accumulating at $15,000/month and they will end up in foreclosure if this keeps getting tabled.
Hall said: Your client knew this was a problem area.
TBS: Not until we got to the Plan Commission- after we’d bought it.
Nelson: There is a tier of people who come after TBS- the condo owners- we have to protect also. What if they get more problems as this is NOT fixed? What about UCB trying to get their road?
There is no moratorium on development- but the variance is dependent on conditions that have not been met. The Plan Office is issuing permits on single family homes.
Nelson motioned and ?? seconded to let the TBS condos proceed conditioned upon:
1. Posting a $20,000 bond toward the overall development cost of finishing part of Augusta Drive (Total cost to finish approx $ 150,000 per Listerman)
2. Provide acceptable agreements with Lot 157 owners for acceptable access.
3. Statement that you will not resist being part of a TIF if they get one to finish the PUD.
4. Agree to become part of a single master HOA for the PUD.
(Delete the HOA on paper now and use this condo HOA as a “master template” for the rest.)
All ayes. Passed.
Thompson and Nelson also stated they wanted all the property owners etc. listed for the next meeting. McCormack to get that.
3. Proposed amendments to DC Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance.
Both items were tabled for more research after 1.5 hours of discussion.
Items were on sectionalizing and phasing major subdivisions- tabled for more research on condo subdivisions, and dead end streets, turnarounds and emergency accesses. The discussion on cul de sacs went on at length.
Listerman told the board that every road we accept is a loss because of low road funding. He said Hidden Acres off Sneakville had 92 homes off a single access point. If 2 cul de sacs were joined that would have dropped to 40 and if a couple houses were moved it would drop to 20. Harley Springs and Dogridge had similar issues. Listerman urged them to make it work with more accesses and NOT base it on a market strategy. Morgan’s Ridge is better and they are working on accesses there.
McCormack said research shows we have the HIGHEST HOUSE COUNT and LONGEST LENGTH for any cul de sac ordinance. Typically lengths are less than 1000 ft. Ours in 1200. Our ordinance was taken from Boone County’s ad they never intended theirs to be 1000 ft per branch- it was to be total number of feet from the main road – including branches.
Emergency accesses were discussed with respect to EMS finding them even and also 15% grades being difficult for fire trucks. Maintenance will be from HOAs preferably.
Tabled till May.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Bond report passed out. Park Place and Eden Gardens finishing up. Tucker’s subdivisions will get no more permits if he doesn’t get his bonds in. Villages of Sugar Ridge in bankruptcy.
2. Copies of new Zoning books passed out.
3. Records are being digitized and stored in two locations. Bought a good scanner and doing this in-house to avoid excess costs. [NOTE: Also a good productive use of employee time with the lack of development projects now.]
4. Doing inspections thru 2004 and found about ½ with problems. Subdivision inspections are next.
5. Fiscal Impact study with OKI – met May 23 and told them what they expect and we will get data to them for the model. We hope to be done by Nov- Dec.
6. US 50 Collaborative met and will meet in June again. They will try to work with some businesses using info from the Gateway Study and Strand Study to get ROW access and preliminary design work so as not to wait until 2016 when INDOT money is available to start.
7. The Building Dept has suspended all commercial inspections because of the state. Greendale is OK as they do their own inspections, but all other cities and towns depend on us for this and have to wait for a stat inspector now per Thompson.
8. Trying to set up a working session in June for working on redoing the Ag districts and Residential per the comp plan. McCormack urged PC members to contact commissioners to get the Comp plan approved so this can proceed.
9. May meeting moved back a week due to Memorial Day.
Meeting adjourned 11:25 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Monday, April 28, 2008
REMINDER: DCRSD ENFORCED SEWER HOOK-UP ORDINANCE HEARING THURS MAY 1
REMINDER: DCRSD Creates Ordinance to Enforce Hook-ups
NOTICE OF HEARING AT COUNTY ADM BLDG
THURSDAY MAY 1st at 7 PM
The Dearborn County Regional Sewer District will conduct a hearing on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. to consider adoption of the following ordinance:DEARBORN COUNTY REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT ORDINANCE 2008-2
AN ORDINANCE GOVERNING DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE
An Ordinance regulating connection to and the use of public sewers and drains, the installation and connection of building sewers, and the discharge of waters and wastes into the public sewers in the Dearborn County Regional Sewer District, and providing penalties for violations thereof.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE DEARBORN COUNTY REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT as follows:
1. Discharge of Sewage. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the District, or in any area under the jurisdiction of said District, any human excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste.
2. Discharge within the District. Within the District, where public sewers are available and located within 300 feet of a property owner’s property line, it shall be unlawful to construct, use or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage, unless specifically permitted by the District.
3. Discharge of Water to the Sewer. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any sanitary sewer, either directly or indirectly, storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, water from downspouts, water from footing drains, water from garage drains, geothermal water, heating or cooling water, unpolluted water, unpolluted industrial water, or water from basement or crawl spaces.
4. Wastewater Disposal. No person shall place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner on public or private property within the jurisdiction of the District, any wastewater or other polluted water.
5. Discharge to Natural Outlet. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any natural outlet any wastewater or other polluted water except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with provisions of this Ordinance.
