The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) sent out a press release yesterday regarding a public hearing on more noise barriers along I-69 and other "improvements." The announcement was for a public hearing to be held tonight a 6:00 P.M. at Northrop High School.
I talked with Brandi Davis-Handy at approximately 1:15 PM today. This was the only press release sent out regarding this hearing.
She noted that there were legal advertisements placed. Fort Wayne Observed has learned from another INDOT representative when those legal advertisements were run: Journal-Gazette - March 21 and April 11; Frost Illustrated - March 22 and April 12.
Davis-Handy noted that the information was also on the INDOT website.
She also indicated that the hearings and the notice of the hearing are handled exclusively out of the INDOT offices in Indianapolis and not at the district INDOT office in Fort Wayne.
My own opinion is that a one-day notification by press release is outrageous and certainly inadequate. Few people read legal advertisements nor are average citizens making a habit of perusing the INDOT website. Of couse, the section of the INDOT website which posts news releases only revealed the news release regarding the April 18th hearing on April 17th.
More: Fort Wayne Observed contacted Queen Diane of the Pat White Show early in the afternoon about this topic. Pat White reports this afternoon that he checked with the WOWO newsroom and WOWO had not received the INDOT news release.
More: Fort Wayne Observed contacted a business owner along North Clinton earlier this afternoon. He has returned our call and informed FWOb that INDOT did notify his concern by mail last month. He intends to attend tonight's meeting and oppose construction of the barriers blocking the view of his business.
More: City Council member Tom Didier called into the Pat White Show and indicated that he had not been provided notice of the hearing. He only learned of it listening to the Pat White Show. Councilman Didier represents citizens living on both sides of the I-69 corridor in question.
Part of the news release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brandi Davis-Handy
April 17, 2006
317.234.1213
INDOT to hold Public Hearing for proposed I-69
project
Project includes proposed
added travel lanes and noise barrier walls
FORT WAYNE, Ind.
– The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, April 18 concerning proposed added travel lanes and noise barrier walls to Interstate 69 (I-69) from Coldwater Road to Dupont Road (State Road 1). The total length of the project is about 4.91 miles.
The public hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Northrop High School cafeteria at 7001 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne.
Sounds like somebody dropped the ball or feared what they might hear should people show up. It isn't "open government" just because it passes the technicalities. It just seems like this didn't meet the intent of "open government".
Posted by: | April 19, 2006 at 12:15 AM
Sad to say that this is business as usual at INDOT. While the new administrative team under Mitch had good intentions, they've made a wreck of the place. Expect more of this as INDOT struggles to implement major moves over the next 10 years. Funny... they had the know-how but not the money; now they have the money but no know-how.
Posted by: JAMJAM | April 22, 2006 at 10:28 PM