George Mason Study Places Hoosier State #3 for Freedom, New York is Last

This study comprehensively ranks the American states on their public policies that affect individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres. An interactive map leads to the discussions of why each state ranked the way they are ranked. Indiana in particular was praised for having laws that promote individual freedoms in the areas of gun control, penalties for recreational marijuana use, and for having unregulated professions.

Indiana was cited for having silly blue laws that should be repealed and for making internet gambling illegal. The study urged Indiana to repeal those laws and to reduce the public debt by constraining the budgets for public welfare and hospitals. An appropriate comment was that Indiana strikes a good balance between Baptists and Bootleggers.

Our Midwestern border states of Illinois and Ohio did not fare so well ranking #41 and #42 respectively. Our southern neighbor Kentucky came in at #32 largely for carrying excessive debt and having little restriction on local government bonded debt.

Here is a link to the entire story and an interactive map.

http://mercatus.org/freedom-50-states-2011

IS IT TRUE that “CCO Mole # 3” has information that shall save you money the next time you shop either at Lowes or Home Depot? …when you go to the counter to pay your bill please ask them if they give discounts to Veterans? …they shall ask you to show documentation that you are Active Duty or are a United States Veteran? …that once you prove your Veteran status they will immediately give you a whopping 10% discount on total purchases? …that aren’t you glad that you read the CITY COUNTY OBSERVER because they have money saving ideas you can use?…that the link below is for our military and veterans to use in living a life full of discounts?

http://themilitarywallet.com/home-depot-lowes-10-military-discount/

IS IT TRUE that Mole #92 tells us that Vanderburgh Democratic Party Chairman Mark Owen is actually making a concerted effort to unify the fractured party?…that some of the sour attitudes have been spilling onto Facebook and into the Tweet Stream of Twitter?…that in one particular case of a Facebook post that Chairman Owen has admonished one of the Democratic candidates to suppress the hate that keeps being expressed for certain other Democratic candidates?…that several Moles and Mole Assistants have a screen shot saved of the interaction but that for the time being we will not post it?…that another Democratic candidate was simply taken aside and told in so many words to shut his mouth with the acidic language and that if he can’t to please just shut his mouth altogether?…that as Gandalf told Peregrine Took before standing before the Steward of Gondor that “it would be best if you say nothing at all”?…that the City County Observer would like to give Chairman Owen two Mole thumbs up for his efforts?…that the antics of the party have given us free and easy material for some time now and that we may have to work harder if there is peace among democrats?

IS IT TRUE that our article about accommodating the Jehovah’s Witnesses yesterday elicited 10 comments very quickly?…that all are supportive of making some positive use of Roberts Stadium and that they are split on whether or not there will be parking issues downtown if the Arena is filled during working hours?…that sometimes the numbers do not stack up and that a full Arena during a workday is a case where the numbers just do not stack up?…that busses to bring people downtown from the Roberts Stadium parking lot will solve that problem?…that then number of times that the Arena will be used and crowded in any given year during the work day will be able to be counted on one hand?…that we agree with most of our readers that there IS a good use for Roberts Stadium?…that we await the day that a local group steps forward to implement a use?…the term use it or lose it may just apply to Roberts Stadium?…that if SMG wants to keep booking acts into there that there should be no reason not to allow them to do so?…that Bob Dylan tickets start at $25 each?…that if he were to be booked into either the new Arena or the Centre that the price would be higher and less of our citizens could enjoy the show?…that the CCO says thumbs up to Bob Dylan, SMG, and Outback Concerts for an affordable concert during the Great Recession?

IS IT TRUE that tomorrow June 16, 2011 is the day that the CCO is supposed to be receiving all of the communications and documentation regarding the VenuWorks contract and more importantly the agreement(s) to bring a convention hotel to downtown Evansville?…that we hope that all of you are just as eager as we are to see what kind of a deal that we have in both cases?

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 June 14, 2011

IS IT TRUE that there is a fly in the ointment for keeping the annual Jehovah’s Witness Convention coming to Evansville?…that the leadership of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has expressed concern over the availability of parking in downtown Evansville with respect to holding their convention at the new Evansville Arena?…that the Jehovah Witnesses have been renting Roberts Stadium for their convention for two consecutive weekends for weekends for many years now?…that the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that the 10,000 visitors have an economic impact of $3.5 Million to the Evansville economy?…that if the waiting time for tables at restaurants last weekend is an indicator that the number may even be higher?…that the Jehovah’s Witnesses all wore their badges and were seen in all of the best restaurants of Evansville enjoying themselves after a day at Roberts Stadium?

