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8% annual spending increases and maintenance practices questioned

In a letter secured by the City County Observer through anonymous sources, City Councilman John Friend questions Chief Information Officer Matt Arvay regarding the overall information technology solutions implemented by the City of Evansville. In his letter Councilman Friend not only questions the decisions to choose specific hardware suppliers but lets him know that the service levels within the Civic Center are a source of complaints. All of this comes on the heels of a week where the Evansville region was cited for poor internet speed in a “Competitive Realities” report released by the Southwest Indiana Coalition for Economic Development. In that study Evansville was ranked as 368th out of 370 metro areas nationwide for speed of internet connection.

Councilman Friend’s letter which is included below furthermore advised CIO Arvay that the upcoming budget hearings will be difficult and that every economy will be explored. Friend specifically questions the planning process, the no-bid contracts practices, the investments in the arena and what budget should cover them, the failure to release plans, and the minimal use of customer satisfaction surveys.

The entire letter from Councilman Friend to Mr. Arvay is below.

Matt,

I have been surveying our service levels in the civic center and other locations and have discovered the following problems and concerns. We have been dedicating millions of dollars each and every year at a compounded rate of over 8% growth in your department. This rate of growth can not continue under the budget constraints at will be upon us. We will have to do more with less. For instances, as we previously discussed concerning Cisco Switches, USI dropped
Cisco and chose Junnifer, saving $1,000,000. And please don’t tell me, we are installing a Cisco 7613 switch in the Arena. As you know, this technology can provide connectivity for the entire City of Evansville.

Questions that have been asked around at the civic center and by local companies are;

1. Why does this department not involve other departments or the technology advice committee in the planning process?

2. Just how many contracts and for how much money total does the city pay to the private company that runs most of the computer department through BPW, the arena, the water utility and other departments?

3. Why was the private company given a new multi-million dollar contract bythe city and county without going out for bid? In this economy a better price could have possibly been negotiated and at the least a review of the private company’s financial statements during the bid process could have verified that only an acceptable profit was being made from these contracts (and possibly explain the new luxury vehicles, estate and airplane of the owner). Wouldn’t it also have been good to allow local companies to try for this instead of just giving it to an out of town company for whatever reason?

4. Why is the yearly plan (if there is such a thing) for this department not shared with the other departments and why do the departments not have a say in this plan?

5. Why is the long term plan (if there is such a thing) for this department not shared with the other departments and why do the departments not have a say in this plan?

6. Why has only 1 satisfaction survey been conducted to grade the private company’s performance? The previous company ACS did them annually.

7. Why is the budget for the computer department not broken out in the overall city budget that is published on the city’s website? Is it hidden in another department budget so that it can’t be monitored to verify that what is spent was what was planned?

In summary, the users of our IT have NOT be pleased with the overall service levels and procedural issues. For example, we have a down situation, MRC doesn’t come in on Sunday evening to resolve the problem, but, resolves on Monday mornings; thus, the service to our citizens and personnel efficiencies are obviously impacted.

As you know, our budget hearings are coming quickly and this will be addressed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks, John

IS IT TRUE? July 15, 2011

IS IT TRUE that just as the City County Observer has been reporting for two weeks now it appears as though there will be two and only two bidders on the RPF that was issued by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission to build a new downtown Convention Hotel where the two ROCK PILES are currently sitting behind the new Arena in Downtown Evansville?…that one company that is planning to bid is the Kunkel Group and that the other is an newly formed business called Prime Lodging and is headed by Chris Verville who like Kunkel was peripherally involved with Woodruff Hospitality LLC?…that just as the CCO predicted, no business that is not already familiar with the project has come forward with any intention to respond to the RFP?

IS IT TRUE that the former American General a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG that was acquired by a private equity group and renamed Springleaf has quietly had a layoff?…that 65 Evansville based employees have been let go during the last couple of days?…that we hope to see these employees find new jobs very soon?…that the newly attracted SS&C that is readying the 3rd floor of the Innovation Pointe Building for occupancy may be a great place for these people to submit applications?…that as we recall, the press releases from GAGE and Mayor Weinzapfel boasted that SS&C would be hiring up to 500 people in the next few years?…that this is an opportunity for them to get a head start on that hiring and prove the optimistic press releases to be correct?

