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IS IT TRUE June 13, 2013

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Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics

IS IT TRUE June 13, 2013

IS IT TRUE our readers interests have been high about the reconciliation of the City of Evansville’s accounts?…it will be interesting to see which assertion of reconciliation the SBOA will endorse in the upcoming audit?…David Garrett is correct that knowing about a $7 Million discrepancy and not knowing how it happened does not constitute full reconciliation?…Controller Russ Lloyd is also right that there are accepted accounting practices to “wash away” the discrepancy with a one-time correction entry to raise the white flag of surrender and hit the reset button to magically declare the books to be reconciled so we can go forward without a scar on our accounts?…assuming that there is a $7 Million discrepancy and that the books were reconciled for the year 2010 it is safe to conclude that this discrepancy has happened since January 1, 2011?…if we further assume that this $7 Million discrepancy is a legacy of poor accounting handed to the Winnecke Administration and Russ Lloyd the only place to find this discrepancy is during calendar year 2011?…one would think that 18 months is enough time to comb through every check, nook, and cranny to find this discrepancy but it seems this has not been done to the satisfaction of either David Garrett or the Evansville City Council?…there are several possibilities for this the first of which is it has not legitimately been found?…it is also possible that it has been found and the source of the discrepancy is politically unpalatable to disclose?…it would be productive and would restore some faith in the competency of local government accounting to find and disclose the source of the discrepancy and let the chips fall where they will on the past administration?…if the City has indeed been diligently trying to find this discrepancy for 18 months and can’t there should be some time declared as drop dead date and just admit we can’t find it and plug some number in so this circus of idiocy can move forward with clean books even if they were cleaned by painting over the problem?…we really hope the discrepancy is found and that Russ and David agree on the final solution?

IS IT TRUE that another long time eastside business has announced that they are running up the white flag and closing up shop?…Lorenzo’s Bakery and Restaurant that has long served the community from the outlot at the Schnuck’s at the corner of Green River Road and Washington Avenue will soon be serving its last bowl of heavenly soup, its last magnificent salad, and sending its last basket of homemade bread to the houses of its customer base?…we encourage our readers to send Lorenzo’s out with a great ending and to develop a habit of going to your favorite places more often so we don’t lose more of our little treasures that if replaced will probably be another chain store?

IS IT TRUE the sequester cuts that were touted by President Barack Obama to be so painful that the people will be in breadlines has finally come home to roost here in Evansville and the State of Indiana?…the President did sort of overplay and over hype his pair of twos in this poker hand but there may be some pain after all?…the pain in this case is amazingly small and should be easy to backfill with local heartfelt charity?…the entire State of Indiana will be getting $700,000 less than expected which works out to a bank breaking 12 cents per Hoosier?…locally the YWCA will be losing $8,500 that they were counting on which works out to less than 5 cents per Vanderburgh County resident?…a few other local humanitarian groups are about to experience similar shortfalls?…if every person in Vanderburgh County would donate $1 to a sequester relief fund that any of our big rich churches could easily promote our charities will be better off than they were before the sequester by a wide margin?…this is a great opportunity to prove that local charity beats federal largesse and it does it more efficiently?…we encourage our readers to do their part and commit $10 each to one of the humanitarian groups that lost some funding from the sequester cuts?…the CCO is still free so consider this $10 a subscription alternative?

IS IT TRUE there is a very interesting article by Brad Linzy in today’s CCO that promotes unmetered water at flat rates?…much of the western world already does this?…he also raises the question of the reliability and useful life of smart meters like the ones in the Johnson Controls contract?…the average life of the batteries and the cost to service them should raise a few eyebrows?…maybe the eyebrows of the City of Evansville engineering department and the City Council should be raised?

