Im wondering what readers on this web are thinking about the controversial right to work legislation likely to become Indiana law which removes mandatory union payments from non union members in the work place. I remember when I was a member of the Laborers union long ago that health insurance and retirement and I think some other benefits were part of the package and I was happy to be a union member because of that. Why cant union membership be voluntary? Just wondering.

Ron Ackman

The Mayor of Bicknell along with the Bicknell City Council members, PACE and I think the Bicknell Board of Works has decided that it would be benificitual to sell the PACE houses themselves instead of paying a commission to any realtor.

In the first place they (PACE and the City of Bicknell) allowed only one realtor to handle the sales and by mutual agreement decided to not place the houses for sale on the Multiple Listing; because; well I don’t understand why.

When the City of Bicknell decided to sell the duplex to anybody who could afford it they only contacted a handful of realtors and ended up only listing with one, who sold it apparently as first come first serve without pursuing any more profitable sales, thereby the builder; again not using the Multiple Listing in an effort to obtain the best offer. I believe determined by a commission bid, lowest I presume.

They, the city, have decided to go back to the same realtor who they just removed the houses for sale from if they are unsuccessful in their sales pursuit because, well I don’t understand why yet. I can only guess that the city just likes to keep houses as I am quite certain that the city does not have the means to sell real estate, at least once they run out of friends and relatives, but on the other hand if they simply do not want to sale the houses then their decision is correct; I only say that because they didn’t seem to want to get the word out that there were houses for sale at an obscenely low price otherwise they would have listed on the multiple listing so that they could reach the maximum number of people who wants to own a home.

They are worried about sales commission, I have heard, but this does not seem to a problem as the seller can set the maximum amount of commission that they will pay per sale and each realtor can decide whether or not they are OK with the pay and as far as multiple listing is concerned the city really does not or at least should not have been concerned about the listing/selling commission split as that is up to the individuals involved in the sale; at least as I understand it.

John R. Stanczak

Indiana Senate's Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters unanimously passed Senate Bill SB06, a Knife Rights requested bill sponsored by Senators Jim Tomes and Johnny Nugent, which would overturn the state's antiquated and irrational ban on the possession of switchblade/automatic knives.

Duplex
402 & 404 Alton, Bicknell, In 47512
Asking price------------- $110,000.00 Discount $38,373.00
Selling price------------- $71,627.00
Buyer--------------------- J. & S. Jones
Building contractor----- J. & S. Jones
Lenders name----------- None
Selling agent------------ Beth Meeks
Meeks Real Estate and Insurance
Closing date 10/26/2011
This is the duplex that the City of Bicknell had built using the grant via PACE; it appears that it was sold to the person or company that was paid to build it and not according to the guide lines as per the low income purchaser.

On the other hand if it was cleared to sell on the open market I am not aware of any notification to the general public that it was open to offers. I am aware of a couple of people who would have liked to purchase a brand new duplex that is giving a nearly $40,000.00 discount.
The question seems to be why was this, particular buyer, offered such a discount and how much was the profit for the builder when a person adds in the $40,000.00 discount to the monies collected for construction.
Surely they did not also purchase the lots from the builder. This is similar to giving a contractor an additional $40,000.00 interest on a $72,000.00 investment which is about 56% interest on the investment; who wouldn’t love such a deal if it is as it seems.