The City of New Castle, Indiana

COMMON COUNCIL 

MARCH 1, 2010      7:00 P.M.

 

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.

 PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY PASTOR A. WAYNE LAWSON OF THE TURNING POINT LIFE CENTER.

MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

 

ROLL CALL:

SANDY YORK                                              PRESENT                  

ANGIE GOODMAN                                      PRESENT

JAMES KIDD                                                 PRESENT

MARY MALONE                                          PRESENT

MARK KOGER                                             PRESENT

VAUGHN REID                                            PRESENT

RICHARD HAHN                                         PRESENT

 

A PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN BY MAURIE GOODWIN, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW CASTLE-HENRY COUNTY AVIATION BOARD, PERTAINING TO THE NEW CASTLE-HENRY COUNTY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT PROGRESS OF AVIATION AND AIR COMMERCE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE NEW CASTLE-HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF AVIATION COMMISSIONERS (BOAC).  THE PRESENTATION INCLUDED: THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS, FINANCIALS AND THE COMMUNITY.

 

MAYOR SMALL READ A PROCLAMATION,  PROCLAIMING  MARCH 4, 2010, AS "LIFESTREAM SERVICES DAY" IN THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE.

 

          PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING,

COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND   

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.    ONE NAY(KIDD)        PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

          PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. PERTAINING TO FALSE ALARMS.

COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

          PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING.

COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE                              PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

           BLDG. INSP. HALL SAID THE FEE WAS $10.00 PLUS A SQUARE FOOTAGE CHARGE.  THIS ORDINANCE WILL RAISE IT FROM $10.00 TO $30.00 FOR THE PERMIT PLUS THE SQUARE FOOT CHARGE OF $.01.

           COUNCILMAN REID SUGGESTED AN AMENDMENT BE MADE TO CHANGE THE $.01 TO $.05 A SQUARE FOOT PLUS PERMIT FEE OF $30.00, WITH A CAP AT $2,500.00.

           PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO TABLE THIS ORDINANCE UNTIL MORE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED.   COUNCILADY MALONE: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                     TABLED.

 

          PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.  COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                    PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

            PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.

            DISCUSSION:  ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION WAS MADE TO VACATE THE ENTIRE NORTH 29^TH STREET.  TO DO THAT, WE DETERMINED THAT POTENTIAL LOTS, SO YOU COULDN'T GET TO THEM.  WE WENT BACK TO THE APPLICANTS, IF YOU TOOK THAT HIGH STREET AND EXTENDED THAT NORTH LINE OVER, THE APPLICANTS OWN THE LOTS ON EITHER SIDE, EACH WOULD BE GETTING HALF OF THAT.  IT WOULD STILL LEAVE ACCESS IF ANYONE EVER BOUGHT AND DEVELOPED THOSE LOTS ON HIGH STREET, THERE WOULD STILL BE A PLATTED STREET.  HE SAID THE ONLY THING THE CITY NEEDS ACCESS TO IS FOR UTILITY PURPOSES.

           PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.   COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                 PASSED AND ORDERED.

          PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.  COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND.

          DISCUSSION:  COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THIS SOUNDS LIKE A RATE INCREASE TO HIM.

ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.  THIS DOES HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE IURC, BY STATE LAW THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF%u2026%u2026%u2026.IF YOU DO THE CALCULATIONS, AND PRESENT THEM, IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH A GENERAL RATE INCREASE SYSTEM.  IF WE HAD A GENERAL RATE INCREASE,  THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS YOU GO THROUGH FOR A GENERAL RATE INCREASE.  BY STATUTE, THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROCEEDING AND THAT IS WHAT THAT REFERS TO.  IT IS CALLED AN EXPATIATED PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS APPROVED BY STATE LAW.

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND.  CURRENTLY, THE RATE PAYERS OF THE NEW CASTLE UTILITIES, ON PAYING THIS CHARGE BECAUSE OF 2 THINGS.  #1, THOSE THAT ARE INSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS, THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE IS PAYING IT ON BEHALF OF THEM OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND #2, THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS, BUT INSIDE THE TOWNSHIP, THE TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT IS PAYING THIS ON THEIR BEHALF TO THE NEW CASTLE UTILITIES.  THE UTILITIES ARE GETTING PAID; IT IS THE MATTER OF CURRENTLY IT IS BEING PAID FOR BY OUR TWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.  HE ASKED IF THIS CORRECT.

           ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID CORRECT.

           COUNCILMAN REID ASKED THEN WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TOWNSHIP, THOSE PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY, THAT IS GETTING PAID FOR OUT OF THEIR TAXES.  WOULD THAT STILL BE BILLED TO THE TOWNSHIP?

           ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IT WAS ALL ACCORDING TO IF THEY WERE RATE PAYERS OR NOT.  SOME PEOPLE HAVE HYDRANT SERVICE BUT ARE NOT RATE PAYERS.  THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PAY.  EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE A HYDRANT IN FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS, YOU HAVE A HYDRANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS BUT NOT BE A RATE PAYER. 

           COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF NANCY'S OFFICE WILL HAVE TO PAY.

           ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID, SOME.  AGAIN, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT RATE PAYERS.

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID SO WE HAVE IN PLACE TO REBATE HER OR WHATEVER THAT NEEDS TO GO BACK.  HE SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT IS NOT HAVING TO PAY.

           ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.  WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT WHICH OF THE HYDRANTS ARE PART OF THE RATE PAYERS STRUCTURE.

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE ESTIMATION THAT THE COUNCIL HAS  BEEN GIVEN WAS APPROXIMATELY $2.56 WHICH WOULD BE ADDED TO THE UTILITY BILL.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.                       PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PUBLIC:

NORMA DISHMAN APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL STATING SHE IS VERY ANGRY ABOUT ALL THE ADDITIONAL FEES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADDED TO HER UTILITY BILL.  SHE SAID SHE CAN'T AFFORD $11.00 FOR TRASH PICK UP.  SHE SAID WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THE NEW TRASH TRUCKS AND TOTERS.  WE DIDN'T WANT IT, BUT WE GOT IT.  NOW ANOTHER CHARGE OF $2.56.  SHE SAID SHE HAS NOT WORKED SINCE DECEMBER, LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, CUT EVERYTHING IN HER BUDGET, IF SHE DOESN'T GET A JOB SOON, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.  SHE SAID THE NEXT IN HER HOUSE TO GO WILL BE CABLE THEN THE COURIER TIMES.  SHE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO STOP AND THINK OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW CASTLE.

SHE ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DIDN'T PAY THE EXTRA ON THE UTILITY BILLS?

           ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THERE WOULD BE A LIEN PUT ON YOUR PROPERTY.

           AGAIN, MRS. DISHMAN SAID, DAVID YOU JUST MADE MY DAY.  SHE SAID YOU

(COUNCIL) GUYS HAD BETTER THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING.  SHE SAID SHE WAS SICK THE WAY THE CITY HAS BEEN RUN THE PAST TWO YEARS.  SHE SAID TO THE MAYOR, YOU FIRE, YOU LAY OFF, YOU DO ANYTHING YOU WANT WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION OF WHAT THE CITIZENS OF NEW CASTLE OR THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO DO.  IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID WE ARE HAVING TO FIND 2.7 MILLION DOLLARS%u2026%u2026%u2026

           MRS. DISHMAN SAID, YOU KEEP CUTTING.  SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE ELSE TO CUT.  SHE SAID IF HER DAUGHTER DIDN'T LIVE WITH THEM AND BUY THE FOOD, WE WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE A HOME.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID THE COST OF TRASH COLLECTION WILL BE IN EXCESS OF 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS.  WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE TRASH PICK UP,  WE WILL REDUCE THAT COST TO 1.1 MILLION WHICH IS TO BE APPLIED TO THE 2.7 MILLION.  HE ASKED FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MRS. DISHMAN.  HE ASKED HER TO MEET WITH HIM AND CITY ACCOUNTANT CUPP AND HELP US THROUGH THIS.  TELL US WHAT TO DO.

