Mark,

Thank you so much for your information and I do agree with you.

Council Members – I truly feel this amendment should be made to the proposed Ordinance for I have had numerous calls & emails regarding this proposal and none of them have been in support.

Missy Mosby 2nd Ward City Council

Dear City Council Members

I am writing to about the proposed ordinance on city and Mayoral appointments on various boards and commissions. Let me first say I do support more involvement from citizens who reside in the city limits. Anyone willing to give up their personal or professional time to serve on an unpaid board appointment is a good thing.

There are a few things I would like you to consider before you take this specific language to a first reading. Why not have in the language that anyone who’s business is inside the city limits be eligible for appointment. Consider the experience that have served or are still serving on the boards that DO have a vested interest in making Evansville a great place to live and work. I will use my appointment as an example.
· I was born and raised in Evansville where I resided until 2004.

· I moved to Warrick County to be near my parents. My mother had Multiple Sclerosis and my father was in poor health. I am the only sibling that lived not only in this state but close to my parents to care for them. Now we are caring for my in-laws who’s health has deteriorated.

· I work for a non-profit labor organization who place of business has been in the city limits well over 100 years.

· In these many years we have done thousands of volunteer projects in and for the city. Most recently Holly’s House, Wheel Chair Ramps, SWIRCA Brew Fest, Fantasy of Lights and the Dream Center Project. That does not include the money we have donated to the local charities.

· We currently have over 300 members who live in the Evansville/Vanderburgh Co area.

· I have served on the Construction and Roofing Advisory Board for the past several years since being appointed by Jonathan Weinzapfel.

·My experience in the construction industry dealing with training Carpenters and working with contractors from all over the united states has been a real benefit to help the Building Commission with the enormous task of researching out of town and out of state contractors who come hear every month to get licensed in our City and County.

· The other board members who I serve with are also very dedicated to making sure the citizens of the city and county are protected from fly by night contractors who may want to do business in this area.

· We have also worked very hard to make the process more user friendly and cut some of the red tape that legitimate contractors have to go through to work in the area. Our work is still not done. We have goals we set each year and work to get them done.

There are many other examples of the good these people have done to make this a great city and county. I urge you to not only make sure city citizens are involved in the boards but let’s not cut out the many good and experienced people that are willing to help and have a vested interest in moving Evansville in a positive direction. Let’s change the language to include any person who has a business inside the city limits to be welcomed in serving this fine city which we all have a vested interest.

Thanks for your time and I am willing to speak to any of you that have other questions or concerns.

Mark Beard
Representative and ICRA Lead
IN/KY/OH Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights

THIS E-MAIL WAS POSTED BY CCO WITHOUT OPINON,  BAIS OR EDITING.

Dear Luke,

Attached is an email I sent to Mr. Tom Austerman CEO of Commerce Bank in response to the e-mail he sent to Councilwoman Connie Robinson...
Thanks

John Friend

Dear Tom Austerman

Thanks you for your input regarding Councilwoman proposed ordinance....yes you are correct about the bankruptcy issue...we are now approx. 380 mil in debt and growing.

We have 540 million regarding the EPA issue, but, the EPA will not stand for 540 if we have 25+ year to implement, so be prepared for 700 million, we have 600 miles of failing water pipes estimated cost of replacement, 200 million, we have Johnson Controls of 45 million, we have Mr. Lloyd's 2002 consent decree to be considered regarding the ADA crosswalk issues estimated at 20 million, we have 239 million regarding unfunded post retiree health benefit, we have 160 million of the Sewer Water Master plan to deal with, we have a 20 million dollar hotel, we have a 57 million IU Med to build, we have an administration that wants a 8 million new park, 40 million to the Zoo, and more to come...the total, 1.861 BILLION dollars in store for the residents within the City Limits of Evansville or simply put 16,000 for each and every person that resides within the City.

By the way, Detroit is approx. 18k per resident and, according to reports, they are working things out in the Bankruptcy Court, I refer you to Bondview.com for the number of Bk cases concerning muni's.

What we need is less folks moving to Newburgh, Posey County, Henderson, paying taxes to those communities and we, the people of Evansville provide police and fire protection for those who visit our fair city, and don't think that we appreciate the visits, but, if Evansville did not exist and was a squeaky little town, I wonder if Newburgh would be Newburgh, I wonder why Tell City is not Evansville and why Perry County is not Vanderburgh and Warrick is the size that it is?

