A Bridge Too Far

Confidants to Zionsville Confidential have reported that Bridge 220 - Ford Road over Eagle Creek - has taken another turn.

Apparently, now the Zionsville Town Council and a County Councilor have a concern that the bridge won't hold the amount of traffic they have planned. The bridge served busy state highway 44 over a river in Shelby County, so one wonders - just what does the developer backed council have planned for traffic?

It isn't for future business traffic, since the Economic Development planning area is nowhere near this bridge.

A week ago, the Boone County Council delivered what could amount to a death blow to the bridge when it voted unanimously to hold back funding until all sides reach a consensus on how to proceed, which could come to the boiling point at the council's June meeting.

''All sides'' involve the county council, the Boone County Commissioners and the Zionsville Town Council.

The Gordian knot to untangle is because the law gives the county commissioners authority to build, replace, and maintain bridges, but the purse strings to fund bridges is the pervue of the county council, and that's where Bridge 220 is in limbo.

The commissioners have voted to proceed with the bridge, but the county council is on the fence. Zionsville, which has no authority over the bridge, wants a say because the bridge is on a thoroughfare in its transportation planning area.

One wonders why the commissioners don't bite the bullet and ask a judge to mandate the county council to cough up the funds, because as it stands, the current bridge is a public safety disaster waiting to happen.

Dating to 1994, the county has examined replacing the existing concrete two-lane span. In April 2004, the Greater Historic Traders Point organization proposed replacing the bridge with a 1940s-era steel truss structure from Shelby County on Indiana 44.

The state transportation department sold the bridge, which was dismantled, rehabed, painted, and awaited the reassembly over Eagle Creek.

At that time, it appeared all sides were on the same page about relocating the structure in Boone County.

But, with elections came a change of elected officials, some with strong opinions about the bridge.

And, one of those officials who has been leading the charge against relocating the steel span is Gene Thompson, of Zionsville, who is a member of the Boone County Council.


Thompson has succeeded in gaining traction for his opposition with several members of the new Zionsville Town Council, headed by Tim Haak. Just why Thompson has taken a Greek stand in all this has raised eyebrows: Is Thompson building a base from which to further himself politically? Whose dog does he have in this fight?

The irony in all this is the amount of money it will cost taxpayers.

Rejecting the steel truss structure, engineering and building a new concrete bridge, reconfiguring the curve at Ford Road at 96th Street will cost county taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars more that using the existing, rehabiliated steel bridge.

Oh well, it's only money.

A Pittman Coup of the GOP

As forecast by Zionsville Confidential, sources close to Chad Pittman have revealed that the developer is orchestrating a coup of the Boone County Republican organization, and announcing his intentions to insiders.

And, Pittman did it from the ground up.

In the May 8 primary, Pittman's camp put up candidates for Republican precinct committee spots in all 20 of the Zionsville precincts and won 18 positions, defeating many longtime committee persons, such as Jim Holden.

That means of the 53 precincts in Boone County, Pittman now has allegiances with about one-third of the county GOP organization.

This is significant for all you non-politicos because the precinct committee persons elect the county chairperson, who currently is Debbie Ottinger, of Lebanon.

And, how willing will Lebanon be about having another Zionsville person head the party, after Tom Easterday, and Paul Green?

So, how did the boy wonder deliver the coup d'etat?

Zionsville Confidential was told of instances where certain Town Council members campaigned in their respective districts with Pittman's candidates for the precinct positions. Some of his minions even had yard signs asking voters to support their candidacy.

The groundwork for the takeover began several years ago with Michelle Barrett, former Zionsville Town Council member, Pittman, Ottinger, and Steve Jacob, of Zionsville. Jacob is currently president of the Boone County Council and county GOP vice-chair person.

So, what are the rewards of holding sway over county Repubs?

Ask Doug Rapp and Kate Swanson, two of Pittman's trusted lieutenants.

This week, both completed a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Indiana Leadership Forum. The tariff to attend was $1,500. As a coincidence, a member of the leadership forum board is Jeff Papa, a Zionsville Town Council member.

In case you missed it, Swanson was the treasurer of the Citizens For A Better Zionsville political action committee, spawned by Pittman for an overthrow of the Zionsville Town Council in 2008. Rapp, also a Zionsville resident, was in Pittman's platoon during tours in the mid-East.

The rewards for Pittman is that as a result of the 2011 Town Council election, he now can ask for favors from a majority of the council. And, ''his'' council has the appointments to the Zionsville Plan Commission, which decides land use issues. And for a developer, that's a big tool in the tool box.

So, how will all this play in Peoria?

Stay tuned to Zionsville Confidential.

There's a New Boss in The Weeds

There's a new political boss looming in Zionsville, who wants his way without interference from the nattering naybobs of negativism.

For the past three years, certain elements have been at work behind the scenes, rounding up the players to control, and keep a tight leash on the Town Council.

The process involves control of the Republican precinct committee persons, which despite all the hoopla of the high profile campaigns in the May 8 primary, has a very significant impact for Zionsville and Eagle Township.

Why worry, or make a big deal of this?

