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Post by jean on Aug 16, 2024 7:37:05 GMT -5
This letter to the editor was published in the Greensburg Daily News on 8/15/24
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reader issues a ‘taxpayer alert’
At the most recent meeting of the airport board their engineer stated that they had one last grant fund payment to be returned to them and then the airport runway project would be complete. Then he talked about a grant they could receive in this month of August for an additional project, but they would have to come up with a substantial fund of money if they decided to receive this grant. He also talked about another grant for another project in 2025. You can see the video of this airport board meeting here: youtu.be/ Ot3HW5fG6uo Then I went to the city council budget meeting where the mayor has proposed in the city budget for the airport board to receive $120,000. The mayor proposed this after fixing up their terminal and giving them a car to transport people with. The mayor stated $100,000 potentially could be used to pay down the debt they still have on the airport runway and $20,000 could be potentially used for additional grants. The dollar amount of the debt still owed on the runway is in the budget meeting video.
The mayor also mentioned briefly the words “airport authority.” An airport authority has taxing power and I strongly feel this board should not be given the authority to tax us directly. There are examples on the internet where airport authorities have put a tax levy on the taxpayers to further their projects. Check it out. You can watch the video of the budget meeting here: youtu.be/ BUutNUhGTwE and youtu.be/ f3qzrK-bxf4 (parts one and two of the same meeting).
First of all, this airport runway expansion was sold to the powers that be by saying that it wouldn’t cost the taxpayers anything. They have also said that the airport is self-supporting. I guess that doesn’t matter when you have the taxpayers to bail you out. i understand that the city has to maintain the runway now for the next 20 years as part of the agreement with the FAA, but why take on more projects that will be held accountable to that same 20 year upkeep per project?
In our household, we pay our debts before we incur any more debt and we don’t rely on the safety net of others bailing us out when we can’t. The airport board needs to be held accountable for exactly how they sold this project. They should not be given any more of our tax payer money! I know they were hoping people would forget or not pay attention, but I did and I am.
I encourage you all to let the mayor and city council members know how you feel about giving them your tax money.
Jean Johannigman,
Greensburg
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Post by jean on Sept 3, 2024 21:33:55 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Board of Zoning Appeals Mtg 9/3/24 PUBLIC HEARING FOR 5 ITEMS ON AGENDA: VIDEO: PART 1 OF 2 : youtu.be/08PXa3jPvDAPART 2 OF 2 : youtu.be/2gX1zziB0S4AGENDA: Travis Kohrman seeking variance from paving & curbs Lisa Lee : seeking special exception for hair salon in her home Constance Hempstead seeking variance for front yard setback Midwest Service Warehouse seeking temporary special exception Jeff Whitaker seeking variance for paving & curbing requirements ADJOURN |
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Post by jean on Sept 3, 2024 21:41:59 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Plan Comm. Mtg 9/3/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/4qSqz3jZqlA PUBLIC HEARING FOR FOLLOWING 2 AGENDA ITEMS AGENDA: Jeff Whitaker seeking Primary & Secondary Plats Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance ADJOURN |
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Post by jean on Sept 5, 2024 19:02:16 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Board of Aviation Comm. Mtg. 9/5/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/cRyVTk585FY AGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Agenda Approval Approve Minutes BF&S : Construction report and update BF&S : Next step of Construction Airport Manager: Report Approval of the Bills Comments from the board / audience Adjourn: next meeting 10/3/24 |
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Post by jean on Sept 10, 2024 21:35:45 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Board of Works Mtg. 9/10/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/Cg7NfOmzzwQAGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approve Minutes Wastewater generator maintenance contract Recruitment proposal for lateral employees Fire Chief: conditional offer of employment Final Franklin St. Update Washington St. Duke agreement Purchase of underground locator Purchase of Compactor truck 421 S. Lift Station improvements Holiday lighting October Board of Works Meeting Wednesday October 2nd. Approval of Claims Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Sept 10, 2024 22:07:06 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Council Mtg. 9/10/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1: youtu.be/oGviKufhP_4* Be sure to listen on the City Budget Discussion on the Mayor's "Stipend" in addition to his normal salary. This stipend if fully instituted as requested amounts to an additional $40,000 dollars. There was a tie vote on the first reading of this and the Mayor became the tie breaking vote and voted for the stipend. * Also note that included in the budget was $120 thousand dollars to the airport board to pay down their existing debt on the runway to the Jackson County bank. You should know this because the airport board sold this project saying that it would not cost the taxpayers anything and that they were self supporting. In spite of still having this debt the airport board voted at their last meeting to go after another new project. If they had the money to do another project why didn't they pay this money down on the debt and not have our tax money paying their debt? 