IS IT TRUE that in the Competitive Realities study that was released by the Southwest Indiana Coalition for Economic Development last week that one of the areas in which Evansville was chided for being short on was in dollars to spend on marketing this region to the outside world?…that the words used were something along the line of dreadfully under the budgets that comparable cities have for that task?…that this writer has some experience with such budgets?…that the marketing budget that the Coalition has to tell the world what this region has to offer is less than one-tenth (10%) of what some other comparable places spend on that most important task?…that SCROUNGER BUDGETS in the economic development field when compared to competing cities have been the norm here for years and it shows?…that the public budget will have to provide unemployment, training, interview coaching, etc. to the unfortunate 65 people that the former AIG laid off this week will exceed the budget for marketing this area to the world by many times?…that we are once again penny wise and pound foolish?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Los Angeles has been considering spending $300 Million of public money to assist in constructing a $1 Billion football stadium to attract an NFL franchise to town?…that Los Angeles has not had a team in well over 10 years and that the economy of the city has not missed a beat from the absence?…that both the Raiders (now from Oakland) and the Rams (now from St. Louis) both tried to shake the City of Los Angeles down for money back in the 90’s?…that both were unsuccessful and ended up following through on their threat to leave town?…that both Oakland and St. Louis have had some very public money troubles for caving in to these shake down techniques and “buying” teams?…that the City of Los Angeles after learning of the travails of Hamilton County, Ohio has put their plans on hold for a later date?

IS IT TRUE as was pointed out in the City County Observer this week that subsidizing professional sports stadiums with public money is reverse redistribution of income?…that doing what some cities do by heavily subsidizing temples to sports do is simply taking money from productive middle class taxpayers and giving it to ballplayers and team owners?…taking from those who work and giving to those who play ball for a living would have the founders of the United States turning over in their graves?

No Date of Commitment to Respond included in Letter

The City of Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development responded to the Freedom of Information Act request filed by the City County Observer on behalf of Evansville City Councilman John Friend in a matter of hours. The response letter does not commit to a specific date by which the requested information will be made available was not a part of the letter. The requirement for compliance with the FOIA laws is 20 business days which will be Thursday August 11th. The full text of the letter is as follows:

July 14, 2011

Joe Wallace, Editor
City County Observer
218 Rosemarie Court
Evansville IN 47715

Re: Public Records Request

Dear Mr. Wallace:

The Department of Metropolitan Development received your written request on 7/14/2011 requesting access to and copies of any contracts, agreements, and correspondence between Old National Bank and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission/City of Evansville Pertaining to the insurance advice, policies, or discussion for the new Evansville Arena.

This response to your written request is made pursuant to Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act, I.C.5-14-3 et seq. The Department may have records that are responsive to your request and is in the process of retrieving and reviewing the necessary files. A response will be provided to advise you of the Department’s findings. Pursuant to I.C.5-14-3-8, a fee for copying any records in response to your request may be charged by the Department and payment of such costs must be made prior to releasing copies of public records.

Sincerely,

Shannon Begeman
Keeper of the Records

Councilman Friend takes us up on the offer to file for ONB Insurance recommendations, No Charge of Course

Joe Wallace, Editor
City County Observer
218 Rosemarie Court
Evansville, IN 47715

July 14, 2011

Office of the Mayor of Evansville Indiana, the Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development, and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission

RECORDS REQUEST

Dear Records Request Officer:

Pursuant to the state open records act, I request access to and copies of any contracts, agreements, and correspondence between Old National Bank and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission/City of Evansville pertaining to the insurance advice, policies, or discussion for the new Evansville Arena.

I agree to pay up to $50 to cover the cost of copying the document.

