We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” 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.

HERE’S WHAT’S ON OUR MIND TODAY

 It has been well documented that the Weinzapfel Administration saddled the incoming Winnecke Administration with an unholy trilogy of unfinished business.   In a couple of days, we will re-publish some classic “IS IT TRUE” that will prove to be particularly on point on how many problems that former Mayor Weinzapfel created for Mr. Winnecke when he became Mayor of Evansville.  

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Vanderburgh County Commissioners Approve Road Paving and Repairs List

Evansville, IN-  The Vanderburgh County Commissioners have approved the largest road paving and repairs list in more than fifteen years. 

A total of thirty-four miles of county roadway will be repaired in 2019 at a cost of $4.9 million.  These projects will be funded by INDOT Community Crossing funds, county highway funds, local road and street funds, and TIF funds.

 “After listening to the many needs of our great citizens of Vanderburgh County through numerous road hearings, these road improvements are invaluable to the infrastructure of our community,” said Ben Shoulders, President of the Board of Commissioners. 

The list of over 45 roads includes roads in Melody Hills subdivision, a project for which bids were opened at today’s meeting.  In addition, West Haven subdivision, St. Joe Avenue, St. Wendell Road, Browning Road and Boonville New Harmony Road will all see repairs. 

“The approved paving list provides County residents with a good mix of needed repairs within subdivisions as well as repairs to through roads that carry higher volumes of county traffic,”  said County Engineer John Stoll.

“This is a great day for our roads and for Vanderburgh County. We ask for the community’s patience and for motorists to be mindful of the safety of our road workers throughout this process,” Said Commissioner Shoulders. 

Attached below is the link to the paving and repair list  for this caalendar year for Vqanderburgh County. 

2019 Paving List (003)

Governor Signs $34.6 Billion Dollar Budget Into Law

TheStatehouseFile.com

 INDIANAPOLIS — Standing with legislative leaders under the Indiana Statehouse Rotunda, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the state’s next two-year budget into law Monday, an act that cemented a balanced budget for the eighth consecutive year.

“Our state strategy to grow continues to define how we structure ourselves,” Holcomb said about the finalized budget, a central component to much of the legislation crafted in the recently-concluded session. “We are nimble and we cannot just act, we can react to the lay of the land and, in fact, get things done.”

The $34.6 billion budget sought to address one of the state’s largest challenges by increasing K-12 funding, with the hope that those funds bump up teacher pay. A main selling point for lawmakers has been the new $763 million added for K-12 education, which already constitutes about half the state’s spending priorities. It includes a plan initially introduced by Holcomb to use $150 million to pay down pension liabilities, freeing that money for other needs including salaries.

It also places more than $2 billion into the state’s reserves.

The budget was almost exclusively crafted by Republican lawmakers, with many provisions offered by the Democratic caucus ignored, voted down or removed at the last minute during the legislative session.

Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, expressed their enthusiasm for the early end to the legislative session, which concluded five days ahead of schedule on Wednesday, April 24.

“We hope to finish five days early make up for one day last year,” Bosma joked, referring to 2018 when lawmakers were forced to hold a one-day special session to resolve unfinished issues including Sunday alcohol sales and emergency funding for school safety improvements.

“There are usually about 20 issues that are irresolvable without any input, and that just didn’t happen this year,” he said.

At a news conference after the signing, Holcomb outlined other legislative items that fell into his “Next Level 2019Agenda” which covers improvements to the state’s economy, infrastructure, education and career development, public health and government.

Among the legislative actions approved by Holcomb are 100-percent exemptions from state income taxes for veteran pensions, broadband internet expansion in rural areas and additional direct domestic and international flights from Indianapolis to bolster economic development.

Holcomb has also signed numerous other bills, including a firearm measure that he signed April 26 before a cheering crowd at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention. The measure, outlined in House Bill 1284, would provide civil immunity to citizens who kill or injure another person in self-defense.

But Holcomb said several bills that arrived at his desk gave him pause, including the massive gambling and casino bill and a proposal involving carbon capture and storage at certain manufacturing facilities.

 “I want to make sure I read every word of those particular bills,” Holcomb said. “They’re big, major, good economic development bills, but I want to make sure I read them for myself.”

Asked if he planned on vetoing any legislation, Holcomb said he had no plans to do so at this time but is still reviewing bills. He has seven days to sign after the legislation reaches his desk. If he chooses to not sign a bill, it will become law by default.

Footnote: Erica Irish is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

IU ATHLETICS TO PILOT BEER AND WINE SALES AT FOOTBALL GAMES THIS FALL

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Fans over 21 attending football games at Memorial Stadium this fall will be able to enjoy beer and wine to enhance the IU Football gameday experience.

Pursuant to a pilot program recommended by the consulting firm Wasserman and consistent with the University’s Service of Alcohol Policy, beer and wine will be available for purchase by all football game attendees over 21 through a third-party vendor to be selected through the University procurement process.

“Our main goals with this initiative are to enhance the gameday experience for our fans and reduce alcohol-related incidents in and around the stadium,” said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass. “While there will be some comparatively modest revenue generated by these sales, that is not the primary purpose of this program. Ten percent of our net beer and wine public sales revenues will be given to campus for alcohol safety programming.”

In considering this move, Indiana University Athletics commissioned Wasserman to study the desirability of introducing beer and wine sales at its home football games. In examining the more than 50 other schools that sell alcohol to the general public at their stadiums, the study found that its introduction resulted in improved game-day experience and attendance (with overall attendance at sporting events on the decline nationally, the introduction of alcohol sales has reversed that trend at numerous schools); and a reduction in alcohol-related incidents and safety issues in the stadium (as an example, Ohio State University reported a 65 percent drop in alcohol-related incidents the first year it served alcohol to the general public, while West Virginia reported a 35 percent decline).

As part of the pilot program and to help ensure responsible behavior from fans, IU’s vendor will be required to ensure beer and wine purchasers have their identification checked, maintain a two-drink limit during each individual purchase, and cease sales at the end of the third quarter. IU Athletics will also work closely with IU’s Superintendent of Public Safety, who has also endorsed the pilot program, to ensure a safe environment at Memorial Stadium.

IU Athletics is establishing a task force to oversee the service of beer and wine this fall at Memorial Stadium which will address outstanding issues such as: appropriately consulting University procurement officials on drafting the RFP and selecting the vendor; determining where to direct the campus share for alcohol safety programming; evaluating the test pilot program and recommending whether it be continued and/or adjusted; whether to expand the program to other venues; and the like. The members of the task force will be Vice Provost and Dean of Students Dave O’Guinn; Associate Vice President and Superintendent for Public Safety Ben Hunter; Associate General Counsel James Nussbaum; and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration and External Relations Stephen Harper.

With the adoption of the pilot program, Indiana joins a rapidly growing list of schools around the state and country publicly serving alcohol at sporting events. Five schools do so in the Big Ten: Purdue, Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, and Maryland. Butler serves beer in Hinkle Fieldhouse. In addition, on campus, the IU Auditorium serves alcohol at its events.