Posts Tagged “Fort Wayne City Council”

By Jim Sack

It came as a bit of a surprise to John Shoaff when he was nominated for vice president of Common Council. But, it underscores how non-partisan, at times, our council can be. Shoaff, despite being of the minority party, was moved, seconded and unanimously approved by all five Republicans and the three other Democrats in about seven seconds. Electing Mitch Harper to the presidency a scant minute and a half before, by comparison, took well over 30 seconds. Shoaff looked mildly bewildered. But these things are worked out before the meeting, which saved everyone time. Someone, however, might have warned him. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

Tim Pape met last night with eight neighborhood leaders for his quarterly gauge of public sentiment and neighborhood needs. He got an earful…in fact, he always does. Tim’s district is the southwest side sandwiched between Mitch Harper on the west and Glynn Hines to the east. It runs from the center of town to a cornfield somewhere out near Waynedale. We range from the well-to-do in 5,000 square foot homes to cottages in neighborhoods troubled with nitwits selling drugs, driving arrogantly and disappointing their neighbors. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

Here’s what I have learned from sources high and low.

The benefits and problems of instituting a local city court had been researched by City Clerk Sandy Kennedy for months before its introduction. Fort Wayne had such a beast in the past, and before which I once had to pay my dues to society. $49 and costs.

The five “signators” to the introduced ordinance included as least one member of council who was surprised to see he had “signed” on. Read the rest of this entry »

Frank Suarez, the latest in a lengthy line of Fort Wayne Public Information Officers released a statement earlier this week that stated in part, the following:

Joint Statement of the City of Fort Wayne and the Office of the Allen County Prosecutor on the issue of a Fort Wayne City Court:

[...]

The idea of a Fort Wayne City Court is one that has been talked about for some time. The ordinance calling for a City Court was prepared because City Clerk Sandy Kennedy, various members of Fort Wayne City Council, including Council President Marty Bender and Councilman Glynn Hines, along with the Henry administration, all believed it to be a good idea. Research supported its pursuit.

In light of the new opportunities for dialogue, the City, City Council and the County/Prosecutor’s Office have agreed to address these issues and work to secure those solutions within the current system. As part of that mutual understanding, the ordinance calling for the establishment of a Fort Wayne City Court has been withdrawn from consideration.

Horse hockey. The fact is this. The Henry administration thought they had the vote in the bag. 5 ayes and 4 nays. The five they knew that would vote in favor were all the usual Henry disciples, including Tim Pape.

Prior to the press release, Frank Suarez was busy on the phone calling the opposition. While I’m not certain how many of the opposition votes he contacted, I do know he contacted at least one of them. What? Wait? Why you ask, if they had five votes in favor? Simple answer.

Tim Pape left for sunny Florida, creating an “absent”. Hence, the “joint” press release was nothing more than fluff. It was a draw.

By Jim Sack

There was no council meeting last night. Given the break, given the pause from passage of one tax break after another, cross examination of administration witnesses, presentations by sewer and insurance experts a few matters are worthy of contemplation.

Who will be the next mayor? Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

What a mess.

The agenda, often with misspellings and other little problems had two big holes in it last night.

First, Tom Smith sort of welcomed a pair of the local high and mighty to the table by saying they were not on the agenda. Huh???? Papers shuffled all over the place. Council members scratched their heads. Eyes darts to and fro. They, the representatives of the Grand Wayne Center, WERE supposed to have been on the agenda, seems somebody had simply failed to add them and their report on the written agenda. Then, much later, at the end of the meeting two representatives of the administration, Matt Gratz and Bobby Kennedy strode to the table to help council conduct a vote on another matter that was missing from the agenda, amendments to the garbage ordinance. Was it the City Clerk’s office that dropped the ball or the legal department of the city. Fingers were pointing in both directions and each was pointing at other. Call it a scrivener’s error. Just move on. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

It was what was missing that proved most interesting last night at city council.

First, the ordinance concerning the new yellow-topped recycling bins was withdrawn to be reintroduced another time. The city could not find a local bank to loan the money to buy the carts, $2.7 million. The project is designed to pay over time for the upfront costs through your water bill. The upfront costs, however, are substantial and the city prefers to borrow. Unfortunately, those pesky banks, the ones that won’t loan a farthing to their formerly best customers, had real qualms about loaning such a huge amount to such a questionable entity as the city. Perhaps the city’s finances are in worse condition than anyone has told us. The city will go, hat in hand, again to the fat cats to scrounge the cost and represent the ordinance at a later time. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

The Irish have been reduced to beggars. One report notes that their debt is so great that it will cost each person $2,500 a year for the next 1,900 to pay off the debt. That is without interest. The government is shedding layers of employees, the private sector is shuttering shops and factories, foreclosures abound, taxes are going up steeply and the banks, the banks, are curtailing lending. Soon, the Irish will shed their current government only to find the next set of ministers can find no way out, either. They have huge debt and no reserves.

So, Ireland that fought so long and hard to gain her independence from London, is now beholding to…London, Berlin and Washington, to the big English banks, the German government and the International Monetary Fund.

What goes lightly reported is that the big guys, the senior bond holders, the first in line to be paid from liquidation of assets, will get almost everything out. The little guys, the shareholders, will get nothing.

The German government and taxpayers do not like this. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

No one as so much as raised an eye brow when Tom Smith read the I&M-City deal into the record in preparation for the final vote, well, penultimate vote, last night. Some eyes darted from colleague to colleague, there was a careful smile, but no objections, no points made, no fingers thrust into the air, no beating of the chest over an arcane principle. Mr. Smith brought the matter to the table then Council President Marty Bender called for ayes and nays. It passed 9 to zero. Tim Haffner, the city corporate counsel sitting in row three, could have stayed at home and watch from his couch. Angela Boerger, the message mother for the city, could have enjoyed another hour of Wagner. Nobody on either side of the shifting aisle of local politics wanted to rock the boat, everybody is happy with this deal. Now, one more step at the state level and then it will be official. In fact, council members, members of the Henry Administration and some citizens are already conjuring up uses for the funds. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

One hour to deal with millions and millions and millions.

Friendliness.

Respect.

Thoughtfulness.

No rancor, no animosity, no moments when one council member snapped a reprimand at another council member. Only one mildly tacky moment.

I&M representatives in the front row and city representatives behind them

Read the rest of this entry »

I met with John Crawford last week and had an interesting meeting discussing local politics. John confirmed to me that he is indeed running for city council. He will officially  announce his candidacy at 1:00 PM, Thursday, November 18, 2010 at Allen County GOP Headquarters.

Unlike when Mr. Crawford proposed the smoking ban, which I was totally against, I will be supporting John in his upcoming bid for council. While I know it may have hurt some of the smaller taverns, I can honestly say that going to my favorite restaurant, (Chop’s) is now a much more pleasant experience.

We could use John’s fiscal conservatism  on city council.