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IS IT TRUE October 9, 2012

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IS IT TRUE October 9, 2012

IS IT TRUE it appeared as though there were some citizens who showed up at last night’s meeting of the Evansville City Council as the CCO had recommended?…we have no way of knowing how many tuned in to the WNIN broadcast of that meeting that saw a Finance Committee meeting that nearly lasted for four hours?…there was plenty of controversy and enlightenment offered up on the hot button issues of Roberts Stadium and AuditGATE and that there is a more clear understanding of both as a result of some of the dialog?…there was exactly ZERO public comment at the end of that meeting so we must assume that the public has decided not to have any say in the matter while standing before the City Council?…that some of the constituency of Evansville must have been using the phone, emails, or letters to let their Councilpeople know how they feel because those communications were openly discussed during the meeting?…for the first time in a while it seemed as though the City Council actually did two things they are supposed to do before acting?…those things are to listen and to think?

IS IT TRUE the first topic addressed was the looming demolition of Roberts Stadium and the costs associated with that job which has grown from a supposed $200,000 under Mayor Weinzapfel to a quote of $958,000 today?…that Building Commission Director Dave Rector even called that $958,000 a moving target and hinted that it may be done for less?…that moving targets have a way of moving up when it comes to spending government money so to translate Rectorspeak that likely means that the job will cost more, expensive change orders will be plentiful, and other things LIKE THE REMOVAL OF THE PARKING LOT that were not in any of the quotes will add to the cost?…that Mr. Rector’s response when the question of the parking lot removal was that he had a quote in hand to do it for FREE if they move quickly because the quote is only good for 60 days?…that Mr. Rector told us that same story about this time last year about Roberts Stadium?…this revelation was pure déjà vu as the same sucker’s assertion was made last year that Klenck would tear down Robert’s for the scrap value?…we just have to ask “hey Dave, how did that FREE DEMOLITION OF ROBERTS WORK OUT FOR YOU”?

IS IT TRUE that this writer was party to a parking lot removal process in Vanderburgh County in 1999?…that particular project was in the unincorporated county, did not pay prevailing wages as the City of Evansville will have to as an entitlement city, and did not involve any filling of a hole afterward?…the cost of that removal was $3.00 per square foot?…that it would be rash to think that government can do this for less than double that amount?…any way one runs the numbers the removal of a parking lot that accommodates over 3,000 cars at $6 a square foot works out to about $750,000?…this is from the CCO who projected last year that the demolition of Roberts would be about $1 Million when the Weinzapfel Administration and Rector were bouncing between FREE AND $200,000?…this is from the same CCO writer that projected in the summer of 2010 that the downtown hotel would have a value of about $20 Million yet cost $40 Million when all was said and done?…that once again a project seems to have started out like a CARNIVAL SIDESHOW GAME enticing the people of Evansville into the game with promises of FREE work and a Park to play in?

IS IT TRUE that Councilman Adams made a strong constituent based case for auctioning Roberts off and putting it back on the tax rolls even if it only brought $10?…that echoes the sentiments of CCO poster and sometimes author Brad Linzy?…Dr. Adams was correct in his assertion that selling the stadium has not even been given serious thought or consideration?…the CCO has consistently advocated that if Roberts has to be decommissioned that selling to a private entity is the best move and that demolition with public money is a last resort?…that now that we know that the complete demolition will approach $2 Million or more that should be etched in stone?…we completely agree with Councilwoman Mosby who clearly stated that “Evansville cannot afford another park at this time”?…that Councilman Dan McGinn made a well researched plea to proceed to demolition but not with a park on the basis of “these old buildings are bleeding Evansville to death”?…Councilman McGinn cited the Old Court House, the Old Post Office, and the Greyhound Bus Station as old architecturally significant buildings that have bled the City of cash for years while being sparsely used?…McGinn even compared the architecture of Roberts Stadium to a utilitarian facility designed by the former USSR?…he has a point and as usual it was well thought through?…Roberts is actually more Classic Midwest than Klassic Khrushchev but we understand the comment?

IS IT TRUE that when all was said and done the City Council voted 6 – 3 to remove the transfer of $187,000 into the demolition fund?…that the City of Evansville is so poor with managing money that even old Dave Rector had not been paid for work done at Roberts and Mesker?…this was just the latest exposure of utter ineptness in the management of local government?…the incompetence exhibited in the whole Roberts fiasco has been of monumental proportions but it does not compare with what the other 3 hours of last night’s meeting covered which will be the topic of IS IT TRUE Part 2?

Fiddick Memorial Lecture to Discuss “Lincoln and the Navy in the Civil War”

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The University of Evansville’s Department of History is pleased to welcome Craig L. Symonds, PhD, for the annual Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture.

