Monday, March 24, 2008

Council Approves Blank Check for 2012 Super Bowl Bid

It's a blank check to underwrite whatever it takes for the City of Indianapolis to host the Super Bowl in 2012. The City-County Council approved Proposal 159, sponsored by Councilor Ryan Vaughn (R), unanimously by voice vote without any debate. It reads, in part:

"The City of Indianapolis, Marion County, and their agencies, departments and personnel ("City"), agree to provide all governmental services and support reasonably necessary to the success of Super Bowl XLVI and related Official
Events within its jurisdiction . . . all at no cost, expense or liability to the NFL or the two participating NFL Clubs (the “Teams”) and that neither the NFL, the Teams, nor any director, shareholder, officer, agent, employee or other representative of the NFL or the Teams shall be held accountable for or incur any financial responsibility or liability of any kind or nature whatsoever in connection with the governmental services and support planned and/or provided by the City relating to Super Bowl XLVI and related Official Events . . ."

Think about that when you get your next property tax bill or the next time the city council asks you to pay for another tax increase or fee hike.

In other business, the council voted 20-8 for a resolution instructing the county auditor to withhold the pay of Coroner Kenneth Ackles until such time as he completes the state coroner's examination as mandated by state law. Ackles has completed 7 out of 10 parts of the state examination. He has two more attempts to pass the 3 remaining parts of the exam. Opponents contend the state law violates Ackles' constitutional rights and another state statute pertaining to the compensation of elected officials.

6 comments:

Wilson46201 said...

As some are fond of saying:
REMEMBER NOVEMBER!

Eclecticvibe said...

Nice to see the Democrats are acting as a loyal opposition!?!? I can't believe there was no discussion of this issue.

indyernie said...

As to the matter of withholding Coroner Kenneth Ackles pay. Ackles and every member on the council took an oath to uphold the laws of Indiana and of the city or county. The law in Indiana dictates that a coroner’s pay is to be withheld if he fails to pass a test on the minimum basic requirements required of a Deputy Coroner. All of the BS spread around tonight was unnecessary...uphold the law of the land and move on. If the City Councilors want to pass law then they need to run for state rep.

Unknown said...

Shut up Gary. You are trying to create problems where there are none. They did not give a blank check to the superbowl bid. It was a Special Resolution which means just as much as the paper it is written on. It is just the council giving its blessing to the cities bid. At no time did they or the proposal say that any money was coming from the city or the taxpayers. Stop trying to start trouble.

Gary R. Welsh said...

unknown, Read the commitment made in the resolution before you comment any further. You'll save yourself from further embarrasmment.

Chris Worden said...

You voted for them, Marion County!Say hello to YOUR FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS!!!
(See Mayor Peterson would have supported the bid, too, but he would have said that up front. Republicans acted like they were going to "stick it to Jim Irsay and the Colts and not wasted anymore of our public dollars," only to turn around and do just that. I promise you that before this bid is submitted, tax dollars will be spent at both the local and state levels.