Councilwoman Riley Releases Vetting Information on Earthcare Energy Deal Management Team and Suppliers

64

3rd Ward City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley
EARTHCARE ENERGY, LLC
Introduction

The purpose of the this document is to outline and discuss my concerns with the Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollar ($4,800,000) loan to Earthcare Energy, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “ECE”) that was recently approved by the Evansville City Council (hereinafter referred to as “Council” and “Councilpersons”). Since the Council meeting wherein Stephen P. Geldmacher (hereinafter referred to as “Geldmacher”) presented ECE’s proposal and the Council meeting wherein the loan was approved five (5) to four (4), a significant amount of information has become available regarding the ECE proposal. The information now available demonstrates that the loan to ECE carries significantly more risk than what was originally contemplated. This additional information should be made available to the public, as they should be part of the conversation as to whether this loan is appropriate. The increased risk related to this loan is more than the public should bear, and the loan to ECE should be rescinded.

My information now available regarding the loan to ECE can be divided into four (4) categories:

1. The track record or lack thereof for the Principals of ECE;
2. The track record for Elite Energy Systems, LLC;
3. The issues related with the product, the Total Flow Generator; and
4. The inability to see the Licensing Agreement between Richard Langson and ECE.

A review of the following information reveals that the Principals of ECE have no proven track record for successfully developing and executing a business plan or launching a new product on the commercial market. If any record exists, it is a record of failure. The track record for the Principals at Elite Energy Systems, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “EES”) is one of lawsuits for faulty products and contract violations, false claims to potential investors and bankruptcy. Regarding the Total Flow Generator (hereinafter referred to as “TFG”), the Principals for ECE claimed that the TFG was patented technology with zero competition. The information provided herein demonstrates that this is far from true. Finally, all of these issues make it unacceptable that the licensing agreement, the very basis for the loan to ECE, has never been seen. All of this information shows that this loan to ECE comes with substantial risk that should not be tolerated.

Information

1. The track record or lack thereof for the Principals of ECE

a. Kenneth D. Haney

Unless there is a different Kenneth D. Haney (hereinafter referred to as “Haney”) that worked for United Airlines and has ties to Evansville, Haney filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in the Northern District of Illinois in October of 1999 and was discharged in April of 2000 (99-33301). Additionally, in the last eight (8) years, Haney has been associated with a large number of businesses: Earthcare Energy, LLC; Earth Care Energy; Greenearth Solar LLC; The Kd Haney Group; OfficeSupplies2000.com; Rightway Computers, LLC; Guaranty Lending; Khanh Nguyen Ageny; Santa Cruz Distributors; Petroleum & Environmental Services International, LLC; Power Tube Systems, LLC; Dollar Save LLC; and The Kenbro Corp. None of the businesses appear to have survived beyond his involvement. None of the businesses appear to have store-fronts, phone numbers, employees, reference in newspapers, past advertisements, websites, or to otherwise exist. If an address is listed for the business, it is a residence or a post office box. There are numerous exhibits that outline how Haney claims to be CEO and President of a variety of businesses at essentially the same time and claiming a variety of accomplishments that don’t appear to be verifiable. Haney also appears to own a home in Spring, Texas, where he has yet to pay his property taxes for 2011. His current late penalty is over Two Thousand Seven Hundred ($2,700) and his total property tax liability is over Twelve Thousand Eight Hundred ($12,800).

