Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Before a family can build a home, the foundation has to be laid.
Concerned County Citizens laid the foundation for their organization Monday in the meeting room of the Warsaw Community Public Library. For the next six months, the group will be a "stand-alone federation." After the six months expire, CCC will then decide what type of group they will become.
Don Miller said the group has decisions to make. He said they should have a mission statement, an agenda and a board of directors. They have to choose if they want to be a loose federation or a state chartered union.
"As a former member and president of (Taxpayers' Action Network), I would like to say this: I think the county could use a citizen's advocacy group if it has a mission statement and people who do the work of the organization," Miller said.
Herschel Rainwater, an organizer of the group, was chosen president for the next six months. Sue Guiff was chosen as secretary. The group intends to be a non-partisan, non-profit organization that provides an avenue through which all people of the county can have a voice.
"The reason (it's non-partisan) is because (partisanship) is a destroyer," Rainwater said.
He said there is no active group that gives county officials input. He said CCC can become a group to give county officials input.
"Everyone must have an input as to what we're doing or it won't work," Rainwater told the nine people at the first meeting. "Your ideas are very important. This is the foundation we're setting tonight. We can add to it later."
He said some of the issues they could work on are the nuisance ordinance, including dogs and motorcycles; county wages; the Animal Welfare League; and the Economic Development Income Tax. They are all issues that need to be addressed, he said.
"If you go in numbers, you go in force. If you go alone - ta ta," he said.
Sharon Galloway said, "Then (county officials) get on the kick that if you voice your opinion too much, then you're off the wall."
Rainwater said before one embarrasses a county official, the CCC should give them a chance to solve the problem first.
Members of the newly formed CCC discussed some of the issues briefly while deciding where they want to take the group and the rules and objective of the CCC.
On the nuisance ordinance, Rainwater told the CCC, "(Commissioners) are dragging their feet."
Sonya Morgan said the sheriff's department would not do anything about barking dogs in her neighborhood because, "They (said they) can turn the knob on the stereo but they can't turn the knob on their dog."
Rainwater said the county wastes money in part because they and the city of Warsaw pay their attorneys too much.
"Mike Valentine's a city attorney. He charges the city $125 an hour. This is just an example of what I'm talking about," Rainwater said.
"(Mike Miner) makes $338 an hour on assumption the county commissioners meeting lasts two hours. That's your county officials."
Morgan said, "If the people of the county don't make you do your job, then you've got a free ride."
Rainwater said he has a stack of documented materials on the county officials and some of the things they have done as government officials.
"I don't want to see national issues here because there's plenty to do in the county," he said.
The group will tentatively meet again Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the library to discuss their approach to the county council on the Economic Development Income Tax.
"The county does not need to pass additional taxation on its citizens," Miller said.
He also said, "Another part of EDIT that I find troubling is that it's an economic development income tax on the individual. But, who's going to profit from it? The realtors, business owners and developers."
Rainwater said, "The way we beat EDIT last time is we got in their face."
He said they gathered petitions for both sides. About 758 people petitioned against EDIT while only 11 signed for EDIT in the county.
"The council knew that but they didn't even allow discussion on it," Miller said.
Galloway said, "According to Avis Gunter, she says we need more tax. She says people need more taxes."
Ralph Dotson said, "What I don't believe is people don't take (EDIT) seriously."
Members present decided to meet once a month. They will also meet as needed to address specific county issues, such as EDIT.
"We're doing it together. We're doing it for the county," Rainwater said.
Anyone wanting to join CCC can contact Herschel Rainwater at 453-4039, or fax him at 453-2555.
