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ALTERNATIVE TO THE ALTERNATIVES
I have been reading all of the information from blogs to the Tribune and everything I can find about the sewer rate increases and all of the "Alternative" plans. Instead of trying to weigh the pros and cons of each, I have decided to come up with one myself.
- Take out the loan offered by SRL for the 7.4 million dollars.
- Slash the annual budget by 1 million.
- Collect all outstanding sewer bills, no exceptions.
- Remove the 5-2 ratio and have individuals and developers pay the same rate.
- Do not lower the rate per unit on high volume customers.
- Remove the minimum of $10.08 and charge everyone according to usage.
- Use TIF funds when ever possible to pay for equipment.
- Charge impact fees and collect all other fees from developers where applicable.
- After all of these steps have been taken, raise the sewer rate to cover the costs.
I did not list a particular rate increase percentage because I don't know if it would be 10%, 20% or whatever. I tried to find the most reasonable aspects from each plan and combine them into one. Now, before you start the barrage of comments, I admit that I am not a CPA, and really do not know much about all of this but this is what I came up with.
I yield the floor to my learned friends.
57 comments:
Please don't tell me you are seriously considering running for office?
Your plan "WILL NOT" work.
Yep, you are right, you don't know about money or sewers.
Next
Don't feel bad Shirley. Most of our council members don't understand it either.
9:08
I never claimed to be an expert. I think council members or anyone else are there to serve the people, not dictate their lives.
So, let's hear YOUR plan.
Next
I yield the floor to my learned friends.
Rest assured -- they'll take it.
One problem, Shirley, our council members don't serve the people.
Second problem, is our controller does not furnish our council members with the proper information.
Third problem, IF our council had any information they would not understand it.
Fourth problem, the MAYOR dictates to the Controller and council members (excluding Price). which now makes him a dictator.
My point is, all rate payers know is this: our money is being spent and shifted from one account to another and NO one in the City of New Albany can explain to us why.
So how can we solve our sewer problem?
Follow the money trail.
Roger, what is your solution?
Actually, I think Shirley's basic intent is sound in terms of a plan because it's apolitical and does not steal all the eggs from one basket, in the fashion of the Coffey/Price "Gut EDIT" plan.
Shirley's to be commended for taking a commong sense approach in the face of a lynch mob. Doing so is the essence of compromise, something I thought had been bred out of the genetic code in NA.
Roger why not use Citizens for Accountability's plan? At least it generates revenue, puts the cost on the developers, pays some back to TIF's,EDIT and requires NO bonds. Who cares whose plan works, why is this not a win-win solution for all of us?
Accept the ones who receive bond commission.
ooops another typo: except,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I confess I'm slightly struggling with the sewer stuff but you are surely getting an amazing number of comments so you are plainly on to something here!
:D
Are you folks aware that Council President John Gonder support the Citizens for Accountability Sewer Plan. Maybe Shirley can put Mr. Gonder's link on here since the current administration is trying to control that it not coming out in our local newspaper.
Come on Tribune, let the folks see there is a win-win solution out there and England would rather get bond commission then do what's best fOr NA.
dear white rabbit,
if you take out the amazing amount of name calling, you're only left with about three true comments per post.
Big question Shirley, how do you slash the sewer budget by 1 million dollars? You get rid of EMC and take it back in-house guess what the EPA will be back in business in this town cause Englands political goons will run the show again and we all know what happened in the 1990's under that plan.
You really dont get it do you, the England sewer board is not to be trusted, nor is the city controller because they have created this near bankruptcy, now you in your lock step pro doug england rhetoric still would support a rate increase.
seriously if I were you, I wouldnt run for city council, you will get clobbered.
Unfortunately I do not know how to link Mr. Gonder's blog, or any other, to my blog. I can only suggest that interested people read "Gonder For New Albany At Large"
I did not have an answer to how the sewer budget will be slashed. I found that information on John Gonder's blog. It was a proposal under the Alternate B plan and was not explained.
As with any other utility, there is sure to be a way to cut expenses.
I never claimed to have all of the answers. If you think I will be "clobbered" in a run for council, why don't you run yourself? Maybe you can show the rest of us how it is done.
dont need to run for office Baird, ever hear of having influence without being elected, I have my pulse on more than you will ever know.
Should I send you a crying towel, you will need it after your big loss, dont worry though more of your pro england dems will be joining you in the loser line.
can we say Republican takeover
can we say Republican takeover
Whoa ... it's Dave Matthews!
Mr. M, can I have your autograph?
On second thought ...
Baron Hill is history too baird, its called the revolt of the people. Your problem is you try to come off like youre one of us but we all show our true colors eventually and you are the soon extinct elitist, wannabe. Told you you rode the wrong horse to start your political career with.
anybody care for some tea? and dont think they serve our tea at your buddy Baylors brew house
hey baylor i hear they want your autograph for the Floyd Central hall of shame
12:27pm
Okay here I go slinging some mud again...
