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Post by jean on Jan 11, 2019 14:58:07 GMT -5
The airport board / city still owes $270 thousand dollars on the original loan to purchase the airport.
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Post by jean on Jan 11, 2019 20:20:23 GMT -5
The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote and was published in the Greensburg Daily News on 1/10/19 LETTER TO THE EDITOR At the.City Council meeting of 1-7-19 the City Council heard a plan from John Julian of Umbaugh & Associates of how to finance the proposed airport expansion. You can view that presentation on these video links of that meeting. PART 1 OF 2: youtu.be/Iuz-Yeh4ENY PART 2 OF 2: youtu.be/J6qBlNUfYqY The Council approved for an ordinance to be written for them to consider and present it at the next City Council meeting on 2/4/19 at 7 pm at City Hall. The public will be allowed to speak at this time. Then they will either vote to fund this project or not by implementing/ or not this ordinance. Keep in mind the following.... "Research has shown that only the larger, major airports are financially self-supporting. General aviation airports seldom bring in enough revenues to meet their costs. Although some small airports ostensibly can cover their costs, in most cases this claim is the product of using accounting practices which disguise costs and do not reflect true financial operation." trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=195006 "Three-quarters of general-aviation airports lose money every year and stay solvent only with cash from local taxpayers, says Vitaly Guzhva, a finance professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. This project will go from 32 acres to close to 200 acres taking out Prime farm ground and Historic farm ground. Mr. Julian of Umbaugh stated that taxpayer money would not be utilized. However if the airport board would default it will come back on the taxpayers as once you take the grant money from the FAA it binds you to keeping that airport as an airport for 20 years per each grant received pertaining to this expansion. Mr. Julian also mentions the use of the EDIT tax. This is a tax that comes out of your paycheck under the county tax and then a portion then goes to the City of Greensburg. A member of the airport board has stated that the public has been misinformed on the question of whether this can cost us in taxes. According to the stats noted above there is a probability of this happening. Umbaugh made a presentation but they cannot insure that it will turn out as they anticipate. We do not need this airport! We do need farm ground to be preserved. I want to encourage taxpayers to attend this meeting and let your voices be heard.. Jean Johannigman Greensburg IN.
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Post by jean on Jan 13, 2019 13:25:15 GMT -5
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Post by jean on Jan 15, 2019 18:47:47 GMT -5
This is the VIDEO and the AGENDA of the Greensburg IN City Water Board meeting of 1-15-19. VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/UijS1gc9QooAGENDA: Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approve Minutes of 12/18/18 meeting NEW BUSINESS: HNTB Mayor's Issues. ADJOURN
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Post by jean on Jan 16, 2019 10:03:04 GMT -5
ATTENTION TAXPAYERS:
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.......to stop this airport expansion in a public gathering area where geese migration from pond to pond in this area has the potential of bringing aircraft down. Bird strikes are the number one cause of airplane disasters.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE....to protect the farm ground and Historic farm ground that will be "taken" for this proposed project.
AIRPORT BOARD MEMBERS / CITY OFFICIALS will tell you that taxpayer money will not be involved in this project. In fact, Jon Dooley on WTRE said that they would be taking a bond anticipation note and that the only way this could come back on the taxpayers is if they (the airport board) default on the note. Then Jon stated they do not plan to default. Who ever does "plan" to "default"?!? AND If that be true.....
a. Why do they have to pass a city ordinance by the city council to pursue this project?
b.) Why is Economic Development Income tax (EDIT funds) which are taxes taken out of your paycheck under the county tax and then a portion of this is being given back to the city for their use being used on this project?
c.) Why does the City in their budget for the airport give them tax money, and over the years this amount has gone up...when the Airport Board claims to be self supporting?
d.) Has anyone checked airports of the size of this expansion and with our relative population to see what percentage are self supporting?
The Transportation Research Board says "General aviation airports seldom bring in enough revenues to meet their costs. Although some small airports ostensibly can cover their costs, in most cases this claim is the product of using accounting practices which disguise costs and do not reflect true financial operation."
And then there is this from Vitaly Guzhva, a finance professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida : "Three-Quarters of general aviation airports lose money every year and stay solvent only with cash from local taxpayers."
