Thurber's Thoughts

Batchelder: House won't act on Medicaid bills before recess

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:37:00 +0000

Gongwer is reporting that the Ohio House will not act on any Medicaid overhaul bill before their recess. House Speaker Bill Batchelder said he doesn't think the House can pass the legislation before they take their summer break beginning June 30.

"My sense is that at this point in time, we cannot complete that work (before June 30) but we will continue the work,” he told reporters. “We can’t do anything before the break, in my opinion, just given the dynamics..."

Food insecurity - reality or hype?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:05:00 +0000

You've probably heard the commercials numerous times - one in five kids in the country are going hungry - usually recited in a sad little girl's voice. Now it's one in four.

I heard a blurb on the radio this morning talking about food insecurity. I’m not sure if it was a news item or an advertisement, but the premise of the message was completely wrong.

First it said that one out of four children in Ohio live in a home that is “food insecure” – that they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Having looked at various food insecurity questionnaires and polls, I could find no single common definition of food insecurity. In some of the forms, the one in four or one in five results come from a question that asks ‘can you afford the food you want to buy?’

Who wouldn’t answer that question no? I’d love to eat lobster and freshly-caught salmon and oysters on a regular basis – but I can’t afford to. So if that is the primary question that results in being ‘food insecure,’ then my household would qualify.

Other questions are more realistic in terms of assessing the status of families in terms of their ability to feed themselves. And I’m certain there are families that are having a hard time, but do we really think that 25% of kids in the state are actually going hungry on a regular basis?

The blurb continued saying that 800,000 children “depend” upon the free lunch program in schools.

There is no way that can be accurate – because they cannot know for sure.

I’m certain the number is correct in terms of participation in the free lunch program and how many children are both eligible and participating.

But participation doesn’t mean that the children are dependent. There are families who could provide lunches for their kids, but choose to participate in the program because they can. Again, this is certainly not all of the kids, but probably a good amount of them.

So without actually evaluating each family to know their status and ability to feed their children, it’s disingenuous to assume that participation means dependency.

It then said that only 1 in 10 of those kids participate in summer lunch programs designed to continue the feeding of children who get free school lunches.

It implied that all those children must be going hungry during the summer since they’re not enrolled in a summer lunch feeding program.

But there’s another conclusion that is just as valid as an assumption: that the kids not participating in the summer lunch program are being fed by their family.

And if kids are being fed by their families during the summer, maybe they don’t *need* to be fed by the government during the school year.

I have no idea if either conclusion is accurate, but the possibility exists that either is true – though it is more likely that the truth is somewhere in between.

My problem with the blurb is the assumption that participation in free school lunch program equals dependency and the conclusion that lack of participation in summer lunch program equals going hungry.

But how many people will actually think through the alternate possibility instead of reacting emotionally to the blurb and the appeal to either enroll in the summer feeding program or help support it?

Quotes of the day - liberty vs. safety and the presumption of being right

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:13:00 +0000

It's a beautiful day and I decided to stop working and enjoy it. You may not have that option, but I hope you'll have time before or after your work to enjoy the delightful sun and weather.

So here are two quotes to tide you over until tomorrow when I ask, "Why does The Blade and Joe McNamara only want McNamara and Anita Lopez in a debate, excluding all the other Toledo mayoral candidates?"

"I cannot accept, your canon that we are to judge pope and king unlike other men, with a favorable presumption that they do no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way against holders of power ... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~ Lord Acton, [John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton] (1834-1902), First Baron Acton of Aldenham to the bishop of London in 1887

"Shame on the men who can court exemption from present trouble and expense at the price of their own posterity's liberty!" ~ Samuel Adams

Flag Day 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:53:00 +0000

Today is Flag Day - fly it proudly today and always!

(and DO NOT use it as a tablecloth!)

It's also the U.S. Army's 238th birthday, so Happy Birthday!

From National Flag Day Foundation:

The “Stars and Stripes”, the official National symbol of the United States of America was authorized by congress on that Saturday of June 14, 1777 in the fifth item of the days agenda. The entry in the journal of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 Vol. Vlll 1777 reads “Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be Thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

....

On June 14th, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19 year old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10 inch, 38- star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance. This observance, commemorated Congresses adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. This observance was also the beginning of Cigrand’s long years of fervent and devoted effort to bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. The crowning achievement of his life came at age fifty when President Wilson, on May 30, 1916, issued a proclamation calling for a nation wide observance of Flag Day. Then in 1949, President Truman signed an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day. On June 14th, 2004, the 108th U.S. Congress voted unanimously on H.R. 662 that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.

Some interesting flag locations and flag facts:

* In 1909 Robert Peary placed a flag, sewn by his wife, at the North Pole. He also left pieces of another flag along the way. It is the only time a person has been honored for cutting the flag.

* In 1963, Barry Bishop placed the flag on top of Mount Everest.

* In July 1969 the American flag was "flown" in space when Neil Armstrong placed it on the moon. Six US flags are currently stationed on the moon. They were put there by Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

* The first time the American flag was flown overseas on a foreign fort was in Libya, over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli in 1805.

* Old Glory actually refers to a specific flag owned by Captain William Driver. Old Glory was made with 24 stars and 13 red and white stripes representing the original 13 colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. Old Glory traveled with Driver on his ship and circled the globe twice before retiring with Driver in Nashville. The flag was hidden away inside Driver’s bedspread in Nashville, when Tennessee seceded from the Union. When the war was over, Driver joyously ripped open his bedding to an astonished group of patriots to be proudly displayed for all to see. Sadly, due its fragile state and incredible historical and sentimental value, Old Glory’s last show was at the Tennessee State Museum in 2006. It now lives in the Smithsonian.

* The red, white and blue stripes are strictly defined as Dark Red (Pantone 193 C), White (Pantone safe), and Navy Blue (281 C).

