Of Course this took some Serious Planning and Staging to Do, not to Mention Waiver of Inspections. Can we Compete with This?

Time 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Subject TREE ADVISORY BOARD
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the first Thursday of every 1 month effective 7/7/2011 until 7/7/2011 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
SHAWN DICKERSON @ 475-1426
Categories ROOM 318

Time 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Subject AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Location 318
Reminder 15 minutes
LAURA
Categories ROOM 318

Time 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Subject EMPO TECHNICAL
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Thursday of every 1 month effective 7/7/2011 until 7/7/2011 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 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 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject EMPO POLICY BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Thursday of every 1 month effective 7/7/2011 until 7/7/2011 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 18 hours
KARI 2 7833
Categories ROOM 301

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – July 6, 2011 – To facilitate communication with citizens and area media outlets, Central Dispatch has set up a Twitter account to distribute emergency traffic advisories and other public safety alerts as requested by on-scene responders.

To access the Evansville Central Dispatch Twitter page, go to the link http://www.twitter.com/Evansville911 or search Twitter for “Evansville911.”

Central Dispatch supervisors will be posting the information as necessary, and content could include:
• Traffic information such as emergency road closings or restrictions.
• Missing, endangered persons.
• Other information as requested by emergency services personnel.

To report any type of emergency, call 9-1-1. Please do not attempt to contact Evansville Central Dispatch through Twitter for emergencies.

More information about Central Dispatch, including current statistics, can be found at http://www.evansvillegov.org/CentralDispatch

Greetings from Cotton, a 1-year-old spayed DSH. Cotton is a tiny girl with a huge personality. She is such a spunky little thing always looking for ways to start mischief. When she’s not testing the waters, you’ll find Cotton curled up in her favorite person’s lap. Cotton enjoys the company of other cats but wouldn’t mind being the center of attention. She also loves children but will be just fine in a home with adults. Cotton likes to pounce so she’ll definitely want a home with lots of toys she can chase around. For more information on how to make Cotton a member of your family, visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563.

IS IT TRUE that for the fifth day in a row the trailing calculation for time online using the 3rd party measurements of Alexa.com and trafficestimate.com has the City County Observer slightly ahead of the Courier & Press?…that we continue to be pleased but also feel somewhat like the Milan High School Indians when they took the lead on larger and heavily favored Muncie Central to take the Indiana state basketball championship?…that we do not anticipate any movie deals coming our way but do relish the underdog role?

IS IT TRUE that yet another idea has come forth that may rescue the old Greyhound Bus Station?…that the group called Indiana Landmarks is hoping to place an office in the classic art deco building because of its perceived historical importance?…that the key to this rescue will lie in the local financial support that can be mustered to refurbish the building and then pay for the operational costs after the building is up to snuff?…that there will be room for other tenants in the building and that if a permanent outdoor market set up is established (like Owensboro is currently building) adjacent to the Greyhound Station that there may just be some commercial success in the block’s future?…that we must emphasize that this is a non-profit that is basically saying “Evansville, if you fix this building we will rent an office in it from you”?…that this is not a white knight with deep pockets bailing out an old downtown building?…that this is a good organization that is offering Evansville a chance and a vision to actually do something that has been talked about for 5 years now?…that if we as a community do not get behind this effort and make it happen that it is time to tear the building down?…that the same administration that is counting the seconds to tear down Roberts Stadium has been holding a rabbit’s foot about the Greyhound for 5 years now?…that here is our chance Evansville, do we want the bus station repaired or not?…that we are supportive of any and all efforts that step forward to raise some money for this?…that Evansville may COUNT THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER IN WITH FREE ADVERTISING TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT?

IS IT TRUE that the dust clouds are still rising over the final solution and dissolution that the 4 year effort to get a downtown Convention Hotel culminated in yesterday?…that four years ago when a proud Mayor Weinzapfel announced that Browning would be building a 4-Star hotel to replace the Executive Inn everyone was a little star struck that this could be possible?…that the project has been all downhill from there and that today the four year effort has degraded to the point that TAXPAYER DOLLARS are being committed to clean up the 10 foot pile of rubble and there is no contract in place?…that the new RFP was published alongside sheriff sale notices and other public bid contract opportunities like patching holes and painting outbuildings?…that yesterday was a TAIL BETWEEN THE LEGS DAY for the dog called the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that the biggest question that is still nagging the CCO and many of our readers is how perfectly competent people can turn into mush when they find themselves appointed to government commissions or even elected to public office?…that we wonder why none of the financially savvy members of the Evansville City Council raised a red flag to the VETTING issue?…that we suspect that the red flag was raised but that the warnings were net heeded?…that we equally wonder how bankers and accountants on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission would casually ignore everything that they do in their professional lives about VETTING when they enter the Civic Center?…that whatever circumstances that cause well trained and well intentioned people to cast both professional and common sense aside when placed into positions of stewardship over public dollars MUST BE ELIMINATED?…that an uncompromising VETTING PROCESS that is adopted by both the ERC and the Evansville City Council would be a positive step forward to correct this cognitive dissonance that seems to afflict our elected and appointed leaders?

