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IS IT TRUE November 18, 2014

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IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville’s Sewer and Water Utility today embarked on a typical PR campaign to alert the media that they are about to do three new projects spread all over Evansville?…the thing that is puzzling is that the total of the three projects only amounts to $1 Million which is small enough to barely be noticed?…perhaps the press release really was released to mitigate the news about their bond rating that they are aware that the City County Observer has that refutes the whole nonsensical assertion coming forth from the Mayor’s office about just how wonderful Evansville’s finances are?

IS IT TRUE the official ratings release regarding the outlook for the City of Evansville has been downgraded from stable to negative?…the exact wording released by S&P is as follows:

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook to negative from stable on the City of Evansville, Ind.’s waterworks revenue bonds and affirmed its ‘AA-‘ rating on the bonds. At the same time, Standard & Poor’s assigned its ‘AA-‘ rating, with a negative outlook, to Evansville’s series 2013A waterworks revenue bonds. “The outlook revision reflects our opinion of the utility’s deteriorated financial position that led to inadequate coverage in fiscal 2012 and adequate coverage in fiscal 2011,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Corey Friedman. The rating reflects what we view as the system’s: Ample treatment plant capacity, which we expect to be sufficient to meet the utility’s needs well into the future;…

Companies mentioned in this report are:
Evansville

Action: Affirmed
Action: New Rating
Action: Outlook: Negative

IS IT TRUE with real news that pulls the mask off of the Lone Ranger by applying a negative outlook to the bonds about to be issued, a happy distraction for the public must have been needed?…as the City of Evansville gets closer to the day of reckoning that will require us to borrow up to $800 Million to repair our dilapidated sewers to comply with the EPA consent decree, the last thing we all needed was a negative trending outlook on our Sewer and Water Departments bonding?…that a simple 1% increase in the interest rate on these future bonds will result in about $8 Million per year in higher interest payments?…that is nearly equal to all of the “boat money” that we have used as an excuse to ignore public health issues?…the rise in interest rates from downgrades and complacency is the big chicken coming to roost on the fun and games crowd in the Civic Center?

IS IT TRUE we received many comments about the remarks made by 1st Ward City Councilman Dan McGinn at last night’s City Council meeting concerning the unexpected costs now facing thousands of home owners caused by the installation of “ smart water meters” by Hydromax working under the contract between the City and Johnson Controls?

IS IT TRUE McGinn basically alleged that that any repair costs caused by this project is part of the expense that a home owner should expect to pay? …Mr. McGinn also stated he is presently putting new windows and a roof on his Eastside home and this is also part of expenses of being a home owner?

IS IT TRUE he should understand there are a lot of sub-standard housing in Evansville and that many home owner’s can’t afford to pay the unexpected water line repair costs he speaks of in such a cavalier manner …Mr. McGinn should also realize most people in Evansville are struggling to pay house payments,  pay water and sewer bills,  pay property taxes,  buy clothes for their kids and put food on their table.

IS IT TRUE the day is coming soon when President Obama and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell will be sitting down for a good old bourbon drinking discussion of how things are in the United States?…these guys probably do deserve a good drunk as each has been the object of much criticism from the right and left?…we will even go so far as to say that these two guys deserve most of the criticisms they have gotten for much the same reasons?…we have a suggestion that may enable something to actually get done in Washington?…our suggestion is that the Senator and the President should just take an acre-foot of fine Kentucky bourbon into a room and go on a 26 month bender only emerging to wave to the crowd and say absolutely nothing to anyone?…it may even be a good thing if Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and John Boehner would join the dynamic duo in a 26 month drunk?…most of the world’s problems are solved with the assistance of alcohol anyway so let the good times roll?

