Residents Express Concerns About Public Funds(posted Nov 13) Some Speedway residents do not see wining and dining with public funds as a necessity to redevelop Speedway while others see it as a justified business expense to grow the town. Resident Raymond Joubert said he would like to see the SRC fund be reimbursed for the wining and dining expenditures. "They (developers) should be wining and dining us," he said. Resident Marie Smith said "No way should they spend money on liquor. We need that for other things. Let them buy their own." Marilyn Hendry, resident, said, "It is definitely wrong. I think the individual should purchase his own alcoholic drink." As far as the wining and dining of meal expenses, Hendry called these "behind the scenes expenditures" that public is not really aware of. "People wonder what happens to all of the money. The perks add up," she said. Frank Hamilton, resident, said "I don't think alcohol should be charged to the taxpayer. They (SRC) should not be reimbursed." Helen Kish thinks a cap needs to be placed on Harris if he is wining and dining more than twice a month. "I don't mean to be a prude, but I would leave alcohol out of this," she said. Mike Milatovich said he opposed using alcohol by public officials as a tool trying to persuade deals. "Alcohol should be a personal choice and an out of pocket expense. Out of pocket expense induces individuals to make personal choices." Milatovich contended that he is qualified to talk about the issue because four generations of Milatovichs made a living by selling alcohol. He said his great grandfather was a bootlegger in the Prohibition days and operated a distillery and a speak easy house on 16th Street. He noted during the Prohibition, his relatives never forced people to drink, "customers came in on their own free will to drink." Jay Jones said "No, no, no, no" to using public funds to reimburse Harris for alcohol. "The SRC is out of control. I would like to see all five of them resign and sent home." Jones believes the taxpayer is being doubled dipped through Harris' wining and dining to promote a road project of vacating Georgetown Road that nobody wants. "Vacating Georgetown Road is putting the IMS security on the taxpayers back," he said. Dotty Hermaling opposed using public funds for food and drinks. "It should be used on the development itself. You don't have to give them food and drink to get them on board with the development plan." Hermaling wanted more accountability of how the money is being spent. Luann Daub contended that Harris should personally have to pay back the SRC fund for those alcohol expenses. Sheliah Adams contends the wining and dining can be done without the alcohol even though it has become a societal norm. She is doubtful that the money used for alcohol could be paid back to the SRC fund. Nikki Hoppengarner sees government as a business. "I do feel that is a justified cost that should be reimbursed by the Speedway Redevelopment Commission funds. It is a business expense and business is about building relationships with people you are trying to do business with." She also added that guidelines be set for the entertainment that is to be reimbursed, tracked and recorded properly. |
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