Since taking office, it has been our goal to improve the customer service of your government, and while local government may not be able to solve every issue, we are committed to continuous improvement. Gauging from most of the feedback we have received, our efforts have been well received, and I commend our city employees for their hard work.
We hear from citizens daily through the Citizen Concern app, logging more than 500 submittals since the application launched in September. Citizens still have the option of calling our office to submit concerns, suggestions or ask questions. All of these contacts are recorded and tasked to the appropriate department or non-city entity to be properly addressed.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being Mayor is hearing about positive interactions between residents and local government. For example, a mother of two young girls emailed me after reading about a meeting in the Mayor’s office with school officials to discuss school safety in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shooting to offer her input as a parent. Our office received numerous calls thanking Evansville firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel for their swift response to a three-alarm fire at Grandview Tower. Jerry Lawrence sent me a letter he had published in the Courier & Press praising an Evansville Water & Sewer Department maintenance crew for repairs made to a ruptured water pipe in his backyard, comparing their work to “a fine orchestra performing a symphony.â€
Many residents have taken advantage of the Travelling City Hall program, where all department heads such as the Police Chief, Fire Chief, City Engineer and Parks Director, to name a few, are available after regular business hours to meet citizens at different locations throughout the community. We welcomed the participation of the United Neighborhoods of Evansville in this program and look forward to growing it. Any citizen can attend and have one-on-one discussions with any department head, including myself, regarding any issue. The next Traveling City Hall meeting will be on Jan. 30 at Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 645 S. Elliott St., from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
One of the reasons I ran for Mayor is the perception that local government didn’t listen and operated outside of the public eye. Through a partnership with Leadership Evansville, a visioning process called VOICE was initiated in 2012 and will continue forward, with meetings across the city seeking to have an interactive conversation with participants. In addition to receiving feedback on resident’s preferred vision for Evansville’s future, a goal of changing the tone of civic dialogue is important. VOICE volunteers are reviewing ideas from all of the previous meetings to identify major themes. Once themes are determined, they will be presented to our administration for further action. The next public VOICE
meeting is set for February 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Nativity Catholic Church, 3635 Pollack Ave. More information on the program can be found at www.evansvillevoice.com.
Whether it’s on the local, state or federal level, it is clear that citizens want their government officials to work together, regardless of their political affiliation. In an effort to achieve that goal and stay attentive to citizen concerns made to their council representative, I’ve maintained an open door policy for all members of City Council and will continue to do so.
In a recent speech at the NAACP annual dinner, I spoke about what I termed the “behavioral cliff,†while others in Washington were only concerned with the fiscal cliff. My point was, in order to move our community forward, it is imperative that we all engage in a positive, productive dialogue about issues facing our city. To those with strong views on an issue, I invite anyone to contact us directly, rather than criticize anonymously.
For information or dates on any of the mentioned meetings or ways to contact city government, please visit the revamped website at www.evansville.in.gov or call the Mayor’s office at 436-4962.
Looking forward, it is my intent to continue operating city government in a transparent and open manner and I encourage you to become civically engaged.
Editorial By Mayor Lloyd Winnecke
Pedestrian Bridge over S.R. 66 (Lloyd Expressway) near Vann Avenue
Project Scope: The project will provide safe pedestrian passage and link recreational facilities around the Evansville State Hospital grounds on the south side of S.R. 66 (Lloyd Expressway) to those recreational facilities (Wesselman Park and Wesselman Nature Preserve) on the north side of the Lloyd Expressway
Timeline: It is currently anticipated that construction will begin by early 2015 if not before.
Status Update: During a subsurface investigation for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Lloyd Expressway near Vann Avenue on the former State Hospital Grounds, remnants of an unmarked cemetery were found. The City of Evansville is currently working with archaeologists, environmental scientists, INDOT and the State Historic Preservation Officer to determine the appropriate steps to handle these findings.
For more information, contact City Engineer Pat Keepes at 436-4990.
Arrest of Newburgh Man – Residential Entry
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Newburgh man after he attempted to break into a residence in a Northeastern Vanderburgh County. Prior to Sheriff’s Deputies’ arrival, the homeowner fired a pistol at the intruder, missing him. The man fled the scene and was apprehended a short while later, as he attempted to break into the residence a second time while Sheriff’s Deputies were inside speaking with the resident. Trent Alan Thompson, age 21, was arrested and charged with Residential Entry, Criminal Mischief and Public Intoxication. He has since posted a $5,000 cash bond and was released from custody. No charges will be filed on the homeowner.
On January 12th, at approximately 11:56 PM hours, the homeowner called 911 and reported that a man was attempting to break into her residence through a glass patio door. The Call Taker at Central Dispatch could hear the sounds the man was making as he attempted to break in. Day had retrieved a pistol from within the residence prior to calling 911. As she was on the line, she fired a shot at the intruder who had not yet made entry. Deputies arrived within 2 minutes of dispatch and found that the intruder had fled the scene. Two deputies remained inside the residence while other deputies and an EPD canine began a search of the area. Less than 15 minutes later, the deputies inside the residence heard what sounded like glass breaking coming from the garage. The deputies, as well as the EPD canine handler whose dog had tracked away then back to the residence, found Thompson attempting to enter the residence through the man door of the attached garage. He had just broken the window on the door and was taken into custody without incident.
