Developer's Last Stand AKA Caucus Packing

A quick history lesson for Developer's Last Stand: in Zionsville’s 2007 election, a small army backed by development interests set their sites on Zionsville. Their battle plan? Run a slate of candidates friendly to their interests. Led by developer turned Economic Development Director, Chad Pittman, the battle plan paid off, netting control with 3 out of 5 council seats. However, resignations weren’t in the contingency plan.

Developer’s Last Stand will be fought in the Republican caucus which will be called into session by the end of the year. The caucus is being convened by County Republican boss Debbie Ottinger to replace Judith Essex, who bailed out of her Zionsville Town Council position representing Eagle Township effective December 6.

She became the third councilor to jump ship from the Price administration. To digress - Essex has told two different versions for her departure: 1. She is moving, or 2. She isn't going to seek election so she graciously stepped aside to allow her successor time to get acquainted with town government, which amounts to her replacement taking orders from Price/Pittman (see previous posts). So, take your pick.

Sources say the moving story may be closer to the truth as she has been unable to rent her property in Lebanon. Each time there is a resignation, it is up to the precinct committee persons to choose a successor by a secret vote. Since they can fill vacant council seats, precinct committee persons hold a lot of power. Essex is the third casualty of the Price regime. The first was David Carr. Carr resigned in January of '08, and then a cabal supporting Valerie Swack went to work and Swack prevailed in the caucus. The second caucus was held when Michelle Barrett stepped down this spring largely because of published accounts of her inappropriate relationship with Council President Matt Price. Steve Mundy was the caucus choice, running unopposed.

Caucus choices Swack and Mundy have not always toed the Price line, which at times has led to fractures on the council and a loss of control that the 2007 victory was supposed to have ensured. This has also led to setbacks for Price’s interests. And if Essex's seat goes to an independent thinker, the Price agenda may be in big trouble.

But, this caucus, Price/Pittman & Co. aren’t taking any chances on the caucus’ choice. This go-round, a contingency plan exists: seat like-minded precinct committee persons. Since last year there has been an effort behind this contingency plan.

In the fall of 2009, Michelle Barrett (who Pittman anointed and groomed for the Town Council) began a series of meetings with Chad Pittman, and Steve Jacob, President of the Boone County Council discussing slating precinct committee persons. Steve Jacob's son, Jeff, is with the firm Andreoli & Jacob, a local law firm known for development.

Through a loyal reader, Zionsville Confidential has learned that in October 2009, Jacob sent an email to Barrett, with copies to Pittman and Ottinger.

The email stated, "As I think we discussed, the changes to the precinct chairs and vice chairs we have been working on need that [sic] to be turned into the state party by the end of the year. I know you have been quite busy (at least from the paper it might seem so) and may not have time to review more names with Chad Pittman, but if you would shoot me an email with the names you are recommending, it will be a start. If we need to change next year some time we can do so. I still have the first group of recommended names and can use those, but that was a fairly soft list and Steve and you were going to sit down and come up with a final list.'' Signed Steve Jacob.

So, how will the caucus go? It depends on if the contingency plan was put in place.

Here's to You Dr.Robison

After a stinging defeat of his taxpayer enema, Herr Dr. Robison is taking out his wrath on Zionsville, where he doesn't live.

Like a little child who has been scolded by his parents, Herr Dr. is striking back even before the vote count was declared official.

It's time for him to move on down the road.

Tuesday, the voters gave Herr Dr. a 61-39 percent defeat of his $40 million+, 7-year tax on Zionsville property owners, and Herr Dr. didn't waste any time before he lashed out at his opponents in comments to the media.

As quoted in the Zionsville Star, he said, "Without this referendum revenue, this growing enrollment school district cannot sustain the necessary staffing to serve the students' needs at levels the community has come to expect.'' His rants continued via a post-election early morning press release to the entire school population echoing the same sentiment. Later on November 3, Herr Dr. did a media tour, again flogging the outcome in Zionsville.

Tell me Herr Dr. where are the students in that Taj Mahal in your western reaches that has been sitting empty for two years, being held as your mummy dummy Mike Schafer described it as "being held in strategic reserve?'' And, how about the empty space in Pleasant View Elementary School that has been rented to St. Vincent Hospital?

As a result of being whupped by the voters, Herr Dr. will likely talk about teacher cutbacks at the scheduled a board meeting Monday night, Nov. 8.

Instead of threatening teachers, the School Board should ask Herr Dr. to resign and suggest he move on to other fertile grounds where he can browbeat patrons into new football stadiums with elevators to the press box. We must curry the media.

