The City of Beech Grove is in default

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Editor: You saw Dennis Buckley’s letter last week about the over spending. Let’s look at some of the debt. Remember when the city needed to raise sewer rates a few years ago? It seems they squandered the money. The City of Beech Grove hasn’t paid Indianapolis for treating our sewage for two years. We owe them over $898,997.27. But they still collected it from us. This has nothing to do with property tax caps. This City of Beech Grove is flat broke. It’s all due to poor managing by Mayor Joe Wright and his two non-elected, appointed Board of Works members, Bruce Bye and Robert White, who approve the payments for the City. Also the Clerk Treasurer, Sarah Kincaid, that didn’t protest about these unpaid bills. She has recently resigned. As you might know, we do have a new clerk treasurer, Chris Duffer. He has inherited this problem so don’t blame him. He has had a mess dealt to him. Something needs to be done to stop this neglect. I am calling for the immediate resignation of Mayor Joe Wright; also the Board of Works members Robert White and Bruce Bye. These men are responsible for paying these bills on your behalf. We must bring together a non-partisan board to try to save this City of Beech Grove. This board cannot be picked by the mayor. I say at-large representatives Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Buddy Templin head it up. Heavy cutting needs to be done, including public safety. This is not counting what we owe in bond debt. It’s $16 million.   We spent over $1.3 million on wireless Internet that doesn’t work and never will. We continue paying monthly with nothing in return.  Mayor Joe Wright hasn’t attended a city council meeting in months. He’s attended maybe five times in the last two years. He has been a non-existent Mayor. I agree with Dennis Buckley, we have a rider-less horse leading this city, actually over a cliff. If something isn’t done soon, you might as well be in Indianapolis with a 46107 zip code.  Frank Mascari

Democrat response to budget cuts and layoffs

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Editor: Beech Grove Democrats have fought hard for our city and against Joe Wright, whose policies, vision and fiscal irresponsibility are detriments to our community. This won’t change. We will work with him only when it’s good for the city. Jobs are being lost as we speak, quicker than anyone can look for alternatives. Five civilian paramedics have recently been given their notice. City dispatchers will be gone by the end of the year. More layoffs are very possible. On top of all that, the mayor tells us he will be coming to the council for approval to take $1.6 million from the city’s Rainy Day Fund to cover expenses for the rest of this year. You can stick a label on us, “Better, Brighter, Beech Grove,” but the unsatisfactory reality is our city is failing because of our mayor. Our city is failing financially, administratively, and compassionately, because of our mayor; failing to meet its obligations to the people we serve and to the people who work so hard to serve us, because of our mayor. This is where Joe Wright has led us; into financial ruin, loss of services, and more divided than at any time in our history. He is the one who should be pink-slipped. As the Democratic minority on the City Council we: * Voted for the 2009 budget, a budget that kept every city employee, funded itself, and was supported publicly and privately by our Police Chief, former Fire Chief, and all other department heads. * Were not included in the budget process for 2010, and now again for 2011. * Voted against the 2010 budget because it couldn’t fund itself. * Voted against the 2010 salary ordinance for employees. The city just couldn’t afford the approximately $250,000 in raises at a time when the we were anticipating a significant loss in revenue due to the full property tax caps taking effect. * Repeatedly offered suggestions for budget cuts and savings, included hiring a local, cost-effective City Attorney, eliminating or reducing unnecessary expenses, such as public relations and consultants. We did this both privately and at public meetings. * Sought new leadership for the Redevelopment Commission, where questionable spending has stalled projects and jeopardizes the long overdue revitalization of Main Street and mediation of serious storm water issues. * With the help of private citizens who contacted the media, brought mold problems at City Hall into the light of day. * Sponsored and got council approval for a resolution in support of retaining our local dispatch center. * Tried to reduce the additional appropriation to the 2009 budget to include funding for only the park bridge, repaving Elmwood Avenue, and insurance expenses. Our attempt to limit the amount to fund only necessary infrastructure improvements and obligations failed, and we voted against the appropriation. * With that appropriation, only the projects and spending we supported were actually completed. What happened to the money that was to be used for Little League parking and the proposed, unnecessary roundabout at 17th and Albany? We will continue to stay the course and fight for what is right, conduct our own investigations, speak out on the issues, and cast our votes based on the best interests of our city. We are committed to: * Maintaining our independence * Looking at other cuts before letting people go * Providing the best in all city services * Maintaining and improving the city’s infrastructure * Supporting local businesses * Responsible spending * Improving communications * Uniting the city * Making Beech Grove once again a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We will work hard to bring new leadership to our city in 2012, but unfortunately that won’t come soon enough. We have another 16 months and two budgets under this mayor. Numbers being thrown out are much the same as they were during Joe Wright’s first term. He has stayed his course, and look where it has brought us. We will stand by the message we ran on with the Frank Mascari team, bringing integrity back to Beech Grove. We need everyone’s help in this fight, and we encourage you all to come to council and other city meetings, keep informed, and speak out. Let’s take back our city. Mary Stewart, Ed Bell, Bud Templin and the Beech Grove Democrat Council Caucus