If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Joe J Wallace

Joe Wallace, Editor
City County Observer

IS IT TRUE? July 14, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is now on its 12th day of leading the Courier and Press in minutes of viewing per month as measured by 3rd party web portals Alexa.com and trafficestimate.com?…that there is a site in Cincinnati that picked up and linked to our article regarding the difficulties that the blown revenue projections for the two riverfront stadiums are causing the people of Cincinnati?…that on Wednesday that the City County Observer had the 9th most read article from that news posting service in the Cincinnati area?…that it seems as though there is blundering in government everywhere and that having the courage to actually point it out pays off?

IS IT TRUE that we are pondering on the DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY that was issued by Mayor Weinzapfel yesterday so that the removal of the Pile of Rocks that used to be the Executive Inn can proceed as an official emergency?…that this declaration will make the removal go faster because there will not be the normal need for a formal bidding process?…that people in the know understand that this will mean that they can charge a higher price since there is no bidding process to keep the prices competitive?…that we will most certainly pay more for this and get it done faster due to this DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY?…that we are curious of just what an emergency is?

IS IT TRUE that the definition of an emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment?…that most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation?…that the two Piles of Rocks already have a protective construction fence around them with appropriate warnings not to enter?…that these Piles of Rocks are firmly supported on the earth and do not appear to have any potential to fall to the ground or upon to some innocent bystander?…that other than offending someone with their ugliness that these Piles of Rocks appear to be both harmless and inanimate?…that there have not be any injuries reported by the public due to these Piles of Rocks jumping the fence to attack?…that none of the daily activity reports of the Evansville Police Department have any reports of these Rocks committing any acts of violence or robbery?…that these two Piles of Rocks do not appear to pose any immediate risk to the health, life, property, or environment whatsoever?…that a call to the local office of the EPA and a conversation with EPA Director Dona Bergman yielded an answer that there is nothing in their records to indicate that there is any EPA problem handled by their office?…that this is not an emergency at all and that this declaration is only being done to expedite a matter that is fully capable of being mitigated by conventional means?

IS IT TRUE that when a Rock fell off of the Skora Building down by the Greyhound Bus Station that a justifiable emergency order was issued and the building was razed?…that when that rainbow building down on 3rd St. that once housed the FolzCity Boutique caught on fire that an emergency order was issued by Mayor Weinzapfel and the building was razed?…that the owner of the building was presented with the bill for razing the place?…that work has already been completed on the lot that the Rock Pile is on?…that Klenck Construction has done this work and has not been paid?…that it is within their legal rights to file a mechanics lien on the lot for payment?…that many business people would do exactly that to assure that they do get paid for the work that is already completed?…that a mechanics lien will force this issue when and if a hotel developer is ever properly vetted to begin a hotel?

IS IT TRUE that the last time that the ERC met, that John Kish mentioned that there would be a change order needed to complete the debris removal at the Pile of Rocks?…that the DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY that the Mayor just made will eliminate the need to go out for bids or even to disclose that there is was a cost overrun that is large enough to require a new bid?…that we wonder just how much influence that suppressing this information played in the decision to declare an emergency for something that is clearly not a classic emergency?

Time 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Subject MBE/WBE UTILIZATION BOARD
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 7/14/2011 until 7/14/2011 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 7/7/2011 until 7/28/2011 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
Sharon Evans @ 4982
Categories ROOM 301

Time 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Subject DMD BID OPENING
Location 307
Reminder 15 minutes
LANA ABEL @ 7804
Categories ROOM 307

Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject ITAC
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 7/14/2011 until 7/14/2011 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 7/14/2011 until 7/14/2011 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
KATHIE @ 5228
Categories ROOM 301

July 23, 2011
10 am – 6 pm

This outdoor art show will feture all local artists. All aritsts are welcome to come exhibit and sell their work for free.
Artists need to provide their own tables and chairs and easels.

Contact: Jay Zimmer (402-0842) who owns the coffee shop.