IS IT TRUE that on multiple occasions from 2011 to 2013 President Obama clearly stated that he did not have the constitutional authority to defer deportations of people who are in the United States without proper documentation?…it is widely expected based on presidential statements of “losing patience” with congress that he will be taking executive action to do precisely what he said he could not do “because he is a president and not an Emperor” on several occasions?…we may just find out what happens when a president violates his own interpretation of the constitution before Christmas?…we shall stay tuned to see which President Obama is on the job now?

School Board Meeting Tonight

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The regular meeting of the EVSC School Board will still take place tonight, as scheduled, at 5:30 p.m. in the EVSC Board Room.

Schools Closed

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Because of the adverse road conditions, the EVSC will be closed today, Nov. 17. When EVSC is closed, all schools, offices, related programs, athletics, etc. also are closed or cancelled.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Report

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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 November 17, 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

Analysis: Pence builds resume even as he discounts presidential talk

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By Lesley Weidenbener
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence sidestepped questions this week from conservative media mogul Steve Forbes about running for president but the conversation that emerged sounded very much like a resume for national office.

Pence bragged on the state’s AAA credit rating, plugged recent tax cuts and predicted its private school voucher program could soon become the largest in the nation.

“The success we’ve enjoyed in Indiana has been because we have found a way, part and parcel, to be doing things differently, to be innovating and creating state-based solutions,” Pence said. “I really do believe that the key for the country going forward in some measure is a reinvigoration of that competitive federalism.”

Forbes interviewed Pence at the opening session Thursday in his Reinventing Summit at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. Forbes asked about what’s working in Indiana and why private sector job growth has been stronger recently in the Hoosier state than in almost any other place in the nation.

In his answers, Pence essentially laid out a case for why he could be a strong contender for the GOP nomination, even as he denied interest in the job. Here are just a few things Pence had to say and why it might matter in a GOP primary fight:

Tax cuts

Forbes – a big advocate for lower, flatter income taxes – touted cuts that Pence and the General Assembly have made recently in taxes for individuals and corporations. Pence also signed a bill that lets counties cut property taxes on business inventory and another law that sped up the elimination of the inheritance tax.

“We ended death taxes. Death is no longer a taxable event in Indiana,” Pence said. “We’ll just leave it there.”

Tax cuts are a huge resume boost for any Republican candidate. They appeal to almost all segments of the party and particularly to business leaders who are big spenders in GOP primaries. Of course, most Indiana observers know that the corporate and inheritance tax rates were already dropping under action taken before Pence came into office, although he was an advocate of speeding up or expanding the cuts.

Pence also proposed the individual income tax cut, although he got only about half of what he wanted. And he pushed for a much bigger bite out of the personal property tax but settled for the local option.

Education

Pence told Forbes that he’s pushing for more vocational education in Indiana schools after learning from business leaders that they can’t find enough high school grads who are ready to go to work. He also described the state’s efforts to write its own curriculum standards – eschewing the controversial Common Core standards – and he said Indiana could soon have the highest number of students in the nation attending private schools through vouchers.

Pence is part of a national movement toward voc ed and away from an earlier sentiment that every student needed to be prepared to go to a four-year college. He worked with lawmakers to set up a web of state and local councils trying to reestablish those programs in schools, although it’s too soon to judge the results.

As for vouchers, Pence is truly reaping the rewards of the system created before he was elected – a program that is already the broadest in the nation in terms of eligibility. The fact that the state may soon have the most kids enrolled is a testament to how easy conservative lawmakers have made it to qualify.

But his predecessor, Gov. Mitch Daniels, also left Pence another gift: Common Core. The former governor appointed a state school board that endorsed the standards, which gave Pence the GOP-led General Assembly the opportunity to repeal Common Core when it became controversial. Now Pence can hype a locally-written set of standards and brag that Indiana was the first state to formally withdraw from Common Core. Never mind that the new standards borrow heavily from their less popular cousin.

Regulation reduction

There are few things Republicans – especially the business wing of the party – get more excited about than reducing regulations. Of course, this is not something that gets the hearts of voters incredibly engaged. But remember, big money GOP donors dislike regulation and they matter in a GOP primary.