6. Required Connection to Public Sewer. The owner of any house, building or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes requiring wastewater disposal, situated within the District is hereby required to cause said property to be connected with the public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance, within ninety (90) days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within three hundred (300) feet of the property line. Such notice shall be provided in accordance with I.C. § 13-26-5-2(8).7. Civil Penalties/Civil Infraction Fines. A User who has violated or continues to violate any provision of this Ordinance will be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per violation. Each day during which the violation occurred or continues to occur shall be deemed a separate, distinct violation. The penalties will be collectible in the same manner as monthly sewer charges. The District may seek enforcement of such penalties in the same manner as for all other charges.C-4-15-JP-2t
NOTICE OF HEARING AT COUNTY ADM BLDG
THURSDAY MAY 1st at 7 PM
The Dearborn County Regional Sewer District will conduct a hearing on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. to consider adoption of the following ordinance:DEARBORN COUNTY REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT ORDINANCE 2008-2
AN ORDINANCE GOVERNING DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE
An Ordinance regulating connection to and the use of public sewers and drains, the installation and connection of building sewers, and the discharge of waters and wastes into the public sewers in the Dearborn County Regional Sewer District, and providing penalties for violations thereof.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE DEARBORN COUNTY REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT as follows:
1. Discharge of Sewage. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the District, or in any area under the jurisdiction of said District, any human excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste.
2. Discharge within the District. Within the District, where public sewers are available and located within 300 feet of a property owner’s property line, it shall be unlawful to construct, use or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage, unless specifically permitted by the District.
3. Discharge of Water to the Sewer. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any sanitary sewer, either directly or indirectly, storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, water from downspouts, water from footing drains, water from garage drains, geothermal water, heating or cooling water, unpolluted water, unpolluted industrial water, or water from basement or crawl spaces.
4. Wastewater Disposal. No person shall place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner on public or private property within the jurisdiction of the District, any wastewater or other polluted water.
5. Discharge to Natural Outlet. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any natural outlet any wastewater or other polluted water except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with provisions of this Ordinance.
6. Required Connection to Public Sewer. The owner of any house, building or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes requiring wastewater disposal, situated within the District is hereby required to cause said property to be connected with the public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance, within ninety (90) days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within three hundred (300) feet of the property line. Such notice shall be provided in accordance with I.C. § 13-26-5-2(8).7. Civil Penalties/Civil Infraction Fines. A User who has violated or continues to violate any provision of this Ordinance will be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per violation. Each day during which the violation occurred or continues to occur shall be deemed a separate, distinct violation. The penalties will be collectible in the same manner as monthly sewer charges. The District may seek enforcement of such penalties in the same manner as for all other charges.C-4-15-JP-2t
Sunday, April 27, 2008
REMINDER: MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT WEDNESDAY
REMINDER:
MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT
All candidates for county offices in the May 6 primary election are invited along with the public:
Each candidate should plan to speak for 5-10 minutes on the issues
Each candidate will be expected to answer a few questions from the public
Come Meet The Candidates, hear their views, & ask questions
When - Wednesday, April 30 - 6 –8 PM
Where -North Dearborn Library
North Dearborn Road – Logan Township
Refreshments will be provided (soda, chips, coffee)
For more information contact Robert Bissett
Email - rbizzett@aol.com
812.212.2901 (cell phone)
Regards,
Robert Bissett
MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT
All candidates for county offices in the May 6 primary election are invited along with the public:
Each candidate should plan to speak for 5-10 minutes on the issues
Each candidate will be expected to answer a few questions from the public
Come Meet The Candidates, hear their views, & ask questions
When - Wednesday, April 30 - 6 –8 PM
Where -North Dearborn Library
North Dearborn Road – Logan Township
Refreshments will be provided (soda, chips, coffee)
For more information contact Robert Bissett
Email - rbizzett@aol.com
812.212.2901 (cell phone)
Regards,
Robert Bissett
Saturday, April 26, 2008
FIVE REASONS TO NOT RE-ELECT HUGHES
The following editorial appeared in the Thurs edition of Register Publications:
In the 2006 election year, the citizens of Dearborn County proclaimed their dissatisfaction with our county government by soundly rejecting the only incumbent commissioner up for election and electing Ralph Thompson. This was a good first step toward re-establishing a bond of trust between the citizens and the courthouse, but only a first step.
For the past 15 months, Commissioners Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox, with their 2/3 majority, have stymied reform efforts and continued the “business as usual” practices that are at the heart of most citizen’s disillusionment. There is a golden opportunity to resolve this unfortunate situation on Primary Election day, Tuesday, May 6.
I offer 5 excellent reasons why we cannot afford to re-elect incumbent candidates Jeff Hughes or Rick Fox.
Reason 1: The Dearborn County Regional Sewer District (DCRSD).
On November 15, 2005, they expanded the powers of DCRSD to county-wide jurisdiction without advance notice or public discussion, in apparent violation of Indiana’s Open Door Law.
They recently appointed an Ohio resident insurance salesman with absolutely no sewer credentials to the DCRSD board without advertising the opening and potentially attracting local candidates with credentials. The appointee cannot vote in Dearborn County but he will decide if you get sewers.
The DCRSD monster they have created and empowered is at this moment in the act of jamming ordinances down our throats to force sewer hook-ups, mandate availability fees for those who escape hook-ups, require $25 per day fines for those who do not cooperate and finally, sue you if you don’t comply. All the while Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox continue to profess “we don’t like forced sewer hook-ups”.
