|
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
ADVICE TO CITY COUNCIL: When There Is No Right Thing, Do The Smartest Thing Possible
When There Is No Right Thing, Do The Smartest Thing Possible
Â
Monday night the Evansville City Council let emotion drive a financial decision that should have been driven by information, analysis and good judgment. This council just released a significant sum of taxpayers money (around $500,000) to Echo Housing that is still mired in an investigation about illegal benefit from taxpayer dollars by a former Executive Director and possibly others. As much as the plight of the less fortunate can pull on one’s heartstrings, it is well informed cognitive decision making that the City Council is supposed to deliver and this time they failed to do that. Several months ago the City Council did the right thing by delaying the release of funds until an agreed upon set of conditions were met. While one condition was met the rest of the list has not been addressed adequately to justify the release of these funds. No conditions whatsoever were placed on the funds that were released.
City Councils across the United States whether they realize it or not are the Chief Fiduciaries for the taxpayers who have entrusted them with the responsibility of local governance. Evansville, Indiana is no exception to this rule. Serving as the Fiduciary Governing body for Evansville requires that decisions are made in the most favorable way to optimize the benefit for the constituents of the City of Evansville. Being an effective Fiduciary is a serious obligation and it takes a deep understanding of many situations. Being a Fiduciary in situations where there is really no right answer requires going through a process of investigation that eventually leads to the Smartest Decision Possible. Sometimes this takes time and acting prior to having all of the forthcoming information is neither Smart nor Responsible. Unfortunately, the Evansville City Council voted 7–2 to release a significant amount of money (around $500,000 dollars) to Echo Housing that is still the subject of a criminal investigation. No matter what cases may have been made on behalf of the children, the veterans, the elderly and the poor, this decision came from seven bleeding hearts and two heads. Two of our elected officials thought this through and voted no. The other seven kept the tradition of voting emotion instead of intelligence alive in River City.
The background story of Echo Housing is about as ugly as it gets. The immediate past Director is under investigation for allegedly using some of the funds to pay personal expenses. The investigation of the actions that surround that including the possibility that others may have received illegal benefits from the coffers of Echo Housing has not yet been made public. Until this information is made public, releasing around $500,000 dollars of taxpayer dollars to this organization is not the smart thing to do. While we understand the humanitarian cases made as they always seem to be by accenting the plight of children, widows, homeless veterans, the poor and the elderly, such appeals should not overrule the Fiduciary Responsibility of elected groups.
The time is long past for the Evansville City Council to get serious about governance and to cease making decisions based on emotions and politics. Smart cities do not circumvent their own agreements to appease emotional appeals. Smart cities do not choose fun and games over substance. This release of funds against the interest of the taxpayers is just the latest shenanigan pulled by the Evansville City Council. It is not unusual and it was not unexpected. This was business as usual and the real question is when will the people of Evansville draw a line in the sand and demand that this nonsense cease?
Here is a good suggestion to appease the emotional appeal. The City-County Observer calls upon the seven bleeding heart members of the City Council to personally loan Echo Housing an amount equal to the funds released. These loans should be secured by any future payments that are legitimately released after all investigations and Forensic Audit have been completed and released to the media.
We commend At-Large City Councilman and Finance Chairman Jonathan Weaver and 5th Ward City Councilman Justin Elpers for making the right Fiduciary decision on behalf of the citizens of Evansville by voting “NO†to release around $500,000 of taxpayers dollars to ECHO Housing Corp at this time!
“IS IT TRUE” NOVEMBER 29, 2019 BY DEPUTY DUCK
We hope that today’s “READERS FORUMâ€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 we took the liberty to post an interesting IS IT TRUE posted in the comment section yesterday by a loyal supporter named DEPUTY DUCK?  …the majority of the IS IT TRUE comments written by DEPUTY DUCK posted below seems to be spot on?
IS IT TRUE the McCurdy’s legal issues and code violations could lead to a major battle with the City? IS IT TRUE we need this cultural gem to be successful for the health of downtown? IS IT TRUE we hope the two parties find a way to resolve their issues so that this area can thrive?
IS IT TRUE a developer appeared before City Council at the last meeting seeking a rezoning for the old Fred Geiger and Sons National Biscuit Company property? IS IT TRUE the developer plans to rehabilitate the historic property to be mixed use? IS IT TRUE we are excited to see what comes of this development?
IS IT TRUE the City elections will start to get more interesting as candidates make their announcements? IS IT TRUE we expect Michelle Mercer, Alex Schmitt, and Ron Beane to run as Republicans at-large? IS IT TRUE we expect Jonathan Weaver and Ed Bassmeier to run as Democrats at-large? IS IT TRUE we are curious to see whether Dan Adams chooses to run again? IS IT TRUE we wonder who Republicans will choose to run in the all-important 1st ward?
