INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: READING
R-09-16 Resolution To Appropriate E.D.I.T Funds To Assist Residents With Damages Caused By Recent Storms And Flooding (Gahan)
Bob Caesar adds his addendum to the Gahan resolution. Because it is a resolution, it can be introduced in modified form.
Coffey: Who enforces this? Answer is: Stormwater Board. Coffey rolls his eyes.
Jack Messer notes that stormwater has a machine for trenching that it is not using and hasn’t for seven months.
Kevin Zurschmiede (first comment, 2:15 into the meeting): Accountability! They’re not here because we have tough questions for them! Every deppartment needs to be accountable! Namechecks Erika. “There’s no accountability.” KZ grandstands about accountability, the new mantra.
Caesar: “We have to do something for these people,” and “start now, not in nine months.”
Benedetti: But we give them money and it doesn’t change! How do we change that?
Coffey: Cut ’em, cut ’em.
Price: We had to sue to do something.
Messer: This administration hires people who won’t work. Need different contractors, new people. They’re not working.
Benedetti: Something about Ron Carroll hiring or paying too much to someone. Now they’re getting tired and mumbling all at once.
Coffey: Bob wants to hire college kids for creek cleaning, and Kay Garry found out that the stormwater slackers already allotted money for this! We’ll approve the $25,000 requested by Caesar for cleaning up cricks. Where to take it from?
Marcey: Kay and I figured it out. Explains the part-time scheme. It would take about $23,400.
Discussion about how to pay them.
Messer: Corrections people?
Paul Haub: “Use community service people.” They could do it for free.
Coffey: The other $75,000? Where? To the people?
Gahan: The stormwater board makes that decision.
Benedetti: “What do I say to the people who come up to me” and can’t afford the repairs?
Gahan: Stormwater and sewers make these decisions every day?
WE HAVE NOTHING REMOTELY RESEMBLING A RULING CLASS IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE SPENT AS MUCH TIME ON OLD GRIEVANCES TONIGHT AS ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE THIS IS ISSUE IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING SOLVED BY DISBURSING MONEY TO THE FLOODING VICTIMS. THIS IS OF A SCOPE THAT ELUDES THEM ALL.
Coffey: Attorneys will swarm if some people get money and others don’t.
They’re arguing about the terms of a city-wide bailout.
Shane Gibson speaks: We try to determine on a case by case basis. Sewer claims have a $25,000 deductible. Most of the current crop would go past deductible. No specifics, but never this many problems. Many of these claims will be handled by the insurance company.
Gahan: Still a council issue, because “we have to come up with the big fix” and tackle the problems presented tonight.
Really? THEM?
Coffey: “Why do we need this $75,000?”
Gibson: The extent of this problem is for the insurance company. The deductibles owed by the city will come from the sewer utility, as it has done in the past. Now getting claims. No idea of the total cost when all is said and done.
***Gibson: “We still have to determine if the city is liable.” Not comfortable just throwing money out because it can’t be policed … because it would not lend itself to accountability. Recommends it be specifically earmarked for the emrgency stormwater.
But that would run counter to Coffey’s aim of kneecapping stormwater.
Vote: Price hems, haws, squawks and votessssss yes. Messer abstains. Zurschmiede now speaks up about water in his building, abstains. Coffey abstains. 6 yes, three abstain, I think.
Bizarre.
R-09-17 Resolution Concerning Statement of Benefits For VTI of Indiana Door, Inc, DBA Ideal Door Division by the Common Council (Gonder)
Marcey Wisman reads amendment to transform the abatement to five years for equipment. Unanimously approved.
R-09-18 Resolution to Fund the City Portion of a Fire Department Grant to Purchase a Multi-Task Emergency Vehicle (Gonder)
This is what the fire department is here to discuss. Poor guys. They got a grant for most of it, need $47,000 as the department’s share. Coffey hates to turn it down because some other grants don’t require matches. The chief explains. Vote by hand: Unanimos in favor.
Coming back for the grand finale.
