The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana has hired a veteran legal counselor as its new executive director.
Nola F. Wright, who began work Tuesday, comes to the Arts Council’s top post after nearly 30 years as an attorney, working in private practice in Minnesota, as a criminal prosecutor with the Kansas Attorney General’s office, and for the last 18 months as corporate counsel for a CMI Inc., in Owensboro, Ky.
Time 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Subject Kathie w/ Area Plan
Location Room 318
Reminder 15 minutes
Time 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Subject MBE/WBE UTILIZATION BOARD
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 8/11/2011 until 8/11/2011 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
DEBRA SPALDING @ 4961
Categories ROOM 318
Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Subject BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs every Thursday effective 8/4/2011 until 9/1/2011 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
Sharon Evans @ 4982
Categories ROOM 301
Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject ITAC
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 8/11/2011 until 8/11/2011 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
GARY HECK @ 2468
Categories ROOM 318
Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject AREA PLAN COMMISSION
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 8/11/2011 until 8/11/2011 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
KATHIE @ 5228
Categories ROOM 301
IS IT TRUE? August 10, 2011 Special Evening Edition
IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is pleased to learn that the Art’s Council of Southwest Indiana has found an able replacement for Mary Jane Schenk?…that we would like to join the community in welcoming Nola Wright to the Art’s Council and wish her the best in her new venture after a lifetime as an attorney?
IS IT TRUE that City Centre Properties LLC of Carmel, Indiana that is the owner of the McCurdy Hotel located at 100 SE Riverside Dr, Evansville, Indiana is still behind on their real estate taxes?…that the amount of back taxes owed on this property is $12,274.76?…that just last week we learned that City Centre Properties LLC had taken out a loan on the McCurdy at Fifth Third Bank in the amount of $1,633,862 and that the City of Evansville holds a 2nd mortgage on the property as well?…that with this kind of cash taken out using the McCurdy at collateral one would think that the real estate taxes could be paid on time to avoid costly penalties?…that the penalty associated with being late thus far for CCP has been $2,985.34?…that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission may need to ask London Witte for a 2 for the price of 1 deal on vetting at the September meeting when hopefully the expired McCurdy deal will be discussed?
IS IT TRUE that a couple of lieutenants in the Mole Army stopped by the Sycamore Avenue Post Office today to see if we could learn something about the alleged sale of the building and the potential reorganization of that office?…that we were directed by the hardworking people in retail to the folks behind the glass?…that no one in the postmaster’s office was available to have a discussion with us?…that if we were betting that we would bet that this office does a large volume of business and that the rumors of a shut down are not grounded in truth?
IS IT TRUE that on our tour of downtown Evansville to see just how much the Arena has stimulated outside investment that what we found is a whole lot of “available†signs and empty storefronts among the bellwether businesses that are located downtown?…that we counted 37 storefronts that are either empty or available?…that we also saw available signs or ads associated with space in the old ONB Tower, the new ONB Tower, the Old Post Office, the Hulman Building, the old Sears Building, the Woolen Mill Building, the Old Courthouse, and several other buildings that do not have prominent names?…that we are waiting for the downtown renaissance to start because the magic Arena is nearly completed?
IS IT TRUE that Mr. Kish who is reportedly on vacation in Indianapolis this week has now been alleged to be not on vacation at all?…that Mr. Kish is now reported by Indianapolis based Moles to be cracking the whip on the folks at London Witte to hurry up with the vetting of the downtown Convention Hotel Proposals so that a decision can be made on the 12th followed by an announcement on the 16th?…that this would be the fastest vetting ever for a $33 Million project that we have ever heard of?…that London Witte was just chosen last week and has in all likelihood not even been to Evansville yet to speak to either the Kunkel Group or Prime Lodging LLC?…that our expectation is that this week was spent simply understanding what has been submitted and that the next couple of weeks will be spent doing a real vetting process?…that the CCO projects an announcement with respect to these bids no sooner than August 30th and no later than September 27th?…that we and others will be very interested not only to hear the decision but to review the process that leads to the final decision?
MOLE MESSENGER
There is a link at the top of the site for a new “Mole Messenger” feature. This allows readers to submit sensitive news information anonymously under your own mole # alias. We will continue to vet and confirm each piece of information submitted, but this tool should allow our readers to get more involved without outing their personal identities.
