Friday, December 18, 2009

NO HELP FOR THE FLOOD VICTIMS

I am very disappointed after last night's council meeting. The first item on the agenda was the resolution for the $400,000 to help the flood victims of last August. Jason Hublar and his wife Crystal told of how not only their possessions but the school supplies they purchased for their students were lost. Not only that but they had to take out a loan to cover their loss.

My own brother-in-law and sister-in-law also will be forced to borrow to pay for the repairs to their furnace. I had assured them that the city would take care of them and secured the forms for them to complete and send to Shane Gibson. I have not talked to them yet but they subscribe to the Tribune so they will find out. They are both retired so money is tight, but oh well, that's the way it goes.

I want to thank Shane Gibson, Jeff Gahan, Pat McLaughlin and Dan Coffey for their efforts. These gentlemen spoke about the people who have been devastated by the flood. The rest of the council wanted a long term fix. Mr. Gibson wanted a long term fix also but he knows the people are hurting now. He wanted to reimburse the applicants for their loss and use the rest of the $400,000 for fixing the creeks and ditches. Made sense to me.

Also on the agenda was the request of an appropriation for $2,000,000 to fund the police and fire departments. It was decided to postpone the vote until there was more investigation.

The vacant Trinity Plaza building on the corner of Daisy Lane and Green Valley Rd. will be used as a furniture store for two years. The Planning Commission hopes that by that time a medical facility will replace the furniture store.

And last but not least the $300,000 loan from the Rainy Day Fund to the Storm Water Fund was passed. It was also decided that after three years the Storm Water Fund needs a audit.