08-08-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 8, 2011 limits, he stated that he supposes that it would have been annexed, but it just didn’t make a lot of sense and that is what is generating a lot of these questions. He stated that he would like to see Miracle Park, but doesn’t want to be nickel and dimed over the next four years that they need this and they need that. He stated that he wants to know what it is going to be; and know what it is going to cost; and how are we going to pay for it. Quiet honestly that has not been forthcoming. He stated that now some of these resources will help that and may well explain it. He stated that he would have had a heck of a time explaining to folks at some point in time whether they were part of the organization that is supporting this or not why they spent a lot of money to buy land outside of the City of South Bend so they could build this park. He stated that is the nature of it and most of us want to see something happen, they want to see what it is going to be, what is it going to cost and how are we are going to do it. He stated that as we are looking for partners, he stated that he kept track of people who spoke; there were five from the City of South Bend, two that didn’t give their address, seven or eight from Mishawaka and the rest from the County. He stated that they have some people or partners that need to be approached and should have some resources to help support it. He stated that he doesn’t believe that the City should have to shoulder it alone. He stated that is one of the chores that the City is going to have to get other people to help us out. He stated that he hopes they don’t forget those other entities as this plan comes about. He stated that as the plan comes together, he would be happy to support it, to the extent that it is feasible. Blanket appropriations without explanations are totally inappropriate. As much as everyone wants to see this happen, we have to be responsible about it. He stated that he will not be supporting the request for $200,000, but if he gets information which makes sense, he will be happy to join in. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that earlier he became a bit emotional; his tone was probably pretty high and may have sounded a bit adversarial. He stated that one thing that he does know is that he worked in child support for three years and one of the things that happened while working in child support as a caseworker, he had the opportunity to deal with some sort of a broken family or broken home structure and one thing that he found out is that no one ever came out unscathed or unharmed and no one left happy. He stated that even if one parent was awarded all the back support or not, no one came out happy and that was because there were children involved. He stated that he is a father and has been a father for three years. He stated that his son is not handicapped, disabled in no sort of way, however, his father has MS. He stated that at times he has issues with seeing, walking and participating in physical activities, so he understands. He stated that his job when he was elected to public office was to make sure over the city trust and make sure that they make good decisions based upon reports that are given to them. He stated that he said yes, the report was irresponsible, the way that it came up why someone couldn’t show up with a report. He stated that he doesn’t find anything that the Council is asking for are very difficult. He stated that as this project has been discussed over the past several months there was time to put together a plan and show that there was a plan and now in the eleventh hour which was about two hours ago a new idea of appropriating $200,000 and say they need to do a study, now where those two measure out he doesn’t know, but it sounds like someone doesn’t know what is going on or really does not have a plan. He stated that they are elected to office to make sure that their decisions are fitting for the growth and development of the City of South Bend and all the tax payers within it. He stated that if they cannot do that as a part of their job none of us need to be in public office, none of us need to be department heads, none of us need in public service period. He stated that it is the Council’s responsibility to have a defined plan, clearly there is not a defined plan for this project. He suggested continuing this bill when a plan is derived and then come back and asking for the appropriation. He stated that he is willing to work with the administration, but as it states right now and what has happened over the last three hours, all the emotions that have felt, he doesn’t like being put on the spot, dealing with people’s kids. He doesn’t like that at all. He took offense and took it very personal, because we are dealing with people’s children and no one sees past their children as they shouldn’t. He stated that the City of South Bend did that, they didn’t do that, we did that and that is wrong. Councilmember Kirsits stated that for over six years he was Vice-President for one of the best Little League’s in South Bend: Chet Waggoner. Councilmember Kirsits stated that 15