With a woeful record in promoting any kind of historic preservation during the Martin administration, the controversial mayor will be hearing from the people he appoints to serve the city in that capacity.

Council President Dave Morris announced at Monday's city council meeting that the Logansport Historic Preservation Commission will make a presentation to the council at its September meeting. All commission members are appointed by the mayor, who has had some head-scratching priorities when it comes to preservation:

1. He supported converting the historic Iron Horse Museum, an authentic Pennsylvania Railroad yard office, into downtown restrooms.
2. He did not follow through on a proposal from a Noblesville restaurateur to develop the Logansport/Cass County Memorial Center into a dining and special events venue, though the developer owns and operates the No. 1 wedding reception venue in Indiana.
3. He has taken no action to save the Tipton Home on North Street or the Greensfelder home on East Market, both endangered historic structures in need of repair.
4. Since the Riverside Historic District was approved by the Department of Interior, he has taken no action to promote preservation in the largest district the city has. Preservation has been found to add property value to neighborhoods and assessed valuation to the city and county coffers. For these reasons and others already mentioned we ask Logansport residents to sign our petition demanding his resignation and the appointment of a professionally-trained, non-partisan city manager by the city council. Thank you for your care and concern for the future of our city.