The Board of Parks Commissioners opened the floor yesterday (10/16) to hear citizen comments on the proposed $24 million bond proposal that the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department brought to the board for approval.
Two citizens addressed the board to share concerns about the bond amount and how the parks department plans to allocate the funds. At the last board meeting, the $10 million giraffe breeding barn was removed from the list of projects to be funded from the bond. Eight projects may be financed if the bond passes, including:
- Improvements to aquatics centers, $1 million.
- Replace unsafe and outdated equipment at Garvin Park, $1.5 million.
- Improvements to the sprinkler systems at Fendrich and Helfrich golf courses, $4 million.
- Renovations to the C. K. Newsome Community Center, $1 million.
- Replacement of the rooftop HVAC units at Swonder Ice Arena, $1.5 million.
- Restrooms at Wessleman Park, $850,000.
- Renovation at Mesker Park Veterinary Hospital, $500,000.
- Completion of the urban park at the 4th and Main, $2 million.
While the original objections to the bond expressed by the board centered around the price tag of the giraffe breeding barn, citizen comments have been more broad in nature.
Cynthia Sabel spoke to the board on Wednesday and expressed concern that the $24 million dollars was an excessive amount for the bond projects. She also pointed out that the aquatics projects were vague and the financial commitment for the CenterPoint Square park at 4th and Main lacked specifics on the total project cost.
Further public comment came from Don Nichols who stated that he believed that the bond is a case of “bait and switch.”
The full public hearing on the the bond issue is scheduled for October 30 at noon in room 301 of the Civic Center. Individuals will have 3 minutes each to speak about the bond, then the board will vote on three issues:
- Confirmation of the declaratory resolution.
- Approval of the resolution to issue the bonds.
- Approval of the appropriations to fund the specific projects.
The parks board is comprised of 5 members. If a member is absent or abstains and the vote ends in a tie, the mayor will cast the deciding vote.
The city of Evansville currently carries about $1 BILLION in bond debt.
I spoke at this meeting- here’s the video link to the entire meeting: https://evansville.granicus.com/player/clip/6894?view_id=12&redirect=true
Post meeting it was explained to me the bond is an up or down, all or nothing, proposal and Board vote. The $10 million for the giraffe barn cannot be “carved out” and put in a “lock box” or earmarked for the barn at a later date as I suggested in the video above. At two previous Board meetings we heard there will be proposals for an extensive giraffe barn at Mesker Zoo and will be introduced in 2025. So, the $10 million earmarked for the barn becomes a windfall for the remaining projects. I must ask, why would a bond amount be set in stone while the projects using the bond dollars havent yet been approved. Makes no sense to me, unless it was the plan all along, a bait and switch. In other words, the giraffe barn and its allotted dollars was simply a throw away to gain funds for the remaining projects. Here’s a simple example. Under the current system a $24 million bond is let and the “amount” cannot be changed later, for two city parks, One honoring Mayor Smith and one for Mayor Jones. However while surveyors plot the acreage they find Mayor Jones park is planned on an ancient or protected site and cannot be built upon. If its like the current $24 million bond rules, the entire $24 million bond could be awarded to Mayor Smiths park. This Im told would not be improper. I think it is. Let me say I support the listed projects as they address critical needs. Please, if someone can explain to me/us whats missing from my view, I’ll stand corrected.