3. August 2008 by Greg Kelver.

As a taxpayer, I appreciate it when I see an elected advocate a genuinely sensible idea. LaPorte County Recorder Barbara Dean has one that should be seriously considered http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=50&SubSectionID=75&ArticleID=16384&TM=18519.89

Investing in a wind turbine that would provide some “green” power is actually a pretty good idea.  It could provide some electrical power to the county to reduce future energy bills  and serve as a good example to other LaPorte County citizens who are concerned about both energy and environment.  Using taxpayer money to sharply reduce LaPorte County government energy consumption through sensible energy conservation projects coupled with cutting edge power generation is the best way to fight a NIPSCO price increase.  Sharply cut the demand, allow more free market competition to counter NIPSCO’s government created monopoly, and let basic supply and demand economics do their job.  A wind turbine certainly is a much, much better investment of taxpayers’ dollars than paying out huge legal fees so that County Attorney Friedman can create the illusion of fighting a NIPSCO rate increase.

There are plenty of other areas where sensible investments could generate some real long term benefits.  If you come down to the Mill Pond Festival on August 23-24, take a look at the dam and the road going into the park.  Because of age and deterioration, the ”black hole” that serves as the dam gate is going to require replacement and reconstruction.  Instead of just replacing it, perhaps someone should look at the potential for a small hydroelectric generator installation.   The water flow over that dam certainly has the potential to generate some green power 24/7 if we are smart enough to take advantage of it. There probably are a number of other areas in LaPorte County where hydroelectric power might make sense.

Unfortunately, ideas like wind energy turbines will likely be killed off before they even start because of the “ban everything” crew that exists in LaPorte County.  The unelected Plan Commission has already passed a wind energy ordinance

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=16426&TM=21216.54 

Although a multimodal train yard is bearing down on Union Mills full throttle, LaPorte County Government seems oblivious to the “vibration” and pollution potential that will inflict on the residents of Union Mills.  But before a company can even start to study LaPorte County potential for wind energy, the LaPorte County Planner is already waving the regulatory red flag. 

God save us from the planners.

Posted in Energy, Government | No Comments »

18. July 2008 by Greg Kelver.

Once again the LaPorte County Commissioners have demonstrated that they are not qualified to govern a high school class much less a real county with 110,000 real lives in it.

It is a given fact that just about everybody thinks they are paying way too much for gas and electric.  It certainly doesn’t take much political skill to get people riled up when somebody starts kicking NIPSCO in the shins.  So in yet another brilliant political smokescreen designed to distract LaPorte County Taxpayers while generating more billable hours for the County Attorney, the Commissioners have given him the go ahead to blow smoke from NIPSCO’s upcoming rate increase. Even though the News-Dispatch reports that County Attorney Friedman said it is unknown what kind of increase the energy company is seeking until it files information in August.

 http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=15966 

Positively brilliant political pandering! Nothing like waiting to get all the facts before you announce that you are going to waste more of somebody’s money doing stuff you really shouldn’t be doing in the first place. But please keep in mind this is the same Commissioner Dream Team that has been yanking LaPorte County property taxpayers around for over a year and still can’t get it right even after being roughed up by the DLGF.

Let’s cut the bullshit.  As a small business owner who understands real economic development, I can assure the Commissioners and County Attorney Friedman that the disaster that they have created with their property tax mess is a FAR, FAR greater detriment to LaPorte County’s ability to attract new business than NIPSCO’s first rate increase case since 1987 will be. For the last twenty years, I have spent my life helping businesses to save energy in their buildings.  I know firsthand that smart businesses can save tremendous amounts of energy and improve their bottom line through sensible engineering choices.  But unfortunately, business has absolutely no such similar option for the screwed up property tax reassessment system inflicted on them by state legislators and incompetent electeds.  Ladies and gentlemen, if you truly want to understand why we have economic problems, please focus your attention on the three ring circus of local, state and federal government, not NIPSCO. 

But what is truly rich about the Commissioners quicksand stand against NIPSCO’s upcoming rate case is that at this very same meeting, they voted to sharply raise the fees for tests provided by the LaPorte County Health Department. Those sharp increases  included doubling the fee for blood profiles for county employees.  They also announced that the Health Department will start testing for chicken pox at $170 a pop.  Chicken pox!! Hello Forest, meet the Trees.

Personally, I think it is amazingly hypocritical for the Commissioners to hike the county  fees for basic health testing at the very same meeting they present the political illusion of fighting NIPSCO. But of course that is just my opinion.  Voters certainly will have an opportunity to give their own opinion in a few weeks.

Vote for more of the same, get more of the same.

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