Indianapolis Water bills under negotiation

By Elaine

Mayor Joe Wright discussed the current outstanding balance on the Indianapolis Water storm water sewer bill. He said that around 2005 or 2006 his office discovered billing errors (in Beech Grove’s favor), some of which dated back to 2001. His office contacted the City of Indianapolis to negotiate those as well as to capture the credit for fees from 2006 when Beech grove created its own storm water system. “Indianapolis had already collected storm water fees from Beech Grove and that money is due back to Beech Grove,” said Wright. “We began negotiating with the Peterson administration. Indianapolis had a change in administration so we had to start over. The negotiations are amicable, non-litigious and we hope to have a resolution very soon,” said Wright. He added, “The negotiated difference will be due and the City of Beech Grove will be capable of paying its obligations. Controller for Consolidated City of Indianapolis, Marion County, Dave Reynolds confirmed the on-going negotiations and hope for a resolution in the very near future. Reynolds said, “The City of Indianapolis has been in discussions on this matter since Mayor Wright brought it up to us prior to the current administration. We have an on-going good dialog on how we can rectify numerous situations on both sides and hope to resolve it in the very near future.” Wright said, “The information about the Indianapolis Water billing has always been available. It is now becoming an issue because it is politically motivated. The only thing that has changed is the political climate.”

The handwriting is on the wall: cursive is obsolete

By Mike Redmond

By now we’ve all seen the report that says this year’s incoming college freshmen are unfamiliar with cursive writing. Yep. The handwriting is on the wall for handwriting. Cursive, foiled again. I find people have one of two reactions to this piece of alleged news: “Oh, for crying out loud,” or “So what?” Which reaction you get depends on the age of the reactor. Age 40 seems to be the median. Older than that, and they can’t believe what the world is coming to. Younger, and they can’t believe the old folks are getting their briefs in a bunch over something so inconsequential as handwriting. As a card-carrying (AARP, library and pinochle) member of the oh-for-crying-out-loud set, I think I know why all of us grayhairs are reacting as we are: Resentment. Yes, resentment -- for all those hours in the classroom, making row upon row of loops on-lined paper with a Scripto cartridge pen that turned your fingertips a nice, necrotic blue; resentment for the cramp that would seize your hand somewhere between the 8000th and 9000th loop, wrenching bone and sinew into a useless, shriveled, blue-tipped claw; resentment for the fact that no matter how many loops you made or how many cramps you suffered, your handwriting was never good enough to satisfy your teacher, who insisted – despite all evidence to the contrary – that you, too, could form letters as perfect as the white ones printed on that green border above the blackboard. Or maybe that was just me. All I know is I was awfully relieved when I learned to type. It seemed to be different for girls. For example, my older sister Vicky has beautiful, flowing penmanship. For a guy like me, whose penmanship was so atrocious teachers felt compelled to mention it on report cards, it is miraculous. Except it isn’t, because just about every woman that age I have ever met has exactly the same handwriting. Bunch of teachers’ pets if you ask me. For older members of the pro-cursive crowd, the resentment runs even deeper, because they had to learn the Palmer method of handwriting, in which the writer actually uses his shoulder and upper arm to move the pen around the page. It makes for big, loopy handwriting that was all the rage until they discovered its dark secret. You know how great-grandma has gotten sort of lopsided as she has gotten older? That drooping right shoulder is worn out. It’s the ticking time bomb of the Palmer method. Kids, of course, don’t understand what the fuss is about. It’s handwriting, which they stopped using years ago. Pen and paper might as well be chisel and stone. They don’t write. They text. The teachings of the Palmer method have been reduced to how fast one can type on a miniature keyboard using only the thumbs. I text, too. But fossil that I am, I also carry a fountain pen. It forces me to slow down, to think about what I am saying, to form the words – and my thoughts – carefully. Texting is just the opposite. Texting is blurting, usually expressed in some weirdly abbreviated mutation of English. Using cursive, with a real pen and real ink, is writing. Even with penmanship like mine, which caused more than one teacher to swear under her breath. Why do you think they call it cursive?