General Assembly Overrides Veto

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Ron Bacon
Ron Bacon
Legislators Convene to Pass a Solution

STATEHOUSE — The Indiana House of Representatives voted 68 to 23 to override Gov. Pence’s veto of House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1546. Elected Representatives returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday, as provided for in House Concurrent Resolution 60, for the First Regular Technical Session to address the most cost-effective solution for Hoosier taxpayers by overriding the veto of HEA 1546. This is the first time the legislature has convened on technical corrections day since legislation was passed in 1995 allowing for the General Assembly to convene to address technical corrections and to override vetoes.

“This law fixes a mistake that was made at both the state and local level affecting local taxes in Jackson and Pulaski counties,” said State Representative Ron Bacon (R-Chandler). “If we did not override the veto, these counties would have to seek an alternative avenue to collect money in order to pay for their local jails; a solution the residents of the counties didn’t want. While the oversight was unfortunately not realized earlier, this law now provides a prudent solution for the counties, in addition to providing other needed tax reforms for spouses of deceased veterans. ”

HEA 1546 passed unanimously out of the House and with only one dissenting vote in the Senate. The bill addresses a number of tax issues, most notably the Local Option Income Tax (LOIT) for Jackson and Pulaski counties, as well as providing benefits for surviving spouses of deceased veterans and making it easier for an out-of-state business to help with disaster emergency relief here in Indiana.

Local officials from Jackson and Pulaski counties came to the Statehouse to encourage the General Assembly override the veto.

“On behalf of County Commissioners, we appreciate the urgency that the General Assembly is placing on this issue. The funding is a vital need for our communities, and it was a necessity that this matter be solved,” said Larry L. Brady, Pulaski County Commissioner.

If the General Assembly did not reconvene to address this bill, the veto would have required over 1,000 employers in the two counties to make mid-year adjustments to their payrolls, affecting over 20,000 employees. In addition, since the two counties need to pay for the ongoing costs of operating the jail, losing funding could put jail operations in jeopardy.

Do We Really Need Water Meters?

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Do We Really Need Water Meters?
By: Brad Linzy

HYPOTHESIS:
Water metering is not needed in Evansville. A Flat Rate scheme might be preferable.

ARGUMENTS:
A lot has been said already about the Evansville/Johnson Controls (JCI) Smart City 2.0 deal in fiscal terms, but little has been said about the technology itself and how a smart meter that measures water actually works. Anyone who has experienced the frustration with digital device running out of battery power can attest to the fact that sometimes flashy, feature-laden devices aren’t always superior in long term reliability or build quality.

In the last 30 or 40 years everything from clocks, barometers, hygrometers, thermometers, odometers – basically anything with “meter” at the end of it – has been given an electronic makeover. While economies of scale have generally made these devices cheaper and sometimes easier to use, they also have suffered from designs that rely on batteries to operate and are considered disposable in nature.

The idea of making water meters “smart” obviously has its advantages. Some of those include remote reading, elimination of data entry, real time monitoring by consumers, remote control of valves, early leak detection, to name a few. In fact, they seem like a great idea on the face of it. But not so fast…

There are three aspects of this deal to which I object – the timing of it, the long term reliability of the technology, and finally the assumed need for meters in the first place. Enough has already been said about the timing of the JCI deal, so I will focus instead on the latter two of my three complaints.

The major downfall of smart water meters lies in the fact they need batteries to operate, and not just any batteries, they need expensive Lithium Thionyl Chloride batteries, which according to a Silicon Labortories report add $10-$15 to the cost of each meter (compare that with the average $20 cost of old mechanical meters), and they also happen to be regulated as “dangerous” for transit and require a qualified technician to change. (1)

Furthermore, according to my research and a phone conversation I had with a technician at Elster, one of the largest manufacturers of smart meters in the US, any smart water meter sold in the US will not be field serviceable due to OSHA regulations, i.e. the batteries cannot simply be changed while the meter is connected to the pipe. The meter will have to be taken out of service and a replacement meter installed. The lifespan of Lithium Thionyl Chloride batteries under optimal conditions is 20 years, but the industry standard for smart meter manufacturer warranty is 15 years of service life. (1)(2)(3)