Symonds, professor emeritus of history at the United States Naval Academy, will present “Lincoln and the Navy in the Civil War” at 7 p.m. Friday, October 26 in Eykamp Hall, Room 251A. His lecture is free and open to the public.

“We are very excited to have Craig Symonds coming, as he is undoubtedly the world’s leading expert on Abraham Lincoln and the Navy in the Civil War,” said James MacLeod, UE professor of history and director of the Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture. “As 150th anniversary commemorations continue, this is a wonderful opportunity for people in the Tri-State to hear one of the Naval Academy’s most distinguished professors speaking on a topic that he knows so much about. People are always fascinated by Lincoln, but Lincoln’s role as commander-in-chief, especially as commander of the Navy, is one that most people don’t know much about. They will be captivated by Professor Symonds’ lecture.”

Symonds is the first person to win both the Naval Academy’s Excellence in Teaching award (1988) and its Excellence in Research award (1998). He also served as history department chair from 1988 to 1992, and received the Department of the Navy’s Superior Civilian Service medal three times. After retiring in 2005, he returned to the Academy in 2011-12 to serve a year as the Class of 1957 Distinguished Chair of American Naval History.

Symonds is the author or editor of 25 books, including prize-winning biographies of Joseph E. Johnston (1992), Patrick Cleburne (1997), and Franklin Buchanan (1999), as well as The American Heritage History of the Battle of Gettysburg (2001). Decision at Sea: Five Naval Battles that Shaped American History (2006) won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Prize for Naval History the year it was published. His 2008 book, Lincoln and His Admirals: Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Navy, and the Civil War, won the Barondess Prize, the Laney Prize, the Lyman Prize, the Lincoln Prize, and the Abraham Lincoln Institute Book Award. Symonds also won the Nevins-Freeman Prize in 2009. His latest work is The Battle of Midway, published by Oxford University Press in October 2011. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

Thomas Fiddick, for whom the Fiddick Memorial Lecture is named, served as professor of history at the University of Evansville from 1963 to 2002. In the 39 years he spent at the University, he was a dedicated teacher, a productive scholar, and a tireless fighter in the cause of justice. His untimely death on the day of his retirement in 2002 stunned the entire University of Evansville community, especially his many former students. It was from the former students’ efforts in particular, with the support of Fiddick’s friends and the University, that the annual Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture was established.

Source: Evansville.edu

Vanderburgh County Election App

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The application that you can download to your phone showing vote centers, now shows the early voting site locations. There will not be a “wait time” on the early sites, but it will show where the sites are. The vote center sites will be back on the application November 4th.

Go to your apps on your cell phone and search Vanderburgh County Elections, then you can download the app. And remember……we are the only county in the world that has this.

Monsanto Scarecrow Contest – Last Chance to Enter!

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Held in Conjunction with Old National Bank Boo at the Zoo

Evansville, IN – Participate in Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden’s 2nd annual Scarecrow Contest, Presented by Monsanto! Create a scarecrow big or small, silly or serious, frightening or friendly! Zoo visitors will vote on their favorite Scarecrow between October 15th & 20th! Scarecrows will be displayed from October 15th – November 1st, 2012.

Being a part of this event is easy! Choose between the following two categories: Family/Individual or Business/Organization. First Place Grand Prize: $250 CASH plus prizes valuing more than $500! Second Place Prize: $50 CASH plus prizes valuing more than $500! Deadline to register: October 13th! Turn in your registration form and Scarecrow this Saturday, October 13th. Registration form and more information are available here.

Pew Research Post Debate Polls Shows Romney with a 4 Point Lead Over Obama Among Likely Voters

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Mitt Romney no longer trails Barack Obama in the Pew Research Center’s presidential election polling. By about three-to-one, voters say Romney did a better job than Obama in the Oct. 3 debate, and the Republican is now better regarded on most personal dimensions and on most issues than he was in September. Romney is seen as the candidate who has new ideas and is viewed as better able than Obama to improve the jobs situation and reduce the budget deficit.

Fully 66% of registered voters say Romney did the better job in last Wednesday’s debate, compared with just 20% who say Obama did better. A majority (64%) of voters who watched
the debate describe it as mostly informative; just 26% say it was mostly confusing.

In turn, Romney has drawn even with Obama in the presidential race among registered voters (46% to 46%) after trailing by nine points (42% to 51%) in September. Among likely voters, Romney holds a slight 49% to 45% edge over Obama. He trailed by eight points among likely voters last month.

http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-pdf/10-8-12%20Political%20Release.pdf

Findings and Recommendations of Councilman John Friend Regarding AUDITGATE

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Councilman John Friend, CPA: The man whose petition started the movement that led to teh NO VOTE for the Vectren fee

INTERNAL CONTROLS

Input Controls:
a. No central point of journal entry control
b. Under a system of batch entry, input would be more accurate
c. Failure in the internal auditor function and reporting protocol. This oversight would have revealed the reconciliation failure.
d. Generally, the independent auditors do their testing procedures during the interims, i.e. testing of systems commence in the eight or nine month of the calendar or fiscal years, if the SBOA would modify their auditing techniques by advancing the those testing procedures, failure in internal controls may be prevented in the future.

