Southport Matters » Entries tagged with "Schmoll"

RDC Established in Southport

May 24th, 2012 | 5 Comments

Southport Council members established the City’s first Redevelopment Commission (RDC) at their monthly meeting this past Monday night with little fanfare. It’s been 4 long years after former Mayor Robin Thoman first introduced the benefits of an RDC to the Southport Council. Mayoral (3) and Council (2) appointments for RDC Commissioners were announced at the same meeting. Russell McClure (certified urban planner), Duane Langreck (registered architect) and James Keller (licensed plumber) were announced as Mayor Testruth’s appointees while Jim Cooney (councilmember) and southside realtor Roger Harris were noted as Common Council appointments. Establishing the RDC has been a long process for the City. It met strong opposition in 2008 from three Southport council members, Rose Harrison, Susan Schmoll and Greg Dant in spite of overwhelming support from Southport citizens, regional officials and … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conversations, Headline, News, Revitalization

My! Oh My! What a difference – now that the gavel is in the other hand.

May 13th, 2012 | 1 Comment

Few southsiders can forget the brew-ha-ha created four years ago in Southport when Councilors walked out and neglected the business of the city after the former mayor omitted sectarian prayer during council meetings.  All the local TV channels showed up and citizens from both sides of the issue packed the Southport community room to see the sideshow continue.  Even a national cable program, the O’Reilly Factor jumped in to fray.  Local citizen, Charles Lynch caused a ruckus during council meetings and he ended up spending the night in jail after his arrest for assaulting a police officer outside the meeting.  It was in all the local papers. Then, Councilors Dant, (Susan) Schmoll and Harrison were most vocal in their admonitions and condemnations of the mayor.  Dant and Schmoll even promised to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Community, Conversations, News, Southport

Southport Councilors Flip-Flop

May 13th, 2012 | 2 Comments

I thought our neighbors might benefit from reading Councilor Larry Tungets past letters describing his unwillingness to approve the establishment of a Redevelopment Commission (RDC) in Southport.  His recent vote(s) to approve such an Ordinance that establishes an RDC astounds me.  In 2008, the astute Mr. Tunget was worried that an RDC would bring in “fresh business that would [hurt] existing business”.  His logic then, and now confuses me.  In 2009, Mr. Tunget encouraged the Southport Councilors to vote NO unless the council itself could control the committee.  He knows very well that the statutes have not changed and commission seats remain a majority appointment by the mayor.   He also wrote of his fear that the commission would serve offer personal gain for these new board members at the expense of citizens and taxpayers. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Community, Conversations, Council, Revitalization, Southport