Monday, October 21, 2024
EGGFEST COMPETITORS
Among the many competitors at Saturday’s First Annual EGGfest with the Big Green Egg at Builders Lumber & Hardware included Adam Coffin, John Coffin, Emma Swonger, Brent Swonger, Shea Idlewine, Lincoln O’Connor, Nick O’Connor, Charlie O’Connor and Hazel O’Connor. | photo by JACK BOYCE
County Candidates Answer Questions at Community Forum
Editor’s note: The following series includes transcripts from the recent Northwest Shelby County Concerned Citizens Coalition’s Question and Answer Forum. The following candidates are for three open County Council At-Large seats. Responses are lightly edited for clarity. These are the final questions for County Council. Tomorrow’s edition will feature candidates for County Commissioner seats.
How would you prioritize funding for infrastructure, such as water and sewer in the development areas, maintain growth, and develop broadband and future fire districts?
Troy Merrick, Republican: First of all, I can’t just pick one of these out. I would encourage the community’s input and their thoughts and perspectives on this matter. Like I said, it just shouldn’t just be up to one single body (of government). Everybody should be involved.
Charity Mohr, Republican: My understanding from the budget is that the county has now - just to kind of put it in perspective - so the sheriff's department and infrastructure, maintaining our roads and all of that is basically two-thirds of our current budget. So then what you’re left with is prioritizing those things after that. Without knowing the exact numbers, I don't know the answers to this right now, because I haven't been presented with all of that. It is important, but I don't know how much money is left. Obviously, you have to pay the Sheriff's Department. Obviously, we have to maintain our roads after what's left. Those things are a priority, and they would be addressed accordingly.
Jeremy Ruble, Republican: So as far as the money for infrastructure for development areas, to me, that's what TIF districts are designed for. When it comes to the roads, what I understand, the council says the dollar amount, and outside of that, it's on the commissioners to plan out where funding is used. I know Shelby County does have a very large amount of roads in comparison to a lot of other counties, per capita…
Chase Yanzer, Democrat: Government has to maintain infrastructure and must be held accountable for the shape that it's in. Infrastructure is the lifeblood of cities and towns, and its condition and availability has the potential to either draw or deter people looking to move into an area. In order for our county to continue to be a great place to live, work and raise a family, we have to place infrastructure funding at the top of the budgetary priority list. In 2023, 73.6% of Shelby County's roads were rated as fair or better compared to 76.1% in Rush, 93.5% in Johnson, 98.1% in Hancock, 70.7% in Decatur, 95.8% Bartholomew and 87.7% in Marion County. Of our neighboring counties, we only (place) better than one in terms of the condition of our roads. This is an example where our county can improve. And we should determine the cause of the regionally poor status of our roads, and we should react accordingly.
What do you understand your role to be in working with commissioners?
Chase Yanzer, Democrat: I understand the county commissioners to be both the legislative and executive body for the county, whereas the county council is the fiscal body. This means that if the commissioners have an idea for a new program to implement in the county, they can't do that on their own. Only the council has the authority to fund the program as the fiscal body of the county. Because of this checks and balance system, I would view my role in working with commissioners as a collaborative one. I would try to work together with them to discuss their ideas for improving Shelby County, so that the process for idea generation, funding and implementation can be streamlined and efficient. If elected, I would view myself as a member of Team Shelby County, and would see the commissioners as members of the same team. Surely we would play different roles, but we should work together in order to provide the best outcomes for our neighbors and friends and for Shelby County.
Jeremy Ruble, Republican: Between the commissioners and the council, they make up the legislative body. It is a very critical role to me. They're like the right and left hands of the body. If they're not working together on different projects and going in the same direction, nothing's going to get done.
Charity Mohr, Republican: I respect everyone's time, and I'm not going to waste it. I think it's pretty explanatory, and I think they both did a good job answering the question.
Troy Merrick, Republican: I’m going to agree. There’s not much more for me to touch on.
How would you handle potential conflicts of interest?
Jeremy Ruble, Republican: So, Indiana has a code for this. I will take it one step further and say if there's any appearance of impropriety, anything personal or professional, I will recuse myself from that discussion.
Chase Yanzer, Democrat: If I had the opportunity to vote on something that would directly benefit me in my personal life, then in my mind, that would be a conflict of interest. The way I see it, elected officials shouldn’t use their position, power or influence to benefit themselves. Public service should be about making the lives of others better, and not our own. If this situation were to come up, I would discuss my concern with the county attorney and would recuse myself from voting on the matter if it were determined that a conflict existed. One of my campaign themes is better communication. I believe our local government can and should do a better job of communicating with the public, and this is one instance where we can be more open and honest. Conflicts are bound to come up, but elected leaders should hold themselves to a high standard if given the opportunity to serve, and focus on honesty, integrity and transparency, especially when potential conflicts of interest arise.