You say this is a revolt of the people? I say it is some revolting people.
What Baron Hill's vote on healthcare has to do with Shirley's ability to lead is beyond my comprehension.
But if by wondering if anyone would want some tea, does that come with a slice of lemon, and perhaps some death threats, cut natural gas lines, and racial insults and spitting on people if they do something the so called tea pary disagrees with?
If so, no thank you.
oh lets label all who support the tea movement assasins now shall we chrissy boy, now whose the biggot?
sez yer ma, anonymamus
" oh lets label all who support the tea movement assasins now shall we chrissy boy, now whose the biggot?"
I have no problem admitting that I have some intolerant bones in my body.
I readily, and willingly discriminate, label, and hold intolerance towards anonymous character assassins who constantly criticize and ridicule people but are too cowardly to put their name to what they say.
Sorry to inform you but your preferred method of sneak attack on me on this instance has been disarmed.
To offer an olive branch and further your education in debate, I would like to point out there is no such thing as a "biggot", that is spelled "bigot" and you mispelled assassins as well.
Oops, sorry, I forgot.
"Thanks for reading my column, anonymous."
Gracious, what has become of my formerly good manners, now eroded by alcoholic dementia?
12:50
Coming from the likes of you I will wear label with honor, and I thank you for your praise. Have a wonderful day my fine elocutionary friend.
But I do have one parting question, if I am a moron, and was able to correct you on two misspelled words in one short paragraph, where does that place you on the intelligence scale?
Sincerely,
Chrissy the moronic pompous ass.
Chris...let it go and step above it! Is it really worth fighting down to misspelled words? You're guilty as the others when it comes to misspellings. Plain petty and you can be so much better than that.
1:27
I appreciate your input, and accept the typo's as a definate fact in my typing at times.
Once again, my inability to let an assassin sit in the dark waiting to ambush their next victim spurs me petty actions.
(which is a main reason why I will never run for office, if I see a spade, I call it a spade)
I think it is time to get back to the topic.
We were dicussing the sewer rate increase and the best way to handle it.
I welcome all comments pro and con if they are constructive. Most of the comments made here today were absolutely useless. I don't know how many times I have to say it but WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER not slam each other.
Shirley,
I may be as guilty as the next guy for leading the topic astray from time to time. But it gets really hard to stay on topic when the anonymous thugs feel the right to belittle everyone from behind their masks who happen to have an opinion that varies from theirs.
The ability to "work together" in such an atmosphere is unobtainable. And the saddest part of it is that the anonymous attacks come from those who claim to be working for the betterment of the community. You pretty much know who they are, as do I, and most everyone who reads this blog.
Welcome to the party now Shirley. You haev publicly posted something the all powerful "they" disagree with, the next thing you know they will be printing lies about you in the paper, cutting you down on every blog possible, you will probably end up the topic of the day at FOS, and they will do everything they can to stop you in your bid to as an at large council member.
God knows I have tried to keep my end "clean", but as far as working together to better the community, that will be accomplished as long as the entire community bows before CFA and gives to their every whim.
Sorry Christopher D. you are wrong again about FOS and CFA. Shirley has never been attacked by FOS or CFA. Myself you are just instigating something that never has happen or will. You keep screaming we need to work together as a community but this administration is not interested in solving problem, just explain why it is more important to build a water park, Greenway matching funds and bailout the police and fire department...again? I'm beginning to think this is Englands way to stop their audit, which I believe was never intented to be done.
You haven't even heard the CFA Sewer Plan. You need to stop letting your hate for FOS and CFA stand in the way for a win-win sisution for all of New Albany.
Didn't Council President Gonder agree with their idea, Shirley?
As Councilman Price has said; this is not personal, this is business.
I attended last weeks Council meeting and I listened very carefully and I must admit, it was way better plan than anything offered by the Mayor or anyone else. Anyone have a copy of the plan? It should be out their right in the middle of this discussion. When she stated how revenue could be generated that got my mind thinking, this women makes more sense than any plan so far. Then I pick up todays paper and wham, England has a different plan now. Then I see where Linden Meadows got free hookups and Malysz is pushing and saying these poor people and etc. What the hell? It makes Denhart's plan sound very do-able.
Shirley, I looked back on your previous posting and you were impressed with their common sense approach.
I appreciate their group at least coming up with a solution without borrowing money and raising fees and generating revenue.
Chris...if you could thickin your skin a little and just ignore them and quit participating in it, things would surely die down. It is when you continue to engage in dialog that this stupid crap keeps going on. This does not pertain just to you but for all. You just happen to make it known with your name that you are one of those actively participating in it. Thickin the skin and give it a grin.
(oops you had several misspellings in your last post...humor chris)
Thanks for your solution Shirley.
"Denhart plan...."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HA HA HA HA ....