In addition to it appearing that Haney’s finances are not in order, Haney sent an email to Council with material misrepresentations. He claimed that there were patents related to the TFG and that there was “no competition period.” Both claims are untrue. There are no patents related to the TFG, and therefore the technology is not protected from copying or reverse engineering, and there is significant competition in this market. The TFG is competing with a much more established product, the gas let-down turbine generator (hereinafter referred to as the “Turbo Expander”). This product is being marketed throughout the world by companies such as GE and Ingersoll Rand. The Turbo Expander performs the same function as the TFG and appears to work at higher pressures than the TFG, which has never been tested in real world conditions or pressures. By working at higher pressures, the Turbo Expander is able to generate more electricity than a TFG. Richard Langson (hereinafter referred to as “Langson”) co-authored an article acknowledging that the TFG worked best at lower pressures. The Turbo Expander works at pressures up to One Thousand Eight hundred (1,800) psi, or triple the pressure claimed by other Langson distributors as maximum working pressures.

b. Stephen P. Geldmacher

Stephen P. Geldmacher (hereinafter referred to as “Geldmacher”) has the most serious track record of failure with a start-up company. In November of 2006, Geldmacher became President and CEO of Comvergics Systems. The Company literature claimed that it had developed a communication hub the size of two (2) reams of paper that ran off of a wireless carrier and would create internet, telephone and fax capabilities at a remote or mobile location. Claiming a working prototype, a cellular carrier interested in supporting the product, and multiple customers lining up to purchase these devices, the company collected Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,500,000) from investors between 2006 and 2008. The company touted plans to launch their product to a select number of customers at the beginning of 2008 and then broadly launch commercially in the second quarter of 2009. Comvergics Systems never manufactured any communication hubs and had stopped even updating its website by 2009. In 2009, the founder of Job Sight Solutions, Inc. doing business as Comvergics Systems formed a new company, Comvergics Wireless, LLC. Comvergics Wireless, LLC applied for a new commercial business license in Rancho Cordova, California for telecommunications sales and services in the second quarter of 2011.

In addition to a recently failed business venture, Geldmacher, like Haney, has materially misrepresented his work history and accomplishments. His LinkedIn account outlines he was at Motorolla for no more than two (2) years and at SBC for no more than one (1) year (as well as has an eleven (11) year gap in his resume), yet he claims a variety of accomplishments for both companies that don’t seem possible in the time allotted or given the actually histories of the companies. For example, Geldmacher claims a variety of accomplishments for SBC, including the successful turnaround of two (2) regions, yet was there a year or less. His claims regarding his tenure with Sprint-Nextel are also untrue. He claims to have been on the original executive team for Sprint PCS (personal communications service), however, he did not start working for Sprint until 1996, at least two years after the Sprint PCS idea was born. He also never led the startup from zero to Ten Billion Dollars ($10,000,000,000) in sales. Sprint was not approved to sell cellular service until 1996, and then Sprint responded by acquiring millions of customers by purchasing licenses. They almost instantly had the potential for Two Hundred Sixty Million (260,000,000) customers. Geldmacher was an area manager at the time the licenses were purchased. He essentially had very little to do with the organization or growth of Sprint.

During the eleven (11) year gap in his resume, Geldmacher acquired a California franchise tax lien in Alameda County, California in 1991 that wasn’t released until 1996. The trend of acquiring state and federal tax liens continues today. Geldmacher has at least three existing federal and state tax liens: one in El Dorado County, California filed in 2006 (amount unknown), and two in Will County, Illinois filed in 2006 for over Nine Thousand Dollars ($9,000) and nearly Two Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,200,000). Geldmacher’s response to the tax liens was to convey his home to a trust. His response when asked about the liens was that they were somehow related to his divorce settlement, and it was confidential.