When a vacancy occurs, say on the Town Council, or for a Mayor, it falls to the precinct committee folks to pick the successor. So, if certain elements didn't want any outsider to gain a foothold on a council seat, those powers would seek control of the precinct committee persons confident they would follow orders as who to elect on the Town Council.

As an example, when David Carr stepped down from the council three years ago, there were a few contenders for the opening, which went to Valerie Swack, who was not the anointed one, but a broad-minded thinker who subsequently became a fly in the ointment of Matt Price's administration.

And, as a lesson to anyone who dares fly in the face of the powers-that-be, here's what happened to Swack's most ardent supporter, Tim Bennett, who was the committeeman from precinct 9 in Zionsville. In the precinct caucus, which is the political name of the gathering of committee persons, Bennett passionately touted Swack's attributes as to why she should serve on the council, and Bennett was convincing, and the caucus elected Swack.

Guess what? Bennett is now on the outside looking in. He was dumped as the precinct committee person and replaced by Kevin Swan, a buddy of Chad Pittman and his henchman Doug Rapp.

Which gets us back to what's been going on for the past three years.

Pittman; then council person Michelle Barrett; and Steve Jacob, the Boone County Council president, began strategizing meetings to find people of like minds to run for precinct committee positions from Zionsville and Eagle Township.

When voters take a gander at the ballot in Tuesday's May 8 election, they will see there are 12 contests for precinct positions in Eagle Township, which encompasses Zionsville. And, in each of those 12 races there is a Pittman candidate. And Pittman himself is also running from the Eagle 4 precinct against his neighbor Bill Ferree.

If any of this causes anyone any angst, here are the candidates for precinct committee person that Zionsville Confidential believes voters should seriously consider voting for, and to the best of my knowledge are not beholden to Boss Pittman:

Eagle 2 - Tom Santelli

Eagle 3 - Guinn Doyle

Eagle 4 - Bill Ferree

Eagle 8 - Valerie Swack

Eagle 10 - Kyle McMillan

Eagle 11 - Ralph Stacy

Eagle 14 - Jim Holden

Eagle 15 - Amy Stehr

Eagle 16 - John Notarianni

Eagle 18 - Ron Beck

Eagle 19 - Pat Taylor

Eagle 20 - Steve Guillian

Vote your conscious.

A Rather Personal Poll

The race for Indiana House District 24 race between Steve Braun and Mindi McMillan has become personal.

Zionsville area residents have been receiving telephone calls, which begin with the caller announcing the poll is about the district race between the McMillan and Braun.

Fair enough, but that's where the civility ends.

The person called is then asked their religion, age, whether they are Evangelical or Born Again, how many times they attend church in a year, their household income, and if they were going to vote today, which candidate would they support.

When one person called inquired who was sponsoring the poll, the caller hung-up.

Most callers reached by Zionsville Confidential say they were so curious about the questions, they continued to listen rather than end the call.

Who, or which campaign is behind the poll has left callers wondering which camp - Braun or McMillan - is behind the calls.

Political strategists say it could be either one making veiled suggestions that their opponent is in back of the personal questions to damage the other candidate.

McMillan, who attends Zionsville Presbyterian Church, disavows any knowledge or participation in the poll. Efforts to reach the Braun campaign for a comment was unsuccessful.

And, the Braun forces, spearheaded by Chad ''The Man'' Pittman, have scheduled a ''special event'' hosted by Karen and Tom Wheeler at their manse on Turkey Foot Road Saturday, May 5.

The whingding is a fundraiser for the Mike Pence gubernatorial campaign, so bring the checkbooks.

Special guests include state biggies - Tony Bennett, state ditrector of education; Connie Lawson, Secretary of State, and Eric Holcomb, state GOP chairman.

And, if that's not enough, to swell the crowd almost everyone who is anyone is invited including all of the elected Republican officials from Zionsville, Lebanon and Boone County.

Wonder if that invite includes Zionsville Confidential?

Slightly Out of Focus

How independent is independent?

VS Engineering, Inc., of Indianapolis, has been retained by the town ''as an independent engineering firm to evaulate the proposed plans for adherence to normal design standards for road and bridge projects.''

Specifically, the firm was hired to discuss current plans to replace Boone County bridge 220 - the Ford Road bridge over Eagle Creek.

The plans to replace the bridge with an historic steel truss span has been ongoing for longer than the gestation period of an elephant.

In a memorandum to the Boone County Commissioners from Tim Haak, Zionsville Town Council president, dated April 12, in reference to the named bridge, it states:

''The Zionsville Town Council has reviewed the proposed design and has arrived at the following conclusion.

The Town Council objects to the project as a whole as currently presented. We are not comfortable with proposed treatment of several key design issues within minimum or less than minimum standards.''

The memo cites four ''main concerns.''

A committee composed of County Commissioner Mark Applegate, Robert Clutter, county attorney; Haak and Elizabeth Hopper, town councilors and VS Engineering. met March 22 to discuss plans to replace the bridge. There is no reference in Haak's memo who represented the engineering firm.

But Zionsville Confidential knows VS Engineering.

