I received a number of very positive comments in response to my recent commentary on the current discussions in City government. Some of the feedback I received leads me to try and further explain the specifics of the State Board of Accounts report regarding the Ford Center.

On June 7, the City released a State Board of Accounts report reviewing the capital expenditures associated with the construction of the Ford Center. There were several inaccuracies in the report and a lot of bluster following its release. I want to clear up some misconceptions.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and City Controller Russell Lloyd, Jr. were right about several aspects of the report. The Ford Center was completed on time and under-budget. The State Board of Accounts asserted that the project was over-budget, but it failed to include $1.3 million in funds left over from the project and count the double payments made by the bond trustee to contractors in making its conclusion. Furthermore, the State Board of Accounts itself says that $5.8 million which is attributed to the purchase of the former Executive Inn property should be allocated to the hotel project instead of the arena project. Once you take this into account, it appears that the arena project was at least $7.5 million under budget.

The other issue cited by the State Board of Accounts was the bond trustee’s overpayments to vendors and contractors who worked on the arena. The City, working through its bond trustee, is currently seeking repayment.

Many people do not understand the role of the bond trustee. The bond trustee is put in place to operate “independently” of the city. Typically, it is a bank trust department and its job is to make sure that you have an independent financial firm monitoring the income and expenses, paying the bills and generally assuming the accounting and financial aspects of a project of this magnitude. You don’t manage the bond trustee. Instead, once a project is complete, the City should audit the bond trustee’s activities to make sure all funds were handled correctly and professionally.

Consequently, contrary to statements made, at no place in the State Board of Accounts report does it state that the city’s oversight of the project and its bond trustee was insufficient. So, any calls for enhanced oversight should be closely scrutinized. With a project the size of the Ford Center, there will be errors made by the bond trustee. This is inevitable. However, these errors are generally found by the bond trustee or found during the audit process and then corrected. This in fact is what happened. There were some overpayments and some accounting errors made by the bond trustee, however, with the process that was set in place, these matters were found and corrected. This is how it should work.

We have heard that there needs to be greater supervision of the bond trustee. This assertion undercuts the independence of the bond trustee. Furthermore, how would the city actually supervise a bank’s trust department? Again, the proper approach would be to audit the project and bond trustee’s activities when the project is complete.

Some have suggested that in the future the City should hire an owner’s representative whose role will be to focus on project finances and provide monthly reports to both the Administration and City Council. I agree. However, this is nothing new. That is exactly the role that John Kish played in managing the construction of the Ford Center. John has a long history of managing major projects and was hired to represent the city’s bestinterests.

Others have stated that some problems were caused because the Redevelopment Commission and the Redevelopment Authority did not know what the other was doing. Frankly, this is simply untrue. These two bodies played different yet complementary roles as facilitators of the project and its financing. They shared the same staff at the Department of Metropolitan Development. Kish would take decisions made by one to be reviewed and approved by the other. It is very clear that the project was appropriately coordinated between the two bodies because the work was handled by the same staff.

Additionally, others have said that the State Board of Accounts report demonstrates that there needs to be an internal auditor to review these transactions and report back to the city council on a regular basis. As stated above, the proper time to review the work of the bond trustee is when the project is completed. Furthermore, if city staff is not managing a project well, then replace them or get them some help. Adding an internal auditor that reports to the city council is simply an effort to usurp the responsibilities of the executive branch of city government.

The Ford Center was a high profile project, the largest that the city has ever undertaken. It should be highly scrutinized. However, city officials should be careful with their rhetoric and chest thumping. At every level of government, citizens are rightfully calling for public officials to operate with civility and honesty, and they rightfully are tired of the type of political posturing they have witnessed of late. It is time for all officials to rise to the public’s expectations, and it can start right here with our own city government.

I recently heard a public official state that you don’t get things accomplished in government by shaking your fist. Instead, you roll up your sleeves and find a way to work together to get the job done. Isn’t that what really needs to be happening right now?

Jonathan Weinzapfel

THIS LETTER WAS POSTED WITOUT EDITING, OPINION OR BIAS.

The last time Aaron Lewis was in Evansville, he was doing duty as frontman for rock band Staind on their Mass Chaos Tour, which played in May 2012 at Ford Center. Sunday night, he returned on his own on very different terms – as the headliner on the Jägermeister Country Tour, also featuring host Rick Monroe and opening act Brian Davis. Lewis’ stripped down vocals proved his versatility as he covered everything from tracks on his latest album “The Road” to well-known rock ballads from his days with Staind. The singer and his band exuded a laid-back vibe that was perfectly suited for a Sunday night at the Victory Theatre.

