IS IT TRUE its alleged that ERC Board member Cheryl Musgrave attempted to purchase a vacant lot  located at 1226 Parrett Street from the non-profit Evansville Brownfield atbout 90% less than the assessed value?  …this vacant lot is located next to the property that the Musgrave’s own? …earlier this year Musgrave expressed interest in buying this lot located at 1226 Parrett Street for $500 by contacting Brownfield Coordinator Carolyn Rusk?  … Musgrave ask Carolyn Rusk to put her request to purchase this lot on next Brownfield’s Corporation agenda for discussion?
IS IT TRUE Carolyn Rusk e-mailed Cheryl Musgrave that her offer of $500 was not acceptable with HUD guidelines? …that HUD income eligibility requires that a prospective buyer must be under 80% of the area median income?  ….because Musgrave did not meet HUD’S minimum income requirement she would have to pay the HUD guidelines? …the assessed value of this property is presently $7,300?
IS IT TRUE Carolyn Rusk alleges that a man who lives near Musgrave is considering making an offer on the vacant lot? Â …Ms. Rusk stated that this individual was HUD income eligible and could purchase this property below market value? Â … Ms. Ruck makes comment that she wonders if this individual is fronting for Musgrave?
IS IT TRUE it’s also alleged by Ms. Rusk that Cheryl Musgrave contacted at least two Brownfield board members about the property?  . …its alleged Musgrave questioned the sale contract language  with them concerning this property and suggested the idea of changing the contract terms?  …Musgrave adamantly denied trying to use her power or influence to acquire the property at a rate that the average citizen would not?   …County tax records show that Brownfield Corp. currently holds the deed to said property?
IS IT TRUE we found four pieces of property that Cheryl acquired near her home?  … 3 parcels were acquired in 2003, 2009 and 2014?  …an additional piece of property was acquired initially by Musgrave in 1999, but is now is listed in her daughter’s name?  …the assessor’s site doesn’t indicate what Cheryl paid for the these properties?  …we bet she didn’t pay $7,300 for them?
IS IT TRUE we think that there is a good argument what Cheryl have been doing is buying dilapidated properties in their neighborhood when they become available at a reasonable price? Â ..,Cheryl Musgrave action both eliminates blight in the area and through the planting of gardens, grass, and trees, creates an asset to the neighborhood? Â … Â we would like to stress that this was done without use of taxpayer dollars? Â …we would like for Brownfield’s Director Carolyn Rusk to put the 1226 PARRET Street property up for public auction and see if she would get the $7,300 appraised value for it? ….if Ms. Rusk acquired the aforementioned property at $7,300 and she receives a solitary bid for $500 then she made a bad investment with taxpayer dollars? Â …our guess is there would be one bid submitted at the the auction for $500 from the Musgrave’s? Â …we strongly feel its time for Ms. Rusk to put up or shut up, and let the auction begin?
IS IT TRUE If DMD Director Kelley Coures and his employee Carolyn Rusk believe that Cheryl Musgrave attempted to acquire the Parrot Street property through some type of illegal means, they need to contact the United States Attorney’s Office to file a formal complaint for influence peddling?  …on the other hand, if Cheryl Musgrave has attempted to acquire this property legally; has invested her own money into the remediation of this property, and essentially accomplished the task that programs like Brownfield and Front Door Pride are supposed to be accomplishing, then we should thank her?  .
IS IT TRUE we are aware that Mrs. Musgrave and the DMD Director Kelly Coures have an extremely toxic political relationship and we hope that the above allegations of Ms. Musgrave’s using political pressures to obtain surplus Brownfield property isn’t factual, but is simply a good ole Vanderburgh County “Political Witch Hunt”?
IS IT TRUE people in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks?  …we hope that the main stream media will investigate if there were any political motives concerning DMD, ERC  or Brownfield Corporation purchasing about $1 million dollars on vacant and dilapidated property on North Main Street,  the awarding of 2014 facade grants,  purchasing dilapidated property in the Haynie’s Corner area and either giving them away or selling them well below appraisal price,  awarding of contractual professional service contracts, the rationale of DMD/ERC giving the proprietors of the McCurdy Hotel a $600,000 (paid by the taxpayers) parking lot for $1 dollar, the awarding of grants and extremely low interest loans to start up businesses located in the Arts District and downtown,  low interest loans and grants for the development of condos downtown and the actual amount of money given by the City to the dormant Alhambra Theater restoration project thus far?
Please take time and vote in today’s “Readers Poll”. Don’t miss reading today’s Feature articles because they are always an interesting read. New addition to the CCO is the Cause of Death reports generated by the Vanderburgh County Health Department.Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