* The current version of the US flag was designed by an 18 year old high school student, who only received a “B-“ for his efforts. Robert Heft, took exception to this grade, and issued his teacher a challenge: if Heft’s design proposal was accepted by Congress, he would deserve and receive an “A”. Heft earned his “A”, and by presidential proclamation in 1958, his design was officially adopted as the nation’s flag.

* Flag Day is always June 14th.

Ohio considers property tax credit for home schooling

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:48:00 +0000

This post went up at Ohio Watchdog yesterday:

The Christian Home Educators
of Ohio support the idea of a property
tax credit but have some concerns
about the pending legislation.

Since the beginning of the home-schooling trend, parents have noted that they pay double to educate their children — once for the education they’re providing at home and again in the property and other taxes they pay to the local school district for public education.

That double payment will stop if S.B. 127 is approved by the Ohio General Assembly.

“Home-school students are taught with no financial assistance from government,” said Sen. Kris Jordan, R-Ostrander, the bill’s sponsor. “I think that (it) is only right to allow these families to keep more of their hard-earned dollars to make up for the cost of educating their children.”

The Christian Home Educators of Ohio support the idea of a property tax credit but have some concerns about the pending legislation.

Under the terms of the legislation, a home-school parent would make application to the county auditor for a reduction equal to the school district property taxes that are levied on the parent’s home. Reductions would begin in the 2014 tax year for taxes paid in 2015.

The applications would require information necessary to establish eligibility for the reduction, but must include a certified copy of the papers filed by school district superintendent showing the qualifications of the person conducting the home schooling.

If an application is denied, the reasons must be provided and the parent may appeal the denial to the county’s board of revision.

Jay Smith, a lobbyist with the Ohio School Board Association, said the OSBA does not support the bill.

“We see public education as a benefit for society and this just siphons away money that would be used for public education,” he said. “We will definitely participate if there is opponent testimony for the bill. We usually do when there is an issue that generates money for public education.”

Smith also said there were concerns about how such a provision would actually function.

“If there was lost revenue due to a tax credit — or any bill — we’d want to see that replaced,” he said.

Melanie Elsey, the legislative liaison for the nonprofit Christian Home Educators of Ohio, said her group supports the idea of a property tax reduction, but has some concerns about how the language is constructed.

“We’re working with Sen. Jordan and the Home School Legal Defense Association to address those concerns and expect that there will be some willingness to make changes to ensure there are no unintended consequences,” she said.

The bill is pending in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Mark Stevenson left the following comment on the article:

Ohioans for Educational Freedom supports this bill. OEF is a statewide Political Action Committee for home schoolers and advocates for home school freedom in Ohio. the web site can be found at http://www.ohioansforfreedom.com

Quote of the Day - taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:56:00 +0000

A lesson for all politicians and those who would seek government funding for anything:

"But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime." ~ Frederic Bastiat

'Operation Wipeout' to remove graffiti in Toledo

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Press Release from City of Toledo:

Mayor, public service department unveil “Operation Wipeout”

New arsenal combats graffiti in Toledo Neighborhoods

Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell and representatives of the city’s Department of Public Service today unveiled its new arsenal to combat graffiti in Toledo.

Named “Operation Wipeout,” the self contained unit features a generator; paint supplies, and chemical removers, and can be accompanied by a power washer. The vehicle is staffed by two Neighborhood Beautification Action (NBA) team members who scour the city in a converted 1986 GMC box truck that has been vinal-wrapped in colorful, but intentional graffiti of its own to wipeout unwanted tagging across Toledo.

The task force also now uses environmentally-friendly, biodegradable chemicals to remove surface graffiti. By spraying the affected area, brushing it or wiping with soft cloths and then power washing it, graffiti can be quickly removed from a variety of surfaces ranging from concrete and brick to smooth metal. Previous efforts to remove graffiti relied mainly on the use of sandblasters or painting over tagged surfaces. In 2012 the NBA team abated nearly 450 instances of graffiti.

The Department of Public Service has been engaged in a benchmarking initiative since 2010 to bring best practices in public service to Toledo’s service divisions with the goal of improving efficiency and delivering greater service to Toledo taxpayers. The graffiti removal unit was inspired by an industry best practice learned from San Francisco, California.

The NBA team is funded primarily through the city’s Community Development Block Grant funds to eliminate slum and blight. The team’s annual budget is approximately $700,000 and is used to combat tall grass and weeds; clean up of vacant lots, alleys and illegal dumping, board up of vacant and abandoned homes and removal of graffiti. The graffiti removal unit has been supplemented with additional sponsorship from Sherwin Williams and Kuhlman Corporation.

###

Not-Business-Friendly Post #21 - Ohio bill mandating paid time off for parenting

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:20:00 +0000

Tomorrow the House Commerce, Labor & Technology committee will hear sponsor testimony on a bill that purports to be 'for the children,' but is really an expensive mandate on employers.

H.B. 179, introduced by Democrat Rep. Heather Bishoff, is titled "Parenting Time." How nice does that sound?

But here's what it will do:

To enact section 3109.054 of the Revised Code to require certain employers to allow a parent to exercise court-ordered parenting time without terminating the parent's employment, reducing the parent's pay, or taking other similar action against the parent.

So an employee who takes time off work in order to participate in court-ordered parenting cannot have their pay docked, even though they're not working?

Why must any employer pay any employee for time not worked?

What makes this particular court-ordered participation any different from any other court-ordered participation - the fact that it has to do with kids??

Will we soon see laws that require a company to pay an employee who has to do court-ordered drug testing?

Why not require employers to continue to pay people who are sentenced to days in jail? If it's 'for the kids' won't the kids be negatively impacted if the parent is no longer earning pay?

See how easy it is to appeal to the emotions when kids are involved?

