The following scenario has been going on in New Albany for quite a while now, and this is something Susan and I have been following since 1999. What do we do now? How can we help with this situation anymore?
WHAT'S THIS?????
Today, I traveled back to a spot down the street from my house, which we have been traveling to since 1999 when we found out the Mobile Home Shop on Main Street wasn't on sewers. We found this information through the smoking of the sewer studies performed in 1999. We went to the area and photographed and documented and submitted to the Sewer Board that the Mobile Home Shop and the Church with the Clock Tower are each on "septic" systems.
The City put flags into the yard of the house attached to the Mobile Home Shop, but, you got it, they never came back. While we were down there, if you walk down the alley between Tumblebus and the Mobile Home Shop, you will see the sewage from the building across the street running down that alley.
This would be the reason I warned "Lawman" on another blog about the sewer situation in that area; and how, when they tore the building down on the corner, it was running across the street, also. There are historical Underground Railroad Tunnels in that area, which to us, shouldn't interfere with the City getting these buildings on sewers.
The Mobile Home Shop has a kicker with it. Two years ago, the City and EMC came in and instead of say draining the stuff out of the septic in the basement, they jackhammered it up. The City now wants to charge her the full amount of the tap-in fee, and she has to pay for a lateral to run all the way back to the railroad track. We do not know if there is a "main" line back there, or if this is another section that is incomplete.
The Sewer Board's position is they can do no work on private property. They should not have gone in and jackhammered the concrete basement floor up, then, right? To us, there should at least be a tort claim for the damage and repair to the basement, and then we may want to discuss tap-in fees for somebody the City has know at least (and we feel before) weren't on the sewers, and were not included in the "Plan".
I would ask the City what about the glass company across the street? What about the Church? What about on down Main with the antique shop, the building where Schmitt furniture stores their inventory, the building on down (on the same side of the street) where Abe's Rental use to be? The same thing is going on in the alley there as is besides Tumblebus and the Mobile Home Shop, which makes us wonder if the City ever went back to the Ellsby Building and finished checking. They stopped when the FBI raided the "mortgage company" which use to be there.
So many questions, so many issues. We proved all of this before a State Hearing, and even Mayor Garner used my analysis and spoke against it. There was nothing he could do when he came in to office because the so-called "Plan" and contracts were all signed; bonds sold; blah, blah, blah...
1999...the books are located at the sewer plant and labeled the SSES (Sewer System Evaluation Study), and go by "mini-basin". The Engineers should have, and supposedly did look at, that SSES study to come up with a "Plan"; it was called the "modeling" portion. All of the expansion this City has done to accommodate the County and Developers, when most of the County residents don't even want sewers and part of our downtown isn't even on the sewers -- well, I best leave unsaid what I feel.
There are other areas of town, but I'll save those for another day. Thanks for any ideas you may have.
12 comments:
Here's another issue. One study I don't think the city ever did was to see if everyone was on sewers. I always felt one of the reasons for the city to have Indiana-American Water Company take over sewer billing was mail fraud. If someone is getting billed for sewer services and are not on the system, I think they would be billed illegally. The bills go through the mail - mail fraud. Are the Federal penalties for Mail Fraud greater than for violating The Clean Water Act?
Yes, so many questions and issues keep surfacing (or falling down). New Albany's citizens need help.
Think the candidates for city offices have looked at the SSES(or other reports)? We know some have over the years. How many haven't looked?
Susan
The study you are referring to, would that be the 1998 Master Stormwater Plan, which shows all of the cross-connections (or did)?
Unfortunately, girlfriend, the threats are rolling in about this one.
1999, do you hear me Sewer Board? 1999. The house and building are one and the same at the Mobile Home Shop. You literally enter the house from the Mobile Home Shop. Now, why does they need a separate lateral, number one? And, number two, they paid sewer bills from '94 to '99, when they found out, and continued on even though they put a lateral in for the house.
I say, and I strongly say this (as I once was in her position), if you want to evict one, you evict them all. Threaten the health department all you want. You, the City knew...and I will not shut up about it.
This has been discussed openly in front of the Kiwana's Club, Sewer Board, IDEM, Council, ... hey, I can't even remember everyone.
We feel she needs a good attorney about right now to take over your dealings with her. This is a retired widower...the City and some citizens have know about it, I say a lot longer than '99... so, what?
Susan says I wasn't mean enough in my posting, but I'm really trying to keep my objectivity, but what's good for one of 'em down there is good for all of them. Think of all the monies you will make off those tap-ins! But, remember, a lot of them have been paying for a lack of service you provided. Just like we did. Been there, done that...
That's a business you're talking about down there -- not a home like mine. Most of the rest of them are businesses, too. Take one, take all. Otherwise, since the City created the stench but not simply pumping the septic out, and violating their own rules of not going onto public property, bring it on. We're tirrreeeeeddddd. Fix the inner City, please. We've begged you for 2 long, and now...at election time...what?
Yes, I know, there are going to be some incumbent politicians really upset with me over these comments; to you -- you are part of the problem. Susan and I went to Council and Sewer Board meetings. We have tapes of what everyone of you said to us and about the situation.
We are ready to make it all public, seeing you want to be "re-elected". Hmmmmmmmmmm.
To the ones denying the City jackhammered the basement up down the street; I would be to differ. There are people who work there who witnessed it, and there are pictures.