And with a DCRSD board including developers and a real estate salesman, any decision on sewer expansion is automatically suspect as to whose benefit those proposed sewers will serve. The Dearborn County Council has already chastised DCRSD once for ignoring the existing health issues they were conceived to correct while requesting taxpayer funds for sewers to aid development.
Reason 2: The Dearborn County proposed Land Use Map.
Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox tabled (killed) the proposed Land Use Map, bowing to special interests and ignoring the majority will of the people. With the lame excuses, they discredited and insulted the Department of Planning and Zoning, the Planning Commission, the scores of civic-minded citizens who labored for hundred’s of hours over a two year period and the large numbers of the public who sacrificed their time to attend the many public reviews and offer their comments and suggestions. As a detached and objective local newspaper editor eloquently published, “what a load of crap”.
Reason 3: Vieste
For their direct involvement in the Vieste debacle and the resultant “Northwest Quadrant” nightmare.
Reason 4: Fiscally irresponsible high density development.
For their continuing record of approving zone changes to allow almost exclusively high density urban development. These congested developments continue to choke the rural life from the county. Their decisions increase our property taxes to expand the county services these developments require but their low tax base cannot support.
They shift the responsibility for their decisions to the Planning Commission which recommends the zone changes while the majority votes on that commission are their own appointees.
Reason 5: The poor general operation of the county government process and disdain for the public.
Mandating citizens sign up to speak on issues of the upcoming commissioners meetings before the issues are ever made public is ludicrous. So is publishing final agenda for the meetings virtually at meeting time, barely passing the legal requirements of the Indiana Open Door Law and mocking its intent. These actions guarantee limited opportunity for the public to exercise their legal right to involvement in the process.
They invite an armed deputy to the commissioners meetings which creates an atmosphere of intimidation and inhibits public involvement. And I must correct County Administrator Brian Messmore for stating in his recent guest column that Indiana law requires a deputy at commissioners meetings. IC 36-2-2-15 clearly states a “county sheriff or county police officer shall attend the meetings of the executive, if requested by the executive” (commissioners). The deputy is only there because Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox have reason to believe they require one, a sorry comment on the relationship between themselves and the public.
Rick Fox is running unopposed in the upcoming primary election. Jeff Hughes, however, is opposed by Kathy Scott, who has professed three campaign themes, honesty, fairness and persistence. She also has an excellent philosophy concerning sewers for our health rather than others’ wealth. Scott stands for open government.
I recommend we take this opportunity to add the second voice that will bring about real reforms in county government and place our trust in Kathy Scott on May 6.
Chet Wolgamot
Manchester Township
In the 2006 election year, the citizens of Dearborn County proclaimed their dissatisfaction with our county government by soundly rejecting the only incumbent commissioner up for election and electing Ralph Thompson. This was a good first step toward re-establishing a bond of trust between the citizens and the courthouse, but only a first step.
For the past 15 months, Commissioners Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox, with their 2/3 majority, have stymied reform efforts and continued the “business as usual” practices that are at the heart of most citizen’s disillusionment. There is a golden opportunity to resolve this unfortunate situation on Primary Election day, Tuesday, May 6.
I offer 5 excellent reasons why we cannot afford to re-elect incumbent candidates Jeff Hughes or Rick Fox.
Reason 1: The Dearborn County Regional Sewer District (DCRSD).
On November 15, 2005, they expanded the powers of DCRSD to county-wide jurisdiction without advance notice or public discussion, in apparent violation of Indiana’s Open Door Law.
They recently appointed an Ohio resident insurance salesman with absolutely no sewer credentials to the DCRSD board without advertising the opening and potentially attracting local candidates with credentials. The appointee cannot vote in Dearborn County but he will decide if you get sewers.
The DCRSD monster they have created and empowered is at this moment in the act of jamming ordinances down our throats to force sewer hook-ups, mandate availability fees for those who escape hook-ups, require $25 per day fines for those who do not cooperate and finally, sue you if you don’t comply. All the while Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox continue to profess “we don’t like forced sewer hook-ups”.
And with a DCRSD board including developers and a real estate salesman, any decision on sewer expansion is automatically suspect as to whose benefit those proposed sewers will serve. The Dearborn County Council has already chastised DCRSD once for ignoring the existing health issues they were conceived to correct while requesting taxpayer funds for sewers to aid development.
Reason 2: The Dearborn County proposed Land Use Map.
Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox tabled (killed) the proposed Land Use Map, bowing to special interests and ignoring the majority will of the people. With the lame excuses, they discredited and insulted the Department of Planning and Zoning, the Planning Commission, the scores of civic-minded citizens who labored for hundred’s of hours over a two year period and the large numbers of the public who sacrificed their time to attend the many public reviews and offer their comments and suggestions. As a detached and objective local newspaper editor eloquently published, “what a load of crap”.
Reason 3: Vieste
For their direct involvement in the Vieste debacle and the resultant “Northwest Quadrant” nightmare.
Reason 4: Fiscally irresponsible high density development.
For their continuing record of approving zone changes to allow almost exclusively high density urban development. These congested developments continue to choke the rural life from the county. Their decisions increase our property taxes to expand the county services these developments require but their low tax base cannot support.
They shift the responsibility for their decisions to the Planning Commission which recommends the zone changes while the majority votes on that commission are their own appointees.
Reason 5: The poor general operation of the county government process and disdain for the public.