You might think there are significant differences between being sentenced to jail versus being required to do a twice-weekly drug test versus spending time with your kids, but really, they are all court orders and the emotional appeal shouldn't result in extra cost to an employer simply because this particular court-order has to do with children.

Employer organizations across the state need to object to this - as should every Ohioan.

No one should be forced by state law to pay people for time not worked. That should be up to the individual business owner and their own judgment about what is in the best interests of their company.

Besides, the last thing our state needs is additional costs on employers or a 'not-business-friendly' law that makes them think twice about their decision to be an Ohio company.

Quote of the Day - what to do about a tyrannical government

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:47:00 +0000

The instructions have been around since our nation was founded:

Portrait by Ezra Ames

"If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify." ~ Alexander Hamilton

Toledo's $5 million surplus is really a $4 million deficit!

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:23:00 +0000

On Thursday, Toledo Mayor Mike Bell announced that the city had a $5.08 million surplus at the end of 2012.

But the 2012 budget called for $12 million to be transferred from the Capital Improvement Program fund (CIP) into the General Fund to pay for the yearly expenses.

When the budget was finalized, that transfer amount was increased to $13 million.

According to Jennifer Sorgenfrei, the city's public information officer, the total amount actually transferred into the General Fund was $9 million.

So - $9 million raided from the CIP to cover yearly costs and $5 million left over means that the city actually had a $4 million deficit.

Despite taking in more $3 million more than they expected and having $6 million less expenses than they planned, they still had to raid the CIP to cover their overspending.

And overspending it is when the outlay is greater than the income.

So, they've got $5 million left over - but that's just money that never should have been taken out of the CIP in the first place.

What will council do with this $5.08 million???

They should return it to the CIP - and plan to replace the $59 million total they've taken out of the fund that is supposed to pay for long-term projects likes roads and buildings, vehicles and infrastructure.

But they won't. They'll spend it, of course.

Faced with a choice of returning the money to the CIP or spending it on their own pet projects, our council members have shown that they always choose their own pet projects over the interests of the taxpayer.

Only in Toledo is an actual deficit characterized as a budget surplus and only here is that cause for even more spending.

Can you say 'stuck on stupid'???

Toledo claims $5.08 million budget surplus for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:14:00 +0000

According the following press release, the City of Toledo has completed their books for 2012 and is showing $5.08 million in surplus as of the end of the year.

What is not mentioned is whether or not any funds were transferred from the Capital Improvement Projects Fund (CIP) as planned in the original budget. The city originally budgeted a transfer of $12 million from the CIP into the General Fund to cover everyday expenses. If they transferred the full $12 million, it would bring the total amount diverted from the CIP to $62 million.

So if there is $5.08 million left over and the DID transfer $12 million, then they spent $7 million more than their income.

If they did NOT transfer any funds out of CIP and they've got $5.08 million left over, then they need to put that money back into the CIP to replace a small portion of the $50 million they've taken from the fund in the past several years.

I've emailed the city's public information officer to inquire about the CIP transfer. I'll let you know when I hear back.

Now that the year-end financials are finished, the auditors will review it and issue a final report.

Here is the press release:

Mayor Bell announces 2012 year end financials, $5 million fund balance anticipated

Mayor Michael P. Bell today announced the 2012 year end financials that have been sent to independent auditors for review and certification. Those figures include a report of income tax revenues totaling $158.5 million and an anticipated positive General Fund balance of $5.008 million.

“We’ve come a long way from where we started when I took office in 2010,” said Mayor Bell. “This city faced a $48 million budget deficit and that required us to make a lot of difficult and unpopular decisions over the last four years. If we had done nothing we would be in the same position as Detroit or Cincinnati. Instead we are seeing growth, increasing our safety forces, cleaning up neighborhoods and paving roads.”

The city faced a $48 million budget shortfall as Bell took office in 2010. Since that time, the city has worked to balance the budget and to restore the rainy day fund. Additionally, 165 police officers and 172 fire fighters will have been hired between 2010 and the end of 2013, more than the previous 12 years combined. The city in 2012 built a new fire station #6, and in 2013 will renovate fire station #3 and build a new fire station #12. More than 1,150 blighted structures have been demolished since 2010 to eliminate nuisances in Toledo neighborhoods.

In contrast, Detroit is facing bankruptcy and layoff of significant numbers in their safety forces. Cincinnati recently narrowly avoided police and fire layoffs after a one-time budget fix. Columbus in 2009 increased their income tax by 0.5% in order to restore services and forestall layoffs among safety forces. Toledo has not increased taxes or enacted mass layoffs under the Bell Administration. Unemployment in Toledo in January 2010 was 13.8% but has dropped to 8.4%; a net gain of approximately 4,500 jobs in the city.

The 2012 financials mark only the second time in a decade that the city’s General Fund ending balance has increased two years in a row. The city ended 2011 with a General Fund balance of $326,000. The strong financial position at the close of 2012 is attributed in part to income tax revenues coming in above budget and expenditure levels below budget.

In addition to the fire station construction, part of the City’s 2013 capital plan includes 61 lane miles of street repaving and reconstruction. Major street reconstruction is already underway on both Secor Road in west Toledo and Collingwood Boulevard in the central city. In total, $45 million will be invested in Toledo streets in 2013. Residential streets will comprise $10.5 million of that, or 22.8 lane miles. Due to the positive fund balance the Mayor has requested the Division of Engineering Services to compile recommendations for additional streets that could be addressed as part of the 2013 plan.

The 2012 financials have been submitted for review and await final confirmation from the independent auditor and the Ohio Auditor of State. Once certified they will be made available through publication of the comprehensive annual financial report. The city is projecting $163 million in income tax revenues for 2013, up from a 2009 low of $141 million, but still lagging from a 2007 high of $169 million.

###

Should the IRS take a lesson from Ohio's Boards of Election?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

This post went up yesterday at Ohio Watchdog:

The recent scandal of the IRS targeting conservative, tea party and patriot groups for unreasonable and ridiculous scrutiny in their tax-exempt applications, has renewed calls for abolishing the behemoth structure.

