I arrived late at the City Council meeting last night. Sheriff Mills was at the podium talking about the plan for metal detectors for the City-County Bldg.
The Council did approve a non-binding Resolution which basically says they agree that they are needed. CM Coffey abstained because he did not see a need for the Resolution since an Ordinance will be ready for voting at the next meeting.
The doors facing Hauss Sq. would be open to the public and where we will have to pass through the detectors. The employees will be given cards so they can scan them to enter the other doors.
I have been very vocal about my support for this measure and applaud Sheriff Mills for taking the initiative and securing all of the equipment. The $100,000 will be used for salaries for four additional security officers for this year. After that the Building Authority will add this cost to the rent. My husband suggested that the city and county ask for donations from the Floyd County residents to help pay the cost. Not a bad idea in my opinion.
Daniel Suddeath has an excellent article in today's "Tribune" with more details.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
31 comments:
I like the comments online at the Courier Journal website.
This is not something taxpayers want to pay for (much less donate to). Belief the Council does more harm to the citizens than the other way around. Belief they are blowhards and think too highly of theirselves. ETC.
Think about handicapped people like me who may have to park on Spring, or around the corner in bad weather. Why should we not be able to gain the closer access? Why is it wrong all of a sudden to enter through the Sheriff's portion of the building?
I'm all for security where the Judges are located, but this, to me, is ridiculous.
8:07 I'm sorry that you have problems finding a parking space in front of the building. I know there are a few spaces for people with handicap permits, and I know there should probably be more.
The metal detectors are not just for the council members and employees of New Albany or Floyd County. They are for everyone who enters the building. The council members stressed this at the meeting. As someone said, everyone in the county uses this facility at one time or another.
Sheriff Mills said there will still be access frm the Sheriff's Dept. after hours where a guard will be screening people.
Many buildings are secure now, office buildings, doctors offices, etc. especially in Louisville. It is sad that such measures have to be taken but that is just a part of life these days.
They are blowhards and think too much of themselves. Having said that, I'm amazed we don't already have protection in place.
Well, no, I'm not. This is New Albany. Perhaps, Shirley, at the next Council meeting, you can nudge your buddy Shane and ask him.
Just checking in today and I see a different article on there. What's going on with the federal dollars we got? Story doesn't say much, but it makes inquiring minds wonder.
http://newsandtribune.com/local/x1276651246/Keeping-tabs-on-New-Albanys-S-Ellen-Jones-neighborhood
And here starts the complaining about placement of metal detecetor,and access control. Clark county did it, and it works.
Of course those complaining against it, would probably be the first to raise a stink if god forbid something happened, and they would be bitching because there was no security in place.
@11:34 You are so right.
Voicing your opinion, as you asked us to do. and complaining are 2 different things. If u didn't want an opinion, why write about it? Way 2 go
Shirley, did the topic of future grants for the S Ellen Jones area come up during the countil meeting? Thanks.
RE: Grants for Midtown, yes they did but I did not have an agenda nor did I understand what was being discussed.
I was sitting next to Ted Fulmore but he was working on his laptop and I did not want to bother him. I was hoping Daniel would do an article so I could "borrow" from it.
Courier Journal 1-27-11
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110127/NEWS02/301270082/1025/NEWS02/Floyd++New+Albany+officials+wary+of+bill+to+create+parks+taxing+district
Floyd, New Albany officials wary of bill to create parks taxing district
House Bill 1507, would create a parks district that covers the whole county and would redirect a portion of property-tax revenues from the city and county to the district, which would be managed by a new Park Commission. That entity would replace the current parks department at the beginning of next year under the bill.
“That land belongs to the county, and I don’t think we should give it up without some type of compensation,” Heavrin said, speaking specifically about Community Park, the county-owned facility on Grant Line Road. He said that property was once appraised at $46 million when the county considered selling it to raise money to build a new youth shelter.
England expressed the same concern over the city-owned Valley View Golf Course. “It’s a very valuable piece of property that the city owns that we could sell and put in our city coffers,” he said.
Hey Heavrin and England, the parks belong to us, the tax payers, and would remain that way if a park district is established. Why should the taxpayers have to pay the county and city again for our parks? It sounds like some county and city officials are more interested in selling our parks so they can have more cash in their coffers than they are in preserving them.
"This is not something taxpayers want to pay for (much less donate to). Belief the Council does more harm to the citizens than the other way around. Belief they are blowhards and think too highly of theirselves. ETC.
Think about handicapped people like me who may have to park on Spring, or around the corner in bad weather."
I am a taxpayer and I fully support it. I also am handicapped but do not use it as an excuse to complain about exclusion or discrimination. I see a challenge and I overcome it. And I am glad glad glad that nutcases who try to come into the building and shoot things up because even though I like to meet challenges head on with my limited abilities, if something were to happen I would be one of the slowest easiest targets. Its all about perspective.
2:35p.m., I agree that officials shouldn't even be thinking about using these lands to add to their coffers. That is shortsighted and ignorant.