Mandating citizens sign up to speak on issues of the upcoming commissioners meetings before the issues are ever made public is ludicrous. So is publishing final agenda for the meetings virtually at meeting time, barely passing the legal requirements of the Indiana Open Door Law and mocking its intent. These actions guarantee limited opportunity for the public to exercise their legal right to involvement in the process.
They invite an armed deputy to the commissioners meetings which creates an atmosphere of intimidation and inhibits public involvement. And I must correct County Administrator Brian Messmore for stating in his recent guest column that Indiana law requires a deputy at commissioners meetings. IC 36-2-2-15 clearly states a “county sheriff or county police officer shall attend the meetings of the executive, if requested by the executive” (commissioners). The deputy is only there because Jeff Hughes and Rick Fox have reason to believe they require one, a sorry comment on the relationship between themselves and the public.
Rick Fox is running unopposed in the upcoming primary election. Jeff Hughes, however, is opposed by Kathy Scott, who has professed three campaign themes, honesty, fairness and persistence. She also has an excellent philosophy concerning sewers for our health rather than others’ wealth. Scott stands for open government.
I recommend we take this opportunity to add the second voice that will bring about real reforms in county government and place our trust in Kathy Scott on May 6.
Chet Wolgamot
Manchester Township
CLERK,TREASURER, SURVEYOR, CORONER CAMPAIGN FINANCE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT
Phillip Weaver Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
No Contributions, Cash or Expenditures
TREASURER
Gayle Pennington Filed N/A Republican
No Contributions, Cash or Expenditures
SURVEYOR
Dennis Kraus, Jr. Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1
0
Contributions
Dennis Kraus, Jr. 994.25
Arthur Wenzel 842.91
Total 1837.16 1837.16
Expenditures
Register Publications 276.26 Ads
Bright Beacon 410.00 Ads
My Campaign Store 842.91
Wagon Wheel 308.00
Total 1837.17 1995.50
Cash on Hand 0
Roger Woodfill Filed No Report ?
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
CORONER
Donald Wesley Holt Filed April 16, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Donald Wesley Holt 200
Unitemized 50
Total 250 250
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 250
Debts Owed (Donald Wesley Holt) 200
CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT
Phillip Weaver Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
No Contributions, Cash or Expenditures
TREASURER
Gayle Pennington Filed N/A Republican
No Contributions, Cash or Expenditures
SURVEYOR
Dennis Kraus, Jr. Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1
0
Contributions
Dennis Kraus, Jr. 994.25
Arthur Wenzel 842.91
Total 1837.16 1837.16
Expenditures
Register Publications 276.26 Ads
Bright Beacon 410.00 Ads
My Campaign Store 842.91
Wagon Wheel 308.00
Total 1837.17 1995.50
Cash on Hand 0
Roger Woodfill Filed No Report ?
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
CORONER
Donald Wesley Holt Filed April 16, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Donald Wesley Holt 200
Unitemized 50
Total 250 250
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 250
Debts Owed (Donald Wesley Holt) 200
JUDGES CAMPAIGN FINANCE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
JUDGE SUPERIOR COURT 1
Thomas Blondell Filed April 18, 2008 Democrat
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Lori & Doug Garner 1000
Frank & Linda Cardis 200
Thomas & Julie Blondell 581.89
Martin Dejulia 100
Scotty & Krista Ricketts 250
Ilene Blondell 100
Peter Brogan 500
Maureen Feeney 100
Roger & Mary Nunlist 100
Jerome Charls 150
Ted & Sherry Trautman 100
Unitemized 100
Direct Path Analytical 150
Total 3431.89 3431.89 3281.89 in report(?)
Expenditures
Steven Snelling 137.50 Banner
Design Pro 980.00 Signs
Donahue 780.90 Balloons & Stickers
Thomas & Julie Blondell 340.52 Attorney & OT
Unitemized 0.00
Total 2238.92 2238.92
Cash on Hand 1192.97 1042.97 in report(?)
Debts Owed ( Thomas & Julie Blondell) 581.89 241.37 in report(?)
Jon Cleary Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 5652.77
Contributions
Harry Wilhelm 200
Gene & Toni Cleary 5000
Bertie Ungerbuehler 200
Roe Jean Hollenbach 700
Bertie & Jim Kelley 5000
Glenn Cleary 125
Rick Perry 500
Vernon Hensley 500
Terry Livingston 250
Joe Herbert 500
Unitemized 1579
Total 14554 20206.77
Expenditures
A-Aero Adv. 7836.54 Merchandise
Jon Cleary 642.37 Printer Ad/Beacon Postcards Loan
Carey Digital 988.40 Printer
UPS 156.00 Postage
Register Publications 1700.65 Ads
Bright Beacon 430.00 Ads
The Fly Pod 240.00 Radio
WSCH Radio 1783.60 Radio
Joe Herbert 500.00 Website
Total 14275.56 14275.56 14277.56 in report(?)
Cash on Hand 5931.21 5929.21 in report(?)