In his first day in office, Pence imposed a moratorium on new regulations – save those required by federal law. That’s not to say plenty of state rules haven’t made their way through the system since his election but they appear to be getting a much stricter look.

Meanwhile, several agencies in the Pence administration are seeking to reduce regulations. In particular, the Professional Licensing Agency is working with lawmakers to eliminate or reduce oversight of some jobs. And Pence has joined other governors in fights to persuade the Obama administration against new regulations for energy and trade.

Following the Forbes event, Pence reiterated that he is planning to run for reelection as governor in 2016. He said he’d make a decision about his future next spring, after the 2015 legislature adjourns for the year and maybe pads his resume a little bit more.

Lesley Weidenbener is executive editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

FOLLOW UP LETTER TO WATER CUSTOMERS FROM CITY

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EVANSVILLE WATER & SEWER UTILITY

1 N.W. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD, ROOM 104, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA 47708

PO Box 19, Evansville, IN 47740-0001

(812) 436-7846 FAX (812) 436-7863

November 14, 2014

Dear Customer,

You recently received a letter from the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility regarding the city-wide installation of new water meters. During the inspection process, the Utility identified an issue requiring attention or needing repair on your property. The letter stated that the issue or repair needed to be addressed within 30 days to maintain water service. Please understand that the Water Utility will not shut off your water if repairs are not completed within that timeframe.

As a next step, the Utility will conduct an independent re-inspection to validate, document in more detail and photograph the issues found, and determine if the meter change can be accomplished without any repairs to your water lines or pit. Once the re-inspection is complete, we will contact property owners to present findings and determine next steps based on the severity of the issue.

The timing of when repairs are made is up to you unless your water meter is covered or blocked, or if the meter pit is broken, prohibiting meter reading. Please address those issues in a timely manner.

You do not need to sign the Waiver of Liability Form that was included with the original repair notification letter. If you have already signed and returned a Waiver of Liability Form to the Utility, we will disregard the Waiver, and the Utility’s contractor will not replace the Utility’s water meter if there is a risk of damage to your water lines or meter pit.

If you have already made repairs to the issue identified, please contact the Utility’s customer service – (812) 436-7846 or EWSUcustomerservice@ewsu.com – to report action has been taken so it can be documented and appropriate next steps can be made. The City and Utility are looking into solutions that could assist customers in making repairs.

We appreciate your patience with this massive and important project to move the city forward with accurate, modernized and wireless meter reading infrastructure. The advantages of the enhanced meter upgrade include standardized meters across the system and real-time water usage information for customers. The American Water Works Association recommends water utilities test customer meters every 10 years. This city-wide effort ensures all meters in our system are inspected.

Again, the Utility will not shut off customers’ water for corrective issues related to replacing meters. We value you as a customer and regret the tone of the previous letter you received. We will follow up soon with more information.

Sincerely,

Allen Mounts Director

FOOTNOTE:  THIS LETTER WAS GIVEN TO THE CCO FROM A CITY OF EVANSVILLE WATER CUSTOMER WHO HAD AN ALLEGED PROBLEM WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THEIR NEW SMART WATER METER.  

IS IT TRUE November 17, 2014

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IS IT TRUE the lack of planning on the part of the City of Evansville is becoming painfully obvious?…the Winnecke Administration drifts from dog parks to skateboard paradises to pretty and new very expensive Historical District street lights to blight elimination and now to North Main Street with a $31,000 exterior paintbrush mural to lets make a bike lane project?…in a way all of these things may well have a place in a master planned Evansville of the future?…the problem with what is going on now is that there is no master plan for this community period?…as a result there is apparent chaos and desperation driving nearly every action that makes it out of the Civic Center?…the previous Mayor was driving while blind as well?…in 2012 when Mayor Winnecke took office, the CCO put a master plan at the top of the list of 10 must haves?…the administration has done absolutely nothing with respect to a master plan?…as it does seem as though Mayor Winnecke may be in office for another 5 years, now would be a perfect time to reject chaos and desperation in favor of a master plan to guide future business development activities?

