April 30, 2007 05:32 pm
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1. Smoking ban; expand it, keep it the same, or rescind it?
I do not believe in the ordinance as it is written. More time and effort should have been placed into the decision and writing of the ordinance.
2. TIF District’s 3.6 million windfall and future use of TIF districts.
I am glad to see the TIF board looking for guidance from the DLGF, with regard to what to do with the windfall. The money should be returned. If a bank deposits money into your account that is not yours, the money is taken out and given to the rightful owner. This should be the case in this situation.
I have reservations about expanding TIF districts, the biggest one being the money that it keeps from the schools.
3. Airport, whether to expand it, move it or shelf the project.
I do not believe this project needs to move forward at this time. I have seen and heard examples of people or businesses being able to use the airport as it exists. No one has come forward with sufficient information supporting the "claim" of a need for a larger airport. The suggestion of relocating the airport to New Point, east of Greensburg, is ridiculous for this reason: Including travel time through Greensburg, the trip is now 15 to 20 minutes. In that amount of time, one could travel to Shelbyville’s airport.
I have studied information from INDOT and understand that airports can provide an economic boost. Would a new airport generate enough revenue to pay for its own upkeep and for the loan/bond Greensburg would have to get to upgrade or relocate the airport? With property taxes continuing to go up, is it fair to ask the tax payers to bear yet another financial burden for something that there is no real or urgent need for? While the rise in property taxes seems very unfair, they are, nevertheless, out of our control. Projects of this nature, however, are something we can and should control.
4. Spreading out contracts among several engineers and financial advisors.
I support the idea of Greensburg bidding out its projects. This allows for a broader perspective, new ideas, better ideas and fresh approaches to these projects.
5. Selecting board members and acting on their recommendations.
I believe board members should be selected based on their qualifications to make educated decisions with the best interest of the tax payers vs. the good old boy system.
The recommendations should be viewed by the council as just that. If the citizens do not agree with any recommendation made by board member(s), the council should then act accordingly, against that recommendation. It is also the council’s responsibility to question recommendations to ensure that the decision has been thorough and complete.
6. Negotiations between the City and Rural water over zone 5.
I believe that the City and Rural Water are both to blame. The negotiations should have been open and when a resolution could not have been reached a mediator should have been brought in.
7 Will the city take an active role in helping the county make decisions of outlying growth?
The city should be ready to assist the county as it sees growth. At the same time, the county has it own elected government that must answer to its citizens as well. The city and county may not see eye to eye on the development outside of the city.
8. Should changes be made with regard to the city’s department heads?
The mayor is the one who is responsible for choosing department heads. I can only hope that the mayor places people in those positions that have strong leadership and can create positive morale. Department heads should not only respect those employees but should have their employees’ respect. All of these aspects combined results in a department that is based on professionalism and dedication.
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