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IS IT TRUE? Part 2 August 4, 2011

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IS IT TRUE? Part 2 August 4, 2011

IS IT TRUE that another $1.4 Million is going to be spent to tell Evansville what it needs to do to become a better place?…that this time an unknown entity called the Sustainable Evansville Area Coalition is the beneficiary of this government largesse?…that the kick-off meeting was yesterday and that no one identifying themselves from that organization attended?…that the attendees seemed to be a hodge podge of people rounded up by local government at public works construction companies?…that the parent organization has a history of suggesting that blight be removed?…that the City County Observer has been an advocate for urban renewal in which the first step is the use of a bulldozer for a long time now?…that we do not need to spend $1.4 Million of government money borrowed from China to know that is the right first step?

IS IT TRUE that we are curious to find out who this group is made up of?…that the last time that the Evansville region got a grant of such magnitude it was called WIRED?…that the wired money was spent on a collection of studies to tell us that we have terrible bandwidth, are not quite big enough for an intermodal terminal, have no venture capital, are too conservative, have infrastructure problems, etc. etc. etc.?…that the WIRED group was made up of the usual suspects from local government, USI, Vectren, economic development, the Chamber of Commerce, etc.?…that we will be very surprised if the Sustainable Evansville Area Coalition is any different when it comes to the players in the game?…that the answers are already well known?…that what we need is a political class with business support that has the brains and courage to do something other than wasting more borrowed money on a pile of dusty paper?…that as Herman’s Hermits said in the song Henry the 8th “second verse same as the first”?

IS IT TRUE that “CCO Mole #3” has it on good authority that not only members of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission can start packing to leave when a new Mayor takes office but also key employees of the Department of Metropolitan Development may be part of a Chamber style reorganization?

IS IT TRUE we agree we with CCO Blogger, Joe Biden that it’s time that candidates Winnecke and Davis speak out publicly about the Arena-ICEMAN contract problems, the decaying historic McCurdy Hotel, the Front Door Pride housing projects and proposed downtown Arena hotel dilemma?

IS IT TRUE some of our readers are wondering why our local freedom fighters (Tea Party members) haven’t protested against the bad business decisions made by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission concerning the proposed downtown hotel, the Arena-ICEMAN contract problems, the front door pride housing projects and the decaying historical McCurdy hotel? …if our local Tea Party members had a mass protest in front of our decaying historical McCurdy hotel it could encourage members of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission to resign their positions? …”when people fear the Government they have tyranny but when government fears the people when have liberty”?

City Management: Compliance or Non-compliance? By Alan Leibundguth

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3rd Ward Republican Candidate Offers Position Paper

City Management: Compliance or Non-compliance?

The City and County elected officials will soon draft the budget for 2012. There is a lot of power in the purse, so we must be sure that our new budget is transparent. We, the people, need to know that our money, including federal money, is being spent wisely. All accounts and sub-accounts should be open for inspection.

I have taken a brief look at the 2009 Audit of City of Evansville, prepared by State of Indiana auditors in compliance with State Board of Accounts directives. This is Evansville’s yearly report card on where and how it accounts for money spent. This report is public record on the Indiana SBOA web page under resources and reports.

There are 5 discrepancies on the 2009 report, one of which shows 12 accounts had been overdrawn.

I have two reasons for concern here, (1) the City of Evansville, in this report, was cited for violations of state statutes; one has carried over for two or more years. These discrepancies should have been cleared in a timely fashion, and then re-inspected. Has this been done and by whom?, and (2) it seems logical to me that a new budget cannot be correctly prepared with open discrepancies, items that should have been fixed in early 2011. How about first things first? It seems like the City Council should have taken the lead here, fixed the problems, filed the appropriate reports of completion with the State Board of Accounts, and then informed the public of what they had done. Do we have any record of this?

For example, there is a discrepancy in the 2009 report citing that parking meter fees continue to be deposited into the general fund, “As stated in several prior reports” … meaning that someone in City Council has repeatedly ignored this discrepancy which states that these funds are to have a separate account. This is a repeat write-up. Placing designated money in the general fund makes it too easy to spend it unwisely. In a year when every tax dollar counts, don’t we all want to eliminate sloppy management, caring even in the small things, and directing dollars appropriately?

Where has the Evansville City Council been on following this up, since they approve all budgets? Granted this is a small thing, but it may represent a lax attitude of council members with respect to oversight of community revenues. With Democrats in control of the council for the past few decades, are they telling us that this is how they do the business of the city?

I am the Republican candidate for City Council, Ward 3 and I have had experience in the inspections and management of military units. It was my job to know higher headquarter directives and ensure compliance. When discrepancies were found, it was my job to fix them quickly. The military had a good system and it worked well.

I think Evansville government would benefit by changing the way it does business.

