IS IT TRUE September 12, 2012

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SNEGAL: “Sneaky but Legal”

IS IT TRUE September 11, 2012

IS IT TRUE that Roberts Stadium may not have hosted the Shrine Circus last year and it may never host the Shrine Circus again as it did for some 50 years but the CIRCUS IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS REGARDING ROBERTS STADIUM?…that Mayor Winnecke is now spinning, rationalizing, and in all probability outright lying about the 400% increase in the price for demolition?…that President Clinton does not have a thing on Mayor Winnecke when it comes to telling a big lie about Ms. Lewinsky?…the Democrat spin machine that has the nerve to tell us all that the country is better off than it was four years ago in utter denial or defiance of hard facts has nothing on Mayor Winnecke’s fairy tale about the cost to demolish Roberts Stadium?…this man must think the people of Evansville are complete imbeciles to try and convince anyone that the City of Evansville clearly believed that the number was $200,000 for this task and intentionally lead the people of this town to believe that $200,000 was a valid and comprehensive quote from Klenck Construction?…given the $1 Million demolition cost and the $8 Million cost for the proposed dog and skateboard park the only logical approach is to auction Roberts Stadium off to the highest bidder even if it only brings $1?…putting Roberts Stadium on the tax roll and into private hands is the only thing that the City of Evansville can afford to do with respect to Roberts Stadium?…that not only should there be an 8th grade ISTEP requirement for the City Council but it should be a requirement for Mayor of Evansville as well?…this is dumber than the Earthcare Energy deal and that one took the cake?…this dog and skateboard park for $10 Million is even dumber than spending $20 Million for 8 little league ball fields that other cities routinely build for $5 Million or less?…that it seems sometimes like the abundance of meth labs in the City of Evansville must be tainting the air for local government?

IS IT TRUE that it’s been alleged that some account balances for the City of Evansville needs to be reconciled. … if this statement is true as many Civic Center Moles are telling us then the City of Evansville may have audit problems with the State Board of Accounts? …if the city of Evansville does not have an accurate check of account balances then how in the world can they craft a detailed city budget for 2013? …there is not even an approved 2012 City of Evansville budget posted on the shiny new website which does have better fluff than the old website even though the substance is still the same?

IS IT TRUE Metro Louisville may be asked to chip in more money to cover debt payments on the KFC Yum! Center?…the Louisville Arena Authority voted Monday morning to alert the city it may need to tap into the city’s maximum contribution of $9.8 million?…the city is currently slated to pay $6.5 million to the Arena Authority?…the reason for the shortfall in Louisville is due to the collections from the TIF district coming up very short with revenue?…looking around at the YUM Center there are a number of businesses that have started up in that TIF district but it still was less than half of the projections used to justify the construction of the YUM Center which houses the #2 men’s college basketball programs in America for both men and women, numerous big time concerts, and other events?…that there are six words to describe the future of the Ford Center in Downtown Evansville which is pretty much a baby brother project in every way compared to the YUM Center?…those six words are tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock?…within a year we will all know if the Ford Center will be needing to panhandle into other forms of financing to make ends meet when the debt starts to need servicing?

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50 COMMENTS

  2. New boss same as the old Boss!! Let see how much money we can rip out of the city and smile like crazy!! Vote NO to consolidation!!!! Just look at the crooks and cronies running the city into the ground. What damage can be done with a larger tax base?

  3. Does anyone know how many months that the that the financial books or records of the City of Evansville hasn’t been reconciled?

    I’m hearing that the books hasn’t been balanced for over 2 years.

    • The most recent published audit of the City of Evansville is here:

      http://www.in.gov/sboa/WebReports/B39168.pdf

      You will get tired of reading the phrase: “in prior audit reports”, which is SBOA’s nice way of saying “how many times do we have to tell you goobers?” that this is NOT the way it is to be done.

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    • Ol’ Rusty Lloyd must be working overtime balancing the budget now that the heat is on.