           MRS. DISHMAN SAID, MAYOR, YOU SAID YOU ARE GOING TO BUY ANOTHER TRASH TRUCK.  HOW MUCH?

           MAYOR SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURES BUT THE NEW TRASH TRUCK WILL BE OPERATED BY ONE MAN INSTEAD OF THREE.  THAT IS WHERE THE SAVINGS WILL BE.   

          MRS. DISHMAN POINTED TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE PRESENT AND SAID THESE GUYS ARE SUFFERING.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID, WE ARE ALL SUFFERING.

           MRS. DISHMAN SAID YES BECAUSE YOU ARE SPENDING THE MONEY.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID NO, WE ARE SAVING THE MONEY BY DOING THIS.  HE SAID HE KNEW SHE WAS ANGRY BUT SHE REFUSED TO GIVE THEM ADVISE ON WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

 

MARY LOGAN, 119 N. 18^TH ST., WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THE TOTER TRASH PICK UP.  SHE UNDERSTANDS THE TRASH PICK UP FEE.  SHE SAID THE BIGGEST THING THAT IS DOWN IN THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE WAS THE MORALE.  SHE UNDERSTANDS WE HAVE TO CUT MONEY.  YOU DID NOT SAY WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BUY A THIRD TRASH TRUCK.  SHE QUESTIONED THE FUEL USAGE WITH THE NEW TRUCKS.  SHE SAID IF YOU PASS ONE OF THE ONE ARMED TRUCKS, YOU WILL SEE IT SITTING HERE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WHILE IT WAITS FOR THE WAY TO BE CLEAR SO IT CAN PICK UP THE TRASH.  SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE INCREASE IS IN OUR FUEL USAGE FROM THESE ONE-ARMED TRUCKS.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN THE FUEL USAGE.  THE MAIN THING IS, IN THE PAST WE HAD 3 PACKERS, REQUIRING THE TOTAL OF 9 MEN TO OPERATE.  THOSE TRUCKS ARE WEARING OUT TO.  GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED IF WE CONTINUE KEEPING THEM TO DEATH YEAR AFTER YEAR.  WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BUY NEW TRASH TRUCKS.  TO REPLACE THE OLD PACKERS OR UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM.  THE SAVINGS IS IN THE OLD SYSTEM, WITH 3 PACKERS, IT REQUIRED 3 MEN ON EACH TRUCK.  WITH THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS, IT REQUIRES ONE MAN ON EACH TRUCK.  THAT IS WHERE THE SAVINGS IS.

           MRS. LOGAN SAID 3 AUTOMATED TRUCKS THAT LEAVES THE TRASH TOTERS DUMPED ALL OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEY SIT ON THE SIDEWALKS AND CHILDREN WALK OUT IN THE ROAD TO GO AROUND THEM.  SHE SAID THAT THEY WERE TOLD THAT THESE TRUCKS WOULD BE ABLE TO GO DOWN THE ALLEYS AND PICK UP THE TRASH, NOTHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE.  NOW EVERY CITY STREET, ON TRASH DAY, YOU SEE TRUCKS AND TOTERS, DURING THE SNOW STORM THE TOTERS ARE OUT IN THE ROAD OR DUMPED ON THE SIDEWALKS.  THAT IS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FOR MY CITY.  SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO SEE MORE THOUGHT PUT INTO THIS.  SHE SAID IT WAS EASY TO SAY YOU NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.  THAT IS NOT THE CREATIVE WAY TO DO IT.  SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO SEE MORE COMMON SENSE USED.

           MAYOR SMALL ASKED MRS. LOGAN IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND SEE THE FIGURES.

           MRS. LOGAN SAID SHE SURE WOULD.  AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE.

 

COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE KNEW CUTS HAD TO BE MADE BUT THOUGHT CUTS COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY. 

           MRS. DISHMAN AGAIN CAME TO THE PODIUM. SHE APOLOGIZED FOR HER ANGER BUT WANTED TO GIVE A SUGGESTION.  CUT OUT ALL INSURANCE FOR THE COUNCIL AND ANYONE WHO DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR A MEETING, DON'T PAY THEM.

