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

Today is the launch of the 17th Annual Ducks on the Ohio event to benefit the transitional housing and employment services for homeless families with children of the Goodwill Family Center. Ducks are just $5 each, but goes a long way helping families break the cycles of generational poverty and homelessness. Residents of the Family Center WORK toward independence but need your help!

First Place Prize: $10,000 (maybe even ONE MILLION DOLLARS, courtesy of Fifth-Third Bank)
Second Prize: Pro-Equipment Groundskeeping Package from Tri-State ECHO Dealers (val. $1500)
Third Prize: One Year Security Monitoring from VANGUARD Alarm Services (val. $1500)
Fourth Prize: Goaliath In-Ground Basketball Unit (val. $999.99)
Fifth Prize: Resort Accommodations for One Week (val. $550)

Three students enrolled in health occupation courses at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center, were honored recently at the National HOSA Leadership Conference in California this summer.

Students Emily Jackson, Nicole Winters and Carolanne Pierce were recognized for their work in the National Recognition Program. The purpose of the program is for students to demonstrate the skills, abilities and attitudes necessary to pursue a career in health care. In order to demonstrate those attributes, students spend two years creating a portfolio of evidence of his/her accomplishments, including presentations, projects, writing samples, certifications and more.

In addition, Pierce also received the Barbara James Service Award which recognizes individual HOSA members whose commitment to community service is worthy of recognition. The award is named after Barbara James, 1982-1983 HOSA Inc. Board Chairman.

IS IT TRUE? July 6, 2011

IS IT TRUE that today is finally the day of reckoning for the decision to be made by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission on whether to continue to flounder with a perpetual extension scheme with the downtown Convention Hotel or not?…that we wonder if the Executive Inn Dilemma will now morph into another McCurdy with the perpetual extension mechanism (PEM) fully engaged so that not a minute passes where some City of Evansville official may have to admit that they do not have a contract in place?…that we shall know in a few hours if the ERC will move forward with sanity with a new and achievable RFP or if they will cling to the sputtering past of asserting confidence in the success of an agreement that was never VETTED?

IS IT TRUE that there are some mutterings of VETTING requirements emerging from members of the Evansville City Council and in particular from Councilman John Friend?…that Mole #5 has reported that a member of the ERC was overheard asking a member of the City Council “just what is VETTING anyway”…that if the members of the ERC can’t answer that question by now that they are not even engaged enough in the process to do some rudimentary searches on Google?…that a VETTING PROCESS is adopted prior to the acceptance of bids?…that there are several levels of VETTING that are done by all sorts of businesses and that the bankers on the ERC should be fully familiar with these protocols?

IS IT TRUE that most everyone was VETTED at a minimum level when we applied for that first credit card after high school?…that such a VETTING PROCESS to issue a credit limit of a couple of hundred dollars for the most part wants to establish that you have a pulse, an address, and a job?…that beyond that if you have not already defaulted then you shall be approved?…that the next round of VETTING that most of us were subjected to was in purchasing a car?…that they were looking for a pulse, an address, a job, and maybe a short credit history?…that we were also VETTED to get a mortgage and that the banks are looking for a pulse, a job, an address, a credit history, AND a purchaser of the mortgage so they can flip it for a 4% transaction fee?…that every one of these VETTING PROCESSES is more than has been required of developers by the City of Evansville?…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?

IS IT TRUE that when investment firms like venture capitalists VET prospective companies that it is a very intrusive process requiring details of the financial backgrounds, performance records, health, and lifestyle of the principals of the business?…that they do this for equity investments that are exactly in the range of the amounts that the downtown Convention Hotel and the McCurdy are?…that the McCurdy decision was a decision to invest $1.4 Million of taxpayer’s money?…that the decision on the developer for the downtown Convention Hotel is a decision on how to invest over $10 Million of Evansville taxpayer’s money?…that thus far these decisions have been made with less due diligence than getting a low end credit card requires?…that to anyone who has been involved in identification and VETTING of acquisition targets or strategic investments that the City of Evansville and the ERC really do look like they all just fell off of the turnip truck?…that the time for running a city the way that the Dukes of Hazard would have is over?…that the taxpayers of Evansville deserve and should demand competent oversight?