IS IT TRUE the Courier and Press is back on the brick wagon with a published comment that the Ford Center, a few historical buildings, and even the old Greyhound Bus Station are a basis to attract millennials to Evansville?…while it is true that millennials are more predisposed to chose place first and job second, to opine that fixing up some older buildings and building an arena will get Evansville on the map is just silly?…it is still about good jobs that challenge their minds that happen to be in a “hip” location?…downtown living is one of the things that help define “hip”?…The present problem with downtown living in Evansville is that when the sun sets downtown is either deserted or fills up with troublemakers that on occasion shoot at each other?…bricks and mortar before law and order never have and never will solve these kinds of problems?…to assert they can is part of the reason that cities like Evansville (and there are plenty of them) will stay on the forgotten cites list?…the Associated Press published an article Sunday titled “Escaping the Wealth Gap Can Mean Fleeing Hometowns” that is a good tutorial on this subject on why dying places are still losing their best and brightest?…it was written about Danville, IL but it could easily be the story of Evansville?…here is the link and it’s scariest observation is about the best and brightest leaving such places while the worst and dimmest staying forever?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/national/escaping-the-wealth-gap-can-mean-fleeing-hometowns/ar-AA7tgPV

IS IT TRUE President Obama in a speech in Australia has finally expressed an opinion on Jonathan Gruber’s public claims that the ACA (Obamacare) was intentionally deceptive so they (the democrats) could pull the wool over the eyes of the CBO ( Congressional Budget Office) and the “STUPID” American voters?…the President dismisses Professor Gruber as incorrect and went on to say he was not on staff and everything about the marketing of the ACA was transparent and fully discussed during the deliberations leading up to a vote?…this is coming from the guy who repeatedly lied on camera by stating “if you like your doctor and your insurance you can keep them period” and who supported Nancy Pelosi’s position of “you have to pass it to find out what is in it” to defend having not read the bill?…we need for our president to be taken seriously both at home and abroad?…idiotic statements like the one the President made in Australia do not accomplish that?…rather the opposite is true, we do look like the stupid voters that Gruber has made fun of and our twice elected president looks like a cross between someone suffering from dementia and a pathological liar?…it is unlikely that this country will move forward unless the President finds the courage to apologize for the contemptuous way the people’s will had been treated and to cooperate with congress to correct the problems rooted in arrogance and deception?

IS IT TRUE the Pew Research Center on Friday reported that an astounding 85.9 million of Americans in October simply weren’t interested in working?…that figure represents 93.3 percent of the 92 million Americans who are neither employed nor looking for work and is never included in the official monthly jobless rate, which counts only unemployed people looking for jobs?…it was noted that the October jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the share of 16- to 24-year-olds who don’t want to work rose from an average of 29.5 percent in 2000 to an average of 39.4 percent through October of this year?…last month, 28.5 percent of men said they didn’t want a job, up from 23.9 percent in October 2000 and 25.2 percent in October 2008?…For women, the share saying they didn’t want a job hovered around 38 percent throughout the 2000s but began creeping up in 2010, reaching 40.2 percent last month?

WINTER STORM WARNING

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A winter strom warning is in effect for the area between 6:00pm Sunday night and 6:00am Monday morning. The area is expecting winter weather conditions including freezing rain, sleet and snow which will likely lead to dangerous driving conditions. Once the winter weather arrives, please avoid unnecessary travel. Please monitor social media and area news outlets for current information. Click Here to Learn How to Prepare for Winter Weather.

CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS

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CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS AS SLEET CONTINUES TO FALL, AREA ROADS WILL REMAIN WET THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. AS THE TEMPERATURE DIPS BELOW FREEZING, ROADS WILL LIKELY BECOME SLICK WITH ICE BY MORNING.

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