Charity Mohr, Republican: I’m really putting myself out there tonight, but transparency is something I believe in, as well. Serving on the plan commission for eight years, I have brought up items that have been a conflict of interest. I will say that other counties do not use local attorneys for a reason, so I think it would be worth looking into possibly having an attorney from out of town, that way that same attorney that's representing solar companies and other companies that are coming before us, we don't have a conflict of interest at the top. I’ve reported conflicts of interest on the commission level, and they went nowhere. Obviously, I know to recuse myself, but some don't.
Troy Merrick, Republican: While it's uncertain how frequently such situations may occur, I will abstain from any votes and refrain from participating in any discussions that could benefit myself, my family, friends, because it's the right thing to do.
How will you work to bring governmental transparency and accountability to county-wide government units?
Charity Mohr, Republican: A lot of you know me from my votes or my outspoken transparency with the plan commission. I think things like what you guys are doing here tonight help all of that: the eyes, the ears, all of the people that are paying attention. It's making a difference. That's why I'm here. That's why you're all here. What I just said, I stick up for the right thing, even if it's 7-1, 7-2, I might be that one vote, but I'm doing it because I can sleep at night. I'm not financially benefitting. I'm doing it for all of us.
Jeremy Ruble, Republican: I'd like to give credit where credit’s due. Because of the efforts of the community, Shelby County government has come a long way. There's been a lot of community involvement and transparency. And this is an easy promise to make and a very nice sounding buzz word, but to be honest, we can all get pretty complacent and sometimes not be quite as transparent as what we should be. So we need the public to be involved. We need you guys to call us out. We need you guys to hold us accountable. I will remain as transparent as possible, but I challenge all of you to continue to ask us questions.
Chase Yanzer, Democrat: I will work to maintain a close partnership with local news agencies so that together we can work to keep the public informed on local governmental issues and actions. I believe that one of the best ways to promote accountability is to ensure publicity, because if someone knows they're being watched, they are much more likely to do what they're supposed to do. I worked at the radio station when I was in high school - and I interviewed with Johnny McCrory recently - and I know that I can work effectively with news outlets to help keep the public informed. I know that regular people are busy working, raising families, trying to make ends meet. They vote to elect others to manage government because they are busy living their lives and working their jobs. If elected, I would make it a top priority to keep the public informed, because that sort of transparency would lead to accountability for local officials and better results for the citizens of Shelby County.
Troy Merrick, Republican: I would love to see improvements made to the county website. You cannot find ordinances on there, and if you do, you've got to dig through so much stuff to get to it, it's annoying. I would like to see the commissioner meetings, the times and dates correct, as far as the BZA meetings, the county council meetings; just somebody needs to get on there to get that all straightened up. And I think that would help out tremendously for everybody.
NOTEBOOK:
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Standing at your computer doesn’t make your lifestyle any less sedentary, and doing it for two or more hours per day could even increase risks of swollen or clotted veins in the legs, according to a new study of UK adults. Researchers found that standing more doesn’t do anything to boost heart health or reduce the risk of stroke. Instead, they recommended the age-old tip for feeling good: Move your body throughout the day—go for a walk, opt for the stairs, take quick breaks from your desk, and exercise. (Morning Brew)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
April 26, 1968
Irene (Ross) Simpson, SHS history teacher and dean of girls since 1950, announced she was retiring after 40 years of teaching. Mrs. Simpson had moved to Shelbyville during her high school years and graduated from Indiana University in 1928. She taught in other districts before returning to Shelbyville in 1934. She had been the Sunshine sponsor for 25 years and head of the food committee for the Jr.-Sr. Prom for 25 years. She and her husband, Jesse Simpson, lived on their farm about seven miles from Shelbyville, which had been the family home since her great-grandfather lived there.
Mr. George Boyd, SHS Principal, had been named new director of the 900-member Indiana Association of Junior and Senior High School Principals at their annual meeting at Purdue University.
The Courier noted that Debbie Hammond had held hands with Paul Newman for five minutes near Glendale Shopping Center while Newman was there campaigning for Sen. Eugene McCarthy. “So, if anyone sees the girls at SHS looking a little green, you’ll know why. Lucky Debbie.”
