Bust at 118 East Virginia where a One-Pot Meth Lab was Cooking
Officer Eric Hackworth of the EPD give a full account of the entire bust in a 10 page police report that resulted in the confiscation of the lab, charges being filed, and a possible fire averted.
IS IT TRUE? August 2, 2011
IS IT TRUE that “CCO MOLE #3” wonders why the present Financial and Budget Chairman of the Evansville City Council hasn’t been invited to attend the State of Indiana Pre-Audit or the Audit Exit conferences that details all audits of fact and deficiencies of the financial activities of the city that was discussed? …that we hear that some of the Indiana State Audit reports could be an interesting read?
IS IT TRUE that the most powerful political person during budget review time is the Budget Chairman?…that from this position one can control what comes up for a vote and when?…that as long as any Mayor has the budget chairman in his pocket that the SNEGAL OLIGARGHY can keep on rolling?…that when a Mayor no longer commands the BUDGET CHAIRMAN that the party is over for the pseudo-dictatorship?
IS IT TRUE that the net worth of Integra Bank before last Friday was more than $100 Million in the red?…that when the chips were counted that Integra’s holding company had less than $1 Million in cash in its own checking account?…that this is a sad tale?…that the purchaser of the assets of Integra, Old National Bank seems to be practicing the art of brutal honesty in announcing that the expenses will be cut by 75%?…that in reality that could scale to as high as 300 educated professionals losing their jobs in Evansville?…that the loss of this many educated professionals as citizens of Evansville may offset as much as 10 years of gains in that category by the traditional methods of growth and attraction?…that we are really concerned that our region will experience a large negative offset in the percent of the population with bachelor’s degrees due to the failure of Integra?…that many branches will be shuttered in the small towns around Evansville as well?
IS IT TRUE that the downtown Evansville real estate market will be heavily impacted by the euthanasia of Integra?…that the building that we all recognize as the Integra Building will be looking for a new owner?…that some of the offices in this Class A building is under lease but that much of it was occupied by Integra?…that based on the asking price for the Mason’s Lodge ($150,000), the failure of the Jackson House and the old Farmer’s Daughter to even draw bids at auction, and the continuing saga of the McCurdy Hotel, that the asking price for the Integra Building may be lower than a high end house in Lake Ridge Crossing in Newburgh?
IS IT TRUE that if the Arena has any coattail effect on real estate values that now would be the time for it to step forward and show them?…that the demise of Integra will open up a number of spaces in the 3rd Street parking garage that were previously used by Integra employees?…that if the Arena had any spillover effect on real estate that out-of-towners would already be entering the market?…that if the empty assertion that Arena’s drive up real estate prices were true that the Masonic Lodge should have been snapped up at a couple of million dollars or more?…that the ONB tower on Main should be filling up at a rate of $20+ per square foot per year?…that there should not be any empty storefronts in our rather small downtown?…that the people of Evansville were sold a PIG IN A POKE on that myth too?
IS IT TRUE that in the midst of all of this economic malaise that the Mayor of Evansville is proudly announcing the consolidation of the city and county building commissions as a major cost saver?…that sure it will save on a few light bulbs, a salary or two, and some letterhead, but the tangible savings will be minimal?…that this is a silly thing to take on in the last days in office?…that if this was such a good idea it should have been done 7 years ago?…that this move is mostly to distract the main stream media from the debacles presided over by the appointed Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that if the Mayor wants to show leadership and save money he should find a solution to the costly abandonment of the McCurdy Hotel?
This Thursday, the University of Evansville will host Connect for a Cause, a professional speed networking event that benefits the Evansville Christian Life Center. Bob Jones, president and chief executive officer of Old National Bank and a member of the University of Evansville Board of Trustees, will present a keynote address.
The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. August 4 in Eykamp Hall 251, Ridgway University Center.
At Connect for a Cause, attendees can meet with employers, learn about local companies, and build their professional network — all while supporting a nonprofit organization. Door prizes and refreshments from the Bauerhaus are also included.
The event serves as the summer practicum project for the 2011 cohort of UE’s Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership program, an accelerated degree program for adult learners who have at least 60 college credit hours or an associate’s degree.
