IS IT TRUE? May 28, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Mole #133 has informed us that City Councilman John Friend has requested a copy of the “Consultant’s Report” for the Insurance coverage on the Arena?…that he made this request a City Council appointee on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that Arena Project Manager John Kish stated in a public meeting about two weeks ago that this “Consultant’s Report” was now completed?…that Councilman Friend has not yet been given this information?…that he copied the entire Evansville City Council on his request?…that Councilman Friend has thus far been a gentleman about this matter but that if the request is not honored soon that the gloves may come off?…that the option of not providing this requested information to the head of the Finance Committee of the Evansville City Council is not an option at all?

IS IT TRUE that Section 2.05.050(F) of the City of Evansville Municipal Code requires that the Mayor of Evansville shall provide any information regarding City affairs that the legislative body (City Council) requests?…that the Mayor of Evansville must not only provide documentation, but information requested by the City Council concerning City of Evansville’s business?…that it’s time that Mayor of Evansville and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission adhere to documentation requests submitted to the Mayor by 5th Ward City Councilman, John Friend, CPA and 1st Ward City Councilman, Dan McGinn, ESQ?

IS IT TRUE that if Councilman Friend simply requests it that the City County Observer’s business consultant will gladly turn the heat up a bit by writing a Freedom of Information request for him fee gratis (FREE) in the spirit of seeking transparency, honesty, and good public policy?…that it will be a sad day indeed if the City of Evansville government has to be forced to make required disclosures to the Evansville City Council through the Freedom of Information Act?

IS IT TRUE that the discussion regarding the number of members of the County Council in a future consolidation has now started pointing to the number 15?…that the only tangible financial savings that has been identified so far that can be attributed to consolidation has been the elimination of a few elected positions?…that with this increase nearly every dollar of the financial efficiencies that have been identified just vaporized?…that we are trying to remember why this is even being considered in the first place?…that oh yes, we just remembered that it is because the world will see us differently if we draw the lines on the map in different places?…that if one cattle farmer with 100 acres and 117 cows merges with another cattle farmer with 200 acres and 62 cows that to any outside observer it is still just a 300 acre pasture with 179 cows?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,486 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,340 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot?…that City Centre Properties and Scott Kosene the developers of the McCurdy project are both listed as contributors to the Weinzapfel for Mayor committee for 2010?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 523 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?