I wonder if accounts are still being overdrawn and the parking meter fees are still being deposited into the general fund?

We are Evansville, watch us grow.

USI College of Nursing and Health Professions receives $2.2 million in HRSA grants

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USI
The College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana is expanding its graduate nursing program offerings and student financial assistance with federal grants totaling $2.2 million recently received from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“The HRSA grants provide the opportunity for our college to expand our graduate nursing programs,” said Dr. Nadine Coudret, dean of the college.

A new psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program and a new clinical nurse specialist program (CNS) will be offered.

“We’ve used similar funding to start the family nurse practitioner program and the acute care nurse practitioner program and, we are excited to be able to have these new programs at USI,” Coudret said.

A master’s degree program and a post master’s certification will be available in both areas. Each grant is for three years. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program will be funded with a $720,850 grant. A $705,980 grant will fund the development of the clinical nurse specialty program.

Family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners are able to provide children and adults with primary mental healthcare. “There is a major shortage of psychiatric-mental health care providers at both the regional and national level,” Coudret said. Graduates of this program will provide urgently needed services to patients in our community. Dr. Kathy Riedford, associate professor of nursing and a practicing psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, will direct the program development. Dr. Riedford holds a Ph.D. in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from Indiana University and is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner(PMHNP).

Clinical nurse specialists are expert nurse clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice, such as geriatrics, oncology, critical care, and emergency room care. Their practice setting is typically in a hospital or extended care facility. Research has demonstrated the importance of nursing to patient care outcomes. The clinical nurse specialist is prepared to provide care, lead, educate and consult with the nursing staff to advance the level of nursing care in our hospitals. Dr. Judi Kuric is the project director of the clinical nurse specialty. Dr. Kuric earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Rush University.

A grant of $748,805 will provide funding to expand the doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) program which began in 2008. The first class of 15 DNP students graduated this spring. The influence and leadership of DNP graduates in addressing major health problems is evidenced in the numerous publications and presentations that describe the graduate projects that were carried out in schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community. Dr. Ann White, associate dean of the college, is the project director and serves as director of the program.

A fourth grant of $77,049 will be used to fund nursing traineeships. This funding is available for full-time students and for students in their last year of graduate study. Dr. Mayola Rowser, director of the graduate nursing programs, is the project director.

Four nursing specialties are currently offered at the master’s level in the College of Nursing and Health Professions including acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, nursing education, and nursing management and leadership in addition to the doctoral degree in nursing practice. The college also offers master’s degrees in health administration and occupational therapy. Total enrollment for the college is 2,218 undergraduates and 458 graduate students.

Source: USI.edu

Chamber to Kick off Fun Steps Program

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Thursday, August 4
11:30 a.m.
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, 318 Main Street, 4th Floor of Innovation Pointe

Tomorrow, approximately 65 volunteers from Evansville’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) and fourth grade teachers from three EVSC elementary schools will be at The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana to kick off the Fun Steps Program, a program that teaches students the importance of healthy living and exercise. The program, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Kosair Children’s Hospital, The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana’s Young Professionals Network, and the EVSC Center for Family, School, and Community Partnerships, is aimed at fourth grade students at Hebron, Stockwell and West Terrace.

The kick-off event will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a check presentation for the funding of the program. Then trainers from Kosair will explain the program to volunteers and teachers and teach them how to implement it in classroom lessons and other activities.

Downtown Today: 8/4/2011

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Time 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Subject TREE ADVISORY BOARD
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the first Thursday of every 1 month effective 8/4/2011 until 9/1/2011 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
SHAWN DICKERSON @ 475-1426
Categories ROOM 318

Time 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Subject CONTROLLER
Location 307
Reminder 15 minutes
JEANIE @ 4918
Categories ROOM 307

Time 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Subject EMPO TECHNICAL
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Thursday of every 1 month effective 8/4/2011 until 9/1/2011 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
KARI @ 7833
Categories ROOM 301

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 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject EMPO POLICY BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Thursday of every 1 month effective 8/4/2011 until 9/1/2011 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 18 hours
KARI 2 7833
Categories ROOM 301

Time 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Subject RE-ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTEE
Location 301
Reminder 15 minutes
MARISSA
Categories ROOM 301

IS IT TRUE? August 4, 2011

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE? August 4, 2011

IS IT TRUE that John Kish, the project manager for the construction of the new Evansville Arena has now resorted to complete ignorance of the operating expenses involved in fielding a hockey team to explain his incoherent position with respect to the Evansville IceMen?…that the latest quote as given to Local 7 is “It is an expensive sport to present,” and “We promised to run this building so that it doesn’t lose money, and right now the negotiations are not a point where I can recommend a deal that won’t lose money.” ?…that if hockey was so expensive and there were so many unknowns associated with this sport, shouldn’t the people of Evansville been warned of this ignorance and excessive risk before Mayor Weinzapfel rammed this Arena through without a referendum?