RECENT DISCUSSIONS
On the sidebar, you should see a new “Recent Discussions” widget. This shows the most recent 5 comments made on the website. This widget was added to encourage more discussion, and allow readers to more easily see who has been commenting on recent articles.
We at the CCO hope these upgrades improve your reading experience, and promote more involvement from the community.
The University of Evansville is pleased to welcome Robert L. Pristash (“Bob”) as the University’s new sports information director.
Pristash, who previously served as associate sports information director at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, will begin his new role on Wednesday, August 10. He will fill the position vacated by Bob Boxell, who retired in June after 29 years as UE’s sports information director.
“The Purple Aces have a great tradition of athletic and academic excellence, and I am excited to be a part of that,” Pristash said. “I am grateful to athletics director John Stanley and senior associate athletics director Dwight Merilatt for the opportunity they have given me.”
“When UE’s Department of Athletics began searching for a new sports information director, our expectations were high because Bob Boxell left a tremendous legacy of dedication and passion,” said John Stanley, director of athletics. “It was very important that we find someone who could continue and build on that success, and I’m thrilled to have found that person in Bob Pristash. He will bring experience, skill, and energy to his work of promoting University of Evansville athletics.”
Pristash will serve as the primary media contact for men’s basketball, directing press box operations for all of the team’s home games and traveling to all men’s basketball away games. His other responsibilities include designing and editing online yearbooks and game-day programs and updating content on GoPurpleAces.com.
Pristash, a native of Northampton, Pennsylvania, holds a Bachelor of Science in sport management from West Virginia University and a Master of Arts in athletic administration from Marshall University.
After completing his master’s degree in 2005, Pristash worked as a Web specialist at CSTV Online in New York City. In 2007, he returned to Marshall to serve as assistant sports information director.
The announcement comes as the Eagles released their regular-season schedule, one that includes 26 games and 14 home contests.
USI, which captured the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division title a year ago with a 16-11 overall record and a 12-6 mark in league play, opens the season with four straight home games before traveling to Louisville, Kentucky, for the Bellarmine University Thanksgiving Classic.
Included in the four-game home stretch, USI’s longest homestand of the year, are games against Principia College (November 15), Mid-Continent University (November 18), and Midwest Region foe Northwood University (November 22).
“When you put together a schedule you not only want to put together a competitive schedule, but one that fits your team,” Stein said. “I’m excited to have some games at home early, but the thing is that two of the games are against regional competition. Our team is going to be young, but at the same time I wanted to put together a schedule that will challenge them and get them ready for conference play.”
USI will square off with St. Catharine College November 26 to open the Bellarmine Thanksgiving Classic before closing the two-day trip November 27 against Coker College.
The Eagles open GLVC play December 1 when they visit defending GLVC Tournament champion Lewis University. The now 16-member GLVC will feature two eight-team divisions, with USI, Bellarmine, the University of Indianapolis, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Lewis, Northern Kentucky University, Saint Joseph’s College, and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside comprising the GLVC East Division.
USI wraps up its GLVC-opening weekend December 3 with a trip to Wisconsin-Parkside before returning to the PAC December 17 to take on Salem International University.
After closing the 2011 calendar year with a trip to Detroit, Michigan, December 30 to take on Midwest Region foe Wayne State University, the Eagles return to GLVC play January 5 when they host GLVC West Division adversary Missouri University of Science & Technology.
The Eagles play just four games against the GLVC West Division, but will get one of the top teams January 7 when they host Drury University. They finish their GLVC West Division slate with a trip to GLVC-newcomer William Jewell College January 12 and Rockhurst University January 14.
USI, which plays a home-and-home series with the teams in the GLVC East Division, begins a three-game homestand January 16 when it hosts Kentucky Wesleyan. The Eagles host Indianapolis January 19 and Saint Joseph’s January 21 before visiting Bellarmine January 26.
The Eagles host Northern Kentucky January 28 before embarking on a two-game road trip that sees them make stops to Saint Joseph’s (February 2) and Indianapolis (February 4).
USI begins its final three-game homestand of the season when it hosts Wisconsin-Parkside February 9. Games against Lewis (February 11) and Bellarmine (February 16) round out the Eagles’ 2011-12 home schedule, while trips to Northern Kentucky (February 18) and Kentucky Wesleyan (February 23) conclude USI’s regular-season slate.
