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BREAKING NEWS: Substantial Increase in Orchard Parke Subdivision Property Assessments‏

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The City County Observer has received numerous
complaints vie e-mail concerning substantial 
property tax increases that the Vanderburgh
County Tax Assessor Bill Fluty has forced on 
Homeowners of this community. We are hearing 
annual trending have increased between 
10% to 20%. 

We wonder who gave Vanderburgh County Tax 
Assessor Fluty the order to make these 
substantial property tax increases? 
Did the County Council, City Controller
or the Evansville Mayor put political pressures
to force Mr.Fluty to put unreasonable financial
burden of the majority of homeowners in 
Vanderburgh County. 

This is a developing story please stay turned.

BELOW IS THE E-MAIL THE PRESIDENT OF ORCHARD PARKE SUBDIVISION SENT TO ALL MEMBERS OFHIS ASSOCIATION


Dear Neighbor: 

You have or will soon receive a State Form 21366 from the Vanderburgh County Assessor that will  reflect a substantial increase in your property assessment. The annual trending increase for
homes in Orchard Parke Subdivision is greater than 10%.

After searching the Vanderburgh County Assessor website, it was discovered that our neighborhood code (212050) has now been expanded to include the new Jagoe Subdivision. Most of the new Jagoe 
Homes are 1200–1600 square feet and selling for approximately $115-$125 per square foot. The 
Assessor is using new Jagoe Home sales in The Orchard Subdivision to increase the property tax 
assessments in Orchard Parke Subdivision. Further, Jagoe Homes offers smaller homes, one dollar 
down mortgages, free upgrades, free moving service and free utilities for a year.These factors in addition to extensive marketing drive up the overall cost of new Jagoe Homes.

The Assessor did not include older surrounding subdivisions when establishing the Orchard Parke 
neighborhood code almost 20 years ago, as we were assigned one unique code. Recent sales in our 
subdivision since 2012 reflect more realistic values for an aging subdivision with larger homes 
between 2,000 - 3,500 square feet of $95 – 110 per square foot. One home in our subdivision that sold earlier this year for $209,000 has a new assessed value of $231,800. Another home that sold in April, 2014, for $197,000 is now assessed at $224,800. A home that sold in October, 2012,for 
$235,000 is assessed at $247,500. These discrepancies exists for all homes in Orchard Parke. 
However,no homes sold in our subdivision during the annual trending period of January, 2013,to 
March, 2014.
Please contact Bill Fluty, Vanderburgh County Assessor at 812-435-5267,  and request justification for including new construction
Regards, 

Jeff Whittinghill 
President Orchard Parke Subdivision

FOOTNOTE: Jagoe Homes in The Orchard Subdivision in our neighborhood code. When 
contacting his office last week, I was informed that the burden is on the taxpayer tofilea Form 130 and conduct their own research on property values. The neighborhood
code assignment error is too obvious and should be immediately corrected.  

Regards, 

Jeff Whittinghill 
President Orchard Parke Subdivision

Below is the E-MAIL RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT OF ORCHARD PARKE SUBDIVISION FROM 
5th Ward CITY COUNCILMEN JOHn FRIEND,CPA
Folks,
During the city budget hearing, Russ Lloyd stood before us and clearly indicated that the property tax base increased by 4%…many of us on council believe that the assessor’s goal is to negate the 1% property tax caps by over valuation your homes. This administration needs all the property taxes it can assess. At the end of Oct 31st the most resent financial statements available,their General Fund, were your property taxes end up together with the Park & Recreation Fund, were upside down by $16,700,000 and $1,160,000 respectively. I have been tracking their deficit spending and the year ending October 31, 2014 that amount of deficit spending was $9,500,000,  so why are you surprised to see that Mr. Flutey may have marching orders to over value. Please recall that the council voted down his out of balance budget and only received criticism in doing so we cut $6 million dollars out of the crazy spending but as you can see the assessments are still climbing.
As a CPA, anytime one of my clients brought in their notice of an increase in assessed value, I Instructed them to file form 130 and indicated to them, they must get a certified appraisal.
I strongly urge you to appeal, if you feel that your assessment is incorrect. As always, please 
feel free to contact me should you have questions or concerns.

John Friend, CPA
5th Ward Councilman

THE ABOVE E-MAIL LETTERS ARE POSTED BY THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER WITHOUT EDITING
OPINION OR BIAS.
Copyright 2014 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,  broadcast,
rewritten or redistributed.

