Latest news with #AndersonCityCouncil
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Anderson City Council asked to adopt complete street policy
ANDERSON — The Anderson City Council is being asked to approve an ordinance to create a Complete Streets group in the city. At the council's April meeting Ben Orcutt, the owner of Buckskin Bikes, asked that an ordinance be approved to promote safety on streets. The ordinance is on the agenda for the Thursday council meeting and includes the appointment of citizens to a committee. Orcutt said Friday that council members are supportive of the proposed ordinance. 'We need to improve infrastructure in the city,' he said. 'The streets are designed for automobile use, but there are people who ride bikes and walk.' He said the Complete Street policy has been adopted by Madison County and other communities. 'The plan is in the future to make streets safer for all users,' Orcutt said. Orcutt cited a study done by the Madison County Council of Governments, which found that two pedestrians or bicyclists are injured every month in Anderson. He said there is an established process to implement the Complete Streets policy. 'We are looking to take a step toward safer streets,' he said. 'There is a wide use of our streets, and we should make accommodations for the people are living here.' Orcutt said with Anderson wanting to attract young families, there should be an effort to make the streets safer for all users. 'We have too many pedestrians being hit by cars and a lot of traffic accidents,' he said. 'We should be doing our best to make the streets safe.' Orcutt said he would like to see the bicycle lanes already established in Anderson expanded in the future. 'Every street needs a safer option,' he said. 'There should be areas for pedestrians and bicyclists not in the traffic lanes.'
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election Board sets hearings for failure to file finance reports
ANDERSON — The Madison County Election Board has set a hearing date for four candidates who didn't file campaign finance reports in 2023. A hearing will take place May 15 for the following candidates: Republican Jon Bell for Anderson mayor; Donita Thompson, a candidate for the District 6 seat on the Anderson City Council who lost in the Democratic Party primary; John Poor, a Republican candidate for the District 2 seat on the Anderson City Council; and Republican Ricky Payne, who ran for mayor in Elwood. Madison County Clerk Linda Smith made a motion to waive all penalties and take no additional action against several committees that didn't file campaign finance reports in 2022. She said almost all of the committees have been disbanded. Smith said of the list of candidates who didn't file campaign finance reports in 2023, only the four that have had hearings set resolved the reporting status. The Election Board also began to formalize the complaint process and the method by which complaints will be handled. 'This is a draft,' Election Board President Tim Lanane said. The document outlining the process and the complaint form will be posted on the county's website. Lanane said the board will consider public comments, and a decision could be made at the next meeting. Complaints must be written on the proper form, properly executed and the allegation stated in writing. Election Board members are to be notified within 48 hours of a complaint being filed. 'The board will determine if a hearing is necessary,' Lanane said. Each board member will respond to the complaint, and if no response is made the recommendation is no response is required. If no board member responds, the Election Room deputy clerk will follow up on the complaint by letter. There can be an investigation of the complaint and a formal hearing.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Savage case set for July trial
ANDERSON — A trial has been set for July in the case of Larry Savage, who faces a felony charge of destroying or misplacing a ballot. Savage appeared in Madison Circuit Court Division 6 Friday, and Judge Mark Dudley set a trial date of July 28 as the second choice on that date. His attorney, Brandon Townsend, said both sides couldn't reach a resolution in plea negotiations. 'I'm innocent and my attorney will prove it,' Savage said in a statement following the hearing. Savage, 51, was charged last year with the felony count and a misdemeanor charge of theft after removing ballots from a test of the county's voting machines on Oct. 3. He called the charges a 'political witch hunt.' The testing of the voting machines is conducted through the Voting System Technical Oversite Program hosted by Ball State University. According to a probable cause affidavit filed by David Peterson with the Indiana State Police, it was discovered that two of the test ballots were missing. Upon reviewing surveillance video, staff members observed Savage folding the two ballots and placing them in his pocket before he left the Madison County Government Center. A few moments after taking the ballots, on the video Savage is observed whispering to Katherine Callahan. Savage then posted on Callahan's Facebook page that the test was three ballots short. Savage said at the time of his arrest that he didn't realize he couldn't take the ballots that were labeled 'sample.' State law requires that all ballots used during testing be sealed. A search warrant, including his cellphone, was served on Savage at his residence. Savage told investigators he took the ballots but believed they were sample ballots and not intended to be counted. A search of Savage's cellphone showed he texted Callahan asking if anything was said about the ballots he took. Callahan texted Savage to let him know officials were looking for the ballots. 