Your armchair reporter here with details of the City Council meeting held Monday, July 7, 2008. 

There was a public hearing held prior to the CC meeting in which the speaker addressed HB1001 (the recent tax reform bill passed by the State legislature in March 2008) and LOIT (Local Option Income Tax) and COIT (County Option Income Tax).  My take is that some entities of your local government do not wish to reduce spending and instead want to raise your taxes through LOIT (probably first), and then perhaps COIT.

The Council then confirmed two resolutions (1108 and 1208) for Concannon’s for their real estate and their manufacturing equipment for their new facility.  They declared Concannon’s an economic revitalization area.  Those resolutions passed unanimously.

In the regular meeting, amendment of an ordinance pertaining to pet shops and rescue facilities was passed.   Three ordinances were passed pertaining to Habitat for Humanity’s construction of new family residences. 

There was a controversial ordinance #1908 which authorized the City of Muncie to issue an economic development revenue bond for $1 million dollars involving the Sports and Hobby Complex.  The bond would be paid for by an innkeepers’ tax of 5%.   Sharon McShurley has asked for costs associated with Sports Complex but has not yet received them.  Jim Mansfield said for every dollar that comes into the Sports Complex, it produces $17 worth of good for the City of Muncie.   The resolution passed by majority vote.  Cary Malchow asked the amount of the current bond held on the Sports Complex.  That amount is $570,000.  Malchow asked what the new interest rate would be and what the repayment time was.  William Summers replied that he didn’t know the rate or repayment time but would get back to Malchow with that information.

The Mayor spoke for about 5 minutes 49 seconds, initially speaking about Japanese economic investment.  She felt that they made a lot of headway.  McShurley also reported that ADA compliance is moving along.  As promised, Mayor McShurley and Councilperson Mary Jo Barton toured Prairie Creek.  The Mayor reported that MJB was pleased with conditions at the PC.  McShurley then introduced Dick Shirey, Deputy Mayor.  She also added that she is working diligently to get the 2009 budget in place, and spoke about the urgency of getting the 2009 revenue budgets together.  She complimented and named personally every sponsor and every donor to the Wheeling fireworks display.  She also thanked police and fire services for their contributions.

At that point, Councilwoman MJB said she had some questions for the Mayor.  To start, she reminded McShurley that she was supposed to report to her (MJB) the costs of her trip to Japan.  Mayor McShurley responded that Economic Development is in charge of all receipts, and she will get that from ED for her.  Then MJB said she wanted to correct the Mayor.  MJ said PC was looking better, but it still wasn’t as good as it should be.  Councilwoman Barton reminded the Mayor of some documentation regarding profits at PC, which MJB had shown her.  She also made the comment that the PC could have made $2000 on July 4 by having a fireworks display.   By the time MJB had completed her questioning, the Mayor had been at the podium for 8 minutes 38 seconds.

Mark Conatser said he felt that some issues would be better served by being taken up elsewhere (for example, rather than the CC spending time on PC, he believed those issues should be taken before the Parks Board).  MJ Barton said that was not true, that the PC makes money and therefore is of financial consideration and is City Council business.

Brad Polk reported that he toured the fire stations and found them to be in a state of disrepair.  Condition of the equipment and stations is not up to par and money does need to be spent on FD infrastructure.

Mike King invited everyone to the Endurathon this coming weekend.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Upon opening the floor to Public Comments, President Sam Marshall requested the crowd to remain respectful and quiet and to let people finish and to treat each other kindly while they are speaking.

Jo Ann Myers spoke first.  She is a lifelong resident of Delaware County who, after receiving the Taxpayer Crier (produced by CDCPTR), took the challenge to attend at least two government meetings.  She attended the June City Council meeting and the June Parks Board meeting and subsequently asked for the Parks Board budget.  She began to give information about PC’s budget but was cut off at 3 minutes by President Sam Marshall.  She reported that from 1/1/2007 to 12/31/07 PC made $434,000, and expenses were $550,000.  She believes this information should be more readily obtained and that the public deserves to know park revenues and expenses.

Jim Arnold spoke, providing a 1-minute parody of Forrest Gump, addressing last month’s City Council meeting when an exaggerated amount of time was given to the discussion of how much different members of the Council liked Concannon’s donuts.  After Arnold had finished his presentation, President Marshall said that evidently some people were not listening to his (Marshall’s) instructions to be respectful.  He followed that comment up by advising Mr. Arnold that he was not impressed with his humor and to keep his day job. 

Judy Perkins spoke regarding the fact that no amount of yellow shirts or signs would change the fact that we cannot continue to pay 80% of our general fund for Public Safety.  It would appear that the FD believes that you’re either with them or against them, and that is untrue.   If the budget shortfalls are as predicted, that percentage of the General Fund for Public Safety will rise to 85. 

Jeff Taylor spoke about Vallejo, California, a city that went bankrupt because of the high cost of public safety (also around 80% of their general fund).

Victoria Rabenstein addressed the crowd regarding LOIT (Local Option Income Tax).  According to the last census, one-third of Muncie citizens are already living below the poverty line.  Local government must choose between downsizing or by imposing a new tax, and Muncie and county citizens simply cannot afford any new or additional taxes.   LOIT is the path of least resistance.  Say NOIT TO LOIT.  By the way, Muncie taxpayers already over-support the FD, PD, MSD, MCS, etc.

With the recent fire at her home Mary Ann Kratochvil sang the praises of MFD.    

Ed Nanny spoke about the need to reduce spending, that we are dealing with the same issues we were dealing with a year ago.

Cary Malchow reported that the Fire Department had met with CDCPTR.  During that two-hour meeting five questions were answered.  Malchow handed to the Clerk copies of the questions and answers and a synopsis of what took place during the meeting.  The FD and CDCPTR will meet again tomorrow.  Malchow reported that BSU is still acquiring properties and taking away from tax revenues.  Malchow then reported that he and the Star Press went to the Treasurer’s office………… $681,000 was paid when last year under the same circumstances only $121,000 had been paid within the same time frame.  Sam Marshall told Cary that his time was up.  Brad Polk addressed Sam Marshall and stated that as an author of the Council’s Code of Ethics he wanted to waive the 3-minute time frame.  Marshall told him that when Polk became President he could waive the rules.  There was some murmuring from the crowd, and some individuals booed Marshall.

An unidentified woman spoke to the crowd about having driven out to the PC for an afternoon with her children and was shocked to find out that the concession stand was not open.  While facing Mayor McShurley, the lady stated that she felt that was totally unacceptable and needed to be fixed.  Mary Jo Barton smiled and nodded.

Kyle King, a past PC employee, said he did not have any documentation or budgets, that his comments were based solely on his experience.  He stated that there were not enough people on staff and that things will be unsafe because of that.

Mike Whitted from MFD spoke.  He personally thanked Chris Hiatt, Cary Malchow, and other members of CDCPTR for meeting with him and said he looked forward to meeting with them again.  He did say that some erroneous information had been presented by previous speakers.  I encourage the reader to see Whitted’s complete presentation on YouTube, the URL of which will be furnished later.

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Now………..what was YOUR take on tonight’s City Council meeting?