Sheriff’s investigators were able to determine that Thompson had been drinking approximately 2 hours earlier in the evening at the Hornet’s Nest restraint with his wife. He became angry after watching a football game and left the restaurant on foot. Thompson stated that he believed he was at a friend’s residence when he was arrested.
Trent Alan Thompson, 21, Newburgh, IN
Residential Entry Class D Felony/Criminal Mischief Class D Felony/Public Intoxication Class B Misdemeanor
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Evansville, IN – Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, January 11, 2012.
Jason Barrett Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Kenneth Cavanaugh Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Habitual Substance Offender
Mary Cavanaugh Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Jessica Hertel Theft-Class D Felony
Christopher Hill Burglary-Class B Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Strangulation-Class D Felony
Criminal Confinement-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
Attempted Rape-Class B Felony
Bryant Hooper Theft-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor
Aaron Pfeiffer Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Kayla Phillippe Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
Amanda Slaton Theft-Class D Felony
Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor
Brandon Humphry Operating a Motor Vehicle after Forfeiture of License for Life-Class C Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Logan Moore Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Arthur Peyton Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Neglect of a Dependent-Class D Felony
Gabrielle Vailes Dealing in Methamphetamine-Class B Felony
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Regene Newman at 812.435.5156 or via e-mail at rinewman@vanderburghgov.org.
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
SENTENCE CHART
Class Range
Murder 45-65 Years
Class A Felony 20-50 Years
Class B Felony 6-20 Years
Class C Felony 2-8 Years
Class D Felony ½ – 3 Years
Class A Misdemeanor 0-1 Year
Class B Misdemeanor 0-180 Days
Class C Misdemeanor 0-60 Days
Attorney General Greg Zoeller sworn in for second term
AG’s focus: Building coalitions with other branches, levels of government
INDIANAPOLIS – Today Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller was sworn in to a second term in office and said his work will continue to build upon relationships and coalitions with other branches and levels of government to ensure that consumers and the public are protected.
Zoeller in his inaugural speech said that senior deputy AGs in the Attorney General’s Office will assist legislators, state agencies, courts and law enforcement officials as needed on complex legal issues that arise within state government and the criminal justice system.
“My office will endeavor to serve the three coequal branches of government and build bridges between their separate authorities by convening a coalition of our clients in common purpose. Many of our challenges require each of the separate branches to cooperate and support each other’s efforts to address complex issues. We will strive to become a ‘force multiplier’ within government,†Zoeller said in his speech.
Surrounded by his family – his wife Kerrie Zoeller and their children Gretchen, Katherine and Michael Zoeller – the Attorney General was administered the oath by Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson during a swearing-in ceremony on the west steps of the Statehouse during the inauguration of new Governor Mike Pence and new Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann.
A New Albany, Ind., native, Zoeller is a graduate of Indiana University School of Law – Bloomington and served as executive assistant to Dan Quayle in the 1980s when Quayle was U.S. Senator and U.S. vice president. After working in private practice and serving as chief deputy AG to then-Attorney General Steve Carter, Zoeller was elected to a term of his own as Indiana Attorney General in 2008. He was re-elected in November 2012. As the lawyer for state government and the state’s top consumer-protection official, Zoeller has focused on enforcing Indiana’s telephone privacy laws, combating frauds and scams against homeowners and senior citizens, initiating civil prosecution against public officials to recover misappropriated public funds, representing the prosecution on appeal and defending state statutes from legal challenges.
The Office of the Indiana Attorney General includes 152 deputy AGs who serve as lawyers for the state. They also take the oath of office again and will do so collectively as a group Tuesday at the Statehouse.
Evansville Redevelopment Commission Revised AGENDA Tuesday, January 15, 2013 – 8:30 am
Evansville Redevelopment Commission
Revised AGENDA
Tuesday, January 15, 2013 – 8:30 am
Civic Center Complex – Room 307
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes of January 2, 2013
3. Approval of individual accounts payable claim
4. Downtown Redevelopment Area
Resolution 13-ERC-01 – Authorizing Change Order No. 1 to the Contract for
Repairs at 118 Garfield in the Jacobsville Redevelopment Area
5. Other Business
Resolution 13-ERC-02 – Authorizing Conveyance of Real Estate to Fischer Investments
Discuss future hotel site – rock installation quote from Klenck Co.
6. Adjournment
* This preliminary Agenda is subject to change. The final Agenda will be posted at the entrance to the location of the meeting prior to the meeting.
Manufacturing Expansion Announcement
(EVANSVILLE, IN) – Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, Vanderburgh County Commissioner Marsha Abell and Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville President Debbie Dewey will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, January 15, at the Mayor’s office to announce a significant manufacturing expansion at a local business.