IS IT TRUE that the Jehovah’s Witness conventions always start on Friday?…that being the case that they will be competing with the reported 14,000 downtown workers for the 4,000 or so parking spaces that are in downtown Evansville within walking distance of the Arena?…that the City County Observer has always accepted the City of Evansville’s assertion that downtown Evansville has an adequate number of parking spaces to handle Arena crowds?…that we still accept that but do not think there is adequate parking during normal working hours from 8 – 5 on Monday through Friday?…that parking may indeed be a real problem for any event at the Arena during normal working hours?…that if keeping the Jehovah Witnesses coming to Evansville is a priority then the parking problem for Friday will have to be dealt with?…that one piece of a solution is to make two Fridays in June vacation days for the Civic Center employees liberating the entire back 40 for parking?…that another piece of a solution is to make two Fridays in June FREE PARKING DAYS for downtown Evansville?…that it would really infuriate someone to drive around looking for a parking place that is marked with a “TWO HOUR PARKING” sign, to park there, and to return from your convention to a $15 PARKING TICKET on your windshield?

IS IT TRUE that when all things are considered that the new Evansville Arena on a Friday is not a very inviting place to have an event that draws over 5,000 people?…that parking will be a problem, that an increase in rental rates will be an unwelcome surprise, and that one bad experience will be the last one?…that the management of the Owensboro Sports Arena is quite aware of the dilemma that Evansville has created for itself?…that the best and most convenient way to keep the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their $3.5 Million of economic impact in Evansville is to KEEP ROBERTS STADIUM OPEN?…that to whine about a cost of $400,000 per year as being waste but to lose a $3.5 Million economic impact constitutes the right brain not knowing what the left brain is doing?…that this is a very good opportunity for Mr. Bob Warren to show his colors and negotiate an acceptable solution to this in a way that is a positive experience for the 2012 Jehovah’s Witness Convention?

IS IT TRUE that we hope that there is a new convention hotel under construction on that very site during June of 2012?…that will pose some unique challenges as well?…that if things do not get taken care of soon from a financial perspective that the hoped for construction may impact 2013 too?…that the Jehovah’s Witnesses just proved last weekend that there are enough hotel rooms in Evansville to accommodate a 6,000 person convention?…that the Frog Follies will prove the same thing?

IS IT TRUE that the video content of the story about weapons, liquor and condoms in the Line Street Park can be viewed on the following link?…that sometimes pictures are better than words for getting people’s attention?…that it is comical to hear the Director of the Evansville City Parks first response when confronted?…that he really did say that “parks employees did not put the rubbers, weapon, and liquor into the park”?…that this summer’s revelations from City Hall keep getting more and more astonishing?…that here is the video?

www.news25.us/story/14899906/are-evansville-parks-safe

IS IT TRUE that the first day after the Courier and Press reported that the Evansville Parks Department was trying to get its act together with a system to track complaints that a News 25 reporter went to a highly visible city park and was able to collect an empty liquor bottle, a sharp piece of metal, a weapon, a condom wrapper, and a used condom all in a matter of minutes?…that the reporter gathered this disgusting collection and took it to Dan Schall the Director of Parks for the City of Evansville?…that his response was that this was done by the people of Evansville?…that in defense of Mr. Schall that his statement is truthful?…that if a population of people lives like animals that there is indeed little that can be done to improve the conditions of the feedlot?…that part of the solution to these problems with the parks is in the hands of the people of Evansville but that the leadership role needs to come from the City Administration?…that Mr. Schall should consider this collection of garbage to be the first citizen complaint that he should log into his complaint register?…that maybe Monday mornings would be a good time to do a sweep of the parks to clean the garbage of reckless living?…that this whole garbage, used rubbers, druggie discards etc. will only improve according to the old adage “where there is a will there is a way”?…that we are very curious where the will to improve is in the current administration?

