Allen Co. Council Meeting this AM (& into PM)
Posted by John B. Kalb - 5/15/08 @ 1:10 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
Along with Kevin Knuth, I also attended this meeting. As Kevin reported, our County Commissioners TOLD the people that were hired to do the capability study NOT to use any property tax abatements in their TIF analysis. It was never really answered, but Cal Miller’s questions on this centered on “did you use any tax-incentive items in your study”. I got the feeling that they could not answer this because they do not know what is “buried” in the IMPLAN software program that they used to come up with the “study”. Either that, or they don’t have a clue as to what they are “selling”. I tend to want to believe the former, they seemed like knowledgeable people, one a grad of Ball State and another of Purdue.
The meeting was recessed at 12:45 PM with the realization that the “experts” needed to go back and re-look at the tax abatement effect on their software generated study. Also, our three commissioners said that people that had been asked to testify in favor of the project had already left the building. (Just for information, the council has planned to accept comments from both those in favor as well as those opposed.
Our three commissioners stated (all three, individually!) that the deadline on submission of this project to the referendum proscribed by the state lawmakers in the short session, WAS NOT the reason for the “hurry-up” to get this done. But, they then went on to say that for some reason a decision on if the referendum process applied and if it could start, could only be decided “after the bond counsul had been hired”. This statement was met with disbelief by the council. More will be coming on this, I’m sure.
My take, based on the questions asked by council members, is that Paul Moss, Cal Miller, Darrin Vogt, and Roy Buskirk will not be voting in favor of this $50 million project. I also believe that the three lady council members will probably be voting in favor.
It was determined that no vote would be taken on any phase of this until the next meeting - which will probably be a special-single purpose one in about two weeks.
The head guy at HWI-Do It Best spoke briefly and indicated his only concern was the safety of their employees at their headquarters on Nelson Road. He mentioned that all 400 of their employees had to traverse at least one grade-level railroad crossing to get to work and to get home.
Mr. Moss, Mr. Vogt, Mr. Buskirk, and Mr. Miller all asked questions “right out of the blog posts and comments”. Thanks to Jeff, Mike, Karen,Neil, Phil, Kristina, J.Q. Taxpayer(whoever you are),Dan, Jim, and Charlotte!
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4 Responses to “Allen Co. Council Meeting this AM (& into PM)”
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Thanks for the report John - wish I could’ve been there but it’s good to know the community can count on you (and Kevin) to tell us what’s really going.
Also, thanks to the councilmembers that lived up to their fiscal oversight responsibility in today’s meeting.
I’m sorry but I don’t believe that for a second. This has been fast-tracked for one reason and one reason only - to avoid a referendum.
As for the bond council comment, what they are basically saying is that they will have the bond council try and find any loophole they can to avoid the referendum requirement.
The commissioners’ plan has always been two pronged:
Don’t forget that the commissioners originally claimed this project would not be subject to referendum. However I contacted the auditor’s office and they told me this was incorrect. My guess is the auditor set the commissioners’ attorney straight and they now think they’ve found something in how the bond can be financed that would help them skirt the referendum law…
This issue of the referendum was raised during County Commish meeting on the 9th of this month. I thought then as I do now, “Why not request their attorney seek a legal option from the Attorney General?”
This sounds like you will not be told of your interest rate until you sign all the loan papers!
What I found intreresting in the report was no listing of assumptions based on supplied data.
Fort Wayne (by the Mayor and other groups) wants to bring the core of residential back into the city. Yet they set by and not say one word that this project proposes the largest residential building development project any place in Allen County.
John, thank you for the update. Are they taping this meeting to be shown on cable so us that can not attend can view it?
What I am interested in is finding out if issues raised on the local blogs have been addressed at all? If not, then either County Council already has the info and do not want the public to know or they do not care.
JQ
It’s tape delayed and will be on at 9pm. It will also be on at 1pm tomorrow
Thanks to all investigating, researching and questioning the Maplecrest Extension Project.
This bridge development plan converges in an area
that is part of New Haven, and Allen County. As I recall, that area may be platted under all both jurdistions.
Is it clear how and when a referendum can be started?
Off topic, but did anyone else realize Property taxes should be paid in May & Nov. I guess it will be until July when rates will be realized.
I’ve already set aside money, but it makes me mad
rates are backed into the future spending budget. It’s wrong.