IS IT TRUE September 17, 2013

1. Winny can’t understand!

   41 FTE employees do not equal 250 employees.

   • He must have been counting all the tail kissers following behind him at all these town hall meetings as contributors to the hotel.

2. This whole hullaballoo threatens to permanently stain our city’s reputation among developers looking to locate, develop, and invest in Evansville in the future.

   Certain financial and tax records submitted by contractors or developers as part of a bid, or in this case submitted as part of an audit, are never made public, and for very good reasons. Ask any competent corporate lawyer. Government agencies are prohibited from making public certain financial and tax records submitted by bidders, contractors, and developers.

   Yet everything submitted to or transmitted between certain agencies or individual office holders lately seem to travel down a straight pipeline to news outlets. This applies to everything from very sensitive and privileged information down to petty political squabbles transmitted in private emails. So it’s obvious that a developer, bidder, or contractor would be hesitant to submit certain privileged and sensitive financial or tax records at this time or in the future, until the leaky pipeline is patched.

   This situation is becoming critical to Evansville’s reputation as a place in which to invest and develop. We need to stop, cool off a bit, and think what’s next for Evansville’s future.

   • Your attempt to trivialize a practice by which the decision process, when spending vast Community Resources, is subject to informed analysis, as a part of that process, is so much hooey!
     Do you want informed, wise stewardship by Our Elected Officials, we charged with that Job, or do you toss common sense out the window and just chant,–“We Deserve it”.

     • “Is it true even the old and the poor are required to bare their financial soul to the Social Security Administration to be approved for disability or long term care assistance?”

       Yes, that is true. But the Social Security Administration keeps that information confidential, as it should be kept.

       “Is it true we see no reason that this common practice is not extended to developers who are seeking public dollars?”

       Yes, it would be prudent and “wise stewardship” to subject private developers to an “informed analysis” prior to investing public dollars in a project.

       However, it is imprudent, unwise stewardship for “Our Elected Officials” to divulge certain information that traditionally and ethically is kept confidential.

   • This has become a problem because of the lack of trust that the citizens of Evansville have for the people who find their way into office. There always seems to be an agenda that is unbeknownst to the rest of the Evansville citizens during the campaign trail. Often, We are sold a bag of goods that comes with a changing price tag every time we talk about the subject matter.

     Whether you compare the future costs of water & sewer utilities to the average median income of Evansville or you compare the costs of the water & sewer hikes against the current rates themselves, we face the largest increase in water & sewer treatment in the history of Evansville. This will come to bare on this next generation of people. Who cares about 200 jobs and a hotel for out-of-towners to enjoy when 120,000 people are going to have their water&sewer bill quintuple in the next decade? Though the two are not related, the burden that could be brought to bear on the taxpayer is.

     I would fathom to say that a majority of the cheerleaders for the current hotel project do not reside within the City of Evansville. And that particular delineation should be drawn specifically to identify the actual support that the current hotel plan has in the City of Evansville. I believe, the bandwagon of people that are being paraded around town would become mute if this were to go to a referendum.

     The CCO Editor is right. We need a better vetting process, not just a bunch of paid cheerleaders at the disposal of whatever administration is currently in power.

     Shalom

3. Where’s the socialism Limbaugh is crying about? Did the pill addict lie? Surely not.

   • Disgusting is too mild a term to describe this. There is NO hope for this town.

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4. Does anyone else shutter every time they hear the words Downtown hotel and Conventions. Here’s the deal. State conventions move every year by regions. right now the majority are on a North, Central, Southern rotation. They go to Ft. Wayne, next year, Indianapolis, next year French Lick. and have been doing that for several years now. Of the 80 some conventions Ft. Wayne has, the majority are because of this and default ( not many other choices in the north). Now look at the south. Evansville vs. French Lick. Reputation, charm, things to do, established site, built for convention and tourism, all for convention attendees all go to French Lick. The things to do for these are different than tourism things to do. These people want bars, golf and food. Not museums, shopping, ballfields and nature walks. People have to understand that. Which bring us to the central problem today in Evansville, WE NEED A PLAN! not shoot from the hip as we have been doing for 15 plus years.
   I am all for the downtown hotel in the form proposed or revamped, we need it to grow and Evansville needs to grow, not stay the same as it was in the 1960&70’s. I think the problem is Evansville has not spent a dime on ANYTHING, infrastructure, recreation, downtown, (just to name a few), in so many years, now we are doing it all at once. You can thank Mayors of past who ignored the issues and hoped they would not cause problems for them and go away. Are updates needed? YES! Roberts was a dump, Downtown is dying, Parks and ball fields are falling apart. Is Winneke going about it in the right way? NO! take a page from Ron Payne Mayor of Owensboro. He put together a plan, step by step, showed the people and said this is what I WILL be doing. Then he did it and It’s breathing life back into a dead city.
   My first Sentence, is anyone else getting tired of hearing these meaningless words? Why do we have to have two sides on everything in this town? That is the problem this town has, US AND THEM, instead of WE! Why doesn’t Friend and the Mayor sit down together at the same table and put a plan together that works for everyone instead of worrying about headlines and limelight? Why doesn’t Connie Robinson and Billy Bolin set together and come up with something instead of jabs at a meeting? That is the problem today, its easier to place blame on the “other side” instead of claiming responsibility and working together on a solution. If you can find fault you can find a solution. For the next few days lets try something. Show everyone a solution on CCO instead of what is wrong with everything. I challenge you!
   It’s a simple solution that puts a lot of headaches to bed. Set down and work it together, or change the shirts to say US and Them are Evansville.
   YAO OUT!