Michael Witte Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 476.97
Contributions
M/M Doug Martin 1475
M/M Michael Witte 10000
Bill Yelton 250
M/M William Backman 500
M/M John Probst 200
Tina Cheek 250
M/M Kenneth Witte 300
M/M Frank Cardis 250
Hon. Jane Craney 200
Jerry Backman 500
M/M Fred Schmidts 150
Whisky's Inc. 300 Facility Use In Kind Contribution
Dearborn Bldg Trades Coun. 250
Unitemized 4479
Total 19104.00 19580.97
Expenditures
Krider Photography 127.20 Photo
General Graphics 103.35 Printing
Register Publications 3797.10 Printing
US Postal Service 172.00 Postage & Rental
Bright Beacon 935.00 Ads
Harcourt Industries 2326.70 Printing
WSCH Radio 1500.00 Radio
Insight Media 2035.10 Cable TV
The Sign Store 620.52 Signs
Rolling Pin Catering 300.00 Food Service
Doug Martin 359.52 CEO, Optometry Group
Unitemized 53.61
Total 12330.10 12330.10
Cash on Hand 7250.87
Debts Owed
Michael & Dawn Witte 6000
Barbara Wyly Filed No Report Democrat
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
Candidate indicates finance report filed at deadline. Register Publications reported on 24 April p1 that Wyly raised $2590 with $2500 from James Wyly and spent $651, all on adverstising.
JUDGE SUPERIOR COURT 1
Thomas Blondell Filed April 18, 2008 Democrat
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Lori & Doug Garner 1000
Frank & Linda Cardis 200
Thomas & Julie Blondell 581.89
Martin Dejulia 100
Scotty & Krista Ricketts 250
Ilene Blondell 100
Peter Brogan 500
Maureen Feeney 100
Roger & Mary Nunlist 100
Jerome Charls 150
Ted & Sherry Trautman 100
Unitemized 100
Direct Path Analytical 150
Total 3431.89 3431.89 3281.89 in report(?)
Expenditures
Steven Snelling 137.50 Banner
Design Pro 980.00 Signs
Donahue 780.90 Balloons & Stickers
Thomas & Julie Blondell 340.52 Attorney & OT
Unitemized 0.00
Total 2238.92 2238.92
Cash on Hand 1192.97 1042.97 in report(?)
Debts Owed ( Thomas & Julie Blondell) 581.89 241.37 in report(?)
Jon Cleary Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 5652.77
Contributions
Harry Wilhelm 200
Gene & Toni Cleary 5000
Bertie Ungerbuehler 200
Roe Jean Hollenbach 700
Bertie & Jim Kelley 5000
Glenn Cleary 125
Rick Perry 500
Vernon Hensley 500
Terry Livingston 250
Joe Herbert 500
Unitemized 1579
Total 14554 20206.77
Expenditures
A-Aero Adv. 7836.54 Merchandise
Jon Cleary 642.37 Printer Ad/Beacon Postcards Loan
Carey Digital 988.40 Printer
UPS 156.00 Postage
Register Publications 1700.65 Ads
Bright Beacon 430.00 Ads
The Fly Pod 240.00 Radio
WSCH Radio 1783.60 Radio
Joe Herbert 500.00 Website
Total 14275.56 14275.56 14277.56 in report(?)
Cash on Hand 5931.21 5929.21 in report(?)
Michael Witte Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 476.97
Contributions
M/M Doug Martin 1475
M/M Michael Witte 10000
Bill Yelton 250
M/M William Backman 500
M/M John Probst 200
Tina Cheek 250
M/M Kenneth Witte 300
M/M Frank Cardis 250
Hon. Jane Craney 200
Jerry Backman 500
M/M Fred Schmidts 150
Whisky's Inc. 300 Facility Use In Kind Contribution
Dearborn Bldg Trades Coun. 250
Unitemized 4479
Total 19104.00 19580.97
Expenditures
Krider Photography 127.20 Photo
General Graphics 103.35 Printing
Register Publications 3797.10 Printing
US Postal Service 172.00 Postage & Rental
Bright Beacon 935.00 Ads
Harcourt Industries 2326.70 Printing
WSCH Radio 1500.00 Radio
Insight Media 2035.10 Cable TV
The Sign Store 620.52 Signs
Rolling Pin Catering 300.00 Food Service
Doug Martin 359.52 CEO, Optometry Group
Unitemized 53.61
Total 12330.10 12330.10
Cash on Hand 7250.87
Debts Owed
Michael & Dawn Witte 6000
Barbara Wyly Filed No Report Democrat
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
Candidate indicates finance report filed at deadline. Register Publications reported on 24 April p1 that Wyly raised $2590 with $2500 from James Wyly and spent $651, all on adverstising.
