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REGULAR MEETING November 12, 2018
<br /> Sharon Banicki,3822 Ford Street, South Bend, IN, stated,As I promised you earlier,Tim, I'll keep
<br /> it short and sweet. As most of you know, I was privileged and blessed to get my sidewalk and curb
<br /> replaced. I'm the only one in the block. Oliver took care of me and, of course, all the rest of the
<br /> neighbors hate me. My concern is that the curb is already cracking. I went by a couple of the other
<br /> places where the City did the Curb and Sidewalk Program and I thought it was odd when they did
<br /> mine. They didn't do the whole sidewalk. They did just the tree lawn part of the sidewalk but they
<br /> didn't do the sidewalk in front of my driveway, nor did they do the driveway entrance itself. I'm
<br /> not sure if that should have been done. I don't know who to contact to see if it was supposed to be
<br /> done. I already sent Oliver pictures of it because it was within thirty (30) days of them putting it
<br /> in that it was cracking. Um, yeah. So obviously it won't last another thirty years if it is already
<br /> cracking. I hate to rain on your parade.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis interjected, She's correct.
<br /> Ms. Banicki continued, Also, I have a friend that lives in Southmore Housing and it seems to me
<br /> that the City Council gave Miami Hills tax abatements or helped them with redoing their housing.
<br /> Part of the deal was they were going to clean it up and get rid of the rough environment that is
<br /> living there and that hasn't happened. She has had three (3) shootings from Miami Hills which
<br /> butts up against Southmore within a month. I don't know if there is anything the City can do to
<br /> help. As far as getting rid of the felony conviction people that live there, they never moved them
<br /> out. They are still there. It is still a rat hole so I don't know if there is anything that you could do
<br /> to help people in Southmore who are living there. Thanks, Happy Thanksgiving!
<br /> Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, South Bend, IN, stated, I spoke with Gavin earlier about a
<br /> project. As a citizen advocate, I have a lot of resources that I use when people ask me questions
<br /> on how to get help with something. I gave him about twelve(12)brochures, I want to say. I asked
<br /> that the Clerk's Office scan them in and they would be on your counter top so if you have a citizen
<br /> ask you, you would have that resource as well. We are in an electronic age, (waving at the camera)
<br /> those people listening at home, I think you should be able to give comments, too. I would like the
<br /> ability to be able to email questions or tweet questions or whatever for the Council and be able to
<br /> be part of the process from their house. I think we should be able to do it and that is part of my
<br /> ADA part of being a citizen advocate. I would like to remind everyone that the outstanding debt,
<br /> and I went on the State website today, for the City of South Bend is $290,495,504. That works out
<br /> to $2,871.42 per person in South Bend. The State thinks that anywhere between eight hundred
<br /> dollars ($800) to $1,400 is reasonable and we are at double that. $2,800 per person in South Bend
<br /> with a current debt load. I think the Council needs to look at the debt bubble. It looks like it doesn't
<br /> drop off until 2024 and so when considering new debt,bonds, and things like that, I think we need
<br /> to be real cognizant of that because if there is an economic downturn, which of course happens,
<br /> and the COIT suddenly drops,that is really going to create a shortfall. On a personal level, I helped
<br /> someone who is homeless at the Homeless Center. He's back on his feet. He has his home and is
<br /> back with his daughter and I got to thinking about that. I took on one (1) individual. I can't take
<br /> on everybody and I think we need to create, if you look at the AA model where someone has a
<br /> sponsor, I think that churches and religious organizations could adopt one (1) homeless person,
<br /> sponsor them, and make sure they get their clothes, medication, get to their appointment and get
<br /> them to whatever programs they need. I think, you know, what is it? Light work among many
<br /> hands. I think that is something we could do. Faith In Indiana might be a good bridge between the
<br /> group of homeless providers and the Faith Groups in Michiana.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis interjected, Real quick,could we clarify for the record, and we don't
<br /> always do this, but with the issue of the bond and the monies scheduled for Miami Hills?
<br /> Council President Tim Scott replied, Yeah, and I stated it earlier today. This Council approved a
<br /> bond for them to take out money for improvements. They never followed through on that bond.
<br /> Because it was a bond within a municipality, it had to come through us for our blessing and they
<br /> never did follow up on that. I also think they went for a tax credit and I think that also may have
<br /> come before us and they didn't do that. We will talk more offline about that.
<br /> ADJOURNMENT
<br /> There being no further business to come before the Council, President Tim Scott adjourned the
<br /> meeting at 7:52 p.m.
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