The president of VS Engineering is Sanjay Patel, who was a member of the group which assisted in developing the Zionsville Master Transportation Plan last year.

Mr. Patel, a resident of Zionsville, is also a member of the Zionsville Storm Water Board, and his firm has a contract for the redesign of First Street in Zionsville.

A real cozy relationship.

What also raised eyebrows is the question of when the Zionsville Town Council took this action, as stated in Haak's April 12 memo:

''The Zionsville Town Council has reviewed the proposed design and has arrived at the following conclusions.''

That sounds as though the council had a meeting and formulated a position, but there are questions about when a meeting was held, and was it public?

The folks who have been instrumental in bringing the historic span to Eagle Creek might do well to ask to see the minutes of the meeting when the Zionsville council made the decision on the bridge.

Hey Big Spender

Candidate Steve Braun, running for Republican state representative from the newly created 24th district, which includes Zionsville, says in his mailings he was an all-state wide receiver in high school.

Take a look at his campaign report and from the list of his contributions and there's no doubt he's still an all-state receiver - of cash - but not all his fat cats are from Indiana.

href="http://campaignfinance.in.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/FilingDetail.aspx?FilingID=44976">Just click here on the link below and take a gander at his list of big daddys and who they represent.

And, if you've been paying attention to the expensive mailers his campaign has been sending, there is a glaring omission - none mention what district he proposes to represent, and in the third and most recent mailing it even fails to mention he's a Republican.

http://campaignfinance.in.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/FilingDetail.aspx?FilingID=44976

Braun and his brain trust are betting that claiming to be a ''lifelong conservative'' will register with Democrats who will ask for a Republican ballot in the May 8 primary.

But, don't be fooled.

Though Braun's family has spent the last 10 or so years as Zionsville residents, he spent his time commuting to and from Chicago to work. Although he's running on the Republican ballot, he cast his last vote in a Boone County primary election as a Democrat.

But, Braun knew how to fix that - get a letter from the Boone County GOP chair who would attest that he was a Republican, and that's what good old Debbie Ottinger did.
Why? Ottinger knows how her political bread is buttered.

And, it's all legal.

But, the $64,000 question was when did Braun ask for Ottinger's blessings to run as a Republican - before he filed for office, or after he filed?

If he asked for her approval after he filed, then that's an issue for Boone County Election Board, but don't hold your breath for the GOP controlled courthouse mummy dummies to question Braun's legitimacy. There's too much cash at stake.

Consider this:

To make sure there were no speed bumps for his candidacy, he coughed up $15,000 of his own moola to the Indiana State Republican House of Representatives committee, basically gaining the party's favor to get him positioned against Mindy McMillan in the May primary.

And, guess who's one of Braun's fat cats? None other than master wheeler dealer Chad Pittman.

How can he lose?

Folks, it stinks.

Stay tuned.

Newspaper or Toilet Paper - The Times-Sentinel

This week readers of the Zionsville Times-Sentinel were subjected to a variety of slanted, misleading and biased stories, obviously edited by an employee there who has a vested interest in how these stories were presented to unsuspecting subscribers.

The headline story by Matt Weeney swallowed lock, stock and bagels the pap that the Zionsville Community School svengali Scott Robison has been dumping on taxpayers for years. ''Little Johnnie and Susie are going to lose their teachers if taxpayers don't give us more money.''

The second big story Weeney dribbled out was that the Zionsville Town Council endorsed the controversial school referendum. Is it any wonder the council puppets rolled over? Who dumped gadzillons of cash into their campaigns? None other than Jim Longest, a member of the Zionsville school board.

And just who does Longest represent? The taxpayers of Zionsville who cough-up almost 70% of their taxes to fund Robison's fiefdom, or Longest's company, Beam Longest & Neff, which has the town's contract for engineering services?

But, the most outlandish piece of ''reporting'' was Weeney's other front page story: REI Apartments aid Town, ZCS budgets.'' What is in the water Weeney has been drinking?

As one source wrote Zionsville Confidential:

''I think I am in a bad Alice in Wonderland dream where people can say or do anything they want and it is deemed to be true and people take any story and twist the reality out to some mutant-alter-nightmare. Hard to stomach the actual articles that don't tell the whole truth - hard to believe that the people who write them believe what they are saying, let alone the readers."

''How can anyone believe that an apartment complex, no matter the circumstances and numbers presented can be good for a school system?'' Hey, more students, more state aid, bigger schools, bigger budgets that Robison can manipulate.

Don't forget that Weeney's boss is Andrea Cline, whose spouse is an officer in MIBOR - the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors as public affairs director and also treasurer of MIBOR's political action committee.

And, in case you missed it, MIBOR made significant contributions to members of the current town council in the last election. And, MIBOR never met an apartment they didn't love, and which financing institutions love to bankroll.

It's time that Zionsville residents, tired of being subjected to one-sided and slanted writing by the Times-Sentinel send a letter of concerns to the paper's parent corporation, Community Newspapers Inc. Phone: 334-293-5800 Or online inquirey form.

Thank goodness there is a new news outlet in town. For now, the Times-Sentinel is only giving Charmin a run for its money.