January 26th, 2005 Answers to LDC Reporter, Nick Schnieder’s questions Kathy: I am not sure you received my first batch of questions. If you didn't then the follow up questions probably don't make any sense. Here are the first questions: 1/ Can you explain your actions of Jan. 4 in the demotion of eastside garage foreman Mike Bond? In the very best interest of the taxpayers regarding County Highway productivity and efficiency, and due to my responsibility to the District 1 taxpayers regarding county roads, an internal move was made to place the East Side Highway garage foreman. 2/Why the demotion? Why not just fire him if you were not satisfied with the job he was doing? The Greene County Highway Department is already under-staffed. No one should or needs to lose their job and an internal move satisfied the county’s needs. 3/Were the other two commissioners aware of the action you were going to take -- prior to it being done? The other two commissioners were aware of what I wished to do to increase the productivity and efficiency of the East County Highway garage. 4/Was the decision a political one? or in retaliation for your husband leaving employment with the county highway department? The decision was neither political nor retaliation of any kind. The taxpayers spoke and I have listened. The inefficiencies of the County Highway are known far and wide by the taxpayers. It is time that men and machine are not visibly idle day after day. It is time that the largest taxpayer-funded budget produce results for the citizens that pay the bills. More questions: Was the decision to replace Bond with Otto Prow a political decision? He did play a major role in your successful campaign for commissioner, didn't he? A) Reference my answer to question 4 (continued….) B) The foreman position should include leadership, management and public relations skills. The internal change I made, which was reversed by illegal decision, was done based on the needs of these skills mentioned above. The inefficiencies of the County Highway are known far and wide by the taxpayers. It is time that men and machine are not visibly idle day after day. It is time that the largest taxpayer-funded budget produce results for the citizens that pay the bills. In your letter to the editor in the Jasonville Independent you make reference to it being the first time in 20 years that the District 1 commissioner has not be able to select his foreman for the eastside garage. Is that a correct statement? This is a correct statement. In local government, it is ‘business as usual’ until and unless the collective Board of Commissioners changes these practices based on majority vote in public, open meetings. Based on my knowledge of historical ‘business as usual’ practices regarding the East County Highway garage, counsel from the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, and independent counsel of Barnes&Thornburg, I executed ‘business as usual’. The Highway Superintendent was present, and accepted and announced the internal move of individuals. This action was reversed illegally by two members of the Board of Commissioners when I was not advised of their decision to reverse the action, and it did not legally take place in a public meeting. Non-printable information: Additional references for your accurate reporting: Bill Helms – prior Commissioner, Dist 1 384-4297 Bob Crowe – prior Commissioner, Dist 1 825-5334 In 1985, the District 1 and District 2 commissioners formed 3 district driven County Highway teams in an attempt to increase productivity and efficiency. This was eliminated in 1989. Denis Bays – Reference, prior commissioner 384-4877 Do you think this action -- very early in your term -- will hinder your ability to get along with and work with the other two commissioners? Not at all. I have been personally assured by Commissioners Bart Beard, Larry Hasler and Highway Superintendent, Mike Hennette, that the taxpayers of the county and more importantly, the taxpayers of District 1 will not suffer from the lack of active and visible road maintenance. This new Board of Commissioners has a lot of issues to tackle and I am certain that we each will work together to solve the county’s problems. Thanking you in advance for your prompt attention to these questions. Nick Schneider