Entry requires one canned food item that will be donated to the Evansville Christian Life Center. To RSVP for the event, e-mail UEnetworking@gmail.com.
Source: evansville.edu
Zoeller: Case belongs on administrative track, not litigation track
INDIANAPOLIS – On Monday, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a legal brief in Indiana’s appeal of Planned Parenthood’s court challenge involving Medicaid funding qualifications and abortion providers. The Attorney General’s brief asks the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to reverse a lower court ruling that has blocked enforcement of the new provider-qualifications law.
In appealing a federal judge’s June 24 preliminary injunction, the State argues that the responsibility for ensuring the State’s provider qualifications comply with the Medicaid Act does not belong with a private clinic or a federal district court — instead it belongs with a federal agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS. After CMS did not approve Indiana’s Medicaid plan that withheld Medicaid funding for abortion providers, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) filed its own separate administrative appeal of CMS’ decision. A hearing on the FSSA’s request for reconsideration is scheduled for September 13 at the CMS regional office in Chicago.
“This dispute belongs between the state and the federal government that administers and funds the Medicaid program, not between a private contractor and the state. The proper place to argue this dispute is the federal government’s own administrative hearing process, established for exactly this purpose. We hope the 7th Circuit will agree, reverse the U.S. District Court’s decision and allow the administrative review to run its course,†Zoeller said.
By law, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office defends state statutes passed by the Legislature from legal challenges filed by plaintiffs. House Enrolled Act 1210 prohibited Medicaid funds from being distributed to non-hospital clinics that provide abortion services. On May 10, the day HEA 1210 was signed into law, Planned Parenthood and ACLU filed a legal challenge, seeking to prevent the new statute from being enforced. On June 24, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of two parts of the new law.
While the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals considers Zoeller’s appeal of the injunction ruling — a process called an interlocutory appeal — the overall case in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis does not proceed in the meantime.
The interlocutory appeal brief Zoeller filed on Monday sets forth the State’s legal reasons for asking the 7th Circuit to vacate the federal district court’s injunction. Among other points, the State contends that the Medicaid Act permits it to establish provider qualifications, including qualifications that prevent subsidy of abortions. Furthermore, HEA 1210 would allow Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid payments even if it is affiliated with an abortion clinic, so long as the abortion clinic is a separate corporate entity and there is no risk that taxpayer revenues might indirectly subsidize abortion procedures. Providers that offer other family planning services and other health services still can receive Medicaid dollars under the new statute, provided the organization does not provide abortion services.
Click here to download Mayor Weinzapfel’s response to John Friend.
A link to John Friend’s original inquiry:
https://city-countyobserver.com/2011/07/15/councilman-friend-question-civic-center-information-technology-practices/
Click here to download the city response to our FOIA regarding the Downtown Arena Premium Seating
Despite our FOIA request, we were provided very little information regarding the price of the premium arena seating, or the parties who supposedly purchased them.
The best way to analyze this information would be chronologically.
Page 24 of the PDF file includes an email from Scott Schoenike to John Kish and Jonathan Weinzapfel. The email reads:
“Good news,
All suites are now sold out. All suites were sold at list price and all cash no trade.
Thanks for all your help in putting together last night
Scott Shoenike”
This email was sent on Wednesday, May 25th at 5:30.
Page 3 of the file includes the “Approving Multi-Year Contracts for Premium Seating for the Downtown Arena Project” which was adopted by the Evansville Redevelopment COmmission on the July 19th, 2011, by a vote of 4 Ayes and 0 Nays.
This is the resolution that gave VenuWorks the authority to execute seating contracts for a 5 year duration.
An interesting line that should be noted: “Whereas, premium seats are available to the public on the suite level and as loge seats on the main concourse level;”
Scott Schoenike of VenuWorks sent the email saying that the suites are all sold out on May 25th. The ERC granted VenuWorks the authority to sell premium seating on July 19th. Therefore, the suites were sold without the authority of the city. Any premium seating contract that was signed before July 19th would be void.
However, we still do not know any of the parties that were promised these seats. Nor do we know the “list price” that was mentioned in Scott Schoenike’s email. Pages 4-23 of the PDF file are blank VenuWorks contracts.