IS IT TRUE that it seems as though the project manager, the Mayor, and the surrogates in waiting are now reading the first chapter of “Hockey for Dummies” and that the light bulbs are finally coming on?…that they should have read this before committing to build what is truly a hockey arena in the center of a basketball town?…that playing dumb and feigning ignorance will never make up for that lethal mix if arrogance and ignorance that this team of elected and appointed officials exhibited 3 years ago when a hotel was in the bag for no public money, the McCurdy was a slam dunk, and hockey was the wave of the future?…that there will not be much sympathy among the taxpayers of Evansville for this Three Stooges routine?…that we expect this job to be done and we expect it to be done right?…that none of the people of Evansville are in the mood for lame excuses?

IS T TRUE that the real reason behind yet another debacle is that the management of the Arena has not yet mastered the art of playing hockey and basketball in the same 24 hour period?…that these lessons should have been learned from other places that have already figured this out?…that once again we are faced with challenges in the MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO department?…that to be successful with copycat policies one must first actually turn off the arrogance to the point of watching and listening to what a success elsewhere may look like?…that mastering the art of having hockey and basketball on the same day should have been rehearsed 2 years ago?…that this is just par for the putt putt course called the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that fans of the Evansville IceMen have organized a rally on August 18th at the St. Boniface Church to show support for the team?…that if the team is not in Evansville due to the ineptness of the Arena management team that these people need to find something else to watch?…that people all over town are puzzled at the failure to reach a deal that will allow the IceMen to play in the custom hockey stadium that we are all calling the Arena?

IS IT TRUE that the words are slinging over the dismissal of three employees of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana?…that some of these words are not very flattering at all on the Chamber?…that some former Chamber members have contacted the City County Observer regarding what value that they never have received from their memberships?…that one reader even complained that after 12 months of attending mixers etc. that he got nothing of value but did get notices every two weeks that his dues for the second year were overdue?…that if this is the way members have been treated and provided value then we are very curious about the real story around the firing of 3 long term employees?

IS IT TRUE that every dog has his day and that these three people shall have theirs if there is one to be had?…that if something wrong was really happening then these people need to expose it or shut up?…that evil flourishes when good people remain silent?…that we do not see any evidence of evil on either side as yet?…that if wrong was done that it needs to be exposed but if it was not then this needs to be silenced very quickly?…that it is time for both sides to put up or shut up?

Update: Shake-up at the Chamber of Commerce

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Three employees no longer listed as staff on Chamber Website

An examination of the staff category shows three long term employees are no longer listing with their bio and their picture. The three chamber employees are Steven Schaefer who also serves as the Chairman of the board of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau along with sisters Carly Griffin and Laurel Meny.

None of the three apparently former employees were available for comment.

Shake-Down on MLK: IceMen vs. John Kish

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John Kish

Who is Shaking Who Down?

It has been nearly a year now and the project manager for the new Evansville Arena and the management of the Evansville IceMen can’t seem to come to terms. Mr. Ron Geary, the owner of both Ellis Park and the Evansville IceMen went public with his plea for an intervention yesterday by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission on the IceMen’s behalf. Mr. Geary went so far as to state that “it seems as though the City of Evansville does not care if the IceMen play in the Arena or not”.
John Kish, the project manager for the Arena confirmed Geary’s statement with one of his own in stating that “the Arena will not be hurt by the loss of the IceMen”. He went on to state that the City of Evansville will not propose or support hockey if it loses money.

Excuse us, Mr. Kish but didn’t you just manage the investment of the people of Evansville’s $128 Million to build a hockey arena? Roberts Stadium is a basketball arena that is not large enough for hockey so the IceMen have spent their short time in Evansville at Swonder building a solid fan base of about 1,200 people. These fans are accustomed to paying ticket prices that are under $10 with abundant free parking close. This is the experience that this fan base is comfortable with. Changing this dramatically will risk alienating this fan base and blunt the efforts to attract additional fans.

The pro-forma for the new Arena projects 38 hockey games per year with an average attendance of 3,500 people starting from day one. Day one is October 21, 2011, a mere 10 weeks from now. The annual revenue projected from these 38 games is nearly $3 Million. The 38 games make up 28% of the events projected for the new Arena.

Mr. Kish, have you reviewed your own pro-forma lately? Are you seriously expecting the people of Evansville to believe that $3 Million in revenue and 28% of the events in the new Arena can be lost and that the performance will not be hurt? Sir, we may be from Evansville as opposed to Indianapolis but we are not that stupid. Please stop treating us like we are.