Vacation makes me long for early retirement

By Kevin Kane

There may not be anything more depressing than returning from vacation. It’s hard to swallow leaving paradise to return to your regular routines and responsibilities, but I really didn’t mind coming home from my honeymoon Monday morning. I was actually looking forward to making a return to the U.S. after a week’s stay in Mexico. Yes, the fact that the people there hadn’t even heard of Mountain Dew was a factor, but mainly I realized how much better life is in the states. I’m not going to get sappily patriotic here, though. We enjoy great freedoms that aren’t available in other countries, but the ones I wasn’t provided aren’t really those on which the country prides itself. They’re just the little extras. For example, I missed being able go out in public without being pestered by five different guys selling fake silver jewelry. I missed walking down the street without having to eye the seven stray dogs wandering about while ignoring the random 3 p.m. rooster crows. Additionally, it’s nice having clean tap water even if the power takes a brief break. There, the water turned so dirty so quickly that I thought the maid had upper decked our toilet following a short power outage. Mexico was a nice change of pace and an interesting experience, but its lack of the minor luxuries present here made me miss home. One week of endless salsa and “The Simpsons” en Español was enough. I wasn’t sulking during my ride to the airport like I had done at the end of other vacations. I had no problem coming home, but I was not looking forward to returning to work. I know; that seems like an obvious statement. My fretting a return to the daily grind had nothing to do with my job or coworkers, though. I’m just one of many who only work out of necessity. There are some people, however, who wouldn’t dread coming back to the office. They actually enjoy going to work because they don’t know what else to do with ample free time, and I honestly can’t understand this. I know there are people out there like this because I just married one, but I also know a few others. These are the people who keep working average-paying jobs after taking home $100 million from the lottery. It has nothing to do with modesty or keeping in touch with co-workers, though. They have to keep working in order to maintain their mental health, for a lack of tasks to complete quickly leads to a lack of sanity. My wife Jess and I recently discussed a question that’s critically important for every couple: “What’s our game plan if we win the lottery?” While I said I’d only do the work I want to do, like perhaps writing a column, she remained suspiciously quiet. When I finally asked her if she could handle voluntary unemployment, she said “No.” Being on vacation, however, only reinforces that I am not one of these people. Time away from work reminds me of all the things I don’t get to spend my time doing because I’m too busy earning a living. I would have no problem staying busy if I suddenly fell into a large sum of money. Would I be spending my time on productive tasks? A few, maybe. Mostly, though, I’d be doing whatever made me happy, and those tasks can be fairly stupid and pointless sometimes. This past vacation, as these trips always do, left me longing for very early retirement. The idea of living completely carefree and unfettered by time commitments is a tough one to get out of my head. In fact, I just finished watching and reading “No Country for Old Men,” and even though Josh Brolin’s character’s luck later leads to his death, I found myself hoping I too could stumble upon a botched drug deal in the desert and take home $2 million. But even that amount couldn’t sustain a permanent return to the vacation lifestyle – that is, unless I’d be willing to head back to Mexico.

Financial aid for college not available for responsible workers

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Editor: I attended a meeting tonight at the Beech Grove High School regarding college testing, applications, grants, loans, scholarships, etc. and I came away very disappointed. The information was very useful and informative - don’t get me wrong; but there was something that just really struck me as -- well ... sad. It is just absolutely sad that my high school senior who wants to attend college will be penalized and I just can’t see the justification in this. I have always prided myself as being a good worker, pay my bills on time, don’t get into trouble with the law, try to get along with everyone and do the right thing in life as I was raised. I have always believed that you must work for what you want out of life and my husband and I teach our kids to live this way as much as possible. Then, I go to a meeting like this and realize - why? Why should I go to work every day and do whatever I can to try to better myself and my family’s lives? Especially when I see all around me just the opposite and my daughter will be penalized for wanting to go to college. If we (her parents) didn’t work, she would automatically qualify for a free-ride to pretty much any college with this 21st Century program. Or … she would qualify for many more opportunities, grants, free financial aid and plenty of other things that she doesn’t qualify for now. Why? Because we work. We pay our bills. We do what is right - not take the easy way out. We go to work every day to try to better ourselves but some parents choose not to work – not because they can’t… but because the government keeps giving them money to not work and which, in turn, their kids qualify for a free ride to college. But … our daughter is forced to take out student loans to supplement the amount not covered by scholarships and will go in debt for many years; all because her parents chose to work and try to have a better life. How is this fair to all children? My daughter also learned that - hey ... if we (her parents) didn’t work –she would qualify for several grants, scholarships, financial aid, etc. and if she didn’t use it all – she would get the extra money given to her. Yes, that is right - she would be paid to go to college if we didn’t work. Imagine that. Now, I haven’t investigated this plan thoroughly but this information came from one parent who stated exactly that - while she attended the same meeting! And the instructor even agreed that … yes… “you can get paid to go to college.” Wow. What a concept. Don’t work … let the government work for you. Then your kids will have a better life. That’s what the government is doing for my son’s dad (my ex husband). He gets to attend college, gets paid by the government, lives with his parents, and oh yeah ... doesn’t pay his child support or uninsured medical that is ordered by the law. Yet, he is still allowed to have regular visitation with his son because he has earned that right. Boy, all I can say is that I hope my son doesn’t grow up thinking it is okay to live like this (he’s in the 8th grade) if the opportunity is still available when he gets to be a Senior. At this rate, the way the government is working - I just can’t understand it ... but by my calculations - if they keep going this way - there won’t be any money left period … for our children when they want to go to college. If someone can explain this to me - I would love to hear your thoughts. S. Ham Beech Grove