      The other morning, I saw him get off the civic center elevator with a stack of files three feet high in his arms. He looked like he slept in his suit.

      • At least Rusty has a CPA. The prior Controller was a complete idiot who was recently brought in to “clean-up” the Utilities. The $60k a year pay wasn’t good enough for her so she’s getting paid $82k a year for screwing up everything that she touches. And don’t get me started on the City’s computerized accounting system “expert”. She can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

        • I don’t care if ol’ Rusty is a certified bean counter given his own track record on the Earthcare Energy debacle, Roberts Stadium demolition debacle, having no idea on projected revenue debacle and his apparent inability to reconcile the books.

          Not to mention wasting $2 million on designing a ball diamond built nowhere.

          As far as the previous controller, who has control over the sewer and water department, employees and salaries?

      • It was Russ Lloyd who published the last CAFR for the City of Evansville when he was serving as Mayor.

        Jonathan Weinzapfel never published a single CAFR for the entire 8 years he was Mayor.

        I’ll bet the irony of that is not wasted on Russ Lloyd now.

        You can’t write stuff like this.

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  4. my God, people-NO, and I mean Hell to the NO on consolidation! This fool’s bouncing off walls.

  5. Is there any question in anyone’s mind nowadays why Weinzapfel and his democrats worked so hard to get Winnecke elected? He is their anointed fall guy.

    I said he did not know what he was getting into and that he had better do some serious discovery once he occupied the office. This is just one example of something jumping up to bite him. There will be many to follow.

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    • An arrogant foolish boy was anointed Mayor to take the hits for an arrogant manipulative Mayor who was no fool. Winnecke is dancing and exercising to Weinzapfel’s drum just as he was told. Mamma Doc is right there to keep him in line too.

      Some days it seems like we have elected a cartoon character Mayor.

  6. We did! Did see the Mayor in his many colors tennis shoes jumping rope? Did you see the Mayor starring in his own zero rated “Go Chicken Fat” video? How laughable!

  7. Almost one year down and three years left in the Mayors first and last term.

    Eric Williams for Mayor!

    • Why do you keep pimping Eric “Unification Man” Williams for Mayor. He is just another democrat puppet and is one of the leading cheerleaders for unification. He needs to retire to Vectren like the last numbskull Sheriff who delved into politics. Sheriff Unification is no Mayor.

      • I agree. I think our best hope in the next election would be a third party challenger to interject some sense into the debate.

  9. Looks like the Mayor has found his fall guy for the City of Evansville major bookkeeping problem–Russ Lloyd, Jr.

    I just wonder why Russ is protecting the past Mayor concerning this issue?

    Where is the past City Controller working now? Maybe someone could contact her to get answers to alledged major bookeeping problem in order to correct them.

    • Russ Lloyd is part of the machine, it doesn’t matter which party is in they will be taken care of. That’s why the Dem’s refused to support Rick Davis even after he won the primary. They turned their back on their own party rather than have an outsider in the civic center. It’ll bite them in the rear yet for their actions.

  10. Connie Robinson and the rest of the Dems on the City Council are showing more fiscal conservatism now than the one Republican and the Republican Mayor.

    Seems the Democrats are finally understanding Option C and are beginning to advocate SELLING Roberts Stadium like should have been done from the beginning. Unfortunately, the supposed “conservatives” in this equation still want to spend more taxpayers money.

    The Republican Party of Vanderburgh County should be absolutely ASHAMED to have these idiots out front representing them and their ideas. If I was Chairman Wayne Parke, I would be doing everything in my power right now to distance myself from these people and draw an ideological line in the sand, lest my silence lent de facto support to their idiocy.

  11. To abandon the “Checks and Balances” of County Government is Folly. To hand a “Blank Check” to the “Anointed” Aristrocry, and trust them to put, a Good Government Model in place, is illogical, given it has been discredited over and over, in Evansville, most recently by “King.John”. To vote to consolidate Power is to, become our own worst enemy,—the only choice to protect us from ourselves? VOTE NO. “Checks and Balances”,–Power needs to be spread out,–not Consolidated.