If those folks who love our city, but wish to live outside of our city could it be considered counter intuitive?  Perhaps they wish to live were anticipated debt levels are manageable and where it is convenient to enjoy the established pleasures of Evansville. So, it is comforting to know that without the aid of individuals who elect to live outside of the confines of the issues of our city, but, like most elitism, believe we do not process the skills and talents to control our own destiny and as a result, bankruptcy is in our future. That as it maybe, be it declared, "we determined our fate".  

If Ms Robinson's ordinance should become law, is it presumptuous to assume that your organization employs only those who live outside of the City limits. Surely you have qualified people working for your bank to help us through these tumultuous times to come.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments...

John Friend

Evansville 5th Ward City Council Member

Dear Luke

Thank you for email.

Those of you who no longer reside in the city or never have, ask yourselves why.

Some people for a variety of reasons, with the main reason being a high income, have almost infinite possibilities as to where they live and raise a family. Where these people live is a choice. For those that choose to locate in Vanderburgh County or another county, they often cite their reasoning to include better odds for the increase in value of their real property, newer infrastructure, such as water and sewer lines, better public schools, less crime, larger lots and the likelihood that their neighbors will share their values.

When one opts for suburban flight, they should lose their ability through a board or commission to determine how city funds are spent to combat the very problems of which they have escaped. Suburban residents tend to favor policies that increase urban sprawl. They tend to support car friendly policies, such as strip malls and infrastructure improvements to the roads that bring them to the city in the morning and take them home at night. Suburban living is very different than urban living, and time in the suburbs can desensitize those residents to the trials and tribulations of their much lower income city counterparts.

I suspect one would have a difficult time arguing that Evansville isn’t a victim of the very urban sprawl I describe which has made it very hard to promote infill development beyond our current rate of 5%. People who have chosen and enjoy suburban living are typically not the best participants in discussions related to increasing infill development to the 40% rate that we as a city seek to have sustainable development and property tax revenues that keep up with the cost of basic services. They often feel that resources are best spent in areas that have not already succumbed to crime and blight. However, these are the very areas that require the most attention under the theory that we are only as strong as our weakest link. And when these areas of declining property values are addressed by those without the life experience to understand poverty, it is often through regentrification, which leaves the original low income residents of the area out in the cold.

I think ego tells us that we are not replaceable. I know mine does. However, we are all replaceable and probably fairly easily. I find it hard to believe that someone with an urban lifestyle could not perform just as well or better as anyone being replaced. In fact, it’s a great way to build talent within the city and is key to residents taking responsibility for their own destiny. These are not sheep who require a shepherd. This is an exercise in returning government to the people being governed.

As to you specifically, I know that you are an intelligent, talented leader. However, the sheer number of boards and commissions that you serve on is a perfect example of just how shallow we have allowed the city’s talent pool to become. I believe very strongly that one does not have to be the president of a bank to participate in government or a not for profit entity. You may actually be surprised by the good ideas that come from those who have not yet given up and left. Additionally, there are many boards and commissions that have appointments that flow from the County Commissioners and County Council. There are still going to be plenty of opportunities for those who do not live in the city to serve the area. For those who live in other counties, perhaps those counties have a board or commission that could use new membership.

Again, I appreciate the email and the opportunity to articulate my reasoning in supporting the measure. I hope to see more opportunities for city residents to solve problems that they live every day with truly grassroots approaches. What I have seen in my time in Evansville is episode after episode of top-down government, and it’s not working. Crime continues to go up, the infrastructure continues to crumble, the population continues to go down, and property values in big sections of the city continue to decline. Why not add some new blood to the mix? What do we truly have to lose?

Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley

3rd Ward City Councilwoman

FOOTNOTE:  THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO LUKE YAEGER PRESIDENT OF COMMERCE BANK IN RESPONSE TO THE POINTED LETTER HE SENT TO CONNIE ROBINSON AND STEPHANIE BRINKERHOFF-RILEY CONCERNING FUTURE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.  THIS LETTER IS POSTED WITHOUT OPINON,  BIAS OR EDITING.

PLEASE TAKE TIME AND GO TO OUR “READERS POLL” AND VOTE.