Town news 1/8/2010
At the town council meeting on Jan 6th Don Engerer was voted in as president and I was voted in a vice president.
We had a presentation from Mat Klein director of Indianapolis water. They are currently in the process of asking the Indiana utility regulatory commission for another rate increase. They had an emergency one this summer of 10% and are now asking for an additional 35% which if approved will take effect by summers end.
The issue, as he states it is that most utilities have about 15% of their debt in variable rate bonds and that IWWD had almost 60% when he took over in March of 2009. Then with the economic situation being what it is, the bonds were adjusted by the holders to a shorter payoff and a higher rate which meant that they could in no way make the payments. He has since gotten all of the debt into fixed rates.
He stated that they are about, if I got this right, 918 million in debt with more federal mandates coming in and the need to build safety and backup supply methods has forced them to ask for this increase. Most residents will see about $8-10 dollars a month more on their water bill. This will not change the sewer bills or rates. Those are set by the town and I am still trying to get them down.
He also discussed the water conservation ordinance that Marion county put into effect this year. The town being in two counties is looking at a similar ordinance but it would really only effect the Hancock county side since the Marion ordinance would take precedent. It basically says that during drought times the mayor of Indianapolis can declare a water emergency which would restrict water of lawns, washing of cars at home, filling of pools, etc. until the all clear is given. The reason for the ordinance is that the water company, at times of drought, can not keep up with normal demand forcing them to spend more to bring in backup or over work their equipment.
I think residents in my district do a fairly good job of conserving already so I do not anticipate this being much of an issue.
We also passed the ordinance for the Fire contract that I negotiated with Buck Creek fire department. We recently paid 180 thousand for 2008 and 190 thousand for 2009. They had asked a couple of years ago to have us pay 250 thousand but I felt that was to much of an increase. It would have meant that the Cumberland portion of Buck Creek township would be paying about 1/3 of their budget but we only have about 25% of the number of homes. I also feel that we have an economy of scale on our side as we are a big portion or their budget in one contract. We were also given the option of giving up fire coverage by the town and allowing the township to bill directly on our tax bills. I did not feel that was a viable option at this time as it would have meant our property tax bills going up with no control over how much.
The agreement we reached is that we would increase or payments by 10 thousand each of the next 2 years to finish out the contract then we can evaluate what we can do from there. This would put us at 210 thousand by 2011. Compared to 250 thousand a year that they were asking for we saved 150 thousand over the three year contract.
Winter is here so everyone stay warm and safe and let us know of any issues or concerns.
Joe Siefker
Town councilman dist 5
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
town news 12/16
Hello all.
Merry Christmas.
At the recent town council meeting (12/15/09) during councilor comments I addressed a couple of issues.
The first being the Washington street project. I travel the section in Cumberland twice daily and have seen little if any work being done between the bridge and meijer but the barrels remain. I expressed my displeasure for the slow work at past meetings and reiterated that as well. I also pointed out my concern for what the barrels will do once the snow flies and plowing becomes needed. The safety of the residents and visitors, I feel, would be in jeopardy with these remaining over the winter months and asked that the town "require" them to be removed post haste. I was then informed by the town manager that in meeting call he had that very day, INDOT said they would be removed and the lanes marked by the end of this week (12/18). That will mean the road will be open, with the exception of the bridge, until spring. There may be a day here or there that utility crews will be working to move lines.
The next issue I talked about is the continuing sanitary sewer billing of the 4 unit minimum regardless of how much water we use. I have learned that the sanitary sewer board has tabled the issue until they can form a committee and get a consultant to review the issue and its effects on the sewer budget. I really expressed my displeasure at this. 1. there are already to many layers of government for a town this size. 2. the sewer board should BE the committee and should not need to pass the issue on. 3. a consultant will cost the tax payers money when the board should be able to figure out the cost difference themselves. 4. I then gave a very easy to understand math lesson on what the difference would make. (ex: we charge 4.25 per unit ((100 cu/ft)) and a minumum of 4 units regardless of usage. So each month residents are charge $17.00 even when they are in florida. If we had 100 homes using no water for 1 month that is $1700.00. If they are gone for 6 months a year that is $10,200 in lost revenue. I then stated that the sanitary sewer utility annual budget is 3.2million, that is 3/100 of a percent of the budget and I doubted that anyone can prove that the utility is at risk of financial failure from loosing 3/100 of a percent of its budget. It took me about 2 minutes to show what a consultant will charge the town thousands for. Councilor Engerer replied by saying that if they stay hooked up to our sewer system we should charge them weather they have water flowing out or not.
I can not stand the idea of charging for something someone is not using. That also is the reason why I pushed so hard for us to get some stimulus money since cumberland will be asked to pay back our share, we might as well get to spend our share here.