IS IT TRUE that the most disturbing question from a reader is “how many other things are as messed up as the hotel project and the McCurdy that are just not yet understood yet”?…that is a question that begs for answers?…that it is time for the CONE OF INCOMPETENCE to be removed from the Civic Center roof?

IS IT TRUE that the last act of the classic play that has turned into a cross between a tragedy and a Three Stooges Marathon played itself out at the meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that all of the commissioners were in attendance to watch the finale and did their part by voting 5 – 0 to rescind the agreement with Woodruff Hospitality LLC that functionally rescinded itself some time ago due to internal squabbling between investors and simply the weakness of the project itself?…that it has only been about 6 months since this same Evansville Redevelopment voted 5 – 0 to award the downtown Convention Hotel deal to Woodruff Hospitality LLC over White Lodging of Hammond, Indiana that built the new downtown Convention Hotel in Fort Wayne?…that not one elected official was in the room or on the committee 6 months ago and that not one elected official bothered to attend yesterday’s meeting?…that not one member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission brought up the issue of VETTING 6 months ago when Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel was triumphantly announcing the unanimous decision of the ERC that he had made a deal to get Evansville a downtown Convention Hotel?

IS IT TRUE that with a CPA, a commercial loan officer, and a pawn broker all sitting on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission that we are somewhat mystified as to why there was no VETTING whatsoever for the developer before voting 5 – 0 to award the contract?…that we wonder if the CPA on the ERC has ever been involved in reading a pro-forma and questioning its assumptions?…that we wonder if the commercial loan officer has ever prepared a presentation for a loan committee and done the due diligence required to make a recommendation to either make or not make a loan to an applicant?…that to prosper as a pawn broker that the Chairman of the ERC has to make value and liquidity judgments every day?…that we understand how such a combination of talents are needed on the ERC?…that what we do not understand is why they do not seem to have utilized the talents that led to their appointments?…that the expertise of the other two members are not known to the CCO so we are curious to know just who appointed them to the ERC and why?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council has also sat in silence while this Three Stooges Marathon has played itself out?…that it is time for the City Council to re-assert itself as the elected stewards of the people of Evansville’s money and demand an end to this madness?…that the candidates for Mayor of Evansville and for the City Council also need to let it be known what they think about the lack of VETTING of any kind by the ERC and how they would propose to fix it?

IS IT TRUE that it is time for Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, the ERC, and the City Council to call a press conference to publically apologize to the people of Evansville for the utter failure of this disorganized chaos?…that the actions and inactions that enabled this Three Stooges Marathon to play out the way it has NEEDS to be thoroughly analyzed and the VETTING PROCESS needs to be established before going forward with anything else except of course removing the pile of debris that is now the Executive Inn?…that there are no acceptable excuses for these failures?…that there is only an opportunity to suck it up, admit the failures, and to put a process in place to assure that the people of Evansville’s time and money is never ever treated with such utter disrespect again.

IS IT TRUE that the VETTING process needs to begin by Vetting the Vettors?…that the way that members of the ERC are appointed needs to have a VETTING PROCESS as well?…that people who are of an accommodating temperament that would make a rubber stamp for any Mayor should never be appointed to this or any commission?…that as much as we need independent thought on the City Council we also need independent competent thinkers on the ERC and other commissions?…that lapdogs should be verboten?

Take That: July 6, 2011

IN RESPONSE TO: Executive Inn Dilemma and the ERC

“Someone at the ERC should call Klenk Construction I’ll bet they know who signed the contract for demolition.” Blanger

“Considering the dysfunctional Arena project and its’ collateral expenses, a half billion dollars in sewer mandates and Vectren’s parasitic grip, we have passed the tipping point. Evansville and Vanderburgh County are tumbling out of control. … There is a reason why financing has not materialized. This Downtown Arena project was a fools notion from its’ inception. The chickens have come home to roost.” Bubbageek

“BUT, remember, TAXPAYERS – I.E. VOTERS – CAUSED IT! Remember the first Weinzapfel election? Weinzapfel’s criticism of Lloyd for STOPPING a million dollar project, treated as valid in the press, a progressive hero? We, (not specifically me, but we, collectively) “mandated” this kind of black box, hopey changey, progressive VETTING!” Eville Taxpayer

“This fiasco makes the excessive spending that got the whole CVB board fired look like the good old days. I would gladly pay 5 bottles of Opus One to avoid a completely inept performance that is going to cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. If these members of the ERC are allowed to stay on this board then whoever appoints them needs to be fired for breach of fiduciary responsibility. No private business in the country would survive being run like this. You want to talk about vetting? Who vetted these stooges? What does it take other than being a loyal brainless subject of Mayor Weinzapfel to serve on the ERC?” TheDonald

IN RESPONSE TO: Vetting

“The ERC had a six-person committee (appointed by ?) that recommended VenuWorks after clandestine interviews at the Vectren HQ. That must have been far more important to the ERC than the hotel project. The ERC is still wondering why an insurance agent with zero hotel and zero construction experience couldn’t finance and build a hotel. The ERC makes Boss Hogg look like Warren Buffet by comparison.” Joe Biden