I have not read the full contract for the JCI deal, but I do know there is a service and replacement agreement for up to…you guessed it…20 years. This raises a couple of pressing questions. What are the exact terms of the service and replacement portion of the contract? And what happens after the contract is up and the meters start dying one by one because of the inherent limitations of their power source? Are we going to be right back in a similar boat in 20 years? (4)

My guess is, yes. In 20 years’ time, the next generation of Evansville leaders will experience the wages of our ill-conceived plans. They will look back with 20/20 hindsight, analyze the long term return on investment and realize throwing away all our old, boring yet reliable mechanical meters was a mistake. But hidden away beneath the blanket of our assumptions is a larger question about water in the “River City”. Why are we metering our water at all?

Meterless water billing is quite common in most parts of the world, and even in some developed nations like the UK. Water departments in these places use different schemes, but flat rates and “assessed volume” charges, based on the size and characteristics of a property, are the most common. (5)

This might sound alien to some of us, but think about it: are there any among us whose actions change because of our water bill? Do any of us really open up our bill and think, “if only I hadn’t washed so many dishes and clothes last month, I could have cut this bill in half,” or, “man, if only I would stop showering and flushing the toilet, this bill would go down”? The truth is, we use the amounts of water we use because that is the amount we need to use for whatever lifestyle we’ve carved out.

These visions of a future where residents conserve water diligently because they can view their real time usage are just utopian dreams. We all know the truth, and the truth is these meters will raise revenues for the water dept. because, at least for the service life of the meters, they will be slightly more accurate. It’s only about raising revenues. JCI’s own website uses this argument of raising revenues in their sales pitch. Even if this plan fell on its face, the water dept. is already asking state regulators for a rate hike because they have a shortfall of revenue. So the bottom line is they need X dollars to operate and they are bringing in less than X. The rates will rise whether we like it or not, so the real question is, do we need state of the art, battery-powered meters that will fail within 20 years’ time, or is there another way?

CONCLUSIONS:

The JCI deal is wasteful. It will add to the debt burden of the people of Evansville with very little perceivable reward. There are some good aspects of smart meter technology, particularly if you live in places where water conservation is paramount, but the “River City” can hardly be called such a place. Furthermore, the design limitations, namely the limitations on power supply and OSHA regulations against changing the Lithium Thionyl Chloride batteries, poses a serious future liability in 20 years’ time when the service and replacement contract runs out.

A water pricing structure based on a tiered system with flat rates and assessed volume billing would work better than the current volumetric pricing system. Such a system would save the people of Evansville a $46 million debt, would be cheaper on average for residents, and would have minimal effect on actual water usage. After the first month or so, everyone would get over what little thrill there was in leaving on a faucet or garden hose and things would be normal. The water dept. operations and billing would be streamlined, passing the savings (of both meter reading and the JCI deal) on to customers. The old residential meters could remain in place to aid in leak detection, but would not be used for billing. Our rates will rise for water no matter what path we take. The cheapest path for all is to rethink the system from the ground up, not move to “smart” meters with a limited service life.

SOURCES:
(1) Silicon Labs “How to Design Smart Gas and Water Utility Meters for the Utmost in Power Efficiency”
http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/Low-Power-MCU-Metering.pdf

(2) MSDS FOR LITHIUM THIONYL CHLORIDE BATTERY
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg4/cg432/docs/msds/MSDS_IceBatteries.pdf

(3) Elster Metering Model SM700 Data Sheet
http://www.elstermetering.com/downloads/SM700_4pp_090311.pdf

(4) IURC Joint Petition
http://www.in.gov/iurc/files/44123order_081512.pdf

(5) Overview of Meterless Water Billing Schemes in the UK
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_energy_and_water_supply_e/consumer_water_supply_e/consumer_paying_your_water_bill_e/paying_for_water_without_a_meter.htm