We also passed a few ordinances dealing with panhandlers near roads and convicted criminals in town parks. These are both similar to ones passed by Indianapolis and other towns in the state. They have been upheld by the state courts and found to be acceptable. We also approved money for the purchase of a video recording system for police reports, interviews and depositions that can be sent down town for transcribing into courts rather that having to pay officers extra time to manually deliver them.
Also check out the new town website. It is at the same address as before. http://www.town.cumberland.in.us/
Have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year
Joe Siefker
Merry Christmas.
At the recent town council meeting (12/15/09) during councilor comments I addressed a couple of issues.
The first being the Washington street project. I travel the section in Cumberland twice daily and have seen little if any work being done between the bridge and meijer but the barrels remain. I expressed my displeasure for the slow work at past meetings and reiterated that as well. I also pointed out my concern for what the barrels will do once the snow flies and plowing becomes needed. The safety of the residents and visitors, I feel, would be in jeopardy with these remaining over the winter months and asked that the town "require" them to be removed post haste. I was then informed by the town manager that in meeting call he had that very day, INDOT said they would be removed and the lanes marked by the end of this week (12/18). That will mean the road will be open, with the exception of the bridge, until spring. There may be a day here or there that utility crews will be working to move lines.
The next issue I talked about is the continuing sanitary sewer billing of the 4 unit minimum regardless of how much water we use. I have learned that the sanitary sewer board has tabled the issue until they can form a committee and get a consultant to review the issue and its effects on the sewer budget. I really expressed my displeasure at this. 1. there are already to many layers of government for a town this size. 2. the sewer board should BE the committee and should not need to pass the issue on. 3. a consultant will cost the tax payers money when the board should be able to figure out the cost difference themselves. 4. I then gave a very easy to understand math lesson on what the difference would make. (ex: we charge 4.25 per unit ((100 cu/ft)) and a minumum of 4 units regardless of usage. So each month residents are charge $17.00 even when they are in florida. If we had 100 homes using no water for 1 month that is $1700.00. If they are gone for 6 months a year that is $10,200 in lost revenue. I then stated that the sanitary sewer utility annual budget is 3.2million, that is 3/100 of a percent of the budget and I doubted that anyone can prove that the utility is at risk of financial failure from loosing 3/100 of a percent of its budget. It took me about 2 minutes to show what a consultant will charge the town thousands for. Councilor Engerer replied by saying that if they stay hooked up to our sewer system we should charge them weather they have water flowing out or not.
I can not stand the idea of charging for something someone is not using. That also is the reason why I pushed so hard for us to get some stimulus money since cumberland will be asked to pay back our share, we might as well get to spend our share here.
We also passed a few ordinances dealing with panhandlers near roads and convicted criminals in town parks. These are both similar to ones passed by Indianapolis and other towns in the state. They have been upheld by the state courts and found to be acceptable. We also approved money for the purchase of a video recording system for police reports, interviews and depositions that can be sent down town for transcribing into courts rather that having to pay officers extra time to manually deliver them.
Also check out the new town website. It is at the same address as before. http://www.town.cumberland.in.us/
Have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year
Joe Siefker
H1N1
The federal government said "trust us, the vaccine is perfectly safe. everyone should get it." although our president elected NOT to have his children get it. Now what is the latest news. 800000 doses are being recalled because they were found to not be concentrated enough to be effective. Trust us! Pat no attention to the man behind the curtain!
This current federal government is going to be the bigges big brother the world had ever seen and we are all going to regret it.
This current federal government is going to be the bigges big brother the world had ever seen and we are all going to regret it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
town council and random thoughts
The town council again passed the ordinance for the bond issue. I was unable to attend the meeting but it passed by a large enough number that my vote would not have changed it anymore that the first time. Thanks to those citizens for going to the meeting to be heard. It does help.
One thing I wanted to toss out is that with the new surfaces on roads in the town and them being so smooth. When winter hits they will be icy so be careful.
As for random thoughts. I decided I would chime in again on the health care issue but more along the lines of how big the bill itself is. The senate version is over 2000 pages and the house version was over 1500, if I remember correctly. Does anyone believe that there is no pork in that bill. There was an example of this in an article in the Daily Reporter from Oct 9, 2009. The Indiana legistature passed the budget bill but in it was a line that states that nursing homes and the like should not be taxed on property as they function more as a non profit and that they can ask for reimbursement going back up to 10 years.
When asked by a reporter, our representative Mr Cherry said that the line had gotten in there and flew in under the radar in the version that was passed. My point exactly. We have elected officials in state and federal levels who write these monstrous bills that no one can read through completely in less than a month with out being put into a coma. It comes as no surprise to me that things like this get passed with out the majority of politicians even knowing it.