The airport's airport layout plan showed a stage 2 and stage 3....will these come after they make it over this hurdle? And if so...what will the "costs" be?
The airport's airport layout plan also showed the following projected costs:
Phase 1 : $ 18,759,400 Phase 2 : 7,564,600 Phase 3 : 6,574,200
Total : $ 32,898,200
Now the airport board / their engineer are projecting the "costs" at a lot less.....have construction prices gone down?!?!
What will the 3 to 4 years of interest costs be while they wait for the FAA to reimburse for the land acquisition?
They are putting this all in place of "anticipation" of receiving the main grant from the FAA to build this expansion. As of yet they have not received this grant and John Julian said there is always the chance it may not come through.
We have 3 -4 airports within 30 minutes of us. We do not need THIS expansion. We DO need to preserve farm ground. We DO need to protect our public gathering areas like the ball parks, fairgrounds, city park etc. They will try to tell you this will make this airport safer. WE hired a professional who pointed out that this airport can meet FAA safety standards with a lot less invasive plan than is being proposed.
Come to the next City Council meeting on Monday February 4th, at 7 pm at City Hall and let the City Council know you object to them proceeding with this project. THIS is your LAST CHANCE to do so. Please....SHARE! SHARE! SHARE! this.
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Post by jean on Jan 17, 2019 20:04:38 GMT -5
This is the VIDEO and the AGENDA of the Greensburg IN City TIF / Redevelopment / Veteran's Road Meeting of 1-17-19. VIDEO: PART 1 OF 2 : youtu.be/xr2xIuSAq_YPART 2 OF 2 : youtu.be/yFrB9A4xwXEAGENDA: Call to order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approve minutes of 12/13/18 meeting. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS 1.) Election of Officers for 2019 2.) Update of Project Status for Veterans Way Phase II 3.) Lincoln St. Update 4.) Approval of Claims a.) Phase II Project Claims b.) Lincoln St. Claims c.) Regular Claims 5.) Next Meeting : February 21, 2019 6.) Adjourn
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Post by jean on Jan 19, 2019 10:37:57 GMT -5
i sent this article in the Columbus Republic to 3 of our City Councilmen and it is SO on target i am sending it out again. Consider what is said here in reference to this proposed airport expansion which will either take place at this next City Council meeting, if they pass this ordinance, or not. By the way mark your calendars for the Next City Council meeting on February 4th (Monday) at 7 pm at City hall and please try to attend...and if you would please share this! Letter: City council needs to scrutinize spending better www.therepublic.com/2019/01/13/letter_city_council_needs_to_scrutinize_spending_better/
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Post by jean on Jan 28, 2019 20:25:45 GMT -5
This is the VIDEO and the AGENDA of the Greesnburg IN City Board of Aviation Commissioners meeting of 1-28-19. NOTE: the daughter of one of the landowners whose land will be taken from them was at this meeting to speak tonight. I encourage everyone to listen to what she was there to say. I also want to encourage everyone to come and let the City Council know that you are opposed to this airport expansion project and opposed to the eminent domain of prime farm ground. The City Council meeting will be Monday February 4th at 7 pm at City Hall. If the City Council approves this bond resolution at their next meeting there will be no stopping this expansion or the eminent domain of the farm ground of our neighbors. All taxpayers take note, mark your calendars and attend this important meeting. (PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION) VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1: youtu.be/woZ1ZDBKbYUAGENDA: Call to order Roll Call Election of Officers for BOAC President and Vice-President 2019 Agenda Approval Reading & Approval of minutes from 12/17/18 Financial Report OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Resolution # AV-2019-01 requesting City Council to issue revenue bonds Engagement letter of Ice Miller to serve as Bond Counsel Andrew M. of BF&S Airport Manager Report Approve Payment of Bills Comments from the board or audience Adjournment: Next Meeting Feb. 24, 2019
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Post by jean on Jan 29, 2019 11:41:29 GMT -5
City taxpayers & County farm ground owners:
Please plan to attend the next City of Greensburg City Council meeting on Monday, February 4th at 7 pm at City Hall.... WHY!?!? because the city council will have before them an ordinance or resolution to fund the expansion of the Greensburg airport through a bond anticipation note ,which will result in the eminent domain of prime and historic farm ground that is located in the county. Come and defend your neighbors right to protect their farm ground from this unneeded and unwanted airport expansion. The next time the city wants county farm ground it might be yours. Mark your calendars and plan to be there and PLEASE SHARE this message.
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Post by jean on Jan 31, 2019 8:45:34 GMT -5
LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN TODAY'S GREENSBURG DAILY NEWS
People stand up!
This coming Monday, February 4th at 7 pm is the next City Council meeting. At this meeting the City Council will have either an ordinance or resolution to fund the expansion of the airport by approving the airport board to take a bond anticipation note from the bank on behalf of the taxpayers. If they pass this there will be no stopping the eminent domain of prime and historic farm ground that will take place. In this process which has been going on for over 12 years...3 city councilmen polled their districts. 2 had 80 percent against this project and 1 had 70 percent against this project and yet it proceeded to this point in spite of their constituents. 2 of these councilmen are still on the city council. The airport board / city still owes $270 thousand dollars on the original purchase of the existing airport. The farm ground they will take sits in the county . The next time the city wants to take farm ground it may be yours! STAND UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR! Come to this meeting and voice your disagreement with this agenda! DO NOT BUY their excuse that it is for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT as we are basically at ZERO unemployment which means we do not have enough workers for the jobs we have now. STAND UP and SPEAK OUT in defense of these people before it is too late. This will be the last chance to do so. Please share this with your neighbors and come.
Jean Johannigman
Greensburg IN
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Post by jean on Feb 2, 2019 13:21:33 GMT -5
I just received the following comments from someone on the airport expansion. their name is removed for their protection....and remember...all grant money comes in some form of a tax whether that be on plane tickets when you travel with your family and yes there is also a portion that comes from the general fund.
here are those comments:
Here is a copy paste. “We have a lot of businesses that can use this expansion,” Greensburg Mayor Dan Manus said. “The biggest thing is it can bring business and money to our area.
If the above statement is true, Can they supply a list of names of those businesses? Also, how are they going to staff any new business that is brought into the county? We have enough help wanted signs up around this county to add so much weight to one of their airplanes it could never get itself airport.
If you recall I believe back in the early 1990's Greensburg lost the big Walmart distribution center to Seymour simply because the company found when doing their manpower study, that we could not supply a work force for them. What has changed this, and if it has changed, why are all the help wanted signs up everywhere?
It just occurred to me that for roughly $500,000.00 Greensburg is going to get a ten million dollar airport - that no one wants. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THE LOW FIGURE GOING INTO THIS, WHO IS GOING TO FOOT THE BILL IN THE FUTURE FOR UPKEEP AND PERSONNEL TO RUN THE DANG PLACE. I strongly suspect that the initial cost of $500,000.00 is a very small portion of the total yearly operating cost that the airport and city much pay for. Buying a couple of mowers to keep this mowed, plus the manpower to run the mowers will not be cheap once you factor in the workman's comp, payroll taxes, insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc.. My gut says it will cost annually in excess of half a million a year to keep this place running.
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Post by jean on Feb 3, 2019 15:34:50 GMT -5
This is more commentary that was emailed to me on taxes & the proposed airport expansion.....county & city taxpayers pay attention:
here it is:
On the way home from church this morning my mind drifted to the airport fiasco. To add to the yearly cost that no one is talking about is tax dollars. Now i know they have told you that taxes will not be raised to help pay for this. However, when they purchase this land and it becomes city property with a municipal purpose, they are removing acreage from the county tax base that will no longer have a property tax assessment. I say this because I doubt that the airport authority will be paying taxes on the airport. It is my guess that they are not paying property taxes now, thus they will not be when the airport is enlarged.
If the above assessment is correct, removing farm ground and real estate from the county tax base WILL effectively raise EVERYONE'S property tax. You cannot directly label that as helping to pay for the new airport, but the increase will be a direct result of it. How am I figuring this? To the best of my knowledge we all are assessed for our property. The state takes the total assessment for our county and divides the counties total needs for the year by our assessment dollars. This should give them a rate that our property taxes is based upon. If land is removed from this tax base, the counties budget will not decrease. Thus we have an increased budget being spread over fewer assessed dollars based upon a reduction of assessed property. To alleviate this shortfall one of two things would have to happen. Either they raise the assessed value of our property, or they raise the rates. Either way every year going forward, the county tax payers are helping to pay for the new airport, that belongs to the city.
Now we can also look at this another way. Should my assumption that the true cost of running the new airport is between a quarter and a half million dollars yearly, add in the county loss of property tax BEFORE THE TAXPAYERS are hit harder, and they have an even bigger operating expense. But of course, no one will be talking about this so the poor illiterate property owners will be paying the bill and won't know why their taxes went up.
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Post by jean on Feb 4, 2019 7:27:44 GMT -5
REMINDER! TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS , TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND COME! SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!
People stand up!
This coming Monday, February 4th at 7 pm is the next City Council meeting. At this meeting the City Council will have either an ordinance or resolution to fund the expansion of the airport by approving the airport board to take a bond anticipation note from the bank on behalf of the taxpayers. If they pass this there will be no stopping the eminent domain of prime and historic farm ground that will take place. In this process which has been going on for over 12 years...3 city councilmen polled their districts. 2 had 80 percent against this project and 1 had 70 percent against this project and yet it proceeded to this point in spite of their constituents. 2 of these councilmen are still on the city council. The airport board / city still owes $270 thousand dollars on the original purchase of the existing airport. The farm ground they will take sits in the county . The next time the city wants to take farm ground it may be yours! STAND UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR! Come to this meeting and voice your disagreement with this agenda! DO NOT BUY their excuse that it is for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT as we are basically at ZERO unemployment which means we do not have enough workers for the jobs we have now. STAND UP and SPEAK OUT in defense of these people before it is too late. This will be the last chance to do so. Please share this with your neighbors and come.
Jean Johannigman
Greensburg IN
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Post by jean on Feb 5, 2019 9:07:24 GMT -5
I just sent this to the newspaper in hopes they will print it....
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
“In order to discover the character of people we have only to observe WHAT they love.”
St. Augustine
The room at City Hall was standing room only. The subject being discussed: The airport expansion.
2 people came forward in defense of this airport expansion. One stating that he was a “good” Catholic.
I too am a Catholic but I am struggling just like everyone else.
Mark 10:18
“No one is good - except God alone.
This “good” Catholic touted that he had worked on building the new St. Mary’s complex and how women came before him crying about the beautiful Church that would be given up. He then stated no one complains now that it is done. The rest of the people in the room objecting to this expansion were being painted as not being “Progressive”.
Obviously this person does not follow what is happening to the Catholic Church internationally. It may take a while but the sex violation accusations being investigated by the secular authorities are going to have great impact on the finances of the Church as a whole. It will be a miracle if this “complex” survives.
Various other members spoke up against this airport expansion. You can view the meeting on America Speaks out , Facebook, or Youtube.
The City Council and Mayor thanked the audience for the great turnout and then basically told them that “we” your elected officials know better than you. Do they? Do they really?
I like to watch the news internationally. Things are rapidly changing. Telecommunications are advancing to the point we need to ask why physically be there? Brick and Mortar stores are dyeing a quick death and we only need to look to Columbus IN to see the impact taking place there as well as here. Nationally we are trillions in debt and the debt is so insurmountable that it will take a miracle to pull us out.
Down to the local level our “elected” officials just keep spending like there is no tomorrow. Grant money is NOT free people. It adds to the mess we are currently in as a country. As stated on a national radio talk show……China could say tomorrow …we want your coal mines for the debt you owe us. Tell your people to pack up we are bringing our own people in to work the mines. Stop for one moment and consider the impact of that.
It is time to safeguard the finances of our community so that when the ax drops we might make it through this. Instead we are evicting people by taking their land. Prime farm ground I might add. Some of these are people who have heavily invested in our community both from an economic standpoint and a service perspective. Our officials keep touting how we want to bring more people in …when in fact we are running them off …… Such a sad, sad change in this community! Have we become a community that loves things and uses people….or is there any hope left to be the community we have previously been and “love” the people and “use” the things. I ask you the public to decide and please take your opinion to the ballot box. If there is no opposition to one you want to vote against…..file and run against them. They are proving they are not listening.
Jean Johannigman
Greensburg IN
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Post by jean on Feb 5, 2019 10:16:37 GMT -5
i am still processing the video from 2 separate meetings last night and will post them as soon as possible.
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