If you get the Linton Daily Citizen, then you know that Board of Commissioners and the Council authorized a resolution allowing the Building Corporation to pay a settlement amount of $600,000.00 to Weddle Brothers. You will also know that I made a motion in this joint meeting that "a formal press release be developed" and TV and other media be informed of status of the renovation project. Numerous members of the Council and the Commissioners objected to this motion and it died for lack of a second. So much for keeping the tax-payers informed.................. September 23 – News from District 1  Unless you are able to take a morning off work to attend our 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Commissioner meetings, there are other things you will never be aware of.  The paper – due to lack of space or influence – does not print some important things. I will share a couple things from the last few commissioners’ meetings: 1) Road/Driveway 2) Stop Sign 3) I-69 Updates 4) Bridges 5) Personnel 6) Courthouse News I did not know that it took a “three member board” to dig a ditch or put in a pipe. Is that as amazing to you as it is to me? The GC Board of Commissioners has 34,000 bosses and appointed personnel have 3.  In case you did not see the correction in the paper regarding the “Road work questioned” article on Thursday, the 23rd - the road in question has not yet been paved. A huge print error in my opinion. Also noteworthy, is that a taxpayer approached me and the District 2 Commissioner earlier this year to have this road paved and he would foot the bill for the materials. I think this is a grand idea (and I am grateful) and I have been told that Mr. Hasler also thought this a grand idea. Now here we are -- unable to complete the necessary road prep to save thousands of dollars that will be put down on this road --- because the superintendent believes differently than his Commissioners. Hmmmmm ---- the last time I checked, the position of superintendent is an appointed position. And let me clarify for those of you that may not yet understand – Owen County? You say?? Yes, 216 feet of ditch to connect to a huge culvert (in Owen County) that will allow water to shed away from this road. 216 feet. One side of the road. This could have been accomplished in the amount of time that it was argued during the public meeting and the 24 hours that it took the paper to produce the story.  Let’s continue with the subject of county roads and wheel tax/blacktop funds. This is your money we are talking about…… Tuesday morning, prior to the meeting, the superintendent shared with me that “we have money left for blacktop – approximately $290K, but I wish to keep back $100 to 110K of this which means that you, Bart and Larry have $180K to split amongst you for the remainder of the year.” He further stated that “you really only have about $50-60K to spend, Kathy” I have one last road to do: Sylvania Ridge Road. 1.5 miles. The professional bid awarded price on this road is $67K.  This road will be done this year. Based on the numbers in the Thursday article – District 3 has the least amount to spend of this $180K. It does not appear to me that an “equal split of the $180K” is in order. 1) Road/Driveway:   There is a road (driveway) that has had work performed to it on and off over the last 4 years. I was advised that additional ditching, pipes and gravel were completed on this road in the last couple months. Unfortunately, I cannot identify it as a county road on our county maps or the WTH ThinkMap records. This road (driveway) is off of CR 1000E to the east. Now – have “township” roads come into question in the last 9 months? Certainly. But township roads are normally identifiable on the county map. It takes a vote to close one and it takes a vote to open one. If the county is being paid by the state for footage on any given road, we also know this. The WTH ThinkMap records specifically deal with this. Neither is so in this case. It may very well be that I will be presented with records and cancelled checks for payment to the county for improvements made on private property, utilizing county equipment. 2) Stop signs vs. Speed Limits/Slow signs:  With one suggestion from the superintendent, a motion and second, there is now a Stop sign at CR 500S and 500W.  It is unfortunate that the two taxpayers that have specifically approached the board this summer for Speed Limits or Slow signs in highly congested areas, are instructed to gather petition data and then the county initiates “a study”.  A sudden “Stop” sign in the middle of nowhere could cause more damage than a “Slow” sign or speed limit reduction.  I have not been informed as to the status of the “studies”.  Our county highway 2006 budget contained only $2500 for Signs. And I believe this was cut. 3) The I-69 “updates” that have been mentioned in the paper actually stem from my asking Mr. Hasler if the Board is considering a Resolution that will note which interchanges Greene County needs/wants/desires. I have seen no such Resolution to date and I personally, will not sign “just a letter” like the one drafted and thrown at me this spring. It is time that GC Government stand up and be heard regarding issues of this magnitude. 4) Bridges: “We will fix whatever bridges are the worst first.” Agreed.  However, this conversation stemmed from my asking at a Commissioner’s meeting if and when we could discuss bridges. Who is going to choose? If there is a list of the “Top 4” – how and when are we going to decide which bridge gets fixed first and how much money to allocate? This is where I will appeal to you, the taxpayer.  Bridge #255 – The wooden RR Bridge on County Line Road. This bridge services many people daily. The condition of this bridge affects 2 Fire Departments, 2 School systems, Monroe county, Greene county and traffic coming and going into Owen county.  It is on a “6 month evaluation” and “deteriorating rapidly” based upon the official inspection performed by United Consulting Engineers. We cannot wait for the Federal Bridge program on this bridge. And any Federal bridge project averages 1 ½ times more money and 5-6 years to completion. We cannot wait.  I appeal to you the taxpayer – write your Board of Commissioners and GC Highway Superintendent, Fire Departments and School System in favor of replacing Bridge #255 immediately. 5) Personnel:  A taxpayer contacted me recently to express his gratitude and to note that there were two specific County Highway employees that “were polite, courteous and diligent” while performing work on his road. His exact quote to me was “these two guys were never idle”. I, Commissioner - District 1, took the time to write a letter to the County Highway superintendent, with these commendations and the taxpayer’s contact information. I requested that the superintendent place the letter in the employees personnel file and to present a copy of the letter to each of the employees.  I was informed later “Bart Beard chose not to put the letters in the personnel files”. The taxpayer has since written a letter himself and forwarded it to the superintendent. Letter of recommendation - Response 6) Courthouse news: If you visit my website, you will see that my June 17th District 1 News noted that “Courthouse work is progressing at lightening speed” It was after this point that I learned officially, that the courthouse renovation project had “problems” dating back to May. Due to the fact that the Board of Commissioners has appointed Mr. Bart Beard as spokesman for all project communication, you will need to contact him for additional information. Project “updates” requested during the Commissioner’s meetings have consisted of “in about 2 weeks, we will see more activity” and “In about two weeks we should see brick going up on outside walls”. Two weeks in Greene County time sure seems like an awful long time. Mr. Bart Beard’s contact information consists of: Home: 812.847.7962 Work: 812.847.4790 Cell: 812.798.0265 Feel free to contact me anytime, regarding anything. 812.863.2244 My website will continue to be updated frequently – so check back soon! I will post Commissioners’ Roles & Responsibilities and a few other documents that you may find interesting!!

Thank you Greene County for all your great support.

"I promise to make the best possible decisions for the citizens of Greene County"

"I promise to keep all Greene County citizens informed"

"Greene County government needs to make some hard and fast decisions regarding the
Courthouse renovation, before it breaks the county and causes a tax increase.
I promise to take an active role in research, analysis and action to execute these
decisions"

"Greene County's citizens deserve to see tangible and visible results for their
Wheel Tax dollars - I will work aggressively to promote these results!"
"I believe that Greene County Dollars must stay in Greene County"
 


Thanks!
Kathy Crouch