Commissioner Marsha Abell has clarified her position to the City County Observer with respect to her position on the questions raised at last nights Consolidation hearing. Commissioner Abell wishes it to be known that everything that was brought up at last nights meeting by the 41 people who spoke is on the table including threshold rejection. She furthermore supports the action of letting the people decide the issue of consolidation in a vote.
IS IT TRUE? March 31, 2011
IS IT TRUE that last night’s public meeting of the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners regarding the CONSOLIDATION PLAN was absolutely illuminating in the sense that it is abundantly clear that the plan as it is will go down to defeat at the ballot box?…that of the 40+ people who spoke that less than 10 spoke in support of even taking this thing to a vote?…that two of those supporters were from the Chamber of Commerce that has had its heels dug in for a long time to support consolidation and seems poised to support any consolidation plan proposed just for the purpose of consolidation without any regard for the content of the plan?…that this plan has enough defects in it to merit a very deep bit of surgery to get it into any kind of passable form?…that just because someone supports the theory of consolidation does not mean that an incomplete and unacceptable plan of consolidation should ever merit the support of an agency like the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana?…that if changes and efficiencies are needed that the Chamber of Commerce should be calling for these changes to be incorporated into this proposed plan instead of rubber stamping something that is obviously destined for defeat?…that sometime leadership means saying NO! to plans that are not ready for prime time?
IS IT TRUE that it been exactly 211 days since Mayor Jonathan David Weinzapfel’s Press Secretary has sent the City County Observer a press release?…that Audra Levy was always cooperative, complied with all of her job requirements, and was a pleasure to deal with?…that we at the City County Observer are not the only ones who are aware of the fact that press releases from the Office of Mayor Weinzapfel seem to be distributed in a selective manner?…that the documents that are generated by elected officials and their staffs in carrying out the duties of office are NOT THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE OFFICEHOLDER but belong to the people of the jurisdiction that elected such people?…that if you are elected to be Mayor, Governor, or even President that this applies to YOU?…
IS IT TRUE that City Centre Properties is the owner of record of the McCurdy Hotel?…that the McCurdy property is located at 100 SE Riverside Drive and is delinquent with respect to the November 2010 property tax payment in the amount of $9,792.31 and has been assessed a penalty of $979.24?…that City Centre Properties is currently delinquent on the property taxes for the McCurdy Hotel in the amount of $10,771.55?…that to bring this account current that City Centre Properties will have to bring a payment of $21,040.21 in by the next tax due date of May 10, 2011?…that if taxes are not brought current by May 10, 2012 that the McCurdy may just find its way onto the tax sale the following August?
IS IT TRUE that City Centre Properties and Scott Kosene the developers of the McCurdy project are both listed as contributors to the Weinzapfel for Mayor committee for 2010?…that Mayor Weinzapfel has announced that he will not be seeking his party’s nomination for Mayor in 2011?…that this developer chose to contribute to Mayor Weinzapfel’s fictional campaign at a time that it also made the conscious decision to not pay the property taxes on the McCurdy to the Vanderburgh County Treasurer?…that one’s priorities always tell you something about someone or some business?…that choosing cigarettes over food, liquor over tuition, or political contributions over taxes come from that self serving and misdirected part of some personalities?…that City Centre Properties chose to contribute to a campaign that Mayor Weinzapfel will never run and simultaneously chose to forego paying property taxes on the McCurdy Hotel?…that we really wonder what this means to the future development prospects of the McCurdy?
IS IT TRUE? Part 2 March 30, 2011
IS IT TRUE that Governmental Standards Account Board Statement 45 requires a Habeas Corpus record on balance sheets to present the value of future retiree benefits for all city and county employees? ….that we wonder if the Vanderburgh County taxpayers are willing to pick up the future financial liabilities of the these post retirees benefits when or if the we approve Consolidation of Vanderburgh City and County Governments? ….that we wonder what the total costs of the above retirement fund shall become the liability of local taxpayers? ….that we are extremely surprised to find out that there wasn’t a formal committee appointed to study this possible $30 to $40 million financial liability facing the taxpayers if the issue of Consolidation of local governmental entities is approved?
