We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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?

IS IT TRUE the revelation that Evansville City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr., CPA hasn’t paid the $369,000 in Victory Theater bills for 2017 has really got the attention of many people?  …he has taken $369,000 from the 2018 city budget to pay for the operating expenses of the Victory Theater for 2017 without City Council knowledge or approval?  …we wonder where  City Controller Lloyd is going to find the money to pay for the Victory Theater bills for 2018?  …we wonder why someone hasn’t contacted the Indiana State Board of Accounts to report this questionable transaction?

IS IT TRUE last week it was announced that the Thunderbolts Head coach and General Manager are moving on to greener pastures?  …we wish them the best in the future? …their unexpected departure leaves some daunting questions concerning the Thunderbolts hockey team past, present, and future financial activities?

IS IT TRUE to understand what economic risk if any that VenuWorks of Evansville LLC may have with respect to the Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey team, one must first examine addendum #6 to the legal contract agreement between VenuWorks and the City of Evansville that was discreetly funneled through the Evansville Redevelopment Commission? … this legal agreement deals with the operation and control of the Evansville Thunderbolts?  …in addendum #6 of this legal contract, it stated: “VenuWorks shall be entitled to utilize facility (Ford Center) staff and resources reasonably necessary in connection with its operation of the SPHL Franchise?”  … during any such periods in which VenuWorks operates the SPHL Franchise, ALL OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE SPHL FRANCHISE SHALL BE DEEMED AN EXPENSE OF THE FACILITY (Ford Center) AND ALL OPERATING REVENUES OF THE SPHL FRANCHISE SHALL BE DEEMED A REVENUE OF THE FACILITY (Ford Center)?”

IS IT TRUE the taxpayers and City Council members need to know who is responsible for the paying the for the administrative, support staff and players salaries of the Evansville Thunderbolts? …the taxpayers and City Council members need to know who is paying for the yearly SPHL franchise fees? …the taxpayers and City Council members need to know who is responsible for away games travel expenses (transportation, meals, and lodging) for the Thunderbolts?  …the taxpayers and members of City Council need to know who is paying for the medical costs for injured players for the Thunderbolts?  …the taxpayers and City Council members need to know who is responsible for paying for the marketing of the Thunderbolts?  …the taxpayers and City Council members need to know who is responsible to pay the costs of providing housing for the Thunderbolts players?  …the taxpayers and City Council members need to know who is responsible to pay for all the costs in getting the FORD CENTER ready for the Thunderbolts to play hockey?

IS IT TRUE it’s obvious the taxpayers and members of the Evansville City Council need to have an accurate and detailed breakdown down of the profit and loss statements for the 2017-18 Thunderbolt hockey season?  …its also obvious that the taxpayers and City Council members need to know where is the Ford Center getting the money to cover any possible losses incurred by the Evansville Thunderbolts?

IS IT TRUE that the boys of summer are out in force and baseball is drawing faithful crowds to Bosse Field to see the Evansville Otters attempt to make the playoffs?…once upon a time when Russ Lloyd Jr. was Mayor of Evansville we were very close to having an AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers playing in a $20 Million downtown baseball stadium?…all of the big shots in town were behind the project and the location was chosen to be where “The District” now sits?… The District has seen a parade of ribbon cuttings followed by closings and just recently was dealt a blow when RiRa’s closed?

IS IT TRUE the reason that Evansville missed out on the AAA Dodgers Affiliate is because Jonathan Weinzapfel made it a campaign issue deriding Mayor Lloyd for “taking us all out to the ball game” with a wasteful downtown baseball stadium where a court jester ran the bases?…the silly commercial worked and the baseball stadium was cancelled?…four years later when Weinzapfel became Mayor he forgot about how a $20 million baseball stadium was the butt of jokes and borrowed $127 million for the Ford Center that has never even paid its own operating expenses much less it’s $8 million per year mortgage?…it looks like we got taken out to the old ballgame after all?

IS IT TRUE that last Friday the Vanderburgh County Commissioners in conjunction with the Old Courthouse Foundation, Sheriff’s Office and the Vanderburgh Bicenntenial Committee hosted another successful “Lunch On The Lawn” event?  …that this event was the best one yet?  …this event offered many family-friendly activities such as a zip line, red-white-and Blue popsicles, food stands and more? …we are pleased to learn that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Old Courthouse Foundation decided to build a   Bicentennial Park downtown?  …we are told that the downtown Bicentennial Park will be self-funded and paid for out of the funds from the Old Courthouse Foundation?

Todays “Readers Poll” question Is: Do you feel that the Winnecke Administration should give a detailed explanation to City Council on how much did it costs the City to subsidize the Thunderbolt Hockey team for 2017-18?

Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, CHANNEL 44 NEWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS” and “LOCAL SPORTS”.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily

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SEND YOUR OPINION ABOUT PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE RATE INCREASE TO UCC

If you didn’t know about the hearing on the city’s plan to raise our water bills even higher, you still have a chance to let the state know what you think about it. Everybody needs to get involved in this because it is a burden for all of us, a burden we just can’t handle and a burden that involves more than money for water and sewers.

You have until July 13 to send your opinion by email to this email address: UCCinfo@oucc.In.gov.

Write what you are talking about Cause 45073. You will have to give your name, mailing address, email address and daytime phone number. Say that you are a customer. Don’t be afraid to give this information because this is important. Say in your own words what these higher bills mean for you already and what even higher bills will do to you.

If you have friends or neighbors that might not have a computer or email, offer to help them send a message too.

I went to the meeting at Bosse High School because I wanted to speak for the people who are already having a hard time paying their water and sewer bills. I really didn’t expect many people to attend because there wasn’t much publicity about it, even on social media. 

I have seen that these fees and other costs are having a very negative impact on the way citizens are living in Evansville. I am especially worried about the elderly and everybody with low income. I am afraid for the single mothers and everyone just trying to feed their families and keep them in decent housing.

I went to speak for the people who I didn’t think would be able to come.

But I wasn’t the only one there for this reason. People in this community care about each other. Some came to talk in the same terms. They told of their own struggles and the problems being caused for their neighborhoods. Some talked about the negative impact the water line work is already having on their property.

People made comments for several other reasons, gave other facts. I learned there are many more sides to the issue, even though I believe the most important side is that we cannot pay these bills.

I heard comments about how the water & sewer department operates and how the city operates and the financial aspects of both of them. I heard people give details of money being used also to make new parks and bike trails and just being used for things that have nothing to do with water and sewers.

I listened to county residents talk about the impact on them because they get city water. Some people talked about science and engineering and what the water department actually does to get water to us and clean the water we put back in the sewers.

Older people spoke. Young people spoke. There was diversity in the group. Some gave specific details. Others spoke through emotion. One lady started to cry.

It was a good meeting, and I made new friends and contacts. We have to work together for all of us because it impacts all of us.

SINCERELY

William Payne

Evansville