c. Fred J. Young, Jr., Andrew L. Salter and Erwin Washington

Fred J. Young, Jr. (hereinafter referred to as “Young”) and Andrew L. Salter (hereinafter referred to as “Salter”) have LinkedIn resumes that are attached. The best argument against the claimed accomplishments in the biographies provided by Debbie Dewey for both men are their own LinkedIn accounts. Young worked from July of 1992 to April of 2008 for Seasons 4, where he sold commercial HVAC units to grocery stores. After leaving Seasons 4 and going to American Capital Energy, Young appears to have remained in sales. Young does not appear to have any experience in the last twenty years with manufacturing. Salter also appears to have had a career in sales. In the resume provide by Debbie Dewey and on ECE’s website, Salter allegedly founded AA Global Systems, however that company does not appear to exist. What does exist is AA Global Solutions, Inc., which sells office supplies and furniture. Salter has sold office supplies for the bulk of his career. He has a degree in History and is a secondary teacher. I am skeptical of his ability to develop business for the TFG without a technical background. As to Erwin Washington (hereinafter referred to as “Washington”), he was convicted in 2010 for attempting to fly a commercial airplane while intoxicated. He received a 10 month suspended sentence. It does not appear that he is still working for United Airlines. Even without his criminal history, Washington does not appear to have the background to be President of ECE.

2. The track record for Elite Energy Systems, LLC.

Although Evansville is allegedly going to be the Original Equipment Manufacturer for the TFG, for some reason we have to buy the first several machines from another manufacturing company. This manufacturing company, Elite, has a track record of law suits and bankruptcy. Elite was formed in November of 2008 in Delaware and in January of 2009 in Nevada after its predecessor, Chapeau Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Chapeau”) doing business as BluePoint Energy, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “BluePoint”) filed bankruptcy in October of 2008. BluePoint filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy with Twenty-Two Million Dollars ($22,000.000) in debts. The Bankruptcy Court converted it to a Chapter 7 in December of 2008. BluePoint filed bankruptcy just ten (10) months after receiving an investment of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) from TEFCO, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “TEFCO”). TEFCO was formed in Virginia on December 12, 2007, by Gordon V. Smith, for the sole purpose of investing in BluePoint Energy. It was also formed in California in February of 2008 and cancelled in Virginia. The investment was announced December 19th of that same year. Gordon V. Smith had been on the Board of Directors of Chapeau since August of 2006. When the announcement was made, it sounded oddly familiar. Essentially, BluePoint had a great product, customers lining up, and the infusion of cash was going to push the company to the next level of “sustainable profitability.” However, ten (10) months later the company was gone. BluePoint’s assets were sold for One Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,600,000) to TEFCO, who is the managing member of Elite. Steven P. Brandon (hereinafter referred to as “Brandon”), the Vice President of Operations for Elite and Michael A. de’Marsi (hereinafter referred to as de’Marsi”), the Director of Software Systems Engineering joined BluePoint Energy in February of 2006. Brandon became an Officer of Chapeau in September of 2008.

Prior to coming to BluePoint Energy, Brandon and de’Marsi worked for Hess Microgen LLC (hereinafter referred to as “Microgen”) in management positions. Projects from the time period that Brandon and de’Marsi were at Microgen led to lawsuits that started in 2005 and ran through 2008. Plaintiffs included Xnergy and the City of San Diego. The claims ranged from breach of contract, breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of express warranty, to tortious interference with a contract, fraudulent inducement and unconscionability. Most of the cases settled, but the case with Xnergy resulted in an Eight Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollar ($8,200,000) jury verdict against Microgen. Six Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,300,000) was for punitive damages. Brandon was fired from Microgen in January of 2005. Of the seven (7) officers at Elite, four (4) were originally at Microgen.

Given Elite’s history, I think concern is warranted as to whether we will actually receive a working product if ordered from this manufacturer.

3. The issues related with the product, the Total Flow Generator.

During the course of various presentations to the Council by ECE, we were told and led to believe that ECE had no competition and they alone were in the business of using the pressure in gas pipelines to produce electricity. This statement is simply untrue.

Several multinational companies such as GE, Ingersoll Rand and Atlas-Copco have been utilizing an alternative technology –the Turbo Expander for years. There are thousands of these devices are in operation throughout the world and are producing electricity on a daily basis. There are no TFGs of the type marketed by ECE in place anywhere in the world. In fact, none have been sold even though they have been on the market since 2009.

