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 we wonder if the City Of Evansville Water and Sewer Department has collected any money from the $750,00 plus water and sewer bill owed to them by the owners of the McCurdy? …if they don’t make any payments soon we expect the city will file a lien against the McCurdy property concerning this bill?

IS IT TRUE  we hear that At-Large Councilmen and Finance Chairmen Jonathan Weaver is irritated because members of Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s administration didn’t inform City Council that ECHO Housing Corporation was being investigated for misuse of agency funds before City Council voted on appropriating the $466,000 of federal funds for that non-profit organization? …City Council voted on this appropriations just two days before Executive Director Stephanie TenBarge’s was fired from ECHO Housing because she allegedly misused the nonprofit’s agency funds? …we like to inform Mr. Weaver that isn’t the first time that members of the Winnecke administration has given misinformation to members of City Council concerning budgetary matters and we predict that it won’t be the last?

IS IT TRUE we are extremely pleased that the Evansville Police Department has finally decided to open an investigation into the allegations of misuse ECHO Housing funds? …we are surprised to hear that the ECHO Board of Directors attempted to stop a criminal investigation of this not-for-profit corporation by the Evansville Police Department? …we are also very disappointed that the Mayor of Evansville and the Vanderburgh Prosecutors office has remained silent concerning the allegations of misuse of ECHO Housing funds?

IS IT TRUE we commend City Councilmen 5th Ward Justin Elpers (R) and At-large member Jonathon Weaver (D) for writing a proposed City Ordinance regarding CITY OF EVANSVILLE funds allocated to ECHO HOUSING CORP?  … this proposed ordinance is asking the Evansville Common Council to enact rules requiring that all City funds allocated to ECHO be withheld for further payment until ECHO provides the City with certain assurances?  …all we can say is give them hell Elpers and Weaver?

IS IT TRUE we are pleased that the ECHO Housing Corp. attorney Scott Wylie and the Director of the City’s Department of Metropolitan Development, Kelly Course have publicly stopped commenting about the former ECHO Housing Executive Director alledging taking agency funds for personal use?

IS IT TRUE when the EHCO Housing Corporation filed a formal grant application request with the City of Evansville earlier this year the application listed that the Board of Director members of the Echo Housing Corporation? …the names listed were: Roy Dane Chandler of Banterra Bank-Evansville, Reverend Gerald Arnold, President of the local NAACP and Tom Moore, Director of the Vectren Foundation? …the application also listed the former Executive Director of ECHO Housing, Stephanie TenBarge as the board secretary?  …if this information provides on the grant application is incorrect we would like to know so we can make a correction concerning the current ECHO Housing Board members?

IS IT TRUE we been told that members of the not-for-profit ECHO Housing Corporation Board of Director still feel that they are exempt from handing over financial information to members of the Evansville Police Department so they can do a criminal investigation? ..we find it entertaining that members of the board feel that they are exempt from a criminal investigation because ECHO Housing is a not-for-profit corporation?

IS IT TRUE we heard that the three (3) finalists for the Evansville/Vanderburgh Visitors and Convention Bureau Director job are from out-of-town?  …we cant understand why an organization like the Evansville/Vanderburgh Visitors and Convention Bureau couldn’t promote from within?  …we know at least one employee of the Vistors and Convention Bureau was extremely qualified for this position? …she is a long time employee of the Evansville /Vanderburgh Visitors and Convention Bureau and has been an excellent employee? …she grew up in the hospitality industry and her dad is well known and highly respected guru of the hospitality industry? …the next time we hear that someone from the Evansville Visitors and Convention Bureau say hire and buy local all we are going to say is practiced what you preach?

IS IT TRUE about three weeks ago TV Channel 25 Eyewitness News reported on the suspension of the Evansville Philharmonic’s Executive Director?  … that officials within this not-for-profit organization remain silent as to the status of the suspended employee? …we hear that many friends of the suspended Executive Director are expecting an update from TV Channel 25 explaining why the not-for-profit Philharmonic’s suspended him? …we hear that this is a developing story?

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel its time that the Feds come in and impound the financial records of the Evansville ECHO Housing Corporation?

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