We'll be happy to provide them to you. Please, stop burning my phone up... I'm not going to take your calls just to get into some kind of "*******" match with you, when I hold the proof in my hands. Thank you very much.
Yeah, it's all coming back around to those politicians who have presided over so many of these meetings for so many years (way longer than 1999). How do they say they didn't know about the problem down there when that line was smoked back in '99?
Certain members of the city council & sewer board (ummmm Kochert & formerly Seabrook) have known about all of this sewage problem, and the houses and businesses that were never on a sewer line all along.
However, they seem to have selective memories when it comes down to doing the right thing.
My biggest question is why? Why have none of these people who have paid bills for a non-existing sewer service for years not sued the city yet???
Furthermore, why oh why do council members who have clearly been part and parcel of this problem for soooo many years get re-elected?
In my opinion Ms. Kersey, you and Ms. Johnson would be doing us all a great service if you would just let all the evidence see the light of day and let these politicians try to explain themselves to the voting public.
Since they can't seem to tell the truth it would be really interesting to hear just what they would come up with.
They are certainly not going to tell about all the deals that were cut and favors that were done if they just looked the other way or went along with the plan, but that would be the real truth of the matter.
Consequently we are all being exposed to significant health hazards. That's another law suit waiting to happen.
Just how many law suits can one city have against them before the incompetence causes it to implode in on itself?
Sorry to go on and on for so long but there is just not too much that can be said about this mess.
Thanks for listening.
We tried, with some "big" lawyers to sue the City, but the EPA had already pre-empted us on the Clean Water Act (they'd already sued).
It's criminal...mail fraud...and do you really feel the local prosecutor is going to do anything about this issue? Me thinks more likely someone like the Attorney General.
Now, they are not only denying they did not jackhammer the septic up in the basement of the Mobile Home Shop -- yet, they seem to forget how many trucks and how much sewage they pumped out of that septic tank. We have the info; they are having a memory lapse because Rob Sartell and Brian Dixon with EMC didn't know Sam Lahanis is the one who did it.
We knew when we finally could tell the public; the **** would hit the fan. Let me tell you, "they" are really upset about this and me opening this can of worms -- but hey, 1999... 1999... 1999...
How much more of this do they really think they can get by with?
More will come out...dealing with the threats and trying to protect this elderly person caught in the middle of the very same nightmare me and mine went through. The only difference being, her livelihood is impacted here if the City carries through with their threats.
She is working in good faith with her plumber and EMC...so I really do not know how in the hey they could possibly evict her.
More of the story will unfold...timing just isn't right this moment in time.
We're just tired of doing their jobs and not getting paid. After jumping through all of "everyone's" hoops and doing everything by the books on this one... um.
Affidavits and pictures are now being demanded concerning the jackhammering of the basement.
No problems there. I have to admit though, if it boils down to two people's words before a Councilmember will believe you, why would Susan or I have a reason to lie? We definitely can understand why the person responsible has EVERY REASON to lie to you.
A picture speaks 1000 words, at least. Stay tuned. Peace, New Albany.
Randy Hubbard announced for Mayor today. It will be on the news tonight, on all channels. He had quite a gathering; people thought something else was going on.
Verifying my facts, and I thank my source.
We're very interested to hear Mr. Hubbard's platform -- assuming he has one, given the reluctance of old school politicos to commit to anything substantive ... and he's very old school, no?
And, I can truthfully say Mr. Hubbard is very interested in what all of us feel the issues are.
He is the most laid back gentleman, with nothing but integrity, so I look for him to do things the "right" way -- rather than looking the other way.
My belief on this, too, is Doug England will not file to run now with Mr. Hubbard in the race.
The story is so long, I couldn't even begin to tell you the whys of same.
Are we all sort of in agreement as to what the issues are? Non-enforcement of ordinances (or selective), building up downtown, and when he says something -- I guarantee you will be able to believe it.
If you would like to meet with him, I'm sure he would be interested in meeting with all of the group.
Thanks, Yvonne.
P.S. And, if "old school" means doing it the right way, yeah, he would. No doubts in my mind.
Certainly hopeful. Thanks for the overview.
It will be...no gimmicks. Sincerely glad you asked for an overview, not everyone gets to know everyone in this town!
Served with Hubbard on the Board of the New Albany Anti-Crime Watch; and he has always helped when a serious situation arose and a citizen needs help.
As I am already taking a beating on my "blog" (though, hee hee, I'm not publishing it) as in "how dare I call myself a Democrat, I should be ashamed I even talked about Hubbard as a man, (remember, I talked about him not nessarily as a politican mind you, as man of "integrity". Whoever the anons are hiting me...who cares?
The Democrat Party has already put me through a Democrat trial over England and Overton's election. Got a pretty good feeling where people fall, think, and feel. It's been made painfully obvious to me.
But, hey, Hubbard is a good, hard-working, honest, good work ethic, educated, knows this City like the back of his hand, and is willing to work with one and all. Awwwww. Isn't that a shame, New Albanian? "I'm in the dog house, now".
Like I said, simply as a Democrat observer, Dems have their work cut out for them in the fall. You know what? It certainly is not MY fault...
From a strictly political standpoint, I have little use for someone who always votes a straight ticket. I have yet to meet the perfect person, group, organization, etc. Heck, Yvonne, I think that I have even agreed once or twice with you!(smile)
Mark
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