IS IT TRUE that a little old lady named Bernice stood before the Evansville City Council last night to speak her mind about the Council’s judgment or lack thereof?…that Bernice started out with an admonishment to the Council to think for themselves as opposed to continuing to be “puppets” for the current administration?…that Bernice was cut off by City Council President B. J. Watts mid sentence and told that there would not be any political statements made?…the Bernice simply asked “why”?…that on her way back to her seat that Councilman H. Dan Adams gave her some respect and allowed her to speak for a sentence or two?…that Bernice had a simple message and it was for the City Council to think for themselves and be a puppet for no one?…that the City County Observer would like to thank Bernice for her diligence in trying to make Evansville better and echo her admonishment to the City Council to think and do not be a puppet for anyone?…that Evansville could use more citizens with the civic engagement that Bernice has?

IS IT TRUE that on the heels of the City County Observer’s posts about the “Keeping the Majority” fundraiser that Fox 7 News has been in pursuit of the Democrats included and excluded from the fundraiser?…that it is always gratifying to see and hear of the mainstream media picking up leads from our website and running with them?…that it takes coordinated research to get to the bottom of things and that with as many Moles as we have we really like to see other news agencies get into the fracas?

IS IT TRUE that we encourage you to celebrate the “Ordination” of Bishop Charles Thompson on June 29, 2011 at Robert’s Stadium at 2:00 p. m.? … Bishop elect Charles Thompson is just the 5th Bishop to be named to the Diocese of Evansville? …that his ordination and installation is a significant event in the life of the Catholic Church? …we encourage you to call 477-8923 or e-mail – cindyj@hrparish.org for more information?

IS IT TRUE we are saddened to hear about the unexpected death of attorney, Timothy R Dodd? …that Mr. Dodd was extremely well respected and was a tireless advocate of the disadvantaged? …that because of Mr. Dodd’s untimely death that this shall cause a delay in the trial of alleged murderer, Jeffery Weisheit? …that because the courts have to replace Mr. Dodd with another defense attorney to represent Mr. Weisheit his trial may not start up until the beginning of next year?…that this time lag should give the Vanderburgh County Council an opportunity to budget and fund the reasonable request from Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann so he and his excellent legal team can bring justice to the victims and their families for this horrible crime

The rock and roll legend Bob Dylan has been booked to play at Roberts Stadium on August 2nd. Dylan last came to Evansville in the summer of 2008 playing to a large crowd at the Mesker Amphitheater. Tickets are available Friday at 10 am. For details go to the following link:

http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/06/03/bob-dylan-ticket-information/

All 10 are Southern and Western States, 8 are right to work states

The list from 10th place to 1st place is as follows:

10. Louisiana
9. Oklahoma
8. Montana
7. Nevada
6. Texas
5. Utah
4. South Dakota
3. Alaska
2. North Dakota
1. Wyoming

Link to full story below:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/13/fastest-growing-state-economies/

Indiana Cited as 9th most Sluggish Economy

The countdown of the most sluggish states with the lowest change in GDP from 2000 – 2010 from best to worst is as follows:

10. New Jersey
9. Indiana
8. Wisconsin
7. New Hampshire
6. Illinois
5. Georgia
4. Massachusettes
3. Missouri
2. Ohio
1. Michigan

#3 through #8 were all similar and separated by only a few percentage points. Ohio came in at about half of #3 Missouri but 7 times the growth of perennial hard times capital Michigan.

A link to the full story is below.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/13/americas-fastest-and-slowest-growing-state-economies/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl12|sec1_lnk3|70330

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 June 13, 2011

IS IT TRUE that a major classic rock and roll artist has been booked into Roberts Stadium for later this summer and that a detailed announcement will be made very soon?…that this artist has been to Evansville many times in the past and has perhaps 100 Million fans?…that there is hardly a person alive who has not heard of this artist and can sing a few lines from at least one of his songs?

IS IT TRUE that the funniest comment of last week was in the Courier & Press in response to a column by David Coker that once again raised the issue of obesity in Evansville?…that the hilarious comment was something like “When I was watching Jay Leno and he said that my hometown of Evansville is the fattest city in America, I nearly dropped my fudge bar”?…that this comment was hilarious and tragic simultaneously?…that this subject needs some attention nearly every week so that people do not forget about their duty to get healthy for themselves and their families?…that if one wants a fudge bar that it can be earned in calories burned by walking about 2 miles at whatever speed you like?…that beer is what puts that all to familiar beer belly onto many tri-state men?…that one mile of walking or running will burn off about 1 beer’s worth of calories?…that if you are one of the folks that pounded down a half-case of beer down at the ShrinersFest that all you need to do to burn it off is a half marathon?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville Fire Chief Keith Jarboe will be announcing the appointment of a new assistant chief very soon?…that the winner of this appointment is none other than 10 year veteran Jim Phender?…that this job will pay one of the top rates in the City of Evansville pecking order of salaries?…that the City County Observer would like to congratulate Mr. Phender on his appointment?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday and today are what we always hope that a June day in the tri-state will be like weather wise?…that this weather with highs at about 80 degrees and lows in the 60’s with ideal humidity is known as a Mediterranean climate?…that places that have climates like this year round have been sought after since the dawn of recorded history?…that we are thankful for days like this and hope for a summer full of more of them?…that Mother Nature must love the W. C. Handy Blues Festival which kicks off in Henderson this week?…that the weather always seems to cooperate for this event?

