“IS IT TRUE” NOVEMBER 26, 2018
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â 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?Â
IS IT TRUE at tonights City Council meeting an Ordinance Regarding City of Evansville Funds Allocated to ECHO Housing Corp will be discussed? …co-sponsors are Justin Elpers, Jonathan Weaver and discussion will be led by Finance Chairman Weaver?  …we hope that members the Evansville City Council will not approve any request to release any funds for ECHO Housing  Corp. without seeing a formal copy of the Forensic Audit conducted by an outside Accounting firm?  …we are hearing that the ECHO Housing Forensic Audit may have been completed and the Evansville Police Department told officials at ECHO Housing not to release any Audit information until their investigation is completed?  …this investigation has been going on for the last eight months and it’s time that the findings be released to the Media, DMD Director, ECHO Housing Board of Directors, the Mayor, and members of City Council?
IS IT TRUE at tonights City Council meeting City ORDINANCE F-2018-25 will be presented for discussion? Â …the Ordinance reads; “An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s)”? …we trust that members of City Council will ask pointed questions why this ordinance is needed at this late date in the 2018 budget cycle? …that the discussion of this Ordinance will be led by Finance Chairman Jonathan Weaver and Russ Lloyd, Jr., City Controller?
IS IT TRUE last week we posted that the newly elected County Commissioner of Vanderburgh County was offered free tickets to professional sporting events from someone who does business with the county? …that County Commissioner-elect Jeff Hatfield declined the free ticket offer? …we also reported that he also declined an offer by another County vendor to wine and dine him at an expensive restaurant? Â …we are told that Commissioner-elect Jeff Hatfield also said he won’t accept any gifts of any kind from anyone doing business or want to do business with the county? Â …were informed that Mr. Hatfield fellow Commissioners (Cheryl Musgrave and Ben Shoulders) had the same experiences with vendors doing business with the County? Â …we are pleased to hear that Mrs. Musgrave and Mr. Shoulders also declined free gifts from vendors?
IS IT TRUEÂ last week we posted that County Commissioner-elect Jeff Hatfield would like to see engineering, road and construction projects to be put out for competitive bidding? …we look forward to hearing Commissioners Musgrave and Shoulders positions on this issues?
IS IT TRUE Â last week we posted that County Commissioner-elect Jeff Hatfield said: “that will not appoint any members of his immediate family to serve on influential local Boards and Commission”? …he also said; “that he is against the practice of nepotism in the public sector”? Â ..we are also pleased to hear that Mrs. Musgrave and Mr. Shoulders also agree with Commissioner-elect Hatfield on this issue?
IS IT TRUE we are told that several partisan and non-partisan individuals are working on a strategy to defeat the current Mayor of Evansville in the upcoming 2019 City election? …we are told that the major upset victory by Democrat Jeff Hatfield over well known and popular Republican Mike Duckworth has caused major excitement within the Democratic party of Vanderburgh County? …we are told that several disgruntled Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans and non-partisan voters of the City are talking about forming a political coalition in order to find a credible person to run against a Mayor whom they considered to be a tax and spend politician?  …we are told that they also feel if Mike Duckworth can be defeated so can Mayor Winnecke?
IS IT TRUEÂ during the Mid-term election we questioned if the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann has awarded a non-bid “Drug Testing and Tracking” contract to a big political campaign contributor? Â …since that time, we haven’t received any Vanderburgh County Felony Charges reports from his public relations gal? …we look forward to Mr. Hermann to start resending us these reports because the public has a right to know about the who is charged with a felony?
IS IT TRUE that we continue to be impressed by Jon Webb over at the Evansville Courier and Press? Â … kudos to Jon Webb for using his reporter’s skills to reach a highly probable conclusion? Â …we know that Mr. Web has the journalism skills to write an interesting article about local politicians who give no-bid contracts to their big political donors?
IS IT TRUE that Channel 44 Anchor person Amanda Porter does a superb job in bringing us accurate and up-to-date local news of substance?  …that JoJo Genty the Sports Director of News 44 TV has earned the reputation of being extremely informative, detailed, aggressive and creative in providing her viewers with the current sports happenings in our region?  …the above news professionals are some of the reasons why Channel 44 TV is rapidly becoming known as a local news source you can trust and depend on
Todays“Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that City Council shouldn’t release any funds to ECHO Housing Corp. until they are given a copy of the Forensic Audit report of that agency?