Granted the town of Cumberland is small but the ordinances that we have passed have been 3 pages tops.
We need to send a message with these next couple of elections that things need to change.
There is no way 2000 pages of bill will not have pork in there. They just won't call it "earmarks" so as to not make the President look bad since he said "no earmarks". They will just call it something else.
Healthcare WILL get more expensive. We will have less medical resources available for access and we will have longer waits (think Canada). If socialized medicine is so great why to people from other countries come here for treatment? We will have fewer facilities, fewer doctors and older equipment to be treared with. Those are my predictions. Along with this prepare yourself for higher unemployment. Why? because when the bill shows up to these companies that the feds want to have pay for it, they will just lay off staff to cover the cost and not let it come from the bottom line.
I will continue to work to the best of my ability for the people of district 5 and the town of cumberland. I have voted against higher spending as well as trying to get things done in a timely fashion and have made so ground in those areas. Especially when I have had the citizen support at the meetings.
Take care
Joe
One thing I wanted to toss out is that with the new surfaces on roads in the town and them being so smooth. When winter hits they will be icy so be careful.
As for random thoughts. I decided I would chime in again on the health care issue but more along the lines of how big the bill itself is. The senate version is over 2000 pages and the house version was over 1500, if I remember correctly. Does anyone believe that there is no pork in that bill. There was an example of this in an article in the Daily Reporter from Oct 9, 2009. The Indiana legistature passed the budget bill but in it was a line that states that nursing homes and the like should not be taxed on property as they function more as a non profit and that they can ask for reimbursement going back up to 10 years.
When asked by a reporter, our representative Mr Cherry said that the line had gotten in there and flew in under the radar in the version that was passed. My point exactly. We have elected officials in state and federal levels who write these monstrous bills that no one can read through completely in less than a month with out being put into a coma. It comes as no surprise to me that things like this get passed with out the majority of politicians even knowing it.
Granted the town of Cumberland is small but the ordinances that we have passed have been 3 pages tops.
We need to send a message with these next couple of elections that things need to change.
There is no way 2000 pages of bill will not have pork in there. They just won't call it "earmarks" so as to not make the President look bad since he said "no earmarks". They will just call it something else.
Healthcare WILL get more expensive. We will have less medical resources available for access and we will have longer waits (think Canada). If socialized medicine is so great why to people from other countries come here for treatment? We will have fewer facilities, fewer doctors and older equipment to be treared with. Those are my predictions. Along with this prepare yourself for higher unemployment. Why? because when the bill shows up to these companies that the feds want to have pay for it, they will just lay off staff to cover the cost and not let it come from the bottom line.
I will continue to work to the best of my ability for the people of district 5 and the town of cumberland. I have voted against higher spending as well as trying to get things done in a timely fashion and have made so ground in those areas. Especially when I have had the citizen support at the meetings.
Take care
Joe
Thursday, November 5, 2009
latest news 11/5/09
The town council met last night. During the meeting an ordinance providing a bond fund was past 3-1, with my vote being the lone opposition. I opposed this because we currently have a bond fund that will be paid off in february 2010 and in order to not lose that revenue stream we needed to pass another bond to take its place. The new one is for up to 850,000. I feel that the town is doing just fine in the areas that the fund would be for and did not see the need to extend this burden of tax payers into the future. It can be used for infrastructure work to roads and sewers.
On the subject of the recent breakins. The town is trying to obtain funding to increas the size of the police force but remember that crime is up in other areas of town, marion county and the country in general. The best avenue to help is having an alarm and calling 911 when you see something.
Joe
On the subject of the recent breakins. The town is trying to obtain funding to increas the size of the police force but remember that crime is up in other areas of town, marion county and the country in general. The best avenue to help is having an alarm and calling 911 when you see something.
Joe
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Latest from the council.
Last night, 10/7/09, the council passed the budget for 2010. I did in fact vote in favor this year where I voted against last years vote for 2009 budget. Last year the 2009 budget (4.35mill) had an increase of 6% and I stated from the outset of my campaign that I wanted to reduce the budget and stated that fact at last years vote when I said nay. This years budget (3.99mill) reflects a 8% reduction which brings it back to the level from before the 2008 year of 4.1mill. This is in no small part a result of the property tax cap the state legislature voted in. I would have liked to have gotten this done ALL on our own without the forced reduction from the cap. It will have a even further effect on future budgets of 2011 and 2012. Hopefully by then we will have figured out the best way to run the town for the least amount of money.
With this in mind I will continue to push the town to be more frugal on spending of tax dollars on large engineering work and legal reviews that eat up the budget so that we have nothing left to do the project needed by the town.