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IS IT TRUE December 17, 2014

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IS IT TRUE we hear that the Mayor is getting a lot of political heat from his union buddies and business leaders to veto the newly passed “Home Rule” ordinance by the City Council?  … they feel that the Mayors veto will give them  time to put political pressure on select City Council members to change their first vote when it comes to a second vote to override the Mayors veto?  …we can’t wait  to see how the Mayor will decide to resolve this issue?

IS IT TRUE after further reflection on Evansville City Councilman Jonathan Weaver’s proposed amendment to make it illegal to serve on the City Council unless one owns a home with a HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION in the City of Evansville, it is more disturbing than it seemed when it was directed at his fellow democrat Councilman Al Lindsey?…Councilman Weaver showed a glimpse of some true colors Monday night with his swipe at Councilman Lindsey?…to meet Councilman Weaver’s criteria one would HAVE to be a landowner to hold office?…such rules that benefitted the Gentry were once common in European nations where one’s bloodline meant more than one’s intelligence or motive?…Weaver’s personal tirade at Lindsey exposed a fundamental preference for landowners over renters which would further erode the pool of candidates to hold office in Evansville to those who are property owners?…perhaps a title will be his next demand?…if it is title that Weaver wants, it is title that we shall give him?…from this day forward, for his zeal to create a class of landowning rulers in Evansville, Councilman Weaver shall be dubbed Sir Jonathan the Second the Grand Duke of the Gentry?

IS IT TRUE it seems as though the “We are Evansville” shirts that put some smiles on some faces a couple of summers ago have worn out?…the shirts were of course a subliminal part of the effort to form a county wide government that eventually was trounced at the ballot box by a 2 to 1 margin?…the unification effort failed because the pitch was hollow and condescending?…pretty T Shirts were not enough to hide that fact and did nothing to bring the city and county closer together?…the City Council’s decision is just the latest response to the rejection of unification?…for many years (even though some served illegally), people from outside the city were routinely recruited to serve on boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor and the City Council?…the governing body of Evansville has spoken and the “We are Evansville” mantra will now recognize political boundaries when it comes to voluntary service?…we wish them well but will keep a close eye out for patronage appointments who will vote as they are told?…that has really been the problem all along?

IS IT TRUE the City Council should extend this new “home rule” movement to include political donations?…it is only right that the greenbacks of people from outside the political boundaries should be banned from contaminating the 2015 City elections?…the people of this fair city would have been served better in the past if the political contributions from Indianapolis, Washington, and Daylight had been banned from peddling their influence into lucrative projects like the Ford Center and the McCurdy Hotel?…if the Council is genuine in their thirst for “home rule”, they need to ban outside contributions right now before the taint of foreign money corrupts the 2015 elections?

IS IT TRUE the other area that needs to be banned is paying any kind of incentive to businesses that are not owned by people who live in the City of Evansville?…that should apply to facade grants, cash subsidies, and tax phase ins?…the only logical conclusion to extending “home rule” to its altruistic limit is to exclude outsiders from eligibility for incentives?…these outsider owned job creators like Berry Plastics, Mead Johnson, SS&C, and a boatload of businesses owned by people who grew up in Evansville but now live in the county should never see a dime of incentives that should be preserved for real Evansvillians?…if we are all in for home rule, let’s not pick and choose, let’s get busy with a Great Wall of Evansville to make it real and lasting?

IS IT TRUE seeing a crowd marching in the streets of New York chanting “what do we want, Dead Cops–when do we want it Now!”, is an example of our rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, but has the potential to ignite a firestorm should this crowd inspire someone to give them what they say they want?…the irony is that it was “live cops” who were protecting the crowd as they chanted for blood?…New York City has in many ways been a model for street protests as no property has been torched and no other violence aside from words has been reported?…what the crowd does not seem to understand is just how rapidly chaos and anarchy would take over New York if all the police vacated the place?…we had a glimpse of an unpoliced New York back in the 1970’s when it was all quite dangerous under Mayor Ed Koch with Central Park being a clearing house of drug dealers, prostitutes, and gang violence?…if the current rift between the Mayor and the police continues we may just get to witness a digression into the “good old days” that were not really good at all?