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Agenda For Tonight’s City Council Meeting
NOVEMBER 26, 2018 At 5:30 P.M. At The Civic Center
AGENDA
| I. | INTRODUCTION |
Agenda Attachment:
| II. | APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDA |
Memo Attachment:
| III. | REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS |
| IV. | SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY |
| V. | CONSENT AGENDA:Â FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE G-2018-32 An Ordinance Granting a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Operation of Taxicabs for the Year 2019 (PAST, LLC) Sponsor(s): Adams Discussion Led By: A.S.D. Chair Adams 12/10/2018 Notify: Bill Kramer, PAST, LLC G-2018-32 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE G-2018-33 An Ordinance Granting a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Operation of Taxicabs for the Year 2019 (Relaxi Taxi Co.) Sponsor(s): Adams Discussion Led By: A.S.D. Chair Adams 12/10/2018 Notify: Keith Kollker, Relaxi Taxi Co, LLC. G-2018-33 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE F-2018-25 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 12/10/2018 Notify: Russ Lloyd, Jr., City Controller F-2018-25 Attachment:
D. ORDINANCE R-2018-29 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1841 Buchanan Road Petitioner: Nora Elaine Roberts Owner: Nora Elaine Roberts Requested Change: M2 to R2 Ward: 6 Brinkmeyer Representative: Nora Elaine Roberts R-2018-29 Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2018-30 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 612-614 Line Street, 300-310 E. Mulberry Street and 611-619 S. Governor Street Petitioner: Community Action Program of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Inc. Owner: Community Action Program of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Inc. Requested Change: C2 to R3 Ward: 4 Robinson Representative: Bret Sermersheim, Morley Corp. R-2018-30 Attachment:
F. ORDINANCE R-2018-31 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1900-1912 N Fifth Avenue Petitioner: John and Anita Smith Owner: John & Anita Smith Requested Change: C4 to M1 w/UDC Ward: 6 Brinkmeyer Representative: Thomas J. Keith, Andy Easley Engineering, Inc. R-2018-31 Attachment:
| VI. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| VII. | REGULAR AGENDA:Â SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
A. ORDINANCE G-2018-31 An Ordinance to Vacate Certain Public Ways or Public Places Within the City of Evansville, Indiana, Commonly Known as All That Alley Being Approximately Twelve (12) Feet in Width and Located South of West Franklin Street, North of West Illinois Street, East of Mary Street and West of Harriet Street, in the City of Evansville, Indiana Sponsor(s): Hayden Discussion Led By: Public Works Chair Mosby 11/26/2018 Notify: Marco DeLucio, ZSWS G-2018-31 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE F-2018-03 An Ordinance Regarding City of Evansville Funds Allocated to ECHO Housing Corp. Sponsor(s): Elpers, Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 11/26/2018 Notify: Joshua Claybourn, City Council Attorney F-2018-03 Attachment:
C. ORDINANCE R-2018-25 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 4445 Commerce Street Petitioner: Kevin Ferrell Owner: F&P Real Estate Holdings, LLC Requested Change: C2 to C4 Ward: 5 Elpers Representative: Kevin Ferrell, F&P Real Estate Holdings, LLC R-2018-25 Attachment:
D. ORDINANCE R-2018-27 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 5401 Weaver Road Petitioner: Brad Morton Owner: Brad Morton Requested Change: C4 to R1 Ward: 5 Elpers Representative: Brad Morton R-2018-27 Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2018-28 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 401 NW Second Street Petitioner: Michael Martin Owner: Michael Martin Requested Change: C4 to C3 Ward: 4 Robinson Representative: Michael Martin R-2018-28 Attachment:
| VIII. | RESOLUTION DOCKET |
A. RESOLUTION C-2018-35 A Resolution Memorializing the Mater Dei Girls Soccer Team for Winning the State Championship Sponsor(s): Adams, Brinkmeyer, Elpers, Mosby Discussion Led By: President Brinkmeyer 11/26/2018 Notify: Joshua Claybourn, City Council Attorney C-2018-35 Attachment:
B. RESOLUTION C-2018-36 A Resolution in Support of Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden’s Destination Development Grant Proposal Sponsor(s): McGinn Discussion Led By: President Brinkmeyer 11/26/2018 Notify: Joshua Claybourn, City Council Attorney C-2018-36 Attachment:
C. RESOLUTION C-2018-37 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, Approving and Authorizing Certain Actions and Proceedings with Respect to Certain Proposed Economic Development Revenue Bonds and Related Matters Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 11/26/2018 Notify: Kelley Coures, Dept. of Metropolitan Development C-2018-37 Attachment:
| IX. | MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS |
A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, December 10, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
B. TAX PHASE-IN COMPLIANCE REPORTS:Â Andrea Lendy, Growth Alliance
C. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
| X. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| XI. | ADJOURNMENT |
Commentary: Record-Breaking Numbers Of Women, But It’s Not Enough
Commentary: Record-Breaking Numbers Of Women, But It’s Not Enough
By Mary Beth Schneider
TheStatehouseFile.com
The new Indiana General Assembly was sworn in Tuesday, with an important milestone reached.