What Herr Dr. has created in Zionsville is an atmosphere that has neighbors against neighbors, friends against friends. Zionsville Main Street is not immune from the fallout.

Some businesses have already experienced patrons threatening to boycott certain stores because of the proprietors' stand on the referendum, which would have cost Main Street property owners thousands of dollars over the next seven years, if they survived that long.

So, Herr Dr. I can't say its' been nice after looking at my tax bill due next week, but at least 61 percent of the Zionsville school patrons saw through your shell game and saved many of us from dire financial straights. The people of Zionsville have spoken, this is not the time for new taxes. Now stop complaining and act like the head of a multi-million dollar organization.

So in the words of Roy Orbison, "Move on down the line.'' Zionsville needs a good steward for our children's future.

A Car-buncle: To Zionsville with Love

Ladies and Gents, obviously, times are tough.

National tax cuts are set to expire next year, pay checks are going down, ZCS teachers conceded to a pay freeze. And the Zionsville School Corporation is in such dire straights, they are asking for more money to apparently just maintain the status quo. If ZCS has anything to say about it, our proverbial Rome is burning.

According to a highly placed insider at the school corporation, the ZCS superintendent has a healthy little car allowance. How healthy you ask?

Dr. Robison's employment contract contains an amendment that includes a car allowance of two $10,500 payments paid to him on the first of March and September of each contract year. So, doing the math, that is a $21,000 per year car allowance.

Don't take Zionsville Confidential's word for it, call his office and ask for his employment contract. It's public record, and you dear taxpayer are the public.

Well, pimp my Chevy. Maybe times aren't so tough for ZCS.

In addition to his stated $133,076.92 base salary, Dr. Robison's contract is also flush with other juicy perks. Aside from the run of the mill benefits of 20 vacation days that can be used "upon approval by the superintendent" (himself), 4 personal days, and 15 days of sick leave, his contract has several matching retirement benefits.

There is a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity, a 401(a) tax-sheltered annuity that are both matched with a percentage of Robison's gross salary. There is also another employer provided annuity that is paid for at the cost of $15,384.

Then, there are contributions to the Teacher's Retirement Fund that ZCS pays both the employee (Robison) and employer (ZCS) contributions. Not included in his "salary" is $15,000 that ZCS agrees to include in the budget for "participation in appropriate meetings and activities".

Dr. Robison is highly qualified, and as such should rightly be compensated. However, if Rome is burning, Caesar should ditch the chariot allowance.

Here Comes de Judge

With Boone Circuit Court Judge Steve David's anointment by Governor Mitch Daniels to the state supreme court, odds makers are picking their mounts on which one will cross the wire first to succeed the former Mayflower Transit's lawyer.

Names of four county barristers are circulating, and the winner that shakes out of the political trees needs to save the governor from any embarrassing fallout.

The four are: Todd Meyer, county prosecuting attorney; Jeff Jacob, a Zionsville attorney with long-standing family political ties; Pam Buchanan, a Zionsville attorney whose late husband John Buchanan was the county prosecutor, and Jeff Edens, who served as circuit court judge pro tem while David was serving with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate branch at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for over a year.

Meyer, who was elected county prosecutor following the untimely death of Buchanan, has no time on the other side of the rail, and not always been the easiest for some local agencies to work with, demanding exhaustive investigations to cover any and all bases. He is currently in his second term.

Jacob, another novice when it comes to judicial robes, is a member of the Andreoli & Jacob law firm in Zionsville. His partner, Mike Andreoli for years was the "man to see'' when it came to sticky legal issues, especially in land development. Jacob is the grandson of the late Paul Green, who was the county Republican chairman for eons. His grandmother, the late Betty Green, was the daughter of Nobe Berry who had been the Boone County Republican party chairman for many years. Other political clout for Jacob is his father, Steve Jacob, who is president of the Boone County Council.

Buchanan, now in private practice, was appointed prosecutor when her husband stepped down from that position because of his illness. If the governor decides on Buchanan, it would help deflect some of the flack he caught from women's organizations when he picked David instead of the chance at breaking the mold on the all-male bench.

Edens, who presently serves as chief deputy prosecutor to Meyer, had an epiphany before he was named to fill-in for Judge David. Edens, a longtime Democrat, had to switch parties to satisfy the governor he had the talent for the circuit court post. The roots of Edens family political tree go back to 1882 when his great-grandfather was county sheriff, and his grandmother was born in the old county jail.

Early odds have Edens an even choice because if he was chosen once, why wouldn't he have the edge; Meyer is 7-3; Jacobs 6-1, and the long shot, Buchanan at 50-1.

