Greene County Daily World

Linton: A Shining Beacon of Prosperity

Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 11:51 AM
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The Linton City Council announced last night at its regular monthly meeting that the City of Linton and its people are so wealthy that we do not need charity from the State in the form of measly $500,000 grants. In fact, our citizenry is so wealthy that we, as part of the abundant class of Hoosiers that we are, can afford to fork over the money to pay taxes to the State of Indiana, so other communities can do what they can with the money the State doles out in grants. We need nothing in return.

The Governor can keep his INDOT grant money, too, that we may have become eligible for with the youth center project. We simply do not need the mere millions of dollars in grants that are available to create a bike and walking pathway around this great city, as our next step in the overall plan called for. When your citizenry naturally looks like bodybuilders, well, you just don't need exercise.

Actually, speaking of plans, the Comprehensive Plan that many in our community spent countless volunteer hours on can be thrown out, too, because our citizens really have too much time on their hands. Besides, what do all of the city planners, engineers, and attorneys that put it together know? (Apart from being wealthy, you see, we're just a little smarter here than those Evansville professionals too.) After all, who needs a plan when we're obviously doing everything right?

And why should youth groups, boys' baseball leagues, girls' softball, soccer, churches all come together in our community and work together to form a youth complex for that matter? It's all nonsense to try to save money when we all have so much money and so much for our youth to do already. The youth complain all of the time that their schedules are too full and we should give them a break now and then. Let some other community host those little league tournaments and "mini world series" events in the future that some envisioned last night. Who needs vision with all of this prosperity?

Federal monies that were recently requested by the Mayor are not needed either. The Mayor goes off on these tangents asking for money back from all the taxes we pay out, and it's really silly. He goes to all of these conferences and workshops, too, but we're just a little smarter class of people here, so what's the use? We should be hosting the conference to show the world our community's wealth, muscle, and brains. After all, we're obviously doing everything right.

Some communities actually call themselves "progressive" by having the goal of three Community Block Grants open at once all of the time. To this, we say "Bah Humbug!" If they had the wealth we have, they wouldn't bother.

Perhaps, we can break them off some crumbs, so they won't need to bother either. Maybe some of our carpenters, bricklayers, and trades people can even fit in a day to donate to these communities from their busy schedules, but it will be tough since they have so much work here locally to do. They don't need yet another project to bid on anyway.

In Linton, we can all afford to pay in taxes to the federal and state governments, so that other communities may apply and get up to Linton's standards of excellence. Perhaps, we could even raise taxes, so that we can give more to our neighbors because, you know, just the other day yet another elderly social security recipient asked the City to bring down the chipper from the city barn to shred up some of the piles of money in her home that get in her way to the bathroom.

You see, while some communities plant Bradford Pear trees, all of the trees and gardens in Linton produce a different type of green: money. Yes, we have money trees all along the sidewalks. Children amuse themselves by making paper airplanes out of them, while dogs run and play in the piles that the adults have raked the pesky little things into to burn.

If you really aren't familiar with this new City of Babylon with its lush gardens and ridiculous wealth, known as Linton, the City Council invites you to their gold-leafed chambers for their next monthly meeting on Monday, April 14th at 7PM.

They just caution you that you should step over the gold bullion piled close to the doors. The signs tell people not to drop off their excess gold, but they do anyway. The City is looking at a new machine to vaporize that nuisance, though, and we'll soon have that problem solved. After all, our "City of Progress" signs as you drive in to town say it all… because when we're obviously doing everything right, the success will show.

Comments
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What's so funny america?

-- Posted by The Raven on Thu, Aug 7, 2008, at 6:33 PM

OMG....I went to wiki. ROFL....o wait I live here: that isn't funny.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linton%2C_I...

-- Posted by america on Wed, Mar 19, 2008, at 2:04 PM

Thanks for all of your comments. I hope that now that I have gotten all of the sarcasm out of my system that we can all start working together to get something rolling... for the good of everyone in the community... whether they realize it now or not.

-- Posted by chriswathen on Sat, Mar 15, 2008, at 12:00 PM

I looked them up in the phone book. Here are the phone numbers.

Linda Bedwell 847-9876

Charlie Cox 847-2387

Jerry Ellett 847-9088

Nigel Lehman 847-4517

Tony Richards 847-7768

-- Posted by The Raven on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 11:32 AM

You can call Linton City Hall (847-7754) to get the phone numbers for your Councilmen/woman.

-- Posted by Greenee on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 10:39 AM

NEWSFLASH:

I called SIDC today. The applications for this round are due tomorrow morning. It is too late for the council to draft a Resolution before March 15.

The GREAT NEWS is that Linton can still apply in the very next round, with Notice of applications due beginning of July. The final applications due in September.

This is what must happen before then:

(1) a public hearing must be had announcing the project, the scope, etc. Because the environmental analysis has already been done for the Conservation Club location and all of the other preparatory work is completed, the only location under consideration for the $500,000 grant would be the CC.

(2) A second public hearing must be had and then a vote from the City Council to create a Resolution. That Resolution must state: We the Common Council for the City of Linton hereby Resolve to that the match money will apply to the grant application and 50,000 for in-kind work will also apply to the $500,000 grant for improvements to the buildings, new restrooms, sewer and water lines to be run to the Conserv Club, etc. to make a Youth Recreation Complex.

This all must be accomplished very soon because the time constraints do not allow for hesitation. The Mayor, at the direction of the Council, will need to contact Greg Jones (SIDC) to let him know about the city's wishes. From there, the hearings will be scheduled to coincide with city Council meetings on the second Monday of the months upcoming. It will have to be published in the newspaper, like the other hearings were.