   • If I have learned anything from local history it is that this city only thrived, and understandably so, when we had factories and businesses and close to full employment. That is the foundation on which everything else is built.

     With that in place it created pride in individuals who felt like they were not only providing for their families, but ultimately building a stronger community.

     Without that employment there is not enough tax revenue coming in the door for local government to do anything but survive as best it can.

     Calling on people to provide support that they do not have the ability to give only furthers their sense of desperation.

     Historically the philanthropic efforts of some caring individuals, who’s businesses prospered through their efforts and that of their employees, to give back to the community can not be stressed enough here in Evansville. There names are all around us, even if those gifts were allowed to languish in some cases.

     We have to do a better job of taking care of the things we have. The city looks dirty and dingy to outsiders because we allow it to look that way. Why are our street and road right of ways allowed to become so littered and grown up in weeds? Is it because, when competing for funding, that is less of a priority than providing personal property tax abatement to the majority of businesses in Evansville, or providing those same businesses with financial incentives for their construction projects?

     Asking citizens at this point in time to provide $82. million over 20 years for the proposed convention hotel, with no ownership and no guarantee that the hotel will ever be successful, is another one of those moves that creates despair. No businessman wanted to build this hotel as a private undertaking, and in my estimation no government entity should be able to force the citizens to pay for the project.

     I think Mayor Winnecke should sit down with Evansville’s businessmen and come up with a solution that calls for no, or only a modest, contribution of public dollars to build an adequate, whatever that may be, hotel on the property. Winnecke and his successor certainly took care of Evansville’s business community, perhaps now is the time to call in some markers.

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     • Pressanykey: Your comments seem too myself to be always on subject,with that said, It seems that the developments of regional infrastructure to meet or exceed demands of the coming century in your metro area are missing some support on the federal level. That needs brought to your local tables.
       I observed the presentation last night by the ES/WD on public television,The leadership stated “clearly” that federal funding was not available to the metro area for the costly over burden sewer infrastructure mandate improvements. In 28 years the whole costing will likely be close to 870 million dollars. That’s only my speculation however its probably close.
       I would ask the population of the Indiana 8TH district to read and comprehend the The office of the presidents “Climate Change Action plan June 2013.” Listed by the Executive office of the President.
       The action plan “clearly supports” efforts to improve needed infrastructure improvements specified by the previous clean energy and clean water acts.
       It also clearly states action in supporting these with grants and technical support is mandated and supported by the POTUS.
       There is a section on support for building better buildings to support the presidents climate change action planning moving forward.
       Show an plan for staged incremental building infrastructure improvements with the projected building projects………Government, Private homes,and commercial buildings are included in that visionary plan.
       What I would recommend is contacting the local/state elected leadership on the subject, state and federal level to “seek funding for advanced infrastructure improvements” so needed in the area by federal mandate.
       No support on this is somewhat unacceptable if one would read the President Obama Climate Change action plan as it is listed.
       “Build better buildings” with the highest degree of infrastructure planning
       and set the mold for the future …according to the POTUS Climate change action plan.
       Open the avenue for progressive incoming commerce revenue with true innovation application,areas that are behind the curve could use the help so to speak.

       “Before its sent down the river”…….

       • Government is not the answer, it is the problem. I am not a fan of unfunded government mandates or central planning, and I am not a fan of the POTUS either.

         The sewer situation in Evansville should have been continually reviewed and addressed over all the prior administrations. Some things are basic needs, and water and sewers and roads fall in that category.

         Evansville has been quick to expand her boundaries and very dilatory about expanding necessary services. Waiting and hoping for federal handouts is not much of a plan. I am afraid that there are those who see big money to be made out of the unfortunate situation that exists at EW&SD concerning CSO.

         Since ratepayers will be paying monthly for all of the new construction and bonding that goes with it, it is not a case of the sky is the limit. Ratepayers can not, in just a few years time, make up for the generations of neglect that created this problem.

