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November 28, 2009

Public Eye - Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Sat Nov 28, 2009, 04:59 PM EST

Hershman hot seat

State Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Monticello, has been at the center of the Chrysler property tax controversy since it began. His involvement is a major reason why Howard County taxpayers may have to pay millions in interest if local government has to borrow to make up the Chrysler shortfall.

Hershman was part of the Senate conference committee that allowed a negotiable interest rate to emerge in the final budget bill. Locals were expecting to get a zero percent rate, but now the state is pressing for up to 4 percent.

This week, Hershman tried to explain his dual duties — both to the state and to his district constituents.

“The people I represent are not only citizens of Howard County, but the state as well,” Hershman said. “I have obligations to them on both accounts. If we hadn’t put anything into the budget bill, the only options would have been for the locals to cut spending or borrow money at commercial market rates.”

Hershman said he’d prefer to split the difference between zero percent and market rates.

“If the locals have the opportunity to pay it off more quickly than a full term, I’ll advocate for an even further reduction,” he added. “I’m trying to be responsible in both my roles as a representative of Howard County, and as an alternate member of the budget committee who may be asked to evaluate similar proposals in the future. I want to be consistent and fair to all.”

Time lag for KGOV?

KGOV, the city-run cable station, was still showing the Nov. 9 Kokomo Common Council meeting Wednesday, two days after a rather entertaining Nov. 23 meeting.

Considering how few people actually attend the council meetings, and the excellent job city employees Mike Huffman and Jane Westerhold do taping the meetings, we’d like to see the lag time drop between taping and airing the meetings.

Next, we’d like some dialogue to begin on the subject of televising county meetings.

Targeting Baron Hill

Although Baron Hill was among many Democrats in the U.S. House to vote for the health care reform bill, the southern Indiana lawmaker appears to be the only one being targeted.

For several weeks, the U.S.Chamber of Commerce and a number of other business lobbying groups have been running television ads critical of Hill’s vote on the legislation.

Hill and Republican Mike Sodrel have been running against each other for the 9th Congressional District seat for most of the 21st century. Sodrel defeated Hill in 2004 but was defeated in 2006 and 2008 by Hill. Sodrel is already planning on running again in 2010.

What hiring freeze

The Howard County Council last week approved the hiring of four therapists at the Robert J. Kinsey Youth Center, despite the hiring freeze implemented last January.

Kinsey director Brent Kelley said the four therapists were being hired through a grant that is covering the start-up starts. Kelley told council members the program would be supported by income from the program in the future.

“We won’t request tax dollars to operate the program,” he said.

The hiring, which was approved by the Personal Advisory Committee, comes at a time when the Howard County Health Department has been repeatedly denied the ability to hire additional employees.

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