HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-27-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana met in
the Council Chambers of the County-City Building on Monday, August 27, 2012 at 7:00
p.m. The meeting was called to order by Council President Dieter and the Invocation and
Pledge to the Flag were given.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS:
st
Present: Tim Scott 1 District
nd
Henry Davis, Jr. 2 District
rd
Valerie Schey 3 District
th
Fred Ferlic 4 District
th
David Varner 5 District
th
Oliver J. Davis 6 District, Vice-President
Derek Dieter At-Large, President
Gavin Ferlic At-Large
Karen L. White At-Large, Chairperson Committee of the Whole
OTHERS PRESENT:
Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand Council Attorney
John Voorde City Clerk
Janice I. Talboom Deputy
Mary Beth Wisniewski Chief Deputy
REPORT FROM THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON MINUTES
Councilmember Scott made a motion that the minutes of the August 27, 2012 Meeting of
the Council be accepted and placed on file. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the
motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes.
SPECIAL BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 4200-12 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
HONORING DICKINSON INTERMEDIATE
FINE ARTS ACADEMY
,
Whereas the South Bend Common Council notes that Pablo Picasso once wrote
that “Every child is an Artist…” which has become the motto of Dickinson Intermediate
Fine Arts Academy located at 4404 West Elwood Avenue in South Bend; and
Whereas, the Common Council is proud to recognize that Intermediate Fine Arts
Academy, under the director of Thomas Sims, Principal and Dr. Carole Schmidt, South
Bend School Community School Corporation Superintendent was awarded a1003(g)
School Improvement Grant (SIG) of $1,574,275 for the 2012-2013 school year by the
Indiana Department of Education; and
Whereas, the SIG program provides monies to schools who demonstrate a
“serious commitment to raising student academic achievement through comprehensive
improvement plans” with this program being federally funded and administered through
the State of Indiana; and
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
Whereas, the South Bend Common Council would further like to acknowledge
that the Indiana Department of Education announced that Dickinson Fine Arts Academy
“…showed greater gains than any other middle school in the state, with 26 percent more
of its students passing both the E/LA and Math portions of the ISTEP+”; with Dr.
Schmidt noting that “What Dickinson did was focus on developing relationships with
their kids and setting the bar very high….then they supported them in getting there and
not bringing the bar down”.
Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend
Indiana, as follows:
Section I. On behalf of the citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana, the
Common Council congratulates Dickinson Intermediate Fine Arts Academy, its dedicated
administrators, teachers, and students for their recent academic accomplishments.
Section II. The Common Council wishes everyone at Dickinson Intermediate
Fine Arts Academy an even better 2012-2013 academic year, and wishes all of its
students, parents, teachers, and administrators the very best in the year ahead.
Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its
adoption by the Council and approval by the Mayor.
Councilmember Henry Davis, 5117 Idlewood Drive, South Bend, Indiana, made the
presentation for this Resolution by first offering his comments and then reading the
Resolution in its entirety and presenting it to faculty of Dickinson Intermediate Fine Arts
Academy.
There was no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in
opposition to this Resolution.
Councilmember Varner made a motion to adopt this Resolution by acclamation.
Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICES
MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG
Mayor Pete Buttigieg gave an update on recent activity in the administration. He stated
that this was a week with a lot of public activity which will be open to citizens which is
great. Regular budget meetings are of course underway and took this opportunity to
reiterate his thanks for leadership to Councilmember White and for partnership with City
Controller Mark Neal as they work on getting the shared priorities into place for next
years budget. He wanted to remind everyone that there is a public information session
scheduled tomorrow evening at the Robinson Community Learning Center, which is
scheduled for 5:30 p.m. He stated that he hopes it will be well attended. He stated that
he is doing his next Mayor’s night in here in the lobby of the County-City Building and
in his office. He wanted to remind Councilmember’s that he thinks citizens really
appreciate the opportunity to interact whenever they are free to come participate in those
events. The illegal dumping crew has now collected its five millionth pound of trash
from our city streets and counting, improving the aspect of our neighborhoods. He stated
as is the ongoing effort of the vacant and abandoned housing task force which will have
its next public hearing this week. He stated that he looks forward to receiving a report
from that task force later on this early fall, late summer, probably by the end of
September. He stated that the task force keeps up-to-date on the day-to-day, but he looks
forward to having the opportunity to circulate that draft report when there is an
opportunity. Mayor Buttigieg hoped that everyone was able to notice the turbine
installation which helps to demonstrate that we are on the cutting edge when it comes to
energy as a city. He stated 500,000 kilowatt hours a year is going to come out of that and
going to save about $40,000 a year in taxpayer cost from the energy that we are going to
be able divert to the city and not have to buy from the power company. He stated that it
was built almost entirely with Federal Stimulus dollars. The Mayor advised that since he
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
was last here, the LPGA, the road to the LPGA tour place at Blackthorn Golf Course.
