Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Subject GIS USER GROUP
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the last Tuesday of every 1 month effective 11/29/2011 until 11/29/2011 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
Laura Howell @ 5071
Categories ROOM 318
VHS Pet of the Week: “Stormy”
Greetings from Stormy, a 3-year-old, spayed Shepherd Mix. Stormy is a mildly active girl who enjoys playing with rope toys and chasing tennis balls. She loves the company of other dogs but would like to meet any potential K9 roommates first as some dogs can be too much. Stormy also does well around cats. She knows some basic commands and is a very quick learner. School age children would be best because Stormy is a larger dog and might be too much for little ones. Stormy hopes to find a loving family and a warm spot on the bed this holiday season. For more information on how to make her a member of your family, visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563.
IS IT TRUE? November 29, 2011
IS IT TRUE? November 29, 2011
IS IT TRUE that last night in spite of being the nastiest day of fall so far that an estimated 300 people fought the elements to attend the IURC meeting regarding the Vectren hearing on its proposed dense pack technology?…that about 50 of the attendees were members of the media or elected officials but the rest were just regular ratepayers?…that even though the hearing was about dense pack technology that the mood of the gallery was more about rates and Vectren bills and thus the comments were about bills more so than the dense pack technology?…that series of elected officials that included Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke, State Representative Ron Bacon, and State Representative Susanne Crouch spoke appreciably to the Commissioners of the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission for coming to Evansville and stated little or nothing about dense pack or excessive rates?…that this may just turn out to be an opportunity lost for these three officials to state a case for their constituents regarding Vectren’s highest in the state electric bills?
IS IT TRUE that Evansville City Councilman John Friend, CPA came out swinging and presented his petition to the IURC that specifically requests that no rate increases be granted until all of the surrounding counties catch up to Vectren’s rates as Vectren has repeatedly stated that they would?…that Councilman Friend discussed premature implementation of EPA guidelines and how they affect people and businesses along with an idea to equalize rates by spreading the Vectren EPA improvements over a larger area?…that State Representative Gail Riecken a long time thorn in Vectren’s side also spoke with more depth than just fawning over the Commissioners of the IURC for coming to the Pocket City?
IS IT TRUE that when the people of Evansville started streaming to the microphone that the pain of having the highest rates in the State of Indiana and bills that triple what Henderson’s are was given a personal touch?…that from ex Vectren employees, people on fixed incomes, to people with decent jobs the stories were all the same?…that the testimonies of people who do not pay rent or forgo meals to pay the Vectren bill were out in force?…that these people were well aware that their bills of $500 would only be $160 in Henderson because many of them have lived there or have relatives that live there?…that many long time residents were openly speaking of moving across the money saving bridge?…that Representative Riecken quoted a study that the 3rd most stated reason for people here losing their homes is the utility bills?
IS IT TRUE that seeing this makes one understand just how inconsequential the $1.08 per month for the dense pack is but drives home the seriousness of being a poor city with some of the highest utility rates in the nation?…that the average family in Evansville works about 10 hours per month per worker to pay Vectren but in other high cost areas with similar rates the bills only consume 2 or 3 hours of pay per month?…that the real problem in Evansville from both a lifestyle and business perspective is dealing with these excessive rates?…that one senior citizen on a fixed income flat out said that he does not have 36 years to pay this off?…that he probably doesn’t?
IS IT TRUE that one speaker called on the IURC to have all future hearings regarding Vectren in Evansville where the people are the most sensitive?…that the CCO agrees that this is the best course of action and is looking forward to seeing this serious issue play itself out?
200+ show up for IURC Vectren Hearings
Note: The counts from eyewitnesses range from 130 to 400. We have altered our headline to 200+ as that is about as close as any.
Approximately 200 people showed up for a hearing conducted by the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission hearing regarding the proposed “dense pack” project that Vectren has proposed for 2 of its turbines at the A. B. Brown powerplant in Posey County. Roughly 150 of the attendees were regular customers with the balance being made up of media and elected officials.
Evansville City Councilman John Friend who lead a petition drive to oppose rate increases spoke early in the meeting regarding the differences in rates in Vectren territories, the moving target of the EPA restrictions, and even about a potential way to equalize rates. State Representative Gail Riecken a long time critic of Vectren also took the microphone on behalf of her constituents.
Citizen speakers included scientists, landlords, ministers, volunteers, and plain old ratepayers. One gentleman has requested that all future meetings of the IURC that concern Evansville should be moved to Evansville.
IS IT TRUE regarding this meeting will be posted at 1 minute past midnight!
This is a developing story so check back for updates.
IS IT TRUE? November 28, 2011 Part 2
IS IT TRUE? November 28, 2011 Part 2
IS IT TRUE that tonight night, November 28, 2011 there will be a hearing of the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission at THE CENTRE beginning at 5:30?…that the topic of discussion is the proposed “dense pack†project and the way that Vectren is proposing to finance it?…that this meeting is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and that the PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK?…that those who complain that the IURC is a rubber stamp group that never comes to Evansville and won’t listen to regular people need to make a point to be at this meeting?…that this is an opportunity to start an education process between the IURC, Vectren, and the people of Evansville that should have started many years ago?…that this is a repeat but we know it as it seems as though people need at least 5 reminders to commit anything to memory?