COUNCIL CAMPAIGN FINANCE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
COUNCIL-AT-LARGE
Maynard Barrett Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Maynard Barrett 2000
Donald McIntosh 100
Unitemized 455
Total 2555 2555
Expenditures
Harcourt Ind. 1510.50 Signs
Bright Beacon 410.00 Ads
Unitemized 75.00
Total 1995.50 1995.50
Cash on Hand 559.50
Phil Darling Filed No Report ? Democrat
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
Charles Fehrman Filed N/A Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions 0
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 0
Casey Finnegan Filed N/A Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions 0
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 0
Thom Hammond Filed April 25, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Thom Hammond 141.11
Total 141.11 141.11
Expenditures
Office Supply 141.11 141.11
Cash on Hand 0
Pat Holland Filed No Report ? Republican
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
Bill Ullrich Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Unitemized 325
Total 325 325
Expenditures
Capitol Promotions 644.26
Unitemized 65.00
Total 709.26 709.26
Cash on Hand -384.26
Debts Owed (Bill Ullrich) 384.26
COUNCIL-AT-LARGE
Maynard Barrett Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Maynard Barrett 2000
Donald McIntosh 100
Unitemized 455
Total 2555 2555
Expenditures
Harcourt Ind. 1510.50 Signs
Bright Beacon 410.00 Ads
Unitemized 75.00
Total 1995.50 1995.50
Cash on Hand 559.50
Phil Darling Filed No Report ? Democrat
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
Charles Fehrman Filed N/A Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions 0
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 0
Casey Finnegan Filed N/A Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions 0
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 0
Thom Hammond Filed April 25, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Thom Hammond 141.11
Total 141.11 141.11
Expenditures
Office Supply 141.11 141.11
Cash on Hand 0
Pat Holland Filed No Report ? Republican
NOT PROVIDED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN REQUESTED
Bill Ullrich Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Unitemized 325
Total 325 325
Expenditures
Capitol Promotions 644.26
Unitemized 65.00
Total 709.26 709.26
Cash on Hand -384.26
Debts Owed (Bill Ullrich) 384.26
COMMISSIONER CAMPAIGN FINANCE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
COMMISSIONER
DISTRICT 1
Jeff Hughes Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 186.54
Contributions
Jeff Hughes 13500
Fred & Sandy Schmits 200
Art & Ruth Little 200
Bill Backman 20
Bob Dunavant 50
Dave Sunderman 30
Necessary Solutions 50
Total 14050 14236.54
Expenditures
After Hours Embrodiery 1272.03 T-Shirts
Harcourt Ind. 1144.90 Signs
Bright Beacon 420.00 Ads 520 in report(?)
Echos 216.25 Ads
Total 3053.18 3053.18 3052.25 in report(?)
Cash on Hand 11183.32 11183.75 in report(?)
Rick Pope Filed April 11, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Rick Pope 2500
Total 2050 2500
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 2500
Kathy Scott Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Alan Freemond 1000
Charles & Helen Kramer 250
Kathy Scott 1754.50
Unitemized 337
Total 3341.50 3341.50
Expenditures 0 0
Cash on Hand 3341.50
DISTRICT 2
Rick Fox Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Rick Fox 500
Unitemized 50
Total 550 550
Expenditures
Register Publications 75 Ads
Total 75 75
Cash on Hand 475 75 in report (?)
Jerome Hoog Filed April 17, 2008 Democrat
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Jerome Hoog 150
Alan Freemond 500
Arthur Hoog 250
Unitemized 99
Total 999 999
Expenditures
First Impressions 333.13 Promotional Consultants
Total 333.13 333.13 333.30 in report(?)
Cash on Hand 665.87 665.70 in report(?)
Tom Orschell Filed April 16, 2008 Democrat
Cash at January 1 2500
Contributions 0
Total 0 2500 1300 as year to date
Expenditures
The Sign Store 1216.40 Signs & Banners
Keystone Printing 450 Brochures
Total 1666.40 1666.40
Cash on Hand 833.60
COMMISSIONER
DISTRICT 1
Jeff Hughes Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 186.54
Contributions
Jeff Hughes 13500
Fred & Sandy Schmits 200
Art & Ruth Little 200
Bill Backman 20
Bob Dunavant 50
Dave Sunderman 30
Necessary Solutions 50
Total 14050 14236.54
Expenditures
After Hours Embrodiery 1272.03 T-Shirts
Harcourt Ind. 1144.90 Signs
Bright Beacon 420.00 Ads 520 in report(?)
Echos 216.25 Ads
Total 3053.18 3053.18 3052.25 in report(?)
Cash on Hand 11183.32 11183.75 in report(?)
Rick Pope Filed April 11, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Rick Pope 2500
Total 2050 2500
Expenditures 0
Cash on Hand 2500
Kathy Scott Filed April 17, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Alan Freemond 1000
Charles & Helen Kramer 250
Kathy Scott 1754.50
Unitemized 337
Total 3341.50 3341.50
Expenditures 0 0
Cash on Hand 3341.50
DISTRICT 2
Rick Fox Filed April 18, 2008 Republican
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Rick Fox 500
Unitemized 50
Total 550 550
Expenditures
Register Publications 75 Ads
Total 75 75
Cash on Hand 475 75 in report (?)
Jerome Hoog Filed April 17, 2008 Democrat
Cash at January 1 0
Contributions
Jerome Hoog 150
Alan Freemond 500
Arthur Hoog 250
Unitemized 99
Total 999 999
Expenditures
First Impressions 333.13 Promotional Consultants
Total 333.13 333.13 333.30 in report(?)
Cash on Hand 665.87 665.70 in report(?)
Tom Orschell Filed April 16, 2008 Democrat
Cash at January 1 2500
Contributions 0
Total 0 2500 1300 as year to date
Expenditures
The Sign Store 1216.40 Signs & Banners
Keystone Printing 450 Brochures
Total 1666.40 1666.40
Cash on Hand 833.60
Friday, April 25, 2008
THOM HAMMOND ON theflypod.com
Greetings Dearborn County Listeners & Subscribers --
We encourage you to listen to the following local political candidate interview. Of course you can subscribe to all of our shows absolutely FREE -- for loading onto your iPod or MP3 player, just visit our website. It's very simple. However, for the moment, if you have a high-speed internet connection and working speakers connected, simply click on the following direct show-links to listen. If you would like to download your own free copy of this show (for personal use), it is available on our website along with nearly 500 other show selections -- www.TheFlyPod.com
Show #1 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Dearborn County Council - Interview with THOM HAMMOND (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11156
We hope you benefit from listening to this show. Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about TheFlyPod.com New-Media Network. Also, check out the OPEN FLY FORUM feature on our website -- you can create your own broadcast, immediately! We are quickly becoming a leading national source of programming in the new digital-media age. Also, any person can sign up on our website to begin automatically receiving "New and Notable Show Alerts". It is 100% free and we will never, under any circumstances, share your email address with any person or organization.
