Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

As President Harry S. Truman often said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.''

Well, Town Council President Matt Price is getting too close to the frying pans these days.

Price, if he decides to risk his reputation and seek another term, is starting to feel the temps from the folks in the historic district in western Eagle Township and in Union Township about the proposed interchange of I-865 with Cooper Road and its extension all the way north to Michigan Rd. connected via 875 and 900.

According to well-informed sources for Zionsville Confidential, Price is now backpeddling from his earlier stances that he believes the interchange is a good alternative to relieving traffic in Zionsville.

What is not confirmed at this time, is this:

Price is caught between a rock and a hard place because of the the folks in the hinter-land from North to South are getting involved and could back a candidate to oppose Price in the upcoming 2011 election.

So what does Price do about his mummy dummies on the council who have been carrying his water?

His #1 cheerleader (now) is the former Eagle Township Trustee Judith Essex, who became a de facto council member by virtue of consolidated government.

Essex who worked in state government as a secretary, has been putting up signs, sending out and answering emails telling constituents they are out-of bounds to question the interchange because the interchange and extension will be good for Zionsville. According to Essex's statement to the Indy Star, housing values will increase along this major arterial road. Huh?

The question is: what hand Price will play at the table on Sept. 29 at the transportation committee steering committee that saves the North/South artery to assist in future development, but still makes him look like he is concerned about maintain the rural feel of Zionsville?

Although Price is not a member of the committee, he casts a large shadow over its members, who he appointed single-handedly.

Officially, the A-list "celebrity chefs" of the steering committee were selected from planning officials, civic and local business leaders, county and/or state agency officials, and other community members and citizens.

So, who's on this all-powerful steering committee and what are their connections?

"Officially" they are:

• Town council members Tim Haak, Judith Essex and Art Harris
  
• Larry Jones, representing the Zionsville Plan Commission


• Jim Longest, of the Zionsville Community School Board


• John Ottensman, citizen


• Sanjay Patel, citizen


• Chad Pittman, member of the Zionsville Pathways Committee


• Chad Sweeney, Zionsville Economic Development Committee.
  

Pretty generic unless you believe in the 2012 Mayan calendar. So let's peel back the onion skin shall we?

Haak, a branch officer with the Bank of Indianapolis in Carmel, accepted $5,000 from the Citizens for a Better Zionsville Political Action Committee in his 2007 run for the Zionsville Town Council. The CBZ reported donations of $25,500 of which only $3,180 came from actual Zionsville citizens. The vast majority of the contributions to the CBZ were from law firms, corporations and individuals in Marion and Hamilton counties engaged in development or construction. Mr. Haak accepted money from two fellow Transportation Plan Members; $250 from Sanjay Patel, and $950 from Jim Longest.

Essex, the former Eagle Township trustee, became a member of the Town Council in 2010 by virtue of the consolidated government reorganization, which abolished the Eagle and Union township offices. She is now perceived as marionette, doing Price's bidding, replacing Michelle Barrett.

Harris is a hold-over from the previous Crane administration. The only donation to his 2007 campaign came from former County Commissioner, Wendy Brant, in the amount of $300. The remainder of his campaign was self-funded. Harris's other claim to fame is he is President of the Safety Board that he sits on along with fellow Councilors Tim Haak and Valerie Swack.

Jones is a member of the Zionsville Plan Commission, put there in 2010 when Price replaced the entire board under the guise of "reorganization." Jones also made a $200 contribution to Michelle Barrett's campaign through his building company, Teagan Investments.

Longest is president of BLN Beam Longest & Neff), which currently serves as the engineering firm for Zionsville. He contributed $950 to Haak's campaign. His brother, Tom, who is treasurer of BLN, added $500 to Haak's coffers. Jim Longest also sits on the Zionsville Community School board.

Ottensman is the Director of Urban Policy and Planning at the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment at IUPUI, who also just happens to be Haak's neighbor in Colony Woods. His major interest is in urban land use, with particular emphasis on the development of urban simulation models.

Patel is the president of VS Engineering, who also supported Haak's campaign to the tune of $250.

Pittman was the architect of the 2007 campaigns of Matt Price, Haak, Michelle Barrett and Mark Plassman. Pittman, along with his brother Steve, are and have been involved in development projects in Carmel and Hamilton County. Chad Pittman also started the CBZ PAC, that funded the campaigns of Price/Barrett/Haak/Plassman. As a lawyer for Bingham McHale, Price has gone on the record stating he has represented Pittman Partners in the past.

Sweeney is a member of the Zionsville Economic Development Commission, and was replaced by Chad Pittman on the Indiana EDC.

And there you have it. A cozy group with a healthy appetite for development. They're cooking up something good for Zionsville's future. What's the feast? The draft transportation plan at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 29 in Town Hall. You know what they say, build it and they will come.

Look for the attorney in Price to wiggle out of this one with compromises.

Pass the oven-mit, we're in for a stemwinder.