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Residents criticize county and council votes on development agreement and tax abatement changes
Summary
Public commenters urged the county to oppose recent changes to affirmative action language in a development agreement and revisions to the tax abatement ordinance; commissioners responded but took no formal action at the meeting.
Several residents used the Board of Commissioners' public comment period to criticize recent changes to a development agreement and to the county's tax abatement ordinance, and to urge commissioners to oppose those changes.
Dan Caruso of Compton Street, New Carlisle, said he ‘‘respect[s] what you fellas do’’ but faulted commissioners for not vetoing "the affirmative action language changes in the development agreement" during a prior meeting. Caruso said he believed the existing language dated to February 2009 and that commissioners had an opportunity to veto the changes; he added he feared political influences and contributions affected the outcome.
Cheryl Nicks of Clay Township urged the board to oppose changes to the tax abatement ordinance and said the county should "respect diversity and equity and inclusion." Nicks also said the county council vote to change the ordinance was 5–4 and that overriding a veto would have required six votes. She said meeting videos from the council were still not posted and asked the county to remedy that.
Mike McMillan of Lilac Road praised Commissioner Morton and criticized proponents of the ordinance changes; his remarks included references to national political figures and historical examples.
Board members responded briefly during the session but took no formal action on the matters raised. One speaker who identified himself only as a commissioner told the audience he had never voted based on campaign contributions and defended his vote from the prior meeting, saying he hoped to obtain another vote on the issue soon. Another attendee who said they had attended the council meeting said about two dozen people spoke against the change while a small number spoke in favor.
Background: Speakers referenced a recent county council vote to change affirmative action language in a development agreement and to amend the tax abatement ordinance. At this meeting the commissioners did not reverse council action; no motion to veto or other formal action appears in the transcript.