Thank you for your support, ideas, questions, comments and even complaints. You may email us anytime -- shout@theflypod.com -- or pick up your cell phone and call our listener comment line at 206.337.1716
To our thousands of loyal listeners -- we say Thank You!
NEW and NOTABLE SHOW ALERTS
Fly Paper Productions, LLC
Digital Media Group - National Operations Ctr POB 324 Harrison, OH 45030 USA
206-337-1716 Listener Comment Line
www.TheFlyPod.com
TheFlyPod New-Media Network
We encourage you to listen to the following local political candidate interview. Of course you can subscribe to all of our shows absolutely FREE -- for loading onto your iPod or MP3 player, just visit our website. It's very simple. However, for the moment, if you have a high-speed internet connection and working speakers connected, simply click on the following direct show-links to listen. If you would like to download your own free copy of this show (for personal use), it is available on our website along with nearly 500 other show selections -- www.TheFlyPod.com
Show #1 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Dearborn County Council - Interview with THOM HAMMOND (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11156
We hope you benefit from listening to this show. Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about TheFlyPod.com New-Media Network. Also, check out the OPEN FLY FORUM feature on our website -- you can create your own broadcast, immediately! We are quickly becoming a leading national source of programming in the new digital-media age. Also, any person can sign up on our website to begin automatically receiving "New and Notable Show Alerts". It is 100% free and we will never, under any circumstances, share your email address with any person or organization.
Thank you for your support, ideas, questions, comments and even complaints. You may email us anytime -- shout@theflypod.com -- or pick up your cell phone and call our listener comment line at 206.337.1716
To our thousands of loyal listeners -- we say Thank You!
NEW and NOTABLE SHOW ALERTS
Fly Paper Productions, LLC
Digital Media Group - National Operations Ctr POB 324 Harrison, OH 45030 USA
206-337-1716 Listener Comment Line
www.TheFlyPod.com
TheFlyPod New-Media Network
POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT REQUIRED AT COMMISSIONER MEETINGS
Brian Messmore is an employee of Dearborn County. As such his pay from the county comes from the taxpayers of the County. It is unseemly that he would author a silly screed against one of his employers, Christine Mueller.
Mr. Messmore referred to Indiana Code 36-2-2-15 as mandating the presence of a uniformed officer at executive sessions such as the county commissioners’ meetings.
The following is the exact wording in regard to the presence of an officer at a meeting such as the County Commissioner Meeting. This is Indiana Code 36-2-2-15 (d) It seems very simple, simple enough that my 8 year old granddaughters could easily read and comprehend it.
(d) The county sheriff or a county police officer shall attend the meetings of the executive, if requested by the executive, and shall execute its orders.
Nowhere does the code demand a uniformed officer to be present. This bogus use of Indiana Code is serious business in that the county administrator has either misread the code or perhaps has a problem comprehending what he read in the code. A more egregious possibility, in my opinion is that the code was intentionally misstated. Either of these possible explanations would indicate that the man is unsuited for the job. It is wrong for citizens not to be able to trust the word of a county employee, an employee whose job carries serious responsibilities.
It is time for the county commissioners who appointed Mr. Messmore to stand tall and demand the man’s resignation. Dearborn County deserves better than this.
Alan S. Freemond, Sr.
Tanners Creek Farm
Jackson Township
Dearborn County
Mr. Messmore referred to Indiana Code 36-2-2-15 as mandating the presence of a uniformed officer at executive sessions such as the county commissioners’ meetings.
The following is the exact wording in regard to the presence of an officer at a meeting such as the County Commissioner Meeting. This is Indiana Code 36-2-2-15 (d) It seems very simple, simple enough that my 8 year old granddaughters could easily read and comprehend it.
(d) The county sheriff or a county police officer shall attend the meetings of the executive, if requested by the executive, and shall execute its orders.
Nowhere does the code demand a uniformed officer to be present. This bogus use of Indiana Code is serious business in that the county administrator has either misread the code or perhaps has a problem comprehending what he read in the code. A more egregious possibility, in my opinion is that the code was intentionally misstated. Either of these possible explanations would indicate that the man is unsuited for the job. It is wrong for citizens not to be able to trust the word of a county employee, an employee whose job carries serious responsibilities.
It is time for the county commissioners who appointed Mr. Messmore to stand tall and demand the man’s resignation. Dearborn County deserves better than this.
Alan S. Freemond, Sr.
Tanners Creek Farm
Jackson Township
Dearborn County
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Barrott and Orschell Interviews on www.theflypod.com
Greetings Dearborn County Listeners & Subscribers --
We encourage you to listen to the following local political candidate interviews. Of course you can subscribe to all of our shows absolutely FREE -- for loading onto your iPod or MP3 player, just visit our website. It's very simple. However, for the moment, if you have a high-speed internet connection and working speakers connected, simply click on the following direct show-links to listen. If you would like to download your own free copy of any of these shows (for personal use), they are available on our website along with nearly 500 other show selections -- www.TheFlyPod.com
Show #1 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Dearborn County Council - Interview with MAYNARD BARRETT (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11099
Show #2 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Dearborn County Commissioner - Interview with TOM ORSCHELL (D). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11131
We hope you benefit from listening to these shows. Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about TheFlyPod.com New-Media Network. Also, check out the OPEN FLY FORUM feature on our website -- you can create your own broadcast, immediately! We are quickly becoming a leading national source of programming in the new digital-media age. Any person can sign up on our website to begin automatically receiving "New and Notable Show Alerts". It is 100% free and we will never, under any circumstances, share your email address with any person or organization.
