Letter to the Editor

Man encourages residents to attend council meetings

Friday, September 14, 2007

To the Editor:

The purpose to this letter is to inform and correct what appears as a quote of not caring about the people of Linton.

Quite the contrary, my concerns are totally with the safety and health of this community. I attended a city council meeting on Sept. 10 and expressed my concerns of a building referred to as the Barnes property. Over the past eight years I have watched the building decay. The roof trusses have fallen to the floor and the brick has separated from the concrete block on the east wall. Clearly the building is shifting and very unstable.

My major concern is securing the site so no young adult or child is hurt while exploring the structure. I truly feel the elected officials have a responsibility to isolate this structure, by fencing or making it a pile of rubble.

The mayor explained their hands were tied due to a hold by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). I personally contacted Mr. J. Scantenski, department head, the next day and he informed me they had no interest in the building and felt the city had a responsibility to make the area safe.

This is clearly a misrepresentation of the facts once again. I urge everyone to attend these meetings and get the facts before they have been twisted to the mayor's satisfaction.

Gary Johnson

Jasonville