“Is it true, “that Sears is more diligent about VETTING people for credit cards with a $200 limit than the ERC and the City of Evansville have been about committing millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money?” [Applause!]
But let me suggest another twist: Since bureaucrats at the ERC are not elected, yet hold such power over this population’s resources… Also since we’ve just heard statements from members that if true… might imply, dangerous, incompetence? The public should be demanding to hear exactly what is the administration/Council’s vetting process for placing individuals on ERC, too!……. Is there really any reason to believe individuals could have suspect judgement when it comes to evaluating a contractor, and sound judgement in all other areas of leadership? Is it true the past “vetting” process for ERC membership might be…1.) Has your past actions sufficiently deserved patronage? 2.) Double check #1.” Evilletaxpayer

“LOL if you expect any City employee, Council Member or Advisory butt kisser to go to these lengths. Take ten or so of your favorite bullet points on this post and make a one sheet checklist. Hey, that’s ten things we’re not asking for today ! Boy that Kish is doing a great job, when will the Mayor come out with the announcement in support of Kish, similar to George Bush praising “Brownie” at FEMA for doing “a heck of a job” on Katrina ??” Beerguy

In a sideline to the sideshow that the downtown Convention Hotel project has become the issue of the slow moving removal of debris was brought up by John Kish, the MLK Entertainment Complex project manager. Mr. Kish voiced concern about the urgency associated with getting the debris pile that used to be the Executive Inn removed so that the Arena project is not negatively impacted by it.

The attorney for Woodruff Hospitality LLC addressed the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and stated that Woodruff Hospitality LLC is of the opinion that the Kunkel Group has assumed financial responsibility for paying for the demolition of the Executive Inn and the removal of associated debris. Mr Kish acknowledged that he has been told the same thing. No representative of the Kunkel Group spoke at the meeting and neither Ben Kunkel nor Chuck Harper were in attendance.

In another twist to getting the debris removed Mr. Kish said that a change order was needed to the original contract that is of a large enough dollar amount that it will have to go through a competitive bidding process? The duration of time that Mr. Kish estimated for the entire process required to finish the debris removal completed was 60 days. In the best case this will put completion of debris removal into late September only a few weeks before the scheduled opening of the new Arena.

The prospect of a legal battle over exactly who will pay for the demolition and the debris removal prompted Mr. Kish to recommend to the ERC that the funds that have been approved for incentives to some eventual hotel developer for cleaning the debris. The question of “who is Klenk Construction (demolition contractor) working for?” was asked by a member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission. That question prompted the discussion of who will pay and the end result of this is that the taxpayers of Evansville will pay.

The debris removal project can not start until the ERC meets again on July 19th to authorize the expenditure of the Hotel Incentive Funds to pay for the demolition and debis removal. The nature of the change order was not disclosed.

Kish states that No Progress has been made in the Last 2 weeks, and None is Expected

In this morning’s meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission a motion was made by Sara Miller to terminate the agreement with Woodruff Hospital LLC. Ms. Millers motion was adopted by a vote of 5 – 0 by the members of the ERC instantly erasing an agreement that has been at the center of the public stage for a couple of months now because of the failure of the principals to attract a financing package.

Internal struggles within Woodruff Hospitality LLC have complicated the cooperation process that was hoped to result in a Hyatt Place hotel being built in downtown Evansville. John Kish, the project manager expressed the belief that cancellation of the Woodruff contract was a necessary step to make the newly issued RFP attractive to other bidders. Woodruff Hospitality LLC’s attorney, Chad J. Sullivan, said the Kunkel Group was the only holdout to being able to go forward with the project. Sullivan also told the commission he was not aware of his client’s interest in submitting a proposal to the new RFP. Sullivan plead with the ERC to delay rescinding the contract a while longer so that a meeting of the minds could be reached. His pleas was to no avail as the ERC proceeded to terminate the agreement.

Mr. Kish announced that the RFP had been published in the Courier Press and that it would be available online shortly.

Just before adjourning a member of the ERC asked Mr. Kish if it would be possible to incorporate some requirements for financial information for submission with future bids. Mr. Kish advised the ERC that they may add any vetting procedures that they wish to the RFP.

No members of the Evansville City Council were in attendance.

Time 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Subject ERC
Location 307
Reminder 15 minutes
SARAH @ 7825
Categories ROOM 307

Time 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Subject COUNTY COUNCIL
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Wednesday of every 1 month effective 7/6/2011 until 7/6/2011 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Reminder 15 minutes
SANDIE @ 5791
Categories ROOM 301

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Subject PARKS BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Wednesday of every 1 month effective 7/6/2011 until 7/6/2011 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
GLENN BOBERG @ 6141
Categories ROOM 301

Time 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Subject ERA Room 307 (Lana Abel) 2:30-3:30
Reminder 15 minutes

Time 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Subject HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the first Wednesday of every 1 month effective 7/6/2011 until 7/6/2011 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
Categories ROOM 318