More women now represent Indiana in the state legislature than ever before. In all, 35 women now serve in the House and Senate, beating the past record of 33 women set in 1995.
Yes, it took Indiana more than two decades just to add two additional women to its 150 members. Hardly a reason to pop the champagne. Women make up about 51 percent of the population of Indiana, but only 23 percent of the General Assembly, even with this year’s historic gains. That’s less than the national average of just over 25 percent in 2018, a number that’s sure to be higher due to the so-called “pink wave†in this November’s elections.
Except, that is, for the House Democratic caucus. Only two of the 10 Senate Democrats are women and only seven of the 40 Senate Republicans. Among the 67 House Republicans, 9 are women, for a paltry 13 percent.
But women are actually a majority of the House Democratic caucus, holding 17 of that side’s 33 seats.
Tuesday, as lawmakers took their seats in the House of Representatives, the differences were striking. On the Republican side, every face was white. The first three rows? All men. But the Democrat side looked a lot more like a portrait of the state, with 15 black lawmakers, one Hispanic and the state’s first Asian-American in the legislature.
Looking down the rows of lawmakers, some new faces joining long-time members, the change that this year’s election brought was clear. In one row on the Democratic side, there were six women and one black man. Take it from someone who started covering the legislature back in 1990: That’s an unprecedented sight.
Does it matter? Women and minorities — including the first openly gay senator — now have more seats at the table. But do they have a voice, especially considering that Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, have no minorities at all among their members and only 16 women among their 107 members?
And women have yet to break into the top leadership roles, though they fill a variety of “assistant†this and “deputy†that, plus committee chairmanships. All four caucus leaders are white men.
“It’s still a man’s world,†said Rep. Vanessa Summers, a black Democrat from Indianapolis who has served since 1991. “Hopefully that will change just by listening to some of the things we have to say and (realizing) how important it is to hear another side.â€
Rep. Maria Candelaria Reardon, a Hispanic Democrat from Munster, said “the chamber should reflect the population. It gives people a different perspective. People only know what they know, and when they hear another perspective then they can give it weight and consideration.
She and Sen. Vaneta Becker, a Republican from Evansville, were both optimistic he legislative agenda will reflect many of the concerns of women, from better funding for the Department of Child Services to raising teacher pay.
Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-West Lafayette, has been in the legislature longer than any other woman currently serving, first winning the election in 1982. Then, she was one of only 14 women serving in the House and Senate.
She now sits in that nearly all-female row. And she expects the numbers to grow, citing women elected to city and county offices who may later move up to the Statehouse.
That, though, is the same story I’ve heard since the 1980s. It’s the year of the woman! The glass ceiling has a million cracks! A pink wave! And then — tiny incremental change.
Maybe this year will be different. After all, it just isn’t in Indiana that more women than ever are holding elected office. At least 122 women will serve in the next Congress, a record-breaking high of 24 percent that leaves Congress far from reflecting the nation’s demographics. There, as in Indiana, the gains are largely on the Democratic side.
Parity, though, shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Republicans cannot grow if they are the party of old white men. America and Indiana are better with a leadership that truly represents the people.
The gains of 2018 have to be a start, not the finish.
FOOTNOTE: Mary Beth Schneider is an editor with TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
This article was posted by the Ciyi-County Observer without editing.