GLVC Tournament play opens with seeds four through 12 meeting on campus sites February 26 for the right to advance into the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship are March 1-4 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois.
The NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament will be played at a site to be determined March 9-12, while the NCAA II Elite Eight is March 20-23 in San Antonio, Texas.
Time 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Subject SAFETY BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 8/10/2011 until 8/10/2011 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
TINA OWEN @ 7897
Categories ROOM 301
Time 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING BOARD
Location 307
Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 8/10/2011 until 8/10/2011 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
LINDA PENDLETON @ 7880
Categories ROOM 307
Details and Transparency of Arena Project Called for
John,
Per your June 30th construction cost, please respond to the following questions:
1) What is the $ 100,000 Change Order in favor of Hunt Construction? This change order occurred since the 3/31/2011 Report;
2) It appears that no retainage is being held back on Hunt Construction? If there are problems after Opening, won’t we look to Hunt to remedy those problems ?
3) Given the fact that Hunt is now reporting $ 95,901,131 of Scheduled Value (vs. $ 95 MM estimate), what steps will you be taking to try to bring the project in ‘on budget ‘ ??’ And, if the budget
overages are not corrected, we need to inform Hunt that the incentive has been breached in reference to the $478,000.
4) Given the many subcontractors on this project, how would you describe the “Warranty” the City will have after this Arena opens for events ? Has Hunt retained payments from those subs? And, if so, has Hunt deposited those retainages into an escrow whereby the City has legal control. This premise is applicable only if, so some reason, we have not withheld the appropriate retainages from Hunt?
John, we would like for you to appear before City Council on August 22, 2011 to answer questions related to the following topics. Please note: the City Council members will ask you questions which we will formulate based on the information you provide us. You do NOT need to prepare a presentation for us. Just be ready to answer any and all questions relative to the following topics:
A) Populous Contract (please provide us with electronic version);
B) Legal Bills incurred on the Arena Project (please provide a detailed accounting of all bills incurred, whether paid through the ERC, DMD, Mayor’s Office, City of Evansville, etc.). Be prepared to attest that the summary you provide is a complete accounting of all legal bills for this project;
C) An accounting of all soft costs for this Arena Project;
D) An accounting of all costs incurred on the Browning & Woodruff Hospitality hotel projects, both of which were terminated. Although, the hotel is not considered part of the Arena project; we consider a derivative and need to know the exact cost associated.
E) An accounting of all money which has been committed on both the Arena + Hotel projects; as well as identification of which Fund these amounts have been charged to in the City of Evansville’s accounting system; and
F) Disclosure of whom the $ 2,000,000 of Bond Issue Costs were paid to, and what services were provided;
G) Please provide (Electronic Version) all contractual service contracts associated to the Arena and Hotel projects to date and the work product. In addition, please make available to the City Clerk’s office for public access.
H) Indirect Costs: What other costs has the City incurred as a result of Arena Project, i.e. Water & Sewer Department. Please contact Mr. Gerrard for this information. I have been contacted by apparently, informed individuals that the Arena will be stressing our current sewer capacities. Consequently, if this is affirmed, what plan do we have to assure that the new condo, etc development downtown will NOT be adversely affected and the anticipated investment required to
remedy.
I) In your estimation, due to the downgrade from AAA to AA+ by Standard & Poors, will we be expecting any addition debt service costs associated with the Arena/Hotel project? In addition, due to this anticipated raise in the cost of capital, any loans the City i.e. Hotel Project, will grant consider increasing the interest rate accordingly. Also, what impact will this have on the pro forma’s presented by Verville and Kunkle. I know that is speculative, but, we need to cognitive.
This provides you two weeks to develop the responses. Please be prepared to receive additional questions from other members of Council.
Of course, if you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks for your cooperation.
John Friend, CPA, CVA
Finance Chairman
Evansville City Council
IS IT TRUE? Part 2 August 10, 2011
IS IT TRUE that the Executive Session of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission that is scheduled for August 12, 2011 at 11:15 am in Room #307 of the Civic Center will NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?…that the SPECIAL MEETING held afterward at 12:15 in the same location WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?…that there is much speculation surrounding the outcome of this meeting?…that there are those who are expecting a decision to be announced with respect to the decision on the developer of the downtown Convention Hotel?…that the announcement that London Witte would be vetting the proposals was only communicated last Friday?…that if a decision was reached so quickly that we would like to see the criteria used during the vetting process?…that stranger things have happened with the ERC recently but that we still expect the vetting to take a little bit longer?