IS IT TRUE that the fundraiser that is sanctioned by the Democratic Central Committee at Maingate is primarily to help the candidates that it benefits to pay their “assessments” to the Central Committee?…that the party assesses each office holder a fee of 10% of what they earn in office?…that for an Evansville City Council member that is about $1,800 during the year that they are elected?…that a Mayor would be assessed for nearly $10,000?…that some of the candidates opted out of the assessment?

IS IT TRUE that from all that we heard and saw that the Shriners Fest seems to have given the people of Evansville what they have been asking for in a summer festival for some time?…that the attendance was at or exceeded what was hoped for in terms of numbers of smiling bodies on the riverfront?…that the event manager Vernon Stevens is on record as stating that the overall cost of the Shriners Fest was $145,000?…that the Shriners had revenue sources like sponsorships, booth fees, and beer garden entry fees to offset the costs?…that the Shriner’s view this as a public service and will not bat an eye over it if they lost a little or made a little money?…that a private entity is the way to go for festivals like this?…that he entry fee for this event was exactly what most people love to pay and that is FREE?

IS IT TRUE that the hydroplane races cost in the neighborhood of $300,000 to bring to Evansville?…that if that particular form of entertainment is ever to be considered again that either some buttons will have to be sold to cover the costs or some do-gooder will have to dig very deep into their pocket to underwrite the event?…that the Blue Angels cancellation does not seem to have dampened the success of the event at all?…that the tab for the Blue Angels can run up to $200,000 as well and that bringing them to town will also call for large underwriting or an entry fee?…that having local entertainment in the beer gardens as opposed to big name acts is the way to go for summer festival entertainment?…that a $5 cover charge is fine and that anyone who wants to participate can easily absorb that cost?…that the City County Observer congratulates the Shriners for getting it right on their first time and look forward to next year?

IS IT TRUE the Dave Rector, general manager of the Evansville-Vanderburgh Building Authority is about to have his hands full with a crash course in how to properly maintain the new Evansville Arena?…that Mr. Rector and his staff may be biting off more than they have a budget and the manpower to chew with learning their new jobs at the Arena at the same time that they are supposedly winding down Roberts Stadium?…that there have reportedly even been some resignations among the staff that are not yet replaced?…that all of this activity in an election year that promises to bring a whirlwind of change to the status quo regardless of which candidate becomes Mayor of Evansville may just put a bit of stress on a system that is already in battle mode?…that when it comes to maintenance that we wonder if there was ever a formal quality control procedure in place within the Building Authority?…that we further more wonder if failing to plan maintenance and to adequately budget for it contributed to the decline of Roberts Stadium?…that we certainly hope that the new Arena does not go downhill quickly because there is insufficient maintenance and expertise to assign to it?

IS IT TRUE that the bulk of the Executive Inn is now on the ground?…that we are pleased to report that we have confirmed that contractual arrangements are in place to assure that the demolition company and any subcontractors will be taken care of no matter who ends up building a hotel on the site?…that this business will be taken care of even if there is no hotel at all?…that when you do the right thing like recycling and planning that “good things happen to good people”?

By: Joe J. Wallace

I have spent over 90% of my career in the private sector with companies that actually have to provide high quality goods and services to their customers to derive revenue. This week’s revelation that there are no formal quality control techniques being used by the City of Evansville to improve performance has just been surreal. First it was disclosed that some of the emergency kiosks on the Greenway are not functional and that this has been known about for some time. Going to an emergency kiosk to call for help and finding it to be broken is the equivalent to dialing 911 and hearing “this number has been disconnected” right before becoming the victim of a violent crime.