One example of changes made is that the town used to contract out for cleaning services at a cost of a few thousand a year and this is now being done in house by staff and we reduced those few thousand down to about 1 thousand for supplies.
I also moved and had pass a motion to have 5-6 smaller road projects in town repaired this year now that we have finally gotten the quotes back. We have about 200k left in the mvh fund for road repairs and we will be getting these 5-6 projects done for a bit less than that. My hope is to see the balance of that be used for draingage issues around town that are inexpensive enough to get them paid for.
Next year we will have to look at a lot of bigger drainage issues around town before we do to much more road work. I feel that with these project this year we will be ok for a bit and we can try to get back on the capital inprovement plan time table.
The areas this fall will be the large chunk of cobblefield way that is desintegrating and the roundabout circle in VBV. Also the road that runs behind CVS from the back of the post office past the park and around to washington which looks like a war zone and actually IS part of the town road system. These areas will be ground, patched and resurfaced.
In the next few weeks I will be negotiating the fire service contract for the next 2 years. we have a deal for this year but need to work on the future. They are looking for a increase in fees as currently town residents pay less per home than non town residents. I am not sure we will be able to accomodate their full request as we have budget reductions as they have cost inflations.
Any questions call or email me.
Thanks
Joe
With this in mind I will continue to push the town to be more frugal on spending of tax dollars on large engineering work and legal reviews that eat up the budget so that we have nothing left to do the project needed by the town.
One example of changes made is that the town used to contract out for cleaning services at a cost of a few thousand a year and this is now being done in house by staff and we reduced those few thousand down to about 1 thousand for supplies.
I also moved and had pass a motion to have 5-6 smaller road projects in town repaired this year now that we have finally gotten the quotes back. We have about 200k left in the mvh fund for road repairs and we will be getting these 5-6 projects done for a bit less than that. My hope is to see the balance of that be used for draingage issues around town that are inexpensive enough to get them paid for.
Next year we will have to look at a lot of bigger drainage issues around town before we do to much more road work. I feel that with these project this year we will be ok for a bit and we can try to get back on the capital inprovement plan time table.
The areas this fall will be the large chunk of cobblefield way that is desintegrating and the roundabout circle in VBV. Also the road that runs behind CVS from the back of the post office past the park and around to washington which looks like a war zone and actually IS part of the town road system. These areas will be ground, patched and resurfaced.
In the next few weeks I will be negotiating the fire service contract for the next 2 years. we have a deal for this year but need to work on the future. They are looking for a increase in fees as currently town residents pay less per home than non town residents. I am not sure we will be able to accomodate their full request as we have budget reductions as they have cost inflations.
Any questions call or email me.
Thanks
Joe
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Local and more
Well, we had the groundbreaking for the east intercepter and work should begin shortly on that and we should be having the pensy trail breaking and work starting soon. At my urging we are having some quotes obtained for, not major but not really minor, road work in the town. We should be hearing back soon with hopes that we can get the work done before bad weather hits.
I was not going to comment, but can't stand not to, about Rep. Joe Wilson outburst during the President speech. I likely would have done the same thing if I had seen the bill, saw something wrong and was being ignored when pointing it out. For those across the isle who think the Dems have a right to slap his wrist, take note. MR. WILSON WAS TELLING THE TRUTH, other wise why would the dems be going back to re-writing the bill to put in wording to prevent illegals from using the system if it was already covered like the PRES. was trying to get us all to believe.
I am sick of being fed this bull.
There was a massive 2 million people tea party rally in D.C. and the liberal press tried to pass it off as minimal saying a few thousand and the white house trying to say they knew nothing about it. Can we say political censoring.
Now ACORN the presidents own personal agenda and propaganda machine is being investigated yet again and how about his 'green czar' calling all republican a**holes. Good man to have in a high profile government position.
I bring these things up so that my supporters can see that I am not being snowed.
Joe
I was not going to comment, but can't stand not to, about Rep. Joe Wilson outburst during the President speech. I likely would have done the same thing if I had seen the bill, saw something wrong and was being ignored when pointing it out. For those across the isle who think the Dems have a right to slap his wrist, take note. MR. WILSON WAS TELLING THE TRUTH, other wise why would the dems be going back to re-writing the bill to put in wording to prevent illegals from using the system if it was already covered like the PRES. was trying to get us all to believe.
I am sick of being fed this bull.
There was a massive 2 million people tea party rally in D.C. and the liberal press tried to pass it off as minimal saying a few thousand and the white house trying to say they knew nothing about it. Can we say political censoring.
Now ACORN the presidents own personal agenda and propaganda machine is being investigated yet again and how about his 'green czar' calling all republican a**holes. Good man to have in a high profile government position.
I bring these things up so that my supporters can see that I am not being snowed.
Joe
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