However, House Bill 1507, as it is written, is unconstitutional. You cannot mandate that only one county in the whole State create a parks district. If it is amended to read that the legislation gives all Counties the option to create parks districts I will support it, but if it remains as it is I will go to Indianapolis and fight this bill.
Plus, Mr. Fox has created a conflict of interest by co-authoring this bill, which is unethical. An attorney SHALL NOT create a conflict between two clients, which he has clearly done by writing this bill for the parks department, while also serving as the County Attorney.
when u r acting as a legislator, u r not acting as an atty. atty conflict rules dont apply here.
Marcey, why don't you just come out and say, "I hate Republicans," instead of running up to Indianapolis to fight a team of Statehouse constitutional lawyers who've already done far more research than your 'lawyer' friend...uh, I think his name is Shane Gibson...who knows about as much about constitutional law as I know about playing a fiddle!
This crap Shane's pulling is nothing more than trying to set things up with this group or that so that they can create yet another pack of lies to use against Ed Clere.
Marcey, you and Shane need to crawl back under England's rock and keep the parks CLEAN!
Where do you read that Marcey hates Republicans? She made a valid point. If they make a law creating parks districts it should be fair for the whole state, not just Floyd County.
Anytime there is a comment which does not totally agree with Mr. Clere everyone jumps on the writer and calls them Republican haters.
I am a Democrat but I don't hate Mr. Clere. I agree with some of his statements and disagree with others, the same is true of the President or any other Democrat.
We as a city,county,state and country need to quit being so partisan and work together. Otherwise nothing will get done.
Since Marcey made several erroneous statements in her post, I can only conclude that she must have written that comment because she hates Republicans. It's the only explanation left!
I'm no Republican, but support Clere's bill.
Anyone who tries to wrest proper funding from our parks cares not one iota about maintaining green space or providing our community with a great place for family gatherings, picnics and sports events.
As for the unconstitutionality of it, Shane Gibson has NO idea what he's talking about. There's not one thing "unconstitutional" about this bill, and if Shane Gibson actually thinks he can go up against constitutional lawyers at the statehouse, he's delusional. Also, I can't imagine this bill was thought up overnight and then not given to statehouse law staff to investigate as to its 'constitutionality' and appropriateness.
There IS, however, something, er...shady, about Shane Gibson calling up the Parks Director and telling him he's going to "disband" the Parks Board. Ponder, if you will, Doug England sending Gibson to do that. What reasons could he possibly have? As one of your readers posted, they're hopping mad up there. Why? Ask yourself these questions.
As for Rick Fox "co-authoring" a bill, again, Marcey is quite mistaken. Fox didn't "co-author" this or any other House or Senate Bill, nor is there any conflict of interest.
I agree that people need to stop partisan bickering, and my message is not at all partisan. I'm not standing up for Mr. Clere and I'm not a Republican. I'm standing up for his bill which I think is an important one. I haven't found any other Indiana county that has the city/county parks set up (that's not to say there's not one, I'm just saying my research so far hasn't yielded any additional similar circumstances), so the bill would only apply to Floyd. Also, our parks fail to receive all the funding that's put on the city and county books every year, and they constantly have to cut back because of lack of funding.
My suggestion to Marcey is that she stop listening to local Democrats in the inner circle who think they've caught Clere in a "gotcha moment," and do some homework on the subject before writing willy-nilly about it. And my suggestion to the rest of you is that you pay close attention to this before you find that our park has been sold in a hurry in order to get the revenue, which is then likely to disappear to 'administrative costs.'
This is what being a citizen watchdog is all about. Having said that, I agree with you, Shirley, about all the partisan bickering on the city, county, state, national level. Such constant squalling diverts attention to the real issues, such as this one. This bill has my full support.
5:30 p.m., You don't know me because if you did you would know that I don't hate republicans and I don't believe disagreeing with a bill, should be taken that way. I cannot see how my disagreement with House Bill 1507 was in anyway a personal attack on Rep Clere. Unlike many of the people on these blogs, I did not attack him personally or slander him in anyway.
Also, Shane Gibson is my friend, but I have a mind of my own and I can come to my own conclusions. There are many issues that he and I disagree on. This just happens to be one that we agree on.
If there are constitutional lawyers who have written an opinion on this bill; I would like to see it, because no one has given me any information that disproves my take on it thus far.
Also, if you think I'm under England's "Rock", you REALLY don't know me.
People, watch the money. Seems to me, England's knee-jerk reaction of sending his henchman Gibson over to bully Jeffers and Fox is pretty telling.
Marcey, I think that guy who wrote, if he is who I think he is, is a constitutional lawyer. I know he gets on here. Works for the federal gov't, but knows Indiana Constitution like the back of his hand too.
Didn't word of improprieties with England the our Parks Department cause this to happen? Did they fire someone with our Parks Department? There is more to this than meets the eye.
no talk of terrorists on al'jazeera.
possible terrorists are all they're talking about on fox news.
amazing what you learn when you actually go to the source.