Safety Board Agenda 6/12/13‏

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AGENDA
Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Building Commission – Ron Beane Police Department – Chief Billy Bolin
Emergency Management-Sherman Greer Fire Department – Chief Mike Connelly

~ Pledge of Allegiance ~
.
Business with representatives:

1. Jason Ragle with Ragle, Inc. would like to address the board in reference to street closings related to Oak Hill Road Reconstruction project.
New Business:

1. Appoint committee to undertake review of current taxi cab ordinance and make proposals concerning enforcement issues potential amendments to said ordinance; committee to consist of David Gulledge, an individual from the Controller’s Office and Evansville Police Department, and a member of City Council, with assistance from the Secretary and Attorney for the Board of Public Safety, Tina Owen and Clay Havill, respectively.

Departmental Reports:

A. Police Department – Chief Billy Bolin

1. Request approval to surplus the following items:
a. HP Officejet 7130 All in One Serial #SG37JD1244
b. Compaq Armada 1700 laptop Serial#3J96BNJ5P27L
c. HP Compaq NX9030 laptop Wer#CNF4370YJP
d. Scanner for the fingerprint comparison
2. Would like to notify the board of Officer Christopher Ramirez resignation after serving 11 months and 1 day.

B. Fire Department ~ Chief Mike Connelly

1. Request approval May 2013 monthly report.

C. Special Events

1. The Potter’s Wheel requests approval to close Jefferson Ave between Judson and Governor on July 4, 2013 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm for “Potter’s Wheel 4th of July”. ***Barricades requested***
2. New Hope Memorial Baptist Church requests approval to close Elliott between Mulberry and Bellemeade on June 22, 2013 from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm for “Silence Won’t Stop Violence”. ***Barricades requested***
3. Raben Tire Company requests approval to close Ingle between 3rd & 4th, Market between Ingle & Court, 4th St between Court & Bond on June 22, 2013 from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm for
“Wheel City 15th Cruise-In”. ***Barricades requested***
4. Helfrich Park STEM Academy requests approval for “Helfrich Park Cross Country Invitational” September 4, 2013 from 3:30 pm until 5:00 pm. Starts at Golfmoor Park, run west to Harmony Way, turn around and return to the park.
C. Transportation and Services ~ Todd Robertson

1. Request approval to install 4, “30 MPH Speed Limit” signs on 7th Ave between Maryland St & Cody Ave due to continual speeding problems.
2. Request approval to remove city parking signs on Benninghof Ave within the section that was vacated to Memorial High School.
3. Removal of “Full Year” school signs for Lincoln Elementary School.
4. Removal of the southbound left turn signal on Vann Ave @ Lincoln Ave. Engineering study revealed the overall light operation at this intersection operates at decreased overall time delay without the left turn signal being in operation.

D. Building Commission ~ Ron Beane

1. Request approval to open and award bids for the below listed properties:
a. 500-502 Adams Ave – House/Duplex and remove fences. The wooden privacy fence on the east side of the property must be removed by hand. The abutting chain link fence on the east side belongs to the adjacent property owner and is not to be removed or damaged. All fences on the north, west, and south side of the property are to be removed by the contractor. ***This property is owned by the City of Evansville. City of Evansville reserves the right of first salvage “project bid”.
b. 1730 E. Division St – House and garage
c. 1611 St – House
d. 501 Jackson Ave – House
e. 713 Jackson Ave – House, shed, remove front chain link fence, a section of chain link fence on the w/s and front entry gate. Remove, section of wood fence across back of lot, back fence, the gate on the e/s of the lot and the playhouse between two trees.
f. 1300 Fountain Ave – House and remove collapsed portion of the retaining wall, leave the retaining wall that is standing intact, remove fence.
g. 1319 W. Maryland St – House and shed
h. 1013 W. Virginia St – House/duplex

Consent Section:

A. Taxi Cab Driver’s Permits
1. Request approval for the following to receive taxi cab drivers permits:
a. Nathan Ludwig
b. Sean Dennis
c. Ashley Macken
d. Angela Adams
e. John Eakins
2. Request approval to deny the following taxi cab driver based on criminal history:
a. Shannon Shepard
B. Dumpster
1. 616 N. 4th Ave – Safe Guard Properties – May 13, 2013 for 3 days
OTHER BUSINESS:

1. Approve claims.
2. Approve the minutes of Wednesday, May 22 & 29, 2013

Announcements:

Next meeting, June 24, 2013 at 1:00 pm

AG Zoeller joins international sweep on travel scams, files state lawsuits

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Greg Zoeller
Greg Zoeller

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said travel-related scams have heated up and so have state and federal enforcement efforts to crackdown on violators.

In Indiana, lawsuits were filed against Eastern Enterprises, LLC and Simplicity Travel, LLC as part of a joint multistate, multinational law enforcement initiative coordinated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.)

Zoeller’s actions coincide with the announcement of 191 actions to stop fraudulent operations offering timeshare property resale services and travel prizes, including three FTC cases, 83 civil actions brought by 28 states, and 25 actions brought by law enforcement agencies in 10 other countries. More than 184 individuals face criminal prosecution by U.S. Attorneys and local law enforcement.

Eastern Enterprises, a South Bend timeshare resell company, claimed to have ready buyers who would pay for consumers’ timeshare properties. According to the complaint, the company entered into 14 contracts with out-of-state consumers and collected an up-front fee of $1,985.

Customers also made additional payments ranging from about $4,800 to $15,500 to allegedly cover certain taxes or to close the sale on the properties. According to the lawsuit, the company did not complete any of the transactions or provide promised refunds. Bank records show the account, where customers’ monies were deposited, was used to make non-business purchases at gas stations, restaurants and even through the Sony Playstation Network.

The lawsuit was filed in St. Joseph County and seeks an injunction, consumer restitution, civil penalties and investigative costs for violations of the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.

A separate lawsuit was filed against Idaho-based Simplicity Travel after the company dialed or sent mailers to Indiana consumers offering free vacations or savings certificates in exchange for attending a 90-minute sales presentation on vacation club memberships.

Two separate Hendrick’s County consumers attended the seminars and entered into contracts to purchase memberships totaling $8,187. Both customers were unsuccessful in booking any of the advertised vacations, and calls to the company went unanswered and refunds were not provided.

Simplicity Travel recently entered into an agreement, which was filed in Marion County, to pay $32,000 to the Attorney General’s office to provide consumer restitution and investigative costs. The company has also agreed to follow state laws regarding promotions, contracts and cancellation policies, and stop illegal telephone sales calls to Indiana consumers.

Here are five red flags often associated with travel-related scams:
1.Telephone caller offers a “free” vacation, but requires you to pay a fee first or provide your credit card number to verify your information. A legitimate company will not ask you to pay to receive an offer or for your financial information. Hang up before your “free” prize ends up costing you.

2.Promises of a “free vacation” if you attend a travel club presentation. High pressure sales tactics are often used during these events and lead to buyer’s remorse. Expensive travel club memberships are often limited in choice of destination or travel dates. If you feel pressured into making a quick decision, the decision should be to walk away.

3.Automated calls offering discount vacation packages or a free vacation. Robocalls are illegal in Indiana regardless of whether or not you are on the state’s Do Not Call list. If the company is breaking the law to contact you, chances are it’s a scam.

4.The market is “hot” and buyers are waiting to purchase your timeshare. Be skeptical of any offers by resellers to sell your timeshare. Don’t agree to anything over the phone or before you have had a chance to fully vet the company. Get all details in writing. Be skeptical of resellers who require an upfront fee before rendering services or closing on the property.

5.During vacation the resort offers you incentives to purchase a timeshare. Don’t make an expensive impulse decision based on a good value. Make sure you have all promises and representations in writing, as well as a public offering statement and other relevant documents.