Numerous other companies in addition to ECE have been licensed by Langson Energy to sell his device. Helix Power, Rattler Energy and Trans Pacific EnviroEnergy are but a few. A September press release from Langson Energy also stated that Trans-Pacific was granted the exclusive license to manufacture and sell the device in Canada. A more recent press release touts the establishment of a partnership with an Argentinian firm to market the device in South America.

We are asked to trust the word of total strangers who are asking to borrow millions of dollars, the same strangers who told us that they have no competition. The only thing that we do know is that this statement is false.

As stated previously, the technology of the TFG can be copied and has competition. Additionally ECE has made claims before the Council that a true third party test of Langson’s device would be completed by Concurrent Technologies Corporation before March 31, 2012. It is now May 3rd and not test results have been made available to the Council at all. ECE has posted an article on their website touting a test run by Elite with no raw data to support any claims at all.

4. The inability to see the Licensing Agreement between Richard Langson and ECE.

No member of the Council, GAGE or the Mayor’s staff has seen the agreement between ECE and Langson. We do not know its terms. We do not know if other agreements, identical in terms, exist between Langson and others. We do not know how many other companies are trying to sell this identical technology.

The inability to see any contracts that ECE has claimed to exist, including the License Agreement between Langson and ECE, any contract or memorandum of understanding (MOU) from the Department of Defense (which ECE claims is pushing for installations in the summer of 2012), or any reference to the Billions of dollars of business from the State of New York that Haney claimed was in hand during a presentation before the Council, is unacceptable.

Conclusion

In closing the City of Evansville is on the verge of issuing bonds to fund a loan that has been approved by the Council under duress due to the threat of going elsewhere by Haney. Furthermore, the product for which the Council has approved by a five (5) – four (4) majority has never been tested in real world conditions, has never been sold or installed anywhere according to the capacity advertised, is not protected by any patent, and contracts represented to the Council have not been made available for examination. Additionally the track record of the founders has been embellished beyond the point of be able to be verifiable.

The Council typically relies on outside vetting to enter into such agreements. In this case the vetting was not sufficient and the vote was not only rushed but was held under duress. In any other real world situation including commercial banking this set of conditions would be cause for re-examination of the previously passed agreement due to finding new material information. It is time to take a breath and come to grips with what we are about to do. I as the Council representative from the 3rd Ward and as a passionate advocate for prosperity in the 3rd Ward and the City of Evansville call for a time out before moving ahead with a project that is at best premature and at worst a misinformed decision.

Source:Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley

This report is published by the City County Observer without edit, opinion, or bias

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

64 COMMENTS

  1. What in the hell is wrong with our Mayor and Council to have knowledge of these things and to be willing to loan money to these losers? Was Dewey on a Doobie when she okayed this? Sheesh, this makes Detroit look like a well run city.

  2. Question: is Kenneth Haney related in any way to Susan Haney, the longtime assistant to Mayor Winnecke’s wife?

    • No. He is not. It’s not even spelled the same.

      Her son is named Ken Haynie, though…is the ECE Haney her son in a disguise who spells his name differently just to throw people off?

      There are enough chances for a legitmate conspiracy here, let’s not go crazy, Andrew.

  4. The management team of Earthcare could not get a JC Penney credit card yet the City Council, Mayor Winnecke, and Dewey are on board to hand them $4.8 Million. Is Evansville really that stupid?

  5. People of Evansville, please call your council members and tell them to stop this madness. You are the last hope to save yourselves $4.8 Million.

    • If the “people of Evansville” were stupid enough to:

      a). Waste $120 million on a new arena, and
      b). Elect someone who tried to steal their homestead tax exemption as Mayor

      What makes you thin they.will wake up over a paltry $5 million loan???

    • I would try to call her, but Connie Robinson does not return calls…

      And Mosby will yell at me.

      Just sayin.

  6. Council Meeting: May 14 at 5:30 @ Civic Center. Pack the room and demand that this nonsense is stopped. Your leaders will do this if you do not stop them.

