Sewers and Sewer Billing: Mayor England is not happy with the city's contract with EMC. He is bringing the sewer billing back to City Hall. This should bring $5 to $10 Mil. back in fees. I agree with this decision, I thought the council should have opened the contract for bids instead of just signing with EMC. With sewer billing back in NA there may possibly be an added plus of additional job openings, this was not mentioned at the meeting.
The privatization of Sanitation: Another idea the Mayor disagrees with. He wants to re-negotiate the contract with the garbage company so they will pick up trash and yard waste in addition to garbage. The street dept. can't make needed repairs to our streets because they are running around picking up trash and yard waste. The lines in the streets need to be painted and the stop signs need to be replaced.
Jesse Ford spoke about the Tri County Health organization. He said AIDS and HIV infections are growing in the 50+ population. There will also be an AIDS walk on the last Sunday in September. Please contact Jesse Ford 945-7265 if you want to participate or volunteer.
Joe LaRocca, Executive director of YMCA of Sou. IN spoke also. He was asked how the low income families will be able to afford a membership in the "Y". He discussed the "Open Doors" financial assistance program. He said no one would be turned away regardless of income. There will also be a program for childcare and day camps. They will have day passes but Mr. LaRocca wants everyone to purchase a membership. I am glad that people will be able to buy a day pass if they want to. Sometimes it is hard to commit to a membership because it makes you think that you have to attend almost every day to make it worth it. It is also good for families who have visitors.
He went on to discuss the financing:
- $20,000,000 from Caesar's.
- $160,000 yearly from EDIT funds.
- A steering committee raised $7,300,000.
- A challenge grant from Kresge for $1,000,000 which was matched by 50% with private donations.
I was a supporter of the YMCA but not the $17,000,000 swimming pool. But it is done and we must move on. I hope the "Y" is a success and helps a lot of children have a place to play and learn. Our kids need someplace to go where they will be safe and have a good time.
We may not agree with everything this administration is doing but I appreciate the fact that all of these city officials took the time to attend this two-hour meeting and listen to us. The next meeting is scheduled for the fall. I will give everyone the details as soon as I learn them.
21 comments:
Shirley, a 17 million dollar pool?
that must be a typo.
Indiana Water does the billing not EMC. They maintain the sewer plant.
Also when England was in there before in house billing did not work. To many political favors for his cronies. Does anyone realize all the billing department has to do is make a phone call and certain citizens can get there bills wiped to a $0 balance. In fact look at the 2007 audit and see what a mess our billing department is and how many violations our city got over in house billing.
Great blog Shirley.
Why doesn't the general fund payback the sewer department over $5.3 miillion they still owe? Why wasn't this question brought up at the smoke and mirror meeting.
Give us a break
Sorry about the 17million dollar error. I'll do some research and find out the exact number. I don't know why that number stuck in my head.
As to the city billing for the sewer dept. Can we do any worse than EMC? I hate favoritism of any kind. Hopefully this won't happen again. If it does people need to make that information public and EVERYONE will be calling and aksing for their bill to be written off.
Re: the $3.500,000 owed to the sewers, I don't know why no one asked. Please attend the next meeting and bring that up.
The city [taxpayers]will own 60% percent stake in the building, and the Floyd County YMCA will own 40 percent.
Total project cost: estimated about $23 million
Caesars Foundation gave New Albany a $20 million Grant
The city has a $12.75 million bond issue [backed by property taxes]
City's part is $137,500 and county's part is $137,000
But if County doesn't have the $137,000 it falls on the backs of taxpayers.
They need 9,000 memberships to just break even.
This is New Albany's field of dreams.Build it and they won't come, watch and see.
Mayor England needs to put the new albanian over code enforcement. Maybe then we'll finally clean up New Albany.
Yes, agree strongly with the argument sewer billing should still be done by Indiana American. A former employee JUST PAID a lot of monies back for never paying sewer bills. Former, but may be back under city employment.
EMC will probably win the lawsuit against the Council. It is not hard to hire certain "professionals" under a non-bid contract. This may be the reason another person has been hired in order to find any mistakes EMC may make.
There is one page inside EMC's monthly report and now Mayor England has to sign a document stating no matter who does the work, blah, blah, blah, he takes full responsibility for it.
As the sewer fund, along with sanitation, drainage, and now storm water fees would make the "biggest" slush fund downtown I'm not sure a lot of us wish to go back down that particular path.
It's sort of like some people's logic about the boat. It's not they didn't want the boat they simply did not trust the politicians with the $$$$'s. Sad, but true.
