IS IT TRUE MAY 2, 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 congratulate Vanderburgh County Commissioners for approving the unprecedented road repairs and paving project for our county roads?  …this massive repair and paving projects that will include around 50 miles of County roads at a 5 million dollars total cost? …this is the first time in approximately two decades that a paving and repair road project of this magnitude has been attempted?  …our County Commissioners and Council Council members pooled their financial resources to fund this massive road project without raising local taxes? …this project received a unanimous vote from County Commissions President-Ben Shoulders, Vice Chairmen-Jeff Hatfield, and Cheryl Musgrave?  …we also want to give special credit to County Highway Superintendent Scot Wichser, County Engineer John Stoll and County Council Finance Chairman Jim Raben for helping making this project a reality?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday the County Commission extended the Anthem Health Insurance coverage for six months so that the “County Employee Health Insurance Study Committee” could finish their work? …we are told this decision was made in order to see if the county employees can get the best bang for their buck in regards to future health care coverage?

IS IT TRUE at yesterday’s Vanderburgh/Evansville Parks and Recreation meeting, the board voted in favor of hiring six people with high-powered rifles in Wesselman Park Reserve in order to reduce the overpopulation of deer? …at the last Parks and Recreation meeting, the board voted against this proposal? …we wonder if any board members contacted the Evansville Mayor, County Commissioners or County Council members to get their opinions concerning this issue? …some people hope whoever is in charge of this search and kill the project at Wesselman Park Reserve will take into consideration the highly traveled roadways and Stockwell Sports Complex adjoining this property before firing these high power rifles at running deers in the woods?…we wonder what this project will cost? …that many people wonder why the board didn’t decide to tranquilize the deer that graze at the enclosed  Wesselman Park Reserve and transport them to a rural area where they can continue to graze and raise their young? …we are told that many people feel that it is more humane to tranquilize and transport the deer instead of annihilating them with a high power rifle?

IS IT TRUE at yesterday’s Vanderburgh County Commission meeting, the Commissioners approved local #215 Teamsters to represent the employees of the County Clerk and the non-lawyers at the Prosecutors office? …the approval of these county offices to unionized are just two of the many that have been approved for collective bargaining over the last several years? …that the employees at the Vanderburgh County Clerk and Prosecutor offices will now be joining the County Auditors, Treasurers, Coroners, and the Recorders offices as the latest county Departments to be unionized? …we are told that the practice of wage disparities, favoritism, political patronage, and nepotism has taken its toll on the county employees over the years? …we are also told that employees who work for the City of Evansville are now talking about becoming members of the local #215 Teamsters?  …we are also told that the practice of wage disparities favoritism, political patronage, and nepotism has also taken its toll on the city employees over the years?

IS IT TRUE yesterday a letter was sent to The CCO Editor written by a local minister from Evansville that made some serious allegations about 2nd Ward City Councilwoman Missy Mosby campaign staff? …that some of the remarks in this letter concerned us so we contacted our attorney and he advised that we shouldn’t publish it until we have confirmation and documentation of the allegations put forth in his letter? …we were also informed that Missy Mosby is now represented by legal counsel concerning this issue? …that this a developing story?

IS IT TRUE that the 2nd Ward City Council primary race is really turning out to be a political barn burner? …that political newcomer, Dr. D’Angelo Taylor campaign committee is pulling out all stops to defeat the 12-year City Council incumbent Missy Mosby? … that Missy Mosby campaign committee is also doing similar to defeat political newcomer, Dr. D’Angelo Taylor? …we are told if the election turnout in the 2nd Ward is low, the challenger will have the edge?  …if the turnout is similar to years past, then the incumbent should prevail?

IS IT TRUE that all eyes will be on the Republican At-Large City Council race? …earlier this year, local GOP party Chairman, Wayne Parke, chastised Republican Alex Schmitt (R) for attending his good friend Ben Trockman’s (D) announcement filing for the 1st City Council Ward seat as a Democrat? …because of Mr. Schmitt’s attendance at Mr. Trockman’s (D) filing event, the local GOP party boss has publicly encouraged the party faithful not to vote for Alex in the upcoming primary election?  …we considered this entire situation to be somewhat petty and encourage our readers to consider Mr. Schmitt’s resume and community service as the criteria to vote for him in the upcoming City Council primary election? …we don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, but we do care if you have the right qualifications to hold office?  …we feel that Mr. Schmitt has the qualifications to run for public office?

IS IT TRUE that it’s obvious that the Evansville City Council should have known who would be paying the $3 million dollar costs to dismantle the dock at Marina Pointe before approving the move of the LST to the Tropicana area?

IS IT TRUE last week a bill that was designed to overhaul career and technical education across the state was signed into law. Governor Eric Holcomb?  …that HB 1002 was authored by Evansville Rep. Holli Sullivan and gives the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet control of $50 million of federal funds and also creates a statewide grant for career coaching and a program to keep college graduates in Indiana? …we give 5 Cheers to Mrs. Sullivan for addressing something that should have a positive impact on career education in the future?

Todays “Readers’ Poll” question is: If the election was held today for the Evansville City Council At-Large Republican primary which three (3) candidates would you vote for?
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9 COMMENTS

    • Poor JethroBodine, all aflutter over this since he refuses to acknowledge that the lack of agenda and video is NOT a violation of any State or Federal statute. You should research the subject matter (as I do) which shows that none of your complaints about agendas or meeting video have ANY merit instead of posting stuff just to see your name online. If you feel so strongly, then file a complaint with the Public Access Counselor, or is this more all-huff-no-stuff from you again?