I'm all for that, but don't think it will ever happen. There just isn't the political will to eliminate the agency that implements the special favors and deductions created by politicians through a complicated, unknowable tax code.

Efforts to implement a flat tax or fair tax - where every person pays the same percentage of tax regardless of income - have also failed...so far. A major obstacle seems to be that poorer individuals would end up paying more than they do now and richer individuals wouldn't pay 'enough' - though 'enough' is never actually defined.

So absent its complete elimination, what can be done to ensure such targeting doesn't happen again - regardless of who the target might be?

The solution isn't easy, because the problem in inherent in the structure and culture of the agency - and government in general, as Monty at Ace of Spades explains:

The IRS is not supposed to be a partisan agency. The federal bureaucracy was explicitly designed to be non-partisan so that it would impartially enforce the tax laws and regulations passed by the Congress and approved by the Executive. But the IRS like many other federal bureaucracies tends to be staffed by people -- especially at the management level -- who believe in robust, activist government. In other words: it is staffed mainly by Democrats. And however nonpartisan the organization is supposed to be, it cannot help but reflect the culture of the people who comprise it. The IRS, being led by and staffed with activist-minded Democrats, cannot help but reflect that worldview. The culture reinforces itself because adherence to the culture is the only way to move up. Dissenters and contrarians do not last long in an organization like the IRS (any more than they do at the FBI or EPA or DoJ).

It's no surprise to hear that Lois Lerner's husband is a high-priced lawyer with an affinity for liberal activism. It's no surprise that Douglas Shulman's wife heads a liberal group dedicated to campaign finance reform. You'll find the same pattern repeated throughout the organization, no doubt. Like seeks out like. The culture reinforces itself. Everybody's kids go to the same schools, everybody knows everybody else's first name, and no one has to discuss politics because it's simply understood. The same thing happens at college campuses. Liberal politics, statism, the primacy of the regulatory state: it's just the water these people swim in.

This is the basic danger of a government that has grown too large. The federal machinery will trend Democrat no matter who happens to occupy the White House, Senate, or House of Representatives. And this is because the ideology that drives people to vote Democrat is also the ideology that makes them want to work for federal bureaucracies. The organizational culture in American federal service has become not just partisan but positively messianic during the age of Obama -- they're doing it for your own good, whether you know it or not! -- and the urge to suppress those with "wrong" opinions is becoming too strong to ignore. The tacit approval of Barack Obama and other powerful Democrat politicians removes any vestige of unease. It explains the near-complete lack of guilt or remorse shown so far by IRS management. In their minds, they are doing nothing wrong.

So what solution could possibly be suggested to address the inherent bureaucratic mentality of bias that permeates the IRS and other government agencies like the EPA, Department of Justice, etc...?

It's not non-partisan functioning the public seeks, but impartiality.

Maybe Ohio's structuring of the Board of Elections is the way to go.

Because of their obligation to conduct fair and impartial elections, and in order to ensure the sanctity of the vote, all BOEs are staffed equally by Republicans and Democrats. Every time a ballot or voting machine is handled, a Republican and a Democrat must be present and perform the function together.

The individual county offices are governed by a four-member board of two Republicans and two Democrats, nominated by the local parties and appointed by the Secretary of State. There is a director and assistant director to oversee the staff. The director is the opposite party from the chairman of the board and the assistant director is the same party.

By requiring both parties to be present and forcing a balance in the organizational chart, you ensure impartiality in a clearly partisan office.

Why not require that equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats be hired in all government agencies?

With equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats watching each other and ensuring the fair administration of election laws, you eliminate the type of one-sided internal culture that results in scandals like the IRS is currently experiencing.

Many state and federal boards and commissions require bi-partisan representation in their makeup. Why should the employees be any different?

This is not to say that problems won't arise or that such a system is without potential flaws:

* People are human and will make mistakes.
* Third parties won't like the two-party structure.
* Identifying individuals by party and then deciding who goes in order to ensure equal numbers is problematic (and doesn't address the potential for current employees to just change their party affiliation in order to keep their job).

But wouldn't a federal government comprised equally of Republicans and Democrats be better than what we have now?

Update: Secor Rd., I-475 closing June 6

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:16:00 +0000

Press release from the City of Toledo:

Secor Road access to I-475 to close beginning Thursday, June 6

The 10 day, I-475 ramp closures are now scheduled to begin at 2:00 AM Thursday, June 6th. The portion of Secor that has been under construction will have all lanes re-opened to traffic. Traffic between Queenswood and Kroger will be narrowed to one lane in each direction while crews reconstruct Secor Road at the on and off ramps.

The work was previously scheduled to begin June 4th but was delayed due to rain. During the ramp closure, the city is suggesting eastbound travelers on I-475 use the ProMedica Parkway exit as an alternative to Secor Road. Westbound motorists are able to exit the interstate at Douglas Road, Monroe Street or Talmadge Road. Surface street detours will direct traffic from those exits back to Secor Road.

###

BREAKING: Gee out at OSU

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:56:00 +0000

Gongwers Ohio is reporting:

Gee On Way Out As Ohio State President Following Publication Of Critical Statements

Days after news reports of derogatory statements that he himself described in an apology as a “misguided attempt at humor,” Ohio State President Gordon Gee has announced his retirement effective July 1.

Mr. Gee announced his plans in a joint release with Robert H. Schottenstein, chairman of the OSU Board of Trustees. Executive Vice President and Provost Joseph A. Alutto will be named interim president. Details on a search for a permanent replacement are pending.

“I recently returned from a vacation with my family, during which time I had a chance to consider the university’s phenomenal achievements and the road that lies ahead for it. Ohio State now has a richness of new opportunities that would be the envy of most universities,” Mr. Gee said.