Copyright 2014 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, December 15, 2014

Crystal Dennis                   Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony

Christopher Wagner      Dealing in Methamphetamine-Level 2 Felony
Possession of Methamphetamine-Level 4 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

Bradley Barney                 Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15 or More-Level 6 Felony

Westin Leach                    Possession of Methamphetamine-Level 5 Felony
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law

EDITORIAL: ITS TIME FOR THE MAYORAL RACE TO BEGIN

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It looks like the Winnecke Administration and some back room political bosses are really concerned about State Representative Gail Riecken’s consideration about launching a Mayoral campaign.  Several of the usual suspects seem to be trying to send subliminal messages to inspire Mrs. Riecken to choose not to run for Mayor of Evansville. The most recent assertions on the Mayor’s behalf are that a few union bosses are going to support the Mayor for re-election. The reality is that it matters little who the “union bosses” support because union membership is no longer a large enough to swing an election either way.  Ms. Riecken has enjoyed union support in her past elections and it is to be expected that this will continue at least from a financial support perspective because the State Democrat Party will assure that the union’s political contributions are directed toward democrat candidates.

The City-County Observer is anticipating an interesting challenge ahead for the mainstream media to fairly cover the 2015 Mayoral election in Evansville if State Representative Gail Riecken announces her candidacy.  One of the most fascinating aspects of a race between the popular long-time State Representative a Democrat, and our current Mayor, Republican Lloyd Winnecke is the role reversal we see in the two candidates. Mayor Winnecke while running as a republican has governed as a democrat supporting public construction projects that have pushed the City’s bonding capacity to the limits. Mrs. Riecken’s has already stated that her fiscal policy will be conservative, so she can bring the city back to a secure fiscal position.
 
Many of those in both political parties and taxpayers alike are concerned about the City of Evansville fiscal crisis that has come about because the Mayor continues to offer expensive subsidies for projects like the downtown convention hotel and the IU Medical School. It must be noted that if there really was a need for a hotel that private industry would fill that need, and that the IU Medical School had options for other locations that would not cost the City of Evansville a dime. Those two proposals alone would incur a debt of $77 million ultimately backed by the taxpayers of Evansville.
 
Our declining bond position is trending in a way that will make the future interest rate on that money higher than budgeted, as well. In addition, the Mayor is pushing for millions of dollars for a park on the site of old Roberts Stadium, which he promises will be as “transformative” for Evansville as Central Park was for New York City. Such statements are simply delusional. This administration has subsidized almost $2 million dollars on projects in the Haynie’s Corner Art’s District and is embarking upon a $13 Million parking and bike lane project on North Main Street. The question for both candidates should be “just how much can a city that has a moratorium on changing the oil in police cars can justify spending on beautification projects with little evidence of economic benefit?”
 
Most of our readers are familiar with the recent dust-up over major problems with installation of “smart meters” by Hydromax, under contract to Johnson Controls, which sold the project to the city in the waning days of the Weinzapfel Administration by the local equivalent of an executive order. Reliable sources inform us that Evansville last 24 months spending sprees are creating a monthly deficit for the city of over $650,000 which is alarming taxpayers and community and political leaders. The Winneke Administration has no sense of urgency about moving forward with the EPA mandated sewer project which will add up to $1 Billion to the debt load pushing water bills above $300 for the average family in Evansville.   The longer this project is delayed, the more it will cost and the dubious gains of the pretty projects will be diminished by the stench of raw sewage on the picnic grounds. When there is an urgency to build a dog park yet there is no urgency to repair basic infrastructure like the sewers, sidewalks, and roads, a strong message about Evansville’s priorities is sent to companies considering to relocate.
.
We believe that the questions raised in the minds of the taxpayers and local community leaders who are sincerely devoted to “good public policy” are what inspired them to seek someone to oppose the fiscal irresponsibility that has been the hallmark of the City of Evansville during the last two administrations. 
 
Gail Riecken has the potential to raise the challenges facing Evansville in a campaign that was shaping up to be a cakewalk for Mayor Winnecke. Mrs. Riecken’s history public service and of being very “down to earth” will make the next election real. All we ask the Mayor and his supporters to do is back off and to give democracy a chance to work in 2015.
Please take time and vote in todays “Readers Poll”.
Copyright 2014 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Reports

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx

EPD Activity Report December 16, 2014

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

EPD ACTIVITY REPORT

COA upholds reversal of award for attorney fees

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Marilyn Odendahl for www.theindianalawyer.com

Subcontractors successful in their dispute against the general contractor over the construction of a northern Indiana IMAX movie theater are not entitled to attorney fees, the Indiana Court of Appeals has reaffirmed.

Fostcorp Heating and Cooling Inc., Wilson Iron Works Inc. and Johnson Carpet Inc. were each granted judgment on their complaint to foreclose mechanic’s liens and asserting other claims. In addition, Porter Superior Court awarded the trio attorney fees.

The general contractor, Roncelli Inc., appealed and in an August decision a unanimous Court of Appeals reversed the awarding of fees.