The IceMen were chosen as our hockey team. If the IceMen are not profitable we will have no team just as we have no BlueCats and no professional basketball team. If the Arena loses money we still have the Arena as it does not appear to be portable. Please come to your senses and reach an agreement that enables the Evansville IceMen to be financially viable while they continue to build a fan base and hire high quality players.

This is not the time to cripple this team with oppressive rental fees that reportedly are over 5 times what they are paying at Swonder. This is the time to develop an agreement that will incent the IceMen to excel on the ice and to grow their fan base so that Evansville will have a successful hockey franchise long into the future. The position of taking no risk and absorbing no losses on the part of the Arena is neither logical nor financially responsible. We can’t afford to lose this team right now. The Arena that you are responsible for can’t either.

We the people of Evansville just invested $128 Million and counting for a new Arena and we were not given the courtesy of a vote to do so. We were told all about how hockey was the game of the future and have eagerly watched as our HOCKEY ARENA has taken shape under your management.

The Arena is not yet finished. Mr. Kish, you have proven your capability to manage the Arena construction project but your prowess at getting a hotel deal and negotiating a win-win agreement with the IceMen is lacking.

We respectfully request that you concentrate on what you know (construction) with all of your might during the next 10 weeks so that the IceMen’s game on October 21 can actually be in the Arena. We also wish you well in your relocation back to your home in Indianapolis that we are certain will happen within days of the Arena’s opening.

We respectfully recommend and request that you leave further negotiating to someone or some group from Evansville. We have to live with the agreements and we do not wish to be saddled with any more legacy problems that have their origins in Indianapolis. Thank you for managing the Arena construction, now please take your money and go home.

As a request to the Evansville Redevelopment Commission we are begging you to do your jobs and manage the money of the people of Evansville responsibly. We realize that you all have jobs and lives but you did accept this political appointment voluntarily. The time for blindly following pied pipers and dancing when the puppet master pulls your string is behind you. We encourage that you take your appointments seriously and make the decisions that you would if this money were your own or your employers. You members of the ERC are Evansville people. It is time for you to start acting like it.

EPD Activity Report: August 2, 2011

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EPD Activity Report August 2 2011

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 August 3, 2011

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Don't Be a Litterbug

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 August 3, 2011

IS IT TRUE that we are pleased to hear that there are a group of young people who are taking on the task to pick up litter in Evansville?…that they are pretty adamant that the litter that has plagued the City of Evansville for decades now has got to stop?…that the City County Observer has been calling on the citizens of Evansville to pick up three pieces of litter per day and never ever litter again for some time now?…that these young people are an example for us all to follow?…that in the Napa Valley in northern California that litter was counted for a full five mile stretch from Calistoga to St. Helena?…that the count was exactly ZERO?…that this reflects a pride in the region not only by the people who live there but by those who pay good money to visit?…that we want to see more people pitch in to create a “LITTER FREE EVANSVILLE”?

IS IT TRUE that we may not have high tech jobs that pay 6 figures?…that we may not have screaming speed and unlimited bandwidth?…that we do not have the $500 Million that it takes to repair our obsolete sewer system?…that we have not exhibited civic pride and cleanliness of place for many years but that is something that we all can do?…that if the people of Evansville have the will and the staying power to make it happen that a LITTER FREE EVANSVILLE can become a reality that we all can take pride in?…that from that base of pride just maybe a business renaissance can start?…that it all starts by being visible and vigilante in the fight against litter and blight?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer published a seven page letter under the signature of Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel to John Friend regarding the questions that Councilman Friend had addressed to Matt Arvay the CTO of the City of Evansville and the man in charge of the IT solution?…that the words and detail descriptions in Mayor Weinzapfel’s letter to Councilman Friend were technically correct to the letter of the smallest detail?…that reading the Mayor’s letter would lead one to believe that a very competent IT professional with many years of experience had authored this letter?…that we are pleased and surprised that Mayor Weinzapfel seems to have this high of a level of expertise in cutting edge Information Technology related hardware?

IS IT TRUE that it has been alleged that Mayor Weinzapfel could not have written this letter by people who are both close to the issues and have known Mayor Weinzapfel for years?…that it is of concern if the Mayor is representing himself to be the author if and we do mean if he is not?…that rather than deliver a tutorial on the definition of and the consequences of plagiarism that we will simply offer Mayor Weinzapfel the opportunity to submit a notarized letter to the people of Evansville stating that he is the author of the letter in question and that he has knowledge and expertise in Information Technology?…that we will publish the letter without edit, comment, or bias?

IS IT TRUE that Bob Dylan rocked a large crowd at Roberts Stadium last night?…that this will be the last Rock and Roll concert in Roberts Stadium if the powers that be have their way?…that there is a billboard in Sacramento, CA that simply says “YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID BUT YOU CAN VOTE IT OUT”?…that every town needs such a billboard?

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