“During my days away, I also spent some time in self-reflection. And after much deliberation, I have decided it is now time for me to turn over the reins of leadership to allow the seeds that we have planted to grow. It is also time for me to reenergize and refocus myself.”

President Gee served as OSU president for two terms, from 1990-1997 and 2007 to present. His latest stint came to an abrupt end following the outcry over reports that he had disparaged Catholics, the Southeast Conference and others during a meeting of the Athletic Council in December.

Could George Orwell have imagined what's going on today?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:37:00 +0000

Saturday marks the 64th anniversary of the publication of George Orwell's book 1984:

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian novel by George Orwell published in 1949. The Oceanian province of Airstrip One is a world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public mind control, dictated by a political system euphemistically named English Socialism (Ingsoc) under the control of a privileged Inner Party elite that persecutes all individualism and independent thinking as thoughtcrimes. Their tyranny is headed by Big Brother, the quasi-divine Party leader who enjoys an intense cult of personality, but who may not even exist. Big Brother and the Party justify their rule in the name of a supposed greater good. The protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, is a member of the Outer Party who works for the Ministry of Truth (Minitrue), which is responsible for propaganda and historical revisionism. His job is to re-write past newspaper articles so that the historical record always supports the current party line. Smith is a diligent and skillful worker, but he secretly hates the Party and dreams of rebellion against Big Brother.

With what's been going on lately, I can't help but wonder if we're there yet.

We have a media that is more interested in protecting their favored politician than in actually reporting the truth, often ignoring what should be major stories because they reflect negatively on their object of affection.

We have people calling for greater gun control as a means of preventing gun violence, yet Chicago - a city with gun-control laws these individuals would love to impose upon the rest of the nation - has one of the highest gun violence records in the country. How do these people not see the correlation?

We have children being expelled from school and even arrested because they have a toy gun or just drew a picture of one!

We have a monstrous government so completely out of control that the even President Barack Obama's former senior adviser David Axelrod says it's too big:

The government is simply too big for President Obama to keep track of all the wrongdoing taking place on his watch, his former senior adviser, David Axelrod, told MSNBC. “Part of being president is there’s so much beneath you that you can’t know because the government is so vast,” he explained.

The IRS targeted tea party and patriot groups. The Department of Justice bugged the phones of the press.

Now comes this from the Washington Free Beacon:

Contracted employees at an Environmental Protection Agency warehouse in Landover, Md., used surplus equipment to set up a gym and personal television spaces, a report by the agency inspector general released Monday said.
...
“The warehouse contained surplus gym equipment arranged to create exercise space for warehouse employees,” the report states. “The weights, machines, exercise equipment, and overall exercise area appeared to be well maintained. The exercise space was in excess of 30 by 45 feet. Carpet tiles from EPA inventory were placed on the floor in the gym area. This area has electrical power through an EPA power strip and provides music through other agency inventory items. Agency steno pads were used for recording workouts.”

That wasn't the only EPA story to make the news. How gargantuan does an agency have to be to give a fake employee numerous certificates of award?

“Richard Windsor” may have only been an alias for former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson, but that didn’t stop him from being awarded numerous certificates for ethics and records management.

The EPA awarded certificates naming Jackson/Windsor a “scholar of ethical behavior.” Jackson, under her secret alias, was also awarded certificates for completing training modules on email records management.

Jackson set up a secret email address under the pseudonym “Richard Windsor.” The Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Chris Horner first discovered it in November.

Thank goodness for non-traditional media so we can know about these things, because we aren't going to get it from what passes for today's press corps - especially when you consider the latest from Erick Erickson.

The Democratic National Committee issued a memo saying Republicans were 'overreaching' when it comes to the IRS and other scandals. That was Friday - and by Monday that was the term being used by the press and others defending Pres. Obama and his administration.

We know the majority of the main stream media parrot whatever the Democrats want repeated, but apparently they're oblivious to how transparent they've become.

Add to this the recent court ruling that police can take a DNA swab of arrestees because it's just like taking fingerprints. And another court ruled that Google must turn over customer records to the FBI upon demand and without a warrant:

A federal judge has ruled that Google Inc. must comply with the FBI's warrantless demands for customer data, rejecting the company's argument that the government's practice of issuing so-called national security letters to telecommunication companies, Internet service providers, banks and others was unconstitutional and unnecessary.

Maybe it's not 1984 at all. I'm not sure that even Orwell could have imagined all this would become the norm.

ICYMI - a round-up of things from across the Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 13:12:00 +0000

A collection of interesting things I came across that I wanted to share. Th fact that I'm sharing these doesn't mean I agree or disagree with any of it - just that I found it to be an interesting article.

I'll probably do a post like this every weekend throughout the summer, especially when the weather is nice and I'd rather be outside enjoying - or on the lake!

So when you can, click through as you probably won't see these articles or topics in any of the main stream news coverage. Enjoy!

Not letting Eric Holder off the hook anytime soon. Check out this Q & A style piece we've got today. Something a little different & shareable: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/31/morning-bell-qa-on-scandals-and-eric-holder/
Most of America could be "closed for business" if EPA proposes a very expensive ozone regulation: http://www.freeenterprise.com/regulations/beware-costly-epa-ozone-rule
From Gabriella Hoffman: This Saturday marks 12 years since one of the worst suicide bomb attacks struck Israel. My cousin was among the 21 young Israelis killed. I wrote this to honor their memories. http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/remembering-the-dolphinarium-disco-terrorist-attack/
From Kira Ayn Davis: Tony Katz is launching his talk show and crowdsourcing. Here's a little write up about it. http://www.ijreview.com/2013/05/55972-tony-katz-late-night-pioneer-needs-no-permission-from-hollywood/
Heritage Action has a series called Sentinel Stories, a uplifting read, definitely! This is their second one about an immigrant from Guatemala, Jose Aldana. http://heritageaction.com/2013/05/sentinel-stories-jose-aldanas-journey-to-america/
From Duane Lester: Incrementalism, Class Warfare and the End Game of Federal Student Loans
From MediaTrackers Ohio: the ACLU is suing the City of Columbus on behalf of Occupy Wall Street claiming that a tent is free speech. Mull that one for a while.
From Emily Zanotti Skyles, one of the edgiest bloggers around with a remarkable wit and sarcasm (which explains why I'm a fan), comes this "masterpiece - or possibly a nightmare. It's up to you to decide." Eric Holder as you never wanted to see him. WARNING: graphic image you will not be able to 'unsee.'