Thank you for your support, ideas, questions, comments and even complaints. You may email us anytime -- shout@theflypod.com -- or pick up your cell phone and call our listener comment line at 206.337.1716
To our thousands of loyal listeners -- we say Thank You!
NEW and NOTABLE SHOW ALERTS
Fly Paper Productions, LLC
Digital Media Group - National Operations Ctr POB 324 Harrison, OH 45030 USA
206-337-1716 Listener Comment Line
www.TheFlyPod.com
TheFlyPod New-Media Network
We encourage you to listen to the following local political candidate interviews. Of course you can subscribe to all of our shows absolutely FREE -- for loading onto your iPod or MP3 player, just visit our website. It's very simple. However, for the moment, if you have a high-speed internet connection and working speakers connected, simply click on the following direct show-links to listen. If you would like to download your own free copy of any of these shows (for personal use), they are available on our website along with nearly 500 other show selections -- www.TheFlyPod.com
Show #1 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Dearborn County Council - Interview with MAYNARD BARRETT (R). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11099
Show #2 - POLITICALLY CORRECT: Candidate for Dearborn County Commissioner - Interview with TOM ORSCHELL (D). To listen to this show, click on the following direct show-link:
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=11131
We hope you benefit from listening to these shows. Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about TheFlyPod.com New-Media Network. Also, check out the OPEN FLY FORUM feature on our website -- you can create your own broadcast, immediately! We are quickly becoming a leading national source of programming in the new digital-media age. Any person can sign up on our website to begin automatically receiving "New and Notable Show Alerts". It is 100% free and we will never, under any circumstances, share your email address with any person or organization.
Thank you for your support, ideas, questions, comments and even complaints. You may email us anytime -- shout@theflypod.com -- or pick up your cell phone and call our listener comment line at 206.337.1716
To our thousands of loyal listeners -- we say Thank You!
NEW and NOTABLE SHOW ALERTS
Fly Paper Productions, LLC
Digital Media Group - National Operations Ctr POB 324 Harrison, OH 45030 USA
206-337-1716 Listener Comment Line
www.TheFlyPod.com
TheFlyPod New-Media Network
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thom Hammond Candidate for County Council-at-large
Thom Hammond Republican Candidate for County Council-at-large
Spokesperson for Citizens Against Sewer Enforcement (CASE)
Succeeding in a 3 year struggle for 70 families to legally challenge the ST. Leon forced hookups
Preservation of Rural Bucolic Landscape and the Natural Endowment of Dearborn County
Uphold the value of our precious farmland and the pastoral greenspaces of this county
Open Door Policy for County Government
Keep the politics in front of the people; everyone has a right to know who will benefit from proposed policies
Transparent Meetings Based upon Listening to the People
Public meetings should encourage involvement of the people. Citizens should be heard, they own the government
Balanced Tax Base with Property Tax Accountability
Entice suitable industry to DC to balance the residential growth. Keep property taxes locked into 5-year cycles
Road Improvements Based on Established Priorities
A structured list of priorities such as traffic loads and infrastructure dominance needs to exist, not political favoritism
Planned Residential Development and Smart Growth
Maintain development at a level that the county’s infrastructure can absorb without additional tax burdens
Implement a Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Work with other County Officials to coordinate a plan for infrastructure, utilities & schools paced for sustainable growth
Eliminate Eminent Domain as an Option for Development
Private development must never be granted the power of “taking” from one to “give” to another
Approved by the Thom Hammond Campaign for County Council of Dearborn County, Indiana.
Visit www.thomhammond.com
Spokesperson for Citizens Against Sewer Enforcement (CASE)
Succeeding in a 3 year struggle for 70 families to legally challenge the ST. Leon forced hookups
Preservation of Rural Bucolic Landscape and the Natural Endowment of Dearborn County
Uphold the value of our precious farmland and the pastoral greenspaces of this county
Open Door Policy for County Government
Keep the politics in front of the people; everyone has a right to know who will benefit from proposed policies
Transparent Meetings Based upon Listening to the People
Public meetings should encourage involvement of the people. Citizens should be heard, they own the government
Balanced Tax Base with Property Tax Accountability
Entice suitable industry to DC to balance the residential growth. Keep property taxes locked into 5-year cycles
Road Improvements Based on Established Priorities
A structured list of priorities such as traffic loads and infrastructure dominance needs to exist, not political favoritism
Planned Residential Development and Smart Growth
Maintain development at a level that the county’s infrastructure can absorb without additional tax burdens
Implement a Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Work with other County Officials to coordinate a plan for infrastructure, utilities & schools paced for sustainable growth
Eliminate Eminent Domain as an Option for Development
Private development must never be granted the power of “taking” from one to “give” to another
Approved by the Thom Hammond Campaign for County Council of Dearborn County, Indiana.
Visit www.thomhammond.com
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