The subcontractors filed a petition for rehearing on the sole issue of the attorney fees but the Court of Appeals reaffirmed the ruling in Goodrich Quality Theaters, Inc. and Roncelli, Inc. v. Fostcorp Heating and Cooling, Inc., Wilson Iron Works, Inc, et al., 64A03-1308-PL-318.

On rehearing, the subcontractors argued that Roncelli had posted a bond that would pay any judgment recovered including costs and attorney fees. The Court of Appeals reiterated its original decision that the mechanic’s lien statute applies only to property owners and since Roncelli is not the owner of the property, it is not liable for attorney fees.

“Although Roncelli’s undertaking assures payment of any judgment plus costs and fees allowed by the court, it does not give the appellees greater rights or impose greater liability on Roncelli than the underlying obligation,” Judge Margret Robb wrote for the majority.

Judge Cale Bradford concurred. Judge Patricia Riley voted to deny rehearing.

SILVER & GOLD HOLIDAY PRESALE!

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Thursday, March 12th
7:30pm
LITTLE BIG TOWN
THE PAIN KILLER TOUR
with special guest
CHRIS STAPLETON
find tickets

GRAMMY award-winning country group Little Big Town – consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet, and Kimberly Schlapman – are bringing THE PAIN KILLER TOUR to the Old National Events Plaza on March 12 at 7:30pm. The foursome just released their sixth studio album Pain Killer which features the hit single, “Day Drinking.” The group always brings their unique blend of vocal harmonies and country music to venues everywhere. Asserting themselves with attitude and musical prowess, their live show never disappoints. Expect an evening of bluesy grit and country mettl
SILVER & GOLD
HOLIDAY PRE-SALE
Monday, December 12 at 10:00am.

Limited quantities available for this special holiday pre-sale!

General public on-sale coming
in early 2015.
“Tickets are a great holiday gift!”

ST. MARY’S MEDICAL GROUP WELCOMES DR. PERKINS AND DR. BRACKETT

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St. Mary’s Health and St. Mary’s Medical Group are pleased to welcome the office of Dr. Eric Brackett and Dr. Chad Perkins effective December 15, 2014. Both Dr. Brackett and Dr. Perkins bring a wealth of experience to our Medical Group.

As Evansville natives and local graduates of Christ the King School and Memorial High School, Dr. Brackett and Dr. Perkins have a well-established and respected relationship with our community and have clearly demonstrated their commitment to providing the Tri-State with access to high-quality family medicine care. Also joining them in their delivery of this care is Evansville native, Cara Reising, ANP.

Both Dr. Brackett and Dr. Perkins are board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians. Cara Reising received her BSN from Purdue University and went on to receive her MSN – Adult Nurse Practitioner degree from Indiana University.

We welcome the entire staff of the office of Dr. Brackett and Dr. Perkins as trusted partners in the delivery of our Mission of service and are excited for them to join us as valued members of our St. Mary’s family. St. Mary’s, which is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system, continues to broaden St. Mary’s Medical Group’s network of employed physicians offering high quality specialty services to our community and our associates. This serves as a primary example of our commitment to growth of St. Mary’s Medical Group and St. Mary’s Health.

Patients will see a seamless process as we make this transition. Office hours, location and contact information all remain the same.

Ivy Tech Community College Names Business Dean

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Ivy Tech Community College Southwest has named Dr. Robert B. Young as Dean of the Business and Public Services Division.

Young graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and continued his education at Cleveland State University to obtain his master’s and doctoral degrees in Business Administration. He has several published papers in scholarly journals, three conference presentations and a book chapter in the New World Marketing book series.

He has more than 20 years of corporate business experience with both small entrepreneurial businesses and large Cleveland-based corporations. Some of his clients have included Dutch Boy Paints, Hoover Vacuum, American Electric Power, and Arby’s. He also maintains an active small business consulting practice. Young serves as Board Chair of the First Generation Foundation.

Young comes to Ivy Tech from Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, where he served as the Dean of the Business Division for 12 years. He has also been involved with higher education for the past 29 years as an adjunct faculty member at a variety of Cleveland area colleges and universities including Baldwin Wallace University, John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, Capital University, David N. Myers University and Lorain County Community College.

“Dr. Young’s extensive experience working with businesses of all sizes will be a great asset to our students,” said Ivy Tech Chancellor, Jonathan Weinzapfel. “His background in higher education as well as with business and industry will certainly foster the continued growth and success of our Business and Public Services programs.”
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

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