IS IT TRUE that in a poll that the CCO is running right now that a full 63% of the voters are predicting that less than 100 people will show up at tonight’s meeting?…that is a sad state of affairs if this turns out to be the truth?…that to have less than 100 people show up to such a meeting that affects 141,000 households will send a strong message to Vectren and the IURC that he people of greater Evansville do not care enough to get off of their butts and show up to a meeting that many of us have fought hard to make happen?…that the CCO encourages all of our readers, our elected officials, our appointed officials, and our incoming elected officials to do the right thing and show up at this meeting?…that if you don’t that the 99.9% who choose to stay home shall be the subject of tomorrow morning’s IS IT TRUE?…that if you can’t attend please write a letter to the IURC explaining your position?
IS IT TRUE that in what is one of the more perfect quotes of the day regarding legislation under consideration to regulate the internet and particularly internet commerce, L. Gordon Crovitz said “Washington regulating the internet is akin to a gorilla playing a Stradivariusâ€?…that is one of the best descriptions possible for politicians who just can’t resist tampering with something that they know absolutely nothing about?…that it also make about as much sense as asking you typical great grandparent about how to best use Twitter for marketing purposes?
IS IT TRUE that the legislation under consideration would make it the responsibility of a website like Facebook, the Courier and Press MyTurn, or even the CCO comment section responsible for any comment that any random user may post?…that the rule today simply says that if something that violates Copyright laws is posted that we have to take it down upon the filing of a complaint and that is all there is too it?…that some Hollywood types would like to see the Digital Millennium Copyright Act amended or abolished so that the owner of the website that it is posted on is legally liable for financial damages if a third party puts a bit of digital graffiti up that violates a Copyright?…that would mean if some stranger posted a link to a song or video that the website it was posted on could be liable for damages?…that this would put an immediate end to a medium that is growing and creating wealth at a time when nearly everything else is flat on its back?…that we encourage our elected officials in Congress to resist the urge to regulate that which they cannot understand?
IS IT TRUE? November 28, 2011
IS IT TRUE? November 28, 2011
IS IT TRUE that tonight, November 28, 2011 there will be a hearing of the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission at THE CENTRE beginning at 5:30?…that the topic of discussion is the proposed “dense pack†project and the way that Vectren is proposing to finance it?…that this meeting is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and that the PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK?…that those who complain that the IURC is a rubber stamp group that never comes to Evansville and won’t listen to regular people need to make a point to be at this meeting?…that this is an opportunity to start an education process between the IURC, Vectren, and the people of Evansville that should have started many years ago?…that this is a repeat but we know it as it seems as though people need at least 5 reminders to commit anything to memory?
IS IT TRUE the City County Observer checked the Assessor’s website today and that that the McCurdy Hotel owned by City Centre Properties LLC of Carmel, IN has officially been declared to be delinquent on their tax bill?… that City Centre Properties that owns tract #82-06-30-020-005.002-029, aka the McCurdy Hotel has failed to pay their Fall 2011 installment of their real estate taxes?…that the tax bill on that property that was due last week was $10,268.66 but has now a penalty of 5% is now $10,782.69?…that if they don’t pay this by December 10th they will be popped with another 5% penalty?…that the choice not to pay this tax bill serves as an early indicator that City Center Properties LLC either does not have the means or intention to move forward with this project without public money handed to them to do so?…that it is now a high probability that these taxes will not be paid by the time that the current 30 day extension expires on November 30th?…that all we can say is “here we go again†on the McCurdy Hotel project?
IS IT TRUE that the CCO is glad to see and hear that the Courier and WIKY have actually chosen to jump on this bandwagon and help out with informing the people of Evansville just how poorly their hard earned tax money is being managed?…that by choosing not to pay these real estate taxes but never failing to contribute to the “Weinzapfel for Something†campaign that City Centre Properties LLC is basically giving one big middle finger to the ERC and the people of Evansville?…that we wonder if there will ever be any negative consequence associated with these blatantly non-compliant actions?
IS IT TRUE that there are only 2 more meetings this year of the ERC and that means that there will only be 2 more meetings ever with the Weinzapfel Administration pulling the strings?…that the next scheduled meeting is for December 6, 2011 and that McCurdyGate will have played itself out for the 4th time by then?…that the best course of action for the ERC would be to schedule a special meeting on December 1, 2011 to put a fork in this turkey if the taxes are not paid and the financing is not secured in writing with dates, numbers, and names?…that once again the failure to VET has bitten Evansville on the backside and this kind of oversight has to be ceased?…that every day that the ERC and the Weinzapfel Administration let this fiasco continue is a day that a qualified developer cannot come forward?