IS IT TRUE that tonight at 5:30 in Room 301 of the Civic Center is the second joint meeting of the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners to question and discuss the magna carta of the MAYOR’S DOZEN?…that there will be more and more questions and criticisms that will come out tonight and into the future as people begin to read and opine on this made to order document?
IS IT TRUE that a candidate for Mayor in the upcoming Democratic Party primary shunned some professional marketing advice concerning a new campaign advertising strategy? ….if this candidate was holding a broom and was telling the voters that a “new broom sweeps clean” would be more effective than petting a dog?
IS IT TRUE that our media partner, the Community Observer shall begin the final stages of their E-Debate series beginning this coming week? ….that the Community Observer staff shall be asking the 6th ward City Council candidates in the Democratic primary to answer a few political questions? …..that this E-Debate shall be extremely interesting?
IS IT TRUE that real estate is often considered to be a long term investment?…that the foreclosures continue to rise and the price of housing continues to fall despite of the government programs like TARP and the Stimulus Act that had specific provisions to blunt such things?…that most of the Midwesterners who watch the news assume that the real estate markets on the coasts have been decimated and that the Midwest and the rest of flyover country has withstood the storm?…that when real estate is examined over 10 years that nothing could be further from the truth?…that for the 10 year period from 2001 – 2011 that Los Angeles housing increased by 53%, New York City increased by 48.2%, Miami increased by 28.2%, the country as a whole increased by 25.2%, while the middle American enclaves of Dallas and Chicago both chugged along with a 7% increase and Detroit fell by 38.5%?…that the rise or fall in real estate values tracks very well with the rise or fall in population?
IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,427 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,281 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot?…that City Centre Properties and Scott Kosene the developers of the McCurdy project are both listed as contributors to the Weinzapfel for Mayor committee for 2010?
IS IT TRUE that there are now 582 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?
IS IT TRUE? March 30, 2011
IS IT TRUE that the US Census Bureau has just released the new location of the median center of the population of the United States based on the 2010 census?…that this location is the intersection of two thin lines on a map and is the point where half of the people of the country live to the north, half to the south, half to the east, and half to the west?…that this new location is in a cornfield on a family farm in Pike County, Indiana?…that the migration of this point is a good indicator of which parts of the country are growing the fastest?…that if growth patterns continue at the same rates as they have for the last 50 years that in 2020 this distinction will be near New Harmony and by 2030 will be near Harrisburg, Illinois?
IS IT TRUE that local legend says that Evansville is in the ideal location for logistics due to the fact that it is the closest city to the median center of population?…that one would intuitively think that would have some value that could be commercialized?…that we do not seem to be doing so?…that the big logistical centers in America that have materialized during the last 50 years are all based on AIRPORTS?…that FedEx chose Memphis and UPS chose Louisville to capitalize on their locations?…that rather than being the closest city to the median center of the population the attribute that can be commercialized is being the closest city with the infrastructure to support a logistics center?…that without an AIRPORT that can handle the traffic the distinction of being the closest city to the population center of the United States is simply a statistic on a brochure about the City of Evansville?…that in 50 years at present growth rates the center of population will be near Bentonville, Arkansas the corporate headquarters of WalMart?…that this fleeting and moving opportunity will have passed by Evansville if something is not done in the next 20 years to capitalize upon it?…that the following link has a really nice animation showing just how rapidly this is passing Evansville by?