  7. If the Politicians want to Loan these shisters our hard earned Tax Dollars, let them also sign Personal Guarantys on the Loan,so in the event of Default, they have to pay it back!! More than likely most of them probably would not qualify for a JC Penney Card either. Stupidity and Dishonesty can only describe this potential Fiasco. If the Business Plan is so good, Venture Capitalists would be all over this. I can only shake my head in disgust.

  8. Somebody needs to go to jail for all these misrepresentations to get a loan. Are we sure that the Riverhouse guy is not involved. It sounds like what his butt is in trouble with the FBI for.

    • So……fraud, deception, theft, are all crimes, these guys have committed several just in false reporting to the city council, not to mention the long laundry list of taking money from investors and filing bankruptcy, Bernie Madoff would be proud to call then cell mates. I think someone on the council or city government should take the next step and call the FBI in on the caper before it is too late….heck the council could save face by saying they were on to then all along and just helping the FBI build a case by going on with the deal. They could all still look like heroes! 😉

      JMHO

  9. This is a very damaging report. Damaging to the fools who voted to put this debt on the backs of the taxpayers. Thank you councilwoman Riley. Your hard work hopefully will be rewarded.

  10. If you want to stop this lunacy, call these people now.

    City Council Ward 2: Missy Mosby
    Phone: 812-401-9400
    Email: call453misy@yahoo.com

    City Council Ward 4: Connie Robinson
    Phone: 812-423-3869

    City Council At-Large: Conner O’Daniel
    Phone:
    Email: codaniel@fohlaw.com

    City Council At-Large: Dr. H. Dan Adams
    Phone: 812-425-4220
    Email: drhda501@aol.com

    City Council At-Large: Jonathan Weaver
    Phone: 812-568-0562

  11. Then call the resident Village Person

    City of Evansville Mayor: Lloyd Winnecke
    Phone: 812-436-4962
    1 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
    Civic Center Complex Room 302
    Evansville, IN 47708

  12. I do not think I have ever witnessed so complete an evisceration of a scam in the making as Councilwoman Stephnie Brinkerhoff-Riley has laid at our feet. It is obvious that her work ethic is top drawer. She has shown Debbie Dewey to be unfit to hold the position of President of GAGE.

    There is nothing else that needs to be said about this deal and should receive a proper burial at the next Evansville City Council public meeting.

    As for Debbie Dewey, she should save the city the trouble of firing her.

    __

    • Finally an elected official to help Dan McGinn bring some sanity to the City Counsel. Very well done SBR. The City Attorney better explain what this means to Mayor Winnecke so he can pull the plug on this complete scam.

    • The City Attorney is far too smart to let the Earth Care deal go through. He will stop this under a legal loophole.

      • Joe Biden,

        Here was Czar Ziemer’s quote in Thursday’s Courier:

        “Based on the city’s view of this, the city is very content to move forward,” he said.

        Looks like Friday morning’s edition of C&P suggests there will be additional belts & suspenders put on this deal, with Russ Lloyd Jr. making the final call re: releasing the check.

        Seems like both the Czar and the City blinked on this one, no doubt due to the awesome investigative reporting by SBR. Also,
        doesn’t this make Doc Adams seem like a dolt–” I didn’t find a smoking gun”. Gosh, Doc, you needing some vetting help. All of this was “hidden in plain sight”.

        • beerguy, Al Lindsey said this was a scam and voted against Earth Care. Bet that no one would have ever, and I mean ever, thought that Al Lindsey made smarter decisions than the Mayor (former bank executive),
          City Attorney, Dr. Adams and Mr. O’Daniel (lawyer).

  13. These kinds of shenanigans are the reason that concolidation should not be thrust on the county. The City of Evansville is too inept to tell a snake oil salesman from a legitimate opportunity. Keep you damn hands off of the county Winnecke.

  14. Does anybody know of any local/tri-state successful business person that believes the Earthcare Energy Deal is good thing for the City?

