IS IT TRUE the Evansville’s taxpayers share for the Downtown Convention Hotel project is now up to $28.5 million dollars from the original $20 million dollars?

IS IT TRUE the taxpayers of this community have No Equity position in our $28.5 investment of the Downtown Convention Hotel project?

IS IT TRUE the Hotel is a now a $60 plus million dollar project? …private investors have little if anything invested.? …the City taxpayers invest $28.5 million dollars, $12 million dollars is invested by Old National Bank and $20 million dollars from a bank loan? …where is the private contribution?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how much did the taxpayers invest in the building of the two hotels at Tropicana-Evansville?

IS IT TRUE we wonder what the status of the old McCurdy Hotel is?

 IS IT TRUE we wonder what the status of the old Riverhouse Hotel is?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how many Facade Grants did DMD give to start up businesses during the last two years?  …we wonder how many Facade Grants did the DMD give to startup businesses located on the far Westside, Eastside and Northside of town? …we wonder how many Facade Grants were giving to start up and established businesses located downtown,  North Main and Haynie’s Corner?

IS IT TRUE we wonder if “Preacher Steve'” will show up at Mondays City Council meeting to get answers to the 16 questions he submitted to the Mayor Chief of Staff at the last City Council meeting?  …we bet the Mayors Chief of Staff and the City Controller will be lawyer up to stop the real truth to “Preacher Steve” 16 questions from being answered?

IS IT TRUE posted below is an e-mail from DMD Director Kelley Coures to the City Council? …please note the arrogant tone of Mr. Coures email to City Council?

From: “Coures, Kelley” <kcoures@evansville.in.gov>

Date: July 9, 2015 at 12:23:47 PM EDT

Subject: Vann Pollack Park

Good morning.

I am very pleased that several city councilmembers are so keenly interested in our proposed allocation for Vann Pollack Park! I do not ever remember so many individual inquiries about HUD policy, data research, funding and other facets. Sounds like someone wants to work in DMD!

Since there have been so many, I thought I would just address them together in summary form:

Our search for unused CDBG continues, and when I find additional money I immediately bring it to council if I have a project in mind, like the funds for sidewalks and now Vann Pollack Park. I do not, at this time, have a complete count as it is ongoing and requires quite a bit of time. We will find it all, however I am sure.

Our Coordinator Josh Calhoun completed the survey data of census tract 36 within HUD requirements at the block level from the HUD website itself, and determined its qualification as a QCT. In fact, we were able to add Census tracts 8, 10 and 37.02 to our list.

We are, and will continue to be, in 100% compliance with HUD policies as long as I am director. Someone else may come in later and do things against policy but I won’t.
HUD allows improvements to parks as long as they are open to everyone in the census tract and the area is low/mod (i.e. we couldn’t improve a private golf course or Country Club)

We have done several of these projects in cooperation with the Parks Foundation such as Howell Park parking lot, Jacobsville Park playground, and upcoming Tepe Park’s new basketball court (you all approved those funds earlier)
I have met with the neighborhood and they approve of the plan
We are not leaving out any other project

No, we cannot put those funds into one of the agencies we serve through Public Service as that would violate the 15% cap HUD establishes for Public Services
Yes, the Mayor is aware and supports the project
Yes, the Parks department is aware of the project and helped secure estimates for the materials

Yes, we can pay for the project with Federal funds
No, I don’t think this is an exorbitant amount to pay for a park improvement our basketball court at Tepe is $25,000.

And finally why am I pursuing this at all: because I believe the children of the 2nd ward are as important as the children in every other ward. As the Obama administration states so eloquently “No child’s future should depend on his or her zip code”.

If I have left any individual question unanswered please let me know. Again, I am so pleased you all are interested in how we do what we do. Who would have thought some park equipment would make such a difference? Not me! If any of you are interested in light reading, I sent the entire state’s roster of census blocks to Councilman Friend. Its interesting reading even little rural counties have some poverty.

Have an excellent day!!! As always, thanks for all you do and your unwavering support to Evansville’s neighborhoods!

Kelley M Coures
Executive Director
Department of Metropolitan Development
1 NW MLK Jr. Blvd
Evansville IN, 47708
kcoures@evansville.in.gov
812-436-7806