BUY MONEY – POLICE (CITY)

a. In order to assist law enforcement, the Buy-Money
Program should adhere to IC 36-1-3 and, accordingly, the Administration needs to draft an ordinance and the Common Council pass to establish the fund.

PARKING METER FEES (CITY)

a. The Administration needs to establish a special fund
The parking meter fees will be directly deposited in accordance with IC 36-9-12-4.

SEPARATION OF BANK ACCOUNTS

a. The Utility funds are being deposited in the City bank
Account. The Administration needs to establish a separate bank accounts for the Utility only.

CONTRACTS (CITY)

a. The audit of SMG has never been performed in
Accordance with the contract between the City and SMG for 2006, and subsequent to 2006, a reviewed financial statement. It appears that Harding Shymanski was engaged to perform. We as the Common Council request a status report on those engagements and, if completed, a full report on the subsistence.

OVERDRAWN CASH BALANCES

a. Various funds are overdrawn during the calendar year
Due to the timing of the receipt of taxes, generally, property tax. The public would believe that we have over-drafted our checking account, but, these funds are comprised in one or two bank accounts. So, fund A has large balances, while Fund B is in the negative, but, the combined amounts are positive. Nevertheless, according to state law, this can NOT happen during the calendar year. As such, the Administration needs to request from the Common Council, at the direction of the Administration, by temporary ordinance, to loan funds from those funds that are un-restricted and not subject to grant provisions, whereby, any loan would be repaid before year’s end.
BANK ACCOUNT RECONCILIATIONS

a. In accordance to Indiana Code 5-13-6-1(e) “All local
Investment officers (Controller) must reconcile at least monthly to their financial institutions” As such, it should be the responsibility of the Internal Auditor to report the failure of the chief financial officer (Controller) to reconcile any and all public funds to the appropriate financial institution and that report should be presented to the President of the Common Council and the Chairman of the Finance Committee without repercussions.

ANNUAL REPORT

a. As specified in the Indiana Code 5-11-1-4(a), the City’s annual report must be posted on Gate-Way by the 1st day of March for the preceding year. The City has failed to file the annual report several times in the past. As such, the Internal Auditor should report to the Common Council and to the SBOA that the annual report has been filed on a timely basis.

PRESCRIBED FORMS

a. The Munis software fails to produce forms No. 208 &
209. These reports are imperative to the proper presentation of the books and records of the City of Evansville. The Common Council directs the Administration to correct the weakness in our software to allow the appropriate forms.

FINANCIAL REPORT OPINION MODICATIONS

a. The Munis software failed to produce the
Transactional detail necessary to verify to the control totals, i.e. the check book total did not match the bank reconciliation. We, the Common Council, at the direction of the Administration, will provide the necessary resources to correct the City’s IT weaknesses.

b. By allowing the general ledger to remain open until
July of 2012, the year-end control total of the published fund balances were affected by transactions in the current period causing the corruption of the data. The Common Council strongly suggest that the previous years ledgers be close promptly after the filing of the annual report. Any and all adjustments should be made in the current periods and reconciled back to those balances.

c. Within the Utility, the financial system was recorded
On the accrual basis of accounting. Although required by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the Utility must keep their reporting on the cash basis for the purpose of examination. In regards to the IURC, monthly entries should be reviewed and coordinated to convert the cash basis system producing accrual financial statements. Those entries should be reversed on the first day of the month.

INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER MAJOR
PROGRAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
OMB CIRCULAR A-133
FEDERAL GRANTS

INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS AND REPORTING

a. Although, the SBOA, presented to the City an
Unqualified Opinion as to the adherence to the provisions of the City’s major Federal Grants, the SBOA cited the same weaknesses in the internal controls relative to the accuracy of the City’s financial reporting. As such, the action by the Common Council is reiterated per the above in reference to expected action of the City’s Internal Auditor. However, the SBOA disclaimed in regards to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards citing the aforementioned weaknesses.

b. Monitoring of Controls – The SBOA has directed the
Common Council to better understand and develop where necessary controls to assure the compliance thereof. As such, the Common Council should draft an ordinance whereby the Internal Auditor should be responsible to report any violations of those identified controls to the Council. In addition, the Common Council should engage experienced and qualified consultants to monitor and recommend further strengthening of controls.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

This feature is sponsored by Chris Walsh For Vanderburgh County Clerk. Chris Walsh is a veteran county administrator that strongly supports our local law enforcement professionals . Chris Walsh is a candidate that possess a non-partisan attitude with a consumer friendly demeanor. Chris also stands against unification of city and county governments.
This ad paid for by the committiee to elect Walsh Clerk.