IS IT TRUE the City Council will soon vote on their attorney for 2019? IS IT TRUE we expect Josh Claybourn to be retained since a majority have already voiced their support him? IS IT TRUE that some other attorneys wanting the position have tried to make an issue out of Claybourn living outside of city limits? Â IS IT TRUE this will be a tough argument to make since the previous attorney Scott Danks also lived outside of city limits? IS IT TRUE that most City Council members report Claybourn has stayed out of the political fray and that it will help him keep his job?
IS IT TRUE we hear that new County Commissioner Jeff Hatfield has hit the ground running with Commissioner Shoulders and Musgrave? IS IT TRUE we expect to hear about committee and board appointments soon? IS IT TRUE that County Commission attorney Joe Harrison Jr. hopes to stay on as County attorney but that the firm of Jones & Wallace is giving him a run for his money? IS IT TRUE that Jones & Wallace represented Hatfield during his possible recount? IS IT TRUE that this will be an interesting issue to watch develop?
IS IT TRUE that Memorial Baptist Church and Progressive Holy Temple are coming together for a citywide community outreach effort to collect socks for the homeless and elderly in our community? IS IT TRUE that they will be collecting socks up until December the 21st?
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?
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com
Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
Managers Needed For New Bj’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
Managers Needed For New Bj’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
NOVEMBER 28TH, 2018 
TYRONE MORRIS EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
Evansville could soon be home to a new restaurant and the company is already looking for managers.
Bj’s Restaurant and Brewhouse has five locations in Indiana but the company is to move on Greenriver Road.
Some job openings have already been posted to the restaurant’s website.
The chain offers more than 100 menu items and a wide range of signature beers.
Bj’s parent company, RSI Group, filed an application with the Site Review Committee and these plans will be discussed Monday, December 3rd.
Scholarship Deadline For Future Educators Approaching
Scholarship Deadline For Future Educators Approaching
Staff Report
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Hoosier students interested in becoming teachers have less than one week to apply for Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship.
The scholarship is now entering its third year and provides up to $7,500 each year of college and up to $30,000 in total for top performing Hoosier students who have the desire to teach in Indiana for five years upon graduating.
“We know that having prepared teachers in the classroom is the key factor affecting students’ academic success,†said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers in a statement.
Students in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class or score in the 20thpercentile on the SAT or ACT qualify for the award. Once in college, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours a year.
Freshmen and sophomore college students are also eligible for the award, but priority will be given to high school students.
“This scholarship is designed to attract Indiana’s best and brightest to the teaching profession while inspiring a new generation of Hoosier educators,†Lubbers said.
Next Generation Hoosier Educators scholarship awards 200 students across the state that not only considers academic achievement but also teacher nominations and an interview process.
Over 500 students applied last year from over 200 different high schools.
Students should apply by Nov. 30 at ScholarTrack.IN.gov. The commission will then select finalists by Jan. 4 to be interviewed at specific locations across the state. Winners will be selected to receive the scholarship will be notified by April 5.
FOOTNOTE: TheStatehouseFile.com is a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
St. Benedict Cathedral Gets $3.5 Million Renovation
St. Benedict Cathedral Gets $3.5 Million Renovation
NOVEMBER 28TH, 2018 JOYLYN BUKOVAC EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
On Sundays, the sounds of hymns and prayers fill the air at St. Benedict Cathedral. Although, during the work week, it’s filled with the sounds of construction crews hard at work.
The construction is taking a toll on mass, especially since pews had to be removed as part of the renovation.
“The first weekend that the scaffold was up, I apologized to people for the disruption that it causes. It’s an enormous structure, and it really is imposing, and it takes up a lot of space,†says Fr. Godfrey Mullen.
The cathedral was built in the late 1920s and hasn’t been renovated since the and 60s.
“I got a lot of response to my apology by saying ‘we find this to be exciting and this is the beginning of a project that’s filled with hope’,†says Fr. Mullen.
The church recently restored the roof to protect the church from the elements. Fr. Mullen says the biggest change parishioners can expect with the ongoing renovation is the colors.
“It’ll be much more subdued colors on the walls and then a beautiful rich blue in the ceiling. Again there, the idea is to help us keep our eyes on heaven,†says Fr. Mullen. They will also be redoing a portion of the floors and adding a choir balcony.
The construction manager says this project presents its own set of challenges, but he says they will be sure to do what he can to make sure parishioners don’t get dust on their Sunday best.
“Because they are wanting to keep having a mass on Sundays so you can see the chairs and the dirt and the dust they everybody is having to be in and around, so that’s just something else we are having to work with,†says Bob Hudson, construction superintendent.
They are hoping to finish this project by October of 2019.
Comments
0 comments