    Anybody???? Name me one!

    • Evidently Vectren was willing to sign a power purchase agreement with EarthCare, that is, before councilwoman Riley exposed them for what they are.

      Vectren should thank the councilwoman for the heads-up. All Vectren needs is for the local ratepayers to bring out the pitch forks over another shady deal that costs them money when it goes south.

      __

      • If these guys fail and deliver no power Vectren is not out a dime. If they succeed and sell Vectren power for a third of what Vectren charges ratepayers Vectren triples their money on the power and leaves some coal in the ground. This is a no lose situation for Vectren. What is interesting is the fact that they are not putting a dime into a project that claims to return $37 Million on a $4.8 Million investment. If Vectren believed in this they would be making the loan.

        • You are overlooking the fact that EarthCare was going to use Vectren’s PPA as collateral.

          __

          • And then the City of Evansville will have a contract that allows them to sell power to Vectren if they want to set up a small utility. From the city’s track record of running those utilities that provide water and sewer I would not bet on them being able to manage a hamster cage to monetize that PPA. It will be worthless in the hands of the City.

  15. Way to go, SBR, a standing ovation ! Impeccable and well documented research findings. You have thrown down the gauntlet for “The Evansville 5”. It is one thing to make a decision based on incomplete information. You have delivered the baseline, if they vote for this now they are doing so in the face of cold, hard facts against this being a prudent loan.

    • In the face of this information, a motion to rescind should garner about 9 votes.

      __

      • Press, it is 3 1/2 years until the next election, and this loan will have plenty of time to go up in a blaze of glory. I am told that when this one runs out, Earthcare will be back at the trough (surprise). I truly cannot figure out why a politician would go out on a limb given the weight of the evidence–indeed, the branch is going to snap !

        • I do not think we are getting the whole story. It makes no sense at all why Winnecke would be willing to fall on his sword this early in his administration, and over such an obviously smelly deal. Someone needs to talk and blow this whole mess out of the water.

          __

  18. Hell of a job, Stephanie! Anyone else on the council have a good excuse for not doing the same?

    I have said privately and publicly more than once in the last 2 1/2 years that I was sorry we had moved back to Evansville. These expressions came when really sad, stupid, conniving, sneaky, hurtful, greedy, underhanded events happened in this city. Because of your actions, Stephanie, and the various comments here and on the Courier site due to the lead taken by the CCO, I now have the hope of a chance for a better Evansville.

    I would like to point out that this effort was a bipartisan one. This is not a one-sided party deal. How refreshing that is! It is not a party thing. It is the right thing.

    Let’s follow this through. And then follow the next issue through also, whether it be positive or negative. We are taking back our city, and I like it.

    Thanks Stephanie.
    Martha

  19. Mayor Winnecke will kill this project so SRB can’t get all the credit. Look for the Mayor’s press conference next week claiming he was mislead and all City Council members, minus Weaver, Mosby and Robinson, will concur. SRB is coming out of this as a fighter for the taxpayers. Sheriff Williams will not get the free Democrat Mayor pass the Central Committee wanted.

  20. Is there a reason their headquarters is at Walmart in Humble, Texas?

    Take a look at their website, and then Google Maps their address:
    4830 Wilson Road
    Suite 300-132
    Humble, TX 77396

    • The Earthcare World Headquarters is actually Box #132 in the PostNet franchise in the building next to the Walmart. It is between the Starbucks and the Radio Shack. I had a friend drive by and confirm.

  21. The principles at Earthcare, GAGE, Vectren, and the mayor should be talking to sheriff not the city council. This issue has went past bad vetting to a scheme for scamming $5 million from Evansville.