Stay tuned for the call to the post.

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.

ZCS Stock Tip for Granny - Chow Down

Pssst...hey buddy, I gotta stock tip for ya.

Want to know how the proposed Zionsville referendum will affect the stock market if it passes?

Bow wow. My money is on dog food. Huh? Dog what?

Over the past few weeks, referendum cheerleaders have been whooping it up - ZCS-Yes shirts popping up all over town, ZCS-Yes logos on school newsletters/website, school board-member sponsored email chains flying about why the town needs it, and little Johnny is telling Mommy why he'll be devastated when Mrs. Jones his favorite teacher has to leave. It's exhausting.

And, more serial disingenuousness - that science and art classes will be cut - all contrary to state law that requires it.

The cheerleader-set even has told citizens exactly how little the referendum will cost - only $480 per year on a $300,000 assessed home once all deductions are taken. (There is a handy referendum tax calculator by the way.)

But here's the rub - the taxpayer's "cost" is after all deductions are taken. That's implying everyone gets them. The main ones are the homestead deduction, and the mortgage deduction.

If you rent, you don't get a deduction and your landlord will pass the cost on to you. If you don't have a mortgage, you don't get the deduction either.

According to the census bureau, fully 19.4% of Zionsville's citizens don't have a mortgage. And 18.4% of our citizens are over age 55 - they are retired and likely don't have children in the schools. In all honesty, a large portion of our population will pay more than what is advertised by the cheerleaders. Don't forget, these residents are largely on a fixed income.

So, gird your loins Granny: Thanks for living here all your life, for your efforts making our community so wonderful, for volunteering in the schools when Susie was little, and pioneering some of the programs.

But, now your toast. Make way for the big spenders. We need bigger cooler things than what got you by in your day, and they are going to get more expensive. Sorry your barely making it now and you can't afford to live here anymore. So hey, here's a thought...maybe you could cut back on your grocery bills by eating dog food. It's pretty healthy stuff. Folks did it during the Depression. Come on, it's for the kiddies.

Dog food futures are sure to go up. Woof.

PS. Remember what Josephine told the French - let them eat dog food.

Conspiracy (Or not) 101

Like conspiracies?

Try these on for size, and don't get lost if you're under 40.

Q - Was Secretary of War Edwin Stanton involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln?

A - Nope, Ed missed the play.

Q - Did President Franklin D. Roosevelt know about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor prior to the start of America's involvement in WWII on December 7, 1941?

A - Doubtful, but a sure bet is Scott Robison will start World War III to save his referendum's _ _ _ .

Q - Was Castro involved in the assassination of President John Kennedy?

A - Ask Jimmy Hoffa.

If you are under 40 you are excused for failure to score 66%.

But now consider this closer to home as your tax heinies will be in the sling, and you'd like a little conspiracy. Zionsville is good fodder for its own convoluted plots.

Did you know there may be an insidious connection between the Zionsville Times-Sentinel with the current referendum of the Zionsville Community Schools?

Follow this: The local Zionsville paper is owned by Community Newspapers Holdings Inc., now based in Montgomery, Alabama, a privately-owned company formerly based in Birmingham, Alabama.

It was started by Alabama ex-teachers, and financed by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the administrator of the pension fund for Alabama teachers. Duh? Zionsville's paper is owned by teachers?

Take a gander at the coverage of the Zionsville school's money grab in the Zionsville Times-Sentinel. Ask yourself, could there be a connection between hard facts about the November referendum and saving the teachers' heinies? No matter how good the Times' editor and reporter is, the boss is the boss. Call it professional courtesy between school groups.

Could the Zionsville Times-Sentinel be shying away from in-depth hard news reporting on what the referendum means to Zionsville, in favor of more "happy" news? You know, fun news about a well-meaning Political Action Committee ZCS-Yes!PAC. The ZCSYes! PAC was formed to educate Zionsville's citizens that the referendum must pass "so that we can continue operating in the manner that our schools are used to,” ZCS-Yes Treasurer Ellen Niksch said. Yeah, fun happy stuff.

Doesn't the town deserve to know that the school Superintendent went to a conference last year on "how to pass a referendum" on the taxpayer's dime? Does that show he went into the referendum process with an open mind? Do you think at the fancy conference they said to start a political action committee? Or to use kids to prey on their parent's guilt?

Won't the town's taxpayers be able to make a better decision on the referendum if all of ZCS's spending picadillos are known? Like the fleet of corporate cars, or the hiring of an outside energy firm to tell ZCS how to turn off the lights?

Score 100% if you agree with Zionsville Confidential.