 

AMY SLOAN, 305 BUNDY AVE., SAID MAYOR YOU SAID WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET NEW TRASH TRUCKS EVENTUALLY.   SHE SAID HER UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL THE NEW TRASH TRUCKS CAN FIT DOWN EVERY STREET IN NEW CASTLE.  THAT MEANS YOU ARE STILL USING SOME OF THE OLD PACKERS.   SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT THE CITY JUMPED THE GUN TO BUY THE EXPENSIVE TRUCKS AND TOTERS AND CUT THE MAN POWER.  IN THE LONG RUN, IT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID 5 MEN WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING AND 1 MAN EACH ON THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS AND THE OTHER 3 MEN WERE SIGNED TO A PACKER.  A DRIVER AND 2 LABORERS.  THE PACKER WILL DO THE ALLEYS WHERE THE BIG TRUCKS CANNOT GET.  THE DRIVER ON THAT TRUCK WILL BE THE DRIVER ON THE THIRD TRASH TRUCK THAT IS AUTOMATED.  WE WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE TRASH PICK UP WITH 3 AUTOMATED TRUCKS AND 1 PACKER.  THE AUTOMATED HAS NOT TURNED OUT LIKE WE HOPED AND IT IS SLOWER.  THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT HAVE TO BE RESOLVED.

           MRS. SLOAN SAID SHE DRIVES A SCHOOL BUS AND SHE SAID MANY TIMES ON HER ROUTE, SHE GETS BEHIND ONE OF THESE TRUCKS THAT TAKE UP SO MUCH OF THE ROAD SO IT HAS PUT ME BEHIND GETTING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AS HIGH AS 20 MINUTES.  SHE ALSO FEARED FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY STANDING OUT IN THE COLD AND SNOW.  THIS IS NOT JUST ON HER ROUTE, IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER TOWN.

           COUNCILMAN HAHN ASKED THAT A MEETING WITH THE TRASH MEN COULD HELP.  THEY COULD PULL OVER AND LET CARS OR THE BUS GO BY.  IT IS A CONCERN TO US ALL. 

           MAYOR SMALL WILL LOOK INTO IT.

 

COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD A REQUEST THAT WHEN WE START OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TRASH FEE.  HE ASKED FOR A REAL GOOD COST ESTIMATE, OF WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST US TO RUN OUR TRASH SERVICE, ITEMIZE THE PERSONNEL, MAINTENANCE AND THOSE THINGS.  SO WE KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST WITH BENEFITS, ALONG WITH THE PROPOSED FEE.

WE NEED A GOOD ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST IF THE CITY COMPLETELY OUT-SOURCES IT.  THAT IS OUR OTHER OPTION.  SEE WHICH ROUTE IS GOING TO BE THE CHEAPEST.  THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES AS COST EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.  IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS 3 OR 4 DOLLARS A MONTH CHEAPER, THEN WE SHOULD STOP PROVIDING THE SERVICES.  HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS THE CASE.  HE THOUGHT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICE CHEAPER THAN ONE FROM PRIVATE SECTOR CAN.  WE WILL NEED THAT INFORMATION.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT RIGHT NOW, IT IS CALCULATED TO COST 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS WITH FIVE MEN ON THE 3 TRUCKS, PLUS THE RETRO, PLUS A FOREMAN.  IT HAS TO BE SELF-EFFICIENT THROUGH FEES.  OR, WE GET OUT OF THE TRASH BUSINESS AND THESE MEN LOOSE THEIR JOBS.  IF WE GO TO A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR, WE DO HAVE ONE THAT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING.  WE WANT TO KEEP THIS UNDER CITY CONTROL

AND KEEP THESE MEN WORKING.

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE PREFERRED  KEEPING IT IN HOUSE BUT FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON, HE ASKED THAT THE PACKETS BE PROVIDED WITH THAT INFORMATION SO WE HAVE A COST BASIS.

           PRESIDENT YORK ASKED IF COUNCILMAN REID WAS WANTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET QUOTES.  SHE SAID SHE AGREED, WE CAN DO IT CHEAPER.  WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY OPTION.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID THE STREET DEPARTMENT WILL BE TOTALLY FUNDED BY MVH FUNDS.