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS AGENDA ITEMS: Pledge of Allegiance Meeting called to order Roll Call Approve Minutes Ordinance 2024-12 for Parking Restrictions Ordinance 2024-17 Fees & Fines for fire inspections Ordinance 2024-9 Amendment for Parking Schedule VI Street Names- Integrity Apartments Street Names- Liberty Lakes Subdivision Ordinance 2024-16 to amend salary ordinance Ordinance 2024-18 City Budget 2025 Ordinance 2024-19 Greensburg Community Schools Budget 2025 Ordinance 2024-20 City Employees Salary Ordinance 2025 Ordinance 2024-21 Elected Officials Salary Ordinance Ordinance 2024-22 Utility Employees Salary Ordinance 2025 Ordinance 2024-15 Amend the Unified Development Ordinance Approval of Compactor Purchase City of Greensburg Trick or Treat Hours Municipal Complex Open House September 14 October City Council Meeting - Wednesday October 2. Board Reports Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Oct 1, 2024 19:23:44 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Water Board Mtg. 10/1/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5OJ8FiZ8tIAGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approve Minutes HNTB September MRO Approval of Claims Mayors issues Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Oct 1, 2024 19:36:44 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Board of Zoning Appeals Mtg. 10/1/24 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS Meeting begins: VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/5iIptvCT5dI AGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approve Minutes Daniel Bihn seeking a Use Variance Randall Hall: Seeking a special exception to build a duplex Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Oct 2, 2024 19:10:16 GMT -5
Greensburg IN Board of Works Mtg. 10/2/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/8uiCYsgSPRo AGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approval of Minutes Julie Nobbe, Personnel Administrator Updates to City of Greensburg Employee Handbook Updates to job descriptions Mike McNealy, Police Chief Purchase of police car and equipment Purchase of radios Mark Klosterkemper, Street Commissioner Disposal of wooden barricades Disposal of obsolete furniture Zach Wirrig, Public Projects Director Locater and Rodder quote S. Broadway estimate Contract for RFP Process and Negotiations for old Fire Station Approval of Claims Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Oct 2, 2024 19:27:27 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Council Mtg. 10/2/24 My Note: The Mayors current salary is in the $80 to $85 Thousand dollar range with half coming from the city budget and half coming from water & sewer. The first reading was passed with the Mayor breaking the tie vote granting on the first reading a 40 thousand dollar increase by stipend. One the 2nd reading in this meeting Jamie Cain made the motion to grant the stipend at 1/2 the amount that was in the first reading. When i talked to a council member after the meeting he stated the amount granted for the Mayors stipend in addition to his regular salary gives him an additional 18 thousand dollars. Jamie Cain, Kevin Fleetwood , Dr Rodney King, Mr. Tressler voted to grant the 18 thousand dollar stipend. Vietta Mckenzie , Mark Carman and Darrel Poling voted against. So this stipend passed by a 4 to 3 vote. VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/KoHxZ5id0_gRoll Call Approve Minutes September 10, 2024- Public Hearing September 10, 2024 Old Business Nathan Stoermer, Fire Chief Ordinance 2024-17 for fees and fines for fire inspections Amy Borns, City Clerk-Treasurer Ordinance 2024-18 City Budget 2025 Ordinance 2024-19 Greensburg Community Schools Budget 2025 Ordinance 2024-20 City Employee Salary Ordinance 2025 Ordinance 2024-21 Elected Officials Salary Ordinance 2025 Ordinance 2024-22 Utility Employee Salary Ordinance 2025 New Business Bryan Robbins, GDC Economic Development Corporation Resolution 2024-10 for Economic revitalization area Julie Nobbe, Personnel Administrator Ordinance 2024-23 updates to City of Greensburg Employee Handbook Zach Wirrig, Public Projects Director Ordinance 2024-24 Stormwater Fees Schedule Board Reports ADJOURN |
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Post by jean on Oct 3, 2024 18:36:06 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Board of Aviation Comm. Mtg. 10/3/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/O_smPmJPSWQ AGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Agenda Approval Approve Minutes Financial Report BF&S Update on construction report BF&S Construction next steps Airport Manager Report Approve Payment of Bills Comments from board or audience Next Meeting: November 7, 2024 Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Oct 3, 2024 18:51:56 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City TIF / Redevelopment Mtg. 10/3/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/kLCAzreO1M4 AGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approve Minutes Iron Men Apartment Complex Liberty Lakes Property Marketing Schutte Excavating : 4.5 Acre Parcel Grading Contract Approval of Claims Next Meeting: Thursday, November 7th, 2024 Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Nov 6, 2024 19:55:18 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Water Board Mtg. 11/6/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 2 : youtu.be/VJFatIZeJB4PART 2 OF 2 : youtu.be/Q6rwvumhO3wAGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approve Minutes Water Rate Study HNTB Update LSLI Update October MRO Mayors Issues Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Nov 7, 2024 21:09:51 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City Board of Avation Comm. Mtg. 11/07/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1: youtu.be/pkHFErVhAS8 AGENDA ITEMS: Call to order Roll Call Agenda Approval Approval of Minutes Financial Report Construction Update Next steps of Construction Airport Manager Report Approve payment of bills Comments from board or audience Adjourn |
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Post by jean on Nov 7, 2024 21:20:20 GMT -5
Greensburg IN City TIF / Redevelopment Mtg. 11/07/24 VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/ExaXroIpMGg AGENDA ITEMS: Roll Call Approve Minutes Iron Men Apartment Complex Liberty Lakes Property Marketing Reedy Financial: Annual Report & Financial Plan Long Term Spending Plan Approval of Claims Next Meeting: Thursday, 12/5/24 at 7 pm. Adjourn |
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