Mayor Jon Flickinger March 8, 2010

Subject: Maplewood

Jon, I've included 26 pictures around the Maplewood area and as is plainly evident this area of Bicknell needs help.

I am not suggesting that the city go down there and start issuing fines as it is obvious that the people there cannot afford it but I am suggesting that the city or a sponsor such as Good Start take the time to assist these home owners. I only mention Good Start as I understand that this is what their purpose is.

It appears to be obvious that many of the home owners cannot maintain there own homes so I would suggest that either the City of Bicknell or a sponsor such as Good Start put together a program to provide dumpsters, trash stickers and volunteers to help clean up the area. I would also suggest that grants be applied for to assist home owners in reclaiming their homes and property from deterioration.

I can see a huge deterioration in this area from 7 or 8 years ago; I understand that the bills created by the City of Bicknell has placed undue burdens on many home owners which I am sure has added to the inability of Maplewood home owners to maintain their properties.

I understand that at this time Good Start is trying to set a project that would help Bicknell and are looking at replacing the gazebo on Main Street with another gazebo on Main Street which would be well received if not for the obvious needs in Maplewood.

I understand that Bicknell lost the opportunity to apply for a community grant and that is a shame and is partly my fault because I never took the time to look around Maplewood until I lost my mother who has property located there; on the other hand I am not the mayor, a council member or the head of the Bicknell Good Start.

I see that you, acting as the mayor, are attempting to temporary repair some of the pot holes around Bicknell and that is a good thing but it appears to be well past time for you to take a look at Maplewood.

Jon I commend you for applying for a grant to build and/or repair properties around the West 2nd Street area but that area compared to Maplewood is like Beverly Hills compared to a land fill.
It is also certain that the ditch along White River Avenue needs to be dredged out to allow proper run off of the low wet areas in Maple Wood which would relieve the problem of mosquitoes during warm weather when people can be outside.

I believe, as I have told a lot of people that, Mayor Jon Flickinger truly loves Bicknell and is trying to revitalize it as well as he can but I know that the problems are many and getting worse daily but Bicknell is too small of a community to allow one section of town to become a slum. If I can help contact me.

Best regards
John R. Stanczak