To Flush, Please Deposit------!

As sad and incomprehensible as it is, it appears that the bulk of our illustrious Common Council is once again going sit on their collective hands and do nothing of consequense to alliviate our ongoing sewer debacle.

I attended yesterdays Sewer Board meeting as well as the joint conference of the Common Council & Sewer Board that followed.

At the first, I was delighted to find not one but two sane & responsible voices in the form of board members Todd Soloman & Bill Utz. Bill I take it has been around long enough to have a real life historical perspective and Mr. Soloman is the sharpest pencil I've seen in this city's advisory boards yet. He has done his homework and comes to the table with legitimate real world solutions as far as the infrastructure problems are concerned. He is aware of the financial woes, but understands that the do nothing mode we have been in for all these decades is about to catch up big time.

My elation was shortlived however, for most of his proposals fell either on deaf ears or into the "We need to wait until after September 1st" chasm. It very quickly became painfully obvious that neither of the councilmen on the Sewer Board were into the proceedings save to defend their respective positions concerning past sins. Forward thinking was not on their agenda unless CM Seabrooks concept of reorganizing the sewer board counts as such.

The final act of their meeting was a presentation by Marc McCormick as to the current financial health of the Sewer Utitility during which he uequivocally stated the same information I heard at the last Commom Council meeting. That being the sewer departments income is too low to meet bond requirements & operating costs. The Mayor then asked him to stay close 'cause he would have to repeat it again to the entire counsel (minus CM Blevins) in just a few moments.

The second session was for all practical purposes a near word for word repeat of the previous council meeting save that Mr. McCormick was the object of their misguided objections as opposed to the Umbaugh representatives.

All in all the general consensus was "we should have had this info a year ago" and "we need more information to make an intelligent decision" and " We can use other funds from other places to fill this quicksand pit" and "The taxpayers of New Albany can not continue to be burdened with these defieciencies" and, well you get the idea.

The bell finally tolled 7PM and since there was another meeting scheduled for that time slot, this one was mercifully adjourned. Umbaugh representatives had come from Indianapoils and sat thru the proceedings without comment save to confirm a couple of figures for Mr. Fifer while he was at the podium. At the end Attorney Fifer asked the council if they had any questions for these folks.

Council President Gahan glanced once again at his watch and calmly said "No, we're fine" , dropped the gavel, and that was that.

After all is said & done, my read of the tea leaves is that, with the possible exception of two CM's, there are none on the council that have the foresight nor understanding, let alone the will, to bite the political bullet and pass a sewer rate increase period. However, that quicksand pit is growing by the moment!

So rally 'round the flag folks, 'cause we got serious work to do!!