I would like to try and bring a little clarity to the Residential Rental License issue. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with what we are trying to do, but I do have a problem with the false information that is being spread. In the February 26 Is It True, we were compared to the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution when it said that we were forcing the landlords to partner with us. Then we are compared to the Front Door Pride Program and Tom Barnett. Lastly, there is some rambling about us accelerating the Detroitization of Evansville and saying that this program will turn Evansville into South Chicago, the Bronx, Gary, Detroit and the USSR. My administration has been very accessible to the CCO, one simple phone call for clarification would have prevented this. To be clear, IT ISN’T TRUE!
This ordinance is not being driven by “Big Brother†but by two street level police officers who have worked closely with Evansville’s Neighborhood Associations for the past several years. The reason Officers Corbin and Krogman wanted this ordinance was to be able to more quickly contact the manager and/or owner of a property. I have been asked how this ordinance will prevent crime – it won’t. It is one more tool that will help law enforcement, nothing more, nothing less. We attend the neighborhood association meetings and follow up on the issues they present to us, many of these involve rental properties and apartment complexes. The problem is many of these properties are owned by people who do not live in Indiana or register them under an LLC with no contact information. As a former Crime Prevention Officer myself, I know with certainty how hard it can be to track some of these owners down. It is important to note that Officers Corbin and Krogman have been meeting with property owners, apartment associations, neighborhood groups, attorneys and city councilors for the past year discussing this ordinance and the Crime Free Multi Housing Program. They gave a shortened version of their presentation to the entire City Council last November. They have also received signed letters of support from thirty-two of Evansville’s thirty-eight Neighborhood Associations. The Ordinance is asking for owners of rental properties to register with the city, which means to provide:
1. The full legal name, address, e-mail and work number of each owner
2. The full legal name address, email, work and cell phone number of each property agent/manager
3. The address of each Residential Rental Building
4. The number of Dwelling Units in each Residential Rental Building
The fee for the license will be ten dollars ($10) per owner, per year, regardless of how many Dwelling Units they have. The original ordinance stated the fee was going to be fifty dollars ($50) and we amended it, as this was never about income. So if an apartment complex has one-thousand units, they will write one check for ten dollars ($10).
The above is all this Ordinance requires, nothing more. The Crime Free Multi Housing Program is separate from this and will be 100% voluntary – not forced. Officers Corbin and Krogman already have over sixty property owners and/or managers signed up to attend their first class. The CFMHP will happen with or without this ordinance. Here is a link about the program if anyone would like to read further: http://www.crime-free-association.org/multi-housing.htm
In the future, please feel free to contact me personally if you have questions on anything we are doing.
Sincerely,
Billy Bolin
Chief of Police
Footnote: This letter to the Editor of the City County Observer is posted without editing, opinion or bias.
This sounds like a really good piece of legislation. The fee is definitely reasonable and the program will put all data pertaining to all dwellings into one place which will make it easier for not just law enforcement but all city departments as well.
My only question is this: Is there a part of this program that would make landlords watch a video and participate in any other activites? I had heard that that was part of the bill and I felt like that was a little too much red tape. I really don’t think a video will affect any of the city’s slum lords, but overall sounds good to me!
If a property owner chooses to be a part of the Crime Free Multi Housing Program, either they or their property manager have to attend a one day class – but nobody will be forced to be a part of this program, it is 100% voluntary.
Where do you think those people will go who are denied access to one complex or evicted from one? Isn’t this just shuffling deck chairs?
Excellent. Thank you for the response. I definitely think this ordinance should be passed. I would like to hear from those in Indy how they could possibly justify outlawing this type of ordinance. Seems like common sense to me.
Thank you Chief Bolin for bringing clarity to this ordinance. Additionally, Thank You for the awesome job the women and men of EPD do day to day!
You’re welcome.
I do not buy it.
Explain to me the point of requiring every single rental property owner in the entire City to have to apply every year. If this is your true motivation, why make everyone jump through this annual set of hoops just to stop you officers from doing a bit of research from time to time. Aren’t these records of ownership available to the assessor? Or for that matter, the Treasurer who collects property taxes on these properties? Why not just utilize their records which already exist?
Brad give it up. You messed with the wrong person this time. You came on here as usual blabbering your usual drivel and Billy Bolin just debunked everything you have ever said. He has exposed you for what you are and that is a big talk with no walk. You just got owned Bradley. Why won’t you just admit it instead of digging your hole deeper? How big of a fool are you going to let Bolin make out of you Lazy Linzy?
Taken down by Editor because remarks beginning to become personal
You don’t leave anyone alone about anything. I sense that you have bad social skills but you could at least have the common courtesy to quit hounding people when they have made it very clear that they are through dealing with you.