“It was good to see a mix of both country and rock music fans in the crowd tonight,” said General Manager Ben Bolander. “We hope to see many of them back in the coming weeks, since we’ll have a rock show with Pop Evil on July 11 and the first concert in our Summer Country Nights series featuring Tyler Farr on July 12. This is going to be a great summer for music at the Victory.”

The Victory Theatre has an active summer and fall schedule with upcoming shows that include Gregg Allman June 25, Pop Evil

July 11, Tyler Farr (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) July 12, “Weird Al” Yankovic – The Alpocalypse Tour July 27, Charlie Worsham (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) August 15, No Justice (Summer Country Nights at the Victory series) September 13, Tommy Emmanuel September 20, and Don Williams October 17.

First Security Bank, headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky, announced today the earned designation of the Blue Ribbon Bank Commendation of Excellence received from Veribanc. Veribanc, an independent bank rating service headquartered in Rhode Island was founded in 1981 and provides independent bank rating services to investors and others.

“We are excited to receive the highest rating that Veribanc assigns to any financial institution. Our many stakeholders, including shareholders, clients and employees will be pleased that First Security Bank has received the Green Three Stars and CAMEL 1 designation denoting the Bank as Superior,” stated M. Lynn Cooper, President and CEO of First Security Bank.

Veribanc analyzes the financial condition of each bank. Factors used in assigning a rating include a bank’s capital, asset quality, Income, Reserves, Problem loans, Securities, any Regulatory Enforcement Actions and Key performance indices along with other data. The ratings of all banks in the nation can be found at www.veribanc.com

A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the Garvin Park Pool Vandalism.

The person with information must call their tip into WeTip ( 1-800-78-CRIME) and give crime details. These tips will be immediately shared with the police.

WeTip operators are available 24/7 to take the calls, and will not take any personal information of the caller. After the information is given, WeTip operators will explain on the reward system works.

Today, Prosecutor Hermann, Mayor Winnecke and Denise Johnson, Executive Director of the Parks and Recreation Department held a press conference to address the issue.

In any and all media regarding this, please include the WeTip Hotline number. Calling this number keeps the caller anonymous and enables them to receive the award.

Historic New Harmony is excited to offer a new Architecture Walking Tour. This walking tour of New Harmony includes 30 buildings representative of the wide variety of architectural styles in the town.

The tour is provided by OnCell Systems, a platform for mobile tours. By calling the number on the stop sign, you will be able to access Historic New Harmony’s tour. You can start at any of the stops and can stay connected to the tour as you walk through town, or you can hang up and call back into the tour as often as you like. This tour is cosponsored by the Robert Lee Blaffer Foundation.

Once you have accessed the tour, you will hear a greeting and be prompted to enter a stop number on the tour. The stops on the Architecture Walking Tour begin with STOP 26, the Atheneum, located at 401 N. Arthur Street. Printed information about the tour, including a list of stops, is available at the Atheneum as well.

If you are using a smart phone, you will receive a text with a link to the mobile version of the tour once you dial in. This version includes a map, audio, photos, and text. You can also download an app from the iPhone App Store or from Google Play. The audio portion of the tour is available to all cell phone users (your phone does not have to be data enabled). Standard cell phone rates apply.

If you have any questions about the tour, the location of the stops or the tour stop signs, please contact Missy Parkison, community engagement manager for Historic New Harmony, 812/682-4488, mparkison@usi.edu. Comments about the tour can be left while listening by pressing *0. We welcome your feedback and hope this new tour option facilitates wider sharing of the amazing architecture we enjoy in New Harmony.

Historic New Harmony is a unified program of the University of Southern Indiana and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.

The University of Evansville Department of Theatre, one of the premier undergraduate theatre programs in the nation, has announced its 2013-14 season of performances in Shanklin Theatre.

The season opens September 27 with Clybourne Park, written by Bruce Norris and directed by John David Lutz. Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, this razor-sharp comedy explores the fertile ground of race and real estate in America. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. September 27, 28, October 3, 4, and 5 and at 2 p.m. September 29 and October 6.