Yep, now that you've clicked through and seen that, have a great day!

How many gun buybacks does it take to 'end gun violence'?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:50:00 +0000

No - the headline is not an intro to a joke, but it might as well be.

photo from Andy Hoag | MLive.com

The City of Toledo is holding a gun buy-back program from 10-4 on June 8th. They'll pay $50 for each firearm you turn in, though they'll accept only two handguns per person. They'll also take your ammunition. The money will come from the Toledo Police Department’s law enforcement trust fund.

When it's over, they'll destroy all the weapons they collect.

Why? Why would they destroy any workable firearm in good condition? Couldn't they resell them in one of their forfeited property auctions and make some money - maybe even replenish the fund they're depleting?

Remember Pres. Barack Obama's 'cash for clunkers' program where they paid off people who turned in an old car and bought a new one? The old cars were destroyed and individuals who would have normally purchased a used car had less of an inventory and higher prices. It was an economic and environmental failure, accomplishing none of the things Obama claimed it would.

So is the guy buy-back the same? Will it really do anything to reduce gun violence? Is it likely that a gang member will bring in two weapons they don't like, get $100 and then go buy a more powerful gun? If you were a gang member, wouldn't you?

"Statistically speaking, guy buy-backs don't work," TPD Chief Derrick Diggs told 1370 WSPD news on April 30th.

So why are we doing it? Well, according to the Chief, they're going to do it because it doesn't hurt and their community partners "believe it works."

Clearly - appearances are everything.

Here is the city's press release on the event - note the details about what they will and will not pay for.

City, community partners to hold gun buy back, safety education event

The City of Toledo will partner with community groups from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 8, 2013 to offer a gun buy back program at People’s Missionary Baptist Church, 1101 Heston St.

The “no questions asked” program will offer $50 per firearm and accept up to two handguns per person. Weapons must be unloaded and money will only be exchanged for operable firearms. Officials will also accept unwanted ammunition as well as shotguns; rifles; BB guns; starter pistols; pellet guns, and visibly inoperable firearms that citizens wish to properly dispose of, however no payment will be offered for these.

The event will also feature education and prevention programs regarding gun safety. Gun locks will be available at no cost. Community partners will provide information about programs available in the city to reduce violence and provide economic and educational opportunities as an alternative to gangs and violent lifestyles.

Event participants include the Re-entry Coalition of Northwest Ohio; Toledo Police Safe-T-City; City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods, City of Toledo Youth Services Commission, City of Toledo Board of Community Relations; Toledo Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (T-CIRV); Mayor’s Coalition for Hope, and Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence.

Funding for the buy back will be provided from the Toledo Police Department’s law enforcement trust fund. The collected firearms will be destroyed by the Toledo Police Department.

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Point Place Days Parade and Events

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:39:00 +0000

It's that time again - parades, festivals and wonderful events are coming our way this summer. One of the best events is the Point Place Days Parade which takes place Saturday, June 1, at noon along Summit Street in Point Place.

It's part of the kickoff for a month of events celebrating and highlight our great Point-Shoreland community.

The day starts at 7 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast at the Harbor Light Lodge #746, 3024 131st Street The Placers Car & Truck Show begins at 10 a.m. at Friendship Center, 2930 131st, and runs through the afternoon. The Dress Your Pet Contest and Decorate Your Bike Contest is at 11 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 4731 N. Summit, and participants are invited to walk in the parade. The American Legion Post #110 opens their chicken barbeque at 11 a.m. and they will do to-go boxes so you can eat while you enjoy the parade...they're at 5110 N. Summit.

On Tuesday, June 11th, the Point Place Library hosts an outdoor concert beginning at 7 p.m. Bring your own chairs or blankets.

The annual Canoe Race and Chicken & Ribs BBQ at Cullen Park is Friday, June 14th from 4-8 p.m. June 14th is also Flag Day, so at 9 p.m. there will be a Flag Ceremony/Lantern Walk from Cullen Park to the Lighthouse. Always a nice way to end the day.

June 22nd is the huge and fun Washington Township Summer Fest from 2 - midnight at Shoreland Park. My favorite event (and by fare one of the best in the entire county) is the Fireworks Display hosted by the Washington Township Fire Department at 10 p.m. They launch the spectaular explosions from the Fred C. Young Bridge which covers the Ottawa River on Summit Street between 131st and Shoreland. Expect heavy volumes of traffic before and after as well as the closure of the bridge.

There are tons of fun things going on all month long, so come on out to the Point and enjoy with us!

To see a complete list of events, times and locations, go here.

Quotes of the Day - Humor and taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Thu, 30 May 2013 10:31:00 +0000

Actually, taxes really aren't funny, but some funny (ironic - not ha ha) things have been said about taxes and taxation:

"Tax reform is taking the taxes off things that have been taxed in the past and putting taxes on things that haven't been taxed before." ~ Art Buchwald

"Three groups spend other people's money: children, thieves, politicians. All three need supervision." ~ Dick Armey

Memorial Day Tradition 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Mon, 27 May 2013 11:23:00 +0000

We moved into our current house in June, 2002. Each Memorial Day since, a small U.S. Flag has been placed in our yard - and in the yard of every house on our street.