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         • Pressanykey: Climate change and storm water over burden are one in the same in regards to the future infrastructure needs. The Ratepayers will be paying for upgrades at any perceived future rate,that is not going away.
           The action plans put forth by and assisted by any government agency can only help position the population for what is now expected moving forward in respect to Climate change.
           If commerce and funding are creating the jobs and leading to innovative applications developed with sound science. Commerce will trend to expand in relation to the progress of the plan.
           “The sky is too the limit” of life on earth,and finding the solutions to enhance the planets habitable areas human societies can thrive in, and the locations of those is what the Climate Action plan is. Its planning the preparation of infrastructure needed to sustain Americas growth forward.
           Environmentally planned communities will find prosperity in the acceptance and application of the planning and actions needed to set community well being in the given areas populations to meet their needs.. Be that ballparks,hotels or sanitary sewers they all must demonstrate solid environmental science moving forward to achieve this Climate Change action mandate or plan.
           Not planning for that very thing is why this is now needed by mandate.
           If federal funding can be accessed by using advanced innovation science driven applications through this plan then,I would say its an government we really do need for the people.
           If we can make this an sewer/mandate positive project,by growing commerce I see no real issue with it…its an need for the future area presentation.
           Science innovation,and enterprise made the America some look back on with envy. The old days are long behind us, that is not going to be back,the planet will see to that,the formulas for economic success are still around however. Applied with the right direction and support the society can thrive as it has once before.
           Why not look at the bright side there,think of the advances in the technology we can use today for change now. So moving forward the future is there for the next round of “rate payers” to actually thrive. Without the upgrades nothing changes.

           Using The Environment and Innovation how we drive the costing can.

         • Pressanykey: Climate change and storm water over burden are one in the same in regards to the future infrastructure needs. The Ratepayers will be paying for upgrades at any perceived future rate,that is not going away.
           The action plans put forth by and assisted by any government agency can only help position the population for what is now expected moving forward in respect to Climate change.
           If commerce and funding are creating the jobs and leading to innovative applications developed with sound science. Commerce will trend to expand in relation to the progress of the plan.
           “The sky is too the limit” of life on earth,and finding the solutions to enhance the planets habitable areas human societies can thrive in, and the locations of those is what the Climate Action plan is. Its planning the preparation of infrastructure needed to sustain Americas growth forward.
           Environmentally planned communities will find prosperity in the acceptance and application of the planning and actions needed to set community well being in the given areas populations to meet their needs.. Be that ballparks,hotels or sanitary sewers they all must demonstrate solid environmental science moving forward to achieve this Climate Change action mandate or plan.
           Not planning for that very thing is why this is now needed by mandate.
           If federal funding can be accessed by using advanced innovation science driven applications through this plan then,I would say its an government we really do need for the people.
           If we can make this an sewer/mandate positive project,by growing commerce I see no real issue with it…its an need for the future area presentation.
           Science innovation,and enterprise made the America some look back on with envy. The old days are long behind us, that is not going to be back,the planet will see to that,the formulas for economic success are still around however. Applied with the right direction and support the society can thrive as it has once before.
           Why not look at the bright side there,think of the advances in the technology we can use today for change now. So moving forward the future is there for the next round of “rate payers” to actually thrive. Without the upgrades nothing changes.

           Using The Environment and Innovation how we drive the costing can.

         • v-is-to-r:

           Sorry, I do not but into the whole “climate change” panic.

           We have have had sewer problems here in Evansville for generations, way before today’s global warming proponents were even born.

           On a more sober note, I sure hope you are wrong about future sewer projects being engineered to a standard based on an unsupported theory. The poor ratepayers are facing enough debt as it is without paying for pie in the sky what ifs that are not supported by science.

           I did say earlier that the Evansville Water and Sewer Department will need close supervision. Some personnel changes there by Weinzapfel and Winnecke, and the fact that Weinzapfel went to work for Faegre Baker Daniels should be enough to raise the antennas of anyone familiar with Evansville politics and business.

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         • WOW! Looks like my suspicions have been confirmed already!:

           https://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Legal_Fees.pdf

           Mr. Weinzapfel did not have to wait very long at all before getting that big payday!

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         • Disgusting is too mild a term to describe this. There is NO hope for this town.

   • I can’t believe I just spent over five seconds reading that OCD rant. I hope you were serious about the YAO OUT part though.

5. All of my existence on c & p has been erased (yay ) because I called some one who was taking up for winnecke , a idiot and a pinhead , no foul language used . By the way they called me a pinhead first

   • No big loss Evilltaxpayer. C&P is just a rag and 95% (I made up this number. If Wayne and the Mayor can do it, so can I!) of the posters ARE pinheads at best.

6. Said it twice aye,nah,just slow key stroke. sorry.

7. Said it twice aye,nah,just slow key stroke. sorry.

8. We thought Hunden was an expert in analyzing the hotel industry…but, never thought he was a lobbyist…wonder how much the taxpayers will be billed for the memo…just add it to the $217,000 he has been paid up to now…we must stop with the Kentucky jokes…it is embarrassing…

   • No way the ERC paid Hunden $217,000 for services rendered. I was told that the ERC only approved Hunden to be paid $37,000 to do consulting work concerning the proposed downtown hotel.

     If this is true we need to hear from ERC Director, Phil Hooper why he recommend that Hunden consulting fee being raised to this amazing amount of tax payers money for services rendered.

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