  12. The answer to where is the past City Controller is working now is simple. She now works in a newly created position in the Water and Sewer Department as “Chief Financial Officer”. I been told that she took this newly created position with the Water and Sewer Department with the understanding she would make around $60,000 a year.

    Guess what, word at the Civic Center is she in now making about $81,000 a year in position created by the past Mayor of Evansville.

    Oh, you guess it, this position was never advertised by the city. How’s that for political patronage?

    • Not to shabby for someone without a CPA or a Masters Degree. Just an accounting degree from a school that I have never heard of but she’ll tell you about it every time that you talk to her.

  13. I remember how bad Russ Lloyd, Jr. failed as Mayor of Evansville. Looks like history is ready to repeat itself. He now on a fast track to fail as Controller of the City Evansville.

    Hiding important financial information from the taxpayers is a career ender!

    I’M sad for him because he is an extremely nice person.

    • You have to admit that he inherited a poop sandwich from Weinzapfel, who never published a single CAFR for the entire 8 years he was mayor.

      SBOA audits do not go into enough detail to uncover all that went on in those 8 years.

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    • Editor: You are having trouble with the webpage again. I am getting those “duplicate comment” prompts again and am unable to post some information.

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  14. I just believe that Mayor Winnenke hasn’t spoke up against the problems concerning the city books has not been balanced for almost 2 years.

    I also feel sorry for position Russ Lloyd, Jr is in.

    Once again, another reason why people are beginning not to trust the Mayor any more.

    Just don’t understand why he keeps protecting the past Mayor.

  15. Why didn’t the Mayor step in and stop the past City Controller in a newly created position from being raised from $61,000 to $81,000 a year salary increase within 3 months of taking new job?

    Wonder why our water rates are so damm high? Here’s one of the answers.

    Anybody know who’s the new Mayor appointed to serve on the Evansville Utilities Board? I would like to know the idiots that gave give the past City Controller this alledged $21,000 salary increse in about 3 months on this newly created job!

    The Utilities Board members are have their as- run out of town for allowing this type of thing to happen to the city of Evansville taxpayers!

    • Jenny don’t tell no secrets as long as the cushy job and the extra $20k stays intact. She knows every trick that Weinzapfel and Winnecke have pulled. Gotta keep Jenny happy.

      • You got to dig a little deeper. When the controller before her left. When L.A. left she was deputy controller and took over. They couldn’t possibly bring in someone that was going to actually look into ANY questionable accounts. Now she is hidden in the system at the water department like alot of others. Why do you think R.Y. is still around and getting created positions? As far as the Connie statement someone made… Come on! She is just trying to back peddle lately to get voted right back in. You can’t cheat the vote twice and get by with it! If people want change they need to find new faces in both parties!

  16. And why hasn’t the C&P, 14 WFIE, or 7 Local News reported on this? We have gross negligence going on in the Civic Center. Taxpayers money being pissed away to give incompetent people promotions and cushy jobs that they aren’t qualified for. The new accounting software “expert” doesn’t know what a debit or credit is, yet she was one of the 11 chosen to get a raise.

    • The aforementioned local media will not, I repeat, will not do any research. They must have it spoon fed to them with great detail. Then, they must verify that it can be brought to the news desk, by their station managers, who notify the mayor or the “powers that be” to see IF or how it can be spun, before it goes to press or TV. There is nobody in local media with a spine. NOBODY! They as well as most people in this economy are scared to lose their jobs. ethics be damned in the local media. a sad, sad, sad time for all local counties, cities, and burgs.

  17. Since said former Controller became CFO of the Utilities, she has spent tons of money frequently bringing in Big Dan from Umbaugh CPAs to do many of the aspects of her job. I am sure that Umbaugh charges hundreds an hour, so here is another reason why your Utility rates are going up.

