IS IT TRUE that it was revealed yesterday that the City Council of Rancho Mirage, California will be seriously considering making a LOAN of $20 Million to a company known as Rancho California LLC to complete the development of a luxury hotel?…that the name of this hotel that will be built entirely with private money but with a LOAN from the City of Rancho Mirage is the RITZ-CARLTON?…that the plan calls for a ground breaking to occur in June of 2012 with a Grand Opening on New Year’s Eve only 6 months after the groundbreaking?…that perhaps Evansville officials should look into what it takes to get a RITZ CARLTON for only a $20 Million loan and more importantly how to build a hotel in 6 months?…that the total budget for the project is an eye popping $90 Million excluding land?…that the difficulty that the developer has had over the last couple of years to secure financing is very reminiscent of the travails of Evansville’s Downtown Convention Hotel project?

IS IT TRUE that despite some of the recent congratulations on the jobs created in this region that job contractions continues to be going on too?…that Mole #29 tells us that downsizing in the manufacturing sector is continuing all over SW Indiana and that just last week the former Keller Crescent laid some people off?…that Springleaf technologies, formerly American General that was owned by AIG (yes that AIG of federal too big to fail bailout fame) is continuing to “rightsize” the Evansville facility?…that rightsizing is corporate lingo for cutting back?…that between the former American General, Ameriqual, and Whirlpool’s cutbacks and tax abatements it should be time for the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners to have a little review of those tax abatements to see just how much of those abatements are being earned and possibly how much money the citizens of this region could recapture due to these and other businesses not delivering on the promises that got them the tax breaks in the first place?

IS IT TRUE that we also wonder if it is widely known that SS&C now has the entire third floor of the Innovation Pointe building being provided to them rent free and that public money was used to customize the floor for them?…that the 3rd floor of the Innovation Pointe Building was designed to accommodate up to 30 start up companies all of which were admitted because of their growth plans and potential?…that these days it seems as though the Innovation Pointe Building is being managed with all of the eggs in one basket and public entities dominating two full floors leaving only half of the second floor to incubate new businesses?…that is a stark departure from the goals and objectives on which the entity GAGE was founded and upon which the Innovation Pointe Building was refurbished using TIF Funds and State of Indiana grant money?

IS IT TRUE that some of the Democrat contingency in the Indiana State House of Representatives is once again being led around by the nose by the Pied Piper of South Bend and the Lord of the Obvious Toupee, old Pat Bauer himself?…that the picture of him showboating in yesterday’s Courier was simply a priceless reminder of a cross between the Wizard of Oz and P. T. Barnum?…that if Representative Bauer has any respect whatsoever for the office that he was elected to carry out the duties of and has any hope of coming out of the 2012 with any Democrat power at all left in the State of Indiana that he needs to do a reality check and stop encouraging our fairly elected Democrats to forsake their duties and get into the chamber and vote?…that how they vote is not as important as the act of voting itself?…that not one of the Democrats of the Indiana House were elected on a platform of refusing to do their job?…that they should fight the good fight for what they believe but at the end of the each day they should at least be able to say that they SHOWED UP FOR WORK?…that if the don’t show up for work they should be sent home and banned from running again?

IS IT TRUE that one of the surviving Civic Center Moles tells the City County Observer that the people of Evansville should not be surprised if we hear the name of the White Hospitality Group resurrected when Mayor Winnecke begins the VETTING PROCESS for the best company to build and operate the longsuffering concept of a Downtown Convention hotel?…that White Hospitality is the group that built and now operates the Downtown Convention Hotel in Fort Wayne and was one of the early bidders to do a similar project here in Evansville?…that the stumbling block of course was the fact that White Hospitality proposed an incentive package similar to the one they got in Fort Wayne and the other bidders were willing to take what the former Mayor’s Administration was willing to offer?…that the other tangible difference is that Fort Wayne has a hotel and an operator and Evansville has an empty lot where a Convention Hotel could have been by now?