'I had three, how can they be one short?' Savage responded. During the serving of the search warrant, Savage told investigators he believed they were sample ballots. Savage said he didn't ask if he could take the ballots while at the courthouse. Savage lost a bid to be mayor of Alexandria in 2019. He also lost in the 2023 primary for an at-large seat on the Anderson City Council; and last year he lost in the primary for the Republican Party nomination in the 5th Congressional District.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Point-in-Time count determines approximately 164 homeless people in county
ANDERSON — Preliminary numbers from a Point-in-Time survey conducted last month indicate approximately 164 county residents are considered homeless. Amber Gordon, the Point-in-Time coordinator with Aspire of Indiana, told members of the Anderson Homeless Task Force Thursday that the most recent numbers are consistent with a year ago. Gordon explained the U.S. Housing & Urban Development Department set the date of Jan. 29 for the count. She said 100 surveys were completed and 88 were confirmed as being from a homeless person. Gordon said that is a preliminary number; the organization is awaiting numbers from the Christian Center in Anderson, Anderson Restoration Church and a men's shelter in Elwood. The final count will be determined in April or May. She said last year the count determined 164 people were considered homeless. 'We ask, Where did you sleep last night?' Gordon said of the survey. She said that includes sleeping outdoors, in a vehicle, in transitional housing with a friend or family member or in a shelter. 'We had volunteers at multiple locations,' Gordon said of the annual count. OTHER BUSINESS The Homeless Task Force, created by the Anderson City Council in 2024, voted to approve job descriptions to hire two employees: one to develop a strategic plan, and the other to write grants. Committee members said there was a need for a low-barrier shelter because many of the homeless don't want to stay in shelters that have specific rules. 'People need a place to sleep,' committee member Tamie Dixon-Tatum said. 'We need to look at ways to help people, instead of just looking at them as a problem.' She said a committee recommended a budget of $50,000 for both the hiring of a strategic planner and a grant writer. The Anderson City Council in December voted to allocate $250,000 from American Rescue Plan funds for the task force. 'We need a strategic plan for immediately and the long term,' said Whitney Johnson, vice president of the task force. 'We're venting our frustrations and recognizing the need.' Pam Shoot, chairperson for the Anderson Christian Center, said they recently hired Pendleton resident Angie Mollenkopf to work on a strategic plan. 'We spent months looking for a strategic planner,' she said. 'It's more than homelessness; we have to do it as a community.' Shoot said the Christian Center looked for someone to help develop a strategy and to address the problems facing Anderson. 'This will take our entire community,' she said. Shoot recommended that the Homeless Task Force consider working with the Christian Center on a strategic plan.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council approves $160,000 in redistricting case
ANDERSON — The redistricting lawsuit filed against the Anderson City Council in 2023 has come to a conclusion. The city council Thursday voted to approve an appropriation of $160,000 to pay the attorneys for Common Cause of Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana and the local chapter of the NAACP. Those organizations filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court alleging the six single-member council districts violated federal law based on the one person, one vote requirement of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Councilman Ollie H. Dixon said before action was taken that he would not vote on the funding and left the meeting. The $160,000 appropriation was approved by a 7-0 vote. Councilman Joe Newman was in not at the meeting. Last month, the council voted unanimously on a new map for the six council districts developed by the Virginia-based CensusChannel that was accepted by the plaintiffs. Under the terms of the settlement, the council agreed to pay the attorneys for the plaintiff $136,680 in fees and costs. Council President Lance Stephenson said in January the council has $50,000 in the 2025 budget and an additional appropriation had to be approved. As part of the settlement, the council also passed the precinct and district block information for the new map. Stephenson said that in the opinion of the Rosemary Khoury, the council's attorney, the vote would settle the case. The federal court dismissed the lawsuit in January after the settlement was reached. When the lawsuit was filed in 2023, the council hired the Chicago law firm of Henderson Parks to represent it. The Chicago firm has been paid $150,000 by the city. Councilman Jeff Freeman said the council has requested a refund from the Chicago firm, which withdrew from the case in December. The judge ruled last year the council violated the U.S. Constitution by failing to redraw the city's six district maps.