Recently it was revealed that the Parks and Recreation Department does not have any tracking system in place to deal with customer complaints. This is no way to run so much as a lemonade stand much less a municipal department with an annual budget of over $10 Million.

No private sector company that I have worked for, bought from, or consulted with, would survive without a quality control process in place. I am absolutely mystified by the “deer in the headlights” responses that have come from the City Administration. It is finally becoming clear to me how Evansville can spend over $1,800 per year on each resident and still have dilapidated public parks, a litter problem, and poorly maintained infrastructure. It seems as though our public employees may not be getting clear instructions on what they should be doing and it is now acknowledged by the department head that there is no feedback on performance with respect to public (customer) complaints.

It is a shame that our leaders do not know what to do or how to do it when it comes to quality control of the services that they are paid to deliver. Hopefully, this election year and the public scrutiny that has come from stepping on needles in parks, twisting ankles on ball fields, and the renewed recognition of our dirtiness problem will lead to a new administration that will focus on the quality of services that the people of Evansville are provided. In yet another area it seems as though the City of Evansville needs to start at the very beginning.

Quality Control is a concept that is taught in one’s freshman year in the study of business, engineering, operations, marketing, or management. Once on the job in any of these areas one’s employer will continually invest in infrastructure and training to assure that the entire staff understands the importance of feedback in the customer satisfaction process formally known as quality control.

If Toyota, Mead Johnson, or Berry Plastics had no quality control system in place they would be out of business quickly. Time proven systems for gathering feedback and synthesizing that feedback into the quality control process are the backbone of American industry. Actually an American named Edward Demings invented statistical process control (SPC) but Japanese industry adopted it first. Now it is universal with the exception of governments.

The fact that the City of Evansville does not even have a feedback system in place can only be attributed to ignorance, laziness, or a lethal combination of both. What is the price of this ignorance? It could be the $1,000 per year more that Evansville spends per person when compared to Henderson. It could be failing infrastructure and dilapidated parks. It could even be the billion dollar shabby houses problem that was exposed by Tom Barnett. You see, when the streets, the parks, and the pools look like no one cares for them, civic pride falls to the same lowest common denominator.

It has been established time and time again that professional quality control when implemented correctly typically improve efficiencies by over 50%. With city governments across the country grasping for revenue to continue services, why have procedures that are proven to enable businesses to do much more with the same resources not adopted? Can you imagine a local government that actually treated its citizens like customers instead of a mass source of revenue? The beauty of quality control is that it is highly probable that implementation can enable a city like Evansville to make very rapid improvements without increasing taxes.

Lean, TQM, 6-Sigma, etc. are all techniques that are already implemented in local businesses. When will the government of the City of Evansville wake up to this? I would venture to postulate that the Parks Department is not the only City of Evansville department that is running open loop. It is time to close the loop with a professional quality control system to assure customer satisfaction. The City of Evansville has been driving while looking through the rear view mirror long enough.

Definitions:

Open Loop Control: An open-loop controller does not use feedback to determine if its output has achieved the desired goal of the input. This means that the system does not observe the output of the processes that it is controlling. Consequently, a true open-loop system cannot correct any errors that it could make. It also may not compensate for disturbances in the system.

Closed Loop Control: In a closed-loop control system, a sensor monitors the system output and feeds the data to a controller which adjusts the control as necessary to maintain the desired system output.

Golf and Governance:

A perfect example of an open loop game is golf. In golf you take your best shot and hope it was done well. You have no opportunity to steer the ball after it leaves the club. That is an open loop process. In a closed loop game of golf with a skilled player 18 holes would take 18 shots. Why, because you could steer the ball into the hole as if it were a remote control little round plane. The only variable would be the time to get the ball into the hole.

There has never been nor will there ever be a golfer who can compete on strokes with a remotely controlled golf ball. Likewise with cities, there is no city government that is run open loop that can compete with a city that has a feedback loop to correct problems “on the fly”. It is time for Evansville to join the ranks of closed loop cities when it comes to quality control. We are only 55 years behind the 8-ball but we can catch up quickly if we choose to do so.

Joe Wallace is a business consultant that specializes in increasing the value of his clients businesses through identifying and leveraging innovation to streamline operations and expand product offerings. Mr. Wallace is also a speaker and author and frequently contributes editorial content locally and nationally. Mr. Wallace is a consultant to and acting editor for the City County Observer. He is a graduate of the Univ. of Evansville and Stanford University. He makes his home in Newburgh, IN.