IS IT TRUE that we are hearing conflicting information regarding the downtown branch of the US Post Office?…that we have information from insiders that indicate that the retail part of the downtown post office will be closed soon?…that we have inside information that indicates that the USPO will keep “operations†at the Sycamore location up and running?…that the only thing that is true for sure is that the building’s owner has put it on the market?…that there seems to be allot of commercial property owners who are trying to capitalize on the opening of the new Arena by selling their holdings and exiting the downtown?…that if they saw the Arena as highly accretive to their property that they probably would not be doing this?…that if the Arena is to inspire investment that the properties need to be in the hands of investors with cash?…that the turnover of properties into new management is actually a positive indicator for future downtown investment?…that putting up a for sale sign does not always make a transaction happen?
IS IT TRUE that our friend and ally, Great Britain is experiencing a bit of domestic turmoil in the streets this week?…that looters under the guise of “social unrest†seem to be taking advantage of the rotten economy to help themselves to the property of others?…that this brings back memories of the aftermath of the Rodney King trials in Los Angeles?…that when a gang of looters headed for Koreatown in LA determined to create mayhem and loot the stores that the Korean’s met the mob with guns to protect their property?…that the mob backed off when faced with an organized and armed group of citizens?…that if the United Kingdom enjoyed the same 2nd Amendment rights that the United States enjoys that these looters would be back home on the couch drinking beer and watching soccer right now?…that private gun ownership is why we do not report to the British monarchy in the USA?…that the 2nd Amendment is one lesson that Great Britain could learn from the former colonies known as the United States of America?
IS IT TRUE that we are very pleased at the recent statistics that show a drop in the suicides in Vanderburgh County after last year’s record high?…that with the newly aware teams of litter pickers, the EPA ruling on sewers, the renewed awareness of the problems in our parks, the realization that there will be a new administration in the City of Evansville, and a renewed focus on improvement that maybe just maybe Evansville is about to hit an upswing?…that we wish everyone a good and prosperous day?
IS IT TRUE? August 10, 2011
IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer experienced a record of comments posted regarding any particular article yesterday?…that our two articles regarding the loans receivable accounts as reported by the City of Evansville in the 2007, 2008, & 2009 audits drew lots of questions and comments?…that the biggest objection to any particular loan made by the City of Evansville using public funds was a loan that was made back in 1982 to Citizens Bank?…that our readers found it to be very questionable that a 2% loan was made by the city to a bank in a year in which interest rates were well over 10%?…that it was even more objectionable that the City of Evansville has been serving as the bank’s bank for nearly 30 years and that the balance is still over half of the original principle?…that it is things like this where one giant business is given a financial advantage by the redistribution of public dollars that give city loan funds a bad name?
IS IT TRUE that if the successor to Citizens Bank which we believe is now Fifth Third Bank of Michigan would pay back the 29 year old loan in full that the $1.4 Million balance should be available for making loans to small businesses?…that if the only thing that the paid back money would be used for would be to build 6 more Front Door Pride homes that lose $100,000 per transaction that we would prefer that the loan is not paid back until the next administration is seated next January?…that making such a large loan to a BANK did not keep a corporate headquarters in Evansville and served pretty much as a Front Door Pride for Banks type of program?
IS IT TRUE that the issue of taxable income received due to getting low or no interest loans was raised?…that the IRS does have a rule that makes below market interest taxable as income?…that in an economic reality where the interest rate is 7% that a business that is granted a 3% loan should be declaring that 4% discount as income for taxation purposes?…that it is even preferred that the loan servicer should provide them with an IRS Form 1099 to document such earnings?…that we hope and trust that the City of Evansville and its below market rate loan recipients are aware and in compliance with these IRS rules?
IS IT TRUE that the changing nature of the City of Evansville’s loan portfolio has the City County Observer quite interested to get a look at the 2010 audit which should be available online in about 2 weeks?…that when this is available that we will post a link to the 2010 audit?…that we are also considering making another FOIA request to learn exactly what the present state of the loan programs are and what the receivables that the new administration will inherit?…that we hope that any remaining loan funds will not be raided for capital projects that are unrelated to for-profit small businesses during the final days of the Weinzapfel Administration?