IS IT TRUE that the first questions on the VETTING sheet before even doing a cursory credit check should be?

1. Have you ever built a hotel? Explain the details!
2. Have you ever run or even worked in a hotel? Explain the details!
3. Why do you want to do this project? Explain the details!
4. Can you post a performance bond?

IS IT TRUE that if these simple questions are not answered satisfactorily that there is no need to take the next step?…that the application should not even be read if these questions are not adequately addressed?…that the right answer to question #4 is YES?

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 July 5, 2011 Vetting and Betting

IS IT TRUE that today is the last day for the factions within Woodruff Hospitality LLC to mend their fences and declare that they can close the deal and will work together under this corporate banner to build and operate a Downtown Convention Hotel?…that if they do that then the Evansville Redevelopment Commission will have avoided having to issue yet another RFP in an attempt to get a developer that can perform according to some to be determined contract?…that as we have said before, this is what happens when no VETTING PROCESS is in place prior to signing contracts?…that this is also what happens when no elected officials are in positions of responsibility when substantial sums of public money are being spent?…that the ERC and the Evansville City Council need desperately to take a crash course in VETTING so that whenever and if ever a developer comes forth with an acceptable plan that we do not get into another embarrassing expensive situation that was easily avoidable with just a little up front thinking?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer certainly hopes that by the end of this month that this situation is rectified and that a fully VETTED developer is under contract to proceed?…that we shall be watching the actions of both the ERC and the City Council in the next month to see if there is any ability or even the will to put a VETTING PROCESS into place?…that we wish them well but may just bet that they won’t make it happen should such a bet be possible to make?…that this whole process will likely be repeating itself in August with the McCurdy being the object of attention?…that it has been a four year disappointment as well?…that the VETTING PROCESS that we hope is put into place could be useful down at the McCurdy too?

IS IT TRUE that the mind of government really seems to work in strange ways?…that President Obama led and supported an effort to ban the playing of poker online?…that the same President is now selling lottery tickets for $5 each with the prize being “Lunch with the President”?…that there may be over 1 Million of those Presidential scratch-offs sold netting his campaign a cool $5 Million?…that for those who are into the scratch-off game there is a way to make some money from this scheme?…that the winner of this lunch could SELL this privilege to the highest bidder?…that this idea to SELL lunch with the President would most likely bring a bid of at least $50,000?…that selling the lunch would cause one to have to declare gambling earnings of $50,000 on an income tax return?…that the federal taxes would amount to as much as $17,500 and the state taxes would be $2,200 leaving the winner with $30,295 to stimulate the economy with?…that off of this one little lottery scheme that the President’s campaign would get $5 Million, the state and federal governments will get $19,700, and the economy will get goosed up by $30,295?

IS IT TRUE that whoops, it takes $5 Million in consumer spending off the table and gives it to a politician?…that pulling $5 Million off the table that was certainly destined for consumer spending will most certainly cost the states about $350,000 in sales taxes that won’t be collected?…that we should forget the whole scheme lest it lead to “Game with the Governor”, “Martini with the Mayor”, “Cocktails with the Council”, “Absinthe with the Assessor”, “Shots with the Senator”, or even “Coffee with the Judge” being arranged by selling lottery tickets or pulling tabs?…that our local government is already hopelessly addicted to a revenue stream that is dependent on gambling?…that this is not a good example for the President to set for others who seek public office to use as a fundraising technique?

