QUOTE
Council votes down request for street department helper
By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — An ordinance that would have added an additional helper position within the Michigan City Street Department was turned down by the City Council Tuesday night by an 8-1 vote.
Introduced by Third Ward Councilman Ron Meer, the ordinance would have moved a little more than $20,000 from the unappropriated balance to reinstate a position that had previously been eliminated.
Meer was the only council member to vote in favor of the measure.
At Large Councilman Bob McKee said there was “no way” he could vote in favor.
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“Until I don’t see any city vehicles taken out of town or employees sleeping in a work truck, we shouldn’t be approving this,” he said during a two-minute description of why he would vote “nay” on the measure. “The taxpayer money is being wasted, and we need that to end.”
Second Ward Councilman Marc Espar said he would recommend the administration “reduce burdens on residents” and that he, too, would vote against the ordinance on its third reading.
In another matter, City Controller John Schaefer notified the council that his plan for the 2012 city budget will be presented at an Aug. 30 workshop and will be ready for a public hearing at the Oct. 4 council meeting, with the expected approval date to come at the Oct. 18 meeting.
Schaefer said the La Porte County Council must approve the budget before the city. The county expects to vote Oct. 11.
“The deadline to approve the budget is Nov. 1 this year, which gives us more time than previous years when the date was in September,” Schaefer said.
By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — An ordinance that would have added an additional helper position within the Michigan City Street Department was turned down by the City Council Tuesday night by an 8-1 vote.
Introduced by Third Ward Councilman Ron Meer, the ordinance would have moved a little more than $20,000 from the unappropriated balance to reinstate a position that had previously been eliminated.
Meer was the only council member to vote in favor of the measure.
At Large Councilman Bob McKee said there was “no way” he could vote in favor.
*
“Until I don’t see any city vehicles taken out of town or employees sleeping in a work truck, we shouldn’t be approving this,” he said during a two-minute description of why he would vote “nay” on the measure. “The taxpayer money is being wasted, and we need that to end.”
Second Ward Councilman Marc Espar said he would recommend the administration “reduce burdens on residents” and that he, too, would vote against the ordinance on its third reading.
In another matter, City Controller John Schaefer notified the council that his plan for the 2012 city budget will be presented at an Aug. 30 workshop and will be ready for a public hearing at the Oct. 4 council meeting, with the expected approval date to come at the Oct. 18 meeting.
Schaefer said the La Porte County Council must approve the budget before the city. The county expects to vote Oct. 11.
“The deadline to approve the budget is Nov. 1 this year, which gives us more time than previous years when the date was in September,” Schaefer said.