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Dear Editor:
Last month, the Clay Township Board announced a $58.9 million set of improvement projects.
When asked for cost estimates for the 19 projects, I was told only the board secretary, Matt Snyder, could provide details and he was on vacation, unavailable by phone or email. When he returned, he referred the question to vendors who provided the following estimates:
- Fire department projects: $17.7 million
- Parks projects: $9.1 million
- 111th Street roundabouts: $4.3 million
- Carmel Dad’s Club facilities: $10.8 million
- Estimated total: $41.9 million
(These are estimates only, and they come from vendors and are not official statements of the board, which makes no official estimates at this time.)
The board also announced plans to retire some of the $29 million existing debt with proceeds from the sale of bonds. The board announced $58.9 million, less the projected $41.9 million, which leaves $17 million for that.
The township will double its debt, rolling over prior indebtedness, and add $1,700 to the average household’s $34,900 share of Carmel debt.
According to their biographic sketches on the township website, both Snyder and a second member of the three-person board, Paul Hensel, are members of the Carmel Dad’s Club board of directors. Snyder also is an employee of American StructurePoint, a major city contractor.
I leave it to your readers to draw what conclusions they will. I do sense the scent of something in the air.
Bill Shaffer
Carmel