Suits, so many items we can't remember were found on claims within the sewer department under England's last admin.
The Building Commissioner's office and the Sewer Department can not have ENOUGH oversight these days. Too much riding on the line what with trying to clean up NA and complying with the EPA.
Has anyone checked to see if we are still in contempt (twice) of the American Disabilities Act? Another lawsuit some taxpayers may have forgotten, but an important one.
Thanks for the information, Shirley. Keep up the good work.
Build it and they won't come, watch and see.
We know you won't come, but fortunately the management of the Y hasn't waited for all the anonymous venom spreaders to come and sign up, and has gotten on with its business.
It remains funny to me that in the beginning, the troglodytes opposed the miniscule annual commitment by the city on the basis that the YMCA is so good at what it does that it doesn't need the city's annual pittance of support.
Then, when this was pledged, suddenly the very same people started ranting about the Y's inadequacies.
You can't have it both ways, although it's easier when you're anonymous, right?
PRIVATIZATION OF SANITATION,
HE WANTS TO RE-NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT WITH THE GARBAGE COMPANY SO THAT THEY WILL PICK UP TRASH AND YARD WASTE IN ADDITION TO GARBAGE.
DID ENGLAND ACTUALLY SAY THAT SHIRLEY?
THE REASON I ASK IS IF HE WOULD JUST READ THEIR CONTRACT "THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE DOING THAT NOW." [I'VE READ IT]I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE IN BREACH OF CONTRACT RIGHT NOW!
ENGLAND'S IS ON HIS SECOND VACATION SINCE JANUARY 1,2008. HE NEEDS TO BE HERE FIXING PROBLEMS NOT MAKING PROMISES HE CAN'T KEEP.
Talking about street lines. Has anyone seen the painted line by DQ on State Street? Either the painter was drunk or on crack. You need to check this out Shirley. Tell us what you think. lol
I don't know about you all but I am sick of hearing about downtown. When folks go to Clarksville, Jeffersonville or Louisville for an evening, they do not do it for the quiet streets and deserted parks. They go for the excitment of crowded streets, venues, and live human interaction.
Let them move to Louisville. When is someone with even a basic understanding of economics going to have a position of power in local politics?
The "nightlife" they refer to is really nothing more than bars and shot dumps that tie up local police resources every night between the hours of 10pm - 1 am. I seepublic intoxication/ urination, drunk driving, etc. What the "pro-business" geniuses in local government don't realize is the only ones making any money there are the bar owners.
Planning does not mean Rubber stamp everything. Planning and redevelopment means giving thought to what impact any project will create for our city.
If they thought for sure people would join the YMCA they would have never backed up the Bonds with Property Taxes. If it was such a sure thing why didn't they allow a referendum on the Scribner project? BTW would you like to put your money where your mouth is Mr. Baylor? Build it and watch taxpayers end up pay for it.
EXCUSE ME THE NEW ALBANIAN, THE YMCA NEVER MET THEIR PART OF THE PLEDGE. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE YOU MAKE A FALSE STATMENT LIKE THAT!
Ah, the sheer bravery of anonymity. Brings a tear to my eye.
NEW FISH RESTURANT ON MARKET STREET REVIEW; HIS FOOD IS NASTY AND SO IS THE STAFF. OVER PRICED IN MY OPINION. THE ONLY TIME I ATE THERE THE FISH WAS SOGGY NOT DEEP FRIED ENOUGH AND THE FRIES WERE UNDER COOKED. NOT WORTH YOUR TIME OR MONEY.
So I guess your using all caps means you want to shout it to the world?
I've been to the Market St Fish House on several occasions and never had a bad meal.
Several members of my family has been as well.
and Dave Himmel is nothing if not accommodating.
(there's a review from a real person)
RE: privitization of the Sanitation Dept.
Yes, Mr. England did say that the sanitation company does not pick up trash or yard waste and he is going to re-negotiate the contract.
He said the guy who paints lines in the streets can't do his job because he is too busy doing other things like picking up trash & yard waste. Maybe that explains the line on State St. I will go and check it out myself.
I have eaten there too. There is something fundamentally sad about a bad restaurant. In the spirit of fair play (and with a certain amount of trepidation), I revisited the Market Street Fish House a few days later for lunch. Remembering how kind the owner seemed, how anxious to please, I committed myself to experiencing lunch with a complete open mind. Unfortunately, the blind optimism was short-lived. I left, again sorry for the owner, who does seem like a nice guy. Life is far too transitory to eat over priced bad food.
you're kidding right anonymous on July 15th?
The whole "crazy" street lines? That is called a TUR-NING LANE.
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