Zoeller thanked Deputy Attorney Generals Dennis Mullen, Tammy Summers and Lisa Wolf for their work on the cases.

DINNER AND A SHOW At SMG

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SMG_LOGO_FOR_TM

Gather a group of 15 or more, and enjoy dinner at The Centre before a show. You pick your show, you decide on a menu and and have a memorable evening. For information contact Megan or Jennifer at 812-435-5770 extensions 302 or 202

THE CENTRE

Tri-State Business Expo – July 11

PEF/EVSC Summer Musical “Beauty and the Beast” – July 11-14

J&J Ventures Dart & Pool Tournament – Aug. 2-4

100 Men Who Cook – Aug. 24

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County – Oct. 17 @ 7:30pm

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales – Oct. 27 @ 12:00pm & 3:00pm

CMT On Tour: Hunter Hayes Let’s Be Crazy Tour – Nov. 8 @ 7:00pm

CENTRE’D ON KIDS 2014

Junie B. Jones – Feb. 5 @ 9:00am & 12:00pm

The Monster Who Ate My Peas – March 17 @ 9:00am & 12:00pm

Are You My Mother? – Apr. 22 @ 9:00am & 12:00pm

BROADWAY AT THE CENTRE 2013-2014

Elvis Lives! – Oct. 19 @ 7:30pm

Mamma Mia! – December 13 @ 7:30pm

Straight No Chaser – December 20 @ 7:30pm

Hello Dolly! starring Sally Struthers – January 12 @ 7:00pm

Bring It On: The Musical – February 9 @ 7:00pm

Hair – March 10 @ 7:30pm

Million Dollar Quartet – March 26 @ 7:30pm

EPD Activity Report: June 12, 2013

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EPD PATCH 2012

EPD Activity Report: June 12, 2013

TROPICANA ENTERTAINMENT, INC. PROUDLY ANNOUNCES CASINO AZTAR IS NOW TROPICANA EVANSVILLE

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Over the past 17 years, Casino Aztar has grown to become a premier regional entertainment destination. Property investments of over $231 million include a riverfront pavilion, a 250-room hotel, a conference center, a 96-room boutique hotel with an ultralounge, and several restaurant venues.

Tropicana Entertainment has now made the ultimate investment with the complete rebranding of Casino Aztar to Tropicana Evansville, including new signs which provide a stronger sense of arrival to the downtown casino property. General Manager Ward Shaw commented that “This exciting transition will better leverage the “Tropicana” brand to attract new guests from outlying regions as well as symbolize the continued guest improvements that we’ve made over the last several years for those customers that haven’t visited us in some time.”

Events to celebrate the transition are currently underway and include giveaways of overnight stays and Tropicana merchandise. Trop Advantage® members may also register to win trips to other Tropicana Entertainment properties including Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe and Aruba. Celebration cake will be served during the weekend of June 14th in the Riverfront Pavilion.

Tropicana Evansville invites you, our press partners, to join Tropicana Evansville General Manager, Ward Shaw and Evansville Mayor, Lloyd Winnecke for a lively, Las Vegas-style press conference on Friday, June 14 at 11AM in the Tropicana Hotel Lobby. We hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Stacey McNeill, Tropicana Evansville Director of Marketing at 812-433-4069 or Stacey.Mcneill@tropevansville.com

Tropicana Entertainment Inc is a publicly traded company that, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates eight casinos and resorts in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey and Aruba. Tropicana properties collectively have approximately 6,046 rooms, 7,121 slot positions and 231 table games. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fitness in the Park Launches “Summer of Swimming”