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, October 5, 2012.

Monty Brown Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury – Class D Felony

Thomas Clayton Operating a Vehicle with a BAC of .08 or More – Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)

Shellie Jones Intimidation – Class D Felony
Criminal Trespass – Class A Misdemeanor
Battery –Class A Misdemeanor
Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor
Disorderly Conduct – Class B Misdemeanor

Jackie Lawson Intimidation – Class D Felony (Two Counts)
Interference with the Reporting of a Crime – Class A Misdemeanor

Kristen Kirk Theft – Class D Felony

For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Carly Settles at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at csettles@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

Keep Evansville Beautiful Annual Awards Luncheon

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Keep Evansville Beautiful Annual Awards Luncheon
to Honor Business and Individuals for Beautification Efforts
Evansville, Indiana

Keep Evansville Beautiful will host its 20th Annual Awards Luncheon on
Wednesday, October 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Casino Aztar Conference Center, the Walnut
Room, 421 NW Riverside Drive.
END

IS IT TRUE October 8, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE October 8, 2012

IS IT TRUE the eyes of the people of Evansville should be on the Evansville City Council meeting tonight at 5:00 PM on WNIN?…this will be the first opportunity for this elected body to have an official say on the failure of the City of Evansville and the Water & Sewer Utility to reconcile the accounts of the government of Evansville for 21 months?…not only were the books not balanced monthly as they are mandated to be by Indiana law but that fact was kept quiet for 20 months according to those who should have known?…that front and center stage on Monday night will be Councilman John Friend, CPA from the 5th Ward who served as Chairman of the Budget Committee during the entire AuditGATE fiasco?…that Councilman Friend has been quite adamant that he did not know about this until the State Board of Accounts Auditor brought it to his attention in August of 2012, a full 20 months after it began?…that the courageous questioner of the Earthcare Energy deal City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley is expected to be the backstop for tonight’s inquisition if the John Friend who been nearly ranting for an audit of the City of Evansville’s IT Department for longer than we can remember fails to show up tonight?

IS IT TRUE that of all of the abject failures of the government of the City of Evansville that have been exposed during the last several years, the failure to balance the books on a monthly basis for 21 months is the most damaging?…in the real world of human beings that failing to reconcile accounts on a monthly basis usually leads to bounced checks and insufficient funds fees?…that the first lesson a young person learns in the world of managing a checking account is that failing to write down that debit card swipe for a $3 cup of overpriced coffee is that letting that slide while carrying low balances can cost a whopping $35 fee on top of the $3 charge?…even when real people have overdraft protection there is usually a significant fee in the $10 range that is automatically deducted for overdrawing an account which is almost a certainty for people of realistic means who do not reconcile their account?…that of course Kings, Queens, Barons, Baronesses, and even an lowly Duke, Gates, or Buffet are probably backstopped well enough to avoid that nasty task of balancing the checkbook?…that unless the government of the City of Evansville has reached royal or billionaire status that playing fast and loose with the checking account balance without remedy for 21 months AND COUNTING is the most egregious violation of the public trust and arrogant negligence the people of this city have had perpetrated on them in many years if not since the founding?…maybe if the Centennial Park is ever built there can be a WALL OF SHAME installed to remind the people of Evansville just how terrible the oversight of this fair (or should we say fare) city was at one time?

IS IT TRUE in politics as in life the last refuge of a scoundrel is stating that “it doesn’t matter how we got into this mess let’s just concentrate on moving forward”?…that often when this cry is heard the one(s) spouting it were either part of making the mess or buddies with who did?…the focus of the City Council that hopefully starts tonight must address to separate questions and solutions?…the obvious is how do we fix this MILLION DOLLAR FIASCO so we can once again count?…that more importantly is to find out how on earth did a town of over 100,000 people create an atmosphere where the bar of accountability was set so low that the checking accounts could go without being balanced for 21 months without anyone so much as asking any questions?…if there is some nefarious activity exposed then there should be consequences?…if this just turns out to be systemic ignorance that must be exposed and repaired as well?

IS IT TRUE the people of Evansville will be counting on Councilman Friend and Councilwoman Rile to lead the effort to expose a system that is so porous that two administrations with two different controllers could just let balancing the books slide for 21 months before the truth came out?…this is Councilman Friend’s opportunity to step up and show his stuff and Councilwoman Riley’s chance to cement herself as a protector of the people’s money, as Mayor Winnecke is on record as saying “all is well in River City”?…if the people and government of the City of Evansville fail to challenge, expose, and rectify this situation with no accountability that this shall be the time that Evansville does not get up from the mat after being knocked senseless by local government failure once again.