    Thank you Stephanie

  22. “A LEADERSHIP COUP DE EXCELLANCE!”
    A brilliantly executed stratagem; a triumph. …

  23. I agree with the other posters. These bozo’s at Earthcare have criminal intentions. Nobody in there right mind would believe in this…oh wait, just the suckers on the Council. Weaver and Robinson wanting to “Move On!” does not represent the interests (Once Again) of Evansville. Has Weaver and Robinson asked those who elected them what their opinion is on this? Hell No they didn’t! Instead they just vote like sheep in a heard following the pack. Well, the wolves are in town and we just got snookered. I was never for Weaver and Robinson, but now I am AGAINST Weaver and Robinson and will do everything in my power to help the “Other Guy” in the next election. (Same goes for Mosby).

    Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby. Weaver, Robinson, and Mosby.

    We should all act to move this group out of office. Honestly, I think if we get these 3 out, we will be in much better shape. Hey! We need a webpage listing all of Evansville’s Council’s voting records. Other people need to know this stuff considering the Courier and Press doesn’t have the balls!!!

    Doubting Debbie too!

  25. We sure don’t want this pack of fools getting their sticking hands in any of the county’s business!

  26. I helped Charlie Weaver out the door of the Assessor’s Office. I tried to block the door to him for City Council. I guess he was elected because he had a “D” next to his name on the City Council ballot.

    Think people.

    I did not vote for SBR for Council, but she has been doing an excellent job. It appears that Riley and McGinn try to think the problems through. And they are both attorneys.

  27. Let’s do more than praise her and agree with her. LET’S ALL STAND UP TO THE COUNCIL PERSONALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AND TELL THEM TO STOP THIS NONSENSE.

    This junk in the Courier this morning about the $4.8 million being monitored by the city before it is released is only a prelude to disaster and a way to pass the buck to someone to blame in the future when everything goes south.

  28. Did this whole thing of the Earthcare scam begin as a way to pull the Dems together after the Robinson and John backing of Winnecke in the last election?
    Were they trying to all look like they were standing up for jobs and African-American (minority) business owners?
    Or was someone cashing in on a bad connection?
    Did D. Dewey need to bring something to the table to justify her job status?
    Why are some so entrenched in their position?
    Who needs this to happen so badly?
    Why are we not hearing from the mayor?
    Is the mayor so used to working within a corporation instead of being a leader and the one ultimately responsible that he doesn’t get what his job really is? After all, he is first the mayor, and then happens to be on the board at GAGE.
    Is no one adult enough to say that they made a mistake?

  29. Support next Mayor of Evansville Mayor-Stephamie Brinkerhoff-Riley!

    Let begin the “POLITICAL BATTLE” begin by attending the next City Council meeting and show our outstanding City Council person Stephamie that we agree with her about Earthcare loan issue.

    Bet our sissy Mayor will be hiding in his office and asking the new City CZAR-City Attorney-Ted Ziemer to speak on his behalf! Oh, it’s the best known secert at the Civic Center that political CZAR-Ted Ziemer also called all the back room political shots for our sissy Mayor while he was President of County Commission.

  30. Beacon of Hope

    Never relized we have a “SISSY MAYOR” until a saw his stupid “Chicken Fat’ video. What a waste of taxpayer money.

  31. What do you think about the President of the Vanderburgh County Commission, Marsha Abell cutting a back room political deal with County Councilman, Jim Raben and Sheriff, Eric Williams to give a large salary increase to Sheriff employees for the rest of this year? Oh, didn’t Abell run doing the last election as “FRIEND OF THE TAXPAYERS”?

    Another two face elected official (Marsha Abell) that needs to be ran out of political office! Oh, didn’t she also attend the back room “HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT” along with the last two Mayors of Evansville?

  32. Riley and McGinn made all of these things known to Winnecke, Dewey, and some other council members over a week ago. They were dismissed like children. Dewey interupted them and talked down to them and diminished teh $2 Million tax lien as no big deal. What kind of people are running this town?

