Read more about the article Community Meeting

Community Meeting

Notice: Community Meeting Sorry for the late notice, but this quickly evolving grassroots movement requires immediate community action. Tomorrow, Saturday, April 7th, starting at 10 a.m. EDT, the Chelsea Township Trustee has graciously offered to open her personal home to the community to address the serious mismanagement and corruption in our health department. Anyone that has been aggrieved, harassed, or intimidated under threat of retaliation in the form of an unjustified, prohibitively expensive septic system that costs substantially more than surrounding counties, have been denied the ability to become an "approved installer", had your food license held in jeopardy by the Jefferson County Health Department or other concerns is highly encouraged to attend and share your story or frustrations in dealing with the Jefferson County. Of pressing concern is addressing the further victimization of the survivors of the deadly Chelsea tornado by our health department. Learn why a grandfathered functioning septic system is NOT subject to a permit or replacement. But we are not stopping there. In addition to demanding the immediate termination of Ralph Armand, their infamous administrator, the entire health department is requires responsive reform and policy changes to prevent the same abuses from ever occurring again; all necessary to restore integrity and accountability to the citizens of Jefferson County. Please join us in solidarity at 10 am Saturday, April 7th at 7345 S Taylor Rd Lexington, IN 47138 Call for more information  812-701-1492 - or - 812-866-5299

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Read more about the article Board of Enablers

Board of Enablers

Board of Enablers The Jefferson County Board of Health held an emergency meeting on 3/29/2012 to address the escalating uproar over their handling of the tornado victims by their infamous administrator, Ralph Armand. Mr. Armand greeted citizens at the door one by one. He ushered his victims to the reserved front row like they were royalty. The overflowing room was well represented by angered citizens and the media. https://youtu.be/_OWtDJ5gbcchttps://youtu.be/7xn4rriHL6w It is important to note: Contrary to Armand's assessment, not a single tornado victim had a faulty system, as defined by the State Code; There was no evidence of contamination of a public waterway, and; if the home did not increase the number of bedrooms (existing prior to the storm), then a permit was NOT required.  Dr. Patrick Leahey, the Board Chairman, started with introductions, trying to express empathy to the victims. He promised to keep the meeting short, as several doctors had to return to their practice. Never mind the fact that most people in the audience had also left work to attend the meeting inconveniently scheduled during the middle of the day. Board member Dr. Ralph Pratt echoed the same sentiment and then said he wanted to clarify a story reported in the Madison Courier that the Board and Commissioners were at odds. He explained that nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Leahey then directed attention to the 3-victims in the front row and asked them to share their concerns, starting with their name and address. There were several uncomfortable moments of silence. It was painfully obvious to everyone in the room except the board that these poor victims had not only lost their homes and beloved family members, but they were now being further traumatized by the sudden media attention, while having to directly face their abuser, Ralph Armand. The same man that had already denied their permits to rebuild their homes using the same grandfathered septic system that functioned just fine prior to the tornado. One-by-one, the audience offered eerily similar stories establishing a pattern of long-standing harassment, intimidation, price fixing, and self-serving control by the administrator. Finally, the tornado victims found their voice and of course, Armand denied their claims and implied they were all mistaken. He relayed his own version of the truth until Commissioner, Tom Pietrykowsi finally stood his ground and countered Armand's statements about what had actually transpired during site evaluations with the State. This exposed Armand in another lie and the Health Board in the embossing position contrary to Dr. Pratt’s prior assertions that things were just fine between the board and commissioners. Health Dept. Officer, Dr. John Hossler jumped in to defend Armand in a feeble attempt to gain decorum. He concentrated on the issue of  compaction and how it somehow related to the victims, but he was unable to establish if the sites were actually tested and confirmed to even be compacted. Mr. Armand again,…

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Read more about the article Remove Armand Petition

Remove Armand Petition

Petition to Remove Armand For more than 30-years, the citizens and businesses of Jefferson County have been harassed and intimidated under threat of retaliation under Ralph Armand's control. All under blind authority granted from our appointed and non-responsive board of health. We the citizens, refuse to be victims any longer. Already, more than 900 Jefferson County taxpayers have signed a petition demanding the immediate removal of Armand and his cartel as well as complete reform of our county health department. Please tell your neighbors and offer to volunteer to help in this community effort to restore integrity and accountability to our county government. Petitions will be available at each Jefferson County community trash collection site the week of April 3rd or you are welcome to print and circulate the petition. Please make sure to return the signed petitions before April 16th, 2012 to:  Stop Armand 10214 W Deputy Pike Rd Deputy, IN 47230 Phone: 812-866-5299

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Read more about the article Denial