MEET AMANDA DECKER THE NEWS ANCOR OF CHANNEL 44 NEWS
Amanda Decker is a native of Indianapolis. Amanda has more than ten years of professional experience producing and anchoring newscasts, reporting, and editing video.
Amanda says, “I’ve spent a lot of time in Evansville while my sister was a student at USI. I got to know the community, and I really liked it. Coming back to Indiana was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.â€
Amanda graduated from Ball State with degrees in Telecommunications, Journalism, and Political Science.
October Revenues Down, But Year-To-Date Tax Collections Up
October Revenues Down, But Year-To-Date Tax Collections Up
Staff Report
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana’s general fund revenues in October were down nearly 3 percent from the December 2017 forecast and .5 percent below what the state took in during the same period a year ago because individual income tax collections were down.
The state’s revenues for October totaled nearly $1.2 billion, or about $35 million below estimates, even though revenue in most categories was higher than the forecast and the year-over-year tax collections. Individual income taxes were $402 million or 14 percent below the monthly estimate and 15 percent below year-over-year numbers.Â
In Other Taxes:
- Sales taxes revenues were $675.4 million in October or 2.3 percent above estimates and 6.2 percent above what was collected in October 2017;
- Corporate taxes totaled $12 million or nearly 98 percent above the estimate and more than 200 percent above the collections a year ago;
- Riverboat wagering added more than $21 million to state’s revenues while racino wagering contributed $7.9 million. Both exceeded the forecast.
Overall, the state has collected nearly $5 billion in revenue from all taxes sources through the current fiscal year, which is nearly 2 percent above the forecast and 5 percent greater than funds collected by this time a year.
FOOTNOTE: TheStatehouseFile.com is a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Legislative Council Recommends Adoption Of Sexual Harassment Policy
IL for www.theindianalawyer.com
Top Republican and Democratic lawmakers voted Tuesday afternoon to recommend that the General Assembly adopt a new sexual harassment policy when it convenes next year.
The Legislative Council unanimously approved the guidelines proposed by its Personnel Subcommittee to combat sexual harassment at the Indiana Statehouse, but the policy will still undergo review by the ethics committees in the House and Senate and require approval from both chambers.
“It may not be the end all be all,†Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane said. “We’ll be back here in January to take a further look at what this policy should be.â€
But the vote signifies the policy has at least initial support from leaders at the Statehouse. The council includes House Speaker Brian Bosma, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta and Lanane.
The policy would allow the ethics committees to hear sexual harassment and retaliation complaints from any lawmaker alleging misconduct by a lawmaker. Complaints would be provided to the Speaker of the House or the Senate President Pro Tempore.
If the complaint involves either elected leader, then the majority caucus chair of the chamber would receive it. The policy would prohibit the subject of the complaint from being involved in the review process.
Sexual harassment would be defined as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.â€
The policy also calls for one hour of sexual harassment training for lawmakers every two years.
“I think it’s a pretty comprehensive policy, and it’s a really good start, but there still might be some small things that the ethics committees look at and review,†Bray said.
The Personnel Subcommittee of the Legislative Council was directed by the General Assembly in the last session to prepare and recommend a sexual harassment policy for lawmakers. The subcommittee usually consists of the two top leaders from each chamber, but those lawmakers each appointed different lawmakers to temporarily serve on the body to craft the policy. The appointed legislators included Rep. Holli Sullivan, R-Evansville; Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis; Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne; and Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage.
Legislative staffers currently have sexual harassment guidelines they must follow, but state lawmakers do not have a specific set of rules.
The issue of sexual harassment in state government has intensified this year, as four women accused Attorney General Curtis Hill of inappropriately touching them at a party after the end of the last session, and Bosma has been accused of trying to intimidate a former intern from coming forward about an alleged consensual sexual encounter she says the two had in the 1990s.
Hill and Bosma have denied the allegations.
Bosma said he did not attend any of the subcommittee meetings to avoid any potential conflicts given the accusations made against him.
The policy would still not apply to Hill, who is elected to a separate office, or other outside parties harassing legislators and legislative staff.
“There are some challenges there and that’s something we’re trying to work through,†Bray said.