      While I agree that the agenda should have been posted (based on historical actions) online, if you refer to the Indiana Open Door policy there is no requirement for certain governmental agencies to publish their items in advance or online via a website. Unless you have personally asked to inspect the meeting agenda or draft minutes, complaining about the lack on a website means zero

      The Indiana Public Access Counselor has stated that in a number of published advisory opinions to both citizens and governmental units. The Open Door Law does not consider web site publication (for agenda, notice, or minutes) as official notice. A municipality may not rely on internet notice alone to constitute appropriate notice (per Advisory Opinion 14-FC-198)

      In Advisory Opinion 15-FC-211 the Public Access Counselor notes (in regards to access to draft versus final minutes) “It has long been the opinion of public access counselors that draft minutes are disclosable public records: Applying these principles of statutory construction, it is clear that draft or proposed minutes of public meetings are merely summaries of information received, not deliberative material. While there is naturally a concern about accuracy in draft or proposed minutes, there is no provision in the APRA that would make such information nondisclosable. It is always important, however, that the recipient of the information is notified that the draft is subject to change and approval of the appropriate person or governing body. In this way, disclosure is possible, but the concern about someone relying upon the draft or proposed minutes is minimized. Accordingly, it is my opinion that a copy of the Bureau’s unapproved draft minutes is a disclosable public record under the APRA”

      Luke Britt, Public Access Counselor, recently published Advisory Opinion 19-FC-3 in regards to a formal complaint filed in Knox County about violations of the Indiana Open Door Law (ODL) stating: Under the Open Door Law, the governing body of a public agency must give public notice of the date, time, and place of any meetings, executive sessions, or of any rescheduled or reconvened meeting at least 48 hours (excluding weekends and legal holidays) before the meeting as follows:

      The governing body of a public agency shall give public notice by posting a copy of the notice at the principal office of the public agency holding the meeting or, if no such office exists, at the building where the meeting is to be held, per Ind. Code § 5-14-1.5-5(b)(1)

      The notice provisions of the ODL do not require a public agency or governing body to publish notice of a public meeting or executive session in a newspaper. Granted, there are times where a public agency must provide notice of an event by publication, per Ind. Code § 5-3-1 thru 4. Examples of public agencies that are required to publish notice are an Area Plan Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals

      Under the ODL, if the governing body uses an agenda, the agenda must also be posted at the entrance to the meeting location before the meeting. Ind. Code § 5-14-1.5-4(a). The ODL does not, however, specify what agenda items are required. Even so, the statute specifically provides that “a rule, regulation, ordinance, or other final action adopted by reference to agenda item alone is void”

      This Office interprets Indiana Code section 5-14-1.5-4(a) to require those public agencies that regularly use an agenda to post one. In other words, if the Board, during the ordinary course of business, uses an agenda for its meetings, then the ODL requires the Board to post the agenda at the entrance of the meeting

      In a prior Advisory Opinion (14-FC-28) the Public Access Counselor advised: The legislature has crafted Ind. Code § 5-14-1.5-4(a) to require only those agencies regularly utilizing agendas to post one. In fact, if the public agency did not regularly use one, then they would not have to post one at all. Public agencies who post agendas are extending a courtesy to interested parties as to what may or may not be discussed during the open meeting

      In Advisory Opinion 07-FC-110 by Public Access Counselor,Karen Davis: In addition, the governing body shall deliver notice to all news media which deliver by January 1 an annual written request for such notices for the next succeeding calendar year to the governing body of the public agency. IC 5-14-1.5-5(b). Notice of regular meetings need be given only once each year, except that an additional notice shall be given where the date, time, or place of a regular meeting or meetings is changed. This subsection does not apply to executive sessions. IC 5-14-1.5-5(c)

      Also in a topic discussed before, which is the ability or “right” of the public to address a governmental agency at a public meeting, was addressed by Public Access Counselor Heather Neal in Advisory Opinion 08-FC-149 and 10-FC-240. She writes that Indiana law only requires that public meetings be open, it does not require that the public be given the opportunity to speak. I.C. § 5-14-1.5-3 states “All meetings of the governing bodies of public agencies must be open at all times for the purpose of permitting members of the public to observe and record them” and “Indiana law does require a governing body to allow public testimony in certain instances (e.g. a hearing on a proposed budget), but as a general rule the ODL does not guarantee the right to speak at a meeting.” She wrote “While I would strongly encourage all governing bodies to adopt some method to allow the public to comment at meetings of the governing body and ensure that the procedure proceeds in a civilized manner” she also opined that it was her opinion that a governmental agency does not violate the ODL by not allowing the public to speak

      Currently the Public Access Counselor has published approximately 20 years of Advisory Opinions online. You may search for subject matter at:

      http://bit.ly/2PriTuZ

      • Kelley, while NOT a violation of any State or Federal statute, doesn’t mean its not shady AF. It’s getting a little hard to hide all the shady deals the land bank does to privately selected contractor and buyers, The DMD with all its bad real estate speculation, and the building commission backing up sports development and rasing most of the south and central city to give it away to non profits and again to those who have personal or kickback deals with the city.

  2. How many deer are located inside of Wesselman’s Park/Nature Center? It would be cheaper to kill them.

      • Its my opinion. Im a scumbag? I would like to hear your opinion on the deer. What should we do. Don’t worry. I will not say something bad about you or your opinion.

  3. Missy had Alex Jarvis working on her campaign so I don’t want to hear her acting like a victim which is has been classic her for 12 years.That and don’t complain about the CCO then advertise on it.

  4. Dunderbolts coach is leaving. Is it possible the losing franchise can go right along with him?

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