The new bridge in Sarah Bolton Beech Grove Park does not inspire

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Editor: Question: how is the new bridge in Beech Grove Park like a fast food commercial? Answer: It looks nothing like the picture. The little billboard-type presentation of the, then-proposed new bridge in the park, set up before construction began demonstrated, what appeared to be, a much more intimately scaled structure, with an attractive wood rail system. But, what we got is a huge utilitarian-looking structure with a massive steel rail. The vehicular portion of the bridge is as wide as an interstate highway with two 12-foot lanes. The price tag is equally impressive. Also, this writer is wondering why we did not get a curb and 6-foot walkway on the west side of the bridge. The 24-foot width of the vehicular portion of the bridge could have accommodated another 6-foot walkway leaving 18 feet for the drive. The approach on each side of the bridge is 18 feet and this dimension is the width of the roadways throughout the park. There should have been included a curb and walkway on the west side of the bridge for the following reasons: 1) To maximize the potential for pedestrian safety. People will take the shortest path between two points. They will prefer to walk unprotected on the west side of the bridge, especially if they are coming from the west where the basketball and skate board courts are located. And, 2) To keep vehicular traffic distanced from the rail, thereby also, distancing this traffic away from the sycamore tree at the south end of the bridge. These things should have been discussed before construction began not afterwards. Several years ago a Ball State University architectural class did a study of main street and made recommendations pertaining to storefront renovation standards. The city administration, at that time, did nothing in regard to enforcing these recommendations as is witnessed by Leo’ Weight Lifting application of a stone veneer on the old drug store building located at Sixth and Main Streets. And, going back even further, to 1966, the city administration did nothing to try to save the old Churchman residence from demolition. (By the way, the owners of the tower from the Churchman residence plan to demolish this last vestige from the Churchman era soon). We should visit the City of Zionsville and note their very successful renovation efforts. The above described bridge is just the latest example of small-town thinking. I am looking forward to the next mayoral election where our elected officials in Beech Grove have the opportunity to redeem themselves with Buddy Templin as mayor. As citizens we should take advantage of the opportunity to review and approve public improvements and we should base this approval upon professional opinion appropriate for the situation. Civic improvements should be engineered following a design accomplished by an architect or landscape architect. Frank G. Schwer Beech Grove

