IS IT TRUE that one of the surviving Civic Center Moles tells the City County Observer that the people of Evansville should not be surprised if we hear the name of the White Hospitality Group resurrected when Mayor Winnecke begins the VETTING PROCESS for the best company to build and operate the longsuffering concept of a Downtown Convention hotel?…that White Hospitality is the group that built and now operates the Downtown Convention Hotel in Fort Wayne and was one of the early bidders to do a similar project here in Evansville?…that the stumbling block of course was the fact that White Hospitality proposed an incentive package similar to the one they got in Fort Wayne and the other bidders were willing to take what the former Mayor’s Administration was willing to offer?…that the other tangible difference is that Fort Wayne has a hotel and an operator and Evansville has an empty lot where a Convention Hotel could have been by now?
IS IT TRUE that Fort Wayne is becoming a welcome and competitive bidder for conventions while Evansville is not even considered by the CEO of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau to be a viable candidate for conventions because there is no hotel next to The Centre?…that we wonder just how much tourism money and direct revenue to The Centre have been lost because the former Administration liked to make deals with itself on other people’s behalf?…that it will be refreshing to see the Winnecke Administration with a banking background in action with a practical knowledge of value and cash flow to drive any incentive package that may be designed?
IS IT TRUE that we are wondering why the newly elected Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Council is delaying funding the much needed Assessment Audit of the Vanderburgh-Evansville Information Technology department?…that the CCO is going to continue asking this question weekly until the Vanderburgh County Council Chairman, Jim Raben, releases the money for this much needed Assessment Audit of this extremely important department of our local Government?…that this department is responsible for the “information highway” of our county government?…that this department’s mission is to help ensure efficiency and accountablility in our county government?…that we feel that Vanderburgh County Council Chairman Jim Raben needs to be reminded that the need for a timely Assesment Audit of this department is representative of “GOOD PUBLIC POLICY”?
IS IT TRUE that local businessman John Guthrie has decided to fight the local war on meth in his own way?…that as the owner of Guthrie’s Pharmacy in Chandler he has made the decision to take all forms of ephedrine off of his shelves?…that his pharmacy will dispense the drug as a prescription only?…that although the state does not yet require a prescription for this medication that Guthrie’s Pharmacy in Chandler does?…that the CCO is dubbing this “John’s Law”?…that we encourage all locally owned pharmacies and convenience stores to follow John Guthrie’s lead?…that we are happy to report that this change HAS NOT had a NEGATIVE impact on Guthrie’s Pharmacy but WILL have a POSITIVE impact on the community of Chandler?
IS IT TRUE we feel that the Mayor Winnecke’s Chief of Staff Steve Schaefer is doing an outstanding job in his newly appointed position?…that Mr. Schaefer has been quick to respond to any and all requests made by the CCO staff?…that Mr. Schaefer has just the right balance of the energy of youth with a good period of experience in the governing process?…that we shall be keeping a close eye on Mr. Schaefer’s hair for hints of gray that may start to form due to his enthusiastic embrace of this most difficult job?…that it is very much appreciated by the CCO staff to be recognized as a valuable media resource by a mayoral administration?
IS IT TRUE that we want to congratulate Mayor Winnecke’s new policy concerning open communications with our newly elected City Council members? …that Mayor Winnecke’s new policy states that he shall set aside each Monday from 2 pm to 5 pm for any City Council members to stop by his office to discuss any governmental issues that concern them?…that Mayor Winnecke could not have picked a better day for this time allowance as the City Council meets every other Monday?…that this open dialogue opportunity will allow for fresh ideas and concerns going into each City Council meeting?…that we say “WOW!” because we feel that this is an outstanding representation of “GOOD PUBLIC POLICY”?
the Vanderburgh-Evansville Information Technology department
(or)
Computer Services
Computer Services is a joint City/County Department overseen by the City/County Chief Information Officer. This Department provides Information Technology services to both the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County. The City and the County have outsourced the management of the common facilities and services for over fifteen years to third party vendors. The currently contracted vendor for these services is Mark Rolley Consulting, Inc.
The City and County utilize a variety of technology platforms, services, and applications to in an effort to efficiently provide customer service. Examples of these services include email, financial systems, electronic records management systems, payroll systems, and GIS.
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Who would be performing this “Assessment Audit”?
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Hopefully someone like Gartner and not some firm affiliated with any local government official (say any CPAs that might be pushing this) or any local company that would have a vested interest in selling the City/County a bunch of service after they pay them for the assessment.
Also, there are several IT Departments, including the Sheriff’s IT vendor and the Vanderburgh County Courts IT personnel that should be included in this audit as well as they do not report to Arvay, but represent County connected, tax payers paid, IT and service providers.
Press-
Thank you for giving such a detailed description of the on-goings within the Computer Services Dept. Since the department does indeed encompass the city and the county we would expect there to be a RFP issued to multiple vendors with a collaborative decision made ultimately by Mayor Winnecke, the City Council and County Commission. City Councilman John Friend has been the driving force behind this assessment attempt. Before the comments get out of hand here, no his firm will more than likely be exempt from the proposal process.
I wonder when the last independent Security Assessment of the system/systems was done, or if one has ever been performed by an outside vendor that specializes in security assessments.
Now would certainly be a good time to do one.
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Do not confuse Mark Rolley with the City Chief Information Officer:
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/nov/24/no-headline—ev_smartcity/?print=1
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Mayor Winnecke’s open door for the City Council members is certainly a major step toward removing the former Administration’s North Korean like veil of secrecy. So far I have been quite impressed with Mayor Winnecke’s appointments and policy changes.
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