IS IT TRUE that the CCO has been made aware that there was at one time an interested party (local) in turning the McCurdy back into a classic hotel as it should be?…that if City Centre Properties LLC fails again to get that last signature that has been needed for 18 months that it is time to start legally unwinding this deal and for the Weinzapfel Administration to eat the losses, absorb the humiliation and enjoy a big Christmas Crow for many meals?…that there are only so many times that a can should be kicked down the road without looking as effective as the STUPOR COMMITTEE?
Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights
November 24, 2011 – January 1, 2012
Heidelbach Ave. Across from Bosse Field, Evansville, IN, 47711
The 18th annual Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights will be open November 24, 2011-January 1, 2012. Over 60 elaborate seasonal scenes and animated displays.
Open Sunday-Thursday 5-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 5-10 p.m.
Cost for the drive-through event is $7 for up to six people. Admission for vehicles with 7-14 people is $10 and admission for vehicles with 15 people or more is $25. Horse-drawn carriage rides, including a wheelchair-accessible carriage, are available nightly(weather permitting) for an additional cost’
A Reitz Home Christmas Adventure
Runs from December 1st to December 31st.
Descrption: A Reitz Home Christmas Adventure 32nd Annual Victorian Christmas at the Reitz Home Museum is an Evansville tradition This year the Reitz Home is decorated by area students Our theme incorporates a new children’s book ‘A Reitz Home Christmas Adventure’ written by Nick and Michelle Williams. Illustrated by Connie McConaughy ‘A Reitz Home Christmas Adventure’ books available in the Reitz Carriage House Gift Store
Downtown Today: 11/28/2011
Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Subject COMMERCIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 11/7/2011 until 11/28/2011 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
KATHIE HOLLEY @ 5228
Categories ROOM 318
Time 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject CITY HEALTH SCREENING
Location 301
Reminder 15 minutes
DEBBY TITZER @ 4945
Categories ROOM 301
Time 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Subject CITY COUNCIL
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs every Monday effective 11/7/2011 until 11/28/2011 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
LYNN BUHR @ 4993
Categories ROOM 301
WSJ on what Wall St. bankers, the Occupy movement, and Unions have in common: An uncanny ability to bleed the government dry!
Excerpts:
“‘What has the country so angry,” says Fred Siegel, “is the sense that crony capitalism has produced a population that lives off the rest of us without contributing. They’re right. It’s not paranoid.”
“”They’re on the same side of the street politically,” he says. “They’re both in favor of big government. The Wall Street people I talk to, they get it completely.” What he means is that the Bush and Obama administrations bailed out the large banks, and that economic stimulus and near-zero interest rates kept them flush. “Obama’s crony capitalism has been very good for New York’s crony capitalism,”
“The Great Society put the state on growth hormones. Less widely appreciated, the era gave birth to a powerful new political force, the public-sector union. For the first time in American history there was an interest dedicated wholly to lobbying for a larger government and the taxes and debt to pay for it.”
“”Spending is never ratcheted down. It’s unconnected to productivity. That can only be sustained by a boom or these extraordinary subsidies we’re getting now from the Federal Reserve. But that’s gonna stop at some point. And then what happens?”
“Many American localities are already at the crisis point. Rhode Island’s legislature last week sharply cut retirement benefits for current and retired public workers. “A 300% Democratic state!”
“On his first day in the governor’s mansion in 2005, Indiana’s Mitch Daniels also stopped deducting dues automatically; most workers chose not to pay. “The union has a guaranteed flow of income, which they then use to lobby the government,” says Mr. Siegel. This reform, he adds, “evens the playing field.”
“Dues money is the coin of political influence for organized labor. So not surprisingly, it is bankrolling the pushback.”
“Franklin Delano Roosevelt called the idea of strikes by government workers “unthinkable and intolerable.” New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia said, “I do not want any of the pinochle club atmosphere to take hold among city workers.”
“”public sector unions are displacing political machines as the turnout mechanism for the Democratic Party. They are the new Tammany Hall.”
” the growing claims on the public purse by those who make little to no contribution to the economy have driven up taxes and the costs of doing business. The city creates jobs in tourism, hotels and restaurants at the lower end of the scale. “What we don’t create are private-sector middle-class jobs,” says Mr. Siegel. “We have a ladder with the middle rungs missing.”
“His feelings about Mayor Mike Bloomberg come unfiltered. He chose to court rather than confront the teacher unions and “the race racketeers” (in Mr. Siegel’s phrase) like Rev. Al Sharpton. “[Bloomberg] had the leverage. He didn’t have the guts. Instead of being influenced by interest groups, he buys the interest groups. The outcome is the same. The interest groups get what they want.”
“The Working Families Party, founded in 1998, is the political arm of government unions and a driver of turnout in local elections. Though little known outside New York, the influence of this third party can be seen on the City Council, which has come to tilt heavily left. So far, says Mr. Siegel, the party has a better political track record than Tammany. “With the exception of Giuliani, they’ve never lost an election. No matter who wins, they’re OK.”
” “We are what the tea party fears for the rest of the country. Crony capitalism, and low-end work, and the loss of mobility, and no place to do business if you’re a small business.”