IS IT TRUE? September 22, 2011 Part 2

IS IT TRUE that we have just learned that 6th Ward City Council candidate Al Lindsey has prevailed in the lawsuit filed against him by David Mosby et al, to prevent him from running for Evansville City Council because he didn’t meet resident qualifications to run for this seat?…that we also were told that Mr. Lindsey intends to file a lawsuit against the individuals responsible for the suit brought against him?…that Mr. Lindsey had the political and legal acumen to hire one of this region’s most effective attorneys to represent him?…that his attorney was none other than radio and TV legal personality Les Shively?

IS IT TRUE this a prototype of a car that the Mayor of Evansville shall be requiring that our police department use in catching drug dealers starting next month?…that since the city is going to give free electric chargers at downtown parking garages the police department shall save hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel charges?…that someday soon we will all be reliving our childhood and driving electric cars?…that every kids favorite electric car is a BUMPER CAR?

IS IT TRUE that there is one particular reason why local political types haven’t embraced Casino Aztar’s idea to add another 140 rooms onto their present Hotel so they can provide quality and affordable rooms to Ford Center patrons from out of town?…that the NCAA rule states that college athletes can’t stay at any Hotel owned or run by a gaming business?…that the Evansville Sports Authority is working hard to bring some future NCAA events to the Ford Center and that a key to attracting this is to have an approved hotel right next to the Ford Center?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that the race for Mayor is now considered too close to call?…that the next 47 days is all there is for people to decide who will be elected to be our next Mayor?…that in the spirit of Coach Nolan Richardson of the NCAA champion Arkansas Razorbacks that the last 40 days of this election cycle shall be christened to be “40 Days of Hell” for both candidates?

IS IT TRUE the CCO would like to thank Vectren officials and public relations staff for spending time with us to clarify a recent press release regarding a fee adjustment?…that the words chosen for the clarification statement while still hedging for future changes in the price of coal did send the message that ratepayers would actually realize positive cash flow of between $30 and $130 over a 36 year period?…that the best way to have been completely clear would have been to write down $466 from each ratepayer and between $496 and $596 to each ratepayer, but for reasons we understand and to take advantage of the 7.29% guaranteed return on investment we understand why exact language was avoided?

IS IT TRUE that we hear that CAPE is moving its administrative offices to the old Wellborn Clinic (Walker Building)?…we hear that EVANSVILLE HOPE has already moved their offices to this location?…that the management of this building must be handing out some real deals as many non-profits and other businesses have been relocating to it?

IS IT TRUE that the Mole Nation is bombarding the CCO with statements that indicate that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has quietly approved an additional $500,000 to purchase another parking lot for the McCurdy residents?…that we are a bit skeptical that the ERC would do such a thing but it would not surprise us either?

IS IT TRUE that we have been advised that Evansville City Council members Connie Robinson, Missy Mosby, and Dan Adams are not going to be supportive of the City of Evansville tossing another $250,000 into the deal for 40 luxury rental houses that is planned for random locations within the Front Door Pride district?…that waiving of fees plus the other incentives that have already been granted by the City of Evansville seem to these esteemed elected officials to be enough?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer will be checking everyday from now until Halloween to see if the real estate taxes have been paid on the McCurdy Hotel? …that on the morning of September 22, parcel #82-06-30-020-005.002-029 also known as the McCurdy Hotel and located at 100 SE Riverside in Evansville, IN indicates that there is still a delinquent tax amount of $12,274.76?…that if we can report that the taxes are paid on this property that the CCO will become more enthused about the proposition of this project moving forward?…that it has now been 2 full days since Mr. Steve Scott was advised that the taxes on the McCurdy Hotel have not been paid?

IS IT TRUE that we were all treated to the announcement yesterday that the City of Evansville will be installing a charging station for electric cars in the downtown parking garages?…that to the joy and benefit of a very few people the City will be absorbing the cost of the electricity that the lucky people who are first in line use to charge their batteries?…that this is the same thing as buying someone a tank of gas per day?…that depending on the speed of the charging station then maybe the City of Evansville will be filling a couple of tanks per day?…that as progressive and green as this may sound it is really nothing more than one more redistribution of wealth from the slow to the fast?…that we support placing the charging stations in the parking garages but that we think it is much preferred if the patrons of the parking garage pay for using the charging station?…that the City of Evansville could actually create a revenue stream by installing multiple charging stations in the city parking garages?…that we wonder just why government entities continue to think the best way to do business is to give things to people at the expense of other people?

IS IT TRUE that the question of whether or not the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has learned any lessons about VETTING from the downtown Convention Hotel experience?…that one would think that City Centre Properties LLC that got a round of applause for saying he had financing in place to proceed with construction would be VETTED just like the hotel proposals are being VETTED?…that it really seems like that lesson was not learned?…that not being able or willing to pay $12,274 in real estate taxes does not seem to be a good indicator that this business is even a player in a $12 Million project?…that this financing package is straight out of the playbook of the mortgage meltdown that caused the banks to stop lending in the first place?…that one would think that the Browning/Woodruff experience would have reinforced the lesson that VETTING is necessary in public projects?…that this will be quite embarrassing to the City of Evansville and the ERC if this deal has any hitch at all?…that the ERC should be on the safe side and check these guys out now that we are four years down the NO MONEY DOWN highway?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. John Kish stood before the Evansville City Council and said that Klenck Construction may get stiffed for the work that they did to demolish the old Executive Inn parking tower on City of Evansville property because public property is not subject to mechanics liens?…that Indiana Law I.C. 5-16-5-1 et seq. does not necessarily support Mr. Kish’s assertion?…that publicly owned property or buildings are lienable only to the extent of the unpaid contract price?…that is not as protective of construction companies as it is with private property but it does seem to state that a mechanics lien may be possible on local government land?