The Arts Council is excited to continue the summer “Brown Bag” performances; the July performance will feature a special teaser for “Seussical,” the Public Education Foundation’s 2011 summer musical on Wednesday, July 6 at noon. The PEF summer musical will be presented, Thursday, July 14 through Sunday July 17 at the Centre Auditorium in downtown Evansville. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Centre box office at (812) 435-5770 or by visiting http://www.pefevansville.org/home.php

Time 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Subject COMMERCIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Location 318
Reminder 15 minutes
KATHIE HOLLEY @ 5228
Categories ROOM 318

Time 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Subject ZOO ADVISORY BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the first Tuesday of every 1 month effective 7/5/2011 until 7/5/2011 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
DONNA BENNETT @ 6143 EXT 402
Categories ROOM 301

Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject HVAC BOARD
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the first Tuesday of every 1 month effective 7/5/2011 until 7/5/2011 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
LINDA PENDLETON @ 7880
Categories ROOM 318

Today, the University of Evansville joins 48 other new members of the Common Application consortium. This is a worldwide group of 462 colleges and universities that accept the “Common App,” a single online or paper form that streamlines the process of applying to multiple schools.

“Most institutions see an increase in undergraduate applications when they begin accepting the Common App. This move increases UE’s visibility by including us in a list of schools searched by prospective students around the world,” said Don Vos, UE dean of admission. “It also eases the application process for high school seniors, allowing them to dedicate more time to essay writing, coursework, college research and visits, and other priorities rather than filling out multiple applications.”

The first UE students to be affected by the change will be the class of 2012-13. Students applying to UE may choose between the Common App and the University’s own application, available online at www.evansville.edu/admission. Both choices require an essay as part of the admission process.

Last year, almost 2 million applications were submitted via the Common App Online. For more information or to apply to the University of Evansville, visit www.commonapp.org.

The University of Southern Indiana is now officially a tobacco-free campus. A directional sign at the entrance to campus states USI is tobacco-free. Ashtrays, once visible on campus, have been removed.

The new policy, announced in fall 2010, states tobacco use will be permitted only in private vehicles and by residents of student housing in designated outdoor areas near housing facilities. The policy applies to all University-owned, -operated, and -leased property and vehicles. View the tobacco-free policy in its entirety here.

The policy aims to promote a clean and healthy working and learning environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. “When developing this policy, we tried to be sensitive to smokers’ needs and rights,” said Dave Enzler, director of Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness and co-chair of the Tobacco-Free Committee. “This policy is not anti-smoker. It’s about having a campus with clean air.”

The USI Tobacco-Free Committee, realizing how difficult it is to quit smoking, is offering smoking cessation classes free to USI staff, faculty, and students. Each class consists of four one-hour sessions in University Center West Room 214 from 2 to 3 p.m. The next class dates are Tuesdays, July 19 and 26 and August 2 and 9. Additional classes, as well as student classes, will be made available beginning the new school year. Employees may use the Time to Get Fit program, with the approval of their supervisor, for this program. Forms for Time to Get Fit are available here.

The cessation classes are conducted by trained facilitators Stephanie Walden-Schwake, assistant director of Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness, and Christine Tolis, assistant program director for student wellness. The classes focus on different triggers and trouble situations, as well as help develop a personalized plan to stay tobacco-free. “We realize this will be hard work but it is possible,” Tolis said. “And research shows the best way to quit is through nicotine replacement combined with a cessation program.” Individuals who participate in the cessation program are eligible to receive a voucher for one week’s supply of over-the-counter nicotine replacement product (patches, gum, or lozenges). Group facilitators help determine which product is best for each individual.

Success of this policy will depend on all members of the campus community complying with and encouraging others to comply in order to ensure a healthy environment to work, study, and live. Primary enforcement of this policy will be the responsibility of those persons who head individual units, departments, buildings, student housing units, those who supervise faculty and staff, security personnel, and others designated by the University. “Compliance and the encouragement of others are key to making this new policy effective,” Enzler said. “The first six months are going to be crucial and everyone needs to contribute.”

