The City County Observer would like to make the McGladrey Invoice in the amount of $112,615.75 available for our readers to examine. We must point out that the so called draft report that has been withheld from the City Council and the public is dated April 8, 2013 which is consistent with an invoice dated March 24th that was stamped as recieved by the Controller’s office on April 1, 2013 (Fool’s Day).

Sources have advised us that the differences in the so called “draft” and the report issued last week are mainly in the language used to describe inefficiencies and shortcomings of the City of Evansville in the critical area of Information Technology. Neither document is flattering and both clearly show a path to acceptability that the City was not on, is not doing, and may not even be capable of implementing.

The real question is if the April 8th document that was billed for on March 24th as the “Delivery of Final Assessment and Executive Overview”, then why is that document being withheld on the basis of not being public information? The next question is will there be another bill for the sanitized version of the second installment of a “Final” study? Is it true that the CCO truly wonders why the City Council and the people of Evansville are only allowed to see the “sunshine and lollipops” version of this study which still in an indictment of incompetence for the City of Evansville’s management of IT and its capacity to even understand what it takes to implement this critical tool in an even acceptable manner.

Here is a link to the bill as submitted by McGladrey on March 24, 2013.

MCGLADREY[_Invoice_032413_Detail

Dear Council Members:

The Administration will hold a media availability at 4 p.m. in the Mayor’s office, Room 302 Civic Center Complex, to give a representative from McGladrey, an international consulting company, the opportunity to present the “City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County IT Assessment Technology Action Plan.” The media availability is in response to the cancellation of the special City Council meeting that had been scheduled tonight. The McGladrey representative was en route when notice of the cancellation was given this morning and the Administration wants to move this process forward.

CCO Chairman of the Board, Ron Cosby, announced today that Indiana State Senator Vaneta Becker has been selected as a 2013 “Mole Award” winner. Senator Becker, a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana, has been selected for her good public policy, tireless committee work, and her many activities within the community. Senator Becker has served in both Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties during her extensive political career in the Indiana House of Representatives and Senate. Cosby said of Becker, “We are honored and privileged to have someone with the political abilities and talents of Vaneta Becker serving our community. She is not only highly regarded, but effective, in getting the job done in Indianapolis for the constituents of this area.”

A list of Senator Becker’s accomplishments and awards while in office

2012 Indiana Area Agencies on Aging-Legislative Champion Award 2011 Indiana Coalition for Human Services – Oscar McCulloch Social Services Award 2011 Leadership Evansville Celebration of Leadership Winternheimer/Lamar Public Service Award 2011-Indiana Retired Teachers Association -Outstanding State Senator 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award -The Arc 2011 Evansville Teachers Association Friend of Education Award 2010-Albion Fellows Bacon Award 2010-Ark Crisis Center Dedication to Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect 2009 Komen Evansville Affiliate- Bobby Sloan Symbol of Hope Award 2009 Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Legislator of the Year 2008 Legislator of the Year – Indiana Primary Health Care Association 2008 Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Empowerment Award 2007 Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care Advocate of the Year 2007 Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education Legislator of the Year 2001 Indiana Home Care Task Force – Service Award 1999-Lampion Center Advocacy Award 1995 ALCOA-Outstanding Leadership Award 1995 USI Distinguished Alumni Award 1995 Indiana Association of Ophthalmologists Legislator of the Year

Sen. Becker’s selection is the fifth selection of this years “Mole Award “winners. She joins the Honorable Judges Brett Niemeier and Wayne Trockman along with Matthew Burkhart of Newburgh and Ben Trockman of Evansville. Judge Niemeier was selected for his work with Evansville’s youth and for his affiliation with the Alternative School that now resides in what used to be Evansville’s North High School. Judge Trockman has been selected for his public policy as well as his work with Vanderburgh County’s first Drug Treatment Court. Matthew Burkhart and Ben Trockman have both been selected as a result of their work in reforming laws and standards of operation. Matthew Burkhart successfully lobbied for reform of Indiana’s child labor laws in respect to children under the age of 14 being able to umpire and referee sporting events. Ben Trockman’s work has encouraged airline companies to re-examine their policies and standards of operation for the physically challenged wishing to travel.

This years sixth annual “Mole Awards” Ceremony will be held at 12:00 pm on October 14 in Casino Aztar’s Walnut Room. Invitation to this event is by reservation only and details of this event will be posted at a later date on City-County Observer.