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?
IS IT TRUE that Ben Shoulders, Mike Goebel, Paul Green, Ryan Hatfield, Steve Lockyear, Chuck Whobrey, Kathryn Martin, Bill Pedtke, Dave Wedding, Eric Williams, Rose Young and Jack McNeely are hosting a massive political fundraising event at KC”c Marina Pointe this coming Wednesday beginning at 5:30 P. M?  …it looks like Vanderburgh County Commission candidate Jeff Hatfield has brought out the “Movers and Shakers” in local politics to support his candidacy?  …we are told that as of last week Mr. Hatfield has raised over $100,000 for his political war chest since he announced?
IS IT TRUEÂ that the Mayor and the First Lady are hosting a political fundraiser for Mike Duckworth this week at the home of John David Engelbrecht? Â …are told that the Mayor and the First Lady have pledged to raise $30,000 towards Mike Duckworth’s County Commissioner campaign? Â …we have no idea what Mr. Duckworth has raised so far in his campaign but we will be glad to post that figure when we receive it?
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County GOP Caucus that was tentatively scheduled for today has been canceled by Chairmen Wayne Parkes?  …we’re told that Mr. Parke couldn’t find anyone to take on District 77 State Representative Ryan Hatfield and Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding?  …that Mr. Parke will personally appoint candidates too vacant positions?…we are also told that Mr. Parke will be focusing on appointing candidates to run for Township Boards and Trustee offices?
IS IT TRUE we been told that the proposed $28 million dollars “Aquatic Center”  will be built at Garvin Park just right across from historic Bosse Field on the current site of Garvin Park swimming pool and tennis courts?  …by building the new “Aquatic Center” at the Garvin Park location the city can use the North Main Street “TIF” money to build it?  …this the same funding source that the Mayor used to re-do the $16 million dollars North Main Street project?
IS IT TRUE that the cost of complacency is about to come crashing down on the customers of the City of Evansville Water and Sewer Utility?…long needed replacements of old cast iron water pipes is finally underway and the cost of the project is staggering?…the latest estimate for replacing just 1.5% of the pipes that need replacing will increase the price of the average water bill in Evansville’s service area by $412 per year per customer?…that works out to just under $40 per month to replace just 1.5% of the pipes?…that if we could just do that 66 more times all the pipes would be replaced and we may be good for another century?
IS IT TRUE if you multiply that $412 per year by 66 the result is $27,720 or an increase in water bill of $2,310 per month?…if we were going to bring our infrastructure up to date in the next three years and if the cost for each foot of pipe replaced is the same then come the summer of 2022 the average water bill in the service area will be about $2,400 per month or $28,800 per year excluding taxes?…this is almost the entire earnings for the average Evansville household?…this doesn’t even include the BILLION DOLLAR SEWER REPAIR that is mandated by the EPA because a half-century of Evansville Mayors was content to spew raw sewage into the streets and the Ohio River?…it is entirely feasible to conclude that with the needed repairs to the water pipes, sewers, roads, sidewalks, plus the highest electricity in the state hat your average household in Evansville will not have a red cent available to live in the future?
IS IT TRUE this situation may well impoverish the region so badly that digital infrastructure like Gbps internet service and 5G communications will never be implemented because the market can’t support the cost?…the responsibility for this lies firmly with the leadership of the City of Evansville during at least the last 60 years if not further? …time and time again, Evansville, has squandered taxpayer dollars on fun and games  and political “pork barrel” projects while neglecting basic infrastructure?….the game that our litany of Mayors has played has Evansville in a position of overextended finances with no high-value workforce to pay for the cost to bring the place into the modern world?
IS IT TRUE that by 2021 when these few miles of water pipes are replaced, the water rates will have increased by 118% in only 5 years?…the new pipes alone are causing a 48% increase in the next 3 years?…if you like that just bend over and prepare for this to happen 66 more times with just the water pipe replacement program?…while the CCO is supportive of and an advocate for these updates, we are very concerned that the people who live in Evansville will be run out of town by the costs associated with doing them?
Todays “Readers Poll†question is: DO YOU FEEL THAT OUR “IS IT TRUE” COLUMNS ADD SUBSTANCE TO THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER?
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