The attendance was 7,500 for all three days. They think that is a record for that league
and certainly a profitable event for Blackthorn about twice as much income as was
projected about $40,000.00 based on the preliminary numbers which is good news. You
may have seen some press that the Animal Shelter is up and running it is not officially
open, they haven’t done an official grand-opening, that will be scheduled soon, but they
have gone ahead and made the move, you can think of it as a soft move, soft opening and
it looks like there off to a good start there. Mayor Buttigieg stated that they are seeing
some good activity on the jobs front, notably with this Council’s action on the tax
abatement supporting 30 new jobs and 396 retained jobs with the Tire Rack, which is
very good news. He stated that the mortgage and foreclosure and pre-purchase
counselors don’t get a lot of attention but he wanted to mention that they have assisted
134 residents to date this year out of the Community & Economic Development
Department, which is also very good news. He stated that he is asking the Council to
help him get the word out about paper waste containers to yard waste. He stated that they
think that will save ten of thousands of dollars, if they could just get citizens to stop using
plastic bags and start using paper bags, they are big, they come up to about your waist,
you can get them the same place you get the plastic bags. They are relatively cheap and
when they go into the waste stream, we don’t have to spend a lot of money separating
that plastic from the mulch. There is money to separate it and then it also costs money to
haul it and then there are tipping fees in the tens of thousands of dollars every year to get
rid of that plastic. So they are trying not to do it with any rules, we are just going to ask
people to do the right thing. It would be very helpful if Councilmember’s could help
them get the word out. He stated that he wanted to brag on the Fire Department for a
moment, they won a luminary award for their excellent work last in evacuating portions
of the downtown area that were affected by a gas main leak. It was great to see that they
were recognized by NIPSCO for that work. He also wanted everyone to stay tuned on
the technology front. He stated that the Council got some updates on this recently; the
city website is coming along as they work to overhaul that. He stated that we will soon
notice a change to e-mail that hopefully will make all of our lives a little bit better as we
go through migration from Novell GroupWise to the Microsoft Office Program. He
stated that the IT team is really working at lightning speed for that kind of migration; they
hope to have it done in a matter of weeks and are very grateful to them for the hard work.
They have announced the police chief search process, it is happening over the coming
weeks. He stated that he was grateful for the opportunity to introduce the police search
consultant Robert Wasserman to the members of the Council as well as the public safety
committee last weekend at the Board of Public Safety. He stated that they have spoke as
a follow-up to ideas that were expressed at that time with Mr. Wasserman and his
associate Robert Stewart about making sure that in addition to a town hall there are other
opportunities in smaller to engage in community leaders and citizens. He stated that
there was concern about the security of tape recordings there was a written response
issued to that he believes this morning if you need any more information on that you can
follow up with his Chief of Staff Mike Schmuhl.
RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
At 7:16 p.m. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to resolve into the Committee
of the Whole. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a
voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember White, Chairperson, presiding.
Councilmember White, explained the procedures to be followed for tonight’s meeting in
accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code.
Councilmember White stated that a brochure may be found on the railing in the Council
Chambers explaining those procedures.
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
PUBLIC HEARINGS
BILL NO. 39-12 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING THE LEGAL
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 10165-12
WHICH IDENTIFIED THE BOUNDARIES OF A
RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
AREA UNDER INDIANA CODE 7-3-20-16
Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand advised that the Indiana Code Section in
the title of the bill was incorrect. She advised that it should read 7.1-3-20-16.
Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to correct the title. Councilmember Scott
seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
Aaron Perri, Executive Director, Downtown South Bend, Inc., 217 South Michigan
Street, South Bend, Indiana made the presentation for this bill.
Mr. Perri advised that on June 25, 2012 the South Bend Common Council passed
Ordinance No. 10165-12 which identified the boundaries of a Riverfront Development
Project. It was recently discovered that due to a scrivener’s error tat real estate located at
301 and 305 South Michigan Street were not included in the legal description in “Exhibit
B” in that Ordinance. This bill would rectify that legal description oversight.
This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the on the above bill,
proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.
There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in
opposition to this bill, Councilmember Ferlic made a motion for favorable
recommendation to full Council concerning this bill as amended. Councilmember Oliver
Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
RISE AND REPORT
Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to rise and report to the full Council.
Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9)
ayes.
ATTEST: ATTEST:
_________________________ _________________________
John Voorde, City Clerk Karen White, Chairperson
Committee of the Whole
REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED
Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened in the
Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the County-City Building at 7:21 p.m. President
Dieter presided with nine (9) members present.
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
BILLS – THIRD READING
ORDINANCE NO. 10178-12 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
AMENDING THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF
ORDINANCE NO. 10165-12 WHICH
IDENTIFIED THE BOUNDARIES OF A
RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
AREA UNDER INDIANA CODE 7.1-3-20-16
This bill had third reading. Councilmember Varner made a motion to amend this bill as
in the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Scott seconded the motion which
carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Additionally, Councilmember Varner made a
motion to pass this bill as amended. Councilmember Scott seconded the motion which
carried. The bill passed by a roll call vote of eight (8) ayes.
RESOLUTIONS
BILL NO.12-65 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
APPROVING A PETITION OF THE AREA
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS FOR THE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1124 – 1130 NAPIER
ST., SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
BILL NO. 12-66 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE HOWARD
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN
Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to continue Bill Nos. 12-65 and 12-66 until
the September 10, 2012 meeting of the Council. Councilmember White seconded the
motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
BILLS, - FIRST READING
BILL NO.40-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL TO VACATE THE
FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: THE
FIRST NORTH/SOUTH ALLEY WEST OF
NOTRE DAME AVENUE FROM HOWARD
STREET SOUTH TO THE FIRST EAST/WEST
ALLEY FOR A DISTANCE OF 198 FEET AND A
WIDTH OF 14 FEET. SAID ALLEY IS PART OF
ND
SORIN’S 2 ADDITION TO THE CITY OF
SOUTH BEND, PORTAGE TOWNSHIP, ST.
JOSEPH COUNTY, INDIANA
This bill had first reading. Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third
Reading on September 10, 2012. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion
which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes.
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
BILL NO. 41-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL TO CORRECT
THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IN ORDINANCE
10144-12, WHICH VACATED THE
FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY:
SEVERAL ALLEYS, PORTIONS OF ALLEYS
AND PORTIONS OF DUEY STREET, BURNS
STREET, GEORGIANA STREET AND ST.
VINCENT STREET
This bill had first reading. Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the
Public Works and Property Vacation Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third
Reading on September 10, 2012. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion
which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes.
BILL NO. 42-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL LEVYING TAXES
AND FIXING THE RATE OF TAXATION FOR
THE PURPOSE OF RAISING REVENUE TO
MEET THE NECESSARY EXPENSES OF THE
CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH BEND FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2013
BILL NO. 43-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL APPROPRIATING
MONIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING
THE EXPENSES OF SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS
OF THE CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2013 AND ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2013 INCLUDING ALL
OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGATIONS
AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME
SHALL TAKE EFFECT
BILL NO. 44-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA APPROPRIATING MONIES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE
EXPENSES OF THE DESIGNATED
ENTERPRISE FUNDS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2013 AND ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2013, INCLUDING ALL
OUTSTANDING CLAIMS, AND
OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN
THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT
These bills had first reading. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to refer Bill
Nos. 42-12; 43-12; and 44-12 to the Personnel & Finance Committee and set them for
rd
Public Hearing on September 24, 2012 and 3 Reading on October 8, 2012.
Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8)
ayes.
BILL NO. 45-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND INDIANA, FOR BUDGET TRANSFERS
FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA FOR THE
YEAR 2012
This bill had first reading. Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the
Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
September 10, 2012. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried
by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
BILL NO. 46-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING
ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY SERVICES
OPERATIONS IN 2012 OF $128,134 FROM
GENERAL FUND (#101), $163,000 FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT CONTINUING EDUCATIONS
FUND (#220), $26,000 FROM LOSS RECOVERY
FUND (#227), $40,000 FROM HUMAN RIGHTS
GRANTS FUND (#258), $30,000 FROM POLICE
BLOCK GRANTS (#280), AND $60,000 FROM
POLICE DRUG ENFORCEMENT FUND (#299)
This bill had first reading. Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the
Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on
September 10, 2012. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried
by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes
BILL NO. 47-12 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA APPROPRIATING
ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
DEPARTMENTAL AND ENTERPRISE
OPERATIONS IN 2012 OF $490,400 FROM
WATER WORKS DEPRECIATION FUND (#622)
This bill had first reading. Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the
Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on
September 10, 2012. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a
voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
REPORTS FROM THE AREA PLAN COMMISSION
BILL NO. 32-12 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT
1441 N. MICHIGAN STREET AND WEST OF
1441 N. MICHIGAN STREET, COUNCILMANIC
DISTRICT NO. 4 IN THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA
BILL NO. 33-12 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WEST OF AND
ADJACENT TO 1441 NORTH MICHIGAN
STREET, COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT NO. 4 IN
THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
BILL NO. 34-12 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT
709/711 LINCOLNWAY EAST, SOUTH BEND,
COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT (DISTRICT 2) IN
THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to refer Bill Nos. 32-12; 33-12 and 34-12 to
the Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on
September 10, 2012. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a
voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
NEW BUSINESS
Council President Dieter asked for a moment of pray for the recovery of Brett
Banasiewicz.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
Jesse Davis, 133 E. Calvert, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he filed an access to public
records request regarding the city leak insurance program. He asked that the Council
look into this issue.
Greg Brown, 1238 Diamond, South Bend, Indiana, stated that they are organizing a
protest for next month. He stated that they are fed up with the injustice in South Bend.
Mario Sims, no address given, President, Citizens United for a Better Government, stated
that the first planning meeting for the protest will be held at the Emmanuel Church. He
stated that they will be protesting the injustice that is happening in the City.
Samuel Brown, 222 E. Navarre, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the South Bend Police
Department doesn’t need to look outside of the department to fill the Chief of Police
position.
Christine Jacobs, 52942 Camellia Drive, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she was down
at the police station last week and heard Chief Horvath state that the reason that the
public could not tour the communication center was because they needed clearance. She
stated that she has clearance; she has been a foster parent for 15 years. She stated that
she feels like everything is being pushed off. She stated that she relocated here from
California 15 years to what she thought was a better city, quite, smaller city. She stated
that there was so much violence where she lived in California. She stated that the Mayor
and Council aren’t doing anything about all what is going on here. She stated that she
would like to stay here and not have to relocate again.
Stephanie Jones, 4224 Irish Hills Drive, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she has lived in
South Bend for about 4 years. She stated approximately 16 months ago her 16 year old
son went to school at Penn High School, got into an altercation with another student, was
called a nigger, and was kicked out of school. During the time that he got kicked out of
school, it was over a phone. She stated that her son went over to a friend’s house the next
day that was the last time she saw her son. She stated that she made a police report and
her life hasn’t been the same since. She stated that she got a knock at the door from the
St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department; she thought they had her son out in the car, he
was only 16 years old, and his name was Ja’had Vasquez, African-America, and
Mexican. She was asked to describe her son, and was informed that he was no longer
here. She said that they told her it was asphyxiation. She stated that she thinks that
someone killed her son. She was told that it was a suicide. She stated that her son was
found in the back of Middleboro and Queensboro, just off of private property, a very
secluded area, who does that to a child. He was found hung off of an electrical tower.