The “Jr. High Says Happiness Is…” column included the following entries: “…seeing films on the digestive system just before lunch; …watching Mrs. Compton take out her contact lens; … flunking one of Mr. Higgins’ easy math tests; … having to draw Jerry West in art'; … hooking up a simple door-bell schematic wrong and popping a circuit-breaker while the instructor is watching; taking a shower in P.E. and finding there are no towels.”
The tennis team won a few early matches. Winners included John Guidi, Mike Thomas, George Young, Bruce Williams, Marion Rutherford and Francis Applegate.
Shelbyville’s baseball team had also won a couple of recent games, with big plays from Bruce Campbell, Harry Larrabee, Rod Dickmann, Terry Moore, Steve Platt, Mike Ross, Mike Wagner and pitchers Greg Alvis and Tim Ash.
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: Editor’s note: Due to a microfilm processing error, the 2014 section for the next couple of weeks will serve to memorialize a local individual who passed away that year.) Robert “Bob” Wade, 87, passed away March 25. He had married Eleanor in 1950, and she survived. Mr. Wade, a World War II veteran who had degrees from Ball State, was a school administrator with Southwestern Consolidated School District for over 40 years, retiring in 1989. She served two terms as Shelby County Commissioner, ending in 2004. He was also an elder at the Mount Auburn Christian Church.
2004: Gov. Joe Kernan had proposed eliminating township assessor positions and consolidating township government. Shelby County Assessor Donna Nolley said that if the positions were eliminated, several full-time people would have to be hired to take on the workload in the county assessor’s office. Mary Jo Phares was the Addison Township Assessor. “I’m not angry with the proposal,” Phares told The Shelbyville News. “But I don’t see how it’s going to work and save the state that much money.”
1994: A public tour was given of the new Shelbyville High Apartments on Second St. Monthly rents would start at $294 for one-bedroom apartments (approximately $634 in today’s money) and $344 for two-bedroom apartments ($742 in today’s money).
1984: A local beer distributorship was burglarized for the second time in a month. Several cases of stolen beer were found at nearby Sunrise Park.
1974: Artist Roland Hobart worked in chilly weather in the Morrison Park band shell to complete a colorful abstract geometric mural, assisted by REC director Dave Garrett. Hobart, who lived at 1663 S. Riley Highway, was known for his silk screen and glass artistry, and bright murals in and on downtown Indianapolis buildings. He donated his time for the band shell efforts, with the parks department furnishing the paint.
Bernard Vaught purchased the lot at the northwest corner of Harrison and Mechanic streets, with plans for future expansion of the adjacent Vaught oil firm. The Harrison-Mechanic location for many years had been the site of a Standard service station.
A Republican dinner at the Women’s Building was all attended, with the food line stretching around the building all the way past the horseshoe pits at the fairgrounds. At one point, GOP Chairman Bueford Robbins requested those who had already eaten take seats away from the tightly packed tables so that others just receiving their food would have a place to eat. State Rep. Stephen Moberly, who introduced guest speaker Richard Lugar, said he agreed with President Ford, who had called Lugar “the best darned mayor in the entire United States.”
1964: Twenty new 1965 Ramblers arrived at Shelby Rambler Fair, S. Harrison at Noble Street.
1954: A 275-car parade put on by local Democrats was described by Republican party officials as nothing but a “loud, blatant bunch of cars…doing nobody any good.” GOP Chairman Carrithers said his party would conduct “more of a gentlemanly tour” of county communities in canvassing efforts.
1944: Efforts were underway to solicit donations for the Recreation Center at Hendricks and Harrison street. The annual drive was headed by Ed Ashley. Early donors of large amounts were Todd-Bennett, Bradley Hall, Major T. Jester, A. Goodman, Bertie Anderson, Nate Kaufman, Fred W. Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Abstine, H.C. Jones, Charles Sullivan, Chester Sandman, Ralph Worland, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Joseph and Russell Gross.
1934: Cecil Tennell of Hendricks Township won the Shelby County corn-husking championship at the Ernest Fisher farm by shucking a net of 26.108 bushels in the allotted 80 minutes. Clyde McNamara was second, at 25.614 bushels, and Raymond McClain was third, with 25.234 bushels.
Leaf burning was restricted to mornings only within city limits, given that most people left their windows open in the mornings.
1924: The home of Dr. V.C. Patton, of Morristown, was destroyed by fire. Neighbors were able to save most of the household items.
1914: In effort to avoid a collision, both Oscar Williams and Mrs. Frank Palmerton drove their vehicles off the road and against fence posts near Middletown, damaging both cars. Mrs. Palmerton, in a Ford, had just picked up her daughter from school in Waldron. The vehicles had met at a sharp turn in Middletown.
OBITUARIES
None today.