OVERVIEW OF THE NEWS

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OVERVIEW OF THE NEWS

In view of what we saw in the video of the Evansville Brownfields board meeting which was posted yesterday by the City-County Observer, we are rescinding our call for Fourth Ward City Councilwoman Connie Robinson and Vectren Executive Brad Ellsworth to resign from their positions on that body.  It is plainly clear to anyone who views the video that they are the only board members who feels any obligation to allow public input to the dealings of publicly-funded “private” not-for-profit entity. We found the attitudes displayed by the other board members toward George Lumley’s wish to speak in behalf of the public interest to be totally inappropriate, though not surprising. We have re-posted the video who missed those things, so they can observe their high-handed attitude displayed by community leaders and DMD employees.

In the past few days, there has been an onslaught of news reported that does not bode well for the fiscal outlook of our city and its future. We are offering a quick list of things that have been revealed very recently that deserve in-depth review, and we will be making more thorough reviews of these issues here in the coming days.

• We are surprised to hear the news that the new “owner” of the hockey team that is slated to replace the Evansville IceMen next year, Mike Hall, only has a 10% share of the team. VenuWorks, which has a contract to manage the Ford Center holds a 90% piece of the hockey action going forward.  We hope the taxpayers will not have to “pick up the slack” in hockey revenues. We will be more surprised if the Icemen’s owner, Ron Geary, doesn’t seek legal remedies against the City.

• There is news that the City and the EPA have reached an agreement on the decades-old CSO dispute has been reached. The City has taken on a nearly $800 million debt in order to meet this very basic community need that will almost certainly grow to $1 billion in the 24 and-a-half year period that this project is scheduled to take. The cost of this project falls on the shoulders of ESWU rate-payers, and that will have a heavily negative impact on residents and growth potential of Evansville.

• News of the State Board of Accounts adverse finding in the audit of Evansville’s books for the year of 2014, and the supplement to it that points out a $6 million deficit in the City’s bank balances deserves mention. The true facts of the stewardship of public money, no matter how many reassurances we are given that everything is fine, deserve much more attention than the media has given it. We will dive deeply into the facts and how they affect the future finances of the city.

• DMD is planning bike trails through the section of the city that has the highest crime rate in the city, the North Main St. area, and the accompanying spending is astronomical. The project itself has already ballooned from $13 million to $18 million. The money for this comes from a TIF, which is tax money that is earmarked for the benefit of that part of the city. We wonder if this blighted high-crime neighborhood would benefit more from another kind of project.

• Last on our list, but not least, is the concern we share with the public about whether or not the spending by Evansville Brownfields Corp  is truly delivering on the promise to use HUD funds to clean up environmental hazards and return property to the tax rolls. We see big indicators that the stewardship of the federal money to meet the stated goals of Evansville Brownfields Corp may be taking a backseat to pleasing political cronies and pork barrel politics. The secrecy surrounding the spending continues to raise red flags.

• As we look to the future of Evansville and what its residents will face ahead, we are hoping that you, our readers, will actively participate in our analysis of what the recent deluge of news truly means. We ask you to share with us the information and insights you may have on these issues, and we ask for your comments and questions about our findings. The City-County Observer truly appreciates our unique group of readers and look forward to examining the financial state of the City, in hopes of making the broader public aware of what is going on.

FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE” will be posted on this coming Friday?

Please take time and read our newest feature article entitled “HOT JOBS”. Jobs posted in this section are from Evansville proper.

If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that Evansville Brownfields Corp should be considered a public or private entity?

Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

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24 COMMENTS

  1. This is a very thoughtful and well-written piece, and I hope the comments that are posted follow in kind. The new-found probing of the city’s true financial state is refreshing, but a little late on some fronts. The ridicule and near hatred directed at council members – John Friend in particular – in 2015 when there were attempts to question and curtail Winnecke’s spending were very distressing. Ever the image-maker, Winnecke filled the council chambers with city employees and UNOE members to prop up his ridiculous spending habits, and the media fell in line. The council was on the right track, but lost the PR war. Councilwoman Riley quizzing Russ Lloyd about bills not being paid and lingering job openings as indications that the financial crisis had already hit. The alarms fell on deaf ears, and Winnecke is still allowed to blame the state-imposed spending caps for all his problems. For shame.