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/Median_Center_1.html
IS IT TRUE that the parking garage for the Executive Inn has a new date with the wrecking ball?…that the new date to start the demolition is April 12th?…that the City County Observer supports Woodruff Hospitality and wish them no more delays or unwelcomed surprises in their efforts to develop a the new Hyatt Place Convention hotel?…that we do not believe that the demolition of the Executive Inn parking garage with adversely affect the parking situation in downtown Evansville?…that Woodruff will be constructing an underground parking structure that will replace the parking that is being lost due to demolishing the parking garage?…that if parking was a problem before it still will be a problem and that if parking was a piece of cake before it still will be?…that the number of parking spaces within a reasonable walk of the new Arena exceeds the number of parking spaces in the Roberts Stadium parking lot?…that with the sole exception of the “Back 40†that the downtown spaces are and will be harder to find?…that the ease of parking for the events at the new Arena will be completely dependent on the communication system that will hopefully be put into place as part of the Arena project?…that this will be frustrating and will take some learning on the part of the attendees but that the spaces are definitely there?
IS IT TRUE that the Executive Inn itself has been out of the limelight and off of peoples radar for a while now?…that darn eyesore still has to come down too?…that it would have been prudent to have the April 12th demolition include both structures?…that we are quite curious to know when the fleabag Executive Inn will have its second date with the wrecking ball?…that we also are curious about the bidding process for the demolition of the Executive Inn?…that we would like to know who the bidders were and what the bids happened to be?
There are Plenty of Issues that have not been addressed
On Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., local time, in Room 301, Civic Center Complex, 1 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Evansville, Indiana, the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Evansville City Council will open their hearing of the city-county plan of reorganized government to the people for our comments. And that is a good thing, because the plan has many details that the people may find a bit disconcerting.
First of all, government always should be accountable to the people, and no plan of government reorganization should place the people it governs into a defensive position. But this plan of local government does in several ways place the burden of proof upon the people it proposes to govern, and that is just plain wrong.
For example, the reorganization plan proposes an urban services district comprising the geographic area currently lying within the boundaries of the City of Evansville. The urban services district will receive the regular municipal services now enjoyed by city residents such as street lighting, trash collection, recycling (although not mentioned in the plan), public transportation, city fire department protection, street cleaning, and the other public services not regularly enjoyed by residents of the unincorporated county. The remaining territory in the county outside the current city limits will comprise a general services district whose property owners will continue to receive and pay for the lower level of services now enjoyed by residents of the unincorporated municipality.
While all this at first may sound fine and simple, since the most residents of the unincorporated county willingly and knowingly bought into their suburban residency and lifestyle, the hard truth of the plan hides behind this simplicity. And that is because the plan devises a simplistic method for expanding the urban services district in the future. The plan simply says that when an annual review of provided services determines that a geographic area in the general services district has requested or received taxed based services normally provided in the urban services district, that area will be converted into the urban services district the following year. Mind the words now. The plan does not specify which or how many “tax based services†must be requested or received. So, does that mean the municipality can extend bus service up U.S. 41 to Ameriqual, then incorporate all land between Dress Regional Airport and Cambridge Golf Community into the urban services district?
In other words and furthermore, it appears from reading the plan that after only one public hearing, the common council might annex any area of the general services district into the urban services district and begin collecting the higher tax rate on all property within the area annexed by this far too simple method.
Why should the people oppose such a simplified method of annexation? Simply because it removes the burden of proof from the government and places it squarely and wholly upon the backs of the people it governs. For proof of my premise, let us compare the reorganization plan’s proposed method of land grabbing with the current requirements for municipal annexation of territory under state statute.
First of all, when expanding its jurisdiction under state law, a city may annex territory only if at least one-eighth (1/8) of the aggregate external boundaries of the territory coincide with the boundaries of the annexing municipality. Under the proposed plan, there is not even a mention of contiguous territory, much less to the extent of one-eighth boundary length.
Secondly, under current state law, a municipality may not annex territory that is inside the corporate boundaries of another municipality. But the reorganization plan does not explicitly exclude the possibility of future incorporation of the Town of Darmstadt into the urban services district.