IS IT TRUE that Fort Wayne is becoming a welcome and competitive bidder for conventions while Evansville is not even considered by the CEO of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau to be a viable candidate for conventions because there is no hotel next to The Centre?…that we wonder just how much tourism money and direct revenue to The Centre have been lost because the former Administration liked to make deals with itself on other people’s behalf?…that it will be refreshing to see the Winnecke Administration with a banking background in action with a practical knowledge of value and cash flow to drive any incentive package that may be designed?

IS IT TRUE that we are wondering why the newly elected Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Council is delaying funding the much needed Assessment Audit of the Vanderburgh-Evansville Information Technology department?…that the CCO is going to continue asking this question weekly until the Vanderburgh County Council Chairman, Jim Raben, releases the money for this much needed Assessment Audit of this extremely important department of our local Government?…that this department is responsible for the “information highway” of our county government?…that this department’s mission is to help ensure efficiency and accountablility in our county government?…that we feel that Vanderburgh County Council Chairman Jim Raben needs to be reminded that the need for a timely Assesment Audit of this department is representative of “GOOD PUBLIC POLICY”?

IS IT TRUE that local businessman John Guthrie has decided to fight the local war on meth in his own way?…that as the owner of Guthrie’s Pharmacy in Chandler he has made the decision to take all forms of ephedrine off of his shelves?…that his pharmacy will dispense the drug as a prescription only?…that although the state does not yet require a prescription for this medication that Guthrie’s Pharmacy in Chandler does?…that the CCO is dubbing this “John’s Law”?…that we encourage all locally owned pharmacies and convenience stores to follow John Guthrie’s lead?…that we are happy to report that this change HAS NOT had a NEGATIVE impact on Guthrie’s Pharmacy but WILL have a POSITIVE impact on the community of Chandler?

IS IT TRUE we feel that the Mayor Winnecke’s Chief of Staff Steve Schaefer is doing an outstanding job in his newly appointed position?…that Mr. Schaefer has been quick to respond to any and all requests made by the CCO staff?…that Mr. Schaefer has just the right balance of the energy of youth with a good period of experience in the governing process?…that we shall be keeping a close eye on Mr. Schaefer’s hair for hints of gray that may start to form due to his enthusiastic embrace of this most difficult job?…that it is very much appreciated by the CCO staff to be recognized as a valuable media resource by a mayoral administration?

IS IT TRUE that we want to congratulate Mayor Winnecke’s new policy concerning open communications with our newly elected City Council members? …that Mayor Winnecke’s new policy states that he shall set aside each Monday from 2 pm to 5 pm for any City Council members to stop by his office to discuss any governmental issues that concern them?…that Mayor Winnecke could not have picked a better day for this time allowance as the City Council meets every other Monday?…that this open dialogue opportunity will allow for fresh ideas and concerns going into each City Council meeting?…that we say “WOW!” because we feel that this is an outstanding representation of “GOOD PUBLIC POLICY”?

IS IT TRUE that it is now halfway through January and the newest incarnation of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has finally taken its first official duty to elect officers?…that the ERC has elected multiple board appointment holder and recent member of the consolidation committee Ed Hafer as its president?…that returning member Sara Miller and the holder of the ERC flame for financial competence during the last 6 months or so was elected Vice President and that newcomer and relative unknown Stan Wheeler was elected as the Secretary?…that returning “NO” voter on the last hour cram through attempt to dole out a contract for the McCurdy Jay Carter and the financially competent Randy Alsman both found a way to keep their name off of the officers roster?

IS IT TRUE that nary a word was spoken about the convalescent home for bats and pigeons down by the Old National Bank that is more commonly known as the McCurdy Hotel?…that the owner of record according to the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s website is still City Centre Properties of Carmel, Indiana and that the November installment of property taxes has still not been paid?…that City Centre Properties now owes the people of this county a grand total of $10,782.09 in delinquent taxes?…that this new ERC needs to get themselves calibrated quickly to the concept of “NO TAXES NO DEAL” as any new proposals for the McCurdy are brought forward for consideration?…that the real driver of any deal is Fifth Third Bank who is holding a first mortgage on this property for a reported amount of over $1 Million?…that the first order of business for this ERC should be to unwind the unmitigated disaster that the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Evansville Redevelopment Commissions presided over?…that only when he City of Evansville has the capacity to enter into a contract that they can deliver on do we need to start any serious discussions about the McCurdy Hotel?…that the hole that took the previous Mayor’s Administration 3 and a half years to dig will not be filled back up in a matter of weeks or months?…that it has now been 19 days since the Winnecke Administration took office and they are just now starting to sniff around the edges of the rotting mess that the previous Administration left down at 100 SE Riverside Drive (the McCurdy Hotel)?

