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Editorials

  • The cost of Safety
    When Ivy Tech and the city of Fort Wayne announced an agreement last year for use of the Public Safety Academy, it looked like a perfect solution:
  • A needed change in county policy
    If the state’s administration of its ethics guidelines suffers under a just-granted waiver, the administration of Allen County’s policies appears to benefit from some just-instituted changes.
  • Erratic on ethics
    Indiana has never enjoyed a reputation for strong ethics rules. So it was promising when then-Gov. Mitch Daniels instituted guidelines that seemed to raise the bar.
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To attend
Park plan meeting: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, in the lower level of the Psi Ote Pavilion in Bob Arnold Park, East State Boulevard
and Parnell Avenue
Fort Wayne City Council meeting: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday,
Citizens Square
Allen County Council: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Citizens Square
The week ahead

Ethics panel takes up Moss-Fries case

The Allen County Ethics Commission is scheduled to meet today to discuss a citizen’s ethics complaint against Allen County Councilman Paul Moss and Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries over an eyebrow-raising early-morning traffic stop.

The complaint alleges Moss and Fries violated the county’s ethics policy in June when Moss refused a portable breath test and then called Fries. Moss was then allowed to get a ride home, and the sheriff’s department filed no report about the stop.

Because of the heightened interest, county officials are holding the meeting in the council chambers on the garden level of Citizens Square.

Budget hearings

The Allen County Council conducts its annual budget hearings this week by starting with a look at other government budgets.

The council, by law, now reviews the budgets of other government entities within the county, including Fort Wayne, the 20 townships and the library. The council can recommend changes, but the suggestions are non-binding.

On Thursday, expect a heated debate over Fries’ request for more money. The council directed county departments to cut their budgets by about 2 percent, but Fries is seeking $400,000 for new squad cars and about $1 million for inmate health care costs. The county has no choice but to pay for the medical care inmates receive.

Parks plan

Parks leaders want to hear residents’ opinions. The Board of Park Commissioners is holding a public meeting on Tuesday.

The opinions and concerns gathered will be used to prepare a comprehensive master plan. That plan will determine park improvements and programming.

Sewer overflows

City Utilities officials will present an update to City Council on the progress of the utility’s $240 million project to meet the federal mandate to improve the city’s sewer system and reduce the raw sewage overflowing into city rivers.

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