  33. GotYourBackEvile

    THE ANSWER IS; POLITICAL CZAR TED ZIEMER, OUR SISSY MAYOR, 5 IDIOTS ON CITY COUNCIL AND “NONE OF YOUR BUSINEES WHAT GAGE PAYS ME”, DEBBIE DEWEY!

  34. Why did the Courier not do a story on Riley’s article? Are they in the tank for some puppet master too. The Courier is not a credible local news source. They have destroyed what little credibility they had left. I cancelled my subsription.

    • To answer that question you would need to know who brought these people to town in the first place, and no one is talking, right now.

      Since Winnecke seems willing to commit suppuku rather than pull this mess of the table, it has intelligent people scratching their heads about what is going on below the radar.

      __

  35. I wonder who financed this deal to date…GAB is the escrow agent if the documentation supports CAP EX funding per the CP…will they also be financing the initial advance via a bond anticpation note…who is placing the bonds…is the city going to be the buyer or the ERD…I can’t believe an investor would buy the bonds unless this is backed by some reveune stream other than potential Vectren sales…something is very rotten if SRB is right about the officers of this company…whoever brought this gem to the city needs to becut watched very closely if all of sudden they are running around with Jed Clampet money in a couple of years…

  36. Does anyone really trust the city to VET the purchases made by Earthscare before the city distributes funds to related companies due to what appears to be common control…looks like ECE may just want to sell some Langston devices it has in its inventory. Hope Friend vouches or traces these transactions but since we don’t appear to see many key documents from Earthscare I would be suprised if we don’t have a clause in the loan agreement to audit the financials whenever it is deemed necessary

    • My understanding is that there have never been any Langston devices produced so none can be bought or sold.

      • You are correct. Yet Earthcare management insists that they will be installing at the DOD this summer. Delusional!

      • They are supposed to be buying something from Elite; I was not sure if it was a Langston or equipment to make a Langston; either way, it seems to be related party sales, which in this instance will need to be verifed as legit, and not just a way to passthru the loan proceeds to related parties. In other words, no $200 hammer sales or $10K per hour machine setups.

        • Per Dewey’s reposne to SBR’s letter, Elite will be building the first couple of Langstons for sale to Vectren…again Earthscare is buying from Elite, a related party, without any controls as to how much is being paid by Earthscare…how much of the price paid to Elite is going to be funded by the city’s loan..if the public thinks Vectren is the ultimate source of repayment, then you better get a copy of that sale agreement to verify the Earthscare’s draw is less than the Vectren price

    • I think it is way worse than that and this “deal” has a smell I can’t quite put a finger on. I am not sure if it is just sheer incompetence, some form of crony capitalism or just sheer desperation by the mayor to even make very bad deals to get jobs. Whatever the reason I think its safe to say much of Evansville politicians have relinquished their senses.

      It seems back in 2012 there was some vetting by Councilwoman Riley; https://city-countyobserver.com/2012/05/07/councilwoman-riley-releases-vetting-information-on-earthcare-energy-deal-management-team/. At least someone on the council did something. I don’t read anything good in her report and *still* the bonds were granted. Based on her findings it is inconceivable to me this deal would have been done.

  37. I’ve never seen such a great reporting job. You really DID YOUR HOMEWORK, Councilwoman Riley. Thank you.
    I am a Hoosier, moving back to Indiana in several weeks. I came across all of these comments, while searching for Houston/Indiana companies with common ties to one another. Does anyone have an email address for any of these Earthcare Energy principals?

    Incidentally, should anyone out there know of any sales/marketing or management jobs that are open, I would certainly like to forward my resume! I am a “Seasoned, Results-Driven Professional,” with loads of experience in a variety of industries. Thank you!! Don’t forget to VOTE!!

  39. I have had the unfortunate experience of falling prey to Ken Haney and Steve Geldmacher. They continue to seek investors to open companies, then leave their employees without paychecks, or benefits. I have no idea how many times they have done this, but it’s 2017. Avoid them at all costs. You will be left empty handed and in disbelief that you actually believed their scams.

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