 

MRS. LOGAN ASKED IF WE OUT-SOURCE THE TRASH, WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR STREETS DURING THE WINTER.  THE POT HOLES?  IF WE DO AWAY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE MEN PICKING UP TRASH ARE BEING PAID OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.  THE PLOWING OF THE STREETS IS NOT COMING FROM THE STREET DEPARTMENT ANY LONGER.  HE SAID THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE HAS HAD SOME VERY LARGE INEFFICIENCY IN its OPERATION OF its STAFF.  THE WORK IS STILL GETTING DONE EVEN THOUGH THE STAFF HAS BEEN CUT 25 OR 30 PERCENT THE PAST TWO YEARS.  THAT IS ON TOP OF THE 10 TO 15 PERCENT CUT IN STAFFING THAT WERE DONE DURING THE NIPP ADMINISTRATION.  WE CAN LOOK BACK AT THE GOLDEN DAYS THE 2000 TO 2003 RANGE AND REALIZE THERE WAS A LOT OF INEFFICIENCY OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS IN THE CITY.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID WE HAVE BUSTERS, BEST-WAY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT.

WE CAN GET QUOTES FROM THOSE THREE.

           MRS. LOGAN ASKED COUNCILMAN REID IF HE LIVES IN THE SAME CITY OF NEW CASTLE AS SHE DOES?

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID CONSIDERING THE BUDGET OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, THE WORK IS GETTING DONE PRETTY WELL.

           MRS. LOGAN SAID IT IS NOT GETTING DONE AS WELL AS IT HAS BEEN.

           MAYOR SMALL SAID IT CAN'T BE.

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE ESSENTIAL WORK IS GETTING DONE. HE SAID HE HEARS PEOPLE SAYING WE DON'T WANT FEES, DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR TAXES AND EVERY TIME THE GOVERNMENT MAKES A MOVE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY, AND IT RESOLVES IN A CHANGE OF SERVICES, PEOPLE ARE UP HERE COMPLAINING.  WE CAN'T DO BOTH.  EFFICIENCY IS GOING TO COST MORE IN TAXES OR MAYBE WE ARE GOING TO CUT TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL STRUGGLE DURING TIMES WHEN WE ARE OVERLOADED WITH WORK SO PEOPLE AREN'T SITTING AROUND IDLE WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL.  YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

           MRS. LOGAN SAID SHE WOULD HAVE RATHER PAID HIGHER FEES AND KEPT MEN WORKING.  IF YOU GO DOWN ALLEYS IN THIS CITY, YOU CAN SEE THINGS ARE NOT GOING AS WELL AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.  THE PAST HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE.

           COUNCILMAN REID SAID LET'S SAY WE HAD 20 PEOPLE OUT, MAYBE 4 PACKERS

RUNNING, IF WE HAD THAT MANY PEOPLE OUT DRIVING AROUND IN THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS, ALL THE TRASH IN NEW CASTLE WOULD BE PICKED UP IN TWO DAYS.  HOPEFULLY, IF WE CAN INSTITUTE SOME FEES, AND DEAL WITH OUR 1.28 MILLION DOLLAR GAP, AND DEAL WITH OUR CASH FLOW PROBLEMS, THEN MAYBE IN 3 OR 4 YEARS DEPENDING IF THE STATE COMPLETELY OBLITERATES OUR BUDGET IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH THE PROPERTY TAX CAPS, MAYBE IN ANOTHER 3 OR 4 YEARS WE CAN BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN BRING BACK SOME STAFF AND GET THINGS DONE MORE QUICKLY THAN WE CAN NOW.  BUT, RIGHT NOW WE ARE LUCKY WE HAVE A NEW CASTLE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE FINANCES ARE GUTTED.  THERE IS NOTHING THERE TO WORK WITH.  HE SAID THE CITY WORKERS NEED TO HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING MORE WITH LESS.

           MRS. LOGAN SAID THE CITY WORKERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB BUT WE NEED TO BE MORE CREATIVE.

 

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO ADJOURN.

COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND