IS IT TRUE FEBRUARY 12, 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?
IS IT TRUE according to Indy Star columnist Matthew Tully his colleagues â€Kaitlin L. Lange and Tony Cook laid it all out last week in an article that told of Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma giving what should be called the “Legalized Loan Shark Legislation” a push on its way to a narrow victory in the House”?  … it’s been alleged if this bill is passed by both Chambers that House Bill 1319 would allow annual interest rates on some loans to roughly triple, to a mind-boggling 222 percent.?
IS IT TRUEÂ if the “Payday Lending” bill passes the Indiana State Senate it would increase interest rates by leaps and bounds on some of our most vulnerable residents? …House Bill 1319 now goes to the Indiana State Senate for consideration and we are told that it may have a hard time passing? …we are told that the four (4) local State Representatives voted “Yes” for this “Predatory Loan” bill was Wendy McNamara, Ron Beacon, Tom Washburne and Hollie Sullivan? …that State Representative Ryan Hatfield voted “no” on this bill?…we are extremely disappointed that members of the local media haven’t picked up on this “Predatory Loan Legislation” issue that seemly might hurt the most economically vulnerable among us? … that State Representative Wendy McNamara was a co-author of this bill?
Below is the Link to House Bill 1319 Roll Call vote for your review.
https://iga.in.gov/static-documents/c/0/6/5/c065d690/HB1319.113.pdf
Attached below is the link to House Bill 1319 for your review.
             https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/house/1319
IS IT TRUE recently the Indiana Department of Revenue’s Tax Advisory Council convened behind closed doors for its inaugural quarterly meeting? … the Advisory Council was created in December of 2017?  …the group’s mission is to “shape the future of tax administration by providing input regarding agency operations, policies and legislative proposals,†according to the department?  …we are highly disappointed that not one individual appointed to this Advisory Council is from this area?
IS IT TRUE we wonder how many members of the Evansville City Council are aware that the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 protects people with orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments issues?
IS IT TRUEÂ we wonder if the unreasonable “3-minute Governmental Censorship” rule imposed two (2) years ago by former Evansville City Council President Missy Mosby (D) could be something that members of the “Indivisible Evansville” group should address?
IS IT TRUE we wonder if City Council will provide an interpreter for those attending Council meeting who have a major hearing problem or may be deaf that want to address the Council about a city issue? …we also wonder if Council President Jim Brinkmeyer (D) will impose the unreasonable “3-minute Governmental Censorship” rule when a hearing impaired persons address Council?
IS IT TRUE we wonder how Council President Jim Brinkmeyer (D) would handle a request from persons who have a speaking challenge because they have a serious studdering problem? …we wonder if Mr. Brinkmeyer (D) will impose the unreasonable “3-minute Governmental Censorship” rule on them when they address Council?
IS IT TRUEÂ if a Civil Rights attorney who is well versed on the end and outs of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 made a presentation on this subject would City Council President Jim Brinkmeyer (D) cut him off from speaking on this highly complexed legal subject after three (3) minutes?
IS IT TRUEÂ last year the uber-entrepreneur founder of Tesla, Solar City, and Space X, Elon Musk tweeted that he suffers from bi-polar conditions?…Musk went on to discuss in short bursts how he enjoys the extreme highs but also has to deal with the depressive lows?… according to scientific studies genius and insanity may actually go together according to scientists who found that mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are often found in highly creative and intelligent people?…Elon is in the company of some highly intelligent and impactful people with his self-diagnosis including Ludvig von Beethoven, Vincent van Gogh, mathematician John Nash, media mogul Ted Turner, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, author Ernest Hemingway, entrepreneur Rene Rivkin, and a plethora of luminaries from the fields of entertainment including Kurt Cobain, Ben Stiller, Britney Spears, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe?…technology entrepreneurs Steve Jobs of Apple, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and Bill Gates of Microsoft all have exhibited symptoms of bi-polar disorder at some stage of their lives?…Elon Musk personally acknowledged the level of stress he is under as CEO of three large companies and the City-County Observer wishes him peace, serenity, and profitability?…visionaries who can make things happen at a profit while creating jobs and wealth for regular people are few and far between?…most of us cannot even imagine the anguish that comes to the mind of people who truly aspire to greatness?
Todays “Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that Indiana House Bill 1319 will be economically hurtful to the most vulnerable among us?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, CHANNEL 44 NEWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS†and “LOCAL SPORTSâ€.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.
If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.
EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
Commentary: Lee Hamilton’s America
By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Lee Hamilton has some things to say about the state of the country.
The former longtime Democratic congressman from Southern Indiana and I talk in a studio just a few doors down from his office here on Indiana University’s campus. He serves here as senior advisor to the Center for Representative Government.
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
As Hamilton, 86, and I chat, the members of the Congress in which he served for 34 years scramble to avoid the second federal government shutdown in two weeks. They fail, and the government closes, once again, for a few hours before the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representative’s cobble together a compromise that will stabilize things for a year. The cost is that the deficit will explode by at least a trillion dollars.
At the same time, the stock market – spooked, analysts say, by concerns about these deficits, interest rates and the government’s instability – takes another shrieking dive, dropping more than 1,000 points in a single day. This also is the second time in days this has happened.
Hamilton doesn’t talk about these events.
At least not directly.
He starts by expressing sympathy for the people who serve as president of the United States.
He says no one is qualified to be president. The job is too big, the responsibilities too immense, for any one human being to fill the role to perfection.
He’s known, nine presidents. All of them, Hamilton says, talked about the restraints imposed on the office.
“We talk about how the president is the most powerful person on earth, and perhaps he is,†Hamilton says.
But that power exists within constraints.
The effective presidents, Hamilton argues, learn to work within those constraints to get things done.
Hamilton’s implied message is twofold and clear.
The first part is that we Americans often have unrealistic expectations about what presidents, regardless of their party, can accomplish.
Particularly on their own.
That’s the second part.
Good presidents don’t accomplish things by dictating to people or by issuing orders. The presidents who get things done understand that their greatest power is the power to persuade. To serve the country, they must bring people along with them.
Great presidents know how to work with others, including those who don’t agree with them.
Then Hamilton talks about how government itself should work.
He notes the discontent that dominates the land. He says many Americans have lost their faith in our institutions, in our government, even in the country itself.
The causes of this are many, Hamilton adds. Some Americans may be upset that they are not paid what they think they should be. Or that their children won’t be able to afford lives and homes as comfortable as the ones they’ve known. Or that other parts of their lives just are not secure.
Donald Trump understood these concerns, Hamilton says. The president didn’t cause them, but he read those Americans’ fears better than anyone else and gave voice to them. That’s what put him in the White House.
But anger and unhappiness are neither policies nor solutions.
The remedy Hamilton proposes sounds surprising, but it shouldn’t be. He was, after all, one of Congress’ master negotiators, the guy who was sent into the room after room after room to bring warring sides together and close the deal.
He says we need robust partisanship. This country works best, he argues, when the two-party system is strong.
The two parties serve as checks on each other, mechanisms that test ideas and make sure that varied voices and concerns are heard as decisions are made.
Hamilton says he watches the warring going on within the Republican Party with concern.
The issues that historically have animated the GOP – fiscal restraint, respect for traditions and institutions, national defense – are vital to the country’s success and survival. Those voices need to be heard in the nation’s discussions and decision-making.
“America needs a strong Republican Party,†Hamilton, a Democrat his entire career, says.
This country, he adds, works best with strong leaders with firm principles who trust each other enough to work through differences.
Hamilton’s message is clear.
We need to start listening to and working with each other once more.
That’s the way to make America great again.
FOOTNOTE: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism, host of “No Limits†WFYI 90.1 Indianapolis and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 12, 2018Â AGENDA
| I. | INTRODUCTION |
AGENDA Attachment:
| II. | APPROVAL OF MEETING MEMORANDA |
1-22-2018 DRAFT 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-2018-05 An Ordinance Amending Section 2.10.090 (Common Council) of the Evansville Municipal Code Sponsor(s): Elpers Discussion Led By: ASD Chair Adams 2/26/2018 G-2018-05 Attachment:
B. ORDINANCE G-2018-06 Ordinance of the Evansville Common Council Authorizing the City of Evansville, Indiana, to Issue One or More Series of Its “Economic Development Revenue Bonds (SP Evansville, LLC Project)”, and Approving and Authorizing Other Actions in Respect Thereto Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 2/26/2018 G-2018-06 Attachment:
C. RESOLUTION C-2018-02 Resolution Authorizing the City of Evansville, Indiana to Execute and Deliver a Third Supplemental and Amendatory Loan Agreement in Connection with Its Economic Development Revenue Bond, Series 2011A (University of Evansville Project), Its Economic Development Revenue Bond, Series 2011B (University of Evansville Project), Its Economic Development Revenue Bond, Series 2011C (University of Evansville Project), Its Economic Development Revenue Bond, Series 2011D (University of Evansville Project), Its Economic Development Revenue Bond, Series 2011E (University of Evansville Project) and Approving and Authorizing Other Actions in Respect Thereto Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 2/26/2018 C-2018-02 Attachment:
D. RESOLUTION C-2018-03 Resolution Authorizing the City of Evansville, Indiana to Execute and Deliver a Second Supplemental and Amendatory Loan Agreement in Connection with Its Economic Development Revenue Note, Series 2013 (University of Evansville Project) and Approving and Authorizing Other Actions in Respect Thereto Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 2/26/2018 C-2018-03 Attachment:
E. ORDINANCE R-2018-03 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 2904 N. First Avenue Petitioner: Melody Mayo Owner: Melody Mayo Requested Change: C1 to C2 Ward: 5 Elpers Representative: Melody Mayo R-2018-03 Attachment:
F. ORDINANCE R-2018-04 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 1505 Lincoln Avenue Petitioner: GG Properties & Maintenance LLC Owner: GG Properties & Maintenance LLC Requested Change: R2 to R3 Ward: 4 Robinson Representative: Aaron Doll, Doll & Sievers Attorneys at Law, LLC R-2018-04 Attachment:
G. ORDINANCE R-2018-05 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 2120 and 2128 Culverson Avenue Petitioner:
C. Marion Brown and Shirley U. Brown Owner:
C. Marion Brown and Shirley U. Brown Requested Change: R1 to C4 w/ UDC Ward: 2 Sponsor:Â Adams Representative: Christopher C. Wischer, Stoll, Keenon, Ogden, PLLC R-2018-05 Attachment:
H. ORDINANCE R-2018-06 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 516 Court Street and 314 NW Sixth Street Petitioner: YMCA of Southern IN Owner: YMCA of Southern IN Requested Change: C4 to C3 Ward: 4 Robinson Representative: Derrick Stewart, YMCA of Southern IN R-2018-06 Attachment:
| VI. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| VII. | REGULAR AGENDA:Â SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS |
| VIII. | RESOLUTION DOCKET |
A. RESOLUTION C-2018-04 A Preliminary Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Property Tax Phase-In for the Acquisition and Installation of Manufacturing Equipment at 101 Oakley Street, Evansville, IN 47710 – Berry Global and its subsidiaries Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 2/12/2018 C-2018-04 Attachment:
B. RESOLUTION C-2018-05 A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Evansville In Support of Economic Development Incentives Offered to Berry Global by the City of Evansville for the Installation of New Equipment in the Facility at 101 Oakley Street Evansville, IN 47710 Sponsor(s): Weaver Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Weaver 2/12/2018 C-2018-05 Attachment:
| IX. | MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS |
A. THE NEXT MEETING of the Common Council will be Monday, February 26, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
B. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
| X. | COMMITTEE REPORTS |
| XI. | ADJOURNMENT |
Tax Advisory Council Has Inaugural Meeting
The Indiana Department of Revenue’s Tax Advisory Council convened behind closed doors for its inaugural quarterly meeting today. Created in December, the group’s mission is to “shape the future of tax administration by providing input regarding agency operations, policies and legislative proposals,†according to the department.
Commissioner Adam Krupp said he had crafted a tentative agenda for the meeting centering around Indiana’s compliance with the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the state’s policy on payment plans for delinquent taxpayers. “Topics will be presented where we give (the council) an opportunity primarily to say, ‘Here’s what we see from the outside. Here’s what we think would be better policy.’ And, then, the department will take that into consideration and go from there,†he said.
Krupp, who was appointed as commissioner in January 2017 by Gov. Eric Holcomb, said he would update the public on the council’s progress at the department’s mandatory open annual hearing. “I will talk specifically about the items on the agenda and some of the things we have done as a result of the feedback obtained from those members,†he said.
The appointment of the group’s 14-member roster of volunteers was announced Jan. 16.
Krupp said his two main priorities when selecting committee members were geographic variety and expertise. “I did not want this to be … an Indianapolis-centric endeavor,†he said. “In terms of expertise, it was open to absolutely anybody. You did not have to be a CPA or (a) tax lawyer, necessarily, to participate. We got applications from individuals who are just interested in good government.â€The group of a dozen Hoosiers appointed to serve two-year terms includes:
- Frank DiPietro, Bloomington, director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic with Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
- Carol Flynn, Sellersburg, owner of Flynn Accounting, LLC
- Philip Jackson, Indianapolis, director at OnTarget CPA
- Monty Korte, Indianapolis, partner at Ernst & Young, LLP
- John Laszlo, Merrillville, CPA, an attorney for Laszlo & Associates, P.C.
- Stacey McCreery, founder and president of ROI Search Group in Indianapolis
- Donna Niesen, Indianapolis, partner at Katz, Sapper & Miller’s state and local tax law group
- Mark Richards, Indianapolis, partner at Ice Miller, LLP
- Kyle Simmerman, Indianapolis, partner at BGBC Partners, LLP’s state tax services law group
- Ben Smith, president, and CEO of Estep-Doctor & Company, Muncie
- Patrick Thomas, professor of the practice and director of the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center, South Bend
- Bill Waltz, Indianapolis, vice president of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce
In addition to the 12 members from within the state, two more are from outside: Jim Eads, a principal at Ryan, LLC, and Ryan Advocacy in Austin, Texas; and Lauren Hagwood, a senior state government relations manager with Intuit in San Diego, California. More information about the council and its members can be found here.
St. Ben’s Mardi Gras Event Nets Over $100,000
Second-half spree pushes Panthers past Aces
EVANSVILLE, Ind. —Â Despite hanging with the Panthers for most of the opening half, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team saw UNI go on an 18-0 second-quarter run that gave the Panthers a double-digit lead for good in an 85-60 loss to UNI on Sunday afternoon inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
“We had a different game plan coming in for their defense and I thought it worked really well and spread them out. At the beginning, we couldn’t make the pass that we needed to make or the decision that we needed to make, but it was there,” said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. “I thought we did a good job of attacking and then we just weren’t making that pass. I thought from a coaching standpoint and from a player standpoint, our kids did a good job of balancing out between their two defenses. Unfortunately, 23 of their 50 first-half points came off of turnovers and second-chance points. (Turnovers) are something as a coaching staff that we are going to have to address and whether its film or breakdowns in practice, that’s something that we are going to have to get better at.”
Junior guard Kerri Gasper continued her strong last few weeks of play with a team-high 16 points, chipping in five rebounds and three assists. Also finishing in double-figures for the Aces was redshirt sophomore guard Marley Miller who added 10 points, four rebounds, a pair of assists, and a steal. UNI was led by Nicole Kroeger’s game-high 19 points, while Ellie Howell added 17 points and Megan Maahs and Rose Simon-Ressler each added 10 points.
In the early going, Evansville kept pace with the Panthers matching UNI nearly bucket-for-bucket. The opening period featured five ties, including an 18-18 tie on a layup by freshman guard Kayla Casteel with 53 seconds left in the quarter. In the closing seconds of the first frame, Kroeger hit a three-pointer to provide the Panthers with a 21-18 advantage at the end of the opening 10 minutes.
The second quarter began much like the first quarter as Casteel hit drained a three-pointer to once again knot the contest at 21 less than a minute into the period. Over the next five minutes, the game was tied twice and the lead switched hands once. UNI increased its lead to four with 6:06 left in the frame before junior Kelsi Scott hit a pair of free throws to bring the Aces back within two at 32-30 with 4:13 remaining on the clock. Following Scott’s free throws, UNI rattled off an 18-0 run over the final 3:45 to take a 50-30 to the half.
Evansville looked to chip away at its deficit in the third quarter, but each time the Aces made up ground the Panthers seemed to have an answer. In the quarter, the Aces cut UNI’s lead as low as 18 twice, but each time the Panthers responded with a basket to push their lead back to 20. With just 26 seconds left in the third frame, Scott scored in the paint to trim UNI’s advantage back to 20 at 67-47 heading into the fourth quarter.
With 10 minutes left in regulation, the Aces mustered one final run at the Panthers. Trailing 69-52, Miller stepped to the charity stripe and split a pair for Evansville to push UE within 16 at 69-53 with 6:41. After the free throw, UNI increased its lead back to 23 just over two minutes later as the Panthers earned the 85-60 victory.
In the game, Evansville out-shot UNI, 44.7% (21-47) to 43.1% (31-72), but the Panthers capitalized on a 17-3 advantage on turnovers and scored 25 points on the Aces’ giveaways.
The Aces take to the road for a two-game road swing when Evansville travels to face Bradley on Friday at 7 p.m. in Peoria, Ill. before completing the Illinois road trip with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday in Normal, Ill. against Illinois State.
Renneisen grand slam helps UE softball earn 11-0 win over EIU
Aces finish opening weekend with 2-1 mark
LAFAYETTE, La. – Freshman Lindsay Renneisen hit a grand slam to spark an 11-0 win for the University of Evansville softball team over Eastern Illinois on Sunday in the final game of the Mardi Gras Classic.
Renneisen’s slam came in a 10-run third inning that saw UE (2-1) take down the Panthers in five innings.
“I really like the way we started the season,†Purple Aces head coach Mat Mundell said. “Our offense showed the ability to score some runs, which was an area of focus. Our pitchers did a great job. If we continue to improve in the circle should be a fun year.â€
Mackenzie Johnson got the Aces on the board in the bottom half of the second inning. With two outs, Johnson launched a home run to right-center to give Evansville a 1-0 lead.
The big inning for UE came in the bottom of the third as ten runs crossed the plate. Morgan Florey sent the first run of the frame home with a single to left. In the next at-bat, the Aces pulled off a double steal with Olivia Cheatham taking second while Eryn Gould swiped home to make it a 3-0 game.
Later, Bailee Bostic drew bases loaded walk before Johnson notched an RBI knock to center for the next two runs. Jaime Nurrenbern brought two runs home with a single to left before Lindsay Renneisen hit a grand slam to plate Allison Daggett, Nurrenbern and Johnson as the lead exploded to 11-0.
In the circle, Morgan Florey held her own, throwing all five innings while giving up just two Panther hits.
With the opening weekend of play in the books, the Aces set their sights on the Red & Black Showcase, which is being hosted by the University of Georgia next weekend. It will feature the Bulldogs, Winthrop, and Samford.