FLOYD COUNTY — Reader not impressed with City Council



New Albany’s City Council, once again, shows it's clueless.

In regards to the Aug. 1 Tribune article referring to the council's input valued for contract negotiations — talk about clueless. Mention was made in reference to both police longevity pay, and minimum staffing requirements. Seriously?

First, we don't get a yearly cost of living raise, so the longevity pay is at best something to compensate for that, and putting your life on the line year after year. Not to mention we haven't had a raise in two years.

Second, with our current police staffing levels still under federal standards for the officers we need for a city this size, are you actually saying we need to cut back even more officers on the street?

Right now, (and thanks to the contract) there can be no less than five officers working on any day. This is just a safety factor, not just a number we pulled out of the air. It is the bare minimum number of officers we can have on the street and still be somewhat safe. Which is still too low. So, five officers for what — 40,000 plus citizens?

I can't tell you how many alarm runs or domestics I have gone to alone because there wasn't a back-up officer available, because they were busy on other runs.

Third, and most important and ironic, Councilman Jack Messer's statement about police mismanagement of staff has increased overtime pay. Again, seriously?

Right now, I'm trying to think of how many days of overtime I worked covering for you, while you,  Jack, were off for almost two months for your injured back, allegedly while golfing and cutting grass. Isn't it also ironic you were given six hours of overtime to come in for the merit board hearing for the mess you created. Quoting from SNL news, "Seriously? I mean really.”

Then in the Tribune a couple of days ago, once again the take home cars are mentioned, and the gas used by them and Councilman Steve Price is quoted as inquiring, "where does all that gas go?"

Well, let me give you a little insight, Mr. Price. A lot of it goes to constant, almost everyday false runs to the same businesses, time and time again. The alarms go off due to faulty alarm equipment or an employee's mistake. Either way, two Police units are sent every time only to find it's a false run, after driving all the way across the city at times.

Here's an idea — Louisville has been doing it for years, and Clarksville started it a couple of years ago — we start fining these businesses and homes after the first two false runs, and the monies collected go into our fuel budget. Guarantee one of two things will happen — employees will be better trained on their alarm systems or many businesses and homes will start getting their systems fixed to stop the problem, once it starts affecting their wallets. Not to mention less wasted fuel used by the police vehicles, for said problem. There you go, problem somewhat solved, or at best, helped.

I could go on, and on, but I'm only allowed so much space.

—Tim Wells, New Albany