Flags line 117th Street in Point Place.

I do not know the name of the man who places them, nor do I know his story, though I would like to. He puts them out early in the morning - early enough that no one is usually awake to see - on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

In 2010, I met him - sort of.

I was in the middle of a project with my hands full when Sam came in and told me that the man who gives us the flag was coming up the street. By the time I got my hands cleaned up and got outside, he was already on the other side of the street (we're the last house on one side) and about 3 houses up...so I called out to him.

Either he didn't hear me - or didn't want to acknowledge me.

As I walked quickly after him and he didn't answer my hails, I wondered if he didn't want be thanked for what he was doing. If maybe my recognition of his act might embarrassment him in some way.

But even as these thoughts were going through my mind, my feet continued in his direction. Despite so many of his generation believing they require no thanks for the service they performed, I believe we owe them a lifetime of gratitude and that any opportunity to say 'thank you' should never go by without those words being said.

So as he placed another flag and I approached, I said, "Excuse me, sir," and he looked up at me. I offered my hand and he grasped it firmly. I was struck by how large and strong his hand was, but how also by how gently he took mine. He was wearing both a hat and shirt with military markings, but all I could see where his eyes. I don't even remember the color, just the fact that they were clear and kind.

I told him that I always wanted to know whom to thank for our flag and now I could do so in person.

He didn't say anything - just nodded and gave my hand an additional squeeze.

Then he turned and began walking back up the street, placing flag after flag...

And still I do not know his name - but I know his heart.

So to our neighbor who does this in honor of those made the ultimate sacrifice, thank you!

We will never forget.

Memorial Day 2013 - American Military cemeteries around the world

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:59:00 +0000

It's Memorial Day weekend and many are starting the holiday early, including me. But it's more than a holiday for eating burgers on the grill - it's a time to reflect upon all that we have and remember those who died to ensure our freedoms and liberties.

I always tear up when I think about brave men and women willingly joining our military services, leaving family and friends and heading off to places unknown because they believe our nation and our way of life is worth defending - with their very lives if necessary.

So I thought I'd share with you some photos of the various military cemeteries around the world where those brave individuals found their final resting place.

The photos and information come from the American Battle Monuments Commission which is an agency within the executive branch of our government. It was established in 1923 to be "the guardian of our nation's overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials."

ABMC administers, operates, and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil. Presently there are 124,905 U.S. war dead interred at these cemeteries, 30,921 of World War I, 93,234 of World War II and 750 of the Mexican War. Additionally 6,237 American veterans and others are interred in the Mexico City National Cemetery and Corozal American Cemetery.

We will never forget.

Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in France: contains the graves of 2,289 war dead, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne Valley in the summer of 1918.

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium: contains the graves of 5,323 of our military dead, many of whom died in the 1944 Ardennes winter offensive (Battle of the Bulge).

Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in France: contains the remains of 4,410 of our war dead, most of whom lost their lives in the Normandy and Brittany Campaigns of 1944.

Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial in England: contains the graves of 468 of our military dead.

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial site in England: contains the remains of 3,812 of our military dead; 5,127 names are recorded on the Tablets of the Missing.

Corozal American Cemetery in Panama: contains the remains of 5,424 American veterans and others who contributed to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Panama Canal.

Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France: contains the graves of 5,255 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the campaigns across northeastern France to the Rhine River and beyond into Germany. The cemetery was established in October 1944 by the 46th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company of the U.S. Seventh Army as it drove northward from southern France through the Rhone Valley into Germany. The cemetery became the repository for the fatalities in the bitter fighting through the Heasbourg Gap during the winter of 1944-45.

Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium: at this site rest 368 of our military dead, most of whom gave their lives in liberating the soil of Belgium in World War I.

Florence American Cemetery and Memorial site in Italy: contains 4,402 of our military dead, arrayed in symmetrical curved rows upon the hillside. They represent 39 percent of the U.S. Fifth Army burials originally made between Rome and the Alps. Most died in the fighting that occurred after the capture of Rome in June 1944. Included among them are casualties of the heavy fighting in the Apennines Mountains shortly before the war's end.

I'll add more from the website tomorrow...

Is new Sears bill another version of the Obamacare Medicaid expansion for Ohio?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:18:00 +0000

I'll admit to not being an expert on the Medicaid expansion that Gov. John Kasich proposed for Ohio - as part of Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare - but this new bill introduced by Rep. Barbara Sears sure sounds a lot like it.

The House, after significant public pressure from conservatives and tea party groups, removed the Medicaid expansion from the budget bill (H.B. 59) earlier in the year. Rep. Sears was extensively criticized for her role in pushing the expansion and for what some considered was a violation of the Health Care Freedom Amendment overwhelmingly passed by Ohioans. She responded to those allegations, saying she did, in fact, support the Health Care Freedom Amendment, though she believed a pending bill would conflict with that amendment.

Speaker Bill Batchelder told reporters that a bill separate from the budget could be passed by the House before the end of June.

The press release below details some of the provisions of her legislation:

Rep. Sears Introduces Medicaid Reform Legislation

COLUMBUS—Today, State Representative Barbara Sears (R- Monclova Township) introduced legislation requiring the Director of Medical Assistance to implement Medicaid reforms that will identify ways to lower costs, reduce uncompensated care, and extend coverage to Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens.

The legislation would extend coverage to Ohioans under 138% of the federal poverty level and will provide critical health care services to Ohio’s poorest citizens. New enrollees in the Medicaid program will be fully funded by the federal government for the first three years. The bill provides protections for Ohio should the federal assistance percentage decrease below the specified amount after the third year.

Additional provisions of this legislation include encouraging personal responsibility through cost sharing, promoting employment-related services, and ensuring those who abuse narcotics receive proper treatment.

