June 13, 1989

Residents burning up over attorneys

       White River Township residents who oppose construction of a new fire station on Fairview Road made some rather sizzling statements about attorneys during a meeting last Friday night.  But by the time the meeting was over, most of them apparently had changed their minds about the legal profession.  The meeting was called to discuss the White River Township Volunteer Fire Department’s plans to buy the 33 acre Schreckengast farm and locate a fire station there.

         Before the station can be built, the fire department must be granted a special exception by the Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals, since the property is zoned for residential use.  Neighbors are opposed to the project not only because they fear that it will lower property values, but also because they oppose the idea of the fire department buying 33 acres of land when only a couple would be needed to house a fire station.  And they’re miffed that fire department plans to pay $240,000 for the land, when it was recently advertised at $207,000.

         Dave Mickel, who organized Friday’s meeting, took note of the fact that there already were at least four attorneys linked to the project.  One of them, Bill Schreckengast, is among the owners of the property that has created all the controversy.  Another, Joe Van Valer, was hired to represent the fire department in its request for the special exception.  The third one is Steve Huddleston.  He normally serves as the fire department’s attorney, but disqualified himself this time because he also serves as attorney for the BZA.  And, Mickel said, a fourth attorney wrote up the purchase agreement on the property.  “We’re suddenly plagued by attorneys,” Mickel lamented.  A woman in the crowd, which numbered about 75, agreed.  “I think it smells,” she said.  “Any time you have that many attorneys involved, something smells.”

         So what did the angry residents do?  They fought fire with fire, so to speak.  With a show of hands, they voted almost unanimously to hire an attorney of their own, Mike Kias, one of their neighbors.  He will represent Mickel and the others in their battle against the location of the fire station.  At least one resident was opposed to the hiring of a lawyer, however.  “Attorneys make their money by setting people against each other,” said the man, who refused to give his name to a Daily Journal reporter.  “That’s the whole idea behind the legal system.”  But the neighbors murmured in disagreement with the man, apparently forgetting how much they had earlier disliked all those lawyers.

         Another fear also surfaced during the meeting on the fire station, the fear of annexation.  Several of those attending the meeting were residents of Carefree North and South subdivisions.  Ever since Greenwood Mayor Jeanette Surina embarked on her ambitious plan to expand the city limits, some Carefree residents have been making it known they do not want to be swallowed up by the city.  And Mickel fueled their fears during Friday’s meeting.  “For you people in Carefree,” he said, “I think the mayor of Greenwood has already plotted to take you over.  I’ve been told that there’s a map on the wall in her office, and you’ve been marked.”

         Noel Poindexter was one Carefree resident who didn’t feel too welcome at Friday’s meeting.  Poindexter is a member of the fire department.  Most of the firefighters left when Mickel asked them to do so.  But Poindexter stayed around since he is a resident of the area that would be affected.  And Mickel wasn’t too pleased about that.  “Let’s put it this way,” Mickel told Poindexter.  “You’re here and we don’t particularly care for it.  You’re kind of infringing on your neighbors’ little meeting.”
 
 

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