Next issue: before a municipality may annex territory under current law, the municipality must provide written notice of a public hearing via certified mail to each owner of real property, as shown on the county auditor’s current tax list, whose real property is located within the territory proposed to be annexed. The notice must include specific content, including but not limited to a detailed summary of the fiscal plan, the location where the public may inspect a copy of the fiscal plan, and the name and telephone number of a representative of the municipality who may be contacted for further information regarding the fiscal plan. The reorganization plan does not recognize these standard conventions.
There are certain time constraints under state law as to how far in advance of the hearing the municipality must notify property owners, and how soon after the hearing the common council may proceed with annexation. The reorganization plan completely ignores these courtesies as well.
Also, when annexing territory, the municipality’s fiscal plan must include specific provisions, including but not limited to the following:
· Proof that the resident population density of the territory sought to be annexed is at least three (3) persons per acre, that sixty percent (60%) of the territory is subdivided, or that the territory is zoned for commercial, business, or industrial uses. Under the plan of reorganization, no population density is considered with regard to expanding the urban services district, nor are there any other parameters set out regarding acreage under residential subdivision or commercial development.
· Cost estimates of planned services to be furnished to the annexed territory including itemized estimated costs for each municipal department or agency. The reorganization plan does not even specify the exact services or how many of the normal services must be extended prior to expanding the urban services district.
The methods of financing the planned services with an explanation specifying details of funding with specific taxes, grants, or other funding to be used. The reorganization plan does not identify anything other than the higher tax rate that will be imposed on the territory taken into the urban services district.
· The plan for the organization and extension of specific services that will be provided and the dates the services will begin. Again, the plan does not specify which or how many of the services must be extended before imposing annexation into the urban services district.
· That planned services of a noncapital nature, including police protection, fire protection, street and road maintenance, and other noncapital services normally provided within the corporate boundaries will be provided to the annexed territory within one (1) year after the effective date of annexation and that they will be provided in a manner equivalent in standard and scope to those noncapital services provided to areas within the corporate boundaries regardless of similar topography, patterns of land use, and population density. The reorganization plan not only does not specify exactly which services must be provided, but gives no time limit for their provision.
· That services of a capital improvement nature, including street construction, street lighting, sewer facilities, water facilities, and storm water drainage facilities, specific will be provided to the annexed territory within three (3) years after the effective date of the annexation in the same manner as those services are provided to areas within the corporate boundaries, regardless of similar topography, patterns of land use, and population density, and in a manner consistent with federal, state, and local laws, procedures, and planning criteria. The plan does not specify that city street and sidewalk standards will become effective in the newly incorporated urban services district, does not provide for street lighting except on a “fee for services basis†only, and does not address the storm water drainage facility services that city residents enjoy compared to those in the unincorporated county.
No, all the reorganization plan says about expanding the urban services is that “when a geographic area in the General Services District requests and/or receives tax-based services provided in the Urban Services District, that geographic area will be converted to the Urban Services District or a Special Services District, with the accompanying change to that taxing district’s rate.â€
Lastly, under current state law, a remonstrance against annexation may be initiated by 65% of the owners of land in the annexation area, or by owners of more than 75% of the assessed valuation of the land in the territory proposed to be annexed who allege that adequate fire and police protection already is provided by someone other than the municipality seeking to annex the territory. And state law provides for “disannexation†in certain situations where the municipality fails to follow the rules. The reorganization plan fails to provide the people with these same rights.
So, my complaint and my comment remains, “the reorganization plan places the burden of proof upon the people it will govern,†and does will not require the government practice due diligence when expanding its jurisdiction and taxing authority. And that is just plain wrong.
Scaling to Evansville size would call for a similar effort to increase by 11,700
In May, 2010, a public-private partnership was formed to increase the number of Louisville residents with college degrees. Not only did it bring all the community’s major players to the table — including the business community through GLI and the city through Metro Government — it involved primary, secondary, and post-secondary education leaders from public and private schools too.
