Posts Tagged “Marty Bender”

By Jim Sack

Budget time at city council. The budget is the blueprint by which policy is made. Dollars are allocated to programs and projects that should, in the composite, articulate the philosophy of the community as it looks to its future.

But first, the roll call. Eight “here,” one “present.” Mitch Harper is known to graze just a few yards away from the rest of the herd. Gavel down, President Marty Bender conducted the first movement of the night’s concert, Do Pass or Not Do Pass. Two ordinances were passed out quickly, each relating to the sewer problems we have in Fort Wayne. Eight “yeas,” one “nay,” Mister President, announced Clerk Sandy Kennedy. Harper being the lone “nay,” grazing upwind from the sewer question. No rankling, not much discussion, a quick presentation highlighted by a fuzzy map and a quick vote. Mitch staking out a position? Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

Budget time again, that annual process of setting priorities and stretching pennies, has begun, Councilman Tom Smith in charge.

The administration, in the person of the chief financial officer, the controller, presented a slide show to preface the discussions and debates. It was a overview of revenues and expenses and how they have changed over the past ten to twenty years. In short, most of the city’s expenses are in personnel costs, (78%) and most of the revenue still comes (74%) from property taxes, although, as Controller Pat Roller bragged, the city over the years has developed new streams of revenue to “diversify” government resources, unlike other cities that are in much worse financial shape than Fort Wayne. She introduced a budget that is essentially flat for a city, she noted, that is physically some 38% larger than ten years ago and has 35% more roads to pave and repave and repave than years past. The number of city employees is down and costs are contained, she smiled. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

Greg Leatherman gave quite a performance last night at council. The head of Fort Wayne Redevelopment spoke powerfully and without hesitation. He recounted a short history of the Harrison Square project and how it has come, mostly, to fruition. Leatherman, flanked to his left by Fort Wayne Corporate Attorney Tim Haffner, said that four-fifths of the massive project has produced jobs, tax revenue, new activity downtown, jobs again and a spirit of community. He lamented the failure of developers Barry Realty/Hardball, BHB, to complete the condo-retail portion of the project, but said his office, Redevelopment, has constantly monitored their efforts and progress, and feels they are making a good faith effort. He was a veritable bundle of good news and optimism. Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday night I watched Liz Brown with some admiration.  During testimony by three different individuals on three different matters Mrs. Brown asked simple and clear questions to which the witness answered in circuitous ways, some, perhaps, either not quite understanding the question, or choosing rather to quickly side step the point of the question to provide a defense rather than a response.  Mrs. Brown asked the questions again quietly, and politely.  She took her time and got rather interesting answers, albeit, not necessarily to the question posed.  Her examination of the witnesses clearly helped enlighten her fellow council members. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jim Sack

It was like watching a fine fencing match. First Smith and Brown meet, then Pape and Harper squared off.

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By Jim Sack

Well, John Crawford. He offered his support to me when I fought the changes to Calhoun Street, so our last contact was as allies. I also was a strong supporter of a downtown ballpark, so he voted as I probably would have, and I loath smoking, so I have only a few qualms about his effort to force health on us. Additionally, the chats I had with him during his tenure on council informed me that he was very astute, well educated, deeply caring about Fort Wayne and tough.

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