IS IT TRUE that we have also not heard so much as a peep about the downtown Convention Hotel that has been four long years in the dreams of some delusional people?…that we sincerely hope that this hotel eventually gets built but as many other things, now is the time for some real honest VETTING to start on the project as what was called VETTING and paid for with tax money was not really VETTING at all?…that it is possible that the Winnecke Administration is taking a deep breath and thinking before pulling this banshee back out of Pandora’s Box for an up close and personal look at what the past administration hath wrought?

IS IT TRUE that there was a very interesting disclaimer on a billboard today regarding some of the charitable work of one of the utilities that serves California’s Coachella Valley?…that the message read “this support provided by the ratepayers and administered by Southern California Edison”?…that like what was supported or not that it is entirely appropriate for this utility to acknowledge that the RATEPAYERS are the people and businesses that make the payments that the utility chooses to place and administer?…that it makes one wonder if the RATEPAYERS get the tax deduction for the charitable contributions that are made by a check on the account of the utility?

IS IT TRUE that when people go onto the website of the City County Observer and make insulting and derogatory remarks that every effort will be made to ban such comment posters from ever posting again AND when such comments cross the line of harassment or threatening that these comments will be turned over to law enforcement officers?…that some people who make posts do not have much common sense or basic courtesy?…that we did have some words with people over being derogatory toward Councilwoman Missy Mosby a few weeks ago and that the person who has been directing such things at someone else recently is no better that those who were unnecessarily vulgar and derogatory toward Ms. Mosby?

IS IT TRUE former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has not lost his appetite for political activity?…that the Old Boss has now formed a political action committee that goes by the name of “Weinzapfel for Indiana” that was registered as a PAC on December 29, 2011 just two days before he handed the keys to the third floor office to Mayor Lloyd Winnecke?…that the Treasurer for the “Weinzapfel for Indiana” PAC is none other than the former Chief of Staff for the Weinzapfel Administration Rose Young?…that the CCO has been advised that the coffers of a campaign can transfer money to the coffers of a PAC with little or no trouble?…that with an organization known as the “Weinzapfel for Mayor” registered as a campaign that is holding nearly $800,000 that one may speculate that the OLD BOSS may transfer his entire war chest to his PAC and hire himself to run this one man think tank at a pretty high salary?…that at least one person associated with the City County Observer predicted that the OLD BOSS would find a NEW WAY to personally benefit from the substantial funds held in the “Weinzapfel for Mayor” campaign fund?…that this little SNEGAL (sneaky but legal) action will be quite interesting to watch unfold?…that you can verify the existence of this new PAC on the following link?

http://campaignfinance.in.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CommitteeDetail.aspx?OrgID=6258

IS IT TRUE that on December 30, 2011 while still serving as the Mayor of Evansville and only 48 hours after trying to jam a McCurdy contract extension through the Evansville Redevelopment Commission that then Mayor Weinzapfel in one of his very last acts in office transferred $505,526.25 from the “Weinzapfel for Mayor” campaign fund into the newly registered “Weinzapfel for Indiana” Political Action Committee (PAC)?…that it will be most interesting next year to see just what kind of a salary that the top guy in a think tank of one pays himself?

IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Council didn’t directly include funds in their 2012 Budget so they can join the City of Evansville to pay for a much needed Information Technology Assessment Audit? …we are pleased that the City of Evansville directly put funds for this Audit in their 2012 Budget? ….we join 5th Ward City Councilmen and Budget Chairmen, John Friend-CPA call for this City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County funded department begin to do a long overdue and detailed financial assessment of this little known but important publically funded department? …we now are awaiting to see if the past Budget Chairmen and newly elected President of the Vanderburgh County Council, James Raben shall put the money on the table so this extremely important Assessment Audit can begin?