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City of Evansville Seal
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announces “Summer of Swimming” will be the focus of the Energize Evansville monthly “Fitness in the Park” program during June, July and August.
The first in a series of three free pool exercise sessions is this Saturday, June 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Hartke Pool, 201 N. Boeke Rd., featuring water Aerobics with YMCA Instructors.
Participants may join any of the four, 30-minute segments: Warm-up and Shallow/Aerobics with Janet; Latin Dance with Mary Jane; Aqua Boot Camp with Janet; Shallow/Deep & Cool-down with Mary Jane.
All fitness levels are welcome, and participants can go at their own pace. Aqua shoes are recommended for shallow segments. Lifeguards will be present to monitor children during the workout sessions.
The “Fitness in the Park” free pool exercise session will be held at Lorraine Pool on July 20 and at Rochelle-Lander Pool on August 17, both from 9 to 11 a.m.
“Fitness in the Park” is a health and fitness program launched by Mayor Winnecke as part of his Energize Evansville initiative to promote healthier lifestyles. The program is held the third Saturday of each month at a different city park featuring local fitness experts leading group exercises.

IS IT TRUE June 12, 2013

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Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics

IS IT TRUE June 12, 2013

IS IT TRUE in a move that is seen as a positive move with respect to the Johnson Controls contract the Evansville Sewer and Water Utility voted 5 – 0 yesterday to take the fiber optic network out of the agreement and replace it with the use of existing cellular technology to read water meters?…this latest elimination of hardware that is not necessary saved the people of Evansville $7 Million in debt at a time when every penny counts?…Johnson Controls was during the reign of Mayor Weinzapfel designed to be a $57 Million deal that “paid for itself” in savings?…that particular deal was shot down by the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission as being too dependent on blue smoke and mirrors to really pay for itself?…today the deal has been reduced to a maximum of $46 Million and it is widely believed that it will pay for itself in savings?…there are a few more improvements that can be explored before a move to go forward such as “do we really need to replace all of those meters” and “why is Johnson Controls its own oversight entity”?…the City County Observer encourages the Evansville City Council to do what they must to establish 3rd party oversight of the savings before scheduling a vote on the bonds to finance this deal?…they also need to seek assurances that this deal does not jeopardize the potential for favorable financing to be secured to repair our decrepit sewer system, or rusty water pipes, and other legacy of neglect problems facing the City of Evansville?…when 3rd party oversight has been established for the Johnson Controls deal, one more look has been taken at NEEDS vs. WANTS, and future bonding capacity has been reiterated as unchanged, at long last what began as a crock of cronyism MAY just turn out to be a step forward for Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that St. Louis has gotten into such dire straits from an entrepreneurship perspective that a coalition of local public and private leaders are forming a coalition to raise a $100 Million venture fund targeting home grown entrepreneurs for financing?…St. Louis became a big significant city around the turn of the century hosting a World’s Fair and even the Olympic games largely on the success of home grown entrepreneurs like Anheuser Busch, McDonnell Douglas, and Ralston Purina?…St. Louis like many Midwestern river towns has seen its legacy home grown businesses bought up by international conglomerates and has not been able to keep any entrepreneurial buzz alive to replace these local success stories?…St. Louis has spent billions of dollars on public housing, built stadium after stadium, seen a big casino established on the river front, and tried just about every traditional government backed economic development trick in the book without even being able to stop the bleeding away of talent, the rise in crime, and the spread of blight?…one can replace the name of St. Louis with Evansville and the legacy companies with Mead Johnson, Servel, and others but the story is the same?…in all fairness there are probably 50 declining Midwestern towns that meet this description?…given the magnitude of the size of the venture fund ($100 Million) that is being put together in St. Louis it will be interesting to see if Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will ever stop spending on fluff and put together a fund that is appropriate for Evansville?

IS IT TRUE the establishment of a venture fund almost happened through GAGE in 2008 until former Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel redirected $6 Million of business loan funds to build the Front Door Pride homes that were guaranteed to lose money and reward a very few from day one?…the right number for a city the size of Evansville when it comes to a venture fund is $20 Million to $30 Million?…the decisions on what entrepreneurs get funded should be made by 100% private business people who understand the entrepreneurial process and government should have NO SAY AT ALL IN WHO GETS FUNDED?

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