This year’s musical is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. The show will be directed by R. Scott Lank with musical direction by Gregory B. Rike. Winner of eight 1979 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score, this musical thriller follows the antics of the legendary barber, hell-bent on revenge, and his creepily enterprising neighbor, as they hauntingly plot to slice through London’s upper crust. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. November 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23, and at 2 p.m. November 17 and 24.

The spring semester opens with Compleat Female Stage Beauty by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by R. Scott Lank. Set in a lush period of British history teeming with bawdiness and social intrigue, Kynaston, the most famous portrayer of female roles, plots his revenge after his career is ruined by the King’s decree allowing women to act on the stage. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. February 21, 22, 27, 28, and March 1, and at 2 p.m. February 23 and March 2.

The season concludes with William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, directed by guest artist Curt Tofteland. Moving between the wickedness of the royal court and the revivifying forest of Arden, Rosalind and Orlando play out their sweeping and romantic courtship against a backdrop of political rivalry and exile. Guest director Curt Tofteland served as the producing artistic director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival for 20 years and is the founder and producing artistic director of Shakespeare Behind Bars. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, and at 2 p.m. April 6 and 13.

Season subscriptions are $44; $38 discount subscriptions are available for senior adults, UE faculty and staff, and any student. For more information, contact Sharla Cowden, UET marketing director, at 812-488-2747 or theatre (at) evansville (dot) edu.

Indiana’s economy continues to outpace the national average for private sector job growth. The hard work from Hoosiers and the General Assembly to make Indiana the envy of the nation has led to numerous business accolades and distinctions. Other states have taken notice of the policies enacted and the positive results of employers looking to locate and start a business here.

With all the positive news surrounding our state and the accomplishments made, I cannot help but feel that these leaps and bounds in the right direction are being negated at the federal level by looming health care mandates from the Affordable Care Act (often referred to as Obamacare). With 2014 quickly approaching – the date for implementation of individual and employee mandates – we have seen more and more large employers across Indiana scramble to find a way around this new law.

As part of this health care overhaul, any company with more than 50 full-time employees must offer health care coverage. The offered plans must meet an adequate standard, set in the law, or face a fine of $2,000 for every full-time employee beyond the first 30 employees. Logically speaking, if a company cannot afford to offer insurance or simply does not want to, they have two options: they can downsize to less than 50 employees or they can cut the hours of their existing employees down to part-time.

In fact, schools throughout Indiana are cutting the hours of coaches, teachers’ aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other support staff in an attempt to avoid having to offer them health insurance. Lafayette School Corporation has already reduced the hours of over 600 employees. Unlike companies who produce goods and services, schools cannot easily increase their income by raising prices in order to cover this new cost.

Additionally, just last week, officials in Floyd County announced their intent to scale back the hours of part-time county workers who now work 34 hours. By giving these employees less than 30 hours a week, it would exempt Floyd County from the employer mandate. These examples offer just a glimpse of what is beginning to occur in Indiana and across the nation, and I worry that these scenarios will quickly become the rule, not the exception.

Having explained these shortfalls, criticism is only constructive when an alternative is offered. In 2008, Indiana came up with its own solution to the high level of concern surrounding the price of health care. We created the state sponsored Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) to offer affordable health insurance plans to individuals aged 19-64 who do not have access to health insurance through their employer. This plan was approved by the federal government through a waiver to transfer Medicaid dollars to include more individuals.

This has made health care more accessible, particularly to low-income Hoosiers. In order to be eligible, Indiana residents must earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level and not be eligible for Medicaid. Participants are required to make monthly contributions toward coverage based on percent of gross family income. With the creation of HIP, we became the first state in the nation to offer this sort of amendment to Medicaid.

While I can commend and support the intent of wanting to help low-income Americans obtain affordable health care, I fear that in the execution of this federal mandate, there are many unintended and undesirable consequences. Michael Hicks, an economist at Ball State University explained it well when he stated that the reduction of hours will hurt the same unskilled workers who suffered the most during the recession. Higher-income workers already have health care benefits from their employers and will remain largely unaffected.

I value your input and want to know where you stand on the pressing issues facing our state and our nation. This is particularly important as we begin interim study committees. With my background in health care, I have been appointed to the Health Finance Commission as well as the Medicaid Advisory Committee, where I am sure this federal legislation and its impact on Indiana will be discussed.

Your civic involvement on these issues will be an essential part of the process. Please, feel free to connect with me on my website at www.in.gov/h75 or by phone at 317-232-9674. I look forward to your feedback.