IF the grant is approved, the first notice will be sent out in November 2008. The grant will be paid out beginning early spring 2009. Once ground is broken on this project, the next project grant can be submitted.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COUNCILMAN/WOMAN and let them know how you want them to vote.

-- Posted by Greenee on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 10:37 AM

I really don't know the whole process,but I don't believe that another public meeting is needed.I would just bring it up at the next meeting in April.We need to let our council members know how we feel.Also, it seemed funny to me how the three council members who were against it have no children.

-- Posted by Temp77 on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:43 AM

temp77 -- any idea what the process is? Does the City Council have to call a special meeting to hold another public hearing? Or can they just vote now since there was no vote?

I'm excited that there is still a chance, but I cannot find the procedures in my local government handbook for this situation. Someone please advise.

The issue then becomes: will the council reconsider and vote? Call your councilmen/woman and voice your opinion. Only then will this have a chance.

-- Posted by Greenee on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:13 AM

Hopefully, It's not too late. I am hearing the deadline can be extended until May. As long as none of the wording or plans are changed.

-- Posted by Temp77 on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 8:07 PM

To address the whether it is dead issue: my understanding is that the grant application deadline was March 15. There has to be a public hearing (which was already held at Monday's council meeting) and Greg Jones announced that this was the last chance to submit this.

I wonder if anything else can be done. I suppose a call to SIDC would answer those questions. I doubt we can redo everything before March 15, but perhaps we can ask for reconsideration from the Council at a special meeting or session. There are state-mandated deadlines for these things. They are not flexible deadlines normally.

Let's try though!!!

-- Posted by Greenee on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 7:48 PM

Wow. All that keeps coming to my mind is; 'evolve or die' in terms of this community. I read a town once described as 'in it's death seizures' and I wonder if our 'leaders' really can't see that as a possibility here. I see a handful of people trying to keep the 'CPR' going to no avail.

It would be a wake up call for all our local 'leaders' if the public would take this opportunity to demand accountability, starting now, and on all things.

The scary thing is, in reality, it's probably going to take a big local decline for those who think they are 'living in paradise' to see how it is affecting them directly.

-- Posted by STILLHOPEFUL on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 6:54 PM

The City Council never made a decision.They didn't vote either way, so why does everyone think this is a dead issue. I'm sure the Council members are going to get a lot of pressure to pass and sign this Grant.

-- Posted by Temp77 on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 3:07 PM

Thank You Chris! Very well said!

-- Posted by oneparentofyouthtoday on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 11:29 AM

Question. Is the deal dead or is there still a chance to revive it with another vote if the council come to their senses?

-- Posted by deano on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 11:12 AM

so sad that $50,000 can stop something that would enhance not only our community but the lives and well being of our youth. Needed for fire hydrants???????

-- Posted by incognito on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 9:44 AM

Awesome blog! It is sad, but true. Too many people in Linton lack vision. It is some intrusion on their Linton ways. Here are two Linton guys(Mayor Jones and Greg Jones), who put together an amazing opportunity. Sure we would have had to invest into it, but it would/could have been paid back ten fold. Most people don't understand(or lack the vision to understand) that this project would have created jobs(maybe not long term, but jobs) and made this community eligible for a series of grants that aren't currently available to Linton. Our representative in Congress even made a play to help our community with this major project.

Shame on the council. A few of them talk about helping youth, but it seems to be just lip service. They don't have kids growing up in this community, so they don't care. They care about their own pocketbooks and priorities, while sticking their nose up to youth, young families, and progress in our community.

How long can Linton get by stuck in the mud...refusing to move forward.

-- Posted by GCC on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 8:27 AM

Great blog, Chris.

Keep 'em coming...

-- Posted by timberly on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 6:57 PM

We should have elected Ritchie!!!

-- Posted by america on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 6:28 PM

THANK YOU Chris for the blog in support of reason!

-- Posted by america on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 6:25 PM

berane, while your point is well taken, we all thought it was a shoo-in too and could not imagine the council not even taking a vote on it. How would any of us (who supported the project) even think to invite people to support something that appeared to be a good idea and could not imagine the outcome.

People, get involved. Why not ask your councilman/woman each and every month how they will vote on a given issue? Why not attend a meeting and find out? Why not just show up and offer your support? The Mayor and Greg Jones spent hundreds of hours (for free) working on this project and the other $3.5 million dollar grant, and the earmarks from the US Congress that we will not be getting either. As far as I'm concerned, they did their jobs and then some. The rest is up to the citizens to CARE ENOUGH to get involved and VOICE their opinions to the City Council.

-- Posted by Greenee on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 4:26 PM

Be fair, Chris. Some of us are involved citizens who do read the paper and stay informed, and STILL did not know that this was a divided issue for the city council. Perhaps the problem isn't that people don't care, it's that those who are for the project did not get out and canvass the business district and local residents for support. I thought this was a shoo-in because MAYOR JONES DID NOT MAKE AN EFFORT TO TELL ME MY SUPPORT WAS NEEDED. Perhaps Mayor Jones should examine the hubris in that? Just my $0.02.

-- Posted by berane on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 3:37 PM

I couldn't have said it better myself!

-- Posted by lhs47441 on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 3:30 PM

Enjoyed the blog, Chris.

-- Posted by ISUgrad06 on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 2:36 PM

EggMan:

Just to be safe, you should link to the current version (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linton%2C_Indiana&oldid=191967746) so that someone else doesn't come along and change it on you for the worse.

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 1:04 PM

I found the Wikipedia entry on Linton to be rather interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linton%2C_I...

-- Posted by EggMan on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 1:01 PM

Sounds like sour grapes.

-- Posted by junkmail on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 12:55 PM

I'm so happy that people are being mature about the council's decision.

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 12:53 PM