She stated that there was no investigation, she went to the Sheriff’s Department and was
told that she couldn’t see any pictures. She stated that ever since then it’s been a dead
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
end. She stated that her life has been on hold; she can’t function, wondering where her
son for almost 42 hours, no investigation, no anything, all she knows is that they told here
is no longer here and her life hasn’t been the same. She stated that one thing led to
another and they told her that she couldn’t see her son until about 6:00 that evening,
everything was taken out of her hands, she was so distraught, and her son was transferred
to Hanley’s Funeral Home, no autopsy, no nothing.
Thomas Bush, 1778 Prairie Avenue, stated that he wanted to follow up on what Ms.
Jones stated about her son. He stated that they did go in depth with an investigation in
what the Sheriff’s Department did. He stated that on September 15, 2011, they had a
meeting with the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Grzegorek and couple of his Captains and
a lawyer, Lynn Coleman, Rev. Jackson, NAACP, Ms. Jones and Phil Wright. Ms. Jones
has been trying to get a meeting with the Sheriff’s Department, so she got in contact with
the NAACP and after a while they were able to go in. He stated that Ms. Jones is looking
for some closure. He stated that all that the Sheriff’s Department would say is to try to
convince her when she went in was that this was a suicide. He stated that he left home on
a Tuesday, and didn’t see him again until Thursday hanging off that electric tower. He
stated that he asked Sheriff Grzegorek that we are looking at a window here of about 30
some hours. He asked where the kid was, he couldn’t answer that question. He asked if
he was threatened. No, that was the first time they ever heard of that. According to Ms.
Jones she was coerced into having the body cremated. He stated that he asked Sheriff
Grzegorek how can you say or determine that this was a suicide. He stated that he looked
at him and looked at his captains Capps and Commander Decker and said between the
three of us we got over 40 years of investigating homicides, we know a suicide when we
see one. He stated that he doesn’t know why you need another whole department to
come over crime scenes to check it out, just call Grzegorek up and let him look at it and
he can tell you what happened.
Brother John Kennedy, 222 N. Wellington, South Bend, Indiana stated that he is praying
to the Lord, and wants everyone to know that we just need closure on this situation,
investigation and we need to ask some questions on where he was at, and what happened
at school, and who was there. We just need to ask some closure questions about what
happened; we need to ask some kind of questions, not just sweep in under the bridge.
God is going to know. He knows what happened, and sooner or later it is going to come
out.
Shana Penn, P. O. Box 274, Mishawaka, Indiana, stated that she has never heard their
story before, but you can direct the Sheriff’s Department into touch DNA analysis, his
clothing would probably have some kind of fibers still standing as well as the device.
When somebody touches something, we leave behind things. They have that method to
use. She just wanted to offer that information up. She stated that it seems like in St.
Joseph County we have a lot of unsolved homicides going on. One in particular is the
unsolved homicide Ronnie Ciesielski. She stated that she has a personal problem within
Ronnie Ciesielski unsolved homicide that statements have been made that maybe he
deserved what he got, look at the crowd he was running with. She stated that it doesn’t
matter what crowd he ran with, he was somebody’s son, he was somebody’s child, he
somebody’s friend. She stated that there is a gentleman on Ironwood his case is still
unsolved, there is DNA evidence that could actually used to clear and convict. She stated
that she works on wrongful conviction appellate cases. She stated that is what she
specializes in and knows all about DNA, it could be utilized. She stated that she is
reading a trial transcript, now that a metro-homicide and a prosecutor’s office, they only
sent 10 pieces of articles for DNA testing in a case that they convicted a man for 55
years, 10 pieces. Now what is the likelihood that those 10 pieces of evidence that they
sent down to the Indiana Crime Lab was actually, they were evidence or exhibits that
actually convicted him. What about the other 40 that could have probably exonerated
him? She stated that she can tell you and she promises you that she is looking into it and
she is going to get to the bottom of it. But to the family, have the Sheriff’s Department
look into it. DNA evidence is the key to convicting and clearing the wrongful convicted
and convicting the wrong.
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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, President Derek D. Dieter
adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
ATTEST: ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
John Voorde, City Clerk Derek D. Dieter, President
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