..........Funny.
Whew! My side hurts.
CFA plan to fix school budget:
Close the schools. I ain't got no kids anyhow. Damn parents only thinking about themselves! Screw 'em!
Chris. Keep up the dialogue. I appreciate your input!
Thinkin the Skin and forget about the useless comments of anonymous 4:02, 4:04, and 4:05
Christopher,
Thanks for taking up for me but I don't fear CFA or FOS. I respect their right to an opinion and they respect mine.
As far as Vicki's plan for the sewers, I agree with part of it and included these parts in my own plan. I don't agree that we should tie up EDIT funds for 20 years though. We discussed this and she said she did not mean to tie up the EDIT funds that long.
As I said earlier, I have a very good idea who is saying all of those comments about my not being qualified to run for city council.
All I can say is there are a lot of people who disagree with this person and have offered to help with my campaign next year.
See you on the campaign trail, buddy.
Go for it Shirley and anyone else. I want choices in the next election.
I'm with Denhart and you. It's about time to get these spineless people off the council. I have NO clue about campaigning, but Vicki and you can count my family in to help in any way. Don't let these bullies get to you Shirley.
Christy
This goes deeper than the sewers and it is stupid to think otherwise. The sewer problems did not appear overnight, nor did they magically appear when Doug took office again. This issue is just one of the ingredients in the soup pot that is bringing this city to its knees when every other city around us is experiencing growth, even in an economically trying time. So look at the over all picture of the state of this city and ask yourself without the lines drawn in the sandbox here and I challenge you to come up with any logical explaination as to why this all has been happening in the course of the last 12 to 15 years.
Why has this city been going backwards when others around us are cleaning up, attracting good jobs, businesses, building better parks, cleaner streets, more efficient infrastructure. some of the main reasons of this are self-serving interest groups, choosing the same elected officials over and over from the same rotten barrel. The sooner people realize and accept this the better of all of us in this city will be.
If Denhart runs I would move to the 1st district to vote for Dan Coffey.
Thickin the Skin and ignore anonymous 7:54 useless and derogator comment.
Anonymous 7:42 pm "I challenge you to come up with any logical explanation as to why this all has been happening in the course of the last 12 to 15 years."
Make that since 1987, when EPA visited - 23 YEARS ago!
(continue 7:42pm "some of the main reasons of this are self-serving interest groups, choosing the same elected officials over and over from the same rotten barrel. "
What about the same 'appointed' people who are not elected but are doing the same things for years -- hint -- How long has Carl Malysz been appointed to positions in New Albany?
That's funny 10:42
NO ONE I've seen has called ALL tea party people assassins. Where did you see this? Roger didn't write that. Please stick to real facts instead of CFA "facts."
"Christy" is the faux citizen blogger discussed in Chapter 6 of Denharts classic, "Winning Campaigns at the Fake Grassroots."
Man, don't plagiarize the character names for Christ sake.
EPA: Even if it means higher rates, New Albany must meet decree
By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Daniel.Suddeath@newsandtribune.com
NEW ALBANY — The Environmental Protection Agency will enforce additional penalties against New Albany if it doesn’t adhere to its amended consent decree with the federal agency, an EPA spokeswoman said this week.
DUH!
More useless news by the Tribune.
NO NEW TAXES:NO NEW FEES
(unless someone else is paying them)
Facts:
(1) All bond payments have been made and have been made on time.
(2) The sewer is adhering to the amended EPA consent decree and addressing any areas that are requiring additional corrective measures.
False Scare Tactics:
(1) Bond payments have not been made and sewers will be going into receivership.
(2) Repeated violation of EPA amended consent decree has resulted in recent or soon to be announced large fines from EPA.
The amended consent decree calls for projects to be completed that we don't have funds for, thus the rate increase that the EPA acknowledges. But I'm sure you knew that since you talked to the EPA right?
New Albany is full of more dumb rednecks than all of Kentucky. Nothing but whiners.
10:19 you must be one of them dumb rednecks that can't read. The previous post simply dispelled false statements that have been made. It did not state that there were funds available to pay for all required projects.
Your comment that EPA acknowledge rate increase is also false! They do not care how projects are paid for, whether it be through rate increase or by other means.
I was responding to the 8 am post. We can go round about what EPA means but bottom line, why the waste of time over a few bucks a month? Either of the new increases would mean less than ten bucks a month for the majority of us. This has turned into nothing but political grandstanding.
The fact that this has been going on for 23 years and 7o+ million dollars later is why it is such a big issue. I think people want this to be done and over with as it should have been many years ago and millions of dollars ago. Not unrealistic for people to say enough is enough and not just allow things to continue as it has been without getting the required end results.
First we are going to take New Albany, then we are going to take Indiana, then we are going to take the White House! Yeeehhaaawww
1:28 your useless comments are as worn out as a cucumber in a convent.
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