ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE:

DOES PETER KNAPP HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

Knapp owns the most viable piece of commercial real estate in Preble. It's the large piece of land on the north west quadrant of 81 and 281. (It has been rumored that Flying J would build there because it is large enough.)

Knapp was just appointed to the Water Protection Committee that will review and make suggestions for changes about our laws. It is reasonable to assume he would oppose any strengthening of our laws that would interfere with a sale or reduce the value of his land. This puts him in a position to influence the WPC and will later vote on his own suggestions. Therefore he has a conflict of interest between serving the interests of the town and his own interests. He should excuse himself from the vote and if that is true then he should not be on the committee now or part of any deliberations about this subject. But he IS on the committee and the only way to prevent his negative influence is at the caucus. If he is put back on the Town Board then there is little that can be done to protect us other than more lawsuits.


Why was Betty nervous?

At first I thought it was because she knew how people would react to her appointment of Peter to the WPC. Betty did look and act nervous when she appointed Peter at the last Town Board meeting. But months ago when Peter was late and didn't come to the meeting everybody was very loose, relieved, cracking jokes etc. When Peter is there they are all tense and nervous... Wonder why. I remember thinking at the time how much nicer it was with him not there but I didn't dwell on it. After Betty's nervousness on appointing Peter it brought things into a new light. Peter usually just sits in his chair staring down at his hands, saying little or nothing. He rarely talks, just listens. I'm beginning to think Betty's nervousness and the tenseness in the room is because everybody is following Peters orders and they are worried they will make a mistake and their ruler will chastise them later. Of course I could be wrong but I've been watching these guys for four years now and that's how it starting to look to me.

Caucus is next month.