Appeals Court Orders Return Of $60K In Seized Cash
Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com
The Indiana Court of Appeals has ordered the return of more than $60,000 in cash seized by an Indianapolis detective who was checking packages at a parcel-shipping company. The same detective’s prior seizure of cash in a similar manner set the precedent in a 2017 case that such searches are unlawful.
The appellate court ordered the return of $60,900 in cash that was seized last year from a package being shipped by Michael Hodges of Illinois to a recipient in California. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Detective Brian Thorla had set the package aside because he suspected drug or money laundering activity. Based on his training, this suspicion was because its shipping costs had been paid in cash, extra tape had been added to a self-sealing box, the box was a new one from the shipping company, and Thorla’s K-9, Hogan, alerted to the presence of an odor of controlled substances on the package.
Thorla obtained a warrant to open the package and search for drugs, money or evidence of drug trafficking or money laundering. He found a parcel containing the cash — vacuum sealed tightly-banded quantities of $20 bills. The state moved to transfer the money to the U.S. government in November 2017, alleging it was confiscated as proceeds of narcotics trafficking and money laundering. The Marion Superior Court agreed and ordered the seized money turned over to the feds.
“Hodges filed an answer objecting to the State’s motion to transfer wherein he argued that the seizure of the $60,990 was unlawful because it exceeded the scope of the search warrant. In support of his objection, Hodges cited Bowman v. State, 81 N.E.3d 1127 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017), modified on denial of rehearing, trans. denied, cert. denied, which involved the same detective and facts similar to his own case,†Judge Rudolph R. Pyle wrote in reversing the trial court.
In the Bowman case, the COA reversed the seizure of $30,000 being shipped in a similar manner by two Illinois men to a man in California.
In Bowman, Pyle wrote, “(W)e explained that the only evidence that this money was obtained through drug trafficking was: (1) the parcels were being shipped to California; (2) they were being sent to the same recipient; (3) they were heavily taped; (4) they were shipped priority overnight; and (5) a K9 unit alerted to the parcels. … We further explained the insignificance of this evidence as it related to drug trafficking as follows:
‘We can easily dispense with the first four pieces of evidence. We are confident that a voluminous number of parcels meeting those criteria and having nothing to do with drug trafficking are shipped in this country every day. If all money shipped in heavily taped parcels mailed to California via priority overnight mail could be seized as proceeds of drug trafficking, many last-minute gift recipients at holiday and birthday time would be sorely disappointed (and surprised).’
“…We also explained that the remaining fact that a K9 unit gave positive alerts on both parcels meant only that at some point, someone handling the parcels transferred an odor of controlled substances to them. … We further explained that this could have been the parcels’ senders or any number of individuals involved with handling the parcels in transit.â€
Hodges testified that he is an NBA agent who owns a company that resells tickets to sporting events, and that the money was meant to purchase World Series tickets that he planned to resell. The COA rejected the state’s argument and the trial court’s finding that the money could be seized simply because the warrant included bulk cash smuggling.
But Pyle noted there is no state statute criminalizing bulk cash smuggling, even though federal law prohibits smuggling of more than $10,000 in cash outside the country. That was not alleged in this case.
“As we explained in Bowman … where no evidence of unlawful activity was found in the parcel, and there has been no allegation that Hodges has been charged with any state or federal offenses in connection with the parcel, no reasonable person would conclude that the currency discovered in the parcel was the proceeds of bulk cash smuggling, drug trafficking, or money laundering,†the court ruled in Michael Hodges v. State of Indiana, 18A-MI-78.
“The seizure of the currency was therefore unlawful, and the trial court’s order granting the State’s motion to turn the currency over to the United States was erroneous,†Pyle said. “ … We therefore reverse and remand this case with instruction to the trial court to order the return of the currency to Hodges.â€
All Rivalries Aside, IU Honors Purdue Super Fan
All Rivalries Aside, IU Honors Purdue Super Fan
NOVEMBER 25TH, 2018 
TOWNSEND OUTLAW INDIANA
The school’s football team honored a Purdue superfan, Tyler Trent, who is currently battling cancer. He was invited onto the field before the game, where he met Indiana Basketball player Romeo Langford. Trent also got to serve as an honorary captain for Purdue. Indiana University student Matt Stauder, who is also a cancer survivor, served as a captain for his team.
The 2 guys got to meet on the field prior to the coin toss.