“Ohio’s Medicaid system has made substantial improvements over the past few years and this legislation furthers that effort,” Rep. Sears said. “By providing a ladder up and out of poverty through quality care, we are allowing for citizens to achieve greater self sufficiency and creating a healthier Ohio.”

The bill also includes requiring the Medicaid director to present a report to the General Assembly on the progress being made and specifies that the Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Technology and Reform consider and review the reforms implemented by this legislation.

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The bill will be assigned a number Tuesday, but here is a link to the language submitted, as provided by her office.

Quotes of the Day vs Ohio laws and regulations

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:08:00 +0000

As part of my writing for Ohio Watchdog, I cover a lot of the proposed laws and regulations coming out of Columbus, primarily from Republicans because they're in the majority.

I'm working on a story now about the proposed revisions to the precious metals dealer license. Apparently, criminals used to use pawn shops to liquidate their stolen goods and now they're using businesses that buy and sell gold and other precious metals to do the same.

Of course, that means TOTBAL ... there ought to be a law.

With this on my mind, I opened my daily email from Liberty Tree and find these two quotes which seemed so very appropriate.

"After having thus successively taken each member of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ~ Alexis de Tocqueville

"It used to be the boast of free men that, so long as they kept within the bounds of the known law, there was no need to ask anybody's permission or to obey anybody's orders. It is doubtful whether any of us can make this claim today." ~ Friedrich August von Hayek

I can't help but wonder how we got to this point and whether or not we even realize how much freedom we've actually lost.

"Grassroots" protest sponsored by the GOP?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:00 +0000

I received an email this morning noting a 'grassroots protest' outside the headquarters of the Ohio Democratic Party.

I couldn't help but wonder just how 'grassroots' is a protest when it's put on by a political party? Isn't this the astroturfing we've been accused of doing all along?

And doesn't the OHGOP know that the tea party groups have scheduled a protest against the IRS at their offices for the exact same time?

I really don't like it when my party does things like this, but have to point out that if the OHDems were doing the same thing the OHGOP would be having a field day with it.

Perhaps this protest at the Dem party headquarters is part of the national tea party event? Perhaps the GOP just issued the media advisory on behalf of some 'grassroots' citizens? Perhaps....

But if that is the case, then the media advisory should say so.

Come on, GOP - aren't we better than that?

As an aside, though I consider myself a tea party member, I don't support the protests scheduled by the tea party groups. I believe it will take the focus away from the actual scandals and give some Democrats and the media a new story to focus on instead of digging to get to the bottom of who told the IRS workers to target the tea party/patriot groups in the first place.

I think that when your 'opponent' is self-destructing, you don't get in the way.

But that's just me - what do I know?

At least I'm not alone in that opinion...

Here is the email:

www.OhioGOP.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katie Eagan

May 21, 2013 (614) 477-9113

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

COLUMBUS - Tuesday, May 21 2012 there will be a grassroots protest outside the headquarters of the Ohio Democratic Party by citizens demanding answers from Ohio Democrats regarding the mounting failures of the Obama Administration.

WHEN: 12:00 p.m.: Protest Begins

WHAT: Citizens' Protest of Ohio Democratic Party

WHERE: 340 East Fulton Street
Columbus, OH 43215

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Secor Road access to I-475 to close for 10 days in June

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie Thurber) — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Press release from City of Toledo:

Secor Road access to I-475 to close for 10 days in June

Closure will emphasize safety, limit congestion during reconstruction

As work progresses on the Secor Road reconstruction project, it will become necessary to close both east and westbound on and off ramps to interstate 475 for 10 days beginning June 4, 2013. During this time Secor Road at the base of all four ramps will be reconstructed.

Representatives from the City of Toledo, project contractor Geddis Paving and the Ohio Department of Transportation District Two office met to determine the best way to reconstruct the road at the base of on/off ramps with minimal impact to businesses and motorists. The major concerns for all parties were issues involving safety for motorists on the interstate, motorists on Secor Road and workers involved in the construction project.

View Larger Map

“Slowing cars from exiting the off-ramp by restricting lane access can lead to traffic back-ups on the expressway which can become dangerous,” said Robin Whitney, City of Toledo Commissioner of Engineering Services. “Additionally, restricting the access of on-ramps at these particular intersections increases the difficulty for large trucks making turns and again causes safety concerns both for workers and passing motorists. By closing all ramps for a 10-day period we are able to maintain traffic on Secor Road and the result is much safer for all who are traveling and working in the area. We can also complete this phase of the project much faster than would be possible by only reconstructing the road one lane at a time.”

During the ramp closure, the city is suggesting eastbound travelers on I-475 use the ProMedica Parkway exit as an alternative to Secor Road. Westbound motorists are able to exit the interstate at Douglas Road, Monroe Street or Talmadge Road. Surface street detours will direct traffic from those exits back to Secor Road.

The city will work through its ombudsman to give businesses along the Secor Road corridor advanced notice of the impending closure. City engineers continue to work with the project contractor to ensure that a strict timeline is met to ensure businesses are able to plan for the impact throughout the project.

“Secor Road is a major commercial thoroughfare in west Toledo and we want to be sure that while we’re investing in the infrastructure to improve this area of town, we’re also investing in the businesses that have committed to our local economy,” said Mayor Michael P. Bell. “This is the first time we’ve used an ombudsman on a major road construction project and I think its helping us to communicate better with businesses and ensure their concerns are both heard and addressed. Construction is never without its headaches, but I appreciate the patience of the businesses as we work to improve the road.”

The Secor Road reconstruction project began in March 2013. To date the northbound lanes of the road from Central to Queenswood have been removed, the water line replaced and the road reconstructed. Currently the southbound lanes are undergoing reconstruction. The road from Queenswood to just north of the I-475 access point will be reconstructed during the 10-day closure in June. Work in late summer will include reconstruction of the Central Avenue and Secor Road intersection. The entire reconstruction project is anticipated to be complete by November 2013.

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