In order to improve compliance, the committee created tobacco-free campus cards to distribute on campus that can be downloaded here. The cards have information concerning the policy and the web address of the new tobacco-free site. “It’s a less confrontational way to approach someone who is using tobacco on campus,” said Todd Wilson, assistant vice president for Marketing and Communications, and co-chair of the USI Tobacco-Free Committee. “We understand it might be a difficult change for some, but as a campus community, we’ll all benefit from cleaner air and surroundings.”

“This policy has been in the works for several years,” Enzler said. “For the University, it’s a step forward in joining the many other tobacco-free universities across the nation.”

To learn more about tobacco-free USI, visit the tobacco-free site.

IS IT TRUE? July 5, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville announced last week that they are the fortunate recipient of a federal grant in the amount of $500,000?…that this grant is to be used for repair of sidewalks and that these repairs have to take place in an area of town that is statistically low income?…that there are plenty of areas in the City of Evansville that fit that description and have sidewalks that are in serious need of repair?…that in many areas there is not even one continuous block that is in good enough shape for a wheelchair or a person who can’t broad jump a couple of feet to walk down the block?…that the childhood game of “step on a crack you break your mother’s back” doesn’t have much meaning when the cracks are several feet across?…that keeping the sidewalks in good enough shape that they can be used to walk on is both a public safety and a public health issue?…that people walk in the street or refuse to walk at all when there are dilapidated sidewalks?…that the condition of the sidewalks in the City of Evansville contribute to our title of the “Most Obese City in America”?

IS IT TRUE that $500,000 (half a million) sounds like a lot of money?…that it is enough money to replace about 16,666 lineal feet of 3 foot wide sidewalks using the $10 per square foot cost estimate reported by the City of Evansville earlier this year?…that is roughly the number of feet in 15 standard city blocks?…that the City of Evansville is roughly set up on a grid that contains about 10,000 city blocks less the irregular shapes due to the Ohio River and the limits of annexation?…that a better estimate using the number of households and dividing by the number of houses in a standard block yields the number of 5,625 blocks and that adding 25% for retail and industrial areas indicates that there are about 7,000 blocks or a little over 9 Million feet of sidewalks in the City of Evansville?…that our $500,000 grant is enough to replace 0.18% of the sidewalks in Evansville?…that this is a nice start and that some neighborhood will be improved but that the sidewalks should have never been allowed to deteriorate in the first place?

IS IT TRUE that if a sidewalk lasts 30 years that there should be an annual replacement budget of a minimum of $3 Million just to keep the sidewalks up to acceptable standards?…that like our parks, our roads, our sewers, etc. that the sidewalks of Evansville are yet another legacy problem of neglect that needs to be dealt with?…that if only 20% of the sidewalks in the City of Evansville are in need of replacement that the cost to catch up to our negligence is nearly $20 Million?…that we wonder if there is anything that has been properly maintained in the City of Evansville over the last 30 years?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer’s lead over the Courier and Press in minutes of online viewing per month has held up for three days now?…that it is only a 1.01% lead but that we are savoring it?…that our global pageviews ranking increased by 17% after June’s numbers were crunched by Alexa.com giving the CCO a solid 40% lead over the highly trafficked website of Channel 14?

IS IT TRUE that in was reported in last week’s meeting on government transparency and Freedom of Information Act seminar that a lady stood up in the question and answer session and stated that she had done a FOIA request for the legal bills incurred by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that she reported that she received a letter that basically told her to go jump in the lake?…that she then filed a complaint (‘Office of the Public Access Counselor Formal Complaint’), and the Public Access Counselor (who also was in attendance at the meeting) agreed with her, and sent her and ERC an ‘Advisory Opinion’ stating that ERC should provide the legal bills requested?…that she reported that she still has not received the information and only has the recourse of filing a lawsuit to get what she file a FOIA for?…that we invite this lady to contact us so that we may investigate this further?…that in the meantime we intend to file another FOIA ourselves for the same documents?