No one wants to come on here and listen to you call them name after name after more names because they don’t live in this fantasy dreamland that you apparently live in. You treat people like garbage and then you expect them to put up with you?
Lazy Linzy the Hypothetical Hypocrite needs to take a chill pill in the worst way. And there needs to be some kind of system on here that allows members to block other members so that the rest of us can engage in civil and productive conversations without having you hijack every single one of them with your childish attitude.
Amen!!!!
Bingo!! We have a winner. No matter the response, the Linzy Spinzy will be in full effect. I think this is driving Brad nuts.
Why was my comment above edited? I’m being trashed, but I am not allowed to point out that this man lied about inviting me to lunch?
Not only that, but he still hasn’t answered any of my questions despite claiming to be here for that purpose.
Mr. Cosby, I’m wondering, did YOU delete my comment? Why?
The bottom line here is, I am we’ll hated and have plenty of enemies. Chief Bolin doesn’t like me because I grilled him about his bungled SWAT raid. Me. Cosby, or whoever edited my comment, at least give me the courtesy of defending myself when attacked.
I would like an answer to this question, please.
You never answer questions put to you, so why do you demand questions be answered? Every time somebody that YOU dont agree with asks a good question, you ignore it and start ranting on something else. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Had that coffee date yet?
I have a no reply policy to your posts but I do want to say this because I feel like it needs to be said here: I can confirm to you with 110% accuracy backed up with an email that the same CCO owner that you are complaining about in this thread sent you an offer to take a tour of the dilapidated cemeteries that you have been accusing me of making a mountain out of a mole hill.
All I want to know is this: Have you ever taken that tour?
Rails, good policy. I might consider it myself. Don’t you see a pattern here. Anytime Mr.Linzy is offered a opportunity to meet face to face, he doesn’t show or the offer mysteriously disappears.
When was the fee amended down?
Why does it matter. Every proposal undergoes changes as it is discussed. The fact that the fee was reduced from $50 to $10 shows that there HAVE been discussions about it and that the people who are proposing it LISTENED when the opponents felt the fee was too high.
That is how real government works. And yes, Brad, everyone involved used their real names, and faces.
It was an honest question. I simply wanted to know. I just wanted to know if it was before Monday, during the meeting, or after (which would require an actual motion tonight).
I’m a real fan of Chief Bolin. He does a great job for this community.
However, the statement he made in this article that “we” admended the $50 fee to $10 bothers me. Why is the police chief involved in admending something that city council members should do in an open city council meeting. Also,there should be public debate between council members concerning any admendments to this orginal ordiance before final approval.
Whos in charge of admending city ordinances, elected officials or hired help?
I’m sorry, I should have said amended the “proposed” ordinance. When I say we, I’m referring to the input we provided to the city attorney. You are correct in saying that this is the council’s job. They will be hearing this tonight and they will be able to amend it however they see fit or vote it down.
Shouldn’t Chief Bolin worry about fighting crime and let our elected official decide how we need to admend our ordiances.
Isn’t their something on the city books that states that appointed officials shouldn’t do any political lobbying?
It is obvious that Chief Bolin has been openly lobbying members of city council and neighborhood association to support this issue.
Looks like he might have an ethical and professional problem here.
Oh, didn’t Chief Bolin tell us during the UnityGov debate that Sheriff Williams department was to political and his wasn’t? Wow, how things have changed since that vote.
This is actually part of my job, nothing unethical about it. Each department head actually has assigned liaisons to the council for these very reasons.
And to answer your last question, Chief Bolin didn’t say anything about Sheriff Williams department and the consolidation debate. You may be thinking of the prior police administration, but I’m positive that I didn’t.
Good night, I have a long day tomorrow.
Billy
Ask your questions in public at the meeting tonight.
He cant show up at a meeting and ask questions, that would require leaving his bunker and his computer behind. What would he do without his teacher Mrs. Google? Brad Linzy is the type of person who tears down everything. He isnt about making good changes. Everything he talks about is NEGATIVE.
Thank you Chief Bolin for showing this community that you care about what happens in the community . If anyone questions that, they must have blinders on. Don’t play into Mr.Twisters game. As someone else pointed out many times….. he is a CANCER.
I’ll be there. Late, but I will be there.
Are you going to bring your paperwork to impeach Winnecke with you?
GOD JOB, BILLIE !you deserve your position and your people do a great job. Brad Linzy is a radical nut who wants attention.
Working with the neighborhoods is part of his job. Working with the council is part of his job. Nothing unethical here. Just a hard working chief trying to make the city better.
Taken down by Editor because remarks is off message.
Read the letter Gail Reicken sent to the Neighborhood groups. Linzy posted it below. It explains why there is a need to resolve the issue now. It also shows she supports it.