    • I agree with you, especially on the use of UNOE. Missy and many others on council seem to be content with the very small minority of interested citizens who show up for their own neighborhood’s meetings and/or those of UNOE speaking for everyone. They try to give the impression that the citizens are speaking with one voice, when in fact, the council chooses to hear only one voice. When I realized that Chris Cooke, a city employee, is a very active part of UNOE’s leadership I began to understand even more clearly how the administration wields so much influence in that group. They are given one side of a two-sided argument on the ridiculous projects and duped into doing whatever he wants. The neighborhoods need leaders with a backbone, who will show them both the pros and cons of spending proposals, and the City Council should hear people who are not affiliated with the neighborhoods on spending issues.
      You’re also right about blaming spending caps. It isn’t like it’s a new thing, and it is being circumvented with ever-raising property assessments that make no sense.

  2. A very troubling legal ad appeared in the daily newspaper yesterday. Russ Lloyd will go before council on March 14 with requests for additional appropriations in excess of the current budget totaling $3.9 million. This is only March, mind you. But the city’s financial situation is “OK” according to the new leadership, and the mayor beams as he compiles a wish list of expenditures out of the $12 million riverboat pre-payment. What’s wrong with this picture? We all need to contact our council members.

  3. One thing I do not think makes too much sense is the call to have Councilwoman Robinson resign. Wouldn’t it be better to have those individuals who do not want/allow public input to be the ones to resign, being that the Brownfields is publicly funded? I understand that its necessary to separate a good individual from a bad organization, but won’t that only make the bad org even worse off? I do understand where CCO and others are coming from with wanting her to resign, but I’m just wondering if it would be better to try push to get others like her on the board.

  4. FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE” will be posted on this coming Wednesday.
    Is that true?

  5. EDITOR:
    1. I agree with Editor that it was refreshing to see Connie Robinson go out of her way to make sure George Lumley could be heard by the EBC Land Bank Committee.
    2. I agree that there probably is some element of Councilperson Connie Robinson that feels compelled to stop the controlling, authoritarian nature of the Winnecke led Evansville GOP personified by DMD Kelly Coures (and his full-on dismissive demeanor) in the EBC meeting.
    3. But Democratic Councilperson Connie Robinson, in spite of her likely regret at witnessing the abuse of power in this EBC Committee….CR is damaged by her complicity with the Winnecke and the DMD’s Coures over too much time: She endorsed Winnecke for Mayor of Evansville over Democrat Rick Davis, and CR is the longest serving Board Member of the EBC Land Bank Committee. There is NO denying a high level of engagement by Connie Robinson with Winnecke and DMD’s Coures. Say it again: No denying it.
    4. Connie Robinson regret that now? Probably. CR is an old Democrat at heart, but she has been complicit so long….she can’t help stop the “behind closed door/controlling nature” of the taxpayer funded EBC Land Bank. I do not doubt she regrets it…..but it’s too late. Tragic actually.
    5. The GOP led Winnecke party in Evansville is in full-on domination mode. That is clear. They are moving business behind closed doors, including with the EBC Land Bank Committee, and rewarding donors in the past election. They have NO resistance.
    6. If there is a future resistance to that, it will be with a “new Democratic Party” in Evansville. Can the old guard Democrats help them? Well, they’ve essentially laid waste to the landscape, and in the last two elections…they failed big time. Even LKB admits that. But yes, they can help. They can support new leadership…and get out of the way. Their time is over. I think Connie Robinson, who in spite of deserving criticism for her past help for Winnecke…..EVEN Connie wants to help because she still has a Democrat soul…and she can see, this abuse has gone to far.
    7. The City County Observer, in originally asking EBC Board Member Connie Robinson to finally stand up, say “no more” to the closed door nature of the EBC Land Bank Committee, or resign from the EBC Committee…..let’s be clear: The CCO was right. But it IS hard to watch that video and see that Connie Robinson, in spite of her long service on the EBC Land Bank, she clearly is sympathetic to the secrecy problems at the EBC. She is a sympathetic figure, and I can see why the CCO rescinded it’s call for her to resign.
    8. But even the CCO would agree……maybe CR shouldn’t resign from the EBC Land Bank……but Evansville taxpayers NEED help in demanding transparency within that EBC Committee…..and the call for that….is….ONLY….gonna….come….from…..Connie Robinson. She owes Democrats that.
    9. Editor….excellent writing today. Indirectly……you are calling for totally NEW Democratic Leadership. That is what this is about. The old guard Democrats need to totally step away. They are only delaying authentic Democratic opposition to the Evansville GOP if they don’t.

  6. ” We are surprised to hear the news that the new “owner” of the hockey team that is slated to replace the Evansville IceMen next year, Mike Hall, only has a 10% share of the team. VenuWorks, which has a contract to manage the Ford Center holds a 90% piece of the hockey action going forward. We hope the taxpayers will not have to “pick up the slack” in hockey revenues. We will be more surprised if the Icemen’s owner, Ron Geary, doesn’t seek legal remedies against the City.” (CCO)

    * * * * * * *

    Do you think VenuWorks’ ownership stake of 90% of the resident hockey team performing at the Ford Arena would present possible conflicts of interest for VenuWorks when it comes to the booking of other entertainment for the arena?