As Evansville’s taxpayers, we are all shareholders in this multi-million dollar Downtown Arena Project. As shareholders, we should all be given the option to purchase these premium seats. To withhold that option would definitely be SNEGAL at best.
The ERC will be meeting tomorrow, August 2nd, 2011 at 8:30am.
A line item on the agenda reads “11-ERC-55 – Approval of Summary Terms For Professional Management Services and Use of the New Arena by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC.”
Also at this meeting, the ERC will be approving the minutes from their July 19th meeting, where authority was granted to VenuWorks to sell these premium seats.
Why are Evansville citizens, as effective shareholders of the Downtown Arena, not being given a fair chance at premium seating? Why were the seats not made “available to the public” as listed in the ERC resolution?
Why were we not provided with more than 2 blank venuworks contracts, an ERC resolution, and an email from Scott Schoenike?
Why did Scott Schoenike sell ALL of the premium seats nearly 2 months before he had the authority to do so?
Who bought the seats before we were given the option? and for what price?
Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Plays its Part Well
CLICK HERE to download the ERC/DMD response to our Freedom of Information Act Request
OUTLINE:
page 1-2 – FOIA Response of the City
page 3 – Resolution 11-ERC-52 “Approving Multi-Year Contracts for Premium Seating for the Downtown Arena Project”
page 4-14 – Blank Venuworks Suiteholder Agreement Contract
page 15-23 – Blank Venuworks Loge Seat Holder Agreement Contract
page 24 – Forwarded email from Jonathan Weinzapfel. Original message from Scott Schoenike.
Additional information will be posted shortly.
IS IT TRUE? PART 2 August 1, 2011 IT’S McCURDY DAY IN EVANSVILLE
IS IT TRUE that there is no longer any reason for the City of Evansville to rescind the deal down at the McCurdy like they had to do with Woodruff Hospitality over the new downtown Convention Hotel?…that the McCurdy Hotel deal is now in default and is as dead as the witch of the west when Dorothy threw water on her?…that the little four year non-performing perpetual extension machine is finally over?…that there are now three actions that the City of Evansville can take with respect to the McCurdy?
IS IT TRUE that the first thing that the City of Evansville can do is to extend the contract like they have done again and again?…that if this is the route taken that once again City Centre Properties will have this old treasure by the throat as the exclusive developer in search of funding?…that to extend the exclusive period would keep the City of Evansville from issuing a new RFP or talking to other potential developers?…that would be as brain dead this time as it was last time?…that this situation needs to hit the reset button just like the downtown Convention Hotel did?
IS IT TRUE that the City also has the option to put out a new RFP with a call for bids from developers that may wish to respond?…that such developers could suggest what incentives are going to need to be offered to get the financing needed to convert the McCurdy Hotel into something that is beautiful and useful as opposed to a convalescent home for pigeons and bats?…that serious consideration should be given to turning the McCurdy back into a vintage hotel?…that the cash flow from a hotel is more valuable from a space perspective than apartments are?…that if 90 apartments can be made from the space available that maybe a 150 or so room vintage hotel could emerge?…that with the cash projections from a hotel like this run like others at 60% occupancy and $100 per day that each room would generate about $1,800 per month or a grand total of $270,000 per month?…that 90 apartments at 85% occupancy and $900 per month only yields $68,850 per month?…that one of these things may actually attract enough cash interest to do this job ($15 M – $18 M) and that the other never will?
IS IT TRUE that the third option and often the chosen option by politically motivated types is the option to do nothing and hope no one notices?…that we bet that this will be what happens?…that if the ERC and the City of Evansville take this approach that they can cross their fingers that City Centre comes to the table someday with a financing package and still try to work quiet back door deals?…that this silence option has SNEGAL’s fingerprints all over it and keeps the Mayor and his minions off of the front page with yet another embarrassing project that fell apart for lack of oversight and failure to calculate realistic valuations?
IS IT TRUE that we hope that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission asks for a “2 for the price of 1†deal when it comes to vetting because someday the McCurdy will be in need of that same vetting service?…that we encourage option #2 that is issuing a new RFP for the McCurdy project as soon as possible so that he next administration is not stuck with another “pig in a pokeâ€?…that doing nothing only works if the mainstream media of Evansville goes into hibernation for the remainder of the Weinzapfel Administration?