Abbey Road Coffee Bean Emporium
422 North Main Street (two doors down from Turoni’s on Main)
Evansville, IN
(812) 402-0842

(EVANSVILLE, IN)- A reminder that the deadline for area nonprofit groups to apply to utilize the new Evansville Arena without paying a rental fee, before the Arena officially opens to the public, is July 18th. Interested groups are being asked to fill out an application at http://www.evansvillearenaproject.com/content/application-nonprofit-event-new-evansville-arena Final selections will be made by August 17th.

“We want to invite nonprofit groups to experience the arena in a way that they wouldn’t normally be able to do once the venue is open,” said Kathy Kleindorfer, Chairman of the Evansville Arena Project Committee. “This is our community’s arena and this is just one of the ways we will be introducing it to the public.”

Reservation-type events of more than 50 people and less than 500 will be considered. Nonprofits will not be charged a rental fee, but they will be responsible for the cost of set up and tear down as well as providing chairs, tables, etc. Groups must also arrange for a caterer if food is being served.

Available dates will fall between mid-October and the first week in November as time and space will allow. Saturdays are not included.

IS IT TRUE? July 14, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville under EMERGENCY ORDER of Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel has thrown the Pile of Rubble that used to be the Executive Inn down the hall to the rock busting division of Tom Barnett and the Department of Metropolitan Development?…that this will get the ball rolling on cleaning up the Pile of Rubble (there are actually 2 piles) in the fastest and most expensive way that local government can move?…that the construction company that was originally hired to do this job, Klenk Construction, pulled off of the job on Tuesday because they had not been paid for their work?…that even if Klenk is hired to finish the job that the PRICE IS GOING UP due to the EMERGENCY ORDER that was issued by the Mayor?…that there reason given for the EMERGENCY ORDER is that the two Piles of Rubble are now declared to be a PUBLIC HAZARD?…that we have not seen or heard of anyone being injured or even being cited for trespassing on that site?…that there are Piles of Rubble, houses falling down, roads collapsing, etc. all over Evansville that escape the clutches of an expensive EMERGENCY ORDER for years?

IS IT TRUE that this decision was more about protecting the ego of the fellow who issued the EMERGENCY ORDER than it was about keeping a young version of Tom Barnett from climbing the fence to play on the Pile of Rubble?…that the mental picture of a young Tom climbing a chain link fence to break rocks is quite funny?…that this EMERGENCY ORDER will have some people working on the ROCK PILE pretty soon?

IS IT TRUE that once there was a young man from Los Angeles who wanted very badly to be a Fireman?…time and time again his application to become a member of the LAFD was passed over?…that this young man devised a scheme to start a fire and then extinguish the fire in a very public way gaining publicity and valor in hopes that he would finally be hired as a Fireman?…that this young man did indeed start a fire in the mountains behind Calabasas?…that during the time that he was waiting for the LAFD and media to arrive, that the fire got too big for him to handle?…that he could not put it out and neither could all of the fire crews that were sent to the West LA area under Emergency Order…that this fire became one of the largest fires in the history of California and destroyed $375 Million DOLLARS of property as it raged to the Pacific Ocean through Malibu Canyon and Sycamore Canyon?…that three people died and many homes were destroyed?…that the young man who devised the scheme to become a Fireman by starting a fire and putting it out was convicted of multiple charges?…that he never became a Fireman?

IS IT TRUE that the Malibu fire of 1994 was rooted in ambition?…that it was intentional and self serving?…that it backfired?…that the City County Observer DOES NOT BELIEVE that the chaos of the “Fling at Walnut and King” that has led to yesterdays ENERGENCY ORDER was intentional?…that quite frankly it was a failure to plan, a failure to follow up, a process that was dysfunctional, a complete lack of understanding of the value proposition, a prolonged period of hard headed denial, and finally the chickens coming home to roost with the cancellation of the contract with Woodruff Hospitality LLC that made this EMERGENCY ORDER necessary?…that this is no way to run a city?…that we will be glad when this is over?…that just when one thinks that it cannot possibly get more bizarre, it does?…that neither Hollywood nor Malibu could have ever come up with all of the twists and turns that the “Fling at Walnut and King” have delivered?