Denial

Have you been DENIED a Septic Permit or an Installers Permit in Jefferson County? Were you provided a WRITTEN NOTICE from the Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) of the reason for the denial? Did the Notice provide corrective actions required and the time period allowed to make any such corrections in writing? Did the Health Department make subjective changes that failed to cite governing State Rules or County Ordinances in writing? Were you informed in writing or given a copy of the County Health Ordinance pertaining to the installation of on-site septic systems, which included your right to appeal a denial, including instructions on the process and procedures required to file an appeal (or to report harassment or inappropriate behavior of the Health Department Administrator?) If the answer is NO to any of the above questions, then the Jefferson County Health Department is in violation of not only their own Ordinance, but the governing State Health rules and regulations. You are in fact, an aggrieved party with options. Jefferson County citizens are NOT being served, but exploited by the current Jefferson County Health Department. We must DEMAND accountability from our elected Commissioners and their appointed Board of Health. Immediate action is critical to halt further abuse and harassment of the citizens of Jefferson County at the hand of their hired administrator, Ralph Armand.Mr. Armand, in his official capacity as the administrator of the Jefferson County Health Dept. (JCHD) has been empowered to engaged in unfitting, hostile and harassing conduct with the very citizens and businesses he is hired to serve. For decades, he has strictly controlled a very short list of "approved installers”, making it virtually impossible for new installers to enter the market, resulting in substantially greater costs and limited choices when compared to surrounding counties. Arbitrary permit requirements and denials have been verbally mandated in violation of Indiana Statutes and County Ordinances. By threatening penalties or other coercive actions, such as the arbitrary and unsubstantiated requirement to install a much more expensive system or equipment, Armand and his administration further victimize the citizens for fear of retaliation because a building permit cannot be issued without the prerequisite septic permit. These corrupt business practices violate State and Federal Antitrust laws prohibiting both price-fixing by competitors and monopolization of a market. Aggrieved private individuals or organizations can sue for triple damages for antitrust violations and also recover attorney’s fees ). Denial and failure of our elected and appointed officials to act immediately to protect the citizens of Jefferson County amounts to condoning Mr. Armand's actions. To maintain the status quo unnecessarily exposes the tax payers of Jefferson County to the very real risk of prohibitively expensive litigation, lost commerce and faith and trust in our elected and appointed public officials. Only once you understand the limits imposed on our public servants, can you defend your rights and demand accountability. Jefferson County Code of Ordinances

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Stop Armand

Ralph Armand, the county's infamous administrator of the Jefferson County Health Department has been allowed to perpetuate public distrust through self-serving, destructive, authoritarian and heavy-handed administration of arbitrary policies that serve only his own self interests. Although Armand claims authority, Dr. John Hossler is the County appointed Health Officer. He alone is responsible to the State of Indiana and the Citizens of Jefferson County. He must be held accountable for Mr. Armand’s despicable actions (please view flow chart below in this post.) Mr. Armand is now targeting the victims of the March 2012 tornadoes that so devastated Chelsea and surrounding communities in Jefferson County. Armand and his staff are further persecuting the victims of this tragedy, starting with the demise of the Chelsea General Store. He has also erroneously notified numerous citizens that they cannot rebuild without totally replacing their perfectly functional septic system with one that costs substantially more than one in surrounding counties and may only be installed by his very short and controlled list of approved installers. If you think this is wrong and you want to help the victims of the tornado or if you have been personally affected by Mr. Armand’s dirty deeds, then it is imperative that you take action now. Please call your elected Commissioner & the Jefferson County Board of Health and  demand accountability and reform of the entire Jefferson County Health Dept. You can further support this cause by attending the next commissioner's meeting on Friday, March 30th at 9am EDT at: Jefferson County Commissioners Office 300 E Main St Rm 103 • Madison, IN 47250 Telephone: 812-265-8944 If you would like to speak at the meeting or at the Board of Health meeting you need to call and request to be added to the agenda prior to the meeting. Whatever you do – do something. We need to stop the Corruption. Ralph Armand & his staff must be replaced with people that work for our citizens and businesses, not against them!

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Taxpayers Duped

The following concerns were presented orally and in writing to the Jefferson County Council at their September 9,2011 meeting. However, the council had already moved to succumb to Mr. Armand's demands for reimbursement of his legal fees rendering our presentation moot. Since the local paper did not bother to cover the meeting, this action was never reported or openly disclosed to the public ... until now.   9/13/2011 The Jefferson County Council is Addressed Mr. Armand, as administrator of the Jefferson County Health Dept. is granted limited authority to enter private or public property under Indiana 410 IAC 6-10-4 [1] and the Jefferson County Ordinance. However, nothing in the State of Indiana or County Health code grants unfettered access to anyone, including Mr. Armand to enter a private home without the permission of the owner or a warrant. Whether or not Mr. Armand’s assertions are within the limits of his authority, his actions are considered an act under color of law [2] since he purports to be conducting himself in the course of official duties In regards to his official capacity, Mr. Armand used his position to commit a crime when he illegally entered and removed blueprints from the private home/pole barn he was allegedly inspecting and then lied to the authorities about his actions. It is the Grand Jury’s responsibility to safeguard individuals from unfounded prosecutions and to protect the general public from crime and criminals. The Grand Jury Indicted Mr. Armand with the crimes of Obstruction of Justice, a class D Felony under Indiana Code 35-44-3-4  and False Informing, a class B Misdemeanor under Indiana Code 35-44-2-2, based on the State Police investigation. In the court Order (Exhibit E) dismissing both charges, genuine issues of material fact are acknowledged by the judge, yet he made a conclusion of law without citation to the proper authority. The judge is not in a position to speculate on what the State Police may or may not have known about Mr. Armand’s position, his alleged authority, or if his actions fall within the scope of his duties. These issues are reserved for a jury to decide. Failed Prosecution Mr. Armand was charged with making a false record, that is: A FALSE STATEMENT, to mislead the State Police about whether he entered a barn with permission. In the Order to Dismiss, the judge plays a word game by stating …Mr. Armand is charged with making a false record. A statement is not a record. Mr. Armand therefore cannot be found guilty of the crime … Poof, without any citation what-so-ever, both  charges are arbitrarily dismissed. The prosecution could have amended the charges at anytime, but due to the cost of continued litigation of a low level felony, they neglected to do so. Now, more than 3 years and $38,000 later, we the taxpayers are expected to simply reimburse Mr. Armand for his criminal actions on a failed prosecution, with no case…

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