Its aim? To increase the number of people with bachelor’s degrees by 40,000 and the number with associate degrees by 15,000. (So if you studied math, logic, and rhetoric, you’ll appreciate why the program is titled “55,000 Degrees.â€)
As deep as a Doctor of Philosophy and as diverse as a 400-level course on Multicultural Cat-Herding
55,000 Degrees has a clear and compelling agenda — to increase education attainment, prosperity, and the quality of life — but it draws its necessity and support from a broad spectrum of needs, goals, and criteria:
To attract new and develop local business, we need to provide access to a readily available pool of educated, talented, and capable workers.
People with college degrees make considerably more than those with high school diplomas. The U.S. Census Bureau puts the average lifetime earnings of a person with a bachelor’s degree at $2.7 million compared to just $1.5 million for someone with a high school diploma.
More college graduates translates into more community wealth through more tax revenues, retail purchases, and contributions to charities.
So far over $1 million has been raised from local foundations over the start-up three years, including support from the James Graham Brown Foundation, the Humana Foundation, the C.E.&S Foundation, the Community Foundation of Louisville, and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
In addition, one partner, Greater Louisville Inc, recently received an $800,000 grant from the Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation to address one of the key objectives of the partnership — which is to support businesses helping working-age adults finish their degrees.
Evansville needs to focus on what attracts people! Hint: It is not bricks and mortar
Today, the New York Times published a series of papers by recognized economic development experts on the phenomena of shrinking cities. Of course the cities of discussion were the usual suspects of Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, Dayton, and other places that peaked in population in the 1950’s and have experienced continuous declines since then. Evansville did merit mention in the New York Times but the topic is close to home and the percentages of shrinkage of population in Evansville are comparable to many of the cities being discussed. Of course Detroit is the poster child for urban failure and is currently being seriously considered to be beyond saving.
The American Midwest is strewn with shrinking cities and Evansville is just one of many that were designated as “Forgotten Cities†by MIT in a study of cities that have essentially become obsolete. The solutions and comments in the series of papers are as applicable to Evansville as they are to Detroit and Cleveland. The state of shrinkage that Evansville finds itself in is to a large extent for the same reasons that Detroit and its cohorts have been hemorrhaging people.
Here are some excerpts from the papers. We encourage those who are interested or in responsible positions to click on the link and read the entire contents.
“Can anyone point to one city, just one, where any of these ‘renewal’ schemes have worked to regenerate, rather than further erode, a city? Just one. Needless to say, there aren’t any. The record of schemes to revive cities by assembling and remaking neighborhoods is littered with disastrous unintended consequences. People thrown of out their homes, neighborhoods destroyed, historic structures leveled, and the community fabric of too many once great cities ripped to shreds.†Richard Florida
“With the release last week of the 2010 Census figures recording Detroit’s population down 25 percent to 713,777 residents, I have been quite amazed to hear people, including prominent economists and even one of my students, say — out loud — Detroit cannot be saved!†Toni L. Griffin
“In this vein, declining cities must first and foremost go back to basic policy framework that focuses on people, not bricks and mortar. They should ensure their neighborhoods are safe, cut the costs of doing (and opening) businesses, ensure access to quality elementary and secondary education, provide transparency in government spending and programs and maximize the value of their existing physical infrastructure.†Sam Staley
“Sometimes when you find “shrinking cities,†you find growing — and even economically vibrant — regions.†Brad Whitehead
“History is full of examples of shrinking cities — from collapsed empires to abandoned rural towns that failed to maintain adequate infrastructure, diversify their economy or adjust to changing demographics.†Ellen Dunham-Jones
Link to New York Times Discussion
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/28/the-incredible-shrinking-city?hp
Link to MIT Study on Forgotten Cities
http://web.mit.edu/dusp/dusp_extension_unsec/people/faculty/lhoyt/Hoyt_Leroux_FC.pdf