IS IT TRUE that it’s time for the Indiana State Board of Accounts to send their annual Audit Survey Questioners to each Evansville City Council members so they can express their option concerning the financial decisions and activities of the prior city administration?…that we can’t wait to get a copy of their responses?

IS IT TRUE that the real costs for the City of Evansville to do a recently announced “Satellite Water Reading” program will not be $51 million dollars but $60 million dollars?…we have been told not to care because this program shall not cost the City of Evansville taxpayers one red cent?

IS IT TRUE that it’s for the new appointed Evansville Fire Chief to review the ridiculous system wide policy that forces the emergency alarm warning system bells to be heard at all fire houses day and night? …we wonder how you would react being awakened by these loud warning alarms 24-7 even if the fire emergency don’t affect your area?

IS IT TRUE that the extremely popular J. D. Strouth is considering a run for the Vanderburgh County Clerk’s office as a Republican?

IS IT TRUE that last week the City County Observer published a list of 10 Smart Grid predictions for 2012?…that at the same time that we invited Vectren to submit articles to us to let the public know to what extent that they agreed with the predictions and what if anything they may be doing in the Smart Grid space?…that yesterday we got a response from Vectren and that it was quite practical and God forbid in the best interest of the customer base?…that Vectren’s response in a nutshell was that they had indeed considered changing out all of the electric meters currently used for Smart Meters?…that Smart Meters really only make sense to the utility and its customers if the homes and businesses that are served have Smart Appliances etc. to take advantages of the information that can flow from a Smart Meter?…that the other things that need to be in place to make a Smart Meter worth it has to do with the local grid, the rate structure, and whether or not all of the communication devices are in place to utilize the capacity of the Smart Meters?…that neither of those conditions are in place in Vectren’s service area so the decision was made not to spend over $50 Million to have whiz-bang meters sandwiched between users and infrastructure that are not yet ready to use the Smart Meter to save money?…that we thank Vectren for their response and agree with their decision to wait until there is a real benefit to move forward with this advanced technology?…that doing so would be like selling a Ferrari to a 4 year old?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville should take lessons from Vectren when it comes to committing to Smart Meters?…that the City of Evansville in the last moments of the reign of the OLD BOSS signed up to spend $51 Million to install the water bill equivalent of Smart Meters?…that the paparazzi were not really impressed with the red carpet smiles stating that this $51 Million was really free and that examining the documents further shows that much of what was called saving is actually an opinion that the City of Evansville is now under billing for water due to bad old meters and human error and that the FREE SMART METERS will allow the city to collect more from its customers by measuring the water correctly?…that if there was a leak big enough in one’s yard between the meter and the house that there would be a big hole in the yard to show for it show we think the OLD BOSS bought a PIG IN A POKE to get his picture in the paper and now we have to pay for it?…that we strongly encourage the Winnecke Administration to suspend the $51 Million deal with Johnson Controls until testimony can be heard from other places that installed this and a cognizant recommendation can be made by people with no political agenda?

IS IT TRUE that this writer is learning a bit about the interactions between local and state government in California?…that it on the surface seems to be nearly the opposite of Indiana?…that in Indiana the state government has at least a recent record of frugality and practicality when it comes to budgets but many of the cities have squandered every dollar they could borrow?…that in California it is the state government that has spent the place into a deep hole and that many cities have not followed the state’s lead?…that the State of California recently abolished an agency that is the equivalent to Redevelopment Commissions in Indiana?…that the cities are now squalling like a smashed cat over the fact that new projects will have to be done the old fashioned way of the referendum and bonds?…that as has often been the case, California does things first and the rest of the country will hopefully learn by watching?…that watching the results of the unwinding of redevelopment commissions is worth the eyeballs of Indiana spending some time to see how this shakes out in California?

IS IT TRUE that speaking of shaking that there was an earthquake in Illinois yesterday?…that there have been no quakes recorded in California since the abolition of redevelopment commissions but we suspect that these things are unrelated?