Taken down by Editor because remarks are to personal.
Bolin and his officers work hard for and with the neighborhood groups. He is not setting the rules. He is asking the council to listen to the neighborhoods and help them. If you have ever been to a council meeting, you would know what you posted is very off base.
Chief Bolin, I asked this question at 11:36pm, you stayed up until at least 12:33am answering every other question but mine, so I’ll ask again…
Why don’t you use the records from the Treasurer’s Office to locate owners? These records must already exist there. After all, they have to mail out a tax bill every year. Aren’t you just duplicating already existing information and making every property owner in this City jump through hoops for no reason?
You say you’re here to quell misinformation… Well, get quelling and stop avoiding my questions.
Tax bills can be sent to any address and often are sent to drop boxes for bill payment services. They can also be sent to the address of the property. If the owner of the property is a out of state (or even nation) LLC, then it would provide no useful information.
I also would think that our police are smart enough to have already tried that. Give them a little credit.
Thank you for your good post. It’s the paranoid, hypothetical Mr. Linzy, who is constantly posting anti government, anti police, anti fire department, and anti dog catcher who make it hard to read the CCO. Why must it be about a conspiracy every time Mr. Linzy? I usually read MAYBE three lines of a rant then move on to the next story or post.
I don’t know if they are smart enough to have tried that or not… I asked Chief Bolin this question several times to find out. My question was ignored.
If a property owner doesn’t respond to letters at the address already on file for them with the City, they still are responsible and will lose their property regardless to a tax lien or to code violations.
The point still stands that these properties (which no one has yet produced a clear example for) already could be condemned or penalized with existing Ordinance.
This new Ordinance is unnecessary IF the stated aim is really what we are being told. The only way I can see it would be necessary is if there is another motive behind it.
Either way, given that the House Bill is only a temporary moratorium which will expire next summer, not a permanent ban on such Ordinance, wouldn’t it be prudent to give it some time and let people smarter than you or I take a good look at it? Why the rush
The current info only has two things. A name or LLC and an address. The address can be a PO Box. There is no contact info for a local person or any phone numbers.
This ordinance will require them to submit the following info:
1. The full legal name, address, e-mail and work number of each owner
2. The full legal name address, email, work and cell phone number of each property agent/manager
3. The address of each Residential Rental Building
4. The number of Dwelling Units in each Residential Rental Building
There is a big difference in the two. Duplication, as you have called this, would be both requiring the exact same info. That is clearly not the case here.
The current system allows slumlords to hide behind LLC’s.Some of those LLC’s are owned by other LLC’s. So how easy it to track down an person when trying to deal with a problem property? It takes a lot more than calling Susie Kirk.
As it is now, even someone who publicly touts their good properties can still be heavily involved in an LLC that owns the bad ones.That would be harder under the new rules.
So that brings up the million dollar question. Why would someone be so worried about the $10? They aren’t. They are worried about their name being listed on bad properties they currently own that do not have their name publicly tied to them.
If this is as big a problem as we are led to believe it is, there are other Ordinances already on the books which can allow problem properties to be dealt with.
I can’t seem to get a straight answer what this is all really supposedly about. Now you’re telling me its so owners can be more easily exposed to scrutiny, presumably by people like you and the media. Sounds like a witch hunt designed to do exactly as I said in my Letter to the Editor…gentrification. That is why you are for it.
There’s your answer. Thank you.
Your response is exactly why you do not get answers to your questions. Because you are not really interested in the answer. When someone asks a question as a set up for their next comment, then I don’t think they really care about the answer anyway. Sorry you can’t be there tonight. I would have loved to see you stand in front of a room full of citizens who support this change and hear you say the things you have said on here.
The following is a letter from Gail Riecken to our Evansville Neighborhood Associations… This letter was taken from the Facebook page of one of our Associations. In it, Mrs. Riecken clearly states that the House Bill that sparked this mad rush by Chief Bolin and Co. is ONLY A MORITORIUM!
Let me repeat… the House bill that has caused this mad rush prompting Chief Bolin to say “our hand is being forced” is just a moratorium prohibiting further such Ordinances from taking effect until next year. In the meantime, a House study committee will look at the issue this summer.
Here is a message from State Representative Gail Riecken:
Letter to City Councilmembers and Neighborhood Friends,
Because of a bill, HB 1313, that came to the floor of the Statehouse your efforts to fight crime, vandalism, trash and dangerous properties is threatened.
This bill says that after February 28 no local government can enact legislation that deals with these in relations of landlords and tenants to the City. Specifically, HB 1313 says:
Sec. 4. (a) As used in this
4 section, “regulation” refers to an ordinance, rule, or other
5 enactment by a political subdivision relating to any of the
6 following:
7 (1) Landlord and tenant relations.
8 (2) Rental agreements.
9 (3) Real property subject to a rental agreement.
10 (b) A regulation that does any of the following may not be
11 adopted after February 28, 2013:
12 (1) Requires an owner or landlord to be licensed or to obtain
13 a permit from the political subdivision to lease a rental unit.
14 (2) Requires an owner or landlord to enroll or participate in
15 a class or government program as a condition for leasing a
16 rental unit.
17 (3) Imposes a fee or other assessment for any of the following:
(A) Inspection of a rental unit.
(B) Registration of an owner, landlord, or rental unit.
(C) Any other purpose. However, this clause does not
prohibit imposition of a fee relating to the construction of
rental unit, such as a building permit fee.
This section expires July 1, 2014.
This moratorium is on until next year. In the meantime, there will be a summer study committee to look into the issue.
And,what is the issue? One city up north went wild and decided to partially fund their general fund from exorbitant fees charged landlords for inspections! It is reported they are charging $100 per unit.
This is not what the City of Evansville and the Evansville Police Department has in mind or is doing with the ordinance in front of you.
Please fight for our neighborhoods. This program is about knowing who can make decisions to clean up a property or remove an abandoned vehicle or a evict meth dealer. Make no mistake. The good actors will cry out for they are doing everything right. Thank them. But, ask them, what would they do in your position.
Yours truly,
Gail Riecken,
State Representative, D 77
Thank you Gail for your support of the local neighborhoods. As clearly shown in this letter, another community was looking to charge a lot more for EACH unit. The Evansville ordinance is a flat $10 fee. That proves to me that this is not about Evansville trying to get rich. It is about responding to the neighborhoods concerns.
The continual fear of all things government has Linzy in a Frinzy. If he really wanted clarification, he would call Bolin on the phone and ask. Even better, he would go to the public meeting tonight at 5:20 and ask the question in front of everybody. Of course he would have to speak off the cuff, not with the help of google.
As usual, it is not about the issue, it is about the argument. Linzy is the kind of guy who could be standing in a down pour and would argue with the weatherman about if it is raining or not.
Chief Bolin I have a simple question where will the $10 fee be applied towards? Purely administrative to handle the registrations or something else?
Chief…after reading your letter it is obvious that the CCO and Councilman Linzy failed to their homework before making their statements.
You also stated that you have received letters of support from 32 of 38 Neighborhood Associations. This question is to Councilman Linzy if you are reading this….Did you attend any of the Neighborhood Association Meetings or contact any of their Presidents regarding this ordinance?
After all….you are their representative!
Sorry…I meant Councilman Lindsey not Linzy.
This a question for the editor.
At least one comment from Chief Bolin has been removed from this article. Who removed it and why?
My response to Chief Bolin’s comment was also removed. Normally the editor will post that it was removed, but our remarks totally vanished. Strange…maybe we are on to something.
There is more than one editor at CCO apparently. One loves to delete comments because he gets scared of local officials, while the other is writing the majority of IS IT TRUE? articles. I don’t think they always do things in synch.
This is an important issue. I wish no one’s comments were being deleted, including the Chief’s.
I believe that claptrap wanted an answer from the editor….not Brad Linzy.
Since the editor is apparently not going to answer my question, I pose the same question to Chief Bolin.
Who removed your comments from this thread?
Did you ask that they be removed?
I didn’t ask to have mine removed.
I believe that claptrap wanted an answer from Chief Bolin…. not Gallagher
Thank you, Chief Bolin, for showing this community you don’t understand separation of powers.
Thank you for showing you have NO idea how the process works.
Even better, show us something that even comes close to supporting your ridiculous comment.
Two things then I’m going to bow out of this debate on this issue. I’m being attacked personally, my comments are now being screened by CCO, and this is becoming too much about me and less about the issue itself.
I just got back from taking my little girl to Deaconess. She has a stomach flu, so as much as I want to come tonight and show my critics that I can and DO participate in those things that move me to act, I can’t.
Lastly, I owe Chief Bolin an apology in one regard… I said at first I could not find your Jan. 29th invitation to lunch. That was the truth. It did not appear among my regular Facebook messages, but someone informed me Facebook has the equivalent of a spam folder I did not know about labeled “Other Messages”… Your invitation was in there, so on that point, I apologize. I wanted to think the best of you, but when I was ignored, I kept to the false conclusion you were just playing political games with me like so many in this town like to do. i hope this explains why i never replied to you when you sent the invite. On this point, again, please accept my humblest and sincerest apology. While this doesnt change our disagreement on this issue, it hope this will repair the obvious rift in our communications going forward. I hope this debate can return to being about the issue without my participation in it.
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