RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!!!

I am sure this is what many attendees of last night's council meeting are saying now. Many residents told their stories of having flooded basements, even sewage in their homes and pleaded with the council for help. Many council members were obviously disturbed by these stories and accompanying pictures.

It is a terrible shame that people have to live like this, losing countless thousands of dollars and living in unsafe homes that are unsellable. Thankfully the resolution passed 9-0 that would free up funds to reimburse these people. Also Attny Shane Gibson promised to look into these claims and forward them to the city's insurance company. The residents also filed Tort Claims to help reclaim some of the lost funds.

The other major item on the agenda was the Ordinance to allocate $1,000,000 to hire 10 new police officers. After the first vote failed to pass, CM Messer asked that the Ordinance be amended to be reduced to $500,000 and hire 5 new police officers. CM Caesar changed his vote to aye and the Ordinance passed 5-4. Voting aye were CM's Caesar, Benedetti, Messer, Zurschmeide and Coffey.

IMPORTANT MEETING TONIGHT

It's going to be an exciting place to be tonight at the City Council meeting. The council will vote on the 1 million allocation from EDIT to pay for the hiring and training of 10 new police officers.

Additionally there will be an appropriation request from CM Gahan of $75,000 to compensate the recent flood victims. Although some people may say this will just open the door for everyone to request funds for future flooding and other problems, I think this is a special circumstance. There is a major problem with our storm water run-off and it needs to be fixed immediately.

Going back to the police officers, I had said in a previous posting that I was unsure how I would vote if I had the opportunity to do so. After careful consideration I would have to vote in the negative. Yes, we certainly need new police officers but at this time we have several highly paid officers who have yet to retire. When they do so, we will have the additional funds to pay for the salary and training of new officers. I know CM Messer sees an immediate need and he is on the "front lines" but we only have so much money and we have to use it wisely.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

I received an email from Linda Moeller, today. She informed me that Governor Howard Dean has been confirmed as the featured speaker at the JJ Dinner November 12, 2009.

We don't have all of the information yet but Linda said plans are being made. I will post all information as soon as I receive it.

See you on November 12.

Shirley

SITTING ON THE FENCE

I find myself in an unusual position. I am unable to come to a logical opinion about an important matter.

Although I did not attend the City Council meeting on July 6, I have read several other peoples' opinions about the EDIT funds being used to increase the number of police officers.

On one side, we all know the city has a crime problem. The officers say their numbers are too low to adequately enforce the laws and capture the criminals. The Mayor, the Police Chief and some members of the council agree that using EDIT funds is the answer.

On the other side, many citizens and some council members believe that the city cannot afford to use the EDIT funds at this time to hire more officers.

I can see the value of both sides of the argument, hence my inability to make a decision.

When I heard the officers speaking at the last council meeting last month I was upset and disappointed that they talked of moving out of New Albany because our city was not a safe place to raise their families. Isn't that their job? Aren't they supposed to "protect and serve"? Are those just words? They said that if we had more officers on the job New Albany would be safer and our crime level would go way down. Would they move back here if the crime level was reduced? Would using EDIT funds solve the problems?

Then I read on another blog about how we have 1.8 police officers per 1,000. That is considered adequate for a city of this size. Is the problem not the number of officers but that our officers are not as well trained as those of another city? Is the problem "quality" not "quantity"? Personally I don't think this is the case. I have a lot of respect for Chief Crabtree and I think he is doing the best he can with the number of officers he has to work with.

I guess we just need to figure out how to come up with the money to hire new officers, pave our streets, fix our sewers, etc., etc, etc. Maybe we citizens should each pitch in a dollar and buy 37,000 lottery tickets in the name of New Albany.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

I usually only discuss issues having to do with New Albany but this really got to me. I just read in the "Tribune" that David Camm's conviction has been overturned by the Supreme Court (Indiana).

Unbelievable.

POOLS, POOLS, AND MORE POOLS

I must admit to being a little confused. There was an article in the Tribune today about the need for a new swimming pool in the area of Community Park. Right below was a picture of the three pools at the YMCA which were barely occupied.

Would someone please explain to me what is wrong with these pools?

The article went on to say that the children who live in public housing are transported to the YMCA twice a week to swim for free. I think this is a wonderful idea and I commend the management of the YMCA for doing this service.

Still, the administration sees a need for more swimming facilities. Can't the Camille Wright pool be rebuilt? I know it was expensive to repair but there is already a hole in the ground...

Just wondering.

COMMUNITY SERVICE IN NEW ALBANY

I called Mr. Don Harshey, the Floyd County Director of Community Corrections today and left a message on his voice mail. He returned my call very quickly and gave me a lot of information about community service.

As it turns out these people are kept quite busy. Following is a list of some of the projects these people perform:

• Upkeep on the Township cemeteries.


• Clean up the parking lot behind the old Schmitt Furniture building (city owned property).


• Pick up the driftwood and debris along the riverfront after a flood.


• Maintain the area near the exit ramps from the expressways.


• Upkeep along the Greenway.


• Clean the outdoor enclosures for the animals at the shelter.


• Work with the Code Enforcement Officer to clean out and board up abandoned houses.


• Help the Veterans organizations and other non-profits.


• Unload the trucks taking food to the Food Bank every Thursday.

He said this plan has been in effect for over twenty years. They do not go down Main St. and pick up candy wrappers because the prefer to have the workers do ongoing projects, especially for charitable organizations.

Mr. Harshey said that plans that work never get recognition but if there was a problem they would be all over the news, sad but true.