    • The new hockey team will have less home games than what the Icemen have had (28 vs. 36), so there will be more open dates for VenuWorks to (try to) fill.

      • Total BS…. PR spin at it’s finest! Mike Hall’s title is “figurehead”! Another attempt by the current Administration to slide the purchase of a hockey team by their “constituents”. Total conflict of interest but who cares? Venuworks got a 5 year contract renewal with zero bidding or negotiaition. The Mayor got his hockey team. Trust me we are paying for that team. It will be ineresting to see the new management contract between VW and the City. I bet it is SWEET! Awesome Snegaling by all! SALUTE!

    • You make a good point, PAK. It would surely make sense to cater to their hockey team’s interests. I wonder if Mike Hall finds the disclosure of the true “partnership” embarrassing. He should. He and his family were just used by the administration for window dressing, and it puts his credibility in question.

  7. ” News of the State Board of Accounts adverse finding in the audit of Evansville’s books for the year of 2014, and the supplement to it that points out a $6 million deficit in the City’s bank balances deserves mention. The true facts of the stewardship of public money, no matter how many reassurances we are given that everything is fine, deserve much more attention than the media has given it. We will dive deeply into the facts and how they affect the future finances of the city. (CCO)

    * * * * * * * * * *

    In today’s (3-3-2016) issue of the Evansville Courier&Press print edition, the editorial on the city audit results failed to even mention the supplemental data that confirmed John Friend’s prediction of a $6. Million deficit.

    This is how the Evansville Courier&Press treats its subscribers who pay their fees in order to be “informed” on local issues? Sheeeeeezzzzzzz! They might as well fold their tent, they are so in-the-tank for this current administration, just as they were for the previous one.

  8. ‘We hope the taxpayers will not have to “pick up the slack” in hockey revenues. ‘ ~~ CCO

    When the ‘team’ fails I don’t know who else would pay the tab, unless there is a damn fool out there we don’t know about. Maybe another as-needed hockey superfan who has plenty of money, a deep (albeit recent and contrived) love of the game and needs a big favor from Winnecke. The news conference with Mr. Hall has now been shown to be a farce. They couldn’t come clean about the ownership up front, even knowing that shortly down the road it would be made public. The best I remember the mayor did, strangely, keep alluding to the partnership between Mr. Hall and VenueWorks. That is a little clearer now. Seems Mr. Hall, the instant hockey superfan, is a tool for the administration. Also seems that VenueWorks put their integtity on the line to keep a contract. They are now another private sector extension of the Winnecke mob, and owners of a bush league hockey team that, through whatever financial machinations necessary, will have their ‘risk’ underwritten by the citizens of Evansville. At least that’s how it looks to me. That is why they couldn’t be honest upfront. Well, they could have, but they just couldn’t. Secrecy is their nature and in their case with good reason.
    ~~~
    Really nice to hear Mosby and Weaver say the books are fine despite the audit. Their combined opinion means so much more than if they’d individually squeaked it out.

  9. City employee and UNOE boss Chris Cooke is married to the key organizer in Jacobsville, so they spoke with one voice in lobbying for the $16 million expenditure of TIF money to repave North Main from post to pillar. This is how friends of Winnecke roll.

  10. Thanks for putting all of the city’s money problems together in one big pile. Each one is bad enough, but when you look at them together you see how rough times are.
    I wondered how Chris Cooke keeps his job, since he keeps burying people in the wrong graves and doesn’t keep the cemetaries up. Now I know.

  11. An important addition to your news compilation: $400,000 cost over-run early in the hotel project does not bode well for the city and taxpayers. It even got the usually silent Stan Wheeler’s attention when designer Sarah Schuler – she of the Brownfields board, by the way – explained the designs for the hotel bridges came in higher than budget due to the need for more steel. Not a big confidence builder when the designer couldn’t figure out how much material was needed earlier, when she presumably oversaw bids for the project. It seems bassackwards that designs were done after the budget was set. But hey, this is Evansville, where our only complaint is those pesky property tax caps.

  12. Sarah Schuler is a Architect, not a Structural Engineer. She’s all about form and aesthetics and not reality. Her firm, VPS Architecture, isn’t known for designing to budget or even getting project documents out the door on time (a.k.a., design by Addendum and Change Order). Just ask any General Contractor in Evansville.

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