    • This reminds me of the old Dire Straights song “money for nothing and chicks for free”, except this chick must be paying taxpayer dollars to the one you call “boy toy”.

    • June 15, 2012

      Welcome Catherine Fanello

      Catherine Fanello has joined Umbaugh’s public finance group as a senior associate. Catherine has impressive credentials in local government. She served as controller for the City of South Bend, has been a finance officer and deputy controller for the City of Evansville, served four years as a Vanderburgh County Commissioner and was a staff accountant for John Friend and Company, P.C.

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  18. Maybe it’s time for someone to call in the Inspector General from Indiana and members of the Indiana State Police Crime Division to interview the past City Controller of Evansville to she if she is hiding anything!

    Also it wouldn’t hurt for them to interview the past Mayor. Maybe they should also interview present and past CEO’s of the Water and Sewer Department and past board members.

    Two years without balancing the books of the city of Evansville tells me that someone may be hiding something.

  19. Why did the State Board of Accounts allow the books of the city of Evansville alledgely go unbalanced for about 2 years? Could signal we may have financial troubles in “River City”!

    Why didn’t Russ Lloyd, Jr. come forward with this information?

  20. Word at the Civic Center is that the Mayor and all his man and women are trying figure how to spin the issue of the alledged unbalanced financial books of the City of Evansville.

    Also rumors at the Civic Center is that the Mayor may have called the Governor to ask him to pressure the State Board of Accounts to back away from this issue by allowing the new City Controller to figure why the books haven’t been balanced. In essence, water down this problem that the SBA audit findings shall be a matter of fact statement in the soon to be published report.

    Also people are wondering why Budget Chairmen and City Counciman John Friend didn’t come forward concerning this major financial issue?

  21. The rumor is that the City’s records were so bad that the Board of Accounts had to bring in their big guns…CPA’s with computer and fraud-investigation experience and they still couldn’t make heads or tails out of the mess of their new accounting system.

    • I have no idea if such a “rumor” is true, but if and when we receive the SBOA published audit report on the City of Evansville, and if it is full of the gross negligence that some people believe will be the case, then it will be up to the citizens of Evansville to take corrective action. The SBOA is just an “audit” agency. Indiana Code 5-8 describes the procedure for removing elected officials from office for cause.

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  22. Looks like we shall have “Budget Gate” in River City starting real soon.

    Can’t wait to hear why the present Mayor, past and present city controllers didn’t tell us why they taxpayers weren’t informed that the city financial books hasn’t been balanced for the last couple of years!

    We are watching how the State Boards of Accounts are going to handle this problem? Isn’t with holding important financial information from State Boards of Accounts may be an illegal act! WE hope the Governor isn’t going to get involved in this situation. We are also watching him also!

  23. Please repeat after me. One term Mayor!

    It is he obvious just doesn’t have want it takes to make sound and responible financial decisions on behalf of the taxpayers.

    • I really don’t believe our mayor was even intended to be anything but a one term placeholder to keep Davis from being elected and hold the office for the next anointed Democrat (read that as ‘ol boy’s club choice), as more and more time passes it becomes more apparent just how inept our current mayor (and entire city government) is and it’s getting clearer as to just why all the Democrat central committee members signed the pact to support a Republican mayoral candidate.

      JMHO

  25. I watched Rusty Lloyd testify before at a budget hearing before John Friend’s committee.

    As a CPA, I am ashamed of the fact that Rusty can call himself a CPA. He didn’t have a clue about what he was testifying to.

  26. That’s because CPA stands for “Can’t Pass Again”. You never have to know that much accounting after the exam is passed. The longer that you are a CPA the less of an accounting expert you are. That’s why I hire new CPA’s to do my taxes. All that you have to do is just sit through a week of boring seminars and webinars every year with no accountability of retaining the information. Maybe Mr. Lloyd should spend less time sleeping in his suit in the Controller’s Office chasing the impossible and more time sitting in class learning accounting.

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