Beech Grove spending and cuts questioned

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Editor: On August 14, the City of Beech Grove announced that five civilian paramedics who work for the Beech Grove Fire Department will be terminated effective September 1. In addition to these five paramedics, two firefighters and one other civilian paramedic have left the department which brings the total number of positions lost to eight within the last year. The Senior Citizens Center, Street Department and the Parks Department were also told they will be forced to lay off employees as well. The thought of losing these public servants is unbelievable. My question is why? Please do not attribute this to property tax caps. By year end, our city may also lose its Emergency Dispatch center. So, not only will we have a fire department that cannot properly serve its citizens due to position cuts, but we will also lose our identity as an emergency service provider and public safety answering point. My question is why? Please do not attribute this to property tax caps. Our mayor and city administration has made it perfectly clear that they have chosen special interest over service and the results will be catastrophic. Below you will find an itemized list of spending that took place from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010 in a year that the City should have been fiscally conservative in preparation for the property tax caps, which was enacted due to HB 1001. Barnes & Thornburg LLP $301,778.39 Browning Investments $ 81, 250.00 Crossroads Engineering $407,206.29 Kroger, Gardis & Regas, LLP $157,694.95 MD Wessler $ 84, 795.40 Peters Municipal Consultants $ 45,056.18 Reedy & Peters LLC $ 30,474.32 Schneider Corporation $172,752.58 Supernova Technologies $ 58,300.00 Susan Nelson (Public Relations) $ 83,128.50 Regions Bank (Interest Payments) $686,550.95 *** (27 Municipal loans) Eagle Valley Construction (Landfill) $121,210.50 Main Bank (Interest Payment $509.42/day) $184,921.28 *** (2009 Tax Anticipation Loan) 2009 TOTAL $2,293,908.50 The payments listed above were only for 2009. Records were requested under the “Freedom of Information Act” and were provided by Sarah Kinkaid, Clerk Treasurer. It is also important to note that even as this is being written special interest spending continues. In 2009, the Mayor, RDC, Board of Works and the City Council approved and spent $2,293,908.50 of taxpayer’s money on special interest. Furthermore, the Mayor has since requested $1,944,000 in additional funding, which includes an appropriation for federal grants and the City Council approved these requests by unanimous consent. My question is where is the money? As of today the 2009 annual report has just been completed. Why did this take so long? The financial records for 2010 were not reviewed until August 3, 2010. How is this possible? Our current government has spent with no accountability whatsoever! Why was the annual report so late? Why did the Clerk Treasurer really resign? Why did Terry Dilk resign as President of the RDC? Why did the City Council approve the 2010 budget knowing it was underfunded? Why did the City Council approve the 2009 budget by a vote of 7-0 knowing it was underfunded? Why does the City Council continue to give the Mayor additional funding authority without question? Our Dispatch Center may close soon. Your voices will not be heard. Our Mayor, the RDC, the Board of Works and the City Council have forced the City into a position where the fire department can no longer provide the service our citizens have become accustomed to and deserve. Folks, brace yourselves, because the police department may be next. Our local roads and streets will continue to crumble. Water will still drain into businesses on Main Street, our parks will be neglected and our trash pick-up will be questionable, all of this in the name of public safety. The City of Beech Grove, the citizens, the businesses, and the city employees, many of whom work in a hostile environment every day, do not deserve this. A rider-less horse is leading us toward the complete dismantling of the city we all love. It is time for Beech Grove residents to speak up and take action before it is too late! Dennis B. Buckley Former Beech Grove fire chief (Retired)

Readers View 08.12.10

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter because I am tired of seeing animals being neglected, abused and just totally not loved. They are left outside in the 90-degree weather with little or no water, no food and no shelter from the storms we’ve been having. Why? If all you are going to do is ignore and mistreat the pet who is supposed to be a part of your family I hate to see what happens if you don’t like someone. I see you let them run in the neighborhood with no leash, going in other peoples’ yards doing its business. When your dog is loose we don’t know if it’s had its shots, will bite or whatever the case might be. But I forgot you don’t care. The pets don’t ask to be brought into that situation, why do you feel you have the right to mistreat them? They have feelings and don’t deserve that. I also believe that if you want to keep on ignoring and abusing them then you should give them to someone who will love them. All I want is for those people to be more diligent in taking care of their pets. The solution is easy, love them or again let someone else love them. They are just not objects; they are your “family” pet. Be as loyal to them as they are to you and you’ll have many rewards. If they were to die, would you cry? Sharon Cornish Beech Grove

Southport City Council: show us the facts regarding Beech Grove Court

By dstrez@ss-times.com

Dear Editor, The Southport City Council was surprised to hear the angry approach to negotiation that Andrew Harrison and Kevin Bandy took at the July City Council Meeting. Mr. Harrison and Mr. Bandy indicated that the City Council has been negligent in not passing Mayor Thoman’s request to adopt the Beech Grove city court to handle Southport’s laws other than moving violations. Councilor Jim Cooney stated, “The first time this issue was presented to the City Council, information was presented indicating that interlocal agreements between governments was illegal. The Barnes & Thornburg attorney present at the March City Council meeting offered no comments refuting the information. The City Council voted against the proposal for that reason. Additionally, no specific information regarding the cost per ticket was presented at the March meetings or any of the subsequent meetings in which the proposal was presented for a vote.” Councilor Rose Harrison noted, “The City Council has asked for details regarding the cost per ticket for the court and at the most recent Ordinance committee meeting the city planner, David Kieser, presented the cost information that the city council had requested of Mayor Thoman. Interesting that the city planner could obtain the information and the Southport City Council could not. Also, Mr. Harrison indicates that the City of Southport is losing thousands of dollars each year in fines and fees because we do not have a court. Mr. Kieser, the city planner, has stated that the city has not lost any revenue because all the tickets have been paid for these types of violations.” The Southport City Council has agreed to meet with Police Chief Davis and Mr. Harrison to further discuss the issue. Provided by Jim Cooney Southport City Council