Marcey, I don't think they said you were attacking Clere personally.
It wasn't a kind comment about the rock. I know you're not England's toady. But Gibson is.
i love reading two non-lawyers yell at one another for each not being a lawyer.
If they are a constitutional lawyer than why won't they explain to me how this isn't unconstitutional? The way I see it its special legislation with no supporting reason, and it is the "taking" of city and county land with no compensation. Both of these are unconstitutional. Instead, they were nasty and negative and throws out assumptions about me without even knowing me. Also, they claim that Mr. Fox didn't co-author this bill, but that was in the Tribune article. If this is incorrect, Mr. Fox should ask them to retract that statement.
Shirley, I love reading your articles, but this behavior is exactly why I have never commented until now. Why can't we just have an adult conversation without berating one another?
Why can't we just have an adult conversation without berating one another?
Marcey, sometimes the simplest answer is best. It's because the two anonymous character assassins who do all the cowardly berating fully intend to berate, and do not intend to have an adult conversation.
Case closed. You are welcome.
Parks board attorney Rick Fox said this will also give local philanthropists more incentive to give to the parks department or to a parks foundation, knowing that money donated will go to improving parks or to a specific projects like building a pool, and not wind up in city or county coffers. If the bill is passed, the parks district would take ownership of all parks property, Fox said, and would not need local approval.
Jeffers and Fox assisted Clere with writing House Bill 1507. Jeffers said the bill seems to have the support of local officials.
Marcey, I'm not trying to pick on you as there is no berating involved in anything I've said. However, you come onto this blog and make a strong statement and it is in error on several levels.
I posted above the excerpt from the Tribune article which mentions Rick Fox. Nowhere in it is Fox called "co-author."
Only a legislator can "co-author" a bill. However, Rick Fox, as an attorney, CAN help any legislator with the wording and help to make sure everything is correct and legal. By the way, following your interpretation, Roger Jeffers is also, according to the Tribune, a "co-author." This, too, is not the case.
After a legislator, with or without help from attorneys or other entities, authors a bill, it then goes through a rigorous analysis by the Statehouse lawyers who are well versed in constitutional law. They vet the entire document and fix what needs fixing or advise the legislator on how to do so.
I realize that unless you spend time doing this type of work, you're not likely to understand the process. So, I'm trying my best to explain it in such a way that any reader of this blog can understand.
I would appreciate it if you would not misinterpret my intention or my actual message.
Ed Clere's bill is perfectly constitutional. It is probably a good idea for a lot of reasons. It is definitely a sign that Rep. Clere is thinking about what would be the best for ALL the people, which, I have to admit, he pretty much ALWAYS does.
I may have been mad that the Democrats lost the seat, but since we have better representation in that seat than we have probably had my entire life, I'm not going to charge after Clere just because he's a Republican.
If you want to go up to Indianapolis and fight this bill, however, this is your right and you should feel free to do so.
Roger, there are character assassins who do so anonymously and there are character assassins who do so while blazing their names on every published spot they can think of. That doesn't make what they say any more valuable.
As far as I can tell, there have only been a few comments that have been truly unkind. Otherwise, if you're intelligent enough to wade through that, you're able to figure out what people are trying to say.
I can't put my name on here. I know for a FACT that I'd get fired! I know there are others.
Well if that isn't the pot (baylor) calling the kettle black.
If you want to go up to Indianapolis and fight this bill, however, this is your right and you should feel free to do so.
Thank you for this permission.
You may not be a Republican, but you're drinkin' the kool-aid.
My entire goal in life is to get rid of ALL Republicans in office. They're a bunch of millionaire jerks.
Come on now, not all Republicans are bad just as not all Democrats are good. People are people.
You're right, Shirley. I've been unable to check in here much, but I am surprised to see so much sweeping generalization. Here in this country, we just love to label people. Why?
I wouldn't say the Republicans are even all ALIKE (this goes also for Democrats), much less label them "millionaire jerks." I've known some "millionaire jerks" who happen to be Democrats too.
Having said that, it's better to try harder NOT to label and to get along, even when people show signs of being something we dislike.
This all reminds me of my son, who came home from NAHS the other day, complaining about a teacher. He said, "They don't want to hire us good teachers because we're the poor kids. The best teachers go to Floyd Central. I explained to him that that simply isn't true, that there are some outstanding teachers at NAHS and some poor teachers up at Floyd Central, I'm sure (hopefully very few either place!).
We start generalizing and name calling at a young age in this country. We put people in boxes and keep them there, making them the enemy. It's just wrong.
I'm a Democrat. I like Democrats AND Republicans, and, sometimes, I've even voted for Republicans over Democrats because I knew they'd do the better job. I think, if we're all honest, we'd admit we've all done something like that in the privacy of the voting booth, and stop name calling just to ensure our place in the right "club" (Democrat or Republican).
All this polarization is numbing our thinking minds.
Post a Comment