“IS IT TRUE” JUNE 6, 2019

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way.

IS IT TRUE we wonder what the Board Of Directors of the Evansville Museum has done with the multi-million dollars “PICASSO On Glass” painting?

IS IT TRUE that the customers of the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility are about to realize the cost of a half century of neglect as the build out of projects to bring the City of Evansville into compliance with the EPA mandate to cease the practice of dumping raw sewage into the Ohio River are resulting in price increases to cover the debt used to improve the sewers?…over the course of the next two or three years the average water bill for modest usage of 5,000 gallons per month will be increasing by a whopping 37% to $44.53 per month?…that during the same time period the sewer bill will be increasing by a budget busting 21% to an average of $70.07 per month?…this means that in a matter of several years the average customer of the negligent Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will be shelling out $114.60 per month for these basic services?…the required projects are really just getting started and annual increases in the double digits are expected to continue over the next 20 years as the half decade of negligence is methodically corrected?

IS IT TRUE it was reported last year that several significant downtown properties owned and operated by the Kunkel Group have been placed into receivership? …receivership is often a precursor to bankruptcy filings by corporate entities but is not a guarantee that bankruptcy is imminent?…that going into receivership is absolutely an indicator of financial distress but many companies do succeed in emerging from such situations and we sincerely hope that the Kunkel Group finds a way to rectify whatever situation caused these downtown properties to be placed into receivership?  …we wonder what the current status of these properties?

IS IT TRUE for over the last several months we have been predicting that Ellis Park will be sold to a New Mexico company?  …that our sources tell us on June 18th the Kentucky Racing Commission will consider the sale of Ellis Park Laguna Development Corporation located near Albuquerque, NM?  …that Laguna Development Corporation is in the casino, hotel, and restaurant business, but not in the horse racing business?  …when members of the mainstream media break the news about this sale on June 18th please remember who announced it first?

IS IT TRUE according to the Evansville Courier and Press that Stacy Stevens knows more than most people about how cumbersome local land-use rules can be?  …she’s been a member of the Area Plan Commission board for 16 years and its president for 14 years, and she has a background in both commercial and residential real estate?

IS IT TRUE that the EVPL Board Of Trustees recently approved the appointment of Marica  Au as the interim CEO/Director effective as of June 12, 2019?  …that Mrs. Au will assume the full managerial responsibility for the Library operations while the board conducts a national search this position long term?  …we are totally confident that Mrs. Au will guide the EVPL through this transition in style?

IS IT TRUE the North Main corridor master plan was designed to replace some street parking, provide an up-to-date bike trail, reduce crime and improve security in that area,  and bring economic development to that area? …it’s been about a year plus since this project was completed?  …we invite you to go to the North Main corridor area and see what kind of new retail businesses that this $14 million dollar public works project have attracted?

IS IT TRUE that the former Evansville Icemen Hockey Team paid the Ford Center a $2.00 Facility Fee for each ticket sold ( less a credit for season and group tickets sold) over the last three years for the 36 home games they played at the Ford Center?  …from 2015-2016 they paid Venueworks $119,603?  …from 2014-2015 they paid Venueworks $180,320?  …2013-2014 they paid Venueworks $206,190?

IS IT TRUE that former Evansville Icemen Hockey team over a three year period of time paid the Ford Center the following amount of base rent for 36 home games (a range of rent per game of $10,926 to $11,479)?  …from 2015-2016 they paid $413,244 ?  …from 2014-2015 they paid $403,164?  …from 2013-2014 they paid $393,336?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville Living does a superb job in bringing us accurate and up-to-date local articles of substance? …they have earned the reputation of being extremely informative, detailed, aggressive and creative in providing their viewers with the current culture, politics, sports, business, lifestyle, entertainment, dining, and the big personalities unique to our region?  …we give five (5) cheers to Kristen and Todd Tucker for producing an incredible magazine for our region?

IS IT TRUE in 1998 the Teamsters Local 215 established a Taft-Hartley Scholarship Fund? …the Trustees of the fund are Chuck Whobrey and Rick Voyles as employee Trustees and two Employer Trustees? ..since 1998 the fund has awarded over $3 Million Dollars in Scholarships to sons and daughters of Teamsters members whose employers contribute to the fund? …we look forward to publishing what worthy students will be awarded this scholarship for this year? …the CCO gives five (5) cheers to the Teamsters  Local 215 for establishing the Taft-Hartley Scholarship Fund?

Todays ‘Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that Student loan origination fees are nothing more than a hidden tax that burdens students?

Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “OBITUARIES, LEFT JAB, AND RIGHT JAB,  BIRTHDAYS, AND HOT JOBS” posted in our sections.  Oh, You can now be able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Excellent IIT. However, the City’s $16+ million investment in the N Main St project is a complete waste of money. Businesses are moving away and Jimtown gets worse day by day.

  2. Originally, the Winnecke Adm proposal to the EPA was $510,000,000 based on the affordability study using 2% of the average household incomes of the City. Unfortunately, the study failed to follow the parameters, i.e. 2.5%, not 2%. In addition, the study omitted the household incomes of customers in the county. Of course, this enraged the EPA and consequently hampered negotiations. As a result, the final consent decree requires expenditures of $715,000,000. Hard to believe this administration thought the EPA was that stupid!!!

    Btw, be prepared for $200,000,000 expenditures to replace our nearly 80-90-year-old cast iron water pipes Perhaps the phrase, “that money savin bridge” hits home!

  4. I’m just going to leave this here:

    City-County Observer, today:

    IS IT TRUE according to the Evansville Courier and Press that Stacy Stevens knows more than most people about how cumbersome local land-use rules can be? …she’s been a member of the Area Plan Commission board for 16 years and its president for 14 years, and she has a background in both commercial and residential real estate?

    Courier & Press, four days earlier:

    https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2019/06/01/evansville-vanderburgh-tackle-update-antiquated-land-use-rules/1282431001/

    Stacy Stevens knows more than most about how cumbersome local land-use rules can be. She’s been a member of the Area Plan Commission board for 16 years and its president for 14 years, and she has background in both commercial and residential real estate.

    • Looks like Mr. Martin got his panties in a bunch because the CCO repeated a nice paragraph on Ms. Stevens without mentioning the C&P. Pretty darn petty by what is left at the C&P.

  5. The Laguna Development Corporation is funded from an Indian casino. It is part of the Laguna Pueblo (reservation).
    The Laguna Development Corporation controls hotels, gas stations, mini-marts, and gambling on their reservation (pueblo) in New Mexico. I predict if the Kentucky Racing Commission approves the sale of Ellis Park to the Laguna Development Corporation it won’t won’t belong before Laguna will begin lobbying the Kentucky legislature to allow real gambling (table games